Link Magazine - Fall 2021

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Gearing up for victory Student-athletes equipped for success in sports, academics and life after graduation

In This Issue

LINK

G R E E T I N G S F R O M D R . CO RY H I N E S ’ 97, HPU PRESIDENT

2 Campus News 8 Alumni Association Spotlight: Dr. Jason A. Davis ’00

Howard Payne University is off to a stellar start to this new academic year. We are celebrating a larger class of new students than last year, as well as continued improvements on campus – including renovations to the Newbury Place Apartments; upgrades to Newman Hall, the Lynn and Mary Scott Nabers Tennis Center and the Elliston-Cassle Wellness Center; and the ongoing construction of the Newbury Family Welcome Center.

10 Howard Payne University Artifacts: Campus mail envelopes, 1980s-2000s 12 What I love about HPU:

By Amaya Marshall, HPU senior 14 Sharing notes: Creative collaboration in HPU’s Jazz Band enriches Chase Pittman’s overall college experience

Along with the numerous improvements to our campus, our university has also taken the step of establishing a new visual identity to represent HPU in a fresh way.

In conjunction with this new branding initiative, our Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has reached a deal with Nike and BSN Sports that will help ensure we are providing our student-athletes with the best experience possible. In the cover story, you can read how these student-athletes, who play a vital role in representing our university and establishing a positive culture, are being encouraged and equipped to impact our world.

These stories are representative of what HPU has been, what it is and what we are working together to make it.

We believe this university’s mission is an important piece of what the Lord is doing in the world.

As such, I call on you to be a part of what God is doing here – whether through prayer, financial support or speaking a good word about HPU to a prospective student. Through our combined work, I know the Lord will continue to do great things at HPU. Blessings to each of you,

Cory Hines, Ph.D. President

DR. HINES PHOTO BY HEATHER NIX; LIBRARY PHOTO BY REBEKAH STERLING ’18

This issue of the Link contains many other stories of what has been happening here on our campus as well as HPU’s reverberating impact elsewhere. Articles about students, alumni and university personnel bring me great pride in their accomplishments, in addition to serving as powerful reminders of why what happens here matters.

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16 Looking forward and looking up: How Daniela Puente ’21 learned to trust God with her future

38 Created for more: John ’00 and Amy ’00 Gayhart devote their lives to raising awareness for special-needs adults

0 Guiding good nurses: Dr. Nina Ouimette 2 shares her calling to lead HPU’s School of Nursing

0 Pastor/teacher at heart: Dr. Frankie Rainey 4 takes pastoral approach to leading, serving students

22 Cover story – Gearing up for victory: Student-athletes equipped for success in sports, academics and life after graduation

42 In Memoriam

28 Christ-centered service with a smile: HPU alumni couple opens new Chick-fil-A in Brownwood

Back cover: Student Perspective: Haleigh Clevenger

32 Passion and purpose: Darren McElroy ’11 seeks to represent Christ on and off the stage 36 Right on time: Johnny Cravey’s journey to HPU

44 Alma Mater

Inside back cover: Stay connected with HPU

The Link is published by the Office of University Marketing and Communications at Howard Payne University Articles may be reprinted with permission Correspondence: link@hputx.edu or The Link Office of University Marketing and Communications Howard Payne University 1000 Fisk Street Brownwood, Texas 76801 325-649-8009

Office of University Marketing and Communications: Kyle Mize Assistant Vice President for Communications Jarvis Green Graphic Designer and Chief Photographer Rebekah Sterling ’18 Communications Assistant and Social Media Coordinator Seth Rainey ’19 Communications Writer and Website Coordinator Coby Sauce, MBA ’14 Part-Time Communications Specialist Design and layout

by Kyle Mize, Jarvis Green and Seth Rainey

Campus News New semester begins at HPU HPU welcomed students back to campus in mid-August. The university celebrated a larger class of new students than in the fall of 2020 and opened campus facilities to students following numerous improvement projects.

Students pictured here embrace in Newman Hall on the first day of class.

PHOTO BY JARVIS GREEN

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HPU’s new logo features the Wilson Gate.

Howard Payne University recently introduced a new design for the institution’s logo, an updated version of the HPU yellow jacket mascot and a new logo for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. The graphics resulted from a comprehensive effort to develop a fresh, cohesive visual identity system for the university as outlined in HPU’s strategic planning.

