Welcome
Miss Wayland
The President’s Pen
Welcoming 2013
Challenges lie ahead for WBU
A
“
You can be proud
of your Wayland.
Her future is filled
“
with possibility and
opportunity.
s hard as it is to believe, 2012 is
just about gone. I am amazed at
how quickly time seems to pass
in life. As I think about where we are, both
as a university and as individuals, a few
words come to mind.
Blessings
Your university is having a great school
year. With record enrollments at several
of our campuses, including Plainview and
San Antonio, we have been given wonderful opportunities to practice the ministry
to which God has called Wayland Baptist
University. New opportunities to expand
the scope and reach of the school’s service
are always given serious consideration, and
invitations to consider such expansions
seem to come to us regularly. We have
added to and expanded the university’s academic offerings, constructed a new men’s
dorm, and remodeled our university center.
There is a strong spiritual vibrancy among
our students which is deeper and more
pronounced than at any time in the recent
past. Many of the individuals attending
Wayland today are deeply and passionately
committed to changing our world through
the word and the power of Christ. In many
ways, our job as a faith-based institution of
higher learning is to give these students the
tools they need to fulfill that very calling.
Challenges
Because of growing concerns surrounding government budget issues, student aid
programs at both the state and national level are being examined with a view
towards large reductions and contractions.
Last year, Wayland students received $5.3
million in need-based federal sponsored
Pell Grant assistance. In Texas, our students received around $2 million in Tuition
Equalization Grant funding from the state
legislature. Both of these programs are
facing serious challenges and threats. If
reductions are enacted, the impact on our
students will be significant—especially on
first-in-family college attenders.
Military tuition assistance is also in
danger of being substantively reduced.
Such a reduction would impact about 47%
of those students who attend our external
campuses. While no final decisions have
been made yet regarding MTA, the news
out of Washington D.C. is, at this point in
time, discouraging.
Because of the looming “fiscal cliff”
in our nation’s capital, all kinds of revenue-generating proposals are being given
consideration. One of these ideas is to limit
and/or eliminate the charitable deduction
provision in the nation’s IRS tax code. Institutions like Wayland, which depend heavily on the generosity of their friends and
alumnae, are deeply concerned about such
possibilities. The way philanthropy has
been supported through the years is under
grave threat of being changed forever.
Gratitude
In spite of the challenges we face, Wayland Baptist University has been blessed.
All of us who serve here have a very clear
sense that the future clearly is bright for
the school. You can be proud of your Wayland. Her future is filled with possibility and
opportunity.
Your friendship towards and support
of this school is more important than ever
before. While the environment in which we
serve changes on a daily basis, your belief
in Wayland’s ministry remains strong and
sure and steady. Thanks for your prayers
and your gifts. They encourage and sustain
us strongly on a daily basis.
We hope that 2013 will be for you and
your family a blessed and happy year.
Grace and peace... .
What the President is Reading: Team of Rivals, Doris Kearns Goodwin; Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet,
Spy, Eric Metaxas; Ike’s Bluff: President Eisenhower’s Secret Battle to Save the World, Evan Thomas
FOOTPRINTS
Volume 58, No. 3
Editorial Board
Danny Andrews, BA’72
Publisher
Jonathan Petty, BA’95, MA’09
Editor
Richard Porter, BA’87
Assistant Editor
Alumni Officers
Sally Dillman Eaves, BS’75
President
Tyke Dipprey, BSOE’96
Vice President
Danny Andrews, BA’72
Director, Alumni Development
Blake Durand, BA’10
Assistant Director, Alumni Development
Amber Smith, BS’07
Alumni Assistant
Executive Board
Dr. Gary Abercrombie, BS’73
Kevin Carter, BBA’93
Rose Ann Chavez, BSOE’06
Michael Cox, BA’98, MA’10
Brenda Gonzalez, BA’73
Stacie Hardage, BBA’90
Mike Manchee, BS’94, MEd’97
Richard Miller, BS’87
Danny Murphree, BS’69
Daleyn Schwartz, AAS’85 Caren Smith, BA’92
Courtney Williams, BSIS’02
Danny Wrenn, BA’84
FOOTPRINTS is published by the Association
of Former Students at Wayland Baptist University.
No outside advertising is accepted. Wayland Baptist
University is affiliated with the Baptist General
Convention of Texas. Wayland is accredited by the
Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award degrees
at the associate, baccalaureate and master’s levels.
Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866
Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097 or call
404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation
of Wayland Baptist University. Non-profit rate
postage paid at Lubbock, Texas 79404. Telephone
(806) 291-3600.
POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to
FOOTPRINTS, Wayland Baptist University, 1900
West 7th St. CMB 437, Plainview, TX 79072.
Wayland Baptist University does not discriminate
on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex or
national origin in administration of its policies,
admission policies, scholarships and loan programs,
athletic and other school administration.
Features
Wayland Baptist University students excel
in the classroom and in life.
2
Miss Wayland 2013 has a heart for
helping the homeless.
6
Dr. John Blevins uses medicine to
share the gospel.
10
Anchorage student finds Christ in the
classroom.
Also Inside
12 Music student earns prestigious honor
14 Professor releases Piano CD
15 Harkey chosen to sing with quartet
22 Alum takes charge Down Under
24 Pioneer sports wrap
29 Andrews is decorating with memories
36 Class Notes
If you have any questions or comments about Footprints, e-mail Danny at andrewsd@wbu.edu,
Jonathan at pettyj@wbu.edu, or write to us in care of the Wayland Alumni Office.
Page named Miss WBU
newly crowned Miss Wayland shows her heart for missions
Story by Jonathan Petty
A
manda Page has a plan.
Being Miss Wayland wasn’t part of it.
Page moved to Plainview to live with and care
for her 93-year-old grandfather, longtime Plainview businessman John Page, as well as continue her education.
She has taken no fewer than 19 hours per semester
since starting school and will graduate from Wayland
Baptist University with her bachelor’s degree in English
next May, completing her degree in three years. She
plans to attend graduate school, earn her master’s and
doctoral degrees and find a position teaching college
English by the time she is 30. All the while, continuing
her humanitarian work which, to this point, has included
starting a nonprofit organization to benefit the homeless
in Bend, Org. – a fairly impressive resume for a 23-yearold.
Throw in the fact that she writes a blog targeting
college women and promoting college life, sings, plays
the ukulele, and never fails to get her grandfather to Mc-
Donald’s in time for breakfast with his friends, and you
can see why spending time rehearsing and competing
for the title of Miss Wayland was not high on her list of
priorities … until someone talked her into it.
“As you can tell,” Page smiled, “I like to overcommit
a little bit.”
The daughter of Garry and Ann Page, Amanda grew
up in Plano. While familiar with Plainview and Wayland
the thought of pursuing her education at the West Texas
school never really crossed her mind even though her
father and uncle, J. Don George who pastors Calvary
Church in Irving, are both WBU graduates.
“I grew up coming to Plainview every year for my
whole life,” Page said. “We would come the July 4 week
because my grandfather’s birthday was July 5 so we
would make a big family trip. I knew Wayland, I knew
Plainview, but I don’t know why I just never thought
about coming here.”
After graduating from high school, Page attended a
school in Florida. Her sister was a student there at the
time, but Page didn’t feel like Florida was the place for
footprints 3
Amanda Page entertains the crowd during the talent portion of the Miss
Wayland competition in November.
her. She left school and took a few
years off from education. Her time
was well spent, however, as she
began working with the homeless.
Page and a friend volunteered two
days a week to work with a ministry
at the Cornerstone Baptist Church
in Dallas, providing meals to the
homeless.
“It was set up where it wasn’t really like a soup kitchen,” Page said.
“It was restaurant style and you
were a server to the tables. You got
to know the people and they had a
fun experience.”
Page said the experience made
an impression on her life. Over time
she and her friend developed lasting
relationships with many of the
4 footprints
people they served, some of whom
Page remains in contact with by
sending letters to the church which
are delivered to the individuals.
“We realized very quickly that
we couldn’t really change anybody’s
situation, but we could give them
all we had to offer, which was our
friendship,” Page said.
During that time, Page said
some of her friends moved to Bend,
an area of the country that was
hit hard by recession. Page said
her friends, knowing she had been
working with a nonprofit organization, contacted her and asked if
she would move to Oregon to assist
in setting up an organization that
would benefit the homeless there.
“[Bend was] really hit hard by
the economy,” Page said. “Living in
Dallas, I didn’t really see the hit as
much. I moved to Bend and it was
like, ‘Oh! This is what the news is
talking about.’”
Many of the middle class had
lost their jobs and homes and were
living on the streets or in tent cities.
Page and her friends set up an
organization that coordinated a network of doctors, dentists and other
groups that would donate their time
and services once a month to help
those who were less fortunate. In
time, they combined efforts with
another nonprofit organization to
set up a network using technology
to benefit the homeless. If someone
needed something specific, they would contact others in the network and
find a way to have the goods or services donated.
“Using the technology like that made it to where we could meet the
needs very quickly,” Page said. “It was really fun to be part of it, and it is still
going on now.”
But it was the need of her own family that drew her to Plainview. As her
grandfather fell into declining health, Page moved to Plainview to care for
him. She also wanted to continue her education so she enrolled at Wayland.
Although Page had never really considered Wayland as an option, what she
found was a warm and inviting environment where her professors really
seemed to care about her.
“I feel like a person with them,” Page said. “I feel like they want to see
their students succeed.”
Leading her list of caring professors is Dean of the School of Languages
and Literature Dr. Cindy McClenagan.
“She is doing what I want to do,” Page said. “And she is doing it in such a
way that she is an inspiration to her students. She cares about your schooling, but she cares about you.”
Page said there have been periods when she spent a good deal of time
at the heart hospital with her grandfather. Dr. McClenagan and others were
always there to make sure she had the freedom and support to care for her
grandfather and still work with her to meet the classroom requirements.
It was Dr. McClenagan and the School’s administrative assistant Annette
Coon who persuaded Page to compete for Miss Wayland.
“I told them no,” Page smiled. “I’ve never done a pageant. That is kind of
not in my realm of things to do, I guess.”
But McClenagan and Coon wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer.
“They said that I should try something outside of my box. They thought
I would really enjoy it,” Page said. “I’m really glad that they pushed me
around.”
Sponsored by the School of Languages and Literature, Page joined the
competition, not knowing any of the other 15 girls competing.
“I was a little intimidated going into a room full of girls fighting for one
position,” she said. “That is not something I would put myself into, but everyone was so wonderful. I made 15 new friends.”
Although rehearsing for several hours each night for a month prior to
the pageant was difficult and time-consuming, Page said she really enjoyed
getting to know each of the contestants and she has fully embraced what it
means to be Miss Wayland and to represent the school to the community of
Plainview.
“I have always loved public speaking,” said Page, who as a young girl got
to meet Zig Ziglar whom she admired. “When I was told I would have the
opportunity to speak about Wayland and promote the school around town, I
thought that would be such a fun opportunity.
As her reign as Miss Wayland begins, Page is looking forward to promoting Wayland and its programs. She said Wayland has offered her so many
opportunities that she probably would not have had at a larger school and
she will forever be grateful.
“I have so many heartstrings attached to (Wayland),” Page said. “I love
this school.”
“
We realized very
quickly that we
couldn’t really
change anybody’s
situation, but we
could give them
all we had to
offer, which was
our friendship.
“
Amanda Page
Miss Wayland 2013
footprints 5
Wayland graduate Dr. John Blevins was
on campus as the guest speaker for the
School of Math and Sciences during Homecoming 2012. Here, Blevins, right, talks with
Dr. Glyndle Feagin after his presentation.
Blevins uses medicine to share the gospel
Story by Richard Porter
A
s Dr. Herbert Grover
summed up the presentation given by the
guest speaker for the School of
Mathematics and Sciences’ 2012
Homecoming Lecture, he made an
observation.
Grover, who is Dean of the
School of Mathematics and Sciences, looked out over the lecture hall
and then drew attention to a particular part of the crowd.
“Look over here and in this corner is half the religion faculty — in
the science building,” Grover said,
6
footprints
alluding to the worldviews of the two
disciplines, which many believe are
in conflict with one another.
Those worldviews are not in conflict for that day’s speaker, Wayland
graduate Dr. John Blevins who is a
medical doctor in Midland. Blevins’
topic was how his time as a student
at the university helped prepare him
to do medical mission work. He was
quick to point out his impression
of the compatibility of science and
religion as he spent an hour talking
to students in the Moody Science
Building.
Blevins explained that from his
perspective as a medical doctor
who also is a Christian, science and
religion are not in conflict because
“they answer two very different
questions.” Science answers the
question of how the world was
created while religion addresses the
question of why.
In fact, he continued, his spirituality is critical to much of his
day-to-day work as a physician. He
pointed out that particularly in West
Texas doctors treat people who have
a background of faith but regardless
of background patients often will
be dealing with faith issues — particularly those who have critical or
terminal illnesses. It is a challenge
Patients line up outside
a medical clinic in rural
Uganda hoping to see
Wayland graduate and
physician Dr. John
Blevins. Blevins was part
of a medical mission
team that spent several
days in the country.
to help those patients without a
spiritual perspective, he said.
For him, that was a critical part
of what he got from his time as a
student at Wayland.
“I feel like the faculty all helps
you integrate that,” he said, adding
that he should know since his interests required that he take classes
under several different disciplines.
