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UMHBLIFE

S U M M E R 2 022 | V O L U M E 42, N U M B ER 3 PRESIDENT Randy O’Rear, Ed.D. ’88 EDITOR-IN- CHIEF Rebecca O'Banion, Ed.D. ’93 EDITOR Christi Mays GR APHIC DESIGNER Lauren Mendias PHOTOGR APHERS Olivia Champion Hannah Gregory Christopher Halloran ’21

Lily Self Coley Taylor ’12 Randy Yandell ’99

CONTRIBUTORS Victoria Kuntz Riley Zayas UMHB LIFE IS PUBLISHED THREE TIMES A YEAR

BY THE MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT. UMHB Box 8431 900 College Street Belton, Texas 76513 1-800-727-UMHB go.umhb.edu/life

Letters and comments can be sent to: umhblife@umhb.edu

Please send any change of personal information to: Alumni Engagement UMHB Box 8427 900 College Street Belton, Texas 76513

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UMHBLIFE S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 | VOLUME 42, NUMBER 3

D E P A R T M E N T S

F E A T U R E S

3 | C A M P US L I F E Assistant professor teams up with Association of Black Students to bring gospel play drama to campus.

F I N D I N G P U R P OS E A F T E R PA I N |10 Student body president shares how struggle with mental health propelled her to bring awareness to campus.

7 | AT H L E T I C S UMHB football fans gather at Crusader Stadium to celebrate bringing home the NCAA Div. III National Championship title.

P U R P L E G I V ES G O L D |14 Meet two amazing students who are realizing and reaching their dreams thanks to the help of donors.

8 | AT H L E T I C S Three alums fill coordinator positions for upcoming football season.

P S A L M 139 E V E N T |18 Psalm 139 brings women together on campus for weekend of worship.

D E F Y I N G T H E O D DS |22 Graduate student never lets disabilities run her life.

O N T H E COV E R | L e a h Ty n e r, Ch r i s J o h n s o n , S h ayd e n S p ra d l e y, a n d Ya n e l l e L i c o n a h e l p e d w i t h t h i s ye a r ’s P ur p l e G i ve s G o l d e ve n t , a we e k- l o n g e ve n t t h at ra i s e s m o n e y to s up p o r t UMHB students.

P H OTO B Y C o l e y Tay l o r �12

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UMHB A C A D E M I C S

Impacting Health

New degrees focus on improving public health

A new public health program launching this fall is designed to prepare students to help improve health at the population level, impacting entire communities and even global health.

As part of the growing list of degrees available in the Mayborn College of Health Sciences, the new Public Health Program (PHP) will offer three degree options: the Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH), the Master of Public Health (MPH), and a five-year, fast-track BSPH-MPH combined degree.

Each of the three options includes a health promotion concentration.

“Individuals working in this field have great potential to make an impact in many areas, such as improving global health, advancing environmental health efforts, creating healthier communities through programs focused on nutrition and physical activity, reducing the impact

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from global pandemics and natural disasters, and reducing health disparities,” said Dr. Ariane Secrest, director of the public health program and an assistant professor in the School of Exercise and Sport Science.

Unlike most medical careers, which focus on the health of individuals, she said public health addresses health at the population level with an emphasis on disease prevention and health promotion for entire communities.

“Public health takes a proactive approach to health, which is critical to make an impact and reduce the negative health effects associated with chronic diseases that are so prevalent through the United States,” Secrest said.

With a BSPH degree, Secrest said graduates could work in various settings, including in the local, state, or

federal government sectors, nonprofit organizations, hospitals, health departments, universities, or corporations.

Job titles include community health educator, disease prevention manager, program manager, intervention designer, maternal and child health specialist, obesity prevention coordinator, youth tobacco prevention coordinator, etc.

With the master’s in public health, the same types of jobs would be available for students, but the advanced degree provides additional opportunities, such as working as an epidemiologist for a health department, as a social and community service manager, or as a biostatistician.

“There are so many opportunities that are provided to a student with a public health degree,” said Secrest.

The PHP adds to the growing list of new degrees offered through the Mayborn College of Health Sciences, including the Master of Science in Physician Assistant program, added in January 2021; the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program in 2020; and the Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2016.

Secrest said another reason students may consider a public health degree is because it “places an emphasis on serving others—an opportunity to make a difference in the community,” Secrest said. “It is a diverse and dynamic field, and it is an exciting and expanding field.”

To learn more about the program, visit go.umhb.edu/graduate/public-health/home.

Dr. Ariane Secrest, director of the new public health program, discusses data analysis with Matthias Tinnin, assistant director of the Human Performance Lab, and Jessica Prather, a graduate student in the School of Exercise and Sport Science.

UMHB C A M P U S L I F E

Prodigal

on stage

Assistant professor teams up with ABS to bring gospel play drama to campus Members of the community were treated to a heartwarming “dramedy” about faith, family, forgiveness, and the Father’s love this February.

With the help of the Association of Black Students (ABS), KerryAnn Zamore-Byrd, UMHB assistant professor and director of social work field education, showcased her playwriting skills when the group brought her gospel stage play drama, “Prodigal,” to UMHB. Loosely based on the biblical parable of the prodigal son, her play explores the dynamics between two brothers and their aging father. It asks the question, 'Can we forgive the unforgettable?'

“I wanted people to laugh and cry and truly understand the depth of how far Christ went to save us from our sins—that He is an amazing father and that He loves us unconditionally,”

Zamore-Byrd said. "I also wanted this play to impress on the hearts of the viewers that we should learn to forgive each other and have grace with each other because life is short.”

Zamore-Byrd wrote “Prodigal” two years ago at the onset of the pandemic.

“I thought of the many families who were isolated from each other and families who had lost loved ones with words unsaid,” she said. “I wanted to write something that would stir conversations of our faith, that no matter how far we think we have strayed, the Father is waiting with wide open arms for us to come home.”

Her play was initially performed in church and live-streamed for viewers to enjoy from home. All the cast members are war veterans giving back to their communities through their participation.

Zamore-Byrd said the sales proceeds of the UMHB event went to ABS, which originally invited her to share the play on campus two years ago, but it got postponed due to the pandemic.

“My company (KZAmore Enterprises) is faith-based, and the goal is to bring awareness and education and to share the word of God through the art,” Zamore-Byrd said. “I am thrilled and humbled to receive support from the community and am even more humbled that it’s right here at UMHB.” Pictured in top right, Kerry-Ann Zamore-Byrd, UMHB assistant professor and director of social work field education, prepares her cast and crew for the dress rehearsal of her gospel stage play drama, “Prodigal.”

The Association of Black Students hosted the play at UMHB in February as part of Black History Month.

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UMHB L I F E

A Step Ahead

UMHB offering post-baccalaureate certificates Employers see hundreds—sometimes thousands—of resumes for job openings. Having a specialized credential that immediately sets a potential candidate apart is a huge advantage.

That’s why the McLane College of Business (MCOB) recently began offering post-baccalaureate certificates, in data analytics and non-profit administration and leadership.

“We’re seeing the importance of micro-credentialing on the rise in the job market, and our certificates allow students to take advantage of that trend,” said Megan Gill, graduate recruiting coordinator. “The certificate also gives students an additional credential on top of the bachelor’s degree without the fully immersive commitment of graduate school.”

Each certificate consists of four courses, and students have up to 12 weeks to complete each self-paced course. The courses are 100 percent online so that students can work through the material entirely on their schedules and at their convenience.

Students earning one of these two certificates will also earn 12 hours of graduate credit which can be applied to a MCOB Graduate degree should they decide to pursue one.

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“The course material is broken down into logical chunks that allow you to move through in a way that feels purposeful and engaging,” Gill said. “You feel the progress you’re making as you work through each course.”

Professors (called moderators) are still attached to each course so that students have guidance and feedback.

Gill, who serves as the program coach, handles advising and course management, and Tesha Graham serves as the success coach handling engagement and communication.

Several types of students can benefit from post-baccalaureate certificates, including students who use the certificate as a bridge between their undergrad and graduate degrees.