The new artwork was developed over the course of the spring 2021 semester, with feedback gathered through extensive focus group sessions from May through July. The final versions were presented to the HPU community at the start of the fall semester.

The designs were created by Jarvis Green, graphic designer and chief photographer, and Kyle Mize, assistant vice president for communications, in HPU’s Office of University Marketing and Communications. Mize said the timing of the project and the overall look of the designs reflect the vitality and excitement prevalent on campus.

“HPU’s new graphics were designed to honor our university’s traditions while representing the bright spirit and personality of our institution today,” he said. “This approach is very much in harmony with the sense of energy and optimism that exists at HPU.” HPU’s main logo utilizes a combination of fresh typefaces while featuring a design representing the Wilson Gate, a prominent architectural feature located at the front of the

A stylized yellow jacket in flight is the centerpiece of a new logo for HPU’s athletics programs.

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campus. The gate, dedicated in 2001 and named for the late Dr. Walter C. “Dub” Wilson ’65 and his wife, Mrs. Debra Wilson, is the site of Chime In and Chime Out, two important ceremonies in the life of the university. At Chime In, held at the beginning of each fall semester, a procession of new students files through the gate into campus, symbolizing their entrance into the HPU community. At Chime Out, held the evening before Commencement, graduating seniors exit through the gate, recognizing their departure from the university to make a positive impact on the world as HPU graduates.

“The transformational growth that happens in each student’s life between those two trips through the Wilson Gate is the whole reason Howard Payne University exists,” Mize explained. “We’ve made the student experience central to our university’s main logo as a symbol of our institutional priorities.”

HPU’s main logo will replace the rectangular HPU nameplate that was in use since the 1990s.

The artwork for Buzzsaw, the official yellow jacket mascot, was originally designed in 1996. Stronger, more streamlined features and modified color placement provide a fresh look for the character while still retaining the recognizable identity developed through his 25 years of repBuzzsaw, HPU’s yellow resenting school spirit.

For HPU’s Department jacket mascot since 1996, of Intercollegiate Athletics, now has an updated look. italicized lettering and a new, stylized yellow jacket icon in flight provide an energetic, action-oriented visual for the university’s sports programs. Components of the design will be utilized across the spectrum of apparel, equipment, facilities and other promotional materials specifically related to HPU athletics.

HPU’s new graphics, which use the university’s traditional navy blue and gold colors, are now officially in use and will be featured increasingly throughout the 2021-2022 academic year as campus signage and various other items are produced. An updated style guide with details on the usage of the graphics is being developed by the Office of University Marketing and Communications.

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HPU unveils new logo and related graphics as part of branding initiative

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African American Chapter of the HPU Alumni Association honors the late Theresa Hall-Hosey ’73

By Seth Rainey ’19

Pictured at the Theresa Hall-Hosey bench dedication ceremony are Otis Fields, L.J. Clayton ’76, Robert Rockwell ’79, Timothy Whetstone ’85, Gladys Murray ’80, Dr. Cory Hines ’97, Gary Hopkins ’81, Robert Morrison ’82, Wilbert Rogers ’75 and Lori Clayton ’76.

Choir. She also served as a committee member of the Calhoun County Library Board. Hall-Hosey passed in 1989, leaving a legacy of love and care for those around her.

“We’re so glad to honor Theresa Hall-Hosey,” said Dr. Hines. “The positive impact of her life is an excellent example of what HPU alumni can offer our world.”

Following the ceremony, the organization held a reunion at HPU’s Doakie Day Art Center. The organization also elected new officers: Timothy Whetstone ’85 as president, Charles Marshall ’75 as president-elect, Melody Rockwell as secretary and Gladys Murray ’80 as treasurer.

Construction of HPU’s welcome center underway

Construction of the Newbury Family Welcome Center is projected to finish in spring 2022. Contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 325-649-8006 or development@hputx.edu to learn about opportunities to support the project.

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DEDICATION PHOTO BY DR. KALIE LOWRIE ’06; WELCOME CENTER PHOTO BY SETH RAINEY ’19

The African American Chapter of the Howard Payne University Alumni Association recently honored the late Theresa Hall-Hosey, a 1973 HPU graduate, during the organization’s 35th reunion. As part of the recognition, a new bench located in front of Veda Hodge Hall, HPU’s women’s residence facility, was fitted with a plaque in memory of Hall-Hosey.

