Faithful, He Is: Chapel to be Led by Female Speaker
By: Katelyn Sims/ Dr. Irene Gallegos, director of Hunger and Care Ministries for Texas Baptists Christian Life Commission, will speak at Howard Payne University’s (HPU) chapel session on Feb. 21. This is the first time in almost three years that HPU has had a female speaker, and Gallegos has quite a remarkable reputation that places […]
SASW Strives to Create Leaders and Help Others
By: Chandler Britton/ Despite her many titles, “God led her to teach social work.” That’s what Shantel R. Oplotnik, advisor of the Student Association of Social Work, assistant professor of social work, and director of field education said defines her job. Oplotnik graduated from HPU in 2019 and went on to receive her master’s degree […]
HPU Alumni Launches Junior Jackets Program
Junior Jackets is a new club for children and grandchildren of alumni and friends of Howard Payne University. It is open to all ages from infants to 18-year-olds. This is the first year this has been offered, with the goal being to help teach children about HPU and get excited about coming to college here […]
HPU BSM to Attend Abide Conference
By: Natalia Rich/ This weekend, January 26-27, Howard Payne University’s Baptist Student Ministry (BSM) will be traveling to Highland Lakes Camp & Conference Center in Spicewood, Texas for a prayer conference, Abide, hosted by Texas BSM. According to the TXBSM website, the conference, “Abide” is an unscheduled prayer experience for college students, high school seniors, […]
Greek Life Pledges in Fall 2023, Not Spring 2024
By Ryleigh Watson// At Howard Payne University, school wide Greek organizations pledge in the spring of every year. This year, however, pledging was planned for the fall semester. HPU has three local sororities: Chi Alpha Omega, Delta Chi Rho and Pi Theta Chi, and one local fraternity, Delta Epsilon Omega. The university also has three […]
Free Stuff? Count me in! On Campus Resources for All HPU Students
By Ryleigh Watson/ Being in college, times can get tough, and money can get tight. So, when college provides the opportunity to get needs for free, most people won’t pass that up. Howard Payne has two different Jacket resources: The Jacket Closet and Jacket Food and Essentials. The Office of Student Experience oversees the Jacket […]
Fall Break Provides Hiatus from Class
By: Riley Harker/ As the semester reaches the halfway mark for the 2023 fall semester and midterms start to come to an end, many students and faculty members are mentally exhausted and just need time to relax and reset before preparations for final exams start. That is why, unlike some colleges, Howard Payne University had […]
Sang Can Sing: Chapel Band Gains Male Lead Vocalist
By Natalia Rich For the first time in a few years, there is a new male lead singer for the Heritage Chapel Band, freshman Christian Studies major from Garland Biak Sang. Sang has been the “talk of the town” recently for being the only male lead singer as of right now for the band. Sang […]
Students to Study Spanish in Spain
By: Jason Turner This coming June, Dr. Danny Brunette-López, professor of Spanish and chair of the Department of Spanish and Hispanic Studies, is offering students an immersion experience to study Spanish in Seville, Spain. This unique opportunity is set to broaden the horizons of our HPU students, add to their overall student experience, help them […]
HPU to Open New Center for Student Success
By Emily Hughitt: Howard Payne University plans to open the new Center for Student Success on the top floor of the library in room 201 in mid-October. The Center for Student Success was proposed in January 2023 and will be a more cohesive program for student support. Assistant Vice President for Student Success Dr. Wendy […]
HPU Gains Two New Resident Directors
By Maddie King: Residence halls are a major part of the Howard Payne University student experience. From everyday living to student safety to fun events, the resident directors manage all that residence halls are. This year HPU has two new resident directors. Kristen Faulkner, ‘01, is the new RD for Veda Hodge Hall, and Jake […]
New Year, New Head Football Coach
By Ryleigh Watson/ A new season isn’t the only exciting thing in store for the Yellow Jacket football team. This season a new head coach takes the lead at HPU. Kevin Bachtel, head football coach and previous defensive coordinator, took the position on December 17, 2022. Bachtel said when he was offered the position there […]
Stay Genuine Everywhere, Even on the Lawn
