UMHB Life Summer 2016

Teaching students who learn

differently

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$5 MILLION CHALLENGE GRANT � NUMBER 8 TO BE RETIRED

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PRESIDENT Randy O’Rear, Ed.D. EDITOR-IN- CHIEF Paula Price Tanner, Ed.D. EDITOR Kristi Humphreys, Ph.D. GR APHIC DESIGNER Lauren Mendias PHOTOGR APHERS Blair Dupre Matt Lester Randy Yandell ’99 UMHB LIFE IS PUBLISHED THREE TIMES A YEAR BY THE DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS. UMHB Box 8431 900 College Street Belton, Texas 76513 1-800-727-UMHB life.umhb.edu

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B I G P I C T U R E | Fu t ur e f o o t b a l l p l aye r s e n j oy g e t t i n g a dr i n k f r o m t h e hyd rat i o n s t at i o n at t h e L i t t l e Cr u C a m p h e l d at Cr u s a d e r St a d i um i n J un e .

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D E P A R T M E N T S

5 | C A M P US L I F E Challenge grant encourages gifts for performing arts center 11 | AT H L E T I C L I F E Refurbished meeting room simulates standing at center field at Crusader Stadium —plus university plans jersey retirement ceremony for Jerrell Freeman at Homecoming

22 | A LU M N I L I F E Check out what’s happening in the lives of alumni and families—plus Kori Whatley Yates ’94 directs ministry for military women

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F E A T U R E S H E L P I N G H A N DS |12 Partnership between College of Education, special needs students, and an organization fighting poverty in Peru yields benefits for all three groups T H E ACC I D E N TA L H I S TO R I A N |18 During his 50-year career at UMHB, Guy Wilson has witnessed an amazing period of change and growth.

O N T H E COV E R | Education major Merritt Martin he lps Bella Mikes learn the alphabet in the UMHB Special Needs Lab. Photo by Matt Lester

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RANDY YANDELL

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Donor’s $5 million challenge grant spurs giving for performing arts center With construction underway on a new performing arts center, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor officials have announced that a donor, who asked to remain anonymous, has offered a $5 million challenge grant to help fund the construction of the building.

The challenge specifies that, to receive the grant, the university must raise an additional $5 million for the project.

Together with funding already secured, a successful challenge would make it possible for the $20 million facility to be fully funded when it opens in August 2017.

“This amazing challenge grant gives us the momentum we need to complete our performing arts center debt-free,” said Dr. Randy O’Rear, university president. “This is the final project in a bold $100 million campus master plan approved by our Board of Trustees in February 2011. I am grateful for the incredible generosity of our donors whose investments move us even closer to our vision of becoming the university of choice for Christian higher education in the Southwest.”

First to respond to the challenge were James and Kim Fikes, who stepped forward with a substantial gift for the performing arts center. James Fikes is chief executive officer of Fikes Wholesale, Inc., and Kim Fikes is chief administrative officer of the business,

which serves as a holding company for and Kim, we are well on our way to CEFCO Convenience Stores, Fleet Fuel, meeting this fundraising challenge for CORD Financial Services, JF Air Traffic, the performing arts center.” and Group Petroleum Services. The “We are overwhelmed by these gifts company began when James’ father, and are optimistic that other friends Clarence E. Fikes, opened a Texaco and alumni will step forward and service station in 1952 in Cameron, help us meet this challenge,” said Dr. Texas. When James became president Rebecca O’Banion, vice president for in 1988 there were four stores, and development at UMHB. today the CEFCO Convenience Stores The 40,725-square-foot building will brand boasts more than 250 stores in feature a 554-seat performance hall seven states. with a proscenium stage, fly space, The Fikes’ gift is not their first to and orchestra pit. The design also UMHB; in 2006 they established includes an intimate 2,000-squarethe C.E. Fikes (CEFCO) Endowed foot performance space, which will Scholarship in memory of James’ be named Fikes Chamber Hall. In father. Subsequent gifts to that addition to concerts and recitals, this endowment have made it possible to area will be used as a reception space help many students earn a degree at for social gatherings.

UMHB. “The friendship that Julie and I have enjoyed with James and Kim is one of the greatest blessings we have experienced as Mary Hardin-Baylor’s president and first lady,” said O’Rear. “The Fikes have a strong belief in Christian higher education, and this leadership gift exemplifies their commitment to The performing arts center’s Fikes Chamber Hall will be investing in UMHB named after James and Kim Fikes, in appreciation for the students. Thanks to substantial gift they made in response to the $5 million the generosity of James challenge grant.

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Vocalists to sing in NATS national competition Two UMHB vocal students were invited to compete in the semifinal round of National Association of Teachers of Singing’s (NATS) national competition to be held in mid-July in Chicago. Stephen Ash and Karon Chapa were listed among the top 14 college vocalists in the country in their respective categories, making them the first UMHB students in school’s history to be recognized with this honor.

To qualify for this level of competition, Ash and Chapa won the Texoma regional competition in their categories last fall. Those victories made them eligible to submit a YouTube video of them performing. Those video submissions were then judged by a panel of national judges. Fourteen singers in each category, which are divided by gender and age, advanced to the semifinal round.

Another group of UMHB vocalists

achieved recognition in April when they sang in the South Texas District NATS competition in San Antonio. Thirty-three singers from UMHB competed against singers of the same gender and length of study from colleges and universities throughout central and south Texas.

Twenty-six of the students were honored as semi-finalists in their divisions, and 18 went on to compete as finalists. Six students ultimately won first place in their divisions: Brittany Read, student of Penny Hogan; Tiffany Collazo, student of George Hogan; Matthew McKinnon and Gerald Nicholas, students of Guy Wilson; and Karon Chapa and Stephen Ash, students of Lisa Clement. Gerald Nicholas also was recognized with the top award of the competition, the Alice Dutcher-Thornton Certificate of Honor, which is awarded to one upper division singer with outstanding performing career potential.

Karon Chapa

Stephen Ash

The UMHB Concert Choir traveled to Austria in May to visit important sites from music history and to perform in outstanding venues. Proceeds from two of the concerts were donated to charities that aid Austrian children in need. Dr. Michelle Roueché, director of the choir (front row, far right), led the group on its week-long tour.

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Chuck Norris shares story of hard work and redemption at McLane Lecture

Fact: When Chuck Norris talks, people listen. On April 20 the world reknowned martial artist, actor, and Christian humanitarian came to UMHB to present the 2016 McLane Lecture.

Though he drew a standing-room only crowd to the arena of the Frank and Sue Mayborn Campus Center, you could have heard a pin drop as the audience listened to him tell how his life was changed by hard work and spiritual redemption.

Norris, star of more than two dozen action movies, is perhaps best known for his title role in the television series Walker, Texas Ranger, which is still watched by an average of 1 billion viewers daily in more than 80 countries worldwide. He is the founder of KickStart Kids, a program which utilizes the martial arts in building strong moral character in at-risk middle school kids, and today Norris and his wife, Gena, devote much of their time supporting the

program through their KickStart Kids Foundation.

Norris recounted stories from his childhood in rural Oklahoma, his years training and competing in martial arts, and his career in television and movies.

Norris shared that he first trained in martial arts while deployed to Korea. After returning home to the states with a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, he opened his own school. His decision to compete in tournaments was motivated by the desire for free publicity that might draw students to his school.

In his first tournament appearance, Norris tasted defeat, and during the ride home, he developed a philosophy that he said has served him well: “I decided that while I might lose again, but I would never lose again in the same way.”

Norris shared the story behind his first film, Good Guys Wear Black, for which he wrote the script. The film

was produced independently; once it was complete, no Hollywood studio wanted to risk the money distributing it. Rather than give up, Norris decided to distribute and market the film himself by touring the country and showing the movie in theater spaces.

The process was long and tiring, but it lead to his emergence as a genuine box-office draw.

“This shows what determination can do in your life,” Norris said. “You can’t give up. Every time you hit a roadblock, just say that is all it is. Say, I’m going to go over it and just keep on moving.”

The McLane Lecture brings internationally recognized speakers to UMHB each year to share their experiences and insights about leadership, faith, government, and business. The annual lecture is offered through the generosity of Temple residents Elizabeth and Drayton McLane Jr.