The dedication ceremony was attended by chapter members; family of Hall-Hosey; friends of the university; Dr. Cory Hines ’97, HPU president; and HPU personnel. Robert Rockwell ’79, chapter president, said that Hall-Hosey was an important member of the organization in its early days.

“Theresa Hall-Hosey was one of the first people to help start our reunion and we wanted to recognize her for her contribution,” said Rockwell. “It was an honor to have her name placed at Howard Payne to be memorialized. A special thank-you goes to Dr. Hines for allowing this to take place and being so supportive.”

Hall-Hosey graduated with a degree in physical education. Following her graduation, she taught high school health and physical education in San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Sealy. She met and married Ernest I. Hosey and the couple went on to live and work in Victoria.

Wherever she went, Hall-Hosey was active in her community and HPU organizations. She served as financial secretary of the HPU Junior Mission Society and Reunion

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HPU alumnus to complete Air Force flight training

Kevin Domingue ’15 will continue piloting the A-10 Thunderbolt II following his graduation from the U.S. Air Force’s B-Course flight training.

By Seth Rainey ’19

PHOTO COURTESY OF KEVIN DOMINGUE ’15

Kevin Domingue of Lake Dallas, a 2015 graduate of Howard Payne University, is prepared to complete B-Course and become a mission-qualified A-10 pilot in the United States Air Force. His graduation will mark the culmination of nearly three years of training.

In the course of his training, Domingue says many moments and people have helped solidify his understanding of the significance of being a military pilot.

“There have been many experiences that have been awesome and unforgettable,” he said, recalling notable events including cloud surfing early on in flight school, flying his first formation solo in the T-6 and the culmination of undergraduate pilot training: learning what aircraft he would be assigned to fly.

“Alongside the experiences are the people,” he said.

“Every day, I get to work with the most driven and highly motivated group of people I’ve ever been around. That makes the long days and stress of the job a bit more bearable.”

While at HPU, Domingue was a member of the Yellow Jacket football team, served as president of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was active in other organizations and roles on campus. After graduating, he taught high school math and coached football and soccer at Mineral Wells and H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

Eaton High Schools for three years prior to commissioning in the Air Force. He says his passions and direction were influenced by his time at HPU. “In my opinion, athletics is one of the most valuable learning experiences a young person can have,” he said. “There’s no better place to learn teamwork, resilience, persistence and attention to detail. My passion for athletics is what drove my decision to become a teacher and coach for three years prior to the Air Force. Football is the reason I came to HPU in the first place – little did I realize then how HPU would become much more than just a place to play football to me.”

Domingue has received multiple awards while in training, including the Air Education and Training Command Commander’s Trophy, the Leadership Award, Distinguished Graduate and the Flying Training Award.

He emphasized that becoming and serving as a pilot carries a great deal of responsibility. Through his faith in Christ, he says he has been better able to appreciate successes and respond to the demands of his career.

“My relationship with Christ is essential to keeping things prioritized in life,” he said. “As with any demanding career, it’s easy to get wrapped up in work and what comes along with the job. I’ve had to be diligent in remembering that Christ and service to Him come before all else and define me more than any other title.”

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HPU creates new and strengthens existing partnerships in community and higher education

By Seth Rainey ’19

During the 2020-2021 academic year, HPU made significant strides and continued existing efforts that have strengthened its impact in the community and bolstered the academic experience offered to its students.

Partnerships with Texas State Technical College (TSTC) and Tarleton State University (TSU) were recently formed to provide expanded academic opportunities. The collaboration with TSTC will facilitate the transfer of credit from TSTC to HPU for admissions eligibility for the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree, while HPU students will be able to pursue certain areas of study with TSTC. HPU’s agreement with TSU will streamline opportunities for biology, chemistry and engineering science graduates to pursue graduate work at the latter institution.

HPU also hosts students as part of the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Brownwood

HPU alumnus receives Texas Baptists Legacy Award

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Visit the HPU campus Do you know a prospective student interested in attending HPU? Are you an alum wanting to revisit campus and see what’s new? We’d like to host you for a campus visit!

Prospective HPU students can contact HPU’s Office of Admissions to schedule a visit by calling 325-649-8020, texting 325-400-3459 or completing a simple form at www.hputx.edu/visit.