“This is a great option for students unsure about the job market or those undergrads who are not getting the job offers/placements they were hoping for,” she said. “They can come in and work on their certificate on their own time and at their own pace, while still getting work experience and exploring the job market.”

She added the certificate specialization could help them land more interviews and open the door to more

possible job options. If students want, they can continue on to the master’s program, and the certificate will count toward four classes, fulfilling their elective requirement.

Students enrolled in a MCOB graduate degree program can earn both a concentration and a certificate if they choose to pursue Data Analytics or Nonprofit Administration and Leadership.

“The students see the value in using their elective requirement to earn a secondary credential that highlights their specialization in a high-demand area, like data analytics,” she said.

Students can work on certificate classes in tandem with their regular fall and spring core courses, or do the certificate courses over the summer.

Earning a certificate on its own can benefit students already in the workforce, she said.

“Students hoping to add crucial skills to their resume are good candidates for the certificate,” she said. “Since it is fully online and fully self-paced, it fits in seamlessly with a full-time workload and family life. The certificate is a great way to get a bump on your resume without fully immersing into a graduate degree.”

Administrators are looking to add more concentrations and certificates in the future, said Dr. Jim King, professor and graduate program director.

“We believe these new programs are going to get students well prepared and really excited to move into these career arenas that industry is clamoring for these days,” King said.

To learn more about the certificate program, visit go.umhb.edu/graduate/ certificates or contact Megan Gill at mgill@ umhb.edu or 254-295-4884.

CAMPUS L I F E

Putting a Spin on Club Sports UMHB disc golf team competes nationally UMHB has gained a new National Collegiate Division II disc golf team and club this school year, and the four-member freshman team has already seen some success.

Freshman Jaden Rye had seen various collegiate disc golf teams across Texas and has friends who play on a team at Texas A&M University. He wanted to start something similar at UMHB. Jaden, who has been playing professionally for over a year, checked into the possibility of creating a disc golf team on campus. With the help of his friend, freshman Liam McCarthy, and Liam’s dad, Mike McCarthy, dean of student leadership and engagement, they created an official club team.

“Being able to play competitive disc golf here at UMHB is incredible!” said

Jaden, who serves as president of the club.

Jaden and Liam scrambled to find two other players at UMHB to play at the state championship four weeks later.

After placing fifth out of 12 teams in Texas at the 10th annual Texas Collegiate Disc Golf Championship in November, Liam McCarthy, Jaden Rye, Josh Krieg, and Samuel Golovin qualified to go to the national tournament in North Carolina.

The Disc Golf Club is part of the UMHB Disc Golf team but does not require its members to compete. Any student who enjoys learning how to play disc golf can join just for fun.

Collegiate disc golf brings a whole new side to disc golf that you don’t see from regular tournaments.

Freshman Jaden Rye stands next to the disc golf basket where he just made a hole-in-one—also known as an “ace” in disc golf. At right, Jaden stands with fellow freshman team members, Liam McCarthy, Samuel Golovin, and Josh Krieg.

“Collegiate tournaments are played as a team, and not only do you have to rely on your team to succeed, there is a lot of strategy that comes with it.”

Jaden said he is looking forward to potential new disc golf teams representing UMHB and having fun with this new club.

“Being able to represent UMHB and travel to tournaments and compete against other college students is amazing,” he said. “We all go out there and have a good time. It’s a great way to make friends, not only at UMHB but at other schools too, simply by getting together and throwing some plastic!”

—Victoria Kuntz, student writer

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Hundreds of UMHB’s biggest football fans joined together Feb. 8 at Crusader Stadium to celebrate an undefeated season that culminated with the team bringing home the NCAA Div. III National Championship title. The celebration kicked off when coaches and members of the winning team were greeted by excited fans as they walked through a spirit line onto the field with steamers flying, the band playing, and cheers erupting. After a short program, fans headed inside Bawcom Student Union to get autographs and photos with the players.

On Dec. 17, the Cru football team defeated North Central College 5724 in Canton, Ohio, to win the 2021 Stagg Bowl. The Cru ended the season with a 15-0 record in 2021, reaching the team’s goal of 20 wins during the 2021 year. It was the Cru’s second national title since 2018.

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UMHB A T H L E T I C S

ENTHUSED CRU FANATICS Players, coaches, and fans alike were full of Cru spirit during the Feb. 8 celebration of bringing home the NCAA Div. III Football National Championship title for the second time since 2018.

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UMHB A T H L E T I C S

The trio of coordinators for the upcoming football season are all UMHB alumni.

They are, from left, Offensive Coordinator Andy Padron ’07, Defensive Coordinator Jack Johnson ’03, and Special Teams Coordinator Mark Carey ’06.

A Trio of True CRU

Three alums fill coordinator positions for new season When newly named football Head Coach Larry Harmon started looking at candidates to fill his three coordinator positions for the upcoming season, he obviously wanted the best. But the fact that all three of them ended up being UMHB alumni was like the icing on the cake.

“I felt it would be best if I could fill all three coordinator positions with coaches who had been baptized in our team culture but wasn’t sure if I could make it happen,” Harmon said.

But he did. Earlier this year, he named Jack Johnson ‘03 as the Cru’s defensive coordinator and Mark Carey ’06 as the special teams coordinator.

Harmon most recently announced the hire of alum Andy Padron ’07 as offensive coordinator.

“I’m very excited to have all three coordinator jobs filled and filled with

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coaches who understand the expectations of being a Crusader,” Harmon added.

Padron is a 2007 graduate of UMHB, where he played four years as quarterback under Coach Pete Fredenburg, who announced his retirement earlier this year. Padron was a part of the 2004 UMHB football team, who made program history with the school's first national championship appearance. He helped UMHB to four ASC championships as his senior class held a record of 41-8. He has spent the last three years as offensive coordinator at DeSoto High School, where he guided the Eagles’ offense to two state quarterfinals.

“I'm excited to come back to UMHB, a place that helped shape who I am today, to assist in the development of our student-athletes,” Padron said. “The opportunity to return and contribute in the pursuit of another national championship is a welcome challenge.”

Johnson, an inaugural member of the UMHB football team in 1998 and a four-year letter winner for the Cru as a defensive end, rejoined his alma mater as a full-time assistant coach in April of 2015. He has coached 10 all-America selections during his tenure with the Cru. Johnson returned to UMHB after a nine-year coaching stint at Bridgewater (VA) College. He was the Eagles defensive coordinator and also coached safeties. Johnson also spent four years as a student assistant and graduate assistant coach at UMHB. He helped guide the Cru to a 41-6 overall record, three American Southwest Conference championships, and the 2004 Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl during his time as a coach.

Carey returned to UMHB as a full-time assistant coach in June of 2017. He was a two-year letterman for UMHB as a tight end. During his tenure with the Cru, he has coached nine all-America selections. Before returning to his alma mater, he was the co-defensive coordinator for five seasons at Texas Lutheran University. Carey was part of a coaching staff that helped lead the Bulldogs to three consecutive Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships and TLU’s first NCAA playoff appearance. Carey also spent six years as an assistant coach at UMHB and helped lead the Cru to five American Southwest Conference championships and an Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl appearance in that time.

UMHB A T H L E T I C S

Moving Forward in Faith

While Olivia helped bring glory to God in Costa Rica, her time there also Impacted by experience in Costa Rica, brought about growth in her own Olivia Champion serves God through basketball life, as she came to Christ while living there.

“I was about 14 years old at church camp,” she recalled.

“I think that was also a humbling experience for me. People expect as a missionary kid, you’re supposed to have it all together, but I found the Lord when I was on the mission field with my parents.

My whole story is rooted in Costa Rica.”