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Mynatt named as interim provost as search for replacement begins Dr. Danny Mynatt, dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences, took on additional duties June 1 when he assumed the position of interim provost & senior vice president for academic affairs. Mynatt joined the UMHB administration in 2011 as dean of the College of Humanities; when the college was united with the College of Science last year, he became dean of the combined entity.

Mynatt’s new expansion of duties came in tandem with Dr. Steve Oldham’s stepping down from the position of provost to return to full-time teaching in the College of Christian Studies.

In January President Randy O’Rear

informed the campus community about Oldham’s desire to return to the classroom at the end of the school year. “It has been a privilege to serve with Dr. Steve Oldham Dr. Danny Mynatt Dr. Oldham, and I could not be more proud of his tremendous programs, and the launching of several leadership over the last eight years,” new academic programs.”

O’Rear said. “Many significant A faculty and staff committee has accomplishments have been achieved been formed to conduct the search at UMHB through Dr. Oldham’s for the university’s next provost, leadership, including a successful and the university has posted SACS reaffirmation, directing the information about the position and development of our Strategic Plan, the application process on the UMHB the attainment of accreditations and website. To learn more, see the site at certifications of several academic provostsearch.umhb.edu.

Art and design programs earn national accreditation The National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) has approved UMHB’s College of Visual and Performing Arts and its undergraduate art and design programs for national accreditation.

The decision culminates a two-year review process by the organization, which has been responsible for establishing national standards for education programs in art and design since its founding in 1944.

UMHB will join 346 institutions accredited by NASAD across the

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U.S. The review process included an onsite visit last fall, during which evaluators spent three days on campus interviewing faculty and students, looking over academic requirements, visiting classes, and inspecting UMHB’s recently constructed Baugh Center for the Visual Arts.

“This is a major accomplishment that will be beneficial for the UMHB Department of Art as we continue

Ted Barnes, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

“The acknowledgement that our programs and facilities meet this high standard is extremely gratifying.

This accomplishment is a tribute to the leadership of art department chair Hershall Seals, the hard work of the art faculty and staff who were involved in the application effort, and to the sustaining support of the

to attract students who desire the best instruction as they seek to fulfill their creative potential,” said

administration.”

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New degree program offers flexible pace for adults An innovative degree program aimed at adult learners who have started a degree but not had the chance to complete it is gearing up for a start this August at UMHB. Called “MyWay at UMHB,” the program is offered entirely online; instead of taking a set group of classes each semester, students will individually progress through the degree program by mastering specific “competencies” at their own pace and according to their own schedules. Though competency-based degree programs are increasingly being offered by public universities and for-profits across the country, UMHB will be the first private university in Texas to offer such a program.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges approved the new program

for accreditation in late April, opening the way for students to begin enrolling in it. Instead of paying tuition and fees for a certain number of credit hours each semester, students will pay $3,000 per six-month period of enrollment, during which they are free to complete as many of the competencies as they can. During that time, each student will have access to Success Coaches, Subject Experts, and Resource Coaches, all of whom are dedicated to helping students navigate the program and reach their goals.

Since the program is for adults who have already taken some college courses, sometimes at multiple institutions, it has been designed to be “transfer friendly.” “Some competency-based programs will not allow students to transfer any credits,” said Dr. Chrisann Merriman, who

oversees the program as the Interim Director of Distance Learning. “We’re going to work with our students based on what they already know and award them competencies accordingly.”

Since the program does not follow the traditional semester format, students may begin the program on the 15th of any month, beginning August 15, 2016. Additional information about the program and application forms can be accessed on the university website at myway.umhb. edu.

The UMHB Speech and Debate Team had an unprecedented number of students qualify in 2015-16 for national tournaments sponsored by the American Forensic Association and the National Forensic Association. Previously the program has sent no more than six students to the NFA tournament and only one student to the AFA tournament.

This year, eight students will compete in the NFA tournament and five in the AFA tournament. Pictured above (l-r) are faculty advisor Kathy Owens and team members Starr Rivers, Guillermo Lopez, Allison McKeown, Elena Aydelotte, Carlee Skinner, Katie Stringer, Kelzye Isham, Stephen Bedwell, and David Taylor.

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Left, Jessica Livingston and Joe Temte demonstrate the virtual reality program they created; above, Michael Yarberry explains his research on alkyl alcohols. (Photos: Matt Lester)

Scholar’s Day showcases research of UMHB undergrad and graduate students

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UMHB held its 8th Annual Scholars’ Day on March 30, to highlight undergraduate and graduate research being done by students across the campus. The day included sessions where more than 40 students presented posters, papers, and art projects.

Keynote speaker for the event was Dr. Jude Austin ‘10, MA ‘13, who is an assistant professor of clinical mental health counseling at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Austin recalled how his experiences as a

helped him transition from being a consumer of knowledge to a producer of knowledge, and how exciting it is to be involved in research that can influence a community or society in general.

The posters and papers represented the work of students from many academic disciplines. The poster presentations included such varied topics as “Transformational Leadership: Faith and Classroom Instruction” (Kerri Pearson and Bobbi Ann White), “Autonomous Global Positioning

Styles Among Select NCAA Division III Athletes” (Elizabeth Ostroff), and “The Effectiveness of Solar Radiation to Obtain Low Cost, Potable Water from Unclean Water Sources” (Allison Waits).

The student research papers included topics such as “Investigating the ‘Invasional Meltdown’ Hypothesis: Interactions between Non-native, Invasive Russian Olive and the Common Carp” (Rebecca Burrow), “An Unweeded Garden and an Inmost Glass: Hamlet and the Reformation Sin

UMHB student presenting his research at Scholars’ Day influenced his development as a researcher. He told the audience how conducting research

Satellite (GPS) Guided Vehicle with Obstacle Avoidance and Mapping Protocol” (Jesse Early and Jacob Branscum), “Preferred Coaching

Doctrine” (Jake Raabe), and “The Best Treatment for Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome” (Whitney Boatright).

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Team meeting room named for football standout Jerrell Freeman The field houses and practice field for Cru Football are several blocks away from Crusader Stadium, but a newly refurbished room now brings the stadium experience to Andersen Field House, thanks to the generosity of former Cru linebacker Jerrell Freeman ‘13. Freeman himself was on hand on April 29 to celebrate the reopening of the team meeting room, which now features a 360° photographic mural simulating what a player sees when standing at midfield in Crusader Stadium.

As the primary meeting room for the football team, the multi-purpose room is used for position meetings, film sessions, and recruiting events.

Head Coach Pete Fredenburg unveiled a sign designating the space as the Jerrell Freeman Team Meeting Room, in honor of Freeman’s contributions to and continued support of UMHB football.

“It feels so good to be able to come home and be appreciated, and I always appreciate what UMHB has done for me,” Freeman said. “Any-

where I go, I always take UMHB with me because of what this school means to me.”

Freeman played for UMHB from 2004-2007 and finished his career as the Cru’s leading tackler. He was named D3football.com National Defensive Player of the Year his senior year. Freeman signed with the Tennessee Titans as a free-agent before going on to a three-year career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He was an

Jerrell Freeman (right) stands with Randy Yandell in front of the mural Yandell created to simulate the interior of Crusader Stadium.

All-Star and played in two Grey Cup games with Saskatchewan before signing with the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL. In four seasons with the Colts, Freeman led the team in tackles twice and was second on the team in that category twice. He signed with the Chicago Bears this spring as an unrestricted free-agent.

Freeman’s jersey to be retired at Homecoming UMHB will honor the accomplishments of Jerrell Freeman by officially retiring his Crusader jersey number 8 at the Homecoming football game on October 22. The ceremony will take place during halftime of the Cru’s game against Hardin-Simmons University at Crusader Stadium.

For ticket information, call (254) 295-4216 or email crutickets@umhb.edu.

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HELPING

Hands An unusual partnership between the College of Education, local students with special needs, and an organization fighting poverty in Peru yields benefits for all three groups.

by Paula Price Tanner

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In the spring of 2016, Elizabeth Gish, a 20-year-old UMHB education major from Waxahachie, helped Jared Middlebrook, a 14-year-old student from Belton, learn how to prepare textiles and notecards for sale. The effects of their work were far-reaching. Elizabeth learned how to break a task down into a series of steps suited to the particular skills of a young man who learns differently.

