East Texas Baptist University has broken ground for Centennial Hall. The 362-bed student living-learning community is scheduled to open August 2014. The 123,500-square-foot, four-story facility primarily will house freshmen and sophomore students and is designed to include private bedrooms in four-bedroom suites, study areas, seminar rooms, game rooms, and indoor and outdoor social areas. A faculty-in-residence apartment and staff resident director also will be located in the facility.
The National Association of Social Workers Texas Chapter has named Hardin-Simmons University senior Melissa Sartor the Social Work Student of the Year.
LifeLight Music Festival will be held May 24-26 at the 
Willowood Ranch near Sherman. The ranch is owned by Christian Music Hall of Fame member Al Denson. The Newsboys, Building 429, Sanctus Real and others will perform throughout the weekend at the free festival. The grounds of the 350-acre ranch will hold multiple stages, action sports, children’s activities, an art area, and food and merchandise vendors. For more information, click here.
Six students from Howard Payne University took part in Tuition Equalization Grant Student Advocacy Day. Groups from several private universities traveled to Austin to encourage representatives and senators to continue support for the grant program. Students met with legislators from their home districts to thank them for appropriating funds for the program. Participating from HPU were Courtney Officer, Allen Andrus, Brogan Turner, Erik Swenson, Kathryn Barrackman and Colton McCabe.
Anniversary
Houston Garner, 50th, as pastor of Hebron Baptist Church in Bells.
Revival
Anderson Baptist Church, Anderson; April 26-28; evangelist, Bob Nix; music, Gary Mason; pastor, Kyle Childress.
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