And that story also includes her basketball career. Though she —Olivia Champion took to the mission work quickly, her dominance on the court took slightly longer to develop. In fact, it was in Costa Rica that Olivia The last four years of Olivia Champiin Spanish. began playing basketball competitively, on’s life have been spent in the United That “buy-in” attitude, something though it was something she’d grown States. But it was the seven years prior the entire family shared, allowed them up around; her father had coached for to that, spent nearly 2,400 miles from to do God’s work in Costa Rica, with many years at the high school level in Belton, that shaped both the person each member of the family playing a Florida, and also coached the national and player she is today. role. Looking back, Olivia recalls some teams in Costa Rica upon the family’s A junior forward on the UMHB of her favorite opportunities coming in arrival. women’s basketball team, Olivia’s the work they did in the orphanages “Olivia really didn’t play much journey to Belton was a unique one. and with the youth of the communibasketball in her elementary years,” She was born in Tallahassee, Fla., but ties. her father, Eric, said. “When she got at age 12, she and her family relocated “Some of my favorite experiences here, that’s when she really started. to Costa Rica to become missionaries. were going to the orphanages,” Olivia She’d always been athletic and fast, I “My parents just felt called to the said. “I love kids and so being there knew she was going to be ok. But she mission field,” she said. and being a part of it was super cool. didn’t have the fire really, until maybe Olivia embraced the new opportuMy parents also brought short-term 15 or 16." nity and even decided to learn Spanish. mission trips down there as well, so I Standing at around 5’10”, Olivia By the time she left at age 17, she was got to know so many different people started seeing some success and began doing postgame interviews on television across the country.” considering playing in college.

“I'd never been to Texas until I came on a visit here in November of my senior year, but the moment I stepped on campus, I was like, �This feels like home. ”

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U M H B F E A T U R E S

B Y

CHRISTI MAYS

n i a P r t e f A

Student body president shares how struggle with mental health propelled her to bring awareness to campus

COMMITED TO HELPING

Student Body President Emma Wayt uses her platform to help end the stigma surrounding mental health.

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UMHBFEATURES

It was the Wednesday of spring break during her sophomore year in high school when Emma Wayt had everything planned out to end her life.

She had the bathtub water running. She had a bottle of pills in her hand. She had goodbye notes for her family to find.

“I really had it all thought out. I had notes written out to everyone important to me, and I had a will of what I wanted to be done with my stuff,” Emma said. “I was just ready to be gone.”

But then a knock came at her front door. It was her cousin, Don Wayt.

“The Lord is telling me to take you out for ice cream right now,” he told Emma.

“Don, I’m too busy. I can’t do that right now,” she retorted.

“No, you’re coming with me. I’m not leaving,” Don insisted.

Emma stomped back to the bathtub and shut off the water, and reluctantly followed her cousin back to his truck. They headed to Dairy Queen, which was just across the street.

With a knowing look, Don turned and asked his cousin, “Emma, why did the Lord tell me to come and pick you up?”

The 15-year-old broke down sobbing, admitting everything to the person she had looked up to since she was a little girl.

Emma was suffering from a chronic illness that made her life miserable. She has gastroparesis, which, simply put, is a paralyzed stomach. She didn’t have a diagnosis at the time and was vomiting five or six times daily during flair-ups. Kids at school were making fun of her, calling her anorexic and bulimic. Her illness had gotten so bad she could no

longer run track, and to make matters worse, she suffered a season-ending shoulder injury that took her out of volleyball.

“My identity was in sports, and that was being stripped away from me,” she explained. Questioning God, the teen stepped away from her walk with the Lord and spiraled into a severe state of depression.

“Don just poured into me that day,” she said.

“Emma, this is NOT God’s plan for you,” he told her. “You have so much more to live for. God has a purpose for your life and your pain.”

FINDING A WAY TO HELP OTHERS Looking back now, as a junior health sciences pre-occupational therapy major, Emma is on a mission to help students recognize depression and other mental health problems early before they find themselves struggling in the same deep, dark place she found herself years ago.

“I don’t want anybody to ever feel the way I felt—alone and isolated,” she said. “My whole goal is to make them realize they are not alone— ‘this is hard, and it’s not going to alleviate overnight. But this is something that we can get through together.’”

Emma had never given any thought to running for student body president, but last year, when she realized God had provided a platform for her to help promote mental health on campus, she didn’t waste it. It all started when she was a freshman, and she was recruited to join the Student Government Association (SGA) to serve as chaplain. She loved it, and the following year she stepped up to serve as director of spiritual life. When she entered her junior year, she realized the person running for president was running unopposed. She decided to see what God wanted her to do.

“I prayed about it for a solid week, and that is where God led my heart,” she said but admitted she never thought she would win.

Still in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, running on the platform of “better mental health and reducing stress” proved popular, and Emma won the vote!

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NAVIGATING LIFE

Top, Licensed Professional Counselors Karlie Butterworth and help at the Student Counseling Center. Center, Student Body President Emma Wayt and other members of SGA hand out donuts between classes as part of their monthly “Donut Stress” event. Below, to help destress, Emma likes to work in her sticker painting book.

“I decided to not share my mental health journey during my campaign because I didn’t want a pity vote,” she said. “I didn’t want to make it about me, but make it about my platform. I wanted students to understand what mental health is and why it’s important to take breaks and rest.”

Since winning the presidency, she and the other 35 SGA members have continued to carry out her vision with monthly events like “Donut Stress,” where SGA members stand outside and hand out donuts as students race to class.

“For me, whenever I’m stressed out, the first thing that goes is my eating,” Emma explained. “So, even though it’s a sugary doughnut, it’s still calories—it’s still sustenance.”

STIGMA-FREE ZONE The SGA events this past year have focused on helping students relax and destress. The group has even partnered with Student Counseling Services and the Psychological Science Club to help host events like “End the Stigma.” With bunnies to snuggle, deep-breathing demos, art therapy, and more, the event’s goal was to bring awareness to mental health and break the stigma often associated with it.

“There’s such a stigma surrounding mental health.

You’re looked at as weaker, or less-than, sick, or crazy,” Emma said. “Words like that can be so damaging to someone. I know I can’t fix people’s mental health overnight, but what I can do is educate them about it. It’s OK to have stress, but at high levels of stress, seek help.

I’m getting people connected to resources.”

Since she started on this awareness journey, she has had students admit that her message has given them courage to seek help. She has prayed with at least 15 students—many of whom were strangers—who came up to her suffering in the moment.

“They realized they weren’t crazy and weren’t alone, and they ended up seeking counseling,” she said. “I don't do this through me. I do this because of God, who stepped in and stopped my life from ending. He’s given me a 12

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UMHBFEATURES

second chance, and I'm not going to waste it.”

Emma is thankful that God made her passionate about helping other students find help.

“I don’t care about having a legacy, but if I do anything on this campus, I want to make somebody feel like they are loved and that they are valued because Christ says they are.”

It’s also taught her to strive to be more in tune with the Holy Spirit every day of her life.

“I try to listen and hear what He prompts me to do,” she said. “Because if Don hadn’t been listening to the Holy Spirit that day, I wouldn't be here.”

STUDENT COUNSELING SERVICES Coming to college can be highly stressful for some students because they are experiencing so many “firsts.”

“It’s the first time they’ve been away from their parents for an extended time, the first time they’ve had a roommate, the first time they’ve fallen in and out of love, the first time they’ve failed a class,” said Vice President for Student Life Dr. Brandon Skaggs. He said counselors at the UMHB Student Counseling Center are available to walk beside students during challenging times.

“We feel it’s important for students to take advantage of their services,” he said. “This is a time of life that is very different, and it’s OK to come and seek help.”

With two licensed professional counselors and a host of clinical psychology interns, the center offers a free and confidential resource for students as they navigate the stressors of life.

“We see a ton of anxiety and depression,” said Licensed Professional Counselor Karen DuBroc. “When we start talking about some of the things that got them to that place, that’s where we begin to dive deeper into things like trauma. A lot of students don’t know to call it trauma. We don’t just unpack how they’re feeling right there in that moment, but how they got there.”

With the stress and strain of COVID-19, the counseling services office has seen a significant uptick in demand for services. In the Fall 2021 semester, the center saw 1,311 appointments; prior to the pandemic, in the Fall of 2019, there were 899 appointments.