Jared learned how to follow a pictorial list of instructions to complete a task, start to finish, all by himself. And together, Elizabeth and Jared helped a group of women in Peru provide for their families and improve conditions in their community.

These benefits were achieved thanks to collaborative efforts between the UMHB College of Education, Belton Independent School District and the Bell County Cooperative, and a non-profit organization called Threads of Hope, which works to enable Peruvian artisans living in extreme poverty to earn a fair, reliable income through the sale of the textiles they produce. The collaboration not only met the needs of a group of teachers-in-training and their special needs clients, but it also provided a way for all of them to help break the cycle of poverty for people living in some of the poorest conditions on the planet.

Elizabeth Gish and Jared Middlebrook display a wall hanging created by artisans in Peru. Opposite, student teacher Melissa Wendt plays a reading game with Maddie Dollar.

Challenging work The collaboration was the brainchild of Assistant Professor Kris Ward, who teaches courses for UMHB students who want to be certified to teach special education in grades K through 12. Dr. Ward established the Special Needs Lab in 2014 to help her students learn about the challenges of special education and how to respond to them before they begin student teaching in the local schools.

“Students who are learning to be special educators have a lot to learn to be ready to take that classroom,” Ward explains. “If you are a special educator in a life skills classroom, it means you are teaching the most severely disabled students, and the students stay in the classroom with you most of the day. You have to teach academic content to students who have multiple disabilities and different levels of functioning. Some are verbal, some are nonverbal; some can walk, some cannot; some require nursing care, some do not, and there’s everything in between.

“The other end of the spectrum is the inclusion teacher who works with children with mild to moderate learning disabilities. Instead of being put into a special class, these children are often ‘included’ in the general education class-

rooms; their special ed teachers may consult with them one-on-one or go into the general education classrooms and work with them there.

“So a person who wants to be a special ed teacher has an enormous amount of learning that has to happen. We needed a way for these students to get hands-on interaction with kids with various disabilities and various levels of functioning. Before they start their student teaching, we want them to have prepared lessons, implemented those lessons, and changed the lessons because they didn’t work. They need to experience behaviors that some would consider shocking. They need to know how to deescalate bad situations and how to motivate students. They need to learn what works and what doesn’t work.”

The Special Needs Lab provides a way for her students to connect what Dr. Ward teaches in class with what they experience working with a small group of special needs students whose learning disabilities are varied in type and severity. “By the time one of our students gets to student teaching, he or she has had 200-plus hours in the lab of direct contact with students with disabilities, and another F E A T U R E S

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Left to right: Merritt Martin shows Jayti Wilson a visual task analysis that she designed for one of her students; Rachel Ezzell explains how to package a toy llama for sale; Karis Kendall helps her young student Ezra practice writing his name.

100-plus hours of direct contact with students without disabilities from their general education classes,” Ward said.

It is a pivotal experience for the young teachers-in-training, said Ward. “The students love the lab. It is hard. It’s exhausting. But they say that they wouldn’t be ready to teach without it. When they are asked to evaluate the experience, every single time they talk about how the lab has changed the way they have been prepared for being a teacher.”

A priceless resource This year 42 special needs children and teens came to the Special Needs Lab each week to work with UMHB students.

They were divided into two groups—one for children age 3 through 8th grade, and one for high school students. Some had been referred to the lab by a teacher or physician; other families heard about the program from other parents or friends.

“Parents of children with special needs look for programs where their children can get additional assistance through

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physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, or other forms of assistance,” said Ward. “By coming to our lab, they are getting extra academic and social instruction for their students. They know it is a safe place and that the instruction is research based, so everything that we do with their children is something they would do in school.

“We charge $50 per year to come to the lab, to cover the cost of toys that break or edibles we use to reinforce positive behavior. We work with the Children’s Special Needs Network, so parents can take the receipt for their fees to the local Children’s Special Needs Network office; the network will refund the $50 to them, making the service essentially free,” she said.

The service is a boon for the local school districts, too.

School districts are required to provide education services for children and young adults with special needs from age 3 through age 21. Bigger school districts, such as Belton ISD, have enough special needs students to justify a fullblown program for them. Smaller school districts may only have one or two students and may not have the resources

to address every sort of disability; in Central Texas, the schools in Holland, Academy, Rogers, Troy, and Salado have combined their services under the name of the Bell County Cooperative for Exceptional Children, sharing teachers and facilities for special needs students from all of their districts.

Both Belton ISD and the Bell County Coop bring students each week to the UMHB lab; their students enjoy the change of pace, and it gives the teachers-in-training the opportunity to work with clients who have a broader range of ability levels.

An added benefit for the older students is that it gives them a chance to interact with people who are close to their own age. “Being with the college students gives our high school students a chance to ‘hang out’ with people their own age,” said Nancy Riley, director of the Bell County Cooperative.

“The student teachers are so caring and faith filled; they offer our students peer relationships, which expand our students’ social skills and boost their self-esteem.”

Coming to the UMHB campus for class is exciting for the high school students, and they are proud to be working in the

Special Needs Lab. Belton teacher Felicia Youngblood recalls taking her class to the lab for the first time: “At the end of the afternoon, one of my students told me with a big smile, ‘We get to go to high school every day, but today I got to go to college!’”

Helping others Though special ed students are no longer required to attend high school after they reach the age of 18, the law states that school districts must offer them extended training in life skills and job skills, until the students “age out” of the program at 22. “Sometimes students with disabilities are placed in jobs that are very simple and may not be in an area of interest for the young adult,” Ward said. “But many students have the capacity to carry out more complex jobs.

We try to expose our students to several tasks covering a wide genre of working opportunities.”

Ward knew that, in order to work in a more complex job, these higher functioning students needed to be able to follow

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instructions. As she pondered the best way to teach this skill, she found inspiration in an unexpected place: a nonprofit organization devoted to helping artisans in Peru earn an income through the sales of their handiwork.

Called Threads of Hope, the organization had become part of the campus community in 2014, when UMHB invited the group to set up their order fulfillment center in an empty area of the university’s J.W. Williams Service Center. Threads of Hope got its start as a charitable Christian organization in 1999, when Dr. Kim Nimon, an associate professor at the University of Texas at Tyler, joined forces with Jean Samaniego, a Christian volunteer who organized sewing groups for impoverished women in the shantytowns of Lima, Peru. Today the organization works through a network of volunteers throughout the U.S. and abroad to sell beautiful, hand-embroidered textiles produced by women in Lima and multiple villages and communities in South Central Peru.

Beyond the routine purchase of textiles throughout the year, proceeds from textile sales are returned to the artisans through the Threads of Hope Grant Fund to break the cycle of poverty in the areas of Education, Healthcare, Housing, and Small Business or Community Development.

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One rationale for establishing the Threads of Hope order center on campus was that it could offer UMHB students service opportunities with a Christian organization working to alleviate poverty. As Ward became better acquainted with the group’s activities, she saw a way for her lab students to be involved in meaningful work as their student teachers helped them learn how to follow instructions.

When the products from the Peruvian artisans arrived in the U.S., they came without any tags or prices affixed to them. Some products, such as note cards featuring photos of the artisans’ colorful wall hangings, needed to be counted out and placed in cellophane packets so they could be sold. Ward realized that high school students participating in the Special Needs Lab could complete these simple but essential steps, so that others at Threads of Hope could spend their time gathering and packing orders for shipment.

To get started, she asked her education students to divide up the tasks; each student was asked to break down a task into small enough steps that a particular special needs client could follow the steps and complete the task without assistance. The student teachers were asked to create a visual “schedule” of the steps so their students could look at each

Opposite page: Threads of Hope Project Director Cinde Rawn (center foreground) talks with a child as the sewing group from Llunchi, in the Ayacucho Region of Peru, gathers for a group photo; at left, an example of the needlework produced by Threads of Hope artisans.

picture in order and understand how to complete the task.

