tidbits_51903

Posted: 5/19/03

Texas Tidbits

SFA project gets grant. The Texas Baptist Missions Foundation has secured a $135,000 matching grant from the Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, Okla., to help the Stephen F. Austin University Baptist Student Ministries purchase and remodel a building. Coupled with the completion of the BSM's $1.1 million capital campaign, the campus mission will use the grant funds to double its facilities and ministry possibilities. Gifts can be marked SFA-BSM and sent to Texas Baptist Missions Foundation, 333 North Washington, Dallas 75246.

WINNERS in the statewide Bible Drill and Speakers' Tournament finals in Fort Worth are Laura Bankhead of Champion Baptist Church in Roscoe, second place in Bible Drill; Anna Summersett of First Baptist Church of Texarkana, second place Speakers' Tournament; Mandy Alling of Trinity Baptist Church in Amarillo, tied for first place in Bible Drill; Brittany May of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, first place in Speakers' Tournament; and Jacob Eunice of Northside Church in Del Rio, tied for first place in Bible Drill. They will go to Atlanta to represent Texas in national competition. Not pictured are Youth Essay winners: First place, Cheri Petrusky, and second place, Rachel Tarver, both from First Baptist Church in Clyde; and third place, Zachary DeVine from First Baptist Church in Farmers Branch.

Baylor gets big gift. Baylor University will receive $19.4 million this month when the Marrs and Verna McLean Foundation Trust is dissolved. Baylor is among several Texas educational institutions to benefit from the fund, established in 1953 by the McLean family of Beaumont. Proceeds from the fund have aided key Baylor programs over the last 50 years. One-third of Baylor's gift from the fund dissolution will go to the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Grover awarded. Tomi Grover, a Baptist General Convention of Texas restorative justice consultant, has received the Albert and Ethel Marsh Memorial Award from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The annual award goes to the outstanding Southern Baptist doctor of education student on the basis of scholarship, experience and leadership potential as determined by the committee for advanced studies in the seminary's school of educational ministries. Grover is working on her dissertation about the effect apartment ministries have on crime rates in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

DBU graduates 481. Dallas Baptist University awarded undergraduate and graduate degrees to 481 students at spring commencement May 16. Johanna Fisher, a graduating student of DBU's College of Adult Education, delivered the address for both commencement ceremonies. She is host of "The Johanna Fisher Show" on KCBI radio in Dallas. Charles Thomas Frazier Jr., head of the appellate practice group of Cowles & Thompson law firm in Dallas, received an honorary doctor of humanities. Bernie Moraga, pastor of First Spanish/Fruit Avenue Baptist Church in Albuquerque, N.M., received an honorary doctor of divinity degree.

UMHB has record graduation. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor reported a record number of graduating seniors for commencement May 10. The university's 147th graduating class had 321 students receiving degrees, up from 276 the previous May. John Borum of Kingwood received the President's Award, which is given to the senior exhibiting meritorious service to UMHB. Kesi Perkins of Luling received the Loyalty Cup, presented to the student who is most representative of the ideals, traditions and spirit of the university.

Truett certifies Vietnamese. Baylor University's Truett Seminary awarded the first 10 ministry certificates to Vietnamese students at a May 16 celebration ceremony. John Nguyen, pastor of Vietnamese Baptist Church in Garland, helped start the program at Truett. He praised the students and the program. It helped "stimulate and motivate" Vietnamese pastors and laymen to continue their education to improve their ministry, he said.