Around the State: Baylor Nursing School dedicates academic center in renovated Baptist Building

The recently renovated four-story Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing Academic Building in Dallas—formerly the Baptist Building—more than doubled the school’s previous space by adding 100,000 square feet for high-tech nursing education and active learning classrooms. (Photo/Morty Ortega/Baylor University)

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The building that formerly housed the offices of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board staff in Dallas is now Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing Academic Building. (Photo/Morty Ortega/Baylor University)

Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing recently dedicated its newly renovated four-story academic building, formerly the offices of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board staff. Features of the renovated campus include a central atrium for students to congregate and collaborate, active learning classrooms that foster group interaction and allow for innovative teaching, an auditorium, a chapel and a Learning Resource Center. The previous campus located a block from the academic building now focuses exclusively on clinical practice and simulation laboratories for Baylor nursing students and faculty. Baylor raised $28 million to make the renovation possible. Participants in the building dedication included Linda Livingstone, president of Baylor University; lead donor Louise Herrington Ornelas; and Shelley F. Conroy, dean of the School of Nursing. “We are humbled and blessed by the Christian symbolism reflected in this facility, such as the glass support system at each end of the atrium that forms a cross, the stone floor in the atrium that symbolizes the solid foundation of our faith and the open skylight access to our heavenly Father,” Conroy said. “Each time we look at them, we will be reminded of our mission and calling. We want to be counted worthy to carry on the good work that the Lord has begun through the BGCT in this building.”

Wayland Baptist University launched Impact 2020, a capital campaign to raise $30 million for student scholarships and campus improvements. The university already raised more than $15 million toward the total goal during the silent phase of the campaign. Specific objectives of the campaign include promoting Wayland’s 13 campuses across the United States, adding $4 million in scholarships to benefit students on the Plainview campus and throughout the Wayland system, restoring parts of the 107-year-old Gates Hall and renovating the Moody Science Building, and building a $2.5 million athletic training facility for student athletes.

The Great East Texas Hymn Sing is scheduled at 1 p.m., Sept. 14, in Baker Chapel of the Ornelas Spiritual Life Center on the East Texas Baptist University Campus in Marshall. The event will include two hours of the hymns of the Christian faith, accompanied by organ, piano and orchestra. The event includes a performance by the ETBU University Chorus. A fellowship reception follows immediately after the Great East Texas Hymn Sing in the Edwards Conference Center. Admission to the Great East Texas Hymn Sing is free. For more information, call (903) 923-2024 or email [email protected].

Houston Baptist University’s music department will host the History & Hymns Concert beginning at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 24, in the Morris Cultural Arts Center on the HBU campus. The choir and audience will sing favorite hymns including “Holy, Holy, Holy,” “Amazing Grace” and “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” along with a selection of spirituals, shape-note hymns and modern adaptations of traditional hymn texts. Admission is free.

Walter Abercrombie, formerly of the National Football League, spoke in a chapel service at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Walter Abercrombie, associate athletic director at Baylor University and former player in the National Football League, spoke in a Sept. 5 chapel service at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Abercrombie told students how a knee injury in high school could have ended his dreams of playing professional football. With the doctors’ help, Abercrombie began a dedicated rehabilitation process that would put him back on the path to recovery. He began the next season as starting running back on his high school team in Waco, went on to become a leading rusher on the Baylor Bears, and was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft by the Pittsburg Steelers. “I remember thinking how blessed I was to have come back from an injury, and God remained faithful to me, and I tried my best to remain faithful to him,” Abercrombie said.

The Baptist General Convention of Texas donated $10,000 to assist Houston Baptist University students affected by Hurricane Harvey. Ernest Dagohoy, Texas Baptists’ area representative, presented the check to HBU President Robert Sloan. The gift helped enable a group of students to continue their studies at HBU.

Eric Hernandez, former instructor at Magdiel Bible Institute, joined the Baptist General Convention of Texas Great Commission Team as leader in apologetics and specialist in Millennials. Hernandez holds an associate’s degree from San Jacinto College, a bachelor’s degree from Next Level Institute and currently is enrolled in a joint master’s degree and doctoral program at Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary.

Bob Roberts, founding senior pastor of NorthWood Church in Keller, will participate in a panel discussion at an Oct. 11 conference in Houston on “Jerusalem: What Makes for Peace?” with Jim Wallis, founding president of Sojourners in Washington, D.C.; James Forbes, senior minister emeritus of Riverside Church in New York; and James Zogby, co-founder and president of the Arab American Institute. Other featured speakers at the one-day conference include Jim Winkler, president and general secretary of the National Council of Churches; Mitri Raheb, president of Bright Stars of Bethlehem and Dar al-Kalima University of Arts and Culture in Bethlehem; Mae Cannon, executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace; and Iva Carruthers, general secretary of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference. For more information, click here.


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