“Some of these students didn’t get to have a graduation,

a high school homecoming, or prom. There’s just a chunk of their lives where life shut down as they knew it. As they reenter, they are experiencing the real stresses of everyday life, and it’s a challenge,” DuBroc said. “It has created a lot more anxiety and uncertainty, and there’s a gravity to life that they didn’t know prior to COVID-19.”

Licensed Professional Counselor Karlie Butterworth said their goal has been to proactively reach out to students to make them aware of all the available resources before students are in crisis.

“There are so many free resources on campus that a lot of people don’t know about—career services, student organizations, fitness classes, etc. to get plugged into. A lot of what we help with is getting students connected to build a community with other students because a lot of students do feel lonely too, and that’s a normal thing.”

On the other hand, the counselors also encourage students to find balance with all their activities and help them with time management techniques.

“We teach them about not over-committing and that it’s OK to say ‘no,’” Butterworth said.

The counselors provide short-term counseling for up to six weeks; if long-term help is needed, the counselors get students connected to additional resources.

GIFT OF LIFE Emma praises the counseling center, which she heartily recommends to students in need. Looking back over her life and the dark place depression had once taken her, she knows God led her to be the student body president for a purpose. She now sees every moment and opportunity as a gift.

“I know I’m here because this is exactly where God wants me to be. And it’s a gift. It’s incredibly humbling,” she said. “I just want to go back in time and hug 15-year-old me and say, ‘it’s going to be OK.’” But Emma insists that her darkest time in life isn’t “her story.” It’s just “part of her story.”

“It’s a little part of what makes me, me” she said. “I think the most important thing for me to remember is that I am more than my mental illness and that I am more than my triumph over suicide. I am Emma Wayt, daughter of Christ.”

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SCAN THE CODE to watch Nicholas' story online

T

he gifts that UMHB donors give through events like Purple Gives Gold impact so m students in ways these donors may never know. More than 90 percent of UMHB s

of these students wouldn’t be able to attend UMHB if it weren’t for the generous dona our donors. Following are the stories of two of these amazing students who are realizin reaching their dreams thanks to the help of donors!

NICHOLAS McDANIEL When Nicholas McDaniel came to UMHB, his plan was set. He would work hard enough to make the varsity football team as a freshman, and he did! But God had even bigger plans for him.

Nicholas, now a sophomore, felt called to ministry in eighth grade. Throughout high school, he found himself speaking at church, interning, and volunteering—really focusing on developing himself to pursue his calling.

When he headed to college, he told his friends and family: “God first, education second, and football third.”

When he arrived at fall football camp, Nicholas was shocked to learn there were 23 linebackers—the same position he played—and usually only four to six made varsity. He knew he had a lot of work to do.

“I wanted all the success from the football program,” he said. “I wanted all it had to offer.”

That fall of 2020, COVID-19 cases continued to rise and the fall football season was postponed to the following spring. Nicholas had worked hard, moving up from third-string to second-string. As a freshman, he had made it onto the varsity team and was actually getting play time; he was ecstatic!

“But one day I realized that ‘God first, education second, and football third’ had all flipped around and football had become my life,” Nicholas said. “One night, I was sitting in my room praying about the upcoming season, and out of nowhere, I heard God say, ‘this season isn’t for you.’”

Nicholas realized everything he was doing was getting in the way of what God had planned for him and that God was calling him elsewhere. So, when he was at the top of his game, Nicholas quit football.

It was a shock to his coaches, family, and friends, “It was the hardest conversation I’ve probably ever had; I’ve been playing football since I was seven!” But as one

of his friends pointed out, “if God is calling you to do this, then that’s what you have to do. That’s the only reason we were put on this earth.”

Nicholas knew if God was calling him out of football, He had big plans for him elsewhere. The first thing he did was start going back to church regularly—he realized he had only gone two or three times since coming to college. As a leader for UMHB33 (a men’s ministry group), he set a goal to grow his group to eight, but it’s now reaching 10 and 12 each week. Nicholas also started a social media ministry called “Perception Ministries” on Instagram, which gained more than 1,000 followers in its first few weeks of launching. Inspiration for his ministry is based on Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Looking back now, he sees how God orchestrated everything—placing him at UMHB so he could follow his true calling.

Nicholas, who is a business management major with a Christian studies minor, recalls how he had planned to attend another university, but his high school defensive coordinator, who had gone to UMHB, lined him up for a visit with a coach at UMHB. To keep his commitment to the coach, he said he would give it a cursory visit.

Driving down the long stretch of Sixth Avenue in Belton, the towering First Baptist Belton came into view, and he started shaking.

“Oh no! I already have my plan all down pat,” was all he could think. But he knew that was about to change before he even set eyes on the university.

“This is exactly where God wants me to be,” he thought the second their car turned onto campus.

Thinking back now, he says he “felt God before I even thought of football here, so that kind of cleared my vision a little bit that God didn’t really bring me to UMHB to play football.”

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SCAN THE CODE to watch Angel's story online

ANGEL TOLBERT Angel Tolbert’s grandfather chose her name, “Angel,” and since she was a little girl, it has inspired her to be a good person.

“The name made me feel like I needed to live up to it,” said the senior music major. “I wanted to be a role model to my siblings.”

Discovering that she had an amazing singing ability at a young age just made her even more determined to live up to her name over the years.

“My grandfather said that God gave me the gift of singing, and that got ingrained in me. I believe with everything in me that if I didn’t feel that way, I wouldn’t have as powerful of a (singing) gift as I do now because I use it for Him,” she said.

Angel, who sings with One Voice and the UMHB Concert Choir, can’t remember a time that music hasn’t been part of her life. From the day she was big enough to climb up on her grandfather’s church stage, she has been singing Christian gospel music with her siblings.

“They called us the Jackson Five, plus Angel,” she said with a laugh. “Singing and performing is my life!”

Nothing makes her happier than when she sees other people happy.

“When I can sing something, and it touches somebody or brings them out of a funk that I didn’t know they were in, I’m happy it’s helping, and it makes me feel good,” she admits.

Still, even with all the accolades she receives for her talent, Angel remains thankful, humble, and down-toearth about her ability. Maybe it’s because she’s had to work hard to get where she is today? Perhaps it’s because she has a heart for others who have it worse than she? Most likely, it’s a little of both.

With 10 younger siblings, Angel knew the only way she would get to go to college was to pay for it herself, and she has worked tirelessly to do just that while making good grades along the way. To make ends meet, Angel has always had at least one job while at college.

There even was a time during her sophomore year

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when she had three jobs at once. One of those three jobs was at UPS loading trucks at 4 a.m.

“I know if I hadn’t worked as hard as I did, whether in my classes or outside of school, I probably wouldn’t have been given the opportunities that I was given,” she said.

Angel is thankful for donors who made it a little easier for her—and many other students—to pursue their dreams at UMHB. “I don’t think they realize how much they’ve affected and impacted my life,” she said. “They didn’t have to give their own money for someone like me—who they probably will never meet—to help me go to college.”

Over the years, Angel has enjoyed “giving back” to those donors through her performances with One Voice, which is often invited to perform at functions like the President’s Leadership Circle, an annual dinner that celebrates donors. She says performing for donors makes her feel like she can give something back to them.

Just as the donors have a heart for giving to help students like her, Angel has always had a special place in her heart for people who have it worse off. She is inspired to one day find a way to help others, either through her music or her love of social work.

“I have family members who are adopted,” she said of her five cousins. “They came from terrible situations, and I’d like to help other children who are going through similar circumstances.”

Knowing what these children went through before they ended up with her family has inspired her to look beyond teaching music, which she planned to do once she finished college. Now, she is looking into the possibility of continuing school and going into social work someday or tying her two passions into something like music therapy.

“I just like to help people, and when I’m performing, especially when I’m singing gospel and Christian music, it’s about God, and that’s a form of helping people.”

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psalm 139

Psalm 139 has become a tradition for women on campus The Psalm 139 event started four years ago as the brainchild of Sydney (Stolz) Pfleeger ’19, who was a student at the time, to bring women together in worship. What started out that first year as a one-day event with a few dozen participants has grown to a two-day event with almost 200 students attending this year.

