Categories: Advancement

Howard Payne University’s Robnett Founders Dinner featuring Chris Tomlin honors Texas Baptists, raises $447,000

BROWNWOOD – April 15, 2026 – Howard Payne University (HPU) hosted more than 400 attendees at its fourth annual Robnett Founders Dinner on Tuesday at the Brownwood Event Center. The dinner, which featured a special performance by Grammy Award-winning Christian artist Chris Tomlin, raised $447,000, with $247,000 designated for student scholarships. “The annual Robnett Founders […]

HPU raises $1.26 million on GivingTuesday

BROWNWOOD – December 4, 2025 – Howard Payne University surpassed this year’s GivingTuesday goals of raising $750,000 from 400 supporters. The total given on Tuesday, December 2, was $1,265,075 from 425 supporters across 21 states. Donations during the one-day giving event were provided by alumni, friends, personnel and community partners. Gifts will support a wide […]

Howard Payne University to take part in GivingTuesday on Dec. 2

BROWNWOOD – November 19, 2025 – Howard Payne University will participate in GivingTuesday on Dec. 2. The event, held the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is a global day of giving that unites people, communities and organizations to celebrate generosity and raise support for non-profit organizations. This year, HPU’s goal is to raise a total of […]

John and Judy Duncan Endowed Scholarship established at HPU

BROWNWOOD – August 22, 2025 – A new endowed scholarship has been established at Howard Payne University by an anonymous supporter in honor of Dr. John ’82 and Judy Duncan, of Horseshoe Bay. The scholarship may be utilized by the university in the best way to encourage student enrollment. Dr. John Duncan is an alumnus […]

HPU celebrates unprecedented giving

BROWNWOOD – August 20, 2025 – Howard Payne University celebrated a record year in gifts to the university, with more than $12.39 million received from June 2024 to May 2025. This marks the highest fundraising year in university history. Significant gifts were received for campus improvements, totaling $5.99 million that included projects like the Ben […]

TexasBank gives $25,000 toward HPU scholarships through Doss Foundation

BROWNWOOD – May 9, 2025 – Howard Payne University recently received a gift of $25,000 in scholarship funds from TexasBank through the James and Dorothy Doss Foundation. The contribution was provided as a part of the Doss Foundation, TexasBank Scholars – Heart of Texas Scholarship Fund, which was established to help area students attend HPU. […]

HPU dedicates new Mieth Outdoor Pavilion and Martin Volleyball Courts

BROWNWOOD – April 28, 2025 – A special dedication ceremony and ribbon cuttings were held on April 26 for the new Ben and Bertha Mieth Outdoor Pavilion and Woody and Miki Martin Volleyball Courts on the HPU campus. The new facilities are located between Veda Hodge Hall and the J. Howard Hodge Bell Towers. “We […]

HPU dedicates Bob Carter Athletic Park for intramural sports

BROWNWOOD – April 7, 2025 – Howard Payne University dedicated the new Bob Carter Athletic Park (CAP) during a ceremony on Saturday, April 5. HPU alumnus Bob Carter and his wife, Tammy, gave the lead gift for the project. Bob Carter is a 1973 alumnus and CEO and founder of Lion Street insurance firm. The […]

HPU honors Central Texas J.R. Beadel Foundation, Inc., at Robnett Founders Dinner

BROWNWOOD – March 28, 2025 – Howard Payne University hosted the third annual Robnett Founders Dinner on March 27. The Central Texas J.R. Beadel Foundation, Inc. was honored as the recipient of the 2025 Dr. John D. Robnett Founders Award. More than $206,000 was raised from the event to benefit student scholarships. The event hosted […]

HPU to host the third annual Robnett Founders Dinner on March 27

BROWNWOOD – February 3, 2025 – Howard Payne University will host the third annual Robnett Founders Dinner on Thursday, March 27, in the new Brownwood Events Center. The annual event allows members of the HPU family to come together to honor an individual or group who has made a significant impact on HPU. All proceeds […]

HPU receives $90,000 grant from the Robert A. Welch Foundation

BROWNWOOD – December 9, 2024 – Howard Payne University was recently notified that the university has been selected as a recipient of a $90,000 Department Grant from the Robert A. Welch Foundation. The grant will be distributed over the next three years beginning in June 2025. The Welch Foundation is committed to the mission of […]

HPU surpasses GivingTuesday goals

BROWNWOOD – December 5, 2024 – Howard Payne University surpassed this year’s GivingTuesday goals of raising $800,000 from 350 supporters. The total given on Tuesday, December 3, was $882,908 from 394 supporters. Donations during the one-day giving event were provided by alumni, friends, personnel and community partners. Gifts will support a wide range of student-experience […]