The student teachers then began working individually with the special needs students, teaching them how to follow the visual schedules for the tasks they were assigned. Sometimes the steps had to be modified as the teachers saw where their pupils were having trouble carrying out one of the steps. The student teachers worked together with Ward, analyzing how to make the instructions better. For example, in one instance a young man was working to cut a sheet of tags apart with a paper cutter. He could do the task well, but it took a long time. His student teacher realized that he was turning the sheet back and forth, cutting one side and then another on each tag. When she changed the instructions, telling him to make all the cuts in one direction and then go back and cut them all in the other direction, his productivity was greatly improved.

“Being able to do an assignment independently is an important step for special needs students who want to get a job after they graduate,” said Ward. “If we can teach them how to follow instructions here in the lab, then they will be able to follow instructions when they are asked to do something new in the workplace. And in the process, they are

gaining a sense of self-confidence in what they can do.”

As they worked in the lab once a week, the students and their teachers talked about the people who had made the embroidered pieces and how preparing the embroideries for sale would help the artisans feed their families, send their children to school, and build safe houses to live in. At the end of the school year, the students and student teachers held a celebration, inviting the students’ families and representatives from Threads of Hope to attend.

At the end of the party, Threads of Hope Project Director Cinde Rawn thanked the students for their efforts. “I have never heard of this kind of collaboration between a university and a nonprofit,” she said. “You have contributed to our work in such a substantial way, moving us to a more efficient level of service to the women in Peru. Students, you have helped people who are in great need. Thank you for making their lives better.”

For information about enrolling a student in the services of the Special Needs Lab, email Dr. Kris Ward at KWard@umhb.edu. To learn more about the work of Threads of Hope, go to the organization’s website at threadsofhopetextiles.org.

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THE

ACCIDENTAL HISTORIAN When Guy Wilson came to Mary Hardin-Baylor in 1966, he never suspected that he would become part of 50 remarkable years of institutional growth and change.

In May, Associate Professor of Music Guy Wilson was recognized for 50 years of service at UMHB. During his teaching career, Wilson has witnessed firsthand the university’s progress over half a century. In a recent interview, UMHB Life asked him to share some of his observations.

What brought you to Mary Hardin-Baylor?

I came here fresh out of graduate school. I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Central Arkansas, then earned my master’s degree in vocal performance at the University of Texas. When I finished graduate school, I worked with a job placement service. I’d never heard of Mary Hardin-Baylor, but it was one of the job openings that they sent to me.

When I came here, it was an all-girls school with just over

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700 students on campus. We had a very small Department of Music, with only six faculty when I arrived. My starting date of employment at Mary Hardin-Baylor was September 7, 1966; I was 23 years old.

My primary area of concentration was vocal performance, opera, and music theater, so I taught voice. I was also given the job of teaching music history, since no one else on the faculty was teaching it then. When Mrs. Glenda Bundick joined the faculty around 1973, she took the music history courses and taught piano and organ, and I started teaching language diction courses and vocal pedagogy.

What was the campus like in those days?

When I came here in 1966, there were only a few buildings clustered around Vann Circle and the Quad.

Ely Pepper Hall sat where Remschel Hall sits now. It was

[

Opposite, Guy Wilson enjoys a coffee break with his students at the Bawcom Student Union. This page, Wilson in 1966, as a newly minted instructor conducting a choral group.

we still have space to expand on property at the back of the campus, which is great.

MATT LESTER

an old frame building that was painted white, and the bookstore was in the basement of that building. Alma Reeves Chapel was gone, but we didn’t have Walton Chapel yet; it was built the next year. The Mabee Student Union Building was built a few years after that.

What areas of the campus have undergone the most change in the last 50 years?

There has been a great deal of change on the front side of campus, toward Main Street, and in back of the original campus, toward Loop 121. At the front, the Clements Center was constructed in 1980, and the Parker Academic Center in 2002. The Paul and Jane Meyer Christian Studies Center was added six years later, in 2008. The back of the campus has also really changed in the last five years with the construction of the Baugh Center for the Visual Arts, the Isabelle Rutherford Meyer Nursing Education Center, Crusader Stadium, and Bawcom Student Union.

There was a big influx of students in the mid-eighties, which made it necessary to add a lot more campus housing.

Remschel Hall was added to the Quad in the early nineties, and McLane Hall was added to house the increasing number of men. Lots of apartments were added at the back of the campus in Independence Village, followed by two big apartment-style complexes, Garner Hall and Farris Hall. And

Do you find the students to be different now than they were when you began?

Today’s students have grown up with iPhones and iPads; many of them are more apt to learn and absorb something and make it a part of them if they see it on a screen. Years ago, that was not the case.

At the same time, the new technology offers exciting teaching aids that we did not have in the past. If I want to play an example of someone who’s a great singer, I can get on the computer and find it on YouTube. Many times I can find not just the piece itself being played or sung but also video footage of the singer singing it. There are some pretty good videos out there of great singers from the past, and the students find them really interesting. You can watch and hear the people who put the Metropolitan Opera on the map, for instance. There is so much available at our fingertips, and my students can find it all on their phones!

I encourage my students to listen to as many good singers as they can find. As an artist, a singer, a student of the game, you listen to sharpen your ears, and you learn to listen with a critical ear. What is it that makes this singer so great as opposed to this one over there who wasn’t quite so good? And how do I get to that point, if I have professional aspirations?

The technology gives them new ways to do this.

You’ve witnessed a lot of history at UMHB. What do you think has been the most significant occurance in the last fifty years?

Unequivocally, it was the decision to go co-educational in 1971. In the late 1960s the school went through a time when there was an emphasis on improving the finances of the college. Enrollment was still fairly small—about 700 students. When we became co-educational, it brought a lot of new students in, both men and women. There was some opposition to the change by some of the alumnae, and that’s understandable. But over time I think it proved to be the right

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thing; it laid the groundwork for the growth we continue to see today.

It definitely changed the face of athletics at Mary HardinBaylor. When I came here, it was only women’s basketball, volleyball, and tennis. There wasn’t much else going on except intramural athletics, and there again, it was all women. Gradually we got the other programs going,— baseball, basketball, soccer. Football was the farthest thing from anyone’s mind—but look at the success we have had there. It has brought tremendous notoriety to the university, and has brought in a lot of students—and not just football players!

In recent years you have been the voice announcing halftime activities at Crusader football games.

When you started teaching here, did you ever think you would find yourself doing that in a football stadium in the middle of the campus?

No! Over the years I’ve produced and directed a lot of music theater and opera productions, but I never dreamed that I’d be in the announcer’s booth up there announcing a football halftime show for the band.

Having a performance hall with a full-sized stage, with fly space and a proscenium for scenery, has

Campus Growth 1966 - 2016

Prior to 1966 1967-76 1977-86 1987-96 1997-06 2007-16

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All four of us are members of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and we take our students to that group’s competitions twice a year.

We compete in Division I and II and III. We compete with Baylor, North Texas, SMU, Oklahoma University, Texas Tech—all of the major state schools.

Since 2000, we’ve had over 20 finalists in different divisions. There are state schools out there who never place students in the finals. It has helped put our Department of Music on the map and particularly our vocal performance program. This spring we took 37 students to the competition, and they competed against more than 350 students from other schools. We had 26 students who were selected as semifinalists, and 18 of them went on to be finalists. It’s a tribute to our students’ hard work and the hard work of the faculty.

RANDY YANDELL

long been a dream of the music faculty. How does it feel to see the construction progressing on the new performing arts center?

It’s going to be great! The first productions I staged at Mary HardinBaylor were on the stage of Walton Chapel, right after it was built. We did the Christmas opera Amal and the Night Visitors and an oratorio called The Nativity According to Saint Luke.

It was a challenge because Walton is such a big space; at that time it seated about 1,200 people. It has a lot of dead air space, and you can’t get much feedback on what your voice is doing out there in the hall.

We then tried doing shows in Presser Hall, on the stage of Hughes Recital Hall. The stage and the hall itself are very small, and there is no fly space, no wing space, no real dressing rooms. As our choir and instrumental programs grew, it became clear that we needed some concert space. It’s very difficult to put a 50-piece wind ensemble on the stage at Presser; in recent years, we have had to put them on the stage at Walton Chapel or, now, in the McLane Great Hall in Bawcom Student Union.

