Yellow Rose Luncheon

Featured Speaker

Mrs. Robin Marriott ’87

This year’s featured speaker at the Yellow Rose Luncheon will be Robin Marriott.

Robin Marriott is the founder and CEO of Manners Mean Money. Years ago, Robin realized the need to teach businesses, CEO’s, executives, medical providers, and individuals, creative strategies to increase client trust, enhance business relationships, improve office morale, and ultimately increase ROI. She has experience as a business etiquette liaison, physician coach, university professor, luxury realtor, and other professional positions. These experiences, along with her university degrees, have made Robin an expert in helping executives and their companies employ manners for profit. She uses various strategies to teach manners including speaking, written analysis, classroom instruction, and on occasion has gone undercover to evaluate performance. Robin is married to Dr. Ronny Marriott and has three grown children Molly, Morgan, and Ryan.

2026 Yellow Rose Scholarship Luncheon

11:30 a.m., Thursday, April 23, Mabee University Center

At the luncheon, individuals will be recognized: the Yellow Rose Award Winner and the Yellow Rose Scholarship Recipients. All are individuals who embody the Christian values and beliefs foundational to HPU and are servant leaders to those around them. The event gives individuals from the community and friends of HPU the chance to acknowledge these individuals and to contribute to the Yellow Rose Scholarship Endowment.

Table Sponsorships Available on February 13, 2026

All table sponsorships directly fund the Yellow Rose Scholarship Endowment, which will benefit students for years to come. Those wishing to sponsor a table at this year’s luncheon can call the Office of University Advancement at 325-649-8007. The deadline for table sponsorship is April 1. However, this popular event will have limited seating and those interested in attending are encouraged to reserve a table as early as possible.

2026 Yellow Rose Award Recipient
Dr. Nancy Jo Humfeld

Brownwood’s Dr. Nancy Jo Humfeld has been selected by the HPU Women’s Club to receive the 2026 Yellow Rose Award.

Dr. Humfeld is a co-founder of the Lyric Performing Arts Company and has been its artistic director since its inception. She retired as head of the Department of Theatre and director of theatre at HPU and is professor emerita. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in theatre from Southern Illinois University, with a specialization in musical theatre. She has a Master of Science degree in theatre from East Texas A&M University (ETAMU), a Master of Music in vocal performance from ETAMU, and a Bachelor of Music Education from ETAMU.

Her professional experience includes serving as a professor of theatre, music and communication at HPU for 34 years and as a guest adjunct professor and director of summer musical theatre at ETAMU on two different occasions. Her honors and awards include being named the Piper Professor Nominee for HPU in 2001-2002 and a Distinguished Alumni Ambassador at ETAMU. In 2011, she was named Woman of the Year by the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce. In 2012, she was named Outstanding Professor of the Year at HPU, and a Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of America. She was also named the Texas Educational Theatre Association’s College/University Educator of the Year.

Dr. Humfeld’s stage experience includes the direction of over 100 plays and musicals, choreography for over 45 musicals, and leading and supporting roles in professional and non-professional theatre. Her professional credits include performances at Granbury Opera House, guest appearances in several summer stock productions and directing and performing for Dolphin Productions. Additionally, she was the local technical coordinator for the Arts Council of Brownwood and for community concerts for several years.

Dr. Humfeld is the director of music for Union Presbyterian Church in Brownwood and is a member of the worship committee. She is very active in church work and delights in planning worship and in serving others.

Yellow Rose Luncheon