Blevins explained that he had always felt that God was calling him to
be a doctor, but also to do mission
work. At the same time, he enjoyed
music and was active in the university’s music program. He realized as
a teenager that he could combine
his callings through medical mission
work and that realization played
a key role in the choices he made
about his future and the focus he
was going to need to reach the goal
of becoming a medical missionary.
Wayland’s role in that process
was not only to allow him to get a
quality education, but one with a
strong emphasis on spirituality and
“ethically-based research.” The faculty not only taught him the appropriate material in the classroom but
helped him understand the importance of organizing his time, maximizing his energy and continuing
to learn on his own, outside of the
classroom. In short, Wayland taught
him the discipline he would need to
make it through the challenges of
medical school.
“Wayland taught me how to
teach myself,” he said, adding that
the faculty prided itself in “teaching you how to become a lifelong
learner.”
Blevins said he went to med
school (UT Galveston) with students
from prestigious universities from
across the country and was surprised at how well he fit in, academically. In fact, he continued, he spent
much of his first two years simply
reviewing what he already had
learned as an undergrad.
“I graduated number five in my
class because Wayland prepared
me,” he said.
While that academic background
was important, Blevins told the
students that the mental toughness
and discipline he got from his Wayland professors was just as important, if not more so. After all, he said,
while he had first felt called to be a
medical missionary as a teenager,
it took him almost two decades to
realize that goal.
Blevins got his first opportunity
footprints 7
Wayland grad and physician Dr. John Blevins addresses students as the
guest speaker for the 2012 Homecoming School of Mathematics and
Sciences guest lecture. Blevins, who practices medicine in Midland, recently
went on a medical mission trip to Uganda.
“
If you get a
chance to travel,
travel, especially
to a third-world
country. God still
is asking that
question, ‘Who
can I send?’
“
Dr. John Blevins
BS’99, MA’03
8 footprints
to follow his calling this past summer when he
spent several days on a medical trip to Uganda.
A group from Fort Portal, Uganda had visited his
church in Midland and had asked for help. Blevins
explained that he had not been able to attend
the actual service but when his wife, Lisa, called
him and told him he needed to come meet with
the visitors he got to the church as quickly as he
could.
The doctor ended up as part of a team that
did medical work in some very remote areas of
the country — areas where there was only a small,
ill-equipped clinic and a single nurse practitioner
treating all of the people of the region.
Blevins explained that the trip was very
eye-opening on a lot of levels. To begin with,
because of the poverty in the rural area where
he was working, the medical professionals were
thrilled with anything they could get their hands
on. His team had put together 29 pallets of donated medical supplies — material that was expendable in the United States — that were seen as a
true blessing to the people of Uganda.
He also was amazed at the level of medical
need in the region and how God was able to use
his commitment to serve as a way to meet that
need.
“I saw some very, very, very sick kids,” he said
(see related story on page 9).
In concluding his talk to the students, Blevins
encouraged them to take their time at Wayland
seriously and be grateful for the opportunity to
get an education at a faith-based university. He
encouraged them to dream big and take advantage of any opportunity they had to travel and
expand their worldview.
“I’m going to encourage you guys, if you get
an opportunity to go on a trip like this, go,” he
said. “If you get a chance to travel, travel, especially to a third-world country. God still is asking
that question, ‘Who can I send? Who can I send?’”
Finally, he told them to stay focused and
strong because sometimes it was a long road that
had to be travelled to get from vision to reality.
“It took me until I was 35 years old to get to
do what I was called to do when I was 17,” he
said.
Blevins recalls
experience in Uganda
(Dr. John Blevins, BS’99 and MA’03 from the Lubbock campus, was the speaker for the School of Math
and Science lecture during Homecoming in October.
He is a hospitalist in Midland and recently did medical
mission work in Uganda. Here are his recollections.)
O
n July 7, a small team embarked on an
incredible journey that took us to the Pearl of
Africa, also known as Uganda.
The word that an American Christian physician had
arrived spread like wildfire. I was able to see about 85
people in an 8-hour time span on the first day as well
as caring for the president and several members of his
entourage.
The second day, I was able to treat over 220 people
in about an 11-hour marathon. While I was hardly even
able to stop to catch my breath, I felt the Lord giving me
the energy, knowledge, and drive to continue to push
through the day. By around 6 p.m. of the second day,
there were about 40 people who had been waiting since
about 2 p.m. to be seen as we had been forced to stop
taking new patients due to the sheer number.
I looked at my incredibly resilient team members
and said I was going to see each one of these patients
because they had been waiting to be seen by a doctor.
They thought I was joking, but I just prayed for strength
and guidance. I then went out into the waiting room
and announced that I would see each one of them and
address one or two problems for each one. I went down
the line and was able to see each one of them. The Lord
gave me the strength and patience to do it.
I was able to treat several extremely ill children as
well as one who was virtually on death’s doorstep. I
prayed that God would heal her, giving me the knowledge to do so. You know what? He delivered!
Several hours later that child was breathing much
easier and her fever had greatly reduced. It was His
doing, not mine, that saved that little child. You see, it
was in the middle of the day and I heard that still small
voice telling me to step out into the waiting area. I did
not know why, but I did.
When I went out there,
I was able to hear the child
struggling to breathe and
was able to bring her back
into the examination room
and treat her there on the
spot. Otherwise, that child
might have died waiting to
be seen as her number was
more than 50 away at that
time.
We then left Fort Portal
for the bush area and
Rwebsingo. There, I was
Dr. John Blevins
introduced to a nurse practitioner who ran the only
clinic for miles around. I told her what I would be doing
and while she was reluctant at first, she did eventually
warm up to us and off to the races we went.
In just nine hours we were able to treat, document
and supply medications to over 100 people. The following day we began where we left off; unfortunately, we
were shut down by the government medical group as
we were competing with their vaccination push. Despite
efforts by the local nurse practitioner to combine the
two clinics, our clinic was disbanded and the people
were dispersed. By then we had seen probably 30-40
people in just over two hours.
I was able to say a quick prayer over each patient
while examining them and documenting their issues
and was able to share much more about Jesus’ love
with several other patients. In every encounter the Lord
was praised for our work. When people would thank me,
I would immediately tell them, “Thank Jesus for bringing us here. It is for His glory we do this, not ours.”
This was truly a life-changing trip for me as well as
those who traveled with me. The Lord was truly glorified
and His kingdom was advanced.
footprints 9
Anchorage student finds
Christ in the classroom
Story by Richard Porter
I
t never occurred to Julie Arthur
that enrolling at a Christian
university could ultimately lead
to her spiritual salvation — and in
the process give her a focus that
could change her life completely.
Funny how things work. That
is exactly what happened and the
new convert took advantage of her
recent graduation address to make
that point to her fellow students.
Arthur graduated this past
spring from Wayland Baptist University-Anchorage and was afforded the
opportunity to present a graduation address during the ceremony.
Her “civilian job” is a base engine
manager for Pratt and Whitney and
she is a member of the Alaska Air
National Guard. In beginning her
remarks to her fellow students she
made it clear what had been her
initial motivation for enrolling at
Wayland.
“When I first began attending
Wayland Baptist,” she said, “it was
because I felt it was what I had to do
and not what I wanted to do.”
Arthur went on to explain that
she didn’t have very good self-esteem, had not been a particularly
good student in high school and
college didn’t seem like a realistic
goal to her.
She was faced with a conflict,
however. Her mother had always
10 footprints
“
On my 19th birthday
my mother died from
breast cancer. I was
angry at God and
hurt. I took her death
personally.
“
dreamed of her children going to
college.
Even that, though, was complicated, Arthur told her classmates.
“On my 19th birthday my mother died from breast cancer. I was
angry at God and hurt. I took her
death personally,” she said, adding
that even in her 30s she still was
“full of doubt about myself, academics and God.”
Despite those doubts, Arthur
explained that out of love for her
mother and respect for her mother’s dream, she went ahead and
enrolled at the Anchorage campus
of Wayland.
“I was scared and nervous,” she
said. “My first class was English
1301 with Dr. (James) Waller. He
wasn’t so scary until he said he
gave his wife a C. Then I thought to
myself, ‘Oh no! If he gave his wife
a C, what kind of a grade could I
possibly get?’ ”
As it turned out, Arthur wound
up with a B in her first college class
and that success, along with the
support from her husband, Don,
and her sister, gave her the confidence to keep taking classes.
Something still was missing,
though.
“Every grade I got, every test I
passed, I longed to call my mom,”
Arthur told her classmates.
She acknowledged that she still
did not see any benefit to going to a
faith-based university other than as
an opportunity to fulfill her mother’s
dream for her. She still was a long
way from a personal relationship
with the God toward whom she felt
so much anger.
While she admitted in a subsequent interview that she had attended church as a child, she pointed
out that it had little impact on her
and that her husband had no spiritual background at all, even though
he had decided to take a course in
Old Testament with her.
Arthur told her classmates, “Don
and I were not religious people. We
went (to the Bible class) with the
mindset that it was just another
class and wondered who would get
the higher grade.”
Funny how things work.
Arthur went on in her address
Julie Arthur enjoys a
post-graduation celebration
with her husband, Don, and
stepdaughter, Erika, after
delivering her graduation
address to fellow students
during a recent ceremony at
Wayland Baptist
University-Anchorage.
Courtesy Photo/Joselynn Finch Photography, Anchorage, Alaska
to explain that it was in that class,
without her and Don even realizing
it, that a change began to occur in
her life.
“Before I knew it,” she said, “we
were talking about God. We didn’t
even realize we were having Bible
studies at our dinner table. We
would go to bed talking about the
verses we read and how they made
us feel until we fell asleep.”
Then came the kicker.
“That anger that I felt towards
God was disappearing without me
even paying attention to it. I started
hearing God’s whisper of encouragement and love,” she said.
It was in a New Testament
course, taught by Dr. Mark Goodman, that Arthur became a Christian.
“I felt the entire time that Dr.
Goodman was only talking to me,”
she told her fellow students. “He
was pulling me out of the darkness
I had been surrounded by for so
long.”
In the subsequent interview, Arthur elaborated. She explained that
as she studied the New Testament
and learned about the life of Christ
and the struggles He went through
– ultimately on her behalf – she
began to gain a new perspective on
her personal problems. At the same
time, through her studies of Christ’s
temptations, she determined that
He already had conquered Satan
and had done so, again, on her
behalf.
“I felt like the whole time He
was saying, ‘I’ve been through this.
Come on. You can do it,’ ” she said.
On the podium at her graduation
ceremony, Arthur laid it out for her
classmates.
“It went from God’s whisper to
God shaking me by my shoulders
and saying, ‘I never left you. I’m
here.’
“The testament classes took this
self-doubter to a person of faith.
I not only believed in Christ, but
for the first time in my adult life I
believed in me. I learned to organize
my life and school and, dare I say it,
I loved college. Because of Wayland Baptist I am now a chaplain’s
assistant for the Alaska Air National
Guard one weekend a month. If you
had told me before Wayland I would
be a chaplain’s assistant, I would’ve
laughed in your face. Wayland not
only gave me the ability to get a
degree, but to be a better wife,
stepmother and steward of Christ,”
she said.
Arthur’s graduation address was
several months ago, but her excitement still is fresh. She talked about
it with enthusiasm as she thought
about the way she feels God has
blessed her in her new relationship
with Him.
“I think I realized that if I hadn’t
turned my back on (God) I would
have gotten through my mother’s
death more easily. I was too busy
blaming Him.”
She agreed — funny how things
work.
footprints 11
Operatically Gifted
WBU music student recognized for outstanding talent
Story by Jonathan Petty
W
ayland Baptist University sophomore Christion Draper has known
from an early age what he wanted
to do with his life – and it wasn’t the
typical dream of adolescent youth.
Draper wants to sing opera.
“I know I want to gig,” Draper
said. “I want to go to some opera
12 footprints
house and just tear it up on stage
and leave it all out there. I want to
sing in Sydney (Australia). I want
to sing all over the world and be in
every single opera I can be in for the
baritone role.”
It is Draper’s insatiable love of
music that led to his being selected
to represent the WBU School of Music in the prestigious Texas Association of Music Schools scholarship
competition at which Draper was
named the grand-prize recipient.
A charismatic soul, Draper
quickly made a name for himself on
the Wayland campus, being named
Freshman of the Year by faculty and
staff. Hungry for knowledge, his professors took note of his willingness
to learn and his passion for music.
“He is so excited to be a music
scholar,” said Dr. Ann Stutes, Dean
of the School of Music at Wayland. “He loves performing, but he
also loves learning. When we have students in our classes who enjoy
learning as much as he does, it makes our jobs incredibly worthwhile.”
Not only is Draper a model student, but his professors also
realized that he is phenomenally talented. As a result, Draper was
nominated as the school’s representative in a scholarship competition hosted by the Texas Association of Music Schools.
Stutes explained that a generous donation from the Clara
Freshour-Nelson family funds the scholarship competition. The gift
was given to the state organization due to the family’s desire to give
music students from across the entire state a chance to earn scholarship money. As a result, TAMS set up three competitions, for two-year
schools, four-year private institutions and four-year public institutions.
“Every school that is a member of TAMS is allowed to nominate
one true second-semester freshman for the scholarship competition,”
Stutes said.
The contestants compete and scholarships are awarded based on
musical performance and need. Stutes, who judges the two-year and
four-year public schools competitions, said the judging committees
generally award multiple scholarships in each category depending on
how many students they feel are worthy. The judging committee also
names a single grand-prize recipient for each of the three categories.