And as our opera and music theater program continued to grow, we began staging the productions over in Temple at the Cultural Arts Center. We have been renting the theater there for our productions since 2004.

Over the last 25 years we have seen tremendous growth in our vocal performance area, in the quality of students and in the number of students. We now have four voice teachers in the department, and the success our students have had in vocal competitions has been phenomenal.

“I hope that

somehow I’ve left an impression upon my students, and that whatever I’ve passed on to them, they’re going to pass on and help someone else.”

What are your plans for the future?

People keep asking me, “When are you going to retire?” I’ve got to stay with it long enough to get a chance to be in that new building and see my students perform in there a little bit.

I guess I’m as proud of what our students have done as what I’ve done! I hope that some of them will accomplish more than I did in my lifetime. I hope that somehow I’ve left an impression upon my students, and that whatever I’ve passed on to them, they’re going to pass on and help someone else along the way. When I see a student with potential and put him or her on the right road to grow and succeed, that makes it all worthwhile.

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Co e d s s h o w of f th e i r n e w c l a s s r i n g s af t e r th e 2016 R i n g Ce r e m o ny.

A LUM N I LIFE ’52

Mildred Dicus Walker was honored by the City of Richmond, Texas, when they declared April 18 “Mildred Walker Day.” A reception was held for her at the city hall. In the month of March, she was honored by the Fort Bend County Museum docents. She was a teacher of history and chaired the sesquicentennial celebration for Richmond. For 18 years, she portrayed early Texas pioneer lady Jane Long for school history groups, classes, civic meetings, museums, and community club organizations in various Texas cities.

Through the years, she has been dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Fort Bend County. She also loves UMHB history and takes great pride in the university and how it changed her life.

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’53

Lynelle Sweat Mason recently authored her fifth book, Where the Rabbits Dance, which was released in March. This is her third released through publishing company Nurturing Faith, a subsidiary of Baptists Today. While her first books concentrated mainly on faith and biblical characters, Where the Rabbits Dance and last year’s Behind Enemy Lines incorporate historical elements and feature her own fictional characters.

Behind Enemy Lines concentrates on the Battle of Chickamauga, exploring, from different points of view, the effect of the American Civil War on Baptists. Where the Rabbits Dance is also historical fiction, and incorporates elements of Cherokee lore. It is appropriate for school children in upper-middle grades and older, as well as adults. Both books can be purchased for $15 on-line at nuturingfaith.net.

’80

Scott Zetak retired in Feb. after 30 years in retail management with Bealls Department Stores.

’91

Mayra Velez was awarded the Temple ISD Champions at Teaching (CAT) Award. The CAT Award is awarded to educators whose classrooms excel in their CBA or other formative test scores. She is a fourth grade bilingual teacher and the technology liaison for Hector P. Garcia Dual Language Academy in Temple.

Sarah Jane Sanders Menefee ‘07, Greg Weghorst ‘03, and Kristin Richardson Zastoupil ‘03 represented UMHB at the Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) Conference in February. Sarah Jane is the Digital Media and Publications Specialist for the Region 12 Education Service Center. Greg is the Communications Coordinator for Lewisville ISD, and Kristin is the Executive Director of the Corsicana Education Foundation, Webmaster for Corsicana ISD, and TSPRA Vice President

Got news?

Alumni Life reports news received January 1, 2016, through April 30, 2016. If you have news to share, submit online at life.umhb.edu or send it to: Alumni Relations, UMHB Box 8427, 900 College Street, Belton, Texas 76513 or alumni@umhb.edu.

To make a memorial gift, please contact Development, UMHB Box 8433, 900 College Street, Belton, Texas 76513.

’03

John Borum is Assistant Vice President for Enrollment at Dallas Baptist University. He and his family have moved to Midlothian from Pittsburg, where he served as Associate Pastor for the past 9 years.

WEDDINGS Erica Jackson ’10, to Brandon Hall, July 24, in Belton. Erica teaches first grade for Belton ISD, and Brandon is the Outside Sales Representative for Elliot Electric Supply in Killeen.

Jordan Cash ’11 to Corrie Calhoun, Aug. 15, 2015 in McKinney.

’10

Shannon Woodruff graduated with his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Southern Methodist University in August. His dissertation, entitled “Macromolecular Design of Well-Defined Epoxide-Containing Materials and Their Post-Polymerization Functionalizations,” was completed under the direction of Dr. Nicolay Tsarevsky.

Shannon is a development chemist with HP Inc. and lives with this wife, Holly Gaskamp Woodruff ’10, in San Diego, CA.

Lauren Marie Pierce ‘11 to Patrick Steven Collins, Oct. 24, in Plantersville.

BIRTHS Erin Bailey Allen ‘00 and her husband, Robert, announce the birth of their daughter, Bailey Noelle, June 18, 2015. She joins big brother Hutson.

Erin is a full-time mom and part-time preschool teacher.

Chris Dowdy ‘01 and his wife, Tessa, announce the birth of their son, Kinsler Mack, May 21, 2016.

Karyn Hurry Watts ‘02 and her husband, Marty, announce the birth of their son Duncan Martin, May 7, 2015. Karyn teaches private piano and Kindermusik through Watts Music LLC., and Marty is minister of music at First Baptist Church in Griffin, GA.

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Bobby ‘04 and Carrie Graves Catt ’03, M.A. ’06 announce the birth of their daughter, Blakely Ember, Oct. 27. She joins seven-year-old Brynlee and five-year-old Brielle. They live in San Angelo, where Bobby has been pastor of students and recreation at First Baptist Church of San Angelo for seven years.

Laura Gilbert Voss ‘04 and her husband, Jason, announce the birth of their son, Easton Hayes, Sept. 5, 2014.

Laura is a pharmaceutical sales representative for AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals in San Antonio, and Jason is an engineer for Team Oil Tools in Seguin.

Brian ‘04 and Jenny Mclain McClure ‘05 announce the birth of their son, Asher Cohen, March 16. He joins siblings Ryan, Quinn, and Lylah. Brian and Jenny have been enjoying their ministry in foster care.

Brittney Dickey Melton ‘06 and her husband, Derik, announce the birth of their daughter, Bailey Jean, Feb. 16. She joins big brother Logan.

Bryan ‘07 and Delana Brewer Davis ‘08 announce the birth of their son, Henry Michael, July 27.

He joins big sister Eva, who is three and a half.

Kristi Smith Holden ‘07 and her husband, Levi, announce the birth of their daughter, Millie River, Feb. 3. She joins two-year-old big brother McCoy Sumner.

Haley Walker Meyer ‘07 and her husband, Chad, announce the birth of their daughter, Haven Brooke, Aug. 18. She joins big sister Hadleigh.

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Kimberly Bailey Valdez ‘07 and her husband, Juan, announce the birth of their son, Ethan Alexander, Feb. 2. He joins big brother Isaac Nathaniel.

William ‘08 and Violet Cottongim Dewease ‘08 announce the birth of their daughter, Hazel, July 10, 2015.

Danny ‘07 and Cherry Thompkins Hill ‘09 announce the birth of their daughter, Celia Marie, Sept. 20. She joins fiveyear-old Levi, three-year-old Kyjah, and two-year-old Caleb.

Kristin Roberts Miller ‘08 and her husband Michael announce the birth of their son, Noah Roberts, May 1. He joins big brothers Cooper and Griffin.

Kyle ‘08 and Kaily Luckett Tubbs ‘09 announce the birth of their son, Emmett, Feb. 8.

Laura Beth Gebhardt Allen ‘09 and her husband announce the birth of their daughter, Paisley Jane, March 23.

She joins big brother Parker Jack.

Luke ‘09 and Lindsey Weaver Beasley ‘10 announce the adoption of their daughter, Khloe, Nov. 20.

Jeff ‘10, MSE‘ 12 and Aleyna Blackketter Derrick ‘09 announce the birth of their son, Liam Chaucer, May 11.

Russell ‘10 and Krista Quinn Dotson ‘08 announce the birth of their daughter, Ava Quinn, Jan. 27.

She joins big brother Elijah.

