The Howard Payne University Woman’s Club presented the prestigious Yellow Rose Award to HPU alumna Tracey Carrier of Brownwood during the club’s annual Yellow Rose Scholarship Luncheon, held near the end of the spring semester. Carrier was given a commemorative plaque and bouquet of yellow roses.
The Yellow Rose Award is given annually to a woman who has exhibited exemplary leadership within her sphere of influence, who has exhibited fiscal, emotional or physical support to the life of the university and who represents Christian values and beliefs foundational to HPU.
Carrier, a 1989 HPU graduate, doubled-majored in education and the Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom, now the Guy D. Newman Honors Academy, and was involved in many areas of campus life. During her time as a student she worked in the admission office, was a Hatton W. Sumners Scholar and participated in Student Foundation, all while paying her way through college. Carrier served as junior class president, was HPU yell leader for two years, was on the Homecoming Court her junior and senior year and was named Homecoming Princess and Miss HPU her senior year.
In 1988, Carrier married her husband, Will ’89. They have two adult children – William Hunter and Beth Anne. The couple owns Willie’s T’s, which has been based in Brownwood since its opening in 1990. The Carriers have been faithful supporters of HPU, Brownwood and Early.
Carrier currently mentors several HPU students alongside Dr. Mitzi Lehrer, part-time alumni and development assistant, and also serves in the youth ministry at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church, where she has been a member for 30 years.
“Tracey is so very deserving of this honor,” said Dr. Lehrer. “She truly has a servant’s heart. She relates very well to all ages. She always seems to have just the right words to encourage or comfort someone.”
The guest speaker for this year’s luncheon was Pam Erickson, HPU alumna and author of “You First, Me Second … Getting to the Heart of Social Responsibility.” Erickson oversees Operation Blessing’s procurement and corporate relations staff in the daily acquisition of food, medical and relief supplies for both domestic and international programs.
For more information about the HPU Woman’s Club, visit www.hputx.edu/womansclub.
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Cutline: The Howard Payne University Woman’s Club recently presented its prestigious Yellow Rose Award to Tracey Carrier (left), pictured with Dr. Diana Ellis, former first lady and HPU Woman’s Club president.