Categories: Academics

Howard Payne University speech and debate team earn honors at national tournament; one student wins national champion titles in two events

BROWNWOOD – April 24, 2026 – Howard Payne University’s Student Speaker Bureau speech and debate team earned high honors at the National Christian College Forensics Association (NCCFA) national tournament held at Whitworth University in Spokane, Wash. The national tournament attracted universities from across the nation, all member schools of the Council for Christian Colleges and […]

Howard Payne University to host Summer and Young Scholars programs for summer 2026

BROWNWOOD – April 17, 2026 – Howard Payne University’s (HPU) annual academic summer camp for elementary and middle school age students is scheduled for July 13-17, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at HPU. The registration fee for the program is $165 and includes tuition, a T-shirt, promotional items, daily snacks and supplies. T-shirts are […]

Howard Payne University names Sumners Scholars

BROWNWOOD – April 16, 2026 – Four Howard Payne University (HPU) students were recently selected as Sumners Scholars by the Sumners Foundation. The students selected are Rylie Burden, jurisprudence and Guy. D. Newman Honors Academy major from Lubbock; Ana Faulk, history and Guy D. Newman Honors Academy major from Fort Worth; Kourtney Melton, history and […]

HPU commends 238 students for academic success for the fall 2025 semester

BROWNWOOD – March 16, 2026 – Howard Payne University recognized 238 students for their academic excellence during the fall 2025 semester. Students must earn a 4.0 grade point average to be named to the President’s List, a 3.65-3.99 grade point average to be named to the Dean’s List and a 3.50-3.64 grade point average to […]

HPU speech and debate earns honors at tournament

BROWNWOOD – March 4, 2026 – Howard Payne University’s Student Speaker Bureau speech and debate team competed recently at the Texas Intercollegiate Forensics Association Spring Championship tournament, held at Texas State University in San Marcos, bringing home significant awards. In his tournament debut on the HPU debate team, freshman Adriaan Lafferty, Guy D. Newman Honors […]

HPU’s Lajeana Long recognized as Faculty Member of the Month

BROWNWOOD – March 2, 2026 – Howard Payne University’s Lajeana Long, assistant professor of nursing at HPU, was selected as Faculty Member of the Month. “Lajeana is a highly engaged educator whose commitment to student success extends far beyond the classroom,” said Dr. Laci Sutton, dean of the School of Nursing and assistant professor of […]

Five students honored at HPU’s Currie-Strickland Lectures

BROWNWOOD – February 18, 2026 – Howard Payne University named five students as Currie-Strickland scholars during the 18th annual Currie-Strickland Distinguished Lectures in Christian Ethics, on Thursday, February 5. The event featured guest lecturer John Litzler, director for public policy at the Christian Life Commission (CLC) and general counsel for Texas Baptists. Litzler’s lecture was […]

HPU announces campus closure for Tuesday, January 27, due to inclement weather

BROWNWOOD – January 26, 2026 – Howard Payne University has announced the closure of its Brownwood campus on Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to inclement weather. All on-campus classes are canceled and university offices will be closed. The campus is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Please visit www.hputx.edu for more information about HPU.

Major grant to benefit area schoolchildren through HPU’s Academy of Freedom

BROWNWOOD – January 21, 2026 – Howard Payne University’s Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom museum will soon expand its educational offerings to area schoolchildren due to an $881,000 grant recently awarded by the United States Department of Education. The grant will fund the facility’s rollout of a wide range of interactive learning opportunities for students […]

HPU debater Rylie Burden wins at TCU

BROWNWOOD – November 7, 2025 – HPU’s Student Speaker Bureau speech and debate team recently competed at the DFW Swing tournament at Texas Christian University (TCU). Junior Rylie Burden, Guy D. Newman Honors Academy and jurisprudence major from Lubbock, won the International Public Debate Association (IPDA) open debate division and earned third place overall individual […]

Howard Payne University preserves Dr. José Rivas’ legacy

BROWNWOOD – October 14, 2025 – Howard Payne University recently digitized the sermons, lectures and personal letters of the late Dr. José Rivas, former HPU professor. “In digitizing Dr. Rivas’ papers, Howard Payne is preserving the rich history and heritage that has made HPU special over the years,” said Jordan Villanueva, instructor of Christian studies […]

HPU Sumners Scholars host Early and Brownwood high school students for Constitution Day

BROWNWOOD – September 24, 2025 – The Howard Payne University Sumners Scholars hosted two classes from Early High School and one class from Brownwood High School in the Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom building on Tuesday, September 23. The campus visit was held in conjunction with Constitution Day, which was on September 17. The 40 […]

Howard Payne University unveils the Center for Faculty and Student Research

BROWNWOOD – September 5, 2025 – Howard Payne University is pleased to announce the creation of the Center for Faculty and Student Research. This new center embodies HPU’s mission to equip the whole person for intellectual inquiry, integrity and service to God and humanity. Dr. Dennis Gibson, director of research and associate professor of chemistry, […]

HPU welcomes five new faculty for 2025-2026 academic year

BROWNWOOD – August 27, 2025 – Howard Payne University welcomed five faculty members for the 2025-2026 academic year. New faculty include Dr. Mary Agboola, associate professor of finance; Dr. David Lowrie, dean of the School of Christian studies and assistant professor of Christian studies; Kay Shields, assistant professor of education; Dr. Jacob Skiles, assistant professor […]

HPU student Bailey Nobles participates in FutureDocs Abroad program in Vietnam

BROWNWOOD – August 12, 2025 – Bailey Nobles, a sophomore biomedical sciences major from Robstown, recently spent two weeks in Hue, Vietnam, as part of the FutureDocs Abroad program. The FutureDocs Abroad program is an honors program that allows undergraduate students to gain experience in medicine before they attend medical school. The purpose of the […]

HPU honors 220 students for academic success for the spring 2025 semester

BROWNWOOD – July 31, 2025 – Howard Payne University recognized 220 students for academic excellence during the spring 2025 semester. Students must earn a 4.0 grade point average to be named to the President’s List, a 3.65-3.99 grade point average to be named to the Dean’s List and a 3.5-3.64 grade point average to be […]

HPU launches Jumpstart pilot program for first-year students

BROWNWOOD – July 23, 2025 – HPU recently held Jumpstart, a new summer bridge program designed to introduce students to college and the resources that are available to them before the start of their first semester. Jumpstart was created as a part of the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions grant from the U.S. Department of Education. During […]

HPU recognizes 50 students for academic achievement at Academic Awards Convocation

BROWNWOOD – April 25, 2025 – Howard Payne University honored 50 students with Academic Awards during a special ceremony on April 23. Deans from the six schools and several department chairs presented the awards to students. SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Outstanding Student in the School of Business: Jack Shackelford Outstanding Student in Finance: Jaxon Hermesmeyer SCHOOL […]

Four Sumners Scholars named at HPU

BROWNWOOD – April 8, 2025 – Four Howard Payne University students were recently selected as Sumners Scholars by the Sumners Foundation: Abigail Henderson, biomedical science major from Junction; Cate Gramling, double major in elementary education and practical theology from Rowlett; Brock Horton, double major in the Guy D. Newman Honors Academy and accounting from Fort […]

HPU hosts Sumners Social for current and prospective students

BROWNWOOD – January 21, 2025 – Howard Payne University Sumners Scholars hosted the Sumners Social on January 20, providing information to prospective and current students about the Sumners Scholar Program. Information was shared about the scholarship program’s eligibility requirements, application process and benefits. The event was hosted in conjunction with the HPU Office of Admission […]