Monthly News Archives: March 2018

BROWNWOOD – March 29, 2018 – The Howard Payne University Woman’s Club will host its annual Yellow Rose Scholarship Luncheon on Thursday, April 12, with area businesses and individuals serving as sponsors for the popular event. The ticketed luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the Bullion Suites of HPU’s Mabee University Center.

Sponsors include Cindy Robnett (Diamond Sponsor), Creative Image Laser Solutions (Gold Sponsor), Sharon Guthrie (Gold Sponsor), Sally Porter (Gold Sponsor), Bangs Flowers & Gifts, Big Country Ford, Brownwood Regional Medical Center, Citizens National Bank, Painter & Johnson Financial, Willie’s T’s, Karen Dodds, Diana Ellis, Ann Jones, Mitzi Lehrer, Shannon Sims and Tina Vaughn.

The guest speaker for this year’s luncheon is Jinny Henson. She is a native Houstonian, a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Seminary and is a highly sought-after speaker and author. She has traveled the country performing standup comedy and began the “Maggie Lee for Good” website in memory of her daughter’s loving and giving life. She has a remarkable perspective on life and an inspiring story of God’s sustaining grace in the worst of times. Jinny is no stranger to Brownwood, having lived here when her husband, John, was pastor of First Baptist Church.

During the luncheon, the Woman’s Club will announce the recipient of the Yellow Rose Scholarship for the 2018-2019 academic year as well as honor one of the guests with the prestigious 2018 Yellow Rose Award.

Luncheon tickets are $25 and a limited number are only available through April 5. For ticket information, visit www.hputx.edu/yellowrose, e-mail womansclub@hputx.edu or call 325-649-8187.
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Cutline: The HPU Woman’s Club will host its annual Yellow Rose Scholarship Luncheon Thursday, April 12, with guest speaker Jinny Henson.

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 extension 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.”

BROWNWOOD – March 28, 2018 – The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), of which Howard Payne University is a member institution, published new survey results this week that indicate Christian higher education in the United States is responsible for more than $60 billion in economic impact annually.

The groundbreaking new study from Philadelphia-based consulting firm Econsult Solutions, Inc. analyzed the significant economic impact of Christian higher education in the United States. Commissioned by the CCCU, the study calculates the impact on the national economy of its 142 Christian colleges and universities across the country, collectively educating 445,000 students, employing 72,000 faculty and staff, and serving 3.5 million alumni around the world. The study finds that through their operations, capital investments and additional alumni earning power, these institutions generate more than $60 billion in economic impact each year (equivalent to $166 million generated per day for the U.S. economy).

“HPU and other Christian colleges and universities are incredibly valuable – not only to the students who attend them but to society in general,” said Dr. Bill Ellis, HPU president. “As remarkable as these dollar figures are, we’re much more concerned about HPU’s work for the Kingdom of God, the value of which can’t be measured this side of eternity.”

At a time when higher education is under heavy scrutiny for its value proposition, the study’s findings are particularly pertinent. Not only do Christian institutions profoundly affect the lives of students through their shared commitment to advancing faith and intellect for the common good, they also benefit the national economy and deliver a significant return on investment to the federal government.

“Christian colleges and universities provide a unique and valuable place for students to discern their vocation through the study of their chosen discipline,” said Shirley V. Hoogstra, CCCU president. “They also develop a deeper relationship with God, with their peers and professors, and with their surrounding communities. Our rigorous academics and educational missions shape students who act for the public good – often at a cost to themselves – out of a love for Jesus Christ and for the world around them. The results from this report are powerful and illuminate a bright future for Christian higher education.”

Lee Huang, senior vice president and principal of Econsult Solutions, Inc., said the report helps individuals understand the role of Christian colleges and universities, not only for faith-based scholarship and personal spiritual formation but also as a major economic engine in the U.S., supporting local jobs and generating federal tax revenues.

“Christian higher education’s value proposition to its participants, as well as to community and society, is very strong,” said Huang. “Our nation and our communities need more of what these institutions do, which is act as anchors of economic activity, serve and engage with their immediate neighbors, and add intelligent and service-oriented graduates to tomorrow’s workforce.”

Key Findings from Report:
• CCCU institutions are responsible for more than $60 billion in economic impact each year.
• For every $1 in federal grant money a student receives, CCCU institutions provide $5 in aid to that student through grants and schol¬arships.
• The student loan default rate for graduates from CCCU institutions (6.3%) is nearly half the national average (11.5%).
• Even though they are tax exempt, CCCU institutions still generate $9.7 billion in federal tax revenue each year. For every $1 in federal grant money a student receives, CCCU institutions generate more than $20 in federal tax revenue.
• 1 in 3 CCCU students are first-generation college students.
• 50% of CCCU students come from families that make less than $50,000 per year.
• While approximately one in four college students across the country volunteer, more than one in three CCCU students participate in community service while enrolled. CCCU students perform an estimated 5.4 million community service hours per year.

This report was generously sponsored by America’s Christian Credit Union with support from Fieldstead and Company.

For additional information and to access the full report, visit cccu.org/economic-impact/.

The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities is a higher education association of more than 180 Christian institutions around the world. With campuses across the globe, including more than 150 in the U.S. and Canada and nearly 30 more from an additional 18 countries, CCCU institutions are accredited, comprehensive colleges and universities whose missions are Christ-centered and rooted in the historic Christian faith. Most also have curricula rooted in the arts and sciences. The CCCU’s mission is to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help our institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth.

