Around the State: ETBU hosts Labor Day event; Buckner distributes 300 tons of aid

East Texas Baptist University hosted an All-American Labor Day celebration on campus. Events included a concert featuring Christian country musical artist Curtis Grimes, fireworks, a barbecue lunch and intramural activities. “The student engagement team worked to make Labor Day weekend a great opportunity to relax and recuperate from the first few weeks of classes without having to leave campus, because the less we all travel, the less likely we are to expose ourselves to contagious illnesses,” ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn said. “Our students’ health and safety continue to be our first priority, and we must do what we can on an individual basis to ensure that our campus remains safely open. We encouraged students to take advantage of these opportunities, get to know other Tigers, celebrate the holiday, and have a fun time, all while remaining safe and healthy on the Hill.”

Buckner has distributed or shipped more than 300 tons of humanitarian aid this year domestically and in the six countries Buckner serves. It’s a mark one Buckner leader said meant “survival” for many vulnerable families struggling in the wake of the global coronavirus pandemic. The figure represents a previously reported 103 tons of food and other aid distributed in Texas, as well as an additional 200-plus tons of food collectively distributed in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Mexico and Peru. Internationally, many families have lost their jobs due to the pandemic and are unable to provide basic needs for their families. “Many of our families have suffered with being sick with the virus and many are grieving the deaths of family members and acquaintances,” said Dexton Shores, senior executive director of international ministries for Buckner Children and Family Services. “The food aid provided by Buckner has meant survival and not dying from hunger for the many vulnerable families we serve in six countries.” Buckner humanitarian aid records reflect distribution or shipments of approximately 60,000 pounds to Guatemala; 86,000 pounds to the Dominican Republic; 53,000 pounds to Kenya; and 127,000 pounds to Peru. In addition, Buckner distributed government aid in the Dominican Republic, supplied vouchers for additional in-country aid in Honduras, and Mexico had adequate supplies from prior shipments to help clients there and bring total international distribution to more than 200 tons.

Howard Payne University recently named Haleigh Clevenger of Brownwood as the recipient of the Jack White Character Scholarship for the 2020-21 academic year. HPU also announced the creation of the Jack White Character Scholarship Permanent Collection with a creation by Sarah “Abi” Brown as the first entry. Clevenger is a senior majoring in studio art and English. She is a member of Christian women’s sorority Pi Theta Chi, serves as the historian for national collegiate honors society Gamma Beta Phi, and was the content coordinator for the Jacket Journey 2020 planning committee. She is also involved with HPU’s Baptist Student Ministry, is a small group leader in the Coggin Avenue Baptist Church youth group and helps with the church’s MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) program. Clevenger is also the first- through fourth-grade art teacher at Cross Classical Academy. The Jack White Character Scholarship was established in 2018 in memory of Jack White by his wife, Mikki Senkarik, and former Baylor University head football coach Grant Teaff and his wife, Donell. White developed a lasting friendship with Teaff after he requested White create new artwork for the team. The Jack White Character Scholarship Permanent Collection is located in the Doakie Day Art Center. The collection commemorates the impact of the scholarship on art students at HPU and will display work by the recipients of the scholarship. A piece called “Blue Bowl Still Life” by Brown, the first recipient of the scholarship, is the inaugural work in the collection.

On Sept. 11, members of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor chapter of Young Conservatives of Texas planted 2,977 flags in honor of every person who lost their lives as the result of the 9/11 attacks. The group created the display in front of Luther Memorial on the university campus.

Baylor University announced the recruiting lounge at McLane Stadium will be named in recognition of Todd and Susan Behringer of Woodway and their support of capital improvements through the university’s Give Light Campaign. The Behringer Recruiting Lounge is a year-round space for prospective recruits of all Baylor sports and their families to interact with Baylor coaches and staff, offering a field-level view of McLane Stadium from its location in the North end zone, said Mack Rhodes, vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics at Baylor. The naming is in recognition of a recent gift by the Behringers in support of the Baylor Basketball Pavilion and the proposed Football Operations Center. The gift will provide significant momentum toward fundraising efforts for these two priority capital projects within the Give Light Campaign, and a portion of the gift also will provide support for the Baylor Bear Foundation.

Anniversary

55 years for Bob Ray as pastor of Fairy Baptist Church near Hico.