By Shelby Lintelman/ Earlier this semester, many Howard Payne University students gathered in Grace Chapel for “Genuine,” a ministry of Coggin Avenue Baptist Church. Genuine is a ministry for college students that is led by Billy Cash, college pastor at CABC. It is a ministry that meets weekly on Sunday nights at 7 p.m. and […]
A Jacket’s First Journey
By Maddie Escalon, Cody Hineman, & Natalia Rich/ Jacket Journey at Howard Payne University is a new student’s first HPU tradition. The Director of Student Leadership and Engagement Kailee Torgerson said she believes Jacket Journey helps students get involved and make relationships before their first class starts. “Jacket Journey is a time for new students, […]
HPU Women’s Soccer Takes on Washington
By Chandler Britton/ The Howard Payne University Women’s Soccer team made their way to Seattle last weekend to start off the 2023-2024 season. Head Women’s Soccer Coach Brandon Badgley said he has many goals for his eighth season with the HPU Women’s Soccer team. “We want to keep continuing to build the culture and chemistry […]
Spiritual Health Care for Students
By Emily Hughitt | HPU’s Godly environment is what shapes the school and the student experience. From bible classes and chapel to staff who want to get to know the students and pray for them, the campus is well loved and well served. Students on campus have many opportunities to serve and be spiritually fed on […]
Celeste Justice: A Woman with a Mission
By Emily Hughitt | Celeste Justice, Howard Payne’s test center coordinator, administrative assistant and VA school certifying assistant, recently took on the title of Coordinator for Academic Success. While Justice is keeping all of her old responsibilities, this new job means adding more to her plate. Now, Justice oversees freshman advising, coordinates dual credit enrollment, peer […]
Shannon Turner: Moving Forward
By Jason Turner | Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, Professor Shannon Turner, wants to have an impact on the students of Howard Payne University (HPU). She formerly lived in Greenville and Whitehouse, Texas, until she moved to Brownwood. “I have a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Science in Information Systems. […]
HPU Raises Student Worker Pay
By Emily Hughitt | Howard Payne University recently raised the student worker pay from $7.25 an hour to $8 an hour. This change went into effect on January 1, 2023. Director of Human Resources, Katrina Lynn said she believes this will help students feel more important in their jobs. “I hope it helps students know how much […]
Super Bowl Sunday
By Karmen Turner | Super Bowl Sunday: the most watched day of television in the U.S. Many people around the world are ready for Super Bowl Sunday and are excitedly awaiting the game and the thrill of who will win the biggest title of the year. This year’s line-up boasts the Kansas City Chiefs and […]
HPU Celebrates Multiculturalism
By Mia Romero | National Hispanic Heritage Month is one of the many multicultural celebrations that are celebrated across the world. Howard Payne University’s (HPU) Spanish club, “Amigos Unidos,” partnered with Student Experience to host a Hispanic Heritage Festival on Monday, Oct. 3, for all students to attend. “We do plan on working with Student […]
BSM Takes Checking Up On Each Other To A New Level
By Ryleigh Watson | Many college students often struggle with finding community. But HPU’s student lead group, “Community Group,” is a place where true community really happens. Students Zoe Sprayberry and Jacob Ruiz helped created the group that meets in the Hub every Monday night at 9 p.m. “Community group at the BSM is something […]
Union University Debate Tournament Results
By Dr. Julie Welker | Howard Payne University’s speech and debate team, Student Speaker Bureau, competed at their first tournament of the 2022-2023 season. Junior Landon Chenault, social science jurisprudence and Guy D. Newman honors major from Denton, won the varsity division of individual International Public Debate Association (IPDA) style debate. The HPU team was […]
Graduates Taking Covid Year To Their Advantage
By Ryleigh Watson | When thinking of people who have graduated, in particular athletes, there is a vision of them going out and starting their life right then and there. However, when a door opens to play one last season of the sport they love, it is hard not to take it. It is football […]
Encounter Week
By Zena Hargroves | Encounter Week is a spiritual launch pad for the campus to start the semester. It is also an opportunity for the student body to earn extra chapel credits. There will be a guest pastor and band that will perform and have worship services twice a day. “It is a time to […]