Howard Payne University seniors Chad Anders and Kara Strange received Nat Tracy Student Leaders Awards.Howard Payne University recognized six students for acts of servant leadership on campus and in the community. Chad Anders, a senior from Midlothian, and Kara Strange, a senior from Fredericksburg, received the Nat Tracy Servant Leader Award, named in honor of a professor who served on the university’s Bible faculty from 1950 to 1975. HPU presented Servant Leadership Awards to four juniors—Trey Carpenter from Hamilton, ZE from Natalia, Kindell Hill from Jarrell and Cassia Rose from Winnsboro.
Houston’s City Council and Mayor Sylvester Turner proclaimed May 9 as “Buckner International Day.” The proclamation recognized Buckner for its contributions to the city, including programs such as Parkway Place, Buckner Hospice, Buckner Family Hope Center at Aldine, Buckner Family Pathways and Buckner Foster Care.
Dallas Baptist University President Adam Wright (left) confers an honorary doctorate on Pete Delkus.Dallas Baptist University awarded 584 degrees during its four spring commencement services May 11-12. The university conferred an honorary doctor of humanity degrees on Pete Delkus, chief meteorologist for WFAA-TV in Dallas and a member of the DBU board of trustees since 2010. He and his wife, Jacque, are members of Parkway Hills Baptist Church in Plano.
Baylor University received a $1 million-plus gift to its geosciences department that will increase opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to conduct research under the guidance of faculty mentors. Parents of a current Baylor student who wish to remain anonymous made the gift, which has three elements—an endowment for undergraduate studies in geology; an endowment for graduate research in geology; and the Hammer-Chisel Endowed Fund, with proceeds earmarked to purchase geological equipment.
Dallas Baptist University President Adam Wright (center) presents Good Samaritan Awards to Pastor Mike Simmons and Vivian Skinner.Dallas Baptist University named Mike Simmons, senior pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Cedar Hill, and Vivian Skinner, director of the Patty and Bo Pilgrim Chapel at DBU and founding director of Baby Moses Dallas, a nonprofit organization established to raise awareness of the Texas Safe Haven law, as the 2017 Good Samaritans Award recipients.
Alice Starr The 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative named Alice Starr of Waco to its board of directors. She is chief executive officer of Starr Strategies, a consulting firm that helps nonprofit organizations with public relations, marketing and fund-raising strategies. Her husband, Ken, is former president and chancellor of Baylor University.
Baylor University’s Public Deliberation Initiative will sponsor a Civic Life Summit June 1-2 to help churches, educational institutions and concerned citizens engage communities in conversations that build mutual respect across racial, religious and political barriers. Chet Edwards, former member of the U.S. Congress and the W.R. Poage Chair for Public Service at Baylor, will be the keynote speaker. The two-day summit will be held at the Mayborn Museum Complex. Registration cost is $95, which includes meals. For more information, click here.
Anniversary
James S. Shamburger, 30th, as senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Victoria, June 4.
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Ordination
Suzii Paynter to the gospel ministry by Austin Heights Baptist Church in Nacogdoches. She is executive coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
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