Texas Tidbits_110104

Posted: 10/29/04

Texas Tidbits

Two Wayland students killed. A head-on collision on Highway 70 near Halfway in West Texas killed two Wayland Baptist University students and injured three others. Kayte Mansdoerfer, a sophomore from Albuquerque, N.M., and Reid Rogers, a freshman from Plainview, died at the scene of the accident. One student was airlifted from the scene. Two students were taken by ambulance to Covenant Hospital Plainview; one was later transferred by air to Lubbock. University officials were providing crisis counseling. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of the students who lost their lives in this tragic accident," said Wayland President Paul Armes. "Our prayers are, of course, also with the families whose students were injured and with the occupants of the second vehicle involved in the collision. The Wayland family is deeply saddened by these events."

ETBU offers accelerated certification. East Texas Baptist University's teacher education department has launched a new accelerated teacher certification program. It will enable individuals with at least a bachelor's degree in a non-education field the opportunity to become a certified secondary school teacher in one year or less. The program includes four preparatory courses offered during the same semester, with flexible time schedules; few–if any–subject-matter courses, depending on the applicant's current degree and abilities; a semester-long student teaching experience; and assistance with job placement. To apply, call (903) 923-2000.

Schmeltekopf awards given. Two ministerial students have received Edward Schmeltekopf Servant Leader Scholarships from the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The BGCT Christian Education Coordinating Board approved scholarships for Chris Lemmon at Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon Seminary and Sarah Rochelle Montoya at Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary. The one-time $1,000 award, named for the BGCT's former associate executive director, is presented annually to a graduate of a Texas Baptist university who is continuing studies at Truett or Logsdon. Lemmon is a graduate of Howard Payne University in Brownwood, and Montoya is a graduate of Dallas Baptist University.

UMHB hosts concert. Musician Chris Rice will present a concert at 7 p.m., Nov. 19, in the chapel at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Ticket outlets include the UMHB Information Station and Christian bookstores in Temple, Killeen and Waco. For more information or for group rates, call (254) 295-5150.

HSU Acton MBA honored. The 2005 edition of the Princeton Review's Best Business Schools ranks Hardin-Simmons University's Acton master of business administration degree in entrepreneurship as having the "most competitive" students among 143 schools. The Princeton Review compiled the ranking list based on institutional data from schools and surveys of students attending the schools in the 2003-2004 school years.

DBU receives gift for International Center. Dallas Baptist University has received a $100,000 gift from DBU Trustee Charles Ku and his siblings for the new International Center in honor of their parents, H.T. and Ruth Ku. The university named one of the rooms after the Ku family. The 11,000-square-foot International Center, which opened in May, houses four classrooms, two large multipurpose meeting rooms, a computer lab, a student lounge, a full-service kitchen and offices for the international student services staff. In the last 15 years, DBU's international program has grown from 12 students to more than 300 representing at least 50 countries.

Correction: The pastor of First Philippine Baptist Church in Houston is Ernest Dagohoy, not Howard Dagohoy as stated in the Oct. 18 Baptist Standard article, "Filipino church teaches members to adopt missional lifestyle."

BUA trustees pledge support to Reyes. Trustees of Baptist University for the Americas unanimously approved a resolution offering their encouragement, support and prayers to Albert Reyes, president of their institution, when he is nominated for president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas at the annual session in San Antonio. "We believe that God has raised up Albert Reyes for this time in Texas Baptist history," said Doug Diehl, pastor of Crossroads Church in San Antonio and outgoing chairman of the BUA board of trustees. "The BUA board fully realizes the time commitment Dr. Reyes must make if he's elected, but we believe that God has ordained him as a bridge-building leader for this generation, and support his nomination

wholeheartedly."

Retired ministers' breakfast slated. A breakfast for retired ministers will be held at the Baptist General Convention of Texas at 7:30 a.m., Nov. 9 at San Antonio's Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center. For reservations, call (214) 828-5136 or e-mail loy.beaird@bgct.org. Pay at the door or come by the exhibit halls' "retired feet" booth to purchase a ticket and receive a free foot massage.

Dyess Scholarship established at HSU. Hardin-Simmons University has established the Nelson and Mary Alice Dyess endowed scholarship to benefit students in any area of study. The Dyesses of Phoenix, Ariz., gave $50,000 to the university to establish the scholarship. Dyess, a cardiovascular anesthesiologist, graduated from HSU in 1951 and was named a distinguished alumnus in 1984.

DBU endows Gregory Scholarship. Gary and Molli Elliston of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas have endowed a scholarship at Dallas Baptist University in honor of Rick and Judy Gregory. Gregory is vice president for university advancement at DBU. The scholarship was established to benefit deserving undergraduate or graduate students based on need.

HSU establishes missionary scholarship. The Charles Bryan Missionary Scholarship has been established at Hardin-Simmons University by a gift from his estate. Provisions were made in his will for this gift to benefit bilingual students who are called to missionary service. Bryan was a longtime missionary and administrator with the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board.

Scholarship established at Hardin-Simmons. Missions-minded students from disadvantaged families attending Hardin-Simmons University will benefit from a newly created endowed scholarship, established by Allen and Cheryl Purcell to honor their parents, Violet and Thomas Ralph Purcell and Wayne and Rosa Cheshire. Cheryl Purcell is assistant vice president for development at HSU and has been an advancement staff member since 1997. Recipients must be undergraduate students and maintain a 2.0 GPA. First preference will be for a student planning to be a medical missionary. Second preference will be for a student planning to be any kind of missionary. If no student meets those criteria, third preference will be for a student pursuing any field of study who is actively involved in Habitat for Humanity.