Draper was nominated by the School of Music and submitted an
essay and a 10-minute recording of his music. As a result, he was
named the grand-prize recipient for the four-year private schools
competition, competing against music students from schools such as
Baylor, Southern Methodist and Texas Christian University.
“Christion is probably one of the finest vocal students we have
ever had at Wayland,” Stutes said.
As a grand-prize winner, Draper will be invited to perform at the
TAMS meeting in January.
“I get flown to Au stin to sing for all the deans in Texas. I get to
put on a mini concert. It’s very prestigious. They are flying in my
family, my accompanist, my voice teacher and my fiancée by then …
probably,” Draper said with a smile.
His girlfriend/fiancée, Andrea Hamric, has also been recognized
as a scholarship winner at the TAMS competition.
Draper said he plans to complete his degree in opera at Wayland
then continue his education, earning a doctorate in vocal performance.
“We know he is going to go on from this institution and – what we
like to say around here – make the world a better place through his
music,” Stutes said.
“
We know he is going
to go on from this
institution and –
what we like to say
around here – make
the world a better
place through his
music.
“
Dr. Ann Stutes
Dean, School of Music
footprints 13
Fountain releases
‘American Ivory’ CD
Story by Jonathan Petty
I
t was a couple of years in the making, but on
Thursday, Sept. 27, Dr. Richard Fountain released
his first professional CD featuring himself, a Steinway Model D grand Piano and original compositions by
his friend and colleague, Dr. Gary Belshaw.
Both professors in the School
of Music at Wayland, Fountain and
Belshaw began discussing the
idea of collaborating on an album
a couple of years ago when a
school-sponsored visit to Germany
and the Czech Republic sparked a
creative fire in Belshaw.
While sitting in the practice
room for the Prague Philharmonic
Dr. Richard
Orchestra, Belshaw, Professor of
Music Composition, said he should
Fountain
write something for piano, “something virtuosic.”
“[Fountain] said I should write a sonata,” Belshaw
said.
Belshaw wrote the first movement of a sonata that
he hoped to finish through the course of the summer.
However, he was unable to complete the piece so he
called it a rhapsody and gave it to Fountain, Assistant
Professor of Collaborative Piano, to premiere on the
Wayland performance stage. Following the performance,
the two began discussions on recording several of
Belshaw’s compositions.
When the School of Music purchased a new Steinway concert grand piano as the initial phase of its move
to an All-Steinway School designation, Fountain thought
the time would be right to actively pursue a professional
recording. After raising more than $7,000 through the
help of kickstarter.com and “the generosity of friends,
family and total strangers,” Fountain and Belshaw began
the technical process of producing the recording.
The compilation features the works of renowned
composers Edward MacDowell, Samuel Barber and Aaron Copland and six original pieces from Belshaw.
Both professors and other members of the School
of Music say having the recording really validates what
the school is trying to accomplish. And it hasn’t gone
unnoticed by students.
“I’m really excited about it and I think it is great for
the School of Music,” said Wayland senior music major
Aaron Prentice. “It makes me that much more eager
to study under someone when I can actually listen to
a professional recording. It’s much more evident how
good a musician he is.”
Belshaw said Fountain was definitely the right person to perform the selected pieces of music.
“Having my music played by someone of his caliber
is a rewarding experience,” Belshaw said. “I think he is
the most gifted pianist I have ever shaken hands with.”
For information on purchasing a CD for $15, contact
the School of Music at 806-291-1076.
Harkey selected to sing bass
with Signature Sound
S
outhern Gospel music
fans were buzzing recently
with word that a new bass
singer was joining Ernie Haase and
Signature Sound.
On blogs and online forums, it
seemed to be unanimous that while
music lovers were sad to see Ian
Owens move on to other opportunities, they are excited that Wayland
graduate Paul Harkey will be the
newest member of EHSS – an opinion shared by Owens himself.
“Owens posted a heartfelt congratulatory welcome on Harkey’s
Facebook page, and that kind of
support can only make the transition
even more positive for the whole
EHSS family,” one gospel music
observer said.
“And since Harkey calls the legendary bass singer George Younce
one of his early influences – especially Younce’s rhythm, his phrasing,
and his heart – Harkey can’t help
but feel right at home with Ernie
Haase, son-in-law of the late great
Cathedrals bass singer.”
According to Haase, Paul Harkey
“has a voice that fills up the room”
and will bring “another level of
excitement” to any live listening
audience.
On the road since 2007, Harkey
has enjoyed singing and touring
with respected groups like Crystal
River (during a two-month stint in
Branson, Mo.), Anchormen and The
LeFevre Quartet. With a bachelor’s
degree in Church Music from Wayland in December 2003, the Plain-
view-born Harkey is well-prepared
for a new adventure with Signature
Sound with whom he debuted Oct.
18 in Elizabethtown, N.C.
“I was called into ministry,” Harkey said about his positive time serving as a church minister of music
– including time in Petersburg where
he lived as a youngster as well as
Abernathy before graduating from
Plainview High in 1998. But he was
encouraged to learn that singing on
the road is “what I’m supposed to
do,” and “lets me fulfill what God’s
will is for me.”
Harkey, who said his deep voice
came about in his late teens (“I was
a very late bloomer”), was introduced to gospel music during a
Homecoming Texas Style concert
produced by Bill Gaither in Fort
Worth “when I was 14 or 15.” Now
living his dream, Harkey got to sing
with the Gaither Vocal Band during a
concert in Myrtle Beach, S.C. but has
not yet appeared on a Gaither video.
Harkey complimented the music
staff at Wayland while he was a
student. “All of them had a profound
impact on who I am today as a singer and as a Christian. Robert Black
(who retired last May as Director of
Church Music) had a tremendous
influence on me,” he said.
Harkey, a self-described “regular
guy” who loves hunting and fishing,
has the support of his whole family
as he joins Ernie Haase and Signature Sound. He and his wife Jennifer, and their 9-year-old daughter
Cameron are also looking forward
to meeting a new member of their
family – a boy due in late April,
2013. The singer and his family live
in Randleman, near Greensboro, N.C.
Harkey said his new group performs 115-125 days a year in the
United States and outside.
footprints 15
Stephen Padilla, his wife, Judi, and daughter, Elizabeth are joined by WBU President Dr. Paul Armes, right, and Alph Chi faculty sponsor Dr. Perry
Collins, after a pinning ceremony signifying Padilla’s induction into the national honor society.
Because they let me
Alpha Chi inductee admits reason for choosing Wayland
Story by Richard Porter
S
tephen Padilla has an
interesting reason for
attending Wayland Baptist
University’s San Antonio campus.
He signed up for classes there because they let him.
While that may seem like a
strange reason, Padilla elaborated
while visiting Wayland’s home campus in Plainview for his induction
into the university’s chapter of the
16 footprints
Alpha Chi Honor Society. He made
the almost 900-mile round trip
journey with his wife, Judi, and their
daughter, Elizabeth.
Padilla, who currently is getting a master’s degree in Christian
ministry after receiving a bachelor’s
degree from Wayland in scientific
analysis technology in 2010, spent
25 years in the United States Air
Force. He enrolled at the university’s
San Antonio campus after completing an associate’s degree through
the Community College of the Air
Force. However, when he began trying to enroll in a four-year program
he discovered that many four-year
colleges would not accept the work
he had done for his associate’s
degree.
Enter Wayland Baptist University,
which has a long history of working
with the military to provide opportunities for higher education to servicemen and women, and allowed
him to transfer all of his credits.
“Wayland is one of the military-friendly
schools that partners with the Air Force in a
program called the Associates-to-Bachelors
Cooperative. I started with Wayland for my
four-year degree because they accepted my
two-year degree,” he said matter-of-factly.
Padilla spent much of his time in the Air
Force working in nuclear treaty monitoring and
research and development. He and Judi both
are on their third marriage and he acknowledged that much of his adult life was anything
but conducive to strong family values.
“Judi and I are both divorced twice. This is
our third marriage each. We’ve seen firsthand
what it does to adults and children,” he said as
he explained the choice of an advanced degree
in Christian ministry despite all of his training
and prior education in science and technology.
“I want to educate people to help prevent
divorce and help heal people who have done it
anyway,” he said.
One of his primary focuses will be on the
impact of divorce on children and he plans
to pursue that work by volunteering through
Family Life Ministries and as a writer and
author. In his own experience, he explained,
he heard a lot about how the Bible condemns
divorce and how those who get divorced and
remarry are committing adultery.
“They don’t give practical and day-to-day
solutions,” he said.
Padilla explained that when the Air Force
transferred him to San Antonio, he and Judi
decided that church would be a good place
for their family. However, he acknowledged, he
had not always felt that way.
“As a child I had been raised Roman Catholic. As an adult, I realized that my childhood
faith was not in Jesus but in the rituals of the
Church,” he said. “I drifted away from anything
even nominally Christian.
“I spent the first 20 years of my adult life
as an alcoholic and the Lord saved me from
that,” he said.
Padilla became a Christian in 2004 and he
and his family attend Northwest Hills Christian
Church. His trip to Plainview for the induction
ceremony into Alpha Chi was a whirlwind affair
that both he and Judi felt was important for
their family.
From a personal standpoint, Padilla said
there were two reasons he wanted to make
the trip. The primary reason was because Judi
said they were coming.
“When I told Judi I was inducted into this
she asked me, ‘When’s the ceremony and
where?’ Then she said, ‘I guess we’re going
to Plainview in two weeks,’ ” he said, adding
that when the time came, the couple pulled
Elizabeth out of school for the day and headed
north.
From his perspective, Padilla continued,
a secondary reason was that the induction
into Alpha Chi provided affirmation for what
he wanted to do with his talents through his
education.
“I’m already in Mensa but Mensa is a recognition of the gifts God gave me. Alpha Chi is
recognition that I’m using those gifts the right
way,” he said.
The family perspective? Judi responded
to that. She pointed out that because both
she and Stephen are full-time students, their
young daughter “sees a lot of homework”
being tackled at their home.
“It’s important that Libby sees (Stephen’s)
recognition and what she can accomplish, as
well. It’s important that she sees that the hard
work pays off,” Judi said.
As for her take on the trip?
“I’m very proud of him and it doesn’t matter how far we have to travel,” she said.
Padilla said that he decided to stay at
Wayland for his master’s degree because he
had such a good experience with the school as
an undergrad.
“I had such a good experience with
Wayland philosophically, educationally and
culturally that I decided to stick with Wayland,”
he said.
Once he completes his master’s degree he
plans to become a high school science teacher
through the Troops-to-Teachers program while
pursuing his passion for ministry.
footprints 17
Oldest alum celebrates 104
(This story about 104-year-old Wayland graduate,
AA’28, Cecile Weathers, appeared in the Sherman
Herald Democrat in September. She is believed to be
Wayland’s oldest living graduate.)
Story by Lynette George
Sherman Herald Democrat
I
f you ask Cecile Weathers of Sherman to tell about
her life, you may need to pull up a comfortable
chair and clear your schedule … for a week or so.
After all, the lively, little lady has been around awhile —
104 years, to be exact. That calculates out to be 37,960
days and 911,040 hours — a lot of living that few people get the opportunity to experience.
Cecile celebrated her birthday at Traditions in Sherman where she resides. She was surrounded by some
of her favorite people and things — her daughter and
son-in-law, Nelda and Don Allen of Sherman, friends
from both outside and inside the facility, a chocolate
cake and pink decorations.
Dressed to the nines in a sparkly, dark mauve/pink
suit, dangly, crystal-like earrings and a bright smile, the
honoree greeted guests, visited with friends and blew
out the candles on her birthday cake quicker than most
youngsters.
Her daughter and staff members laughed and shook
their heads in amazement as Weathers happily dug
into her birthday cake, followed by two helpings of ice
cream, in between welcoming lots of birthday hugs and
well-wishes. Even Sherman Mayor Bill Magers dropped
by to present Weathers with a special birthday proclamation honoring her achievement.
Like many people in 1908, Cecile was born into a rural family. The eldest of seven children, she grew up on
a cotton farm in Haskell. It was a life of hard work, the
days stretching from well before daylight until long after
dark. Somewhat of a tomboy, Cecile says she preferred
plowing the fields and handling the teams of mules
and horses to actually picking cotton. She also handled
other daily chores, helping in the house and caring for
her younger siblings. She developed a lifelong passion
for baking by using the family’s wood stove.
After high school, the determined young woman be-
18 footprints
Cecile Weathers (right) is pictured with Carolyn Andrews, Wayland’s
Administrative Assistant to the President and wife of alumni director
Danny Andrews. Danny and Carolyn visited Cecile and presented her
wtih a Wayland history book.
gan attending Wayland Baptist College (now University)
in Plainview. There she met her husband, Elmer Merle
Weathers, who was also a student at the school. They
married when Cecile was 20, and the two finished their
college education, even walking down the aisle together
to receive their college diplomas in 1928.
From there Merle Weathers began his lifelong work
as a Baptist minister and Cecile remained at his side,
aiding the ministry, raising their daughter, and keeping
the family’s home. The family lived in small communities throughout Texas as Merle Weathers ministered to
various churches.
After Merle’s death, Cecile remained in her home
in Canyon until 2004 when she moved to Sherman to
be near her daughter and son-in-law. She remained in
an independent senior living apartment until several
injuries forced her to switch into an assisted living site.