“The idea is to bring women together in community and fellowship with time to learn and worship and meet other girls,” said Ashleigh Thompson, who co-directed this year’s event with Jordan McCaslin and Caroline Zinnecker. The directors were selected by last year’s directors, and as soon as they were chosen last spring, they began preparing and praying over the event. Together, they prayerfully picked students to serve in five committees for outreach, logistics, hospitality, prayer, and media.

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“This summer, we prayed and reflected over the event, thinking, ‘what do we want this to be? What’s our heart behind this?’ We talked about our hope and vision for the event,” said Faith Jermstad, who was part of the media committee.

This year’s organizers drew inspiration from part of Psalm 139:23, “Search me, oh God, and know my heart.”

“We wanted to learn together as women how we can go and live in our calling and ask the Lord to walk with us,” Faith said.

To get things rolling, the organizers created a Partner Program to match up those who were planning to attend the event so that women could begin connecting even before that weekend.

“The goal was to meet up and talk about things in your life and start conversations and encouragement leading up to Psalm 139,” said Ashleigh. “That was

UMHBFEATURES

Top right, Faith Jermstad, who led the media committee for Psalm 139 this year, greets Abby Wallace. The event was filled with two days of praise and worship, messages, small group break-outs and refreshments in the McLane Great Hall.

really sweet, and I think a lot of girls enjoyed that.”

The planners decided to kick off the event on Friday night this year.

“We wanted to start the event with a dinner on Friday night where women could come together and get the awkward introductions out of the way, hoping that they would be more willing to open up and talk about things the following day,” said Ashleigh. On Saturday, attendees participated in worship and chose from various small-group breakout sessions over topics including women in ministry, how to read the Bible, spiritual gifts, Christ-like friendships, redemption in trauma, and evangelism 101.

“This year was very different,” said Ashleigh, who has helped with the event for three years. “This year, we wanted to dig deep and challenge each other.”

The group prayed every step of the way, even when choosing the color palette for their promotional materials.

“It was a culture shift in a way,” said Faith. “We said, ‘let’s go reach people who maybe haven’t been yet or who haven’t been the target in the past.’”

They even decided to hold the event earlier in the semester than usual—the weekend after they came back from winter break—to reach students as soon as they arrived back to school before the semester got busy.

“We wanted to hold it early so we could target athletes,” said Ashleigh. “We also wanted to target girls who maybe don’t feel like Psalm 139 is for them and girls who aren’t even going to church.

That was my prayer.”

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A CLEAR CALLING

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Co-directors Ashleigh Thompson (left) and Caroline Zinnecker (right) sit with Jordan McCaslin, who was lead director of this year’s Psalm 139 event.

UMHBFEATURES

Discovering her true calling through Psalm 139 As the lead director for this year’s Psalm 139 event, deliver two messages. As Kathy shared a message on one of the goals Jordan McCaslin wanted most was to “calling” to the group of women, explaining that the encourage other women to discover their callings in Lord has a specific calling for each of them, Jordan relife, but what she didn’t expect was to finally realize her members feeling like Kathy’s message was meant for her. own.

After the message, as the attendees were breaking Since Jordan was in middle school, she has adored all into various small groups, Kathy came off the stage and things involving church and ministry. She sang and led over to the table where Jordan sat with her directors. worship on stage, served anytime she was asked, went The conversation soon turned to Jordan and her goals on mission trips, and even interned and purpose in life. with the women’s minister at her “Each woman at the table was home church last summer. “I really telling me why I was clearly built for fell in love with it all, even the ministry,” she said. “They affirmed nitty-gritty of it,” she said. me in so many ways, and I knew the But when looking into college Lord had me at that table right at that three years ago, Jordan, who is moment for a reason.” now a junior, never considered Two days later, Jordan changed her pursuing ministry as a career. major to a new health sciences degree Since she was a little girl, she had in public health that officially launches envisioned herself as a nurse and this fall. The new degree will offer her came to UMHB as a first-generamore flexibility in job choices for her tion student with her sights set on future career, such as combining her getting her nursing degree. But as passion for women’s ministry with her —Ashleigh Thompson Jordan progressed further toward passion for health. She’s already found Psalm 139 co-director that goal, the pull toward ministry a way to share these two passions became undeniable. It was all she could think about, through a new podcast she’s helping produce with the but she fought it time and time again. As she got further spiritual life department. along in her degree, she reasoned that it was just too “It’s opened the door to so many new possibilities,” late to change her major; she would lose too many credshe said. its, and it would cost too much money, she thought.

Looking back now, never in a million years did JorBut as she attended the very event she helped plan— dan think the Lord would use the event she spearheadthis year’s Psalm 139 women’s day of worship—the Lord ed to speak directly to her. finally made it crystal clear to her that she could no “The Lord couldn’t have set this up any better,” Jorlonger ignore her call to ministry. It was time to change dan said. “He knew exactly what I needed.” her major, to fully focus on using her spiritual gifts to When reflecting on the event, she is left awe-inspired, help advance His kingdom. thinking that if the Lord gave her clarity into her calling, “The whole purpose of Psalm 139 is to put an emhow much more could He do in the lives of the other phasis on who we are in Christ and how we’re created 200 women in attendance? for a unique purpose and a calling in life,” said Ashleigh “This event taught me so much about myself and my Thompson, who co-directed the event with Jordan and gifts,” Jordan said. “I am humbled that the Lord would Caroline Zinnecker. allow me—someone who has kind of just ignored His The group invited Kathy Davidson of Harris Creek call for so long—to direct this amazing event and to be a Baptist Church in Waco as their keynote speaker to part of it.”

“The whole purpose of Psalm 139 is to put an emphasis on who we are in Christ and how we're created for a unique purpose and a calling in life."

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Taylor continues Defying the odds Taylor Scruggs is the epitome of inspiration.

She has not one but two debilitating disabilities—cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.

But she has never let these impairments stop her from pursuing her dreams and doing just about anything she wants to do.

“I can still do things; I just have to figure out a different way to do them,” said Taylor ‘19. Like hitting the ski slopes just about every spring break with her family—one of her favorite things to do.

Other adventures include horseback riding, completing a 16-mile bike race, moving halfway across the country to work at a coffee shop, and even starring on the TODAY Show with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb. And, of course, her latest adventure: finishing up her first year of graduate school. With the hopes of helping others as a licensed professional counselor, Taylor is pursuing a Master of Arts in clinical mental health counseling, an intense twoand-a-half-year program.

“Because of my own health struggles, I’ve always been more drawn to people with struggles because I feel like I can relate to what they’re going through,”

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UMHBFEATURES

Taylor said. “I think everything I’ve been through has made me a more compassionate person and someone who can really understand others’ struggles on a deeper level, which is something a counselor needs to be able to do.”

BEATING THE ODDS Born three months prematurely, Taylor and her twin sister, Jordyn, barely weighed two pounds each, and both experienced complications. Taylor suffered a brain hemorrhage. The prognosis was grim, and doctors told her parents she likely would never walk or talk.

But she did. Three years ago, Taylor surprised her friends and family when she walked across the UMHB graduation stage without her walker to receive her bachelor’s degree in psychology.

“It was the perfect day, and that was a perfect moment,” she said of that day in May 2019.

But in the three years since she received her undergraduate degree, Taylor has been through what seems like an entire lifetime of ups and downs.

After graduation, she was thrilled for an adventure when she and her sister packed up and moved to Utah to work.

“I wanted to get a job on a résumé, and I just needed some personal development time,” she said.

Taylor went to work at a coffee shop that employs people with different abilities. It was an amazing adventure. She loved learning to work with others with different challenges, like communicating with a

deaf co-worker using the sign language she had learned in a class at UMHB. But then the setbacks began.

