BROWNWOOD – October 31, 2014 – Howard Payne University welcomes the community to campus next week as guest speaker Raquel Contreras tells stories and imparts knowledge from experiences gained as president of the women’s department of the Baptist World Alliance and as general director of Editorial Mundo Hispano in El Paso.
There are three opportunities to hear Contreras speak. On Tuesday, November 4, at 7 p.m., she will host a discussion titled “Women of the World” in the Jackson Room of HPU’s Faith and Life Leadership Center. The audience will hear stories of Baptist women from around the world and pray together for them.
Contreras will also be the featured speaker at HPU’s weekly Chapel service at 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning at the university’s Mims Auditorium. Later that morning, at 11:30 a.m., she will discuss her experiences in Chile and across Latin America. The final discussion will also be held in the Jackson Room.
“We’re so excited to host Raquel Contreras on campus as she shares stories that can only be gained from firsthand experience,” said Dr. Melody Maxwell, assistant professor of Christian studies. “This is a great opportunity for our students and for the community as well. We hope many people make plans to attend.”
BROWNWOOD – October 29, 2014 – The Howard Payne University Jazz Ensemble will present its fall concert this Thursday evening, October 30, in HPU’s Mims Auditorium. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and is free to the public.
By Jaclyn Bonner, HPU sophomore
BROWNWOOD – October 24, 2014 – Katie Rose Bonner of Lytle and Caitlin Wood of Miles were crowned Howard Payne University’s Homecoming Queen and Princess during a ceremony held today on campus.
BROWNWOOD – October 24, 2014 – In honor of Homecoming 2014 and the 125th anniversary of Howard Payne University, the Walker Memorial Library has collected and is displaying historical HPU artifacts in the Browsing Room on the first floor.
BROWNWOOD – October 22, 2014 – A ribbon-cutting ceremony for Howard Payne University’s newly remodeled Mabee University Center will be held this Friday, October 24, at 5 p.m. as part of the university’s Homecoming 2014 celebrations.
BROWNWOOD – October 22, 2014 – Howard Payne University has announced the 2014 Homecoming Court. The HPU Homecoming queen and princess will be crowned this Friday, October 24, at 2 p.m. during Homecoming Convocation in the university’s Mims Auditorium.
BROWNWOOD – October 21, 2014 – In the early 1960s, excitement swept the Howard Payne University campus when two students achieved international fame. Ray Hildebrand and Jill Jackson Landon – known around the world as Paul and Paula – recorded their smash hit “Hey Paula” which spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard pop chart in 1963. The pair will return to campus this Friday for a concert and unveiling of a Texas historical marker in their honor.
Dr. Daniel Sanchez, a 1962 HPU alumnus, serves at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth in a number of positions including professor of missions; director of the Scarborough Institute of Church Planting and Growth; associate dean of the Roy Fish School of Evangelism and Missions; and director of the Hispanic Theological Studies Program. Dr. Sanchez received his Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, his Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Oxford Centre for Mission Studies in Oxford, England. In addition to being an educator, he has served as church planter and missionary among other roles. He and his wife, Carmen, who passed away in May 2014, have three children.
Ray Still has served as senior pastor of New Braunfels’ Oakwood Church for 20 years. During that time, the congregation has grown to more than 4,500 members. Still has served on the boards of McKenna Memorial Hospital, the McKenna Legacy Foundation, Christus Santa Rosa Hospital and Houston Baptist University. He and his wife, Sandra, have one son.
Dr. Bernardo “Bernie” Moraga serves as pastor of Buena Voluntad Baptist Church in San Antonio and is former pastor of First Spanish/Fruit Ave. Baptist Church in Albuquerque. A 1974 HPU alumnus, Dr. Moraga received his Master of Arts degree from Southwest Texas State and his Master of Divinity degree from Golden Gate Theological Seminary. He is former pastor of First Southern Baptist Church of San Francisco, Grace Baptist Church of Weslaco and Good Shepherd Baptist Church of Comanche. Moraga is a former member of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico Executive Board; a former national consultant for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Hispanic Initiative; a former member of the Texas Baptist and California Baptist Executive Boards; and a former trustee for Dallas Baptist University. In 2001, Dr. Moraga received the HPU Distinguished Alumnus Award. He and his wife, Anita, have two sons.
Annette Spikes, an educator and community activist, is a 1963 HPU alumna who went on to earn a Master of Education degree from Sam Houston State University. She married Grady Spikes ’62 (deceased 1999) while at HPU. The Spikes both taught two years at Coleman ISD before moving to Conroe ISD. Annette Spikes organized the Volunteer League for the Conroe Symphony Orchestra. She is past president and a board member of the organization, as well as treasurer and acting executive director of the Greater Conroe Arts Alliance. Additionally, she is a member of the Conroe Service League and serves various other community organizations. The Spikes have two sons and five grandchildren.
BROWNWOOD – October 14, 2014 – Sarahi Castillo, a sophomore at Howard Payne University, was recently selected to receive a $2,425 UPS Scholarship provided through the ICUT Foundation.