Monthly News Archives: September 2013

HPU announces Homecoming Parade route

BROWNWOOD – September 27, 2013 – Howard Payne University has announced the parade route for Homecoming 2013. The parade, sponsored by Big Country Ford, will travel around the HPU campus Saturday, October 5, beginning at 11 a.m., and the community is welcome and encouraged to attend.

The parade will wind its way from HPU’s Doakie Day Art Center around the Mabee University Center, down Fisk Street to Austin Avenue, where it will turn and re-enter the campus on Center Avenue. The parade will end on HPU’s Wilson Walkway.

A variety of reunions and other events will also be held throughout the weekend. Alumni and visitors can register for Homecoming events and purchase tickets by visiting homecoming.hputx.edu or by calling 1-800-950-8465 or 325-649-8069.

“This year, six student organizations are preparing floats for the parade including Alpha Psi Omega, the Archery Club, Chi Alpha Omega, Delta Chi Rho, Sigma Theta Phi and the Student Government Association,” said Francie Harvey, director of student activities.

The Homecoming Court, alumni honorees and marching band will also be featured in the parade.

“We’re thrilled to have some new organizations participating in the float-building contest this year and feel confident it will be a wonderful event,” Harvey said. “We hope the community will come and enjoy!”

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Photo cutline: Members of HPU’s Student Foundation carry banners during the 2012 Homecoming Parade.

HPU announces 2013 Homecoming Court

BROWNWOOD – September 26, 2013 – Howard Payne University has announced the Homecoming Court for 2013. The HPU Homecoming queen and princess will be crowned on Friday, Oct. 4, at 2 p.m. during Homecoming Convocation in the university’s Mims Auditorium.

Homecoming queen nominees are Catherine Mullaney, a senior Guy D. Newman Honors Academy student and English major from Boylston, Mass.; Robin Scofield, a senior Guy D. Newman Honors Academy student and communication major from Naples, Fla..; and Morenci Young, a senior psychology major and health sciences minor from Gordon.

Catherine, the daughter of Daniel and Catherine Mullaney, is president of the Student Government Association and a member of Student Speaker Bureau and Gamma Beta Phi. She plans to one day become an author.

Robin, the daughter of Michael and Lynna Scofield, is a member of the Student Government Association, the Archery Club, Gamma Beta Phi and Sigma Theta Phi. Her career goal is to work in public relations for a corporation or government official.

Morenci, the daughter of Monty and Salena Young, is a member of Delta Chi Rho, the Archery Club and plays intramural sports. She plans to one day become an ultrasound technician.

Homecoming princess nominees are Katie Rose Bonner, a junior Guy D. Newman Honors Academy student and political science/pre-law and history major from Lytle; Neva Bowers, a junior business major from Victoria; and Adrianna Perez, a junior political science/pre-law major and criminal justice minor from Rowlett.

Katie, the daughter of James and Rosemary Bonner, is a member of Gamma Beta Phi and Moot Court. She plans to one day work as an attorney practicing international law or as a foreign-service officer for the Department of State.

Neva, the daughter of Billy and Denise Bowers, is an honorary member of Zeta Chi. Her career aspirations include entrepreneurism or sales.

Adrianna, the daughter of Ernest and Catherine Perez, is a member of Delta Chi Rho, the Student Government Association, Gamma Beta Phi and the Student Activities Council. Her career aspirations include pursuing a law degree in criminal or international law before working with Innocence Project, a national non-profit organization dedicated to exonerating wrongly convicted people through the use of DNA testing.

The Homecoming Court will be featured in the parade on Saturday, Oct. 5, beginning at 11 a.m., and in the half-time show of the football game versus Louisiana College at Gordon Wood Stadium starting at 2 p.m.

The student body selects the court each year by elections coordinated through the Student Government Association.

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Photo cutline: HPU’s 2013 Homecoming Court includes (from left): Katie Rose Bonner, Catherine Mullaney, Adrianna Perez, Robin Scofield, Morenci Young and Neva Bowers.

HPU BSM hosts annual Impact Weekend

By Kendyl Moore, HPU senior

BROWNWOOD – September 25, 2013 – Howard Payne University’s Baptist Student Ministry (BSM) recently hosted its annual Impact Weekend, during which 62 students joined together to serve the Brownwood community.

HPU students sorted items, reorganized inventory and painted at Good Samaritan Ministries. At Salvation Army, students organized the supplies from the recent school supply drive. A group of students also went to the Hope Home transitional school and helped landscape for a prayer garden.