Though no longer able to walk, Cecile is still doing fairly
well physically, considering her age, says her daughter.
She takes only one prescription medication, wears
glasses so she can see, is somewhat hard of hearing
but not deaf, and still has enough of her own teeth that
eating isn’t a problem. She enjoys visiting with family
and friends and is still crazy about chocolate.
An Evening for the Arts
YÜ|wtç? TÑÜ|Ä H? ECDF
In order to provide scholarships for students, the School of Fine Arts and the Friends of Fine Arts are hosting “An
Evening for the Arts.” The purpose is to support the recruitment of talented students in art, theatre and communication
studies. The fundraiser event will be a semi-formal evening spotlighting artists and theatre students and offering an
opportunity to purchase artwork to benefit the Friends of Fine Arts fund. The following are guidelines for those desiring
to support Wayland by submitting artwork for the event:
Entry is open to all artist alumni and current and former art students of Wayland Baptist University
Entries are open to all media: painting, drawing, photography, mixed media, textiles and digital
artwork
Artists will receive a donation acknowledgement form for tax purposes since all proceeds from the show will go
to the Fine Arts scholarship fund.
Donating artists will receive a discounted ticket to the event if they plan to attend.
Entry requirements
Donated art is due to the School of Fine Arts by March 29. The artwork sheet/canvas size must be 5x7
inches total (with image size variable on the 5x7 sheet/canvas). No framing is required. Photos should be
mounted on board. Signature and title should be placed on the back of the sheet to provide anonymity during
the artwork sale. Each donated 5x7 work will be exhibited anonymously, and each work will sell for $75.
Patrons will find out who the artists are after the purchase of the works!
All artwork must be delivered ready to hang or install but does not have to be framed.
All accepted work will become the property of the School of Fine Arts for fundraising purposes.
Wayland Baptist University retains the right to reproduce artwork for publicity purposes only.
Artists should submit an entry form with artwork for inventory and promotion purposes.
An Evening for the Arts Entry Form
Name:______________________________________________________________ WBU class year_______________
Mailing Address____________________________________________________________________________________
Email Address_________________________________________________________ Phone_____________________
Name of Artwork___________________________________________________________________________________
Media (circle one):
Oil
Acrylic
Pastel
Pencil
Photography
Digital
Mixed Media
Textiles
This is ________ of _______ pieces I am donating for An Evening for the Arts.
I have enclosed $15 in a check or money order payable to Wayland Baptist University for each ticket to the April 5
event that I am reserving as my special discounted donor artist rate. Number of tickets needed: _______
Please complete an entry form for each piece of artwork you are submitting. Questions regarding entries may be
addressed to: Dr. Candace Keller, 1900 W. 7th, CMB 1249, Plainview, Texas 79072 or kellerc@wbu.edu
Members of the Wayland Student Chapter of the American Chemical Society include (from left): Dr. Gary Gray, Sarah Kelly, Hailey Budnick, Jessica
Kenneson, Anna Kite, Libby Saultz, Trevor Burrow, Taylor Eaves and Dr. Robert Moore.
Chem students recognized for achievements
Story by Richard Porter
F
or the second consecutive
year, the Wayland Student
Chapter of the American
Chemical Society has been recognized for outstanding accomplishments. According to Professor of
Chemistry Dr. Gary Gray, the chapter
received the ACS Certificate of
Achievement for its chapter activities for the 2011-12 school year.
The recognition is based on an annual report outlining each chapter’s
activities for the year.
20 footprints
“It’s definitely not an automatic.
Most schools don’t get one. It’s a
reflection of [our students’] effort.
Last year they were really busy,”
Gray said.
The Wayland chapter, which
has a core group of 8-10 students,
meets every two weeks throughout
the school year and has a number
of departmental and community
activities in which it is involved,
Gray said. In 2011-12 those included selling Christmas cookies as a
fundraiser, chemical demonstrations
at Plainview public schools and
spending an afternoon in Lubbock
with students at Trinity Christian
High School.
“The benefit for them (of receiving the certificate) is it shows they
are working their tails off, but it also
makes them eligible for various
grants the American Chemical Society gives out,” Gray said, explaining
that the group received a $500
travel grant they were able to use for
a trip to the ACS National Meeting in
San Diego.
The report is compiled by the
chapter secretary which last year
was Jessica Kenneson, a sophomore
molecular biology/chemistry student
from Wiggins, Colo. — she recently was
elected to be the chapter president for
the coming year.
Kenneson said that one of her
colleagues, past president Stephanie
Whitaker, helped her compile the report
but it still was a pretty big undertaking.
“It took forever,” she said with a
laugh.
Kenneson said the recognition is
affirmation for the close-knit nature of
the group.
“We spend every day together,” she
said. “I’ve told a lot of people it’s like
a family down here,” she said, adding
that one common characteristic of the
group is its willingness to serve others.
“I’ve noticed the people in this
group have a heart for service,” she
said.
That willingness is manifesting itself
in one of the chapter’s big projects,
a weekly program where members
assist area homeschool students
with chemistry labs. Dr. Gray said the
program meets two needs. It provides
an excellent service opportunity for the
chapter while also giving them a legitimate fundraiser (since they do charge
a minimal fee for participation in the
program).
“I think this group is finally starting
to realize the potential for good they
have for the university. I think they are
realizing they can be clever enough in
designing programs that both benefit
the community and provide them with
travel money,” Gray said.
While the group has demonstrated
over the past couple of years that it is
a consistently high-performing chapter, Kenneson said the time has come
for the chapter to step up to another
level because of the activities they want
to do, and that means getting more
participation.
“We’re going to need more people
involved,” she said. “Somehow we’re
going to have to make ourselves known
(to other students).”
That means having more social
activities and coming up with better
ways to integrate the organization into
the regular functions of the university,
she said.
Kenneson pointed out that students
don’t have to be chemistry majors to
be a part of the Wayland chapter.
One of the things the chapter is
looking at in the future is establishing
an endowed scholarship to help future
students. Gray said that will give students yet another opportunity to help
the community.
Outgoing president Trevor Burrow,
a junior math/chemistry/molecular
biology student from Lubbock, pointed
out that the organization gives students
a chance to use their passion to benefit
the university, as well as individual students. Through the ACS chapter, they
can help incoming students get a good
start in the sciences at the collegiate
level while also helping current students move onto graduate school.
“It’s kind of reaching in both directions,” he said.
“If you have a passion for something, you want to share it with people
and maybe they’ll become interested in
it as well,” he said.
For Kenneson, the notion of the
chapter being able to endow a scholarship made an already big smile grow
and her reaction was an indication
of the enthusiasm she and her fellow
students have for helping others.
“We’re really interested in starting an endowed scholarship. There’s
nothing better than being able to help
somebody get through school,” she
concluded.
footprints 21
Harrelson tagged as Player/Coach
T
he Collie Crane Hire West
Slammers have pulled off
a major recruiting coup
by wooing Goldfields Giants combo
guard Ty Harrelson to Bunbury in
Western Australia on a three-year
deal, according to the South Western Times newspaper.
Harrelson, a two-year starter for
the Pioneers after transferring from
Collin County Community College,
was Wayland’s first-ever first-team
NAIA All-American as a senior in
2003. A former high school star
at Sonora and Wichita Falls Rider,
he still holds the Wayland school
records for most assists in a game
(15) and season average (6.8) and
for best free throw percentage for a
season (.888 on 191 of 215 chances). He also is tied for 28th on the
all-time Pioneer scoring list with
1,111 points.
Harrelson, 32, will join the
Slammers as player/coach in a significant boost to the program. The
American’s signature will go part of
the way to filling the void left by the
departure of the previous coach and
two key players.
During his two years in the SBL
Harrelson, who suited up for the
Giants last season and played for
Cockburn in 2011, has been widely
regarded as part of the competition’s elite.
He averaged almost 20 points
a game for Goldfields and was
named as a small forward in the
SBL’s 2012 All-Star Starting Five.
Harrelson also won the SBL Point
Guard of the Year title in 2011 after
he helped the Cougars, who had
missed the playoffs the previous
season, make a semifinal series.
22 footprints
Despite also being an assistant
coach with the Giants, Harrelson
said the chance to take on a senior
coaching position had been a major
drawing card.
His father, Scott Harrelson, was
an assistant coach at Wayland and
also coached the West Virginia University women’s team. His mother,
sister and brother-in-law are also
coaches.
‘‘I come from a long line of
coaches – it’s kind of in my blood,’’
Harrelson said. ‘‘The opportunity
to do it and hopefully improve the
Slammers over the next three years
was definitely attractive.’’
While his coaching appointment
has been a major coup, club officials
anticipate Harrelson will provide a
much-needed injection of experience to the Slammers’ roster.
He scored 20 points or more on
13 occasions last season, while his
mammoth 50-point haul for Cockburn against the Perth Redbacks
in the 2011 playoffs was one of the
best individual performances in
recent history.
Despite conceding his new role
would be challenging, Harrelson
said he was confident of helping the
club, which has won three consecutive wooden spoons (championship
awards) be more competitive.
‘‘I am going to do my best to
have us prepared,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m not
promising anything other than I am
going to give it 100 percent and that
I’m going to expect the same from
our team.’’
Harrelson said he had already
spoken to several contacts about
how to approach the task of having
both on and off-court roles. ‘‘They
gave me some good advice on how
to handle in-game strategy,’’ he said.
‘‘I think preparation will be vital – we
have to have a plan going into every
game.’’
Harrelson makes lead gift in
lockerroom renovation project
Ty Harrelson, BA’03, recently
made a gift of $10,000 toward a
goal of $25,000 to refurbish the
Wayland Pioneers’ dressing room in
Hutcherson Center.
Harrelson’s gift came after he
learned that former Flying Queen
All-American Linda Pickens Price,
BA’69, had given $25,000 for the
renovation of the Queens’ locker
room. Dedication for that project
was made in October during a spe-
cial recognition for members of the
1953-58 teams that won a national
record 131 consecutive games.
An appeal was made to about
300 former Pioneers who have
played between 1960-2012 in
hopes the funds can be raised for
the remodeling to be done before
the 2013-2014 season.
However, gifts from all friends
of Wayland for any amount are
appreciated and may be made to:
Show your
Pioneers Dressing Room, Wayland
Baptist University, 1900 W. Seventh,
CMB 1291, Plainview, TX 79072 or
by credit card by calling Danny Andrews at 806-291-3603 or e-mailing andrewsd@wbu.edu
“We are most appreciative of
our alumni like Linda Pickens Price,
Ty Harrelson and others who are
helping us upgrade our athletic
facilities,” said Athletic Director Greg
Feris.
WBU Pioneer Pride
Wayland Alumni Services is
offering sturdy metal trunk medallions of the university sports
logo (affixed with an adhesive
strip) for $12 with proceeds going
to the general scholarship fund
and alumni activities. Cost is $12
each and they can be secured
by check, cash or money order
by writing: Medallions, Wayland
Baptist University, 1900 W. Seventh, CMB 1291, Plainview, TX
79072 or by calling credit card
information to 806-291-3603 or
e-mailing andrewsd@wbu.edu.
Fall success for
Pioneer sports
W
ayland Baptist University sports teams have
seen an historic fall
semester with the return of football
after a seven-decade absence and a
record number of wins in both the
men’s and women’s soccer programs. Those, coupled with strong
seasons in volleyball and cross
country, have given WBU sports fans
plenty to yell about.
Football:
Wayland Baptist’s first football
game in 72 years ended with a
24 footprints
loss, but also with a whole
lot of promise. The Pioneers
dropped a 59-21 decision to
Monterrey Tech of Mexico at
Heroes Stadium in San Antonio Sept. 1.
Approximately 4,000 fans turned
out at Plainview’ Greg Sherwood
Memorial Bulldog Stadium as the
Pioneers made their home debut
against Adam State University. The
crowd remained enthusiastic despite a lopsided 55-7 loss.
The Wayland faithful got their
first taste of victory with a thrilling
27-23 victory over Howard Payne
University at Bulldog Stadium in
front of about 3,000 fans on Sept.
15.
“That was fun,” Wayland coach
Butch Henderson said after the historic win. “The kids made play after
play after play.”
Looking half overjoyed and half
Athletics Wrap
relieved to
get that first
win under the
team’s belt, Henderson admitted
to getting a bit
choked up in his
post-game speech
to his players.
It would take
five weeks for the
Pioneers to get their
second victory of the
year. That came during
Homecoming as Wayland defeated Southwest
Assemblies of God, 5837 on Oct. 20.
The matchup saw star
running back Kendall Roberson earn five touchdowns on the
ground and one in the air for 262
total yards in a game in which the
Pioneers would pile up a staggering
560 yards on offense.
Despite a 2-7 record (the opening game was officially an exhibition
game and did not count toward the
team’s record), the Pioneers pulled
off some major accomplishments
for a first-year program.
“We got our first win and our
first homecoming win. Those are
two big starting places,” Henderson
said. “That gave us a good start.”
Roberson lead the Pioneers in
rushing with 669 yards on 138
carries for a 4.8-yard average. He
also led the team in scoring with 12
touchdowns (72 points) and all-purpose yards with 868 total yards
(199 receiving yards combined with
his rushing total).
The Pioneers leading receiver
was Chris Acosta, a freshman from
Amarillo, who had 34 receptions for
344 yards for a 10.1-yard average.
Two
Pioneers
shared much of the quarterbacking duties with El Paso freshman Anthony Campuzano completing 111 passes out of 191 attempts
for 1,089 yards. Luis Gonzalez, a
freshman from Alamo, Texas, had
68 completions on 120 attempts for
701 yards.
On defense, Jon-Lucas Poe, a
freshman from Midland, led the
team in tackles with 33 solo and 35
assisted tackles, for a total of 68.
Irving, Texas freshman Kevin Carter
led the team with 2.5 sacks.
Men’s Soccer:
Wayland’s soccer program had
one of its most successful years
ever with both the men’s and women’s teams setting records for most
wins in a season.
On the men’s front, on Sept. 4,
in their first field appearance since
receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25
poll for the first time ever, the Pioneers didn’t disappoint.
Samman Hassan, Samson
Defeugaing and Travis Somersall
scored one goal apiece, and the
Pioneers posted a 3-2 victory over
Oklahoma Baptist in
Wayland’s Sooner
Athletic Conference
opener.
“Today was a
total team effort
against an extremely talented OBU
squad,” Wayland
coach Jamath
Shoffner said.
“We knew going
into the game it
was going to be
a tough place
to play and come
away with a win.”
WBU finished with an 11-5-2
record and advanced to the SAC
Tournament semifinals where the
third-seeded Pioneers lost to Oklahoma Baptist, 2-1 in overtime.
The Pioneers fared well in endof-season honors. Wayland Baptist’s
Miguel Teos was named Newcomer
of the Year in the Sooner Athletic
Conference, preventing a sweep of
the top men’s soccer honors by the
University of Science and Arts of
Oklahoma. Joining Teos, a midfielder, on the first team was WBU
goalkeeper John-Ramses Thomas,
while Pioneers making the second
team were defender Vitalis Atemafac
and midfielder Jevaughn Vance.
Teos, a junior form Greenville, S.C., had three goals and a
team-leading seven assists for 13
points for the Pioneers. His seven
assists ranked third in the SAC. He
took 19 shots (.158 shooting percentage) and had 10 shots on goal
(.526).
Thomas, a sophomore from
Plymouth, Tobago, who was SAC
Goalkeeper of the Year as a freshman, ended the season with 62
footprints 25
Athletics Wrap
saves while allowing 20 goals. He
faced 178 shots and had a .756
save percentage. He recorded seven
shutouts.
This is the second straight year
Vance was honored on the all-conference second team. The sophomore from Arima, Trinidad, produced five goals and five assists for
15 points, making him third on the
team in all three categories. He got
off 19 shots (.263) and nine shots
on goal (.474).
Atemafac, a junior from New
Carrollton, Md., led a Pioneer
defense that allowed 81 goals on
the season. Offensively, he had two
goals and three assists for seven
points. Additionally, he took 16
shots (.125), including six SOG
(.375).
Women’s Soccer:
On the women’s side, on Oct. 18
the Pioneers defeated Mid-American
University 1-0 for their record-setting eighth win in a season.
The victory gave Wayland (8-6-1
overall, 2-3-1 SAC), despite a roster
depleted by numerous injuries, its
record eighth victory of the season,
eclipsing the seven wins posted
during the 2008 season.
The women collected a number
of individual honors with freshman
Jessica Bell being named to the
women’s soccer All-Sooner Athletic
Conference second team.
Bell, a 5-foot-3 forward from Cibolo, scored six goals and tallied 13
points for the Pioneers, the second
most on the team in both categories. She ended with 34 shots, a
.176% shot percentage, 13 shots on
goal (.382 shot on goal percentage)
and one assist. She had a team-high
two game-winning goals for the Pioneers (8-9-1), who qualified for the
26 footprints
SAC Tournament. WBU lost to No. 6
Oklahoma City University, the eventual champion, in the first round.
Wayland Baptist women’s soccer
players Haley Hill and Katherine
Teinert were named to the Capital
One Academic All-District 7 Team.
Teinert, a sophomore from
Portland, Texas, was honored for her
4.0 GPA as a mass communications
major. She is a 5-foot-4 forward for
the Pioneers.
Hill, a graduate
student from
San Angelo, was
honored for her
3.91 GPA.
Volleyball:
After the
Wayland Baptist
volleyball team
Hawkins
lost seven of its
first eight matches, fans might
have believed
they were in for
a long season.
Although it might
have taken a
while for the Pioneers to pick up
steam, the squad
Giacomazzi
was rocking
and rolling by the time its Sooner
Athletic Conference schedule rolled
around, going 8-4 in conference
and 19-15 overall. Perhaps even
more impressive, the team of seven
underclassmen and four upperclassmen thrived at the conference
tournament, finally falling in the
championship match to first-seeded,
No. 10-ranked Oklahoma Baptist.
With 10 of the team’s first 12
matches coming in tournaments,
the Pioneers experienced a trial
by fire, playing 44 sets in just two
weeks. They struggled, but even
then, head coach Jim Giacomazzi
saw glimmers of hope, including
when the team set a new record for
match digs with 163 versus Eastern
New Mexico, toppling the old mark
of 145 which had stood since 2000.
Individually, the Pioneers had a
strong season, as well.
Shahala Hawkins was named
regional Freshman of the Year and
Natasha Giacomazzi also was recognized by the American Volleyball
Coaches Association.
Both Pioneer players, who led
Wayland to the Sooner Athletic
Conference Tournament championship match, were honored on the
AVCA’s NAIA Midsouth Region team.
Hawkins made the team as a middle
hitter and Giacomazzi as a setter.
Hawkins, of Denver City, was
the only freshman on the 14-member Midsouth team, and only one
sophomore made the squad. The
6-foot Hawkins led the Pioneers in
many major statistical categories,
including kills (364, 3.01 per game),
hitting percentage (.290), aces (35),
blocks (138) and points (483).
Natasha Giacomazzi, a 5-5 setter
from Canyon, ended the season with
1,090 sets, an average of 9.48 per
game, and a .790 set percentage.
Her 28 aces were third on the team
and she recorded a team-best 464
digs (4.03 pg).
Men’s Cross Country:
The Wayland Baptist University
men’s cross country team finished
12th in the 2012 NAIA Coaches’ Top
25 Postseason Poll.
Wayland’s Edward Taragon, a
senior from Kenya, finished fourth
at the NAIA National Cross Country
Championships for the second year
in a row.
Athletics Wrap
At the end of a wet, muddy day,
things just did’t go the way the
team had planned as the Pioneers
finished 12th overall.
Out of 309 runners, Wyatt
Landrum wound up 66th with a
time of 25:49, Hildon Boen was
78th in 25:56 and Lopez was 124th
in 26:25.
The heartbreaker of the day for
Wayland was a fall by senior Lucius
Lopez.
“Lucius was in the top 45 and
running really well,” Whitlock said.
“About halfway through the race,
somebody stepped on the back
of his shoe, he fell down and the
shoe came off. Since the laces were
double-knotted, it took him around
a minute to get it back on and back
on the course.”
Until his fall, Lopez was on pace
to finish in under 26 minutes and
was running somewhere between
teammates Boen and Landrum. He
ended in 195th place in 26:59.
In other competition this fall,
after having struggled with knee
pain due to tendonitis,Taragon had
a spectacular performance at the
Sooner Athletic Conference cross
country championships, capturing
the individual title.
The men’s team finished second
in the team standings with 47
points, just 12 behind conference
winner and meet host, Oklahoma
Baptist, which had 35 points. The
Pioneers all finished in the top
20, with an average team time of
25:15.40.
Taragon’s championship time
was 24:13.00, a full 25 seconds
faster than the second place finisher. Hildon Boen was fifth with
a time of 24:43.00, followed by
Wyatt Landrum in seventh with a
25:09.00. Julian Lopez finished in
26:00.00, good enough for 16th
place, and Lucius Lopez was 19th
with a 26:12.00.
Women’s Cross Country:
On the women’s side, Wayland
freshman Emileigh Willems earned
an at-large spot in the NAIA Cross
Country National Championships.
SAC champion Oklahoma Baptist was the only conference team
in the national field, although five
individuals also will represented the
conference. In addition to Willems, a
freshman from Lubbock who came
in seventh at the SAC meet, other
national qualifiers are Brenda Felipe
of Rogers State, Katrina Nolan of
Oklahoma City, Monika Kalicinska of
St. Gregory’s and Gladys Miranda of
Lubbock Christian.
Wrestling:
In wrestling, the Wayland program gets high marks for partnering
with the local YMCA to establish a
youth wrestling program.
The program’s season will run
from Dec. 3 to Feb. 29. Open to
both boys and girls ages 5 through
14, the program, will cost $24 per
month for YMCA members and
$45 for non-members. Additionally, a $40 fee for a USA Wrestling
membership card must be paid for
with the first month’s program fee.
Financial assistance is available.
WBU assistant wrestling coach
Luke Salazar said that while wrestling is considered a combat sport, it
is practiced in a controlled environment.
In addition to teaching participants how to wrestle, Salazar said
the skills they will learn will translate
positively into many other areas of
their lives.
“Wrestling teaches kids that
what you put in to something is
what you’re going to get out of it,”
he said. “It teaches them discipline,
good nutrition, the importance of
a healthy lifestyle, body awareness
and staying out of trouble. Wrestling
is also good for kids that maybe haven’t connected with another sport.
It doesn’t matter what size or shape
you are, we can teach the skills necessary to be successful.”
footprints 27
From a Friend
Building endowment
important to education
M
Dr. Joel Boyd
Bachelor of Science ’97
Dr. Joel Boyd, BS’97,
served on the faculty
of the School of Mathematics and Sciences
from 2001-2010, was
co-chair of the Division
of Math and Science
for one year and was
then associate dean
of the School of Math
and Science for a year.
For the past two years,
he has been Associate
Professor of Chemistry at Gordon College
in Wenham, Mass. He
has been a consistent
contributor to various
Wayland scholarships
for the past several
years.
28 footprints
y wife, Kerri (WBU ex, and
Houston Baptist alumna),
and I have contributed to
various endowed scholarships at Wayland over the past several years. It has
never been much, and the gifts have
been spread out over a period of years,
but Alumni Director Danny Andrews recently asked me to give a short description of WHY we give to WBU endowed
scholarships. I think the answer is pretty
straightforward, and can be summed up
in a few simple points.
Christian higher education is
extremely important, but increasingly
expensive. As both a product and employee of a Christian academic institution, I am keenly aware that there is no
better education available anywhere.
The illumination of God’s word and the
influence of his people really do make
an enormous difference in the process
and outcomes of higher education.
Kerri and I benefitted greatly from
our time at Wayland, and hope that our
kids have a similar experience when the
time comes. Unfortunately, the cost of
a college education has been growing
at a pace that far outstrips the rest of
the economy. WBU is the most affordable Christian college that I know of,
but even Wayland’s tuition costs have
been subject to significant increases in
recent years. College costs are going to
continue to increase for the foreseeable
future, and the best way that I know of
to keep WBU tuition costs affordable for
students of modest means, is by building the WBU scholarship endowment.
Wayland has been blessed with
some incredibly dedicated and talented faculty through the years, and an
endowed scholarship in their name is
a great way to acknowledge the contributions that they have made to our
lives and to WBU. Kerri and I have had
the honor of contributing to scholarships named for Dr. J. Hoyt and Joanne
Bowers, Dr. Harold and Audrey Temple,
and Dr. Vaughn and Johnene Ross.
Collectively, these folks have done more
for my family and my alma mater than
I can ever repay. It is truly a privilege
for us to help acknowledge their service
through permanently endowed scholarships in their names.
We know exactly where these funds
are going, and exactly how they will
be spent. As stewards of the financial
resources that God has given our family,
it is very important to Kerri and me that
we not only give back a portion of these
blessings, but that we carefully consider
how we invest God’s money. A contribution to an endowed scholarship at WBU
is an investment that we know will be
properly and conservatively managed,
and we trust that God will use these
funds to reap dividends beyond our
ken in the lives of generations of young
people.
I hope that you’ll add your own contributions to the WBU endowed scholarship of your choice – or to any Wayland
endeavor – soon. Collectively, our little
contributions spread out over many
years can make a huge difference in
what WBU can do for students seeking
a truly Christ-centered education.
Thinking Out Loud
Decorate with memories
that have special meaning
O
ne of the things I love most
about the Christmas season is
decorating the tree.
Carolyn and I have hundreds of ornaments collected over 43 years of marriage
– everything from the shiny Wayland ornaments the Museum of the Llano Estacado
offers every year to the plastic “Hamburglar” one of our three kids got in a McDonald’s Happy Meal when they were little.
Each ornament carries a good memory.
In that vein, I’d like to hang some “precious memory” Wayland ornaments on my
mental tree.
n Being encouraged in the summer of
1967 by Dr. Neil Record, assistant to
the president and possessed with the
“Voice of God,” to abandon plans to
attend West Texas State University and
come to Wayland
n Meeting on my first visit to Gates Hall
one of the nicest people I’ve ever known
– public relations secretary Melba Jo
Willis, who remains a dear friend
n Having the honor of being editor of The
Trailblazer newspaper for two years,
producing the first 12-page edition and
selling advertising for the first time
n Being in the second pledge class of Alpha Phi Omega, men’s national service
fraternity whose motto is “Leadership,
Friendship and Service”
n Covering Wayland basketball games for
The Plainview Herald and first broadcasting them on 10-watt campus radio
station KHBL (forerunner of KWLD) in a
cranny of Gates Hall – good experience
even though we only had about one
listener per watt. I also enjoyed being a
late-night disc jockey even if you could
not play back-to-back 45s unless you
talked while cueing the second record
since we only had one 45 turntable
n Making friends with such guys as Danny
Murphree, Gary Abercrombie, Dick
Helms and Mike Ballew who are the
same great fellows today they were
when we met more than 40 years ago
n Having Dorothy Jamar for English – even
if she did decide that classmate Charles Danny Andrews
Director of Alumni
Hardin and I had a “personality flaw”
Development
because we didn’t turn in our term
papers on time
n Having fun officiating flag football games,
even though the Men of McDonald Hall
are still mad at me four decades later
for forfeiting a game due to a player
who insisted on tackling the opposing
runner
n Enjoying eating tacos and watching a
new program called “Hee-Haw” on
Monday nights on the black-and-white
TV with friends in our concrete-block
Collier Hall apartments – $62.50 a
month, all bills paid
n Continuing to realize that but for the
grace of God…and that of French
teacher Christa Smith and biology prof
Gerald Thompson I would not possess a
Wayland degree
n Getting to come to my Alma Mater
to take over alumni services from a
Wayland legend – Joe Provence – and
working with some of the best people
on earth
n Being a part of a faith-based institution
preparing young men and young women to be great leaders wherever God
takes them
“
The title
of the iconic
Christmas
movie says
it all – “It’s
A Wonderful
Life.”
The title of the iconic Christmas movie
says it all – “It’s A Wonderful Life.”
Blessings to all Wayland alumni and
friends at this most wonderful time of the
year…and for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2013.
“
footprints 29
Wayland Mission Center
WMC focuses on local
missions; plans for 2013
W
Dr. Richard Shaw
Director, Wayland
Mission Center
Upcoming Mission Trips:
w Kenya, January
w Michigan, spring break
w Brazil, May
w Turkey, June
w Kenya, July
w Eastern Europe, August
All of the Wayland
Mission Center’s
global missions are open
to WBU students and
others committed to sharing the love of
Jesus Christ.
30 footprints
ayland Mission Center has
focused on local missions
through the fall of 2012.
Three mission groups, operating under the
auspices of the WMC, serve the Lord Jesus
through meeting the needs of the community of Plainview.
Apostolos, now in its fifth year of community ministry, partners Wayland students
with youth at risk from Plainview High
School. The collaborative effort, overseen
by two student co-directors, sees Wayland
mentors meet with their “little brothers”
and “little sisters” twice each week. Strong
relationships have been established, with
WBU students leading the way in helping
PHS students develop life skills and stronger self-esteem, as they work to complete
their high school education. Mentors also
focus on helping high school youth learn of
Jesus Christ and His love for them.
Diakonia, also led by students, is ready
to launch a weekend food backpack program with children attending Thunderbird
Elementary School. WBU students will pack
a weekend’s supply of ready-to-eat foods
for some of the most food-insecure folks in
Plainview. A large, anonymous donation to
the Wayland Mission Center, has allowed
Diakonia to purchase a large quantity of
food through the South Plains Food Bank
in Lubbock. Each Friday in the spring 2013
semester, Diakonia (which means “ministry” in New Testament Greek) will minister
to children in the name of Jesus Christ.
The third student-led mission group,
Kerygma, meaning “proclamation of the
Gospel,” has been working in east Plainview, in the area known as the “Barrio.”
Kerygma students have gone door-to-door,
sharing the love and story of Jesus Christ
with residents. Understanding that the
Gospel of Jesus Christ is about the whole
person and the whole community, mem-
bers have surveyed the residents of the
Barrio, discovering and recording people’s
needs.
The group was formed out of the
introductory religion course, “Introduction to Christian Missions,” with students
expressing and then demonstrating their
obedience to God’s call to do missions
right where they are, to the residents of
Wayland’s Jerusalem—Plainview.
2013 will see global missions highlighted with students, graduates, and West
Texas Christians joining in mission. In conjunction with WBU’s Kenya Program, we
will lead teams to the east African nation in
January and July. In July a team composed
of the Youth Choir “Breath of Heaven”
and sponsors from First Baptist Church of
Plainview, and members from First Baptist
Church of Petersburg, is planning to lead a
youth conference in Kakamega, Kenya, of
Baptist youth from the Western Baptist Association of Kenya. The July team will also
work in Limuru and among the Maasai.
Spring Break 2013 will see the return of
WBU students to the U.S. cities of Dearborn
and Detroit, Michigan.
Summer mission trips include WMC’s
third year to travel to Salvador and Torrinhas, Brazil, working with pastors and
indigenous missionaries from the Igreza
Batista Metropolitana, in May. The first ever
trip to Istanbul and Izmir, Turkey, in June
will be highlighted by loving service to the
people of western Turkey, and the study
of the seven churches of the Revelation.
WMC’s sixth trip to the eastern European countries of Macedonia, Kosova, and
Greece, will cap off the WMC’s summer
missions program in August.
All of the Wayland Mission Center’s
global missions are open to WBU students
and others committed to sharing the love
of Jesus Christ.
Baptist Student Minitries
BSM touching students’
lives through ministry
T
he semester has been packed
with ministry opportunities and
has been a very fruitful time. We
have focused on evangelism, discipleship
and missions.
In the area of discipleship we have had
a successful dorm small group ministry. Every dorm on campus has had at least one
small group that met weekly. These groups
came in all shapes and sizes. Some were
made up of very strong believers that dove
deep into The Word. Others were filled with
seekers and not-yet-believers and many
questions were answered about faith and
what it means to be a Christian.
Each week it was exciting to hear what
had taken place in the small groups. God
was at work in the hearts and lives of many
students and our small groups played a
vital role.
Another ministry in the area of discipleship was Focus, our weekly worship service.
This was a great time of Bible teaching,
worship through music and the sharing of
testimonies and prayer. It was exciting to
see how quickly our students opened up
and prayed for each other and our campus.
This semester was also filled with ministry to our athletes. I led daily devotions
after each football practice and a chapel
service after the pregame meal every Saturday. The Gospel was shared openly and
each player was challenged to be the man
God created him to be. I had the privilege
of baptizing one of the players and anticipate more to make a decision to follow
Christ.
We have started an accountability
group that meets every Friday to help these
young men continue to grow in relationship with Christ. These men are hungry for
change in their lives.
In the area of evangelism we have
focused on being on mission right where
you are. Look around see where God has
placed you because you are not there by
accident. Develop a friendship with those
around you. Get to know people and listen
to their story and share your story. Many
students have taken this challenge and are
continuing to invest in the lives of those
around them.
We also had one day set aside for inten- Donnie Brown
tional evangelism to take place on campus. Director , Baptist
We set up different stations using SoulariStudent Ministries
um cards and also an empty chair. Both of
these methods give students an opportunity to share their spiritual journey. Several
students heard the gospel and many seeds
were planted. We continue to pray for the
harvest.
Missions has also been our focus. Each
summer Texas Baptist BSMs send students
to the nations through GoNow missions. In
the fall semester, each BSM raises money
to help send students. This year we had a
No Shave November fundraiser. It was a
competition between two people to raise
money. The loser had to spin the wheel of
doom and get his face shaved in an odd
way and wear it for a week. The girls did
not want to be left out, so they did not
shave their legs for a month. The loser had
to wear a dress for a week, revealing her
bushy legs. Let me just say, this was very
disturbing. Our goal was to raise $1,500
and we raised $2,500. Praise God! Way to
go Pioneers.
We are also planning for several mission
trips. We will be in Haiti Jan. 1-9, serving
at an orphanage, conducting VBS and
leading an Experiencing God study for the
adults. Over Spring Break we will be at
South Padre Island sharing the Gospel with
thousands of college students. May 19-29
we will be serving in Guatemala, helping a
church with construction projects. In July
we will be in Billerica, Mass., conducting
VBS.
“
Looking back I
can see that God has
blessed us in many
different ways. He
has been at work
in students’ lives.
Looking ahead, I
know He will continue to work. So
we continue to plant
seeds and pray for
the harvest.
“
footprints 31
$5 million gift will fund Dean museum
Story by Jonathan Petty
T
he legend of Jimmy Dean
continues to grow in his
hometown of Plainview; specifically at Wayland Baptist University.
On the heels of a $1 million gift in
2008, Dean’s death in 2010 and the
opening of Jimmy Dean Hall in August,
Dean’s influence continues to impact his hometown university as a $5
million donation has been made by his
widow, Donna Dean-Stevens, to fund
a Jimmy Dean Museum. The museum
will serve as a memorial to a man who
grew up in the poor neighborhood of
Seth Ward on the outskirts of Planiview
and became a legend in the entertainment industry.
“The museum will be a fitting and
attractive tribute to Jimmy’s life and
career,” explained Wayland Baptist
University President Dr. Paul Armes.
“The new building will be more than a
museum; it will be a gathering place
for our university and community.”
Tentative plans call for the Jimmy
Dean Museum to be built adjacent
to the existing Museum of the Llano
Estacado on the Wayland campus
and include a community venue that
can be used for various activities and
events.
Dean-Stevens originally planned to
use the money to fund a museum on
the Dean property in Virginia. However,
zoning and construction complications
made the project exceedingly difficult
to undertake. In her ongoing conversations with Wayland representatives,
she decided to donate the money to
Wayland with the stipulation that it be
used to fund a museum.
“Construction will probably begin
sometime next summer,” Armes said.
32 footprints
Jimmy Dean Hall opened in August, housing
350 men. A generous donation from the Dean
family will now fund a Jimmy Dean Museum
addition to the Museum of the Llano Estacado.
“We are currently meeting with museum consultants to develop a conceptual plan for the structure.”
The museum will house memorabilia, videos and awards earned by
Dean throughout his long career as an
entertainer, singer, television personality and businessman. The Sara Lee
Corporation that purchased the Jimmy
Dean Sausage Company in 1984, has
also committed to donate a life-size
bronze of the legendary pitch-man.
Dean’s personal items and memorabilia have already been shipped from
Virginia and are in storage, awaiting
construction of the museum.
Armes said the majority of the
donation will be used for construction and to set up an endowed fund
to offset the cost of maintenance and
upkeep on the structure. Dean-Stevens,
who will have input into the process as
it moves forward, stipulated that any
additional funds may be used at the
university’s discretion.
Armes said the Deans’ generosity
has had a major impact on the university.
“At just the right moment, the
Deans intersected the life and ministry of the university,” Armes said.
“Their support represents more than
the dollars they have contributed. By
their generosity, they have enhanced
and empowered the mission of the
school. They will always be cherished
at Wayland.”
In total, the Deans have donated
approximately $6 million to Wayland
since 2008. A Jimmy Dean exhibit is
already in place as part of the Hale
County Hall of Fame exhibit in the
Museum of the Llano Estacado. Jimmy
Dean Hall, a 350-bed men’s dormitory,
opened in August of 2012.
WBU recognizes scholarship donors
Story by Richard Petty
W
ayland Baptist University
administrators took time
during homecoming to
recognize several families that have endowed scholarships to benefit Wayland
students.
During the Homecoming Chapel,
Director of Alumni Development Danny
Andrews recognized Charles and
Mary Abercrombie with three honors,
including an endowed scholarship established by the couple’s four children.
The Abercrombies were also presented with the Distinguished Benefactor
Award and the Keeper of the Flame
Award, recognizing individuals for significant donations to the university.
Although the couple did not attend
Wayland, two of their four children did.
Dr. Gary Abercrombie (wife, Janice), of
Plainview, and his sister, Trisha Worthen (husband, Bill), both graduated
from the university and currently Dr.
Abercrombie serves as the chairman of
the board of trustees.
The Joanne Bowers Chemical
Education Endowed Scholarship was
dedicated during a special reception
held in the Moody Science Building.
The scholarship was in recognition
of Bowers’ 50-plus years of service
through chemical education, teaching
at the high school and collegiate levels.
Joanne Bowers is married to Dr. J.
Hoyt Bowers, former longtime science
faculty member at Wayland, and the
couple has a son, Mark, and two grandchildren.
Other scholarships were dedicated
at a special luncheon. The Weldon and
Betty Beckner scholarships honor Dr.
and Mrs. Beckner who graduated from
Scholarship plaques line the
podium as Wayland President Dr.
Paul Armes adresses the crowd
at the homecoming luncheon in
October.
Wayland Baptist College in 1955, Betty
with a B.A. in English and Dr. Beckner
with a B.S. in business administration.
Dr. Beckner’s career as an educator
included serving as a vice president at
Wayland.
Dr. Fred and Sally Meeks were
recognized with the endowment of a
scholarship that will benefit students at
Wayland who plan to pursue vocational
Christian ministry. Dr. Meeks served as
a pastor before entering education. He
taught courses in Bible, theology and
Christian ministry for 21 years at Wayland and held the position of Dean of
the Division of Religion and Philosophy.
He now serves as the director of the
Logsdon Seminary Lubbock Program.
Sally Meeks is a registered nurse
who served in various hospitals and
public schools. She retired as school
nurse at Plainview High School in
2006. The couple has two daughters,
Marnie and Meredith.
Loren Phillips of Lubbock established the Garland L. and Waty D.
