Harrison County Promise
East Texas Baptist University President J. Blair Blackburn recently met with school superintendents from across Harrison County to announce a new initiative aimed at empowering local students during a meeting on Tuesday, February 6. President Blackburn introduced the Harrison County Promise Scholarship, an endeavor designed for Harrison County’s top students to receive a Christ-centered higher education at ETBU. Students awarded the scholarship will receive a tuition-only award valued at $20,000 per year for four years.
"The Harrison County Promise Scholarship embodies our University's core commitment of enhancing community and serves as a symbol of our belief in the transformative power of Christ-centered education,” ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn said. “At ETBU, we believe that education should not be confined to the boundaries of campus but should extend to the communities we serve. By investing in local students through initiatives like the Harrison County Promise Scholarship, we are not just shaping individuals, we are shaping the future of our region’s workforce and economic development. This scholarship encourages our highperforming scholars and servant leaders to pursue their higher education here in our community."
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Make Plans to Attend!
Save the date for Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at 6:00 p.m., as we honor Dr. David Dykes at the David Dykes Servant Leadership Award & ETBU Scholarship Dinner. Join us at the Green Acres Crosswalk Conference Center to celebrate the spirit of servant leadership modeled by Dr. David Dykes. Sponsorships and tickets are available for the event. All money raised will provide scholarship support to deserving ETBU students.
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Justin Hayes ('00)
Justin Hayes (’00) is originally from Orange, Texas. While at ETBU pursuing a degree in Music Education, he met his wife, Christie (White) Hayes (’00), on a mission trip to Germany with the
BSM. They married soon after graduating and now reside in Tyler with their six children.
Justin earned a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served in Youth Ministry for ten years, and the couple also lived for eight years serving in Uganda. In 2018, Justin helped found The Fostering Collective, which recruits and shepherds Christ-centered families in East Texas to help children in foster care. The Hayes family sees foster care as a wonderful ministry their whole family can share while walking along in the journey with other families. The Hayes' legacy at ETBU continues as their son, Carter, is a freshman Worship Studies major.
Listen in as Justin shares stories of God's goodness, memories made while living on campus, and insights into the meaningful role of investment and gratitude.
Give Day | Save the Date
ETBU Give Day is scheduled for Thursday, April 11, 2024! This 24-hour online fundraising campaign is an opportunity for ETBU alumni and friends to partner together to make a significant impact. Whether the gift is big or small, each donor makes a difference.
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An anonymous donor will match up to $100,000 that is given on ETBU Give Day, so by participating in ETBU Give Day, your donation can make twice the impact! Join ETBU alumni and friends in giving back on April 11, 2024. ETBU Give Day is held on the same day as Connexus, the ETBU holiday that celebrates the connection of students, faculty, and staff of ETBU under the Lordship of Christ.
Each person who participates in ETBU Give Day 2024 will be entered into a drawing for a free customized Mark Your Milestone brick in The Quad. #ETBUGIVEDAY
ETBU in the News Tigers Making Headlines
Ana Paula Mumy
Dr. Ana Paula Mumy, Director and Associate Professor of SpeechLanguage Pathology, has been honored with the Burtis-VogelElkins Community Service Award. This esteemed recognition is bestowed by the Texas SpeechLanguage-Hearing Foundation (TSHF) in acknowledgment of Dr. Mumy's exceptional leadership and service contributions through Spero Stuttering, a nonprofit organization. Read more.
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Congreso 2024
The Congreso Experience on ETBU’s campus came with opportunities for local Hispanic youth to meet current ETBU students, tour the campus, and engage with each other through thought-provoking discussion, worship, and community service. “ETBU is honored to collaborate with Congreso and Texas Baptists in organizing the Congreso Experience each spring on our campus,” ETBU Vice President for Enrollment Jeremy Johnston said. “It’s a joy to see so many students eager to grow in their walk with Christ and begin to unpack the calling He has on their lives.” Read more
ETBU Women's Summit
East Texas Baptist University hosted its annual Women’s Summit, Sunday, March 3, and Monday, March 4. This year, the summit featured Bible Study Curriculum Specialist and Bible Teacher Leah Holder Green.
Leah Holder Green's journey has been one of dedication to both education and ministry. Green practiced law before transitioning to full-time ministry. ETBU Campus Visit Coordinator Shelby McNeal (’21) led worship through song, and
Green delivered powerful messages on the foundational aspects of where women should find their identity as followers of Christ.
“A lot of the identity traps we come into are because we are searching for something we already have in God,” Green said. “Our desire is to be seen, accepted, valued, and worthy. When we do not understand that we already have these things in God, we go searching for them outside of Him.” Read more
Stay in touch and share your news with your ETBU Family. Send your career accomplishments and family updates to alumni@ETBU.edu or click here to update your information.
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