“Impact has been a part of HPU’s BSM history for quite some time,” said Keith Platte, BSM director. “It is a great way for our students to learn by doing. They can learn more about how to actively serve in the Brownwood community by taking part in Impact Weekend. “

The event, held during Labor Day weekend, also included a worship service led by students including Alex Caro, a senior from Howe, and Courtney Officer, a junior from Stephenville. Sam Goff of Food for the Hungry delivered the sermon.

The focus of the weekend was to “think globally and act locally” with respect to missions.

“Many students say that they might focus on service after they complete their degrees, but I believe what our students do right now, while they are in school, prepares them for doing more after they graduate,” Platte said. “That is one reason we encourage our students to serve throughout their time at Howard Payne. It prepares them to be better servants once they leave the university.”

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Photo cutline: HPU students (from left) Colette Wilcoxen, Kaiti Cochrum and Trent Gainey, serve at Brownwood’s Good Samaritan Ministries during Impact Weekend.

HPU’s Homecoming 2013 celebration scheduled Oct. 4-6

BROWNWOOD – September 20, 2013 – Howard Payne University’s Homecoming celebration will be held Friday through Sunday, Oct. 4-6. This year’s theme is “There Is No Place Like Homecoming,” honoring L. Frank Baum’s classic book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”

Alumni and visitors can register for Homecoming events by visiting homecoming.hputx.edu or by calling 1-800-950-8465 or 325-649-8069. A full calendar of events and tickets are available online.

Approximately 40 events will be held throughout the weekend, including the following:

Performances of “Into the Woods” will be held at the university’s Mims Auditorium. Show times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and Sunday from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. For ticket information, contact the School of Music and Fine Arts at 325-649-8500.

The Golden Graduate Luncheon for the Class of 1963 will be held Friday from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Mabee University Center’s Bullion Suites.

HPU’s soccer teams will take on Concordia University Friday afternoon (women at 1 p.m. and men at 3 p.m.) and University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on Saturday (women at 1 p.m. and men at 3 p.m.). The games will be held at HPU’s Citizens National Bank Soccer Field.

Homecoming Convocation will begin at 2 p.m. Friday in Mims Auditorium. The Homecoming Queen and Princess will be crowned.

The Alumni Awards Banquet, sponsored by the Alumni Association, will be held Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Mabee University Center’s Beadel Dining Area, during which several Homecoming 2013 honorees will be recognized. Dr. Cynthia Clawson Courtney ’70, award-winning Christian artist, and Dave Lee ’74, well-known trumpeter from the Austin area, will perform.

The university will host Cobbler on the Campus, sponsored by Underwood’s Cafeteria, from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday night at Muse Plaza and Mall. This dessert social is open to all campus visitors.

From 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday evening, the university will host a pep rally and laser light show sponsored by the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce at Muse Plaza and Mall.

Saturday morning, the Hispanic Alumni Breakfast will be held in the Mabee University Center’s Bullion Suites from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The Homecoming Parade, sponsored by Big Country Ford, will travel around the HPU campus on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. The parade will wind its way from HPU’s Doakie Day Art Center around the Mabee University Center, down Fisk Street to Austin Avenue, where it will turn and re-enter the campus on Center Avenue. The parade will end on HPU’s Wilson Walkway.

HPU’s volleyball team will compete against Hardin-Simmons University (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and UT Dallas (3 p.m. to 5 p.m.) on Saturday. Both games will be held at the Brownwood Coliseum.

The Picnic on the Plaza, sponsored by the Early Chamber of Commerce, will begin at noon on Saturday at Muse Plaza and Mall on the HPU campus.

The HPU Yellow Jacket football team will play Louisiana College at 2 p.m. Saturday at Gordon Wood Stadium.

On Sunday at 9 a.m., married alumni are welcome to participate in renewing their vows in HPU’s beautiful Grace Chapel.

A variety of reunions and other events will be held throughout the weekend. A complete schedule of events is available online at homecoming.hputx.edu.

HPU Honors Academy student interns in D.C. over summer

BROWNWOOD – September 16, 2013 – Landon Hankins, who will graduate in December from Howard Payne University’s Guy D. Newman Honors Academy: The Program for Civic Leadership and Public Policy (formerly the Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom), spent the summer interning in Washington, D.C., with the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies (CHDS). Hankins’ stay in D.C. was funded through the Honors Academy, which provides students with stipends to aid in the cost of completing internships for their majors.

“The funds help students enhance their education by applying what they have learned in the classroom to a real-life setting,” said Dr. Justin Murphy, dean of the School of Humanities and director of the Honors Academy.

Hankins travelled to D.C. through The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) program, which organized his living arrangements, classes for the semester and other activities. During the summer, he attended two classes – Economics & Public Policy and American Political Thought – at George Mason University’s Arlington campus. TFAS participants were housed on The George Washington University campus in Foggy Bottom, just blocks from many memorials and other significant D.C. locations.

