Tiger Pride January 19, 2021 by East Texas Baptist University

Students Return to Campus for Spring Semester ETBU welcomed back students to a snow-filled campus for the beginning of the spring semester on Monday, January 11. Despite the winter weather, students began their spring courses and enjoyed the first chapel of the semester with a message from ETBU Board of Trustees Vice Chair and Pastor of Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. James Webb. ETBU is blessed to once again be offering in-person classes and on-campus activities, and we ask that you cover these students in prayer as they engage their studies.

ETBU Celebrates Fall 2020 Graduates East Texas Baptist University’s December 2020 graduates were recognized on Saturday, December 5, during two commencement ceremonies at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn presided over the socially-distanced ceremonies as 104 students received undergraduate degrees and 26 earned graduate degrees, for a total of 130 graduates. Graduates were allowed to choose their participation style, either “inperson” or “virtual,” at the celebratory worship and graduation services. Read more.

ETBU Athletics Gears Up for Unprecedented Spring Semester The ETBU Athletic Department is gearing up for a spring like never before, with all 22 athletic teams scheduled to compete over the course of the semester. The typical fall sports consisting of Cross Country, Football, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, and Volleyball, will play a 50% schedule including a conference tournament to culminate their respective seasons. In addition to the non-conference schedule they played in November and

December, Men's and Women's Basketball will play a full conference schedule beginning the first week of January. Bass Fishing, Golf, Ice Hockey, and Tennis, who competed during the fall semester, are scheduled to play throughout the spring. The spring sports of Acrobatics and Tumbling, Baseball, Lacrosse, Softball, and Track and Field are slated to play a full schedule beginning in early February. For the latest information related to ETBU Tiger Athletics and full game schedules, visit www.goetbutigers.com.

ETBU Chemistry Department Receives Research Grant from the Welch Foundation The Welch Foundation recently awarded East Texas Baptist University’s Chemistry Department $90,000 in research grant funds. “I think that the Welch Foundation saw exactly what I see every day,” ETBU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Thomas Sanders said. “Our Chemistry team of faculty are unsurpassed in their commitment to their students and their field of study. It’s refreshing to me to hear such positive feedback from our students about the hard work that the faculty puts in, and I believe one of the reasons we received this grant is because of the way our faculty invests in their students. This is a tangible acknowledgment of this community commitment.” Read more.

The Great Commission Center Campaign In 2020, the ETBU Board of Trustees unanimously voted to launch a fundraising campaign to construct the Great Commission Center, a 23,000 square feet facility that will be the future home to the Fred Hale School of Business, the Great Commission Program, and the Office of Career Development. Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and friends, we are more than halfway to our goal of $6,000,000 committed for the Great Commission Center building campaign. As of January 12, 2021, more than $4,400,000 has been given or pledged for the $7,500,000 project. Over 150 different alumni, friends, and businesses are partnering with us to TEACH and GO, as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:16-20. The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation will contribute $1,500,000 if we raise an additional $1,600,00 by July 1, 2021. We are thankful for the alumni and friends who have already partnered with us on this campaign. Will you GO with us to provide this much needed space for academic learning, spiritual discipleship, business leadership, and career development? To learn more go to www.etbu.edu/gcc.

Learn More About the GCC Campaign

Get to Know Alumnus Dr. David Rogenmoser ('07) As a freshman at ETBU, Dr. David Rogenmoser (‘07) was one of only a few students able to successfully juggle being a student-athlete and a Biology/Pre-Med major. “I knew from an early age I wanted to be a physician and return home to treat patients in my hometown,” Rogenmoser said. “The journey was more difficult than I ever imagined,

but I am so grateful for how ETBU prepared me both academically and mentally for the road ahead.” After a successful career as a running back for Tiger Football and finishing at the top of his class at ETBU, Dr. Rogenmoser went on to attend the University of Pikeville (Kentucky) College of Osteopathic Medicine and complete a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Louisiana State University. Today, Dr. Rogenmoser serves as a Medical Director for Cabrini Physical Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana, and is a partner at the MidState Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. “Working in rehabilitation, it is super rewarding to develop programs for patients with hip fractures, spinal cord injuries, amputees, strokes, and brain injuries to improve their functional independence to get back home,” Rogenmoser said. “In my line of work, there isn’t a better feeling.” Dr. Rogenmoser credits ETBU for helping him learn how to continue acquiring knowledge after his days in the classroom were completed. “Any institution can teach someone,” Rogenmoser said. “What ETBU did was teach me that the process of learning never ends. My professors gave me the ability to reason and to think critically, which is essential in my field.” In his spare time, Dr. Rogenmoser serves as a mentor to ETBU students seeking acceptance into medical school. He also enjoys golfing, hunting, and spending time with his wife, Codi, and their two sons.

ETBU in the News ETBU Bass Fishing Receives 2020 Tackle Warehouse School of the Year Title Earning the top title in collegiate fishing and making history at East Texas Baptist University, the Tiger Bass Fishing team was named the 2020 Tackle Warehouse School of the Year on Monday, December 14, by Fishing League Worldwide (FLW). Read more.

One Hundred Years Ago Football was King at College of Marshall This past fall, if things were normal, ETBU would have celebrated a rarity in the history of ETBU sports—the centennial of ETBU’s forerunner, the College of Marshall's 1920

mythical national football championship. Read more.

For more information please call: Dr. Scott Bryant Vice President for Advancement 903.923.2069 | sbryant@etbu.edu Emily Roberson Director of Alumni Relations and Advancement Communication 903.923.2043 | eroberson@etbu.edu Reid Adams ('19) Advancement Officer 903.923.2070 | reida@etbu.edu

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