Around the State: UMHB nursing students administer vaccine

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor nursing students are gaining valuable clinical experience while helping in the COVID-19 mass vaccination efforts with Bell County Public Health District. Each Wednesday, first-year and second-year students are helping administer the immunizations, experiencing first-hand public and community health nursing, and working as a team with county public health professionals and emergency medical service personnel. “This experience provides the opportunity for students to apply multiple professional and public health concepts that are included in the bachelor of science in nursing curriculum,” said Michele Hackney, dean of the UMHB Scott & White School of Nursing. “I am excited and proud that UMHB nursing students and faculty are able to serve the community in such an impactful way. By making vaccine administration a priority clinical learning experience for our students, we are part of ensuring that all residents of Bell County can be vaccinated quickly.”

East Texas Baptist University is seeking to raise an additional $1.37 million by July 1 to reach a $6 million goal and receive a $1.5 million challenge grant from the Mabee Foundation. The funds will enable ETBU to construct a 23,000 square-foot Great Commission Center, which will be the future home to the Fred Hale School of Business, the Great Commission program and the office of career development. “When the board voted to move forward with this project, a vision was cast to construct not just a building, but a center for excellence in business education and a discipleship training facility to equip our students to go into the world as Christian servant leaders,” ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn said. “We put our full trust in the Lord and the vision that he laid on our hearts, that he would provide the resources necessary to carry out this vision to completion. Through the generosity of the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation and the university supporters who have partnered with us on this project so far, God is faithfully fulfilling his promises. It is truly humbling to witness as we fervently pray and diligently work to meet the goal for the challenge grant.” To find more information about the Great Commission Center campaign, click here.

Darren McElroy, a 2011 graduate of Howard Payne University, spoke about his experiences as a student and his work as a professional actor during a public interview at the university with Nicholas Ewen, associate professor of theater. McElroy, who performs with Sight & Sound Theatres in Branson, Mo., and Lancaster, Penn., emphasized to students the importance of finding their worth in something more valuable than their talents alone. “Being in performance, we often do find our identity staked in terms of what we do,” he said. “Sometimes you have to take a step back and remember, ‘I have these talents, but I am so much more than this.’ To be grounded and have your identity in Christ, that’s where it all matters and it all makes sense.” McElroy spoke about his experiences as a Black actor, how the theatre has gradually become more representative of the diversity present in America and the conversations that have had to occur as part of the shift to more accurate representation. The discussion was held prior to the start of The 24 Hour Theatre Festival, an annual event that gives students the opportunity to collaborate in writing, directing and performing productions within a 24-hour timespan. McElroy was a featured performer in each of the original plays, performed the evening after his presentation.

Baylor University will honor previously unsung heroes of Baylor’s past and present through Champions of Change, a new program that recognizes and acknowledges the accomplishments of faculty, staff and alumni who have demonstrated efforts to foster greater appreciation and advancement of diversity, inclusiveness and equity for communities of color at Baylor and in Waco. The Champions of Change volunteer committee is seeking nominations for faculty, staff and alumni who embody the ideals of equity, change, hope and service. A nomination form is available on the Champions of Change website. The deadline for nominations is March 15. The inaugural Champions of Change will be honored at the annual Solid Gold Neighbor recognition ceremony, hosted in late April by Baylor’s office of external affairs. “Celebrating and honoring past and present Champions of Change in our history is both an honor and privilege that we take seriously,” said Malcolm Foley, special adviser to the president for equity and campus engagement. “Baylor University faculty, staff and alumni play an important role in embracing and advancing racial equity on our campus and in the community. By engaging a diverse committee of internal and external leaders, we seek to identify and highlight three select individuals each year who embody Baylor’s spirit of Christian leadership and service while advancing change in and around our campus community.”

As part of Black History Month observances at East Texas Baptist University, the Black Student Association facilitated Real Talk—an open and respectful guided discussion about current topics and events. Students from varied backgrounds gathered to have candid conversations about relevant issues facing college students today. Anissa Mott, president of the Black Student Association, was part of the Student Leadership Advisory Board established last summer to help create new opportunities for minority students and to promote ethnic diversity and multicultural education. The advisory board was instrumental in casting the vision for ETBU’s office of multicultural affairs, which sponsored the university’s Black History Month events including an open mic night and an African American Read-In Celebration.

Howard Payne University has rescheduled its Spring Family Reunion for March 20. The free event will include a tailgate celebration prior to the HPU Yellow Jacket’s football game against McMurry University at Gordon Wood Stadium. The event originally was scheduled Feb. 20 but was moved following the American Southwest Conference’s decision to postpone competition due to extreme weather conditions. The 1 p.m. game will be preceded by a tailgate at 11 a.m. outside the stadium, with a catered lunch. There is no charge to anyone who registers here. Guests who registered for the original Feb. 20 date will need to register again.

Michael A. Evans Jr., public policy director for the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission, has been named to the board of directors of the Texas Christian Community Development Network. He will serve as Central Texas regional representative on the board.

The Baylor Line Foundation named Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty in Washington, D.C., as recipient of the Abner V. McCall Religious Liberty Award.

The Carroll Teaching Network of the B.H. Carroll Theological Institute will offer three courses this spring. The online courses begin in mid-March and continue into May. “Romans,” offered on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. beginning March 15, will be taught by Randall Worley, senior pastor at Prairie Creek Baptist Church in Plano. “Old Testament III,” offered on Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. beginning March 16, will be taught by Bill Bryan, senior pastor of Abingdon Baptist Church in Abingdon, Va. “Exodus,” offered on Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. beginning March 17, will be taught by Joseph Cathey, associate professor of biblical languages and literature. For more information or to register, click here.

Anniversary

150th for First Baptist Church in Arlington. Dennis Wiles is pastor. The church marked the date of its founding Feb. 25 with an online worship service. Throughout the year, First Baptist will post highlights from its history on a designated Facebook page, “A Journey of Faith.” A weekend homecoming event is scheduled Oct. 22-24.