Briana Van Zandt Hope ‘10 and her husband announce the birth of their son, Christopher “Cullen,” Dec. 29.

Clayton ‘10 and Kat El Guermai McCorkle ‘12 announce the birth of their son, Levi Robert, March 17.

Stephen ‘11 and Chelsea Inderwiesen Clifton ‘11 announce the birth of their son, Carver Andrew, Nov. 12.

Amber Schladoer McLeod ‘11 and her husband, Chris, announce the birth of their sons, Jensen Joshua and Emory Everest, Nov. 22.

Andra Holbrooks Theriot ‘11 and her husband, Ben, announce the birth of their daughter, Audrey Mae, Jan. 14. Andra and Ben were married Nov. 15, 2014.

Elizabeth Barnett Bice ‘13 and her husband, Adam, announce the birth of their son, Aiden Jase, July 24, 2015.

Lindsey Howard Scott ‘14 and her husband, Travis, announce the birth of their daughter, Lexi Jo, Feb. 14.

Desiree Cruz Hernandez ‘15 and her husband, Brett, announce the birth of their daughter, Jesslyn Selene, Oct. 17.

D E AT HS Lucretia Donnell Newman Coke, April 27, in Austin. Lucretia established the Lucretia Ayers Donnell Endowed Scholarship for Deserving Art Students in 1989, in memory of her mother, Lucretia Ayers Donnell, Class of 1912.

Joyce Choate Crow ’32-’33, Mar. 30, in Waco. She was a devoted member of First Baptist Church of Waco for many years, where she taught Sunday school.

Herndon Wilson, May 6, in Bulverde. He was the son of Ginny Herndon Keith ’33, who preceded him in death. Ginny served as a university trustee from 1964 through 1971 and as president of the Alumni Association from 1972 through 1978.

David O. Finnell CB ’39-’40, Mar. 23, in Colleyville. He was a flight instructor at Randolph Field, San Antonio—the West Point of the Air—and remained there through WWII. After the war, he joined the Civil Aeronautics Administration, the forerunner of the Federal Aviation Administration. David began his FAA career

at Carlsbad, New Mexico, and after 17 relocations, rose to be the Facilities Airways Sector Chief for the DFW area until his retirement in 1975.

Billie Huffaker Fleming ’39, Mar. 6, in Abilene. She married Robert Fleming, and in 1946, they moved to Abilene, where they opened The Royal Shop and, later, Fleming Upholstery. Billie served as the bookkeeper for their businesses as well as a decorator. She was a Pink Lady at Hendrick Medical Center for many years and helped wherever needed at First Baptist Church, where she has been a member since 1946. She was also a member of Abilene Women’s Club.

Dr. Anna Beth Connell ’43, April 28, in Lufkin. After graduation, she worked for two years as a chemist for Pure Oil Company, then entered Baylor University College of Medicine in Houston, where she earned her M.D. degree in 1949. After an internship at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, Anna Beth served three years of residency in a US Navy Family Hospital at Coronado, CA. At the end of her naval career in 1953, she entered private practice in Los Angeles. In 1955 she moved her practice to Corrigan, Texas, where she contributed to the health and well-being

of fellow East Texans for more than a quarter of a century. During those years, she served as the first female president of the Angelina County Medical Society and was appointed chief of staff at Memorial Hospital and, later, at Woodland Heights General Hospital. On January 1, 1986, Dr. Connell closed her private practice and joined the staff of the Lufkin State School as medical director of the school’s laboratory. In 1992, Dr. Connell retired from practice and made her home at Pine Crest Retirement Center. She remained a long-time member of Lufkin’s First Baptist Church as well as an active member of the Lufkin community. In 2006, she established the Anna Beth Connell Endowed Scholarship in Nursing for students at UMHB. After a lifetime of “firsts” and recognitions for her service in medicine, she was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Angelina County Chamber of Commerce in 2010.

Euodia Flagg Dickens ’43, Mar. 26, in Jefferson City, MO. Odie worked as a lab technician at Monsanto during WWII and spent many years as a volunteer in her church, community, schools, and local scouting organizations. When her husband died unexpectedly in 1970, she went to work as a public relations specialist for

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the Webster Groves School District and, five years later, for the Clayton School District. In 1977, she moved to Jefferson City, where she served as director of public information and education for Missouri’s Department of Natural Resources and as press secretary for Governor Joseph Teasdale during his re-election campaign.

In 1981, she launched The Dickens Company and led successful issue campaigns for many Missouri fire districts, school districts, cities, and counties, as well as several statewide issues. As a volunteer, she served as chairman of the board of directors for the Rape and Abuse Crisis Service in Jefferson City, where she was instrumental in raising $1 million to fund their shelter for abused women. She received the Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce Civic Award in 1997 and the Zonta Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 in recognition of her extensive community involvement.

Arra White Browning ’45, Feb. 11, in Olympia, WA. After graduation, she taught high school biology and home economics in Crawford. She then became a full time homemaker, wife, and mother.

In 2002, Arra and her husband moved to the Panorama retirement community in Lacey, WA. She served on the Panorama Resident Council and cared deeply for the residents she represented. She was also a major fundraiser and contributor to a fund that enabled the Panorama Foundation to incorporate energy-efficient features in its new auditorium. She was an active member of the United Churches of Olympia, where she and her husband organized a popular Sunday school class on science and religion.

Melba Jo Roberts Willis ’47, April 19, in Bryan. She was a faithful member of First Baptist Church in Plainview for over 66 years. She taught Training Union and First Grade Sunday school there for many years.

Melba Jo worked in the Public Relations and Student Admissions Office at Wayland Baptist University for 23 years before retiring in 1988.

Jean Gray Potts ’49, April 9, in Belton.

She taught in the Camp Hood Schools and Belton ISD, and worked at Cochran, Blair,

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and Potts Department Store, which was established by the Potts family. She was an active member of Belton First United Methodist Church. She and her husband, Roy, were avid supporters of Crusader athletics, particularly basketball; in 2005, the plaza in front of the Mayborn Campus Center was named in their honor in recognition of their support of UMHB. Virginia Hartman Marks ex ’50, March 24, in San Antonio. She had a thriving real estate business in San Antonio, which she shared with her mother and, later, with her husband.

Martha Grant Moore ’52-’54, April 21, in Hurst. For many years she served as a church pianist and organist, as well as a piano teacher.

Donald A. Peek, Nov. 9, in Hesston, KS. He was the husband of JoAnna Crouch Peek ’53.

Stanley D. Stamps, April 10, in Hillsboro.

He was the husband of Glenna Morgan Stamps ’53.

Billy Sewell, Nov. 4, in Hillsboro. He was the husband of Barbara Berry Sewell ’54 and the father of Stanley Sewell ’87.

Annie Bingham Williams ’54-’55, Feb. 8, in Harlingen. She was a clerk for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, DC. She also worked briefly as a Census gatherer and teacher aide. She enjoyed memberships in both Baptist and First Christian Churches during her lifetime.

Lou Provence Laine ’55, April 13, in Plainview. She began her teaching career in Chicago before returning to Texas. She taught in Fort Worth, Arlington, Waco, and Carlsbad, NM. She accepted an assignment in Karlsrue, Germany, with the Department of Defense, where she met her future husband. She returned to the states after two years and married Major Laine in 1965. They retired in 1984, bought their first motorhome, and became fulltime RVers. After Major Laine died in 1989, Lou traveled by herself across the United States for the next 22 years.

Rose Marie Engle ’60, March 13, in Temple. She taught at Fowler Elementary School in Killeen. She was a member of Oak Park United Methodist Church, the Spade and Shovel Club, City Federation of Women’s Club, and the Retired Teachers Association.

Rose volunteered for Churches Touching Lives for Christ.

William J. Zeidlik, Feb. 15, in Boulder, CO. He was the husband of Barbara Spencer Zeidlik ’62.

Yvonne Shen Li ’66, Jan. 10, in Livingston, NJ. After graduating, she completed her master’s degree in biochemistry at Iowa State University. Yvonne worked for nearly 10 years in the pharmaceutical industry, and she then attended medical school at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay in Manila, Philippines. She returned to NJ to complete her internal medicine residency at St. Barnabas and oncology fellowship at Newark Beth Israel. Over the years, she had thriving practices in South Orange, Millburn, and Livingston. Yvonne’s husband, James, was named an Honorary Alumnus in 2003.

