Around the State: HSU Cowboy Band celebrates centennial

Hardin-Simmons University’s “World Famous” Cowboy Band marked its centennial with a weekend reunion in Abilene during the spring semester. Current band members connected with former band members and bonded over cherished traditions passed down from class to class. Past and present band members gave more than $100,000 for the band’s foundation to fund scholarships and travel. The HSU Cowboy Band has traveled the world, having entertained audiences in the Azores, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Germany, Holland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Monaco, Newfoundland, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, along with countless domestic trips. The Cowboy Band has performed for six presidential inaugural parades and 11 Texas gubernatorial parades and events.

Baylor University announced a $5 million gift from John and Helen Carona of Dallas, providing support for the renovation and construction of the Honors Residential College, as well as other major capital priorities through the Give Light Capital Fund. The Coronas are members of First Baptist Church in Dallas. Baylor will name the Carona Family Commons at the Honors Residential College and the Carona Family Premium Entry in the Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion in recognition of their gifts. The Honors Residential College project involves the renovation and expansion of two of the university’s oldest residential facilities—Alexander Hall and Memorial Hall. Currently separate structures, the two buildings will be connected by the Carona Family Commons. Another project element includes refurbishing and consolidating offices for the Honors College’s faculty and professional staff in the adjacent Draper Academic Building. The Carona Family Premium Entry at Foster Pavilion will serve as one of four entry points for Baylor fans to the new home for Baylor basketball. The Pavilion, a 223,547-square-foot facility, will hold more than 7,000 fans, with improved sight lines and access to concessions via an integrated concourse.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor named Tucker Glaske as vice president for advancement and Rebecca O’Banion as vice president for university relations. Glaske will lead the university’s fundraising, records and gift management departments as the reorganized advancement division. He has served as a fundraiser for UMHB since June 2012. He was promoted to senior director of development in June 2020 and associate vice president for fundraising in April 2021. Glaske earned his bachelor’s degree in business management and his Master of Business Administration degree from UMHB. O’Banion will lead the alumni engagement, marketing and communications departments. She has served nearly 17 years in leadership at UMHB, most recently as vice president for advancement. Previously, she served six years as vice president for development, one year as associate vice president for development and eight years as director of alumni relations. O’Banion earned her doctoral degree in higher education administration from UMHB, having previously received a master’s degree in human services-executive leadership from Liberty University and a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science from UMHB.

Rebekah Crowe, professor of history in the Wayland Baptist University’s School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, was honored by Alpha Chi National College Honor Society during the society’s national convention. Crowe, who serves as adviser for Wayland’s Alpha Chi chapter, was one of six advisers recognized with Distinguished Service Awards during the convention in Albuquerque, N.M. She was selected for her service to Region 1. Also attending the national convention were Wayland students Sarah Manchee and Elizabeth Wirth. Manchee presented part of her honors thesis at the convention, while Wirth served as student delegate for Wayland’s chapter.