About 300 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor students, faculty and staff served a variety of Belton-area nonprofit organizations during the recent Reaching Out community service event.
East Texas Baptist University students (left to right) John Botello, Josiah Williams and Blake Corbin repair a damaged bedroom wall for a Baton Rouge, La., resident during a fall break mission trip.More than 50 East Texas Baptist University student-athletes, coaches and Baptist Student Ministry volunteers traveled to Baton Rouge, La., during fall break to help people who suffered from devastating floods.
Six ETBU crews worked with Church of Life Baptist Fellowship, Victory Academy Christian School and at two homes during the three-day mission trip. Led by Head Baseball Coach Jared Hood and BSM Director Mark Yates, students removed mud, installed sheetrock, painted, aided with general clean-up and provided devotional times of prayer, worship and Scripture reading for the flood victims.
Baylor University presented 2016 Meritorious Achievement Awards to alumni during homecoming weekend. Tom Rosenbalm, a Houston physician whose gift in honor of his late parents and sister make possible the renovation of Fifth Street and the addition of Rosenbalm Fountain, was named Alumnus of the Year, and Jeremy Courtney, co-founder of the global Preemptive Love Coalition, was named Young Alumnus of the Year. Bob and Julie Mendonsa, founders of Naomi’s Village, a children’s home in Maai Mahiu, Kenya, received the Pro Ecclesia Award. Melissa Rogers, special assistant to the president and executive director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, received the Pro Texana Award. Takashi Kitaoka, a World War II veteran and judge in his home state of Hawaii, received the Distinguished Achievement Award. Three alumni received awards for contributions to their chosen professions—Lisa Giocomo, assistant professor of neurobiology and researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine, for research, and Tim and Janice McCall, founders of Restoration Gateway in Uganda, for Christian ministry. Kim Lubel, president and CEO of CST Brands, received the Business Leadership Medal of Service. Roger E. Kirk, distinguished professor of psychology and statistics and master teacher at Baylor, received the W.R. White Meritorious Service Award. Baylor Legacy Awards went to Steve and Penny Carlile of Marshall, Claude and Becky Lindsey of Waco, Don and Jenny Riddle of Houston, and Carroll and Aline Webb of Waco. Jane Meyer, president of the Paul and Jane Meyer Family Foundation, received the Baylor Founders Medal.
MEDIAlliance International held its inaugural Media Leadership Summit recently on the Dallas Baptist University campus. The three-day event brought together 30 religious broadcasters from around the world. Ron Harris, founder of MEDIAlliance, serves on the DBU board of trustees and is a former DBU professor.
The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor will honor alumnus Jerrell Freeman by retiring his jersey during a halftime ceremony at its homecoming game against Hardin-Simmons University Oct. 22. Freeman was a four-year letterman for the UMHB football program from 2004-07 and the first American Southwest Conference player to earn National Player of the Year honors. He was a two-time All-American, a three-time ASC All-Conference selection and also was named ASC Male Athlete of the Year for 2007-08. He finished his college career as the school’s all-time leader in tackles. Freeman signed with the Tennessee Titans as a free agent before going on to a three-year career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He was an All-Star and played in two Grey Cup games with Saskatchewan before signing with the Indianapolis Colts. In four seasons with the Colts, Freeman led the team in tackles twice. He signed with the Chicago Bears as an unrestricted free agent this spring.
“The HPU Family Tree” is the theme of Howard Payne University’s homecoming. More than 30 events are scheduled Oct. 28-30. New events this year include a bonfire and fireworks at Brownwood’s Riverside Park at 9 p.m. Friday and an alumni association remembrance and reflection service at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at HPU’s Muse Plaza and Mall. Married alumni will have the opportunity to renew their vows during a 9 a.m. Sunday service in HPU’s Grace Chapel. For more information on homecoming events, visit www.hputx.edu/homecoming or contact the alumni relations office at (325) 649-8044 or e-mail [email protected].
Ordination
Dallas Huston to the gospel ministry at 3 p.m. Oct. 30 at Center City Baptist Church in Goldthwaite, where he is pastor.
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