Legacy Luncheon at HPU thanks supporters and celebrates scholarships

BROWNWOOD – November 26, 2024 – Howard Payne University hosted alumni and friends on November 23 at the Legacy Luncheon, a special event celebrating the impact scholarships and giving have on students and the campus. During the program, gratitude for support was expressed by university administrators, alumni and students. The event was held in the […]

HPU begins renovations on Veda Hodge Hall

BROWNWOOD – September 6, 2024 – Howard Payne University recently began renovations on Veda Hodge Hall, the female residence hall on campus. The renovation project is estimated to cost a total of $4 million and will include new bathrooms, featuring a bathtub in each suite, fresh paint and new flooring. “We are excited about the […]

Construction underway on new Outdoor Pavilion and Volleyball courts at HPU

BROWNWOOD – August 26, 2024 – Construction has begun on the Howard Payne University campus for a new 8,700 square foot Outdoor Pavilion and three sand volleyball courts. The $1.8 million project is located between Veda Hodge Hall and the J. Howard Hodge Bell Towers. This is an initiative to improve the student experience, attract […]

HPU School of Nursing receives grant to aid in nursing shortage

HPU nursing students will benefit from a $312,000 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

BROWNWOOD – August 8, 2024 – The Howard Payne University School of Nursing will receive a $312,000 grant this fall from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to aid in reducing the professional nursing shortage in the state of Texas. The funds will be beneficial in enrolling and retaining nursing students, as well as developing […]

HPU honors Mabee Foundation at Robnett Founders Dinner, raises funds for scholarships

BROWNWOOD – April 9, 2024 – Howard Payne University recently hosted the second annual Robnett Founders Dinner, with the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation, Inc., of Midland honored as the recipient of the 2024 Dr. John D. Robnett Founders Award. Funds raised from the event benefited student scholarships. More than 420 attended the event, with […]

HPU hosts Legacy Luncheon to thank supporters and celebrate scholarships

BROWNWOOD – December 18, 2023 – Howard Payne University recently hosted alumni and friends at the Legacy Luncheon, a special event celebrating the impact scholarships and giving have on students and the campus. During the program, gratitude for support was expressed by university administrators, alumni and students. The event was held in the Bullion Suites […]

Howard Payne University to take part in GivingTuesday on Nov. 28

BROWNWOOD – November 13, 2023 – Howard Payne University will participate in GivingTuesday on Nov. 28. The event, held the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is a global day of giving that unites people, communities and organizations to celebrate generosity and raise support for non-profit organizations. This year, HPU’s goal is to raise a total of […]

HPU receives $1 million from Mabee Foundation to establish scholarship fund

BROWNWOOD – August 15, 2023 – Howard Payne University was recently awarded a $1 million gift by the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation to establish the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Endowed Scholarship Fund. The fund will provide scholarships for HPU students who demonstrate the character associated with the foundation’s founders, John and Lottie Mabee, such […]

HPU banquet honors Dr. Leonard Underwood, raises funds for Academy renovation

BROWNWOOD – April 14, 2023 – Howard Payne University recently hosted the Robnett Founders Dinner, an elegant banquet at which Dr. Leonard Underwood was celebrated as the first recipient of the Robnett Founders Award and $247,824 was raised for the renovation of HPU’s Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom facility. More than 400 attendees gathered for […]

HPU invites public to banquet honoring Dr. Leonard Underwood

BROWNWOOD – February 28, 2023 – Howard Payne University recently announced the first Robnett Founders Dinner, an annual event inviting alumni, friends, corporate partners, communities of Brown County and other members of the HPU family to come together to honor an individual who has made a significant impact on the university and in the furtherance […]

Howard Payne University supporters make GivingTuesday a huge success

BROWNWOOD – December 2, 2022 – Howard Payne University’s network of alumni, friends, personnel and community partners made a record-setting show of support on GivingTuesday, providing over $860,000 to impact the university’s student experience. The gifts were made by 430 supporters. HPU’s goals for the event were $750,000 through the support of at least 250 […]

HPU GivingTuesday success allows for purchase of new chemistry equipment

BROWNWOOD – February 2, 2022 – Howard Payne University’s Department of Physical Sciences recently purchased a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) instrument as a result of a $22,000 gift received during the GivingTuesday event held in the fall. The new equipment will be utilized by students interested in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics […]