Because of the people
How junior Padi Mangwiro has been impacted by the HPU community
by Rebekah Sterling '18
“I decided to come to Howard Payne because of the people.”
This phrase, spoken by Padiwanashe “Padi” Mangwiro, a business marketing major from Forney, has been uttered by many Howard Payne students and alumni over the years. It is a common theme throughout the greater HPU story and Mangwiro has been experiencing it since he first arrived on campus in the fall of 2018.
“Some of my first memories on campus are those with the RAs [resident assistants],” he said. “Nick Noll, Kendall Moore and Cooper Hering were my first real friends at HPU.”
Mangwiro initially heard about HPU through his former high school football coach, Jason Bachtel ’03, now HPU’s head football coach, and enjoyed his tour of campus. Although he ultimately chose not to play college football, Mangwiro said the choice to stick with HPU – and those he met there – was an obvious one. He knew HPU’s smaller class sizes and small-town setting would help him stay on track and get plugged in on campus.
“I got involved really fast,” he said. “I joined SAC [Student Activities Council] and worked for University Services. Now I’m the beau for Delta Chi Rho and I’m playing drums for the Chapel band.”
Mangwiro’s easy-going attitude, sense of humor and participation in campus life have helped him leave his comfort zone and become a familiar face to new students on campus.
“It really made me part of the community, being involved in those things,” he said. “I feel like now everybody knows me. There are some people who will be like ‘Hey, Padi!’ and I’ll just say ‘Hey, man!’ even if I don’t know who it is.”
Faculty and staff have also made a lasting impression during Mangwiro’s time at HPU, providing timely advice and encouragement.
“They’ve just always been there for me,” he said, listing several faculty and staff members including Tammy Arreola ’17, career services coordinator, whom he referred to simply as Miss Tammy; Titus Brown ’18, admission counselor; Wes Curton, former resident director of Jennings Hall; Josh Snow ’13, director of student activities; Zac Sterling ’16, resident director of Thomas Taylor Hall; and Dr. Lester Towell, professor of computer information systems and department chair.
“When I’ve not made the best decisions, I don’t know how, but they always know,” Mangwiro shared. “They keep me accountable in my faith, mentally and in my life.”
"Being able to make relationships with different people has caused me to have more opportunities to share the gospel and to come out of my shell."
If he hadn’t chosen to attend HPU, where he has the support of the HPU community, Mangwiro believes things could have been very different.
“I get distracted pretty easily and I feel like if I’d gone to a bigger college I might have fallen out of the faith, or been more reckless,” Mangwiro admitted. “I probably would not have made it through the first two years, because I wouldn’t have had the Josh Snows or Miss Tammys around me. If I went to a bigger school, there would have been maybe 20,000 other kids like me, but coming here – there’s only one Padi.”
Grateful he didn’t end up at a larger school, Mangwiro shared how his time at HPU and encouragement from faculty, staff and friends have led to his personal growth.
“I’ve learned how to talk to people who are different from me,” he shared. “Being able to make relationships with different people has caused me to have more opportunities to share the gospel and to come out of my shell.”
One major opportunity for Mangwiro has been his involvement at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church (CABC) as an intern for Billy Cash ’01, university pastor. During his freshman year at HPU, Mangwiro wasn’t initially involved in a local church, but knew he needed to get plugged in.
“They needed a drummer and I said I could play drums,” Mangwiro explained. “I was thinking I needed to do something to get involved, when they just asked me. I thought, ‘Padi, you need to do this.’”
Mangwiro is now in his third year as an intern for Genuine, CABC’s college ministry, and leads worship most Sunday evenings.
“I’ve come out of my shell to lead worship – something I’ve never done before,” he said. “If I hadn’t come to Howard Payne, I probably would not have done something like that. I’d say that’s a huge thing Howard Payne’s done for me.”
Mangwiro will graduate in spring 2022 and hopes to find a career in either foreign exchange or real estate. Even as he plans his entrance into the job market, he knows he will want to stay involved in ministry in some respect. Based on his experience at HPU and the way he has grown in his time on campus, Mangwiro shared advice for new and prospective students.
“Give it a chance – branch out,” he said. “There are many opportunities here, not just at HPU, but also within the community that you could take advantage of.”
He also mentioned how important the extended HPU family will be, even after he graduates.
“You know, it’s like Dr. Bunyard [vice president for student life and dean of students] always says, ‘Wherever you go, you’ll probably see a Howard Payne person.’ So far, wherever I’ve gone, I’ve either met someone who went to Howard Payne or who knows somebody who went to Howard Payne. This school really has produced a lot of good people.”
Photo #1: Mangwiro is involved with a wide range of activities across campus.
Photo #2: Mangwiro’s easy-going attitude, sense of humor and participation in campus life have helped him grow beyond his comfort zone.
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