Visiting alumni should contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@hputx.edu or 325-649-8007.

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AWARD PHOTO COURTESY OF DR. CHRIS LIEBRUM ’73; CAMPUS PHOTO BY REBEKAH STERLING ’18

Dr. Richard A. Jackson ’60 was presented the 2021 Legacy Award by Texas Baptists on June 6 at the historic Old Independence Baptist Church. Dr. Jackson pastored North Phoenix Baptist Church in Phoenix, Arizona, for 25 years. During that era, the church’s congregation experienced massive growth, increasing from 500 to 22,000 members. In Texas, he has pastored in Bangs, May, Bluff Dale, Cleburne and Sulphur Springs. He continues to serve in local churches as an interim pastor and through the Jackson Center for Evangelism and Encouragement.

Pictured from left are Mrs. Cindy Liebrum ’72; Dr. Chris Liebrum ’73, vice president for external affairs at HPU; Dr. Jackson; and Mrs. Wanda Jackson.

program. The annual program began in the mid-’80s to educate, develop and empower current and future leaders in the community. The university has also continued to host Community Leadership Lunch and Learn events.

Recently, in recognition of its vital role in the community, HPU was named “Community Partner of the Year” by the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce. The university also plays a major role in the local economy, generating more than $38 million of economic impact according to a 2018 Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas report.

HPU’s involvement extends beyond the university level.

HPU personnel serve on the Boards of Directors for numerous community organizations, including the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce, Early Chamber of Commerce, Good Samaritan Ministries, United Way, Arts Council of Brownwood, Brown County Home Solutions and the Heart of Texas Christian Women’s Job Corps.

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HPU El Paso Center Highlights

By Dr. Adrian Gil, assistant vice president for the El Paso Center In this, the 30th anniversary year of our founding, the HPU El Paso Center, established in 1991, would like to recognize and acknowledge its special relationship with First Baptist Church (FBC) of El Paso. FBC El Paso has leased space to the center since 2013. Former senior pastor Dr. David Lowrie, current senior pastor Dr. Mark Rotramel and their staffs have been great partners, helping our students, faculty, staff and friends foster our campus growth. The church has been attentive to our needs and open to our suggestions throughout the course of our partnership. Thank you, First Baptist Church of El Paso.

The HPU El Paso Center Graduate Recognition Ceremony was celebrated on Saturday, May 15. The message to graduates was provided by HPU President Dr. Cory Hines ’97. Graduates included Ricardo Rodriguez, Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Criminal Justice; Natalia Sarmiento, Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Business Administration; and Bernadette Rowlison, Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Christian Studies. Thank you to HPU First Lady Melinda Hines for attending the beautiful ceremony.

In May, HPU mourned the passing of Bertha Rey Valle ’09, who faithfully served the El Paso Center for 25 years. She held the positions of administrative assistant and financial aid coordinator; however, there were times throughout her tenure that, as the sole employee of the

Bertha Valle ’09, administrative assistant and financial aid coordinator for the El Paso Center, passed away in May. She served at the center for 25 years.

El Paso Center, she bore many additional responsibilities. We are grateful for her dedication and service. As a servant leader, she prayed with, guided and encouraged many students. She knew every single graduate, from the first in 1996 through those from this past spring and summer. She will be missed, but her life’s work and passion for helping others will always be remembered. God bless you, Bertha!

HPU New Braunfels Center Highlights

By Whitney Hooper ’11, assistant vice president for the New Braunfels Center BERTHA VALLE ’09 PHOTO FROM HPU PERSONNEL RECORDS

Following a long year of uncertainty and pivots, HPU New Braunfels has hit its stride. As mentioned in the spring edition, HPU NB found creative ways to leverage obstacles and create new pathways to drive the HPU mission forward.

Beyond new scholarships, HPU NB has been working diligently to re-engage community support through local outreach efforts and partnerships, including hosting a homeschool speech and debate event on campus and launching a new scholarship fund to help provide resources to under-resourced students in the area. The Big Give S.A. on September 23 was the H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

primary focus for raising those funds. The HPU NB Advisory Council has also extended its reach with the addition of a new Public Relations and Development Committee to help drive engagement and awareness of HPU in New Braunfels.

HPU NB will be partnering with New Braunfels Christian Academy and New Braunfels ISD in October to provide financial aid seminars as a service to our local community.