SLOWED DOWN BUT NOT DEFEATED Taylor’s cerebral palsy symptoms seemed to be getting worse. Even after several trips to the emergency department, doctors continued to chalk up her symptoms to cerebral palsy. For Taylor, CP primarily affected her legs, making muscles stiff and weak. She was used to using a walker, but her flare-ups got so bad it became difficult to do the chores of daily life.

“I started having symptoms that were not really associated with CP, and the doctor’s previous thoughts didn’t make sense anymore,” Taylor said.

At age 23, doctors finally diagnosed Taylor with multiple sclerosis, a disabling central nervous system disease that causes pain, fatigue, and impaired coordination. Taylor and her family didn’t just sit back and let MS damage her body further though. “That’s when we decided to take the aggressive route,” she said.

She traveled to Mexico for intense chemotherapy treatments for MS called HSCT or haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. According to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the treatment uses one’s own stem cells and aims to keep the MS symptoms from progressing by first wiping out the immune system and then rebuilding it.

“I’ve definitely seen improvement,” she said. “I do think it is because I went so quickly (for HSCT treatment) after I was diagnosed.”

Now, she is back on track again and has completed the first two semesters back at UMHB to get her master’s degree.

Even though she said it has been a “whirlwind of a year,” she hasn’t once doubted herself or God. “All the stuff that I’ve been through has been really hard,” she said. “But looking back, I really think that it was God preparing me for the path that He wanted me on.”

Even though Taylor Scruggs ’19 has cerebral palsy and muscular sclerosis, the graduate student enjoys adventures including horseback riding, bike riding, and snow skiing. She just finished her first year in the Master of Arts in clinical mental health counseling program.

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ALUMNI NOTES

FOCUS ON FAITH

Adrian Beard ’12 attributes part of his successful work in high-tech to his alma mater, where he says he became a “better Christianandperson.”

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ADRIAN BEARD ‘12

Busy in big-tech

Even though alumnus works in big tech, he still loves volunteering at alma mater

For many, working in one of which was how Adrian worked for high school. When his senior year the top technology “MANGA” the company. Since Netflix has no ended, he thought he was done companies (Meta/Facebook, corporate offices in Texas, he was with football and was set to attend Amazon, Netflix, Google, and forced to either relocate his family Texas Tech University. But a call Apple) in the world would be to Los Angeles or find a new job. from a UMHB football coach a dream come true. But for one Wanting to stay in Texas, he once changed his trajectory. alumnus, he has worked at three— again went to work at Facebook, “I didn’t know anything about Facebook, Amazon, and Netflix. back to where his journey with UMHB, but I gave (the coach) a Adrian Beard ’12 first worked the three massive tech companies chance and agreed to come to a at Facebook as a program began. recruiting family weekend, ” Adr manager in global marketing said. “Once I set foot on campus, and sales. Toward the end of you can say the rest was history. his third year, he began looking I met people that weekend that I for new opportunities and still consider good friends. The accepted a role with Amazon as a strong Christian values and the technical product manager. Next, idea of the small, intimate learning he worked at Netflix as a lead environment were enough for me project manager for content and Even though he had many product localization where he challenging personal moments was responsible for more than 40 during the first few years at vendors working in 38 languages college, he decided to “have faith to create subtitles, marketing that God had a plan. ” —Adrian Beard ’12 materials, and trailers.

His faith was challenged further “I enjoyed this work because though when he had a seasonthere were new challenges and “My new role at Facebook ending shoulder injury during fall problems to solve every day, (now ” called Meta) is managing camp his sophomore year that said Beard, who graduated from global quality programs in the required surgery.

UMHB in 2012 with his Bachelor global operations team, ” he said, “I started to lose my purpose of Science degree in information adding that his programs cover and focus, and I almost decided to systems. “There was a constant groups across commerce, business leave the school entirely, ” he flow of new material and content integrity, community operations, “But I remember sitting in an FCA that we needed to complete to and many others.

(Fellowship of Christian Athletes) meet the deadlines. ” While growing up in Tyler, meeting one night and praying that About four months ago, Tex., Adrian played football and God would send me a sign and give however, Netflix decided it was ran track and was on two state me a purpose if this is where I am moving away from remote roles, championship teams while in supposed to be. ”

“The strong Christian values and the idea of the small, intimate learning environment were enough for me!”

continued on page 31

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IN MEMORIAM 1940s Olive (Fuller) Wilson ’43, Nov. 29, 2021, in Anderson, SC. She graduated from Mary HardinBaylor College in 1943 with a Bachelor of Music degree. Olive arranged the school song into march time, an arrangement still being used today. She married Lt. William T. Lander Jr. six weeks after their first date. She was given in marriage by the president of Mary Hardin-Baylor College because her father was on the gas rationing board and felt it unfair to get extra stamps to attend her wedding. Olive was the first person ordained as a music minister in the Methodist church in South Carolina.

When her husband became the South Carolina Opportunity School director, she became the school hostess and entertained visitors and dignitaries.

Olive also taught in Williamston, earned a Master of Library Science degree, and became a librarian at Palmetto High School.

Mary Schoomer ’48, Nov. 20, 2021, in Brownsburg, IN. She graduated from Mary HardinBaylor College in 1948 with a degree in chemistry. After graduation, she took an internship with a research hospital in Galveston.

She met Raymond Schoomer in Sunday school class, and they were married. In addition to working for

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the research hospital, Mary worked as a registered medical technician at St. Vincent Hospital and Roche Labs. Mary and Raymond were lifelong members of the United Methodist Church and were active members everywhere they lived.

1950 s

June Johnson ’52, Nov. 9, 2021, in Thorndale. She graduated from Mary Hardin-Baylor College in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts in art degree.

She was a longtime employee of Farmers Insurance Group. In 1959, she married J.B. Johnson and lived in Austin, moving to Round Rock after the birth of their son in 1962. In 1985, they moved to their ranch in Milam County. She volunteered at the Rockdale Library and was a member of the Hobby Club in Sharp. She continued to paint, quilt, crochet, and work in stained glass.

Joy Rocine Watts Allen ’55, Oct. 16, 2021. She graduated from Mary Hardin-Baylor College with a Bachelor of Science in elementary education. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred. She and her husband retired as IMB missionaries after serving 28 years in Zambia.

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Cornelia (Cain) Sylvain ’59, Dec. 15, 2021, in Humble. She graduated from Mary Hardin-Baylor College in 1959, where she was a music major.

While in college, she met Lawrence D. Sylvan, who was in the U.S. Army and stationed at Fort Hood and was married in 1959. They traveled and relocated many times due to Larry's military career. After his retirement, they made their home in Humble in 1979, where Cornelia ran Larry's law office. After he died in 1987, she went to paralegal school, then worked in Humble in a law office for several years.

1960 s

Sylvia (Villegas) Juarez ’60, Nov. 12, 2021, in San Antonio. She graduated from Mary Hardin-Baylor College and taught in public schools in California and Texas.

Marita Root ’62, Jan. 14, 2022, in Houston. She graduated from Mary Hardin-Baylor College with a Bachelor of Science degree focused on elementary education. She taught for more than 60 years and impacted many lives.

Claudette Joy (Shackelford) Walker ’62, Jan. 31, 2022, in Belton. She graduated from Mary HardinBaylor College with a degree in sociology and home economics and later went back to school to get her teaching certificate.

She taught elementary school and special education for many years in various Texas towns, including Blessing, Bay City, Damon, Dilley, Big Wells, and Pearsall. During the last five years of her life, Joy was actively involved in translating the Bible into Spanish and French.

Guadalupe (Villereal) Garcia ’66, Sept. 4, 2021, in Harlingen. She graduated from Mary Hardin-Baylor College in 1966 with a degree in business administration. She worked most of her life in Rio Hondo ISD. After retiring in 1998, she continued as a substitute teacher until 2016. She enjoyed spending time volunteering and working at Rio Hondo Elementary School.

Corene (Magill) Huffman ’68, Dec. 24, 2021, in Temple. She graduated from Mary Hardin-Baylor College in 1968 with a degree in elementary education. She was a fourth-grade teacher for Academy ISD and a member of Texas State Teachers Association and Western Hills Church of Christ.