In 2004, James and Yvonne made a gift to UMHB to support construction of the tennis center at the SportsPlex, which was named for Yvonne in recognition of her lifetime of dedication to the health and wellness of her patients. Yvonne was the sister of Marlene Ming-Lee Seng ’69.

Larry Willcoxon, Nov. 17, in Fort Worth. He taught piano and organ at UMHB in 19651966. He was the husband of Charlene Jackson Willcoxon ’66.

Barbara Smith Reagan ex ’67, April 21, in Franklin. She was a teacher at a Christian academy and also worked for Navasota Valley Electric Coop.

Betty Brooks ’68, Jan. 12, in Clifton.

Mary Cartwright Giamona ’69, April 25, in San Antonio. She retired from San Antonio ISD after teaching elementary school art for over twenty years.

B.R. Foster, Feb. 1, in Quanah. He was the father of Janis Foster Singletary ’71 and Kathi Foster Beimer ’74 and her husband Mike Beimer ’73, and the grandfather of Jennifer Singletary ’11.

Ministry offers spiritual support for military women

Kori Whatley Yates '94 understands the stresses faced by women in the military and women married to men in the military, because she has had experience in both roles. She knows that the military life brings with it multiple moves, frequent deployments, and careers that are often disrupted or postponed. Recognizing that all of these factors can lead to feelings of despair or isolation, Kori joined with friends to found an unusual ministry to help women cope with the stresses of military life.

After graduating from UMHB in 1994, Kori continued her education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, with an eye toward involvement in some form of ministry.

Unexpected changes in her life led her to a different path, and she joined the Marine Corps. Over the last 12 years, she and her family have lived in Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Kansas, Hawaii, and Maryland (with two separate stints in Kansas). This summer, she

and her husband, Major Kyle Yates, moved with their two children, Charley and Evon, to Germany, where Kyle is serving with the U.S. Army.

“Frequent moves like these are common in the military, and you often hear women say, ‘Why put down roots, when you’re just going to move again?’” says Kori. “A couple of years ago, a group of us were talking about how this can make you feel like your life has no purpose. One woman said,

‘When you recognize that God has planted you wherever you are, it gives you a different perspective.’”

The eleven women decided there needed to be a way for military women to connect with others, talk about their problems, and find answers through study of the Bible.

The group began planning the

organization in January 2014, and the program was launched in October 2014. They named the ministry Planting Roots. “We like to say we want women in plant their “roots” in the Savior instead of the dirt where they are,” Kori says.

Today Kori is the director of the ministry. She works from Germany with a staff of 27 women who live all over the U.S., using Skype, email, and conference calls to make plans and update each other on activities. The organization manages the website www.plantingroots.net, which offers online Bible studies, a blog and social feeds to build community. The group also offers live Strength2Thrive conferences, which provide days of connection, encouragement, and biblical teaching for military women.

“I don’t think God wants us to work in isolation,” says Kori. “This is our way of joining hands, to help each other do the things God has called us to do, no matter where we are.”

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Sybil Knight Landis ’72, Sept. 28, in Temple.

Jenise Jones Lively ex ’73, March 30, in Henrico, VA. Mary Alice Coffee Zeman ’74, March 24.

She attended UMHB for a short time before moving with her mother to Washington State, where she met and married her husband, Bob Zeman. Soon after, they moved to Chicago. They had three children before moving to Groesbeck in 1968. Mary was a stay-at-home mother until 1971, when she began working at Groesbeck Middle School as a teacher’s aide. Determined to become a certified teacher, she returned to UMHB and graduated with the class of 1974. Then she began teaching English at Groesbeck Middle School. Her teaching career spanned 38 years. She was a member of the National Society of the American Revolution, and the First United Methodist Church.

Estelle Slater HA ’78, May 8, in Dallas.

Early in her career, she taught public school and was a consultant for the Student Department of the Baptist Sunday School Board in Nashville, TN, traveling to colleges and universities nationwide. For 14 years, she served as Dean of Women and Interim Alumni Director at UMHB. Brenda Seniours ’79, Nov. 9, in Clarksville, TN. She retired from Clarksville Montgomery County School System in 2010, and was a member of Walnut Grove Missionary Baptist Church.

Judy Ellen Shiplett ’84, March 31, in Bartlett. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Bartlett, where she taught Sunday school, acted as a sponsor to many children during Church Camp, and was the church clerk for several years.

Eileen Gray Reilly ’85, Feb. 12, in St. Johns, FL. She was a registered nurse who practiced in Charlotte, NC, Homestead, FL, Dallas, Okinawa, Japan, Temple, Arlington,

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and Jacksonville, FL. She was considered a consummate professional, skilled in a broad spectrum of technical specialities.

Daryl Entrop ’93, March 10, in Temple.

Judy Robison Powers ’00, April 29, in Louisville. She was a special education teacher.

Clarissa Campos ’02, May 3, in Round Rock. She was employed by the Housing Authority of the City of Austin for over 10 years as a compliance coordinator/auditor.

She was a member of the Round Rock Ballet Folklorico for several years and Round Rock Sertoma Softball League for over 11 years. Clarissa participated in the National Hispanic Institute’s Yung Leaders Council and the Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session. She was a founding member of the Round Rock High School LULAC Youth, vice president of the Round Rock LULAC Adult Council, and vice president of the Amistad Women’s Organization. She was a graduate of the Hispanic Austin Leadership Program sponsored by the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Affairs as a Certified Gastrointestinal Associate and retired with 36 years of service. He was a volunteer for Inkster Weed and Seed Program. A Steward in 1985 for the A.F.G.E. Local 933, 2nd vice president of the Black Alumni in 2009, and a member of Temple Bible Church.

Raymond Kite, March 5, in Salado. He served as UMHB’s manager of Audio-Visual Services and retired in 2007.

Dr. Dorothy McConnell, former faculty, Feb. 6, in Temple. She was a professor at UMHB for 10 years before retiring in 1975 as dean of students.

ME MO R IALS Mary L. Adams Messer, Potts & Messer, Attorneys Robert (Robby) Allison Anne Wiese Halbert

Chad Crawford ’04, Jan. 22, in Austin.

He served as Student Body President his senior year at UMHB. In 2007, he received his Master of Divinity degree from Wake Forest University in WinstonSalem, NC. During the commencement ceremony, he received The Greek Award, which is awarded to the student who shows excellence in ancient languages and translation. Chad was ordained as a minister at Knollwood Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC, and later served as a youth pastor at Woodland Baptist Church in San Antonio. He went on to work for the non-profit organization, Interfaith Power and Light in San Francisco, CA. In addition to his academic accomplishments, his proudest moment came after hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2007.

Doreen Margaret Berry Mary Adams Thurlow

Catherine Grace Best, Feb. 19, in Nacogdoches. She was the daughter of Jennifer Brady Bess ’05.

Thomas W. Burnstad James & Anna Burnstad Lee

Cecil B. Gibson ex, Jan. 5, in Temple.

He moved to Inkster, MI in 1983, where he worked for the Department of Veteran

Tony Brinegar Dr. & Mrs. Jerry G. Bawcom Hugh Delle Broadway Riley & Carolyn Allison Owens Dr. B. Joe and Johnnie Broadway Marietta Parker Johnnie Broadway Kent Owens Dr. Kerry & Kathy Owens Riley & Carolyn Allison Owens Jane Bugg Marietta Parker

Beth Childress Minnie Abrego Sanchez

DALLAS / FORT WORTH

HOUSTON

DFW Networking Lunch | July 29 Cost: $17

Houston Networking Lunch | August 5 Cost: $15

Join us at The Porch on Henderson in Dallas to network with other area alumni over lunch from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.!

Night at The Ball Park | July 29 Cost: $20

Come cheer on the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park as they take on the Kansas City Royals!

Dallas Zoo | July 30 Cost: $7-$10

Join us at Paper Co on Elder Street from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. to network with other area alumni over lunch!

Night at The Ball Park | August 5 Cost: $44

Come cheer on the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park as they take on the Texas Rangers!

