BROWNWOOD – May 6, 2026 – Howard Payne University honored 55 students with Academic Awards during a special ceremony on April 29. Deans from the six schools and several department chairs presented the awards to students.
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Outstanding Student in the School of Business: Chase Churchwell
Outstanding Student in Accounting: Zachary Hallman
Outstanding Student in Finance: Travis Holleman
SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN STUDIES
Bible: Caeleigh Davis
Christian Education: Biak Sang
Cross-Cultural Ministry: David Newman
Practical Theology: Harrison Blaylock
Youth Ministry: Elsa Leake
Outstanding Christian Studies Student: Vitória Biazi
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND FINE ARTS
Outstanding New Elementary Teacher: Sharon Beth Bradley
Outstanding New Secondary Teacher: Braelynn Askew
Outstanding New All-level Teacher: Bryce Allen-Bourland
HPU Education Deans of Independent Colleges and
Universities of Texas Preservice Educator of the Year: Deaven Connelly
Kinesiology
Outstanding Student in Kinesiology, All-Levels PE: Bryce Allen-Bourland
Outstanding Student in Kinesiology, Fitness Specialist: Georgia Barganski
Outstanding Student in Kinesiology, Sport Management: Landry Combs
Outstanding Student in Allied Health Sciences: Nathaniel Rene Garza
Communication
Outstanding Upper Division Student: Adrielle Sloan
Outstanding Student Media Production Students: Madison King – The Yellow Jacket Editor and Rylee McAlexander – “The Sting Podcast” Host
Outstanding Student Speaker Bureau Member: Adrielle Sloan
Music
Outstanding Upper Division Music Student: Victoriano Cooper
Outstanding Lower Division Music Student: Ana Birch
Theatre
The Servant Artist Award: Aniyah O’Neal
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES
English
Glenn Hopp Outstanding Writing Award: Kaitlyn Fought
Academic Excellence Award: Luke Moss and Kinslee Tumlinson
Spanish and Hispanic Studies
Honor Awards in Spanish: Mia Ferraro and Magaly Cervantes
Outstanding Spanish Minor: Katelyn Turner
History and Government
Outstanding Student in Government: Katelyn Sims
Outstanding Student in History-Education: Emily White
Outstanding Student in History: Katelynn Turner
Outstanding Students in Model United Nations: Madeline Duncan and Andrew Mathis
Outstanding Student in Moot Court: Katelynn Turner
Psychology
Outstanding Student in Psychology: Madeline Duncan
Criminal Justice
Academic Excellence Award in Criminal Justice: Chloe Waller
Honor Award in Criminal Justice: Ataleigh Constancio
Outstanding Criminal Justice Major: Kendall Watkins
Social Work
Outstanding BSW Student of the Year: Maya Rivera
SCHOOL OF NURSING
Daisy Award, Senior: Trinity Baxter
Daisy Award, Junior: Annie-Klein Allgood
Academic Excellence, Seniors: Sophia Roman and Briana Carter
Academic Excellence, Junior: Jesslyn Sliger
SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
Natural Sciences
Outstanding Student in General Biology: Eunice Cruz
Outstanding Lower Division Student in Biology: Bethany Blair
Outstanding Upper Division Students in Biology: Megaly Cervantes and Abigail Henderson
Outstanding Graduate in Biomedical Science: Shayna Oliver
Outstanding General Chemistry Student: Ashlyn Lorenz
Outstanding Organic Chemistry Students: Jadyn White and Gerson Mendoza
Outstanding Graduate in Chemistry: Victoriano Cooper
Computer Information Systems
Outstanding Student in Computer Information Systems: Jordyn White
Mathematics
Outstanding Students in Mathematics: Noah Baiani and Jacob Hill
ATHLETICS
Paul J. Cunningham Memorial Award: Blaine Onick
Tami Pattillo Memorial Award: Brenna Douthit
Outstanding Scholar-Athletes: Caitlyn Parsons and Chance Hehman
ASC Medal of Honor: Briana Carter and Deaven Connelly
The Guy D. Newman Honors Academy’s Senior Awards will be presented at a reception on Friday, May 15.
For more information about HPU, visit www.hputx.edu.
###
Cutline 1: HPU recognized 55 students for academic achievement at Academic Awards Convocation.