Phillips Endowed Scholarship in honor
of his parents out of gratitude for their
love, provision and Christian influence
on his life. Garland Phillips was a
native of Rotan and worked for Vulcan
Materials in Denver City. Mrs. Phillips
was a native of Emory, Texas and was a
homemaker.
The university also recognized the
Browning family for a series of scholarships established based on a generous
in-kind gift, including the Hollis W. and
Venita Browning Scholarship. Hollis
and Venita Browning were married in
1928 and were owners of cotton gins,
ice plants and grocery stores, while
also being engaged in farming. Hollis
died in 1967 and Venita in 1998.
Four other scholarships were
named in honor of other members
of the Browning family, including the
Jeane Lee II and Sandra Sioen Browning Scholarship, the Paul and Kathryn
Browning Holloway Scholarship, the
James and Karen Browning Higgins
Scholarship, and the John T. and Alicia
S. Browning Scholarship.
footprints 33
News in Brief
Enrollment up; students impress at conference
Enrollment shows
modest increase
The Fall 2012 enrollment numbers show a modest 1.11 percent
increase throughout Wayland campuses with the Plainview campus
enjoying a 5.86 percent increase in
student enrollment. Plainview campus enrollment reached 1,826 students while the system enrollment
grew to 6,834. Those students are
enrolled in 48,779 credit hours with
17,927 being taken at the Plainview
campus, an increase of more than 3
percent.
The Plainview campus shows
a 3.43 percent increase in undergraduate enrollment with 1,387
students, up from 1,341 a year
ago. The largest increase came in
the number of students enrolled in
graduate programs with 439, a 14.3
percent increase from the 2011
numbers. Wayland offers graduate
programs in history, English, counseling, education, business administration, management, religion, Christian ministry, public administration
and multidisciplinary science. The
WBU School of Nursing, based at
Wayland’s San Antonio campus, also
offers a master’s degree in nursing.
The San Antonio campus remains the largest Wayland campus
in terms of head count with 1,969
students, an increase of nearly 4
percent from a year ago. The enrollment at Wayland’s Lubbock campus
dropped to 624 students, down
from 686 a year ago. The campus in
Amarillo remained steady with 109
students, up from 106 in 2011.
34 footprints
Wayland students Rick Ross (from left), Hailey Budnick and Jessica Kenneson stand next to a
poster that was presented by Budnick and Kenneson at a recent research conference dealing with
science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Budnick and Kenneson won second place for
their presentation. Ross took second place for his mathematics talk dealing with graph theory.
STEM students
present findings
The Wayland Baptist University
School of Mathematics and Sciences
participated in the STEM (science,
technology, engineering and mathematics) conference at Midland
College on Oct. 5-6 in Midland. Two
presentations from Wayland students were awarded second place in
their categories.
Rick Ross, a senior from Muncy, Ind., received second place for
his mathematics talk concerning a
graph theory problem on which he
is preparing an honors thesis.
Hailey Budnick, a senior from
Missouri City, and Jessica Kenneson,
a junior from Wiggins, Colo., presented a poster on their research
project identifying an alternative and
more cost effective way to identify
and analyze enzymes.
Dr. Robert Moore, assistant
professor of chemistry, said their
specific research deals with analyzing an enzyme that plays a role in
the tuberculosis organism’s ability
to adapt and mutate. However, he
feels their discovery of an alternative
method could be hugely beneficial
to small schools with tight research
budgets.
Scholarship started
to honor O.T. Ryan
The Wayland Baptist University
Office of Development announced
that an endowed scholarship fund
has been established in honor of the
late longtime Plainview High School
band director O.T. Ryan and his wife,
Pat.
According to Executive Director of the
Office of Institutional Advancement Mike
Melcher, the fund is a way to honor the
enormous impact the Ryans have had on
Plainview and the surrounding area, as well as
the band director’s role in establishing what is
now a state-record 75 consecutive First Division ratings in the annual University Scholastic League marching festival.
Individuals who want to contribute to the
fund may do so in a variety of ways. Melcher
explained that people can come by the Advancement office, located at 810 Utica, and
donate either through cash or with a check
— simply memo the check as going to the
O.T. and Pat Ryan Scholarship. Additionally,
individuals may donate by going to the Wayland Baptist University website, www.wbu.edu,
and clicking on the yellow Give Now icon on
the left side of the site. That will take them to
the giving page where they can select “Other
Designated Areas” from a drop-down menu
and designate the donation for the O.T. and
Pat Ryan Scholarship. The site then will allow
them to enter the appropriate credit card
information.
Music school honors
All-Steinway supporters
The School of Music continues to move
forward with its All-Steinway Initiative, raising
money to replace every piano on campus with
a Steinway, Boston or Essex model.
As part of Phase II of the four-phase project, longtime Plainview attorney Bill LaFont
and his wife, Peggy, provided a $50,000
challenge gift to help raise money for the new
Steinway pianos. The gift was given in honor
of Dr. Ann Stutes, Dean of the School of Music.
In recognition for their support of the
All-Steinway Initiative, the LaFonts were honored at a reception on Sept. 27.
For information on giving to the All-Steinway initiative, contact the School of Music at
806-291-1076.
Sally, Cary Eaves recognized
for contributions to WBU
Representatives from Wayland Baptist University attended the 17th annual National
Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon at the Lubbock Country Club in November, where
longtime Wayland supporters
Cary and Sally Eaves were recognized for their contributions
to and support of the school
and its mission.
In a prepared statement
that was read in recognition of
the Eaves, university officials
said, “Wayland Baptist University has no better friends and
supporters than Cary and Sally
Eaves. They are a complete
package as they generously
volunteer their time, share
their resources and truly
support every aspect of the
university.”
A longtime, Plainview busi-
nessman, Cary, who graduated
from West Texas A&M, is a
partner in the Morgan-Eaves
Agency. Sally, who graduated from Wayland in 1975,
currently serves as a member
of the WBU Board of Trustees.
She is also president of the
Association of Former Students
and a charter member of
The Sally Society, a women’s
philanthropy group at Wayland.
“Every university should be
so fortunate to have the energy
and enthusiasm of Cary and
Sally Eaves working on their
behalf. For their loyal and committed efforts, Wayland Baptist
University is honored to recognize this humble, gracious
couple for their extraordinary,
philanthropic spirit.”
footprints 35
Classnotes
In Loving
Memory
Christian love and sympathy is
extended to the family and friends
to these members of the Wayland
family.
Cecelia Gibson: Died Oct.
9, 2012, in Lubbock, at age
81. She was the wife of DR.
JOHN S. “JACK” GIBSON,
former speech and theater
professor at Wayland. She
taught school in Lubbock, Plainview and Arlington for more
than 30 years before retiring
in 1993. Surviving are her husband of more than 60 years,
a son, a daughter, a sister and
two grandchildren. (5713 68th
St, Lubbock, TX 79424)
Violet Laverne Guess Mayfield: Died Sept. 11, 2012,
in Rowlett, Texas, at age 93.
She was the mother of DR.
ARCH MAYFIELD, BA’72,
a member of the English
faculty in the School of
Languages and Literature at
Wayland for 40 years and his
wife, EDY LOU WILKENS
MAYFIELD, BA’72, a teacher at Estacado Junior High.
She is also survived by two
daughters, two brothers and
36 footprints
three grandchildren. (mayfielda@wbu.edu)
DR. MARVIN EMBRY
TATE JR.: Died Nov. 16,
2012, in Louisville, Ky., at age
87. After teaching at Wayland
in the 1950s, he was professor
of Old Testament interpretation at Southern Seminary
from 1960 until 1995, and
then a senior professor until
2003. Surviving are his wife of
55 years, Julia, four daughters,
a son and five grandchildren.
(3212 Five Oaks Place, Louisville, KY 40207)
Dora Maye Todd: Died Nov.
25, 2012, in Allen, Texas, at
age 90. She was the mother
of DR. JIM TODD, Dean
of the School of Education
at Wayland, and was a pastor’s
wife. Also surviving are two
daughters, seven grandchildren
and two great-grandchildren.
(toddj@wbu.edu)
COL. (RT.) ROBERT McCLELLAN WRIGHT: Died
June 10, 2012, in Albuquerque, N.M., at age 67. He was
a longtime employee at the
Albuquerque campus and was
instrumental in opening and
running the Kirtland Air Force
Base office for the last decade.
Surviving are his wife, Marcia,
three stepsons, two stepdaughters, two brothers, two sisters
and several grandchildren.
1940s
W.G. “BILL’ TUDOR,
EX’45: Died Aug. 28, 2012, in
Dallas, at age 86. A U.S. Navy
veteran, he was a Certified
Public Accountant for more
than 50 years. He received a
Ph.D. in history from Texas
Christian University and
enjoyed writing and teaching.
Surviving are Mary, his wife
of 63 years; a daughter, a son,
two sisters, six grandchildren
and five grandchildren. (9625
Brentgate Drive, Dallas 752381813)
1950s
LAURA BROOKS HARRIS, BA’53: Died Sept. 1,
2012, in Lawton, Okla., at age
81. She taught children with
learning disabilities and also
was a Realtor. She enjoyed
working with international
students at Wayland. Surviving are her husband, REED
HARRIS, BA’56, former
advancement officer and
Alumni Director at Wayland; a
daughter, CINDY HARRIS
ADAY, BA’79, ministry assistant at First Baptist Church
of Lawton; son-in-law, PHIL
ADAY, BS’76, a dentist, and
a brother and two grandsons.
(Cindy and Phil: 1602 NE
45th, Lawton, OK 73507;
pcaday@sbcglobal.net)
HENRY BRUCE RICH
JR., BA’54: Died Sept. 12,
2012, in Amarillo, at age
85. He served as a pastor in
Oregon and later as a teacher
and principal and then had
a career with a subsidiary
of IBM. He also served as a
chaplain in Albuquerque, N.M.
Surviving are three daughters,
a son, eight grandchildren and
eight great-grandchildren. The
family suggests memorials to
the Missions Center, Wayland
Baptist University, Box 1291,
Plainview, TX. 79072.
2000s
KATHY GIVENS, MA’09:
Died Sept. 14, 2012, in Crosbyton, Texas, at age 61. She
taught English at Crosbyton
High School and was a guidance counselor with the Ralls
and Lorenzo school districts
and recently had headed up
a new division at the Crosby
County Juvenile Probation
Department as the Youth Services Coordinator. Surviving
are her husband Mickey, two
sons, a daughter, a brother and
two granddaughters. (114 RR
2, Crosbyton, TX 79322)
LISA JACOBS, BSOE’01:
Died Oct. 25, 2012, in Lubbock at age 49. She was a Substance Abuse Counselor at the
Serenity Center in Plainview.
Surviving are a daughter, her
mother, father and stepfather.
Shores Court, Amarillo, TX
79109; lbaggett1@gmail.com).
Faculty/Staff
Trustees
Donors/Friends
1970s
Ga., weighing 7 pounds, 14
ounces and measuring 20 ¾
inches. He is the son of Micah
and Laura Price and has two
brothers, Jaxon, 7, and Gavin,
5.
LAURA BRANDENBURG,
assistant professor of English,
recently received her Ph.D.
in Technical Communication
and Rhetoric from Texas Tech
University. She earned her
bachelor’s degree in English
and journalism from Angelo
State University and her master’s degree in English, with an
emphasis in linguistics, from
Texas Tech. Her dissertation
research used think-aloud
protocol and reader-response
theory as a framework for
understanding how writers
and readers co-construct the
writer’s ethos – the essence of
the writer’s character as well
as her credibility or expertise.
Her husband, Howell, is an
account manager at Airgas for
the West Texas region. (lbrandenburg@wbu.edu)
DEBBIE PRICE, administrative assistant in the
School of Education, and her
husband Mike welcomed a
new grandson, Weston Daniel
Price, on Oct. 19 in St. John’s
1960s
DR. LEE BAGGETT,
BA’64, and his wife Ruthie,
have been doing missionary
work in Mexico for many
years. He is a physician who
operates Hands in Service
Ministries. His Guadalajara-based Manos Hermanas is
currently distributing 45 tons
of a lentil-based supplement
through feeding projects with
some 250 NGOs. Manos
Hermanas will also distribute
about 2,000 heavy, family-size
blankets in the highlands
of central Mexico to help
needy people to sleep warmer
this Christmas. “We open
a friendship with them and
share God’s love for them,”
said Lee. He and Ruthie, a
Baylor graduate, attended the
Wayland Alumni and Friends
Dinner at the Texas Baptist
Convention in Corpus Christi
in October. Their daughter,
Dhana, and her husband Eric
Cox have four children. (3005
SHELTON H. RIGGINS,
BS’77, retired in July as a
Command Sgt. Major with
the U.S. Army after more than
35 years of service. Riggins
served in several posts in the
United States as well as in
Kosovo. He was employed
as a military technician for
26 years. He received many
medals and honors, including the Meritorious Service
Medal with 3 Bronze Oak
Leaf Clusters. Shelton writes:
“Coach Bill Hardage was an
inspiration in my life. I talked
with him often after I graduated. My track teammates were
great guys that included Jack
Cheney, Ron Melnichuk, Cliff
Addison, Stanley Chatman,
Herman Evans and Jack Gilmore. Wayland was a good experience for me. It allowed me to
grow up, get a good education
and make some good friends.”
He lives in Bryan. He and his
wife Tracy have three children.