1970 s David Shilling Jr. ’70, Oct. 27, 2021.

He graduated with a bachelor's degree from Mary HardinBaylor College in 1970 and a master's degree from Tarleton State University. He spent his entire career as a teacher for Killeen ISD. Most of that time, he taught English at Ellison High School. After retiring, he continued to substitute at Harker Heights High School. At Ellison, he was named Teacher of the Year and was also a student council sponsor. He was a member of the Killeen Church of Christ.

Larry Brenton Putman ’72, Jan. 12, 2022, in Temple. He enrolled at Mary HardinBaylor College, where he was named a Campus Boy in 1957, and earned his Bachelor of Arts in music in 1972. His honors included the MHB Distinguished Service Award in 1996, and he was inducted into Walter Gilewicz Hall of Fame in 1999 as a distinguished musician at MHBC. Larry met Velma Ann Cavitt while in Aransas Pass, and they were married on July 21, 1962.

Sylvia (Augusto) Duckens ’75, Nov. 26, 2021, in Houston. She graduated from Mary Hardin-Baylor College in 1975 as an honor student with a double major in psychology and sociology. She was honored and recognized in Who's Who in America as the first African American female engineer to drive a train for Santa Fe Railroad. Upon training at Santa Fe's Simulator Engineering

Training School in Topeka, Kan., she operated a diesel locomotive. She was featured in Ebony Magazine in March 1977 for this historical milestone of accomplishment. Silvia also worked as a firefighter and a U.S. Postal Service team member, but her most cherished job was as the director of Head Start in Dallas.

Mary Hanke ’76, Nov. 11, 2021, in Temple.

After graduating from Rogers High School, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from MHB in 1976 and her master's degree in elementary education from Sam Houston State University in 1981. She was a Reading Recovery Specialist and received her certification from Texas Women's University in 1995. She taught children to read at Holland ISD until 2017.

Sharon Moore ’78, Aug. 29, 2021, in Temple.

She graduated from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in nursing. She obtained her master's degree at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and became a nurse practitioner. Sharon furthered her career with a doctorate from the University of Alabama in 2010. She worked as a nurse and nurse practitioner at Scott & White Memorial Hospital and the Veterans Administration Hospital in Temple.

She was a charter member of Heart of Texas Nurse Practitioners, Texas Nurse Practitioners, and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Sharon was an avid UMHB football fan

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JOAN MUSICK DILLARD HA '91, Dec. 25, 2021, in Belton. In 1995, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor granted her an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree. JoAn retired in 1981 as a supervisor in Houston ISD, and she and her husband, Dee Musick, settled in Belton, where they became active leaders in their church and community. The couple was a generous supporter of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, and their names are on the Musick Alumni Center and Museum and various memorials at UMHB. Their names are also on buildings at First Baptist Belton and the Belton Church of Christ. JoAn served more than 20 years on the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Board of Trustees.

and had season tickets to root for the team. She was a lifelong member of the First Christian Church in Belton.

Daphne (Helms) Dowd Kennemore ’79, Nov. 28, 2021, in Dallas. She graduated from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in 1979 with a degree in nursing. She started her career at Navarro Regional Hospital as an ICU nurse, then in 1980 became a surgical assistant/ office nurse at Medical Arts Clinic until 1990. She worked for Baylor Home Care as regional director of Ellis Baylor Home Care, then became the area administrator at Med Care at Home, where she launched her successful career as a home care administrator with various companies until her retirement in 2021. Daphne was a member of Northside Baptist Church.

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1980s Catherine "Kitty" Wilson ’84, Jan. 8, 2022, in Macon, Ga. She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Michael H. Wilson, who died in June 2020. In 1984, after a multi-faceted nursing career, she earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Mary HardinBaylor at age 56. Mike and Kitty also worked in China teaching English in their retirement for many years.

Mark Pollak ex ’88, Nov. 7, 2021, in Temple.

Mark continued his education at Temple College and the University of Mary HardinBaylor. Mark then graduated from the University of Texas Health Science

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Center in San Antonio. Mark met the love of his life, Barbara Kay "Dottie" Buchanan, while attending a Jerry Lee Lewis concert.

1990s

Uralean Joyce Robinson ’97, Jan. 25, 2022, in Temple.

She graduated from Temple High School in 1976 and later from the University of Mary HardinBaylor, earning a Bachelor of General Studies in 1997. She worked for Temple ISD for many years.

UMHB LIFE magazine

keeps alumni informed about the passing of their classmates by publishing their obituaries in the “In Memoriam” section of the magazine. If you learn of a college friend’s passing, please submit the news by visiting go.umhb.edu/life-magazine

Moving Forward in Faith continued from page 9

However, that success did not come quickly, even with her height.

With her personality, her dad said she didn’t want to “rock the boat” and wanted to ease her way into it. For the first six months, she took maybe one shot a game. By the time she got comfortable with the U15 team she was on, they wanted her to play First Division, the highest level in Costa Rica, and she had to grow in her confidence once again. On her team as a 15-yearold, the roster included women in their 20s and 30s, and the level of play was much more aggressive than in the states. But the talent level was much lower.

“It taught me to get up and play.

I couldn’t be scared, because they weren’t going to hold back,” she said.

When she moved back to the states as a junior in high school, Olivia was used to the rougher play in Costa Rica and averaged about four fouls a game.

“I had to learn to hold back and stay a little more composed,” she said.

That aggressive play, however, has helped Olivia at UMHB, as she has established herself as a player who will do whatever it takes to retain possession, get a rebound, or create a turnover.

She came back to the U.S. for her final two years of high school, living with her aunt and uncle, with the goal of being recruited to play at the college level. She found her perfect fit in UMHB, a school that did not even have her on its radar until she reached out to the coaching staff.

“I really just wanted to go to a school with a Christian atmosphere and wanted to go to something small as well,” Olivia said of her decision to play at UMHB. “I’d never been to Texas until I came on my visit here in November of my senior year, but the moment I stepped on campus, I was like, ‘This

feels like home.’”

Coming into this season, something the Lord placed on her heart was to, “Go in there and have fun, be a positive influence, and a positive light,” she said. “I feel the Lord has put me here to be that positive influence on the team and cultivate relationships.”

While it has been four years since she last lived in Costa Rica, the impact of the seven years she spent in the country is everlasting. And she is reminded of that every time the words, “Olivia Champion from San Jose, Costa Rica” blare throughout the arena as starting lineups are announced.

“People ask me, why do you list Costa Rica as your hometown?” Olivia said. “Honestly, that is where I became Olivia Champion.”

—By Riley Zayas (This story originally published in truetothecru.com, an independently owned and operated website not affiliated with UMHB.)

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MEMORIAL GIFTS October 25, 2021 - February 1, 2022 Dr. Terry B. Bawcom Mark and Betty O’Hair Anderson Dr. Jerry and Vicky Bawcom Cheryl Neel Dr. Rebecca O’Banion Dr. and Mrs. Randy O'Rear Marietta Parker Cynthia Taylor Tryon Frank Boggs Catherine Hoecke Madison Ann Carlisle Joe and Carol Birdwell Ernie Castillo Carolyn Allison Owens

Virginia Townsend Guess Drs. David and Rebecca Guess Tomas Haliman Shamalee and Tomasa Perez Haliman Gene Hill Tilman Jackson Prater, III Jody Hillin Darius Moore Kent Owens Dr. Kerry and Kathy Owens Riley and Carolyn Allison Owens Bob Huddleston Derrel and Patti Thompson

Troy and Joy Hensarling Nancy Lovell David and Donna Wright Frank O’Banion Edna O’Banion Guy and Stephanie O’Banion Dr. Rebecca O’Banion Mary Ailese Parten Barbara Davidson Terri Penny Dr. Edna Penny Bridges Carmen Perez Shamalee and Tomasa Perez Haliman Patsy Coffman Pittman Ruby Lee Wyche Thomas

Ginger Cooksey Bill and Sue Allison May Dr. Kerry and Kathy Owens Riley and Carolyn Allison Owens