Hankins also had the opportunity to attend a variety of lectures by individuals such as former Superior Court Judge Andrew Napolitano, U.S. Senator Rand Paul, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton and others. In addition, he was able to sit in on several sessions of the CHDS’s Caribbean Defense and Security Course.

“Needless to say, my summer experience was invaluable, and I am very thankful for the opportunities and the support given by the Honors Academy,” stated Hankins.

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Photo cutline: Landon Hankins, who will graduate from Howard Payne University’s Guy D. Newman Honors Academy, interned in Washington, D.C., during the summer.

HPU alumna addresses International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities

BROWNWOOD – September 16, 2013 – Jennifer Gober, a 2002 Howard Payne University alumna, spoke at the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities (IABCU) annual meeting held this summer at California Baptist University in Riverside. Gober is a member of the Baptist College & University (BCU) Scholars Program, a partnership between Baylor University Graduate School, the IABCU and IABCU partner schools.

In addition to travelling to the IABCU annual meeting, BCU Scholars have the opportunity to attend retreats and seminars, network with administrators from IABCU schools and fellowship with other doctoral students planning to teach in Christian colleges and universities.

Gober is pursuing a doctoral degree in chemistry at Baylor and plans to become a professor. She began her career in chemistry at HPU.

“I really enjoyed my time at Howard Payne,” she said. “I loved the small setting and the interactions I had with students and professors.”

Gober has particularly fond memories of then-dean of HPU’s School of Science and Mathematics, Dr. Donal Bird.

“Dr. Bird and his wife, Mrs. Marjorie Bird (who taught in the physical sciences and mathematics departments), really cared about their students,” she said.

According to Gober, the personal connections she shared with the HPU faculty members prepared her for life as a scientist.

“As a chemist, I have found that it is very easy sometimes to focus only on the science and the work right in front of me, be it my research in the lab or teaching the material to students,” said Gober in her speech at the annual meeting. “As a Christian, I endeavor to follow God and to love those around me. The question then becomes how to incorporate both the Scientist and the Christian in my approach to teaching and how to be a whole person who can teach from a solid base and help students grow as people, not just pass the tests and make the grade.”

She said the BCU Scholars Program has “opened her eyes to these questions.”

“Once you ask the right question, you can start finding the right answer,” she said.

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Photo cutline: HPU alumna Jennifer Gober, second from left, and other BCU Scholars (from left) Chris Moore, Courtney Parker and B.J. Parker, spoke at the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities (IABCU) annual meeting held at California Baptist University in Riverside.

HPU names Clint Dempsey assistant vice president for development

BROWNWOOD – September 16, 2013 – Howard Payne University recently named Clint Dempsey assistant vice president for development. Dempsey, a Brownwood native, has assumed primary responsibility for the school’s annual fund and assists in other campus fundraising efforts.

A graduate of Texas A&M University, Dempsey most recently served as vice president of operations for A&M’s 12th Man Foundation.

“Clint’s background at the 12th Man Foundation has prepared him well for his new role,” said Randy Yeakley, vice president for development at HPU. “Additionally, he has the added advantage of growing up here in Brownwood. I hope you will join the university in welcoming him back to town.”

Dempsey, a former Brownwood High School athlete, is the son of Larry and Karen Dempsey of Brownwood. He and his wife, Bethanne, are the parents of a one-year-old daughter, Tyler.

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Photo cutline: Brownwood native Clint Dempsey was recently named assistant vice president for development at HPU.

HPU named a “Best Regional College of the West” by U.S. News & World Report

BROWNWOOD – September 13, 2013 – Howard Payne University again received competitive rankings in the 2014 edition of “Best Colleges” released this week by U.S. News & World Report. HPU placed 14 out of the institutions in the “Best Regional Colleges of the West” category. Additionally, the university maintained its 2013 eighth-place ranking in the “Best Value Schools” category for regional colleges of the West.

The publication ranked nearly 1,800 higher-education institutions from across the country based on 16 indicators of academic quality including student-faculty ratio, graduation and retention rankings, peer assessment scores and available financial resources. “Best Value Schools,” described by U.S. News as “great schools at great prices,” are determined by comparing the institution’s academic quality to the cost of attendance.

Institutions are ranked within four geographic regions: North, South, Midwest and West. Universities and colleges in Texas and Oklahoma compete in the West region, which is the largest geographic section, encompassing the entire Western U.S.

According to the publication, the ranking methodology was significantly updated this year to place more emphasis on student outcomes.

“U.S. News strives to provide students and their families with the most comprehensive data available,” said Bob Morse, director of data research, in a press release issued by the publication. “Measuring outcomes is critical to understanding how well a school retains and educates its students.”