(rigrig@aol.com)
1980s
SHERMAN ATEN, EX’85,
and four other men had the
opportunity to share Christ
through testimony and song
to thousands of Muslims in
Lahore, Pakistan in March and
April, participating in a Good
Friday service with Christians
there before returning home.
“Women are not yet participating in these events, so Tammy
was here praying,” Sherman
wrote of his wife, TAMMY
PAYNE ATEN, BM’85. The
Atens, who have been in the
evangelistic music ministry for
more than 20 years, have a son
and a daughter. (atenmin@
juno.com; Aten Ministries,
P.O. Box 5925, Granbury, TX
76049; www.a10s.org)
DR. MICHAEL DAVIS,
BA’87 with Honors, was
inducted into the Pampa
High School Hall of Fame in
September, addressing the student body in an assembly and
later speaking at a community
luncheon. He is the Nuclear
Training Policy & Compliance
Manager at the Nevada Test
Site, near Las Vegas, where he
currently works for National
Security Technologies, LLC.
Dr. Davis has received the
Distinguished Young Alumni
Award in 1997, the Distinguished Benefactor Award at
Homecoming 2011 and last
April became the youngest
recipient of the Keeper of
the Flame, an honor given to
those who have contributed
$100,000 or more to Wayland.
footprints 37
Gifts that
Keep on Giving
Want to really make an impact for a
special occasion or to remember a
lost loved one? Consider memorials
and honorariums to Wayland!
He has been the driving force
for four endowed scholarships
and has supported many other
projects at Wayland. (mikedavis4@cox.net)
DR. KIRBY KENNEDY,
BA’80, plans to start home
dialysis soon as he awaits a
possible kidney transplant
after suffering from kidney
issues most of his life. “I am a
blood type B+ so anyone with
Type O or B (the Rh factor
does not matter) can begin the
process to see if they can be
a donor,” Kirby writes. When
he informed his church – First
Baptist of Palatka, Fla. where
he is senior pastor – he received encouragement from a
sermon “Where is God When
It Hurts” from Habakkuk
3:17-19. CINDY GASAWAY
DUNSMOOR, BA’81, has
set up a Facebook page event
called “Prayer for Kirby.”
Folks can go to that open
event and commit to pray at
noon daily during December,
he says. Kirby and his wife
Debbie have two daughters.
(kirbykennedy@yahoo.com)
LARRY LANDERS, BS’81,
38 footprints
who has been a salesman for
Contractors Wholesale in
Amarillo, has been diagnosed
with Early Onset Alzheimer’s.
His wife, JO ELYN TARVER LANDERS, BS’82, is
the education secretary at First
Baptist Church. Their oldest
daughter, Allison, graduated
from WTAMU with a degree
in Special Education on Dec.
14. Their youngest daughter,
Stephanie, attends nursing
school at Amarillo College.
Both girls assist with Larry’s
care. (4122 Tucson, Amarillo,
TX 79109; joelyn@firstamarillo.org.
1990s
RONNIE ARRINGTON,
BBA’96, and her husband
JOEL ARRINGTON, a
current online student, moved
to Borger in July 2011. Joel is
Pastor to Children and Families at First Baptist Church
and Ronnie assists with
ministry as well as substitutes
in the schools. They have four
children – Hannah, Malachi, Kestra and Tyler. (103
Davenport, Borger, TX 79007;
arringtonmom@yahoo.com;
joel@firstborger.com)
DR. SHANE DAVIDSON,
MBA’96, is new Vice President for Enrollment Services
at the University of Evansville
in Indiana. A former financial
aid director at Wayland, he
has been Vice President for
Enrollment and Marketing at
Hardin-Simmons University
the past 15 years. He is also
was elected in May to the
Abilene school board. He and
his wife, AMY COATNEY
DAVIDSON, MEd’97, who
has been an elementary school
teacher since 2000, have two
sons.
PATTI GILBERT-BONNER, BSOE’96, MBA’06
from the Amarillo campus,
is a management analyst for
DCMA Bell Helicopter Textron in Amarillo. She also has
a Master of Education from
Strayer University and a Doctor of Education degree from
Argosy University. She also is
a volunteer for several organizations and peer reviewer for
several professional journals.
(Patti.Gilbert-Bonner@dcma.
mil)
MANDI GRIFFIN LEWIS,
BS’98, is an accountant for
the Sherman Independent
School District. She and her
husband, Eric, who is studying
to be a radiology technician
after teaching agriculture for
seven years, have a 4-year-old
son, Hadley Max. (1403 S.
Travis, Sherman, TX 75090;
mandilewis1976@gmail.com)
JOSEPH MULLER II,
AAS, BSOE’99 from the
Wichita Falls campus, is the
new business administrator for
the Oriskany Central School
District in Oriskany, N.Y. He
will be directly responsible
for managing the district’s $13
million budget, as well as serving as the Board of Education
clerk, district purchasing agent
and records management
officer. Muller most recently
served as the director of district operations and safety for
the Utica City School District.
Prior to that he worked as
a safety coordinator for the
Oneida-Herkimer-Madison
BOCES in New Hartford. A
U.S. Air Force veteran, he and
his wife Lori have three high
school-aged children and live
in Taberg. (4354 Sheehan Rd,
Taberg, NY 13471)
KYLE REESE, BA’93, is
in his sixth year as pastor of
Hendricks Avenue Baptist in
Jacksonville, Fla. and is serving
on the search committee for
a new executive coordinator
of the Cooperative Baptist
Fellowship. He and his wife,
AMY GRISSOM REESE,
EX’94, have three children –
Peyton, 15; Hannah, 13; and
Wyatt, 11. ( 2451 Sedgewick
Place, Jacksonville, FL 32217;
kyle@habchurch.com)
ANDY WEISS, BSOE’91
from the Hawaii campus,
writes that “A good friend,
who also was the production
engineer for the VP8 Image
Analyzer in the 1970s, opened
a Shroud of Turin museum
in Alamogordo, N.M., and
asked me to create a website
in 2009, ShroudNM.com.
When the Shroud is processed
through the VP8, which makes
brightness maps, the image on
the Shroud displayed is 3-dimensional. This experience of
being the webmaster and my
exposure to the Shroud and its
scientific study was the latest
in my conversion process. This
experience helped cause me to
re-evaluate what many people
believe is my call to become
a deacon in the Catholic
Church. I have started my
second of four years in the
program and if I am chosen
to finish, I will be ordained
in 2015.” A retired Air Force
veteran, Andy says he enjoyed
his Old Testament classes with
Dr. John Brangenberg and
Dave Boatman for many of
his business classes as he completed his degree in Hawaii.
(melekali@msn.com)
TOM WHITE JR.,
BSOE’98, from the Wichita
Falls campus, is the new director for the Medical Laboratory
Technician program at Volunteer State Community College
in Gallatin, Tenn. He was
previously clinical laboratory
manager at McConnell Air
Force Base in Kansas. Prior
to that, he was education program director at McConnell.
2000s
BRETT COX, EX’05,
and RITA WILEY COX,
MA ’09, are parents of twin
boys, Chaucer (5 pounds, 6
ounces) and Miles (4 pounds,
3 ounces) who were born June
17, 2012, in Lubbock. Brett is
manager of Harral Auditorium
and Rita teaches at Floydada
High School. Proud grandparents are DEBBIE WILEY,
MAR’03, the Theological
Research and Writing Lab
Director in the WBU School
of Religion, and her husband
Buddy. (coxb@wbu.edu;
wileyd@wbu.edu)
BRANDON DOUGLAS,
BA’06, recently completed his
Master of Education degree
in Educational Leadership and
Policy Study from the University of Texas at Arlington.
He teaches Social Studies at
Houston School in Plainview.
While working on his degree,
Brandon did his internship
hours at Houston School and
has passed all necessary state
exams and holds the principal certification for the State
of Texas. He hopes to work
as an assistant principal and
eventually a principal in an
Alternative Education setting.
(brandon.douglas@plainview.
k12.tx.us)
LUPE GUTIERREZ,
BSOE’02, MA’11, recently
was promoted to the rank
of major and changed duty
stations from Incirlik Air Base,
Turkey, to Ramstein Air Base,
Germany.
Gutierrez was
commissioned
in June 2002
via the Air
Force Officer
Training
School and became a munitions maintenance officer. He
has deployed in support of
Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and his medals
include the meritorious and
commendation medals as well
as the NATO medal. He and
his wife, Georgia, have two
sons.
APRIL WALKUP, BA’05
from the Albuquerque campus, recently retired after 30
years as a police officer. She is
now a constable in Huntingdon, Pa., for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Her
daughter, Amber Hopkins, is a
model in Las Vegas, Nev. April
is spending her retirement
traveling and volunteering.
(aprilrain59@yahoo.com)
REBEKAH WILKINS-PEPITON, BA’01, has been
named executive director of
the St. Lawrence County Arts
Council in Watertown, N.Y.
An artist working in a variety
of mediums as well as an
art educator, she taught high
school visual arts in Colorado
where she developed Pagosa
Springs’ Fine Arts Magnet
Academy and was Public Relations and Marketing Director
for Square Top Repertory
Theatre. She also spent two
years in the Peace Corps in
Southeast Asia. Her work has
been in galleries throughout
the U.S. Her book Broken
Cycles, a conversation between
her photography and the
poetry of Damon Falke, was
published by Shechem Press
in 2007. She and her husband,
CHARLIE PEPITON,
BA’01, live in Canton, N.Y.
footprints 39
The Price is Right!
Linda Pickens Price sits in front of the
lockers in the newly remodeled Flying
Queens lockerroom. Price, a former Flying
Queen All-American, donated $25,000 to
renovate the players’ facility. The renovation
included new leather couches, a flat screen
TV, a computer station, new lockers and
more.
of the Year in 2011, formerly
worked in Admissions and
Kenny is an intern for Baptist
Student Ministries. (lydickk@
wbu.edu)
2010s
LANCE HEINEN, BA’12,
accepted a graduate assistant
position at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon,
W. Va. as Outdoor Recreation
Director. A former President’s
Ambassador, Lance writes: “In
short, my job now involves
me being paid to go skydiving,
whitewater rafting, hiking,
skiing, etc. with students...not
a bad gig at all!”
40 footprints
LORNA HASTINGS
LYDICK, a junior at Wayland
and KENNY LYDICK,
BA’12, are parents of a son,
Keenan Tate, born Dec. 5,
2012, in Lubbock weighing
6 pounds, 13 ounces. Lorna,
who was named Freshman
JOSEPH SLEDGE, MA’12,
and his wife Elizabeth welcomed their first child, Eliana
Ailene, born Sept. 10, 2012, in
Lubbock, weighing 7 pounds,
15 ounces and measuring 22
¼ inches. Joseph, who teaches
at Terra Vista Middle School
in the Frenship (Lubbock area)
district, also just completed his
masters in history last summer.
His wife is finishing he final
year at Texas Tech Medical
School. (5301 51st St., Apt G3,
Lubbock 79414; jsledge42@
gmail.com)
Students enjoy newly renovated cafeteria
Wayland Baptist University students
are enjoying their new-look cafeteria.
According to Vice President of Enrollment Management Dr. Claude Lusk,
the university opened the cafeteria
while renovation work continued on the
rest of the university center.
“All along the order of priority was
cafeteria first, (then) first floor, second
floor and basement (Pete’s Place)
following that,” Lusk said.
Renovations, which began over the
summer, forced the complete closure
of the university center and all the offices and functions associated with the
building were moved to different places
on campus. The bookstore and student
services were moved to McDonald
Hall while food services were moved
to the Laney Center. Lusk pointed out
that Sodexo, Wayland’s food services
contractor, spent the first month of the
semester cooking food in a makeshift
kitchen and then transporting it to the
Laney Center where tables were set
up on the gymnasium floor for the
students.
Lusk said that everyone associated
with the university understood that
there would be some inconveniences
related to the renovation work. However, he continued, there comes a point
where a sense of normalcy needs to
return and he and others began to
realize that time was approaching.
“We’ve got to finish this cafeteria,”
he concluded.
With that thought in mind, Lusk
said, all efforts were made over a span
of several weeks to get the cafeteria
through the body of inspections that
were required and to get the rest of
the worksite moved to the point that
people could safely move into and out
of the UC. Thanks to the cooperation
and determination of Wayland staff,
construction contractors and representatives from the city, the goal was met,
he said.
Let Us Hear From You!
___________________________________________________
Campus attended
___________________________________________________
Name ____________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Class ____________________
Degree or EX ____________
Please complete and return to:
Address
Alumni Services, 1900 W. 7th, CMB 437
Phone _____________
Plainview, TX 79072
E-mail ___________________________
E-mail to: andrewsd@wbu.edu or pettyj@wbu.edu
Spouse ________________
Wayland alum?
Spouse’s occupation
Photographs may appear in magazine, depending on photo quality
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and/or available space. Photos are not returned. If sending digital photo
Total Grandchildren ______
News for Footprints _____
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Plainview, Texas 79072-6998
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Stay in touch
with Wayland!
The Association of
Former Students of
Wayland Baptist
University
n Call us at
806-291-3600
A New Hangout
The Wayland Baptist University President’s Ambassadors hang
out in the newly remodeled Pete’s Place in the basement of the
University Center. The new coffee-shop inspired space contains
a short-order grill, performance stage with lights and sound, and
serves Starbucks products.
n Contact us by
e-mail at
andrewsd@wbu.edu
or pettyj@wbu.edu
for Class Notes,
address changes,
chapter information