Dr. Juan Antonio Mercado Viola Mercado

Joan Burton Messer Cox Alan Carlisle

John and Alice Minten Dorothy Minten Esther Minten Janie Minten

JoAn Musick Dillard Amy Bawcom Walt and Pam Manly Dr. Rebecca O’Banion

Natha Jean McMinn Mitchell Wayne Mitchell

Sidney W. Post Linda Baggerly Drs. David and Nancy Bonner Frances Brazeal Jared Bryan Sheila Crutchfield Tucker and Karli Ralston Glaske Denzel and Margie Holmes Griff and Kathy Lord Grayce Miller Edna O’Banion Guy and Stephanie O’Banion Dr. Rebecca O’Banion Bruce and Rhonda Roberts John and Kim Russ Keith and Wendy Sledd Jay and Leah Taggart

Pauline Moore Deborah Moore

Harriet King Prinz Kelly and Mindy Boggs

Caleb Benjamin Morgan Debbie Burns Tom and Sue Dance Suzanne Graham

Larry Putman Mark and Betty O'Hair Anderson Ken and Melva Joyce Hobbs Dr. Rebecca O’Banion Riley and Carolyn Allison Owens

Raul and Beatrice Castillo Robert and Mary Castillo Neale Norman Cobb Carolyn Allison Owens

Chuck Douglas Robert and Edie Cornett King Bud and Shirley Greer Alan and Lori Greer Russell and Laura Greer

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Rex Karl Riley and Carolyn Allison Owens Katherine Lawler William Lawler

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Busy in big-tech

continued from page 25

At the end of the meeting, the show genuine care and interest in speaker announced that he was you and who support each other is looking for volunteers to help something I experienced and will with FCA. never forget, ” he said.

“I volunteered to become He also loved the social an FCA leader, which radically opportunities, specifically with transformed my life, ” Adrian thesaid.

Campus Activities Board, “The lessons I took away from the Baptist Student Ministry, and that were that football did not Search Cru, where he eventually define me, and that God can use served as president. our gifts in many different ways.

“These ” things mean so much to Adrian said he loved his time me because not only did I receive at UMHB so much that he now an excellent education, but I also says he can “write a novel about developed social and personal my favorite things about UMHB, skills ”that made me a better particularly the feeling of Christian and person. ” “community” he experienced here.

It’s also part of the reason “Having a group of people who he has remained involved with

Ruby Ray Carolyn Allison Owens Dr. J.A. Reynolds Paul and Kelly Sanderford Betty Roberts Dr. Jerry and Vicky Bawcom

Dr. Kerry and Kathy Owens Riley and Carolyn Allison Owens Donald and Linda Sandefur Shirley Cowan Sommer Platt and Kitty Turner Jerry and Mary K. Conner

Addie Simpson Lydia Elaine Simpson

Dr. Donna Walker-Nixon Robert and Colleen Crisp Benefield

Reverend Delmar D. Simpson Lydia Elaine Simpson

Lexie Ruth Dunigan Waters Thomas Waters

Jo Reinhard Smith Betty Reinhard Hamilton

Sheila Weaver Robert and Edie Cornett King Dr. Rebecca O’Banion

Aaron Tilley Dr. Edna Penny Bridges Russell Bridges Kent Owens

UMHB over the years. However, the ultimate reason is that he believes God has called him to do so. He currently serves as a member of the Young Alumni Board and volunteered as a judge at last year’s Stunt Night. Adrian and his wife, Rebecca ’11, live in Smithville with their five children, Kase, 7; Emma, 6; Everett, 4; Braxton, 2; and Baker, who was born Dec. 2, 2021.

“God used my time at UMHB to teach and mold me into the person I am today, ” he said. “I met my wife and made lifelong friends, and being able to support and give back is something I feel led to do. ”

David White Robert and Edie Cornett King Dr. Delbert Williams Carol Treible Presley Sage Willis Calvin and Donna Graham Lee Catherine “Kitty” Spillman Wilson Barbara Akins The Ripon Society The Franklin Center for Global

Policy Exchange Andrew Goldschmidt Jim Leggett Katherine McConnell

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HONORARY GIFTS The Payton and Maggie Allison Family Dr. and Mrs. James Allison

Elvira Lara Eduardo and Elizabeth Lara Brad and Julie Livingston Drs. Seth and Jane Witcher

Mark and Betty O’Hair Anderson Dr. Jerry and Vicky Bawcom

Susanna Livingston Drs. Seth and Jane Witcher

Lou Beth Birdwell Debbie Burns Tom and Sue Dance Suzanne Graham Troy and Joy Hensarling Nancy Lovell David and Donna Wright

Dr. and Mrs. George Loutherback Sherry Barsch Bud and Mary Jane Morgan Debbie Burns

Dr. Kindyle Brennan Drs. Dudley and Vivian Baker

Julie Wheeler O’Rear Mark and Betty O’Hair Anderson

Dr. Edna Penny Bridges Doug and Melinda Dawson Gilbert Carol Treible

Dr. Randy O’Rear Jeff W. Smith Marietta Parker Dr. Jerry and Vicky Bawcom

Scott W. Cheek Earl and Louise Cheek

Dr. Lana Jean Peteete Carolyn Allison Owens

Class of 1961 Carolyn Allison Owens

Donald and Patsy Deere Gerald and Lillian Farris Bobby and Bernadette Grant Marshall Greer Billy Joe and Dene Heath Linda Henson Arlys Hilliard Ann Liles Paula Lohse Lynelle Sweat Mason Carol Morgan Amanda Nelsen Dr. Rebecca O’Banion Charles and Clara Nesmith Patterson A.D. Robinett John and Cheri Shannon Ronny and Joy Shrum Hunter Sims Linda Stringer Rebecca Stringer Lynn Thomas Terry and Joyce Tuggle Janie Tomlin Wallace Vernon Ronald and Delores Chupik Williams James and Mary Wilson

Marjorie Ferrill Jean Thorp

Dr. Delia Quintanilla Dorothy Minten Esther Minten Janie Minten

Shirlene Bilbrey Hagler Marion Hagler

Tessa Rushing Drs. Seth and Jane Witcher

Dr. Darrell Watson James and Kathleen Spraggins

Roger and Valerie Adams Hampton Thomas and Diana Hampton

Patricia Lockridge Shannon Randall and Diana Marino Bassett Dr. Jerry and Vicky Bawcom Ulena Pearl Brown Sonny and Mary Jo Burton Cherie Bostick Cockrell Jeannie Davis

Gradon Witcher Drs. Seth and Jane Witcher

Dorothy Jean Reinhard Hogwood Betty Reinhard Hamilton Darla Kirby Joe and Debbie Stapp Daniel

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Brenda Shoemake Joel and Erin Young Shoemake

Trey Witcher Drs. Seth and Jane Witcher

When it was time for Diana Chantaca to start looking at colleges, she had a few favorites in mind, but UMHB wasn’t one of them. Being from Brownsville, she had never even heard of the small Baptist university in Central Texas until one day, an admissions advisor mentioned UMHB. When things fell through with her first-choice school, Diana was devastated, but her high school counselor reminded her that “sometimes what we want is not what God wants for us.”

On that same day, she got an email from the UMHB financial aid office offering her a generous amount of financial aid. Diana saw it as a sign that God was calling her to UMHB to study bioengineering.

For as long as Diana could remember, she dreamed of becoming a bioengineer. She loves mathematics which is originally why she chose the major. But during her first semester at UMHB, a general psychology course changed her career path.

While everyone else in the class seemed to be struggling, the concepts came easily to Diana. She felt God calling her to switch majors, and after a lot of prayer and talking to professors, that’s exactly what she did. After she graduates in May 2022, she hopes to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology and become a neuropsychologist.

“My self-confidence has improved, and my relationship with the Lord has become stronger,” Diana said. “Although failure still scares me, I know that God always opens a door as soon as He closes another one.”

To read Diana’s full story, visit go.umhb.edu/life.

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