Dr. Bill Ellis, HPU president, encourages people to visit the university to determine its value on their own.

“We’re very pleased with our U.S. News rankings,” he said. “What truly makes this a remarkable university, however, are the things that can’t be ranked on a numeric scale. I encourage prospective students and their families to come to campus, meet our faculty and staff, witness our student life and find out what it’s like to be part of the HPU family.”

To schedule a campus visit, call (325) 649-8020 or go to www.hputx.edu/visit. More information about HPU’s “2014 Best Colleges” ranking can be found online at http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/howard-payne-university-3575.

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Photo cutline: Howard Payne University was recently named a “Best Regional College of the West” and a “Best Value School” by U.S. News & World Report.

HPU designated “Military Friendly School”

BROWNWOOD – September 13, 2013 – Howard Payne University was named to the Military Friendly Schools® list by Victory Media, the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life. The 2014 Military Friendly Schools® list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the U.S. that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus.

“Inclusion on the 2014 list of Military Friendly Schools® shows HPU’s commitment to providing a supportive environment for military students,” said Sean Collins, vice president at Victory Media and a nine-year Navy veteran. “The need for education is growing and our mission is to provide the military community with transparent, world-class resources to assist in their search for schools.”

The Military Friendly Schools® website, found at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com, features the list, interactive tools and search functionality to help military students find the best schools to suit their unique needs and preferences. The 1,868 colleges, universities and trade schools on this year’s list exhibit leading practices in the recruitment and retention of students with military experience. These schools have world-class programs and policies for student support on campus, academic accreditation, credit policies, flexibility and other services to those who served.

Now in its fifth year, the 2014 list of Military Friendly Schools® was compiled through extensive research and a data-driven survey of more than 10,000 schools nationwide approved for VA tuition funding. The survey results that comprise the 2014 list were independently tested by Ernst & Young LLP based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media. Each year, schools taking the survey are held to a higher standard than the previous year via improved methodology, criteria and weightings developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Board (AAB) consisting of educators from schools across the country. A full list of board members can be found at http://militaryfriendlyschools.com/board.

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Founded in 1889, Howard Payne University is a Christ-centered academic community dedicated to excellence by developing and equipping the whole person for intellectual inquiry, personal and professional integrity, and service to God and humanity.

Located in Brownwood, Texas, HPU offers a full array of undergraduate programs and a limited number of graduate programs in a traditional residential academic community. The university also offers selected undergraduate and graduate course work by electronic means and at extended learning centers in El Paso, Texas, and New Braunfels, Texas. HPU maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio, which contributes to the university’s reputation of being “a place where everybody is somebody.”

Eight join faculty at Howard Payne University

BROWNWOOD – September 11, 2013 – The fall 2013 semester at Howard Payne University brought eight new full-time faculty members to the HPU classrooms.

“HPU sought and found the highest quality of individuals to add to our faculty,” said Dr. W. Mark Tew, provost and chief academic officer. “We’re delighted to start the semester with an excellent group of new and returning faculty members to help shape the minds of our students.”

Dr. P. Graham Hatcher joins HPU as professor of exercise and sport science and chair of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science. He most recently served at Blue Mountain College in Mississippi.

Lori (Anderson) Kelley, J.D., serves as assistant professor of political science and holds the title of J.D. Sandefer Chair of Political Science. Kelley, a 2002 HPU alumna, most recently served at Dell, Inc.

Dr. Kevin Kelley is the new assistant professor of organizational psychology and business. His most recent professional experience includes TAD (Talent Assessment and Development) business development and consulting.

Dr. Brad Lemler, a certified public accountant, joined the full-time faculty as professor of accounting. Dr. Lemler, who previously served as an HPU adjunct, joined the university from Grace College in Winona Lake, Ind.

Dr. Melody Maxwell serves as HPU’s new assistant professor of Christian studies. She joins the university from East Texas Baptist University in Marshall.

Dr. Denny Megarity, who previously served as an HPU adjunct faculty member, joined the full-time faculty this semester as assistant professor of chemistry. Prior to HPU, he served at Mind Technologies Institute.

Dr. Dan Pryor also joined the full-time faculty this semester after serving as an adjunct. Dr. Pryor, assistant professor of business, previously served at St. Edwards University in Austin and Texas State University in San Marcos.

Dr. Craig Younce is HPU’s new assistant professor of biology. He most recently taught at Valencia College in Orlando.

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Photo cutline: Eight individuals joined the faculty at HPU. From left: Dr. P. Graham Hatcher, Dr. Brad Lemler, Dr. Dan Pryor, Dr. Denny Megarity, Dr. Craig Younce, Dr. Kevin Kelley, Lori Kelley and Dr. Melody Maxwell.