Econsult Solutions, Inc. is a Philadelphia-based economic consulting firm that provides businesses and public policy makers with economic consulting services in urban economics, real estate economics, transportation, public infrastructure, development, public policy and finance, community and neighborhood development, planning, as well as expert witness services for litigation support. Its principals are nationally recognized experts in urban development, real estate, government and public policy, planning, transportation, non-profit management, business strategy and administration, as well as litigation and commercial damages. Staff members have outstanding professional and academic credentials, including active positions at the university level, wide experience at the highest levels of the public policy process and extensive consulting experience.

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Attached: CCCU infographic detailing annual economic impact of Christian higher education

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 extension 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.”

BROWNWOOD – March 26, 2018 – Howard Payne University’s Department of Art is hosting “Best of 2017-2018: A Juried Student Exhibition” through April 6 in the Dorothy and Wendell Mayes Art Gallery inside HPU’s Doakie Day Art Center. The exhibition features 74 works of art by 24 students.

Curating the exhibition were HPU art faculty members Susan Harmon, adjunct instructor of art; Julie Mize, adjunct instructor of photography; and David Harmon, professor of art and chair of the Department of Art. Featured artworks include mixed media, collages, ink on paper, photography, charcoals, ceramics, 3D and more.

Students who won awards for their art are Ali Henry, sophomore from Canyon Lake, with first place; Drew McNeill, senior from Brownwood, with second place; Abi Brown, junior from May, with third place; Stephanie Ferguson, senior from Milano, with an honorable mention; Cheyanne Lovelady, senior from Brownwood, with an honorable mention; Keith Baker, sophomore from Houston, with an honorable mention; Hope Veroneau, freshman from Lampasas, with an honorable mention; and Sadee Region, freshman from Fort Worth, with an honorable mention.

Additional student artists featured in the show are Ryan Adams, senior from Brownwood; Travis Adams, senior from Brownwood; Jordan Beasley, junior from San Antonio; Keith Baker, sophomore from Houston; Heather Brandenburg, senior from Garland; Bri Davis, freshman from Comanche; Espoir Djondo, freshman from Brownwood; Lexi Farar, senior from Brownwood; Shelby Harrison, senior from Abilene; Maria Mirales, 2017 HPU graduate from Brownwood; Carla Morales, senior from Magnolia; Aaron Pulley, senior from Brownwood; Gabrielle Ruiz, senior from Richland Hills; Jacob Salazar, senior from Lockhart; Bailey Smith, senior from Grandview; and Brayden Towell, junior from Brownwood.

Hershall Seals, an artist from Temple, served as an awards juror for the exhibition.

“There are many items worthy of note in this exhibition,” he said. “There were many tough choices, as usual. I chose three different media to acknowledge the depth of the various media offerings. Essentially, the awards amount to three designations: painting, photography and 3D.”

The gallery is open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Friday, 9:00-1:00pm. The Doakie Day Art Center is located on the HPU campus, on Center Avenue, near Lipscomb Street in Brownwood. All inquiries should be directed to David Harmon at 325-649-8088 or dharmon@hputx.edu.

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Cutlines:
1. Basic design and photography artwork hang among 74 pieces of art at HPU’s “Best of 2017-2018: A Juried Student Exhibition.”
2. HPU student paintings are available for viewing through April 6 during the juried student art exhibition.

BROWNWOOD – March 23, 2018 – Howard Payne University will host Resurrection Week, an annual spring revival event, March 26-28. Held annually in the week preceding Easter, the services are intended to be a time of spiritual renewal and are open to the community in addition to HPU students, faculty and staff.
This year’s speaker, Dr. Michael Criner ’03, is the senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Bellville. He and his wife, Abigail ’05, have three children. Roger Cullins ’03 will lead worship at each service. Cullins serves as the worship pastor at Bay Area Church in League City. He and his wife, Katherine, have one child.
“Michael and Roger are familiar faces at HPU and we will be blessed by their leadership,” said Corey Ash, director of bands and Chapel coordinator. “Resurrection Week will be a powerful time of growth and worship of our risen Savior.”
Resurrection Week services will be held in HPU’s Mims Auditorium on Monday and Tuesday, March 26-27, at 10:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., and at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 28.
For more information, contact Ash at 325-649-8502 or cash@hputx.edu.

Attached: Photos of Michael Criner and Roger Cullins

BROWNWOOD – March 9, 2018 – In recognition of Black History Month in February, Howard Payne University’s School of Humanities hosted a viewing and academic discussion of the 2011 film “The Help.” Following the screening, Draco Miller, Brownwood city council member and mayor pro-tem, led students and other attendants in a discussion of the film’s themes.

“Following the movie’s vivid depiction of discrimination in the early 1960s, Mr. Miller led a follow-up discussion on the current state of race relations in our country,” said Dan Humeniuk, assistant professor of social work and chair of HPU’s Department of Social Work and Sociology.

Humeniuk said the evening’s activities provided the students with an opportunity to see how far we have come as a nation, to discuss their impressions of where we are now, and to visualize how far we have to go to realize Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream for racial equality in our country.

“We’re thankful to Mr. Miller for leading this thought-provoking session for our students,” said Humeniuk.
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Cutline: Draco Miller, Brownwood city council member and mayor pro-tem, leads an academic discussion at HPU following the screening of the 2011 film “The Help.”