HPU NB graduated 14 students in the 2020-2021 academic year, bringing its alumni total just short of 100!

Additionally, HPU NB experienced great new undergraduate growth this fall, bringing in one of the largest new undergraduate classes at the center since its launch in 2013.

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Alumni Association Spotlight Dr. Jason A. Davis ’00 fulfills passion of serving others through orthopedics

By Dr. Kalie Lowrie ’06

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PHOTO AT LEFT COURTESY OF DR. JASON A. DAVIS ’00

U.S. Army Veteran Dr. Jason A. Davis ’00 finds joy as an orthopedic surgeon by providing help to those in pain and paving a way to improve their quality of life.

“It’s extraordinarily rewarding to serve them in that way,” Dr. Davis said.

“It’s a job, but also a ministry – to be an ambassador for the Kingdom – when I am engaging people from all walks of life. It is not always just helping heal physical ailments, but also being a light on a hill for some people. It is so satisfying to be able to solve that patient’s problem and hear, ‘You gave me my life back.’”

As one of seven siblings and the first in his family to pursue a four-year degree, Dr. Davis paved his own way to college, though he was not sure of what career path the Lord had in store for him.

When he entered Howard Payne University as a freshman, he debated between a future in ministry or medicine. Once he took his basic biology courses, Dr. Davis knew medicine was the direction he wanted to go.

When it came time to apply for medical school, Dr. Davis was unsure of how to prepare for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). He was devastated by his first score but he persevered and tracked down resources to help improve his score the second time. His outstanding GPA aided in his application to medical school and he was accepted into the University of Texas at Houston. He also was accepted into the U.S. Army’s Health Professions Scholarship Program, which provided a scholarship to pay for medical

school in exchange for service in the military following his completion of training.

While at HPU, Dr. Davis met his future wife, Heather McAfee ’00. The two were married after graduation in the summer of 2000 and made their home in Houston.

The new bride worked to provide for the young couple while pursuing a master’s degree in social work.

After medical school, Dr. Davis was selected for a residency in orthopedic surgery at Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio. He completed his residency in 2009 and was assigned a position as an orthopedic surgeon at Fort Drum in upstate New York.

Dr. Davis enjoyed the assignment and found the people and location to be a wonderful fit for their growing family.

His younger son, Jayden, was born in New York, joining big brother Micah. While stationed at Fort Drum, Dr. Davis was deployed to Iraq for four months near the end of the war.

In 2013, Dr. Davis was honorably discharged from the Army at the rank of Major and moved his family to Denver, where he was accepted into a program at the University of Colorado for a one-year fellowship in hip and knee replacement. After completing the fellowship, the Davis family returned to Texas where Dr. Davis joined a practice south of Dallas. He faced a difficult first year in civilian practice, with unexpected trials and hardships. Through these painful experiences, he learned failure and humility, and grew in his dependence on the Lord. He then joined a small orthopedic practice in Plano until a new practice opportunity providentially came along three years later. Dr. Davis now serves as

2021, had his first HPU biology student intern with him at his practice, where she was able to shadow him in clinic and observe surgery.

Dr. Davis loved his experience at HPU, from the material taught to field trips and the relationships he built with his professors.

“The professors knew you, knew your name and were invested in you,” he recalled.

He looks forward to investing in HPU students in the years to come by hosting interns from HPU at his practice and finding other ways to give back.

To find out more about the Howard Payne University Alumni Association and related activities, please visit www.hputx.edu/alumni.

HPU hosts Family Reunions, prepares for Stinger Spectacular

The Yellow Jackets take the field prior to their game held in conjunction with the Spring Family Reunion.

PHOTOS AT RIGHT BY THE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Howard Payne University’s 2020 Stinger Spectacular, originally planned to be an action-packed combination of Homecoming, Family Weekend and Yellow Jacket Preview, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with scaled-down Fall and Spring Family Reunion events held instead. HPU is pleased to have the Stinger Spectacular back on track for October 1-2, 2021, with a full slate of activities planned to bring together alumni, current students, prospective students and families.

Photos from this October’s Stinger Spectacular will be included in the Link’s spring 2022 issue.

In addition to lots of food and fellowship on the university campus, highlights of HPU’s Spring Family Reunion, held in March 2021, included the Yellow Jacket football team’s 24-3 victory over McMurry University.