Houston Zoo | August 6

Join us for an adventure at the Dallas Zoo on July 30 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.!

Join us as we “talk to the animals� on an August 6 outing to the zoo!

To make reservations and purchase tickets, go to

alumni.umhb.edu/events or call 254-295-4599

Wanda Cooksey Kent Owens Dr. Kerry & Kathy Owens Riley & Carolyn Allison Owens

Thomas Delroy Johnson Dr. & Mrs. Jerry G. Bawcom Dr. & Mrs. Randy O’Rear Tommy Kaye Mark & Betty O’Hair Anderson Kenneth & Velva Schrader Riddle

Don Cox Joan Burton Cox Kenneth Crane Tony, Melinda & Emily Pool

Edna Louise Provence Laine Betty Brackett Donna Campbell Jeannine Greene Elizabeth Lawson Dr. Rebecca O’Banion

Jerry & Peggy Williams

Dr. Shirley Mackie Mary Adams Thurlow

Chad Crawford David Griffin Phil Dalton Kay Anderson Phil Dunham Autumn Gebhart

Bonnie Scarborough Malcik Anne Wiese Halbert

Everett Minh Duong Dr. & Mrs. Jerry G. Bawcom Dr. Rebecca O’Banion Dr. & Mrs. Randy O’Rear

Dr. Dorothy McConnell Dr. Grace Labaj Marietta Parker Drs. Robert & Grace Richardson Whitis

Billie Huffaker Fleming Charles & Gayla Vardeman Corley Helen Edna Fulton Denise Karimkhani

Joyce M. Mischtian Messer, Potts & Messer, Attorneys

Robert and Geraldine Glass Glenn & Brenda Glass Hagler

Glenn Mitchell Dr. & Mrs. Stephen Walker

Edith Grossman Kent Owens Dr. Kerry & Kathy Owens Riley & Carolyn Allison Owens

June Chapman Moody Nan Webb Pryor

Dr. William H. Harding Dr. & Mrs. Jerry G. Bawcom Dr. & Mrs. Randy O’Rear Dr. J.A. & Pat Reynolds UMHB Catholic Student Group

Caleb Morgan Katherine Stutts Kinard Yuri Tanamachi Nakayama

Donna Anderson Dr. & Mrs. Jerry G. Bawcom Charles & Ann Bussey Joan Burton Cox Wayne & Paula Finney Otto & Patricia Furuta Randy & Teresa Hillson Cindy Langham Edwin Mabry Sandra Tanamachi & Bruce Nakata

Ray Haywood Dr. & Mrs. Jerry G. Bawcom A.C. Hervey Dr. & Mrs. Jerry G. Bawcom Andrea Bigham Huffman Marilyn Haak-Roach

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UMHB LIFE | S U M M E R

John and Alice Minten Dorothy Minten Esther Minten Janie Minten

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Kyoko Nakayama Dr. Rebecca O’Banion Dr. & Mrs. Randy O’Rear Diana Tanamachi Parr Claudia Rosenthal

Diana Severance James & Bettie Sewell Sheridan Production Company Inge & Willie Tanamachi

Kikuko Tanamachi Yuriko & Becky Tanamachi Ticket to Heaven Bible Study Class,

Second Baptist Church of Houston

Coach Corky Nelson W.P. & Mary VanPelt Rob Owens Mark & Betty O’Hair Anderson Dorotha Jean Gray Potts Dr. & Mrs. Jerry G. Bawcom Joan Burton Cox Patsy Dahnke Dillon R. Griff & Kathy Lord Dr. & Mrs. Randy O’Rear Joe & Mary Nell Pirtle The TNT Group Drs. Robert & Grace Richardson Whitis Dr. & Mrs. Larry Woodward Sam Smith Dr. & Mrs. Jerry G. Bawcom Dr. & Mrs. Randy O’Rear Marietta Parker Johnny Robert Tomlin Kent Owens Kerry & Kathy Owens Riley & Carolyn Allison Owens J. Platt Turner, Jr Dr. & Mrs. Jerry G. Bawcom

Michael Crossley Maria Johnson Dr. & Mrs. Randy O’Rear

Caroline Valdivia Mary Adams Thurlow Jackie Campbell Way Clifford Way Janie Minten Mary Adams Thurlow

Glen Roy Widmer Kay Anderson Dr. & Mrs. Jerry G. Bawcom Dr. & Mrs. Randy O’Rear Herndon Wilson

Kay Anderson Dr. J.A. & Pat Reynolds

Doris Watters Wood Mary Jane Wood Susan Stansbury Young Dr. & Mrs. Jerry G. Bawcom Dr. Kerry & Kathy Owens Riley & Carolyn Allison Owens

IN HO NO R Lauren Allen Dr. Rebecca O’Banion Betty O’Hair Anderson Dr. & Mrs. Jerry G. Bawcom

Wes Bailey Virginia Feaster

Steven Barksdale

Dawson Barksdale

Elijah Richard Bucher Daniel & Danisha Akins Bucher

Clinton Barrineau Virginia Feaster

Class of 1957 Elreeta Crain Weathers

Dr. Darrell Becker Zachary Kline

Class of 1964 Dr. & Mrs. G. Jerry Bawcom Kenneth & Velva Schrader Riddle

Betty Sue Craven Beebe Kay Anderson Eugene & Sondra Attaway Cook Charles & Gayla Vardeman Corley Dina Anguiano Granado Dorothy Minten Esther Minten Janie Minten Susan Kolodziejczyk Nelda Cook Perry Riley & Carolyn Allison Owens Caroline West Mason & Janie Tate Wheeler Mary Winn

Dr. & Mrs. Larry Woodward Alonzo & Beverly Ward Wood

Class of 1981 Donna Graham Lee Lisa Clement Glenna Roscoe Pearce Gloria Eakin Combs Ashley Barnes London Dr. Tom Henderson Julia Amason Walker

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Dorothy Jean “DJ” Reinhard Hogwood Keith & Pamela Wilson

Gloria Ray Moore Eula Woodyard McKown Dorothy Brunson Nash Don & Carolyn Brunson Vardeman

Rebecca and Norman Northen Rev. Robert & Sandra Sanders Mattson

Delma Garner Jacks Melanie Jacks Hilburn Deborah Jones Dean & Beth Winkler

Dr. Rebecca O’Banion Margie Crouch Wright

Dr. E. Leroy Kemp Dr. & Mrs. Jerry G. Bawcom

Aaron Ochoa Edna Ramirez

Audrey McCambridge Dorothy Brunson Nash

Dr. Linda Hood Pehl

Sara Sprecher

Ben and Sharon McGee Julia Amason Walker

Dr. Bob Rose Zachary Kline

Dr. Danny McLallen Ann O’Quinn Powell

Janis Dillard McMullen Margaret Dillard Behrens

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UMHB LIFE | S U M M E R

Courtney Schiller Mark & Betty O’Hair Anderson

Larry and Sandy Shipp Mark & Betty O’Hair Anderson Marietta Parker Janis Foster Singletary Rev. Robert & Sandra Sanders Mattson Dr. Brandon Skaggs Mark & Betty O’Hair Anderson Dr. Rebecca O’Banion Dr. Brandon and Sara McCain Skaggs Rev. Robert & Sandra Sanders Mattson Dr. Carole F. Smith Linda C. Owens Dr. C. Edward Spann Julia AmasonWalker Chris Stroup Virginia Feaster Dr. Marlene Mixon Zipperlen Zachary Kline

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New matching grant offers an exciting opportunity to double your impact when you give to the project.

For more information on ways to contribute, call the Office of Development at 254-295-4601 or email tcrothers@umhb.edu.

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor UMHB Box 8409 900 College Street Belton, Texas 76513

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900 College Street • Belton, Texas 76513

H O U S T O N

Electronic Service Requested

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B E L T O N

B E LT O N Thursday, July 28, 2016 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

The Quad at UMHB

DFW Saturday, July 30, 2016 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Lakepointe Church 701 E Interstate 30 in Rockwall

HOUSTON Saturday, August 6, 2016 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Kingsland Baptist Church 20555 Kingsland Blvd in Katy