Tiger Pride - December 2023

ALUMNI | GIVE | ARCHIVES

ETBU Celebrates 158 December Graduates

East Texas Baptist University celebrated the achievements of 158 graduates at its commencement ceremony in Baker Chapel of the Rogers Spiritual Life Center Saturday, December 9. The ceremony marked the conferral of degrees to 108 undergraduates and 50 graduate students. The Honorable Chief Judge of the United States District Court - Eastern District of Texas Rodney Gilstrap was presented with an Honorary Doctor of Laws.

The Honorable Chief Judge Rodney Gilstrap delivered the keynote address and charged the graduates to meet challenges and opportunities head-on. "So, graduates, while you're living in the arena of life, empowered and very well equipped with your degree from East

Texas Baptist University, think about what you want to try to do, what you're going to try to achieve," Gilstrap said. "What you are is God's gift to you. What you make of yourself is your gift to God." Read More

ETBU Launches Light the Way: Student Scholarship Initiative We invite you to unite with ETBU as prayer partners and sustaining donors who will intercede for us and provide needed scholarship support to students who are called to be educated and equipped at East Texas Baptist University. Will you Light the Way for current Tiger students to prepare for God’s calling? The Light the Way: ETBU Student Scholarship Initiative will provide dedicated Christian servant leaders, academic achievers, and aspiring students with demonstrated financial need the opportunity to receive a transformative Christ-centered education at ETBU. Through this initiative, you can partner with East Texas Baptist University by investing in the Christian Leadership Scholarship, Academic Scholarship, or Need-Based Scholarship programs. Your investment will Light the Way forward for ETBU Tiger students to experience and earn a Christian college education rooted in the truths of God.

Light the Way

ETBU Christmas Traditions ETBU embraced the festive spirit with a diverse range of Christmas activities. The holiday season commenced with Christmas on the Hill on November 29, followed by the School of Communication and Performing Arts Christmas Concert on December 1. A highly anticipated event, Christmas Chapel, brought students, faculty, and staff together to worship and reflect on the true meaning of the season. Beyond the campus, numerous ETBU students volunteered with Marshall Main Street to adorn downtown with twinkling lights and decorations for the month-long Wonderland of Lights, the city's annual Christmas festival. Adding to this Marshall holiday tradition, ETBU Tiger Hockey took center stage with "Tigers on Ice" during Wonderland of Lights, engaging the community with hockey drills and skating sessions at the outdoor rink in the downtown square on Sunday, December 3. As we cherish these moments, we express gratitude for the unity of our students, faculty, staff, and community during the Christmas season.

ETBU Participates in Operation Christmas Child

ETBU participated in its eighth annual Operation Christmas Child, an outreach program organized by Samaritan’s Purse. The ministry involves filling shoe boxes with Bibles, scripture verses, books, small toys, school supplies, and other items that are sent to children all over the world as a Christmas gift and a tangible symbol of God’s love for them. Prior to the boxing of the gifts, University faculty, staff, and students shopped for kids between the ages of two to fourteen, selecting toys, clothes, and various necessities to gift the children.

In total, the University community collected a record number of more than 350 boxes.

Read More

ETBU Hosts the Legacy of 1912 Luncheon On Wednesday, November 8, East Texas Baptist University welcomed an assembly of ETBU retirees, Legacy of 1912 Society Members, and Endowed Scholarship Donors to the campus for the annual Legacy of 1912 Society Luncheon. The Legacy of 1912 Society is comprised of alumni and friends

who, through thoughtful estate planning and other forms of planned giving, ensure that resources will be available to support ETBU far into the future. The event included student testimonies and a

performance from the Hilltop Singers. The special luncheon highlighted the way God uses everyday people to make an impact on ETBU students' lives.

Learn More about the Legacy of 1912 Society

Good Samaritan Banquet to Honor the T. Whitfield Davidson Foundation ETBU will present the Good Samaritan Award to the T. Whitfield Davidson Foundation at the Good Samaritan Award & ETBU Scholarship Banquet Tuesday, February 27, 2024. Established through the estate of former Chief Judge of the Northern District of Texas and Marshall, Texas native, Judge Thomas Whitfield Davidson, the T. Whitfield Davidson Foundation has generously and consistently provided support to non-profit organizations in Marshall and Harrison County. East Texas Baptist University is grateful to the T. Whitfield Davidson Foundation for their faithful partnership of support to advance the mission of providing Christ-centered education to our students. Throughout the years, thousands of ETBU students have benefited from the support of the T. Whitfield Davidson Foundation, and it is fitting that we honor the vision and benevolence of the Davidson Foundation by raising scholarship support to assist current and future ETBU students.

Inspired by the parable in Luke 10:25-37, East Texas Baptist University presents the Good Samaritan Award to individuals and organizations that have demonstrated servant leadership by living out the second greatest commandment of “loving your neighbor as yourself.” As an institution, ETBU is committed to preparing students to follow the example of the T. Whitfield Davidson Foundation in “loving your neighbor as yourself.” Sponsorship opportunities and tickets for the banquet are available as ETBU honors the Trustees of the T. Whitfield Davidson Foundation under the leadership of Chairman Rodney Gilstrap.

Good Samaritan Award & Scholarship Banquet

Former students Dr. Billy and Winky Foote recently made an appearance on an episode of Life Today with James and Betty Robison. Click their picture above to watch the episode.

ETBU in the News Tigers Making Headlines

ETBU Volleyball Celebrates Conference Championship and Wins Match in the NCAA Regional Tournament

ETBU Volleyball recently won the ASC Tournament Championship and secured a place in the NCAA Division III National Tournament.

ETBU upset #13 North Park

University in round 1 before losing to #20 the University of La Verne in round 2. Read more.

President Blackburn Appearance on TV Program Life Today

ETBU President Blair Blackburn recently had the opportunity to speak with former ETBC students James and Betty Robison on their Life Today television show. Watch the episode here.

ETBU Office of Advancement Dr. Scott Bryant Vice President for Advancement and Administration 903.923.2069 | sbryant@ETBU.edu Scott McCurdy Assistant Vice President of Advancement and Administration 903.923.2830 | smccurdy@ETBU.edu Cari (Walker) Johnson (`94) Director of Alumni Relations 903.923.2043 | cjohnson@ETBU.edu Keli Sparks Gifts Coordinator 903.923.2071 | ksparks@ETBU.edu Chad Cox Advancement Officer 903.923.2330 | ccox@etbu.edu