The Fall Family Reunion, held in October 2020, featured intersquad scrimmages hosted by the softball and baseball teams.

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Ramona Tennison Akins ’52 (center), 2020 Coming Home Queen, enjoys the Spring Family Reunion tailgate with her husband, Ferris Akins Sr. ’52, and their daughter Ferrisa Childs ’86, assistant director of student financial aid.

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a fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopedic surgeon at Total Orthopedics Sports and Spine. The practice has locations in McKinney and Allen, with another location opening soon in Richardson. He also serves as the medical director at Methodist McKinney Hospital, as well as chair of the Medical Executive Committee and chair of the Total Joint Program.

Dr. Davis makes time to give back to his alma mater where he serves on the Scholarship Committee of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Last spring, he took time to meet with three biology students and Dr. Kristen Hutchins, professor of biology and chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, to help the students prepare for medical school and the MCAT, and have a realistic picture of a career in medicine. He has worked with Dr. Hutchins to develop internship opportunities for students and, during summer

1980s-2000s

elope s v n e l i a m us p m Ca

by Dr. Robert Mangrum, professor of history and government and university historian

DR. ROBERT MANGRUM PHOTO BY KYLE MIZE; ARTIFACT PHOTOS BY SETH RAINEY ’19

Technology and communication have always been evolving throughout history.

From the earliest invention/development of written forms of communication, the need to communicate has been of utmost importance to mankind. So it has been at HPU. From the earliest moment in 1890 when the first classes met to the present, the need to transfer information from one office to another has been paramount.

By 1980 when this writer stepped on campus, HPU was using the then-latest method of communication, the inter-campus mail system. The offices would put the communication in an envelope such as those pictured, write the name of the person to whom the envelope was destined and place it in an outgoing box. Each office had an outbox. Mr. Leroy Preston, retired professor of history, would visit each office on campus daily, and pick up and drop off the mail from the campus post office as well as the various offices.

As the campus had outgrown the main property, additional stops were included in Preston’s daily route. Riding a three-wheel bicycle, Preston would set out on his scheduled route across the main campus, downtown to Sid Richardson Hall and then to the Academy of Freedom campus before returning to the main campus and the mailroom on the first floor of Jennings Hall.

With the advent of e-mail in the 1990s, the need for inter-campus mail envelopes declined, though campus correspondence is still processed through the mailroom from time to time as needed.

These examples of inter-campus mail envelopes, designed to be reused until all lines were full, are testament to the multitude of cycles and travel across HPU. Take a close look at the examples displayed and note the various names of faculty, staff and administrators represented and the memories these envelopes elicit.

Dr. Robert Mangrum published an account of HPU’s history titled For Howard Payne My All: 125 Years of Christian Higher Education and Service, 1889-2015. The book, which took 17 years to write, celebrates the university’s history since its founding in 1889. It is available for $30 on DVD or USB flash drive at HPU’s Stinger Store in the Mabee University Center or at www.hputx.edu/stingerstore.

All proceeds from the book’s sales support an academic scholarship at HPU. 10

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B Y A M AYA

MARSHALL, HPU SENIOR

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PHOTOS AT LEFT AND LOWER RIGHT BY REBEKAH STERLING ’18

As a senior in high school, I had the opportunity to tour several college campuses. After visiting those campuses, I didn’t have a sense of peace, nor did I feel as though I was a good fit for what was being offered. It wasn’t until I attended the Yellow Jacket Monday at Howard Payne University that I felt at peace and a sense of belonging to something bigger. I was looking for a home away from home where I could experience what I had felt every day of my high school journey – God, family and academics. My mother has always instilled in me to have a relationship with God and to obtain a quality education. After she and I left the orientation, I said to her, “HPU is where I want to be.”

I was looking for a campus where there was community and true genuine love for God. I wanted a great education, but also to develop a better relationship with God. When I toured HPU as a high school senior, I knew this was where I belonged. It is the perfect mix of both academic excellence and Christ-centered environment. It’s been three years now since I started here at HPU, and every day I am amazed at how God has used this university to mold me into the woman that He has planned for me to be.

I love the fact that HPU truly is a family of many backgrounds. All of the faculty and staff are passionate about every student. Everyone you encounter around campus wants you to be successful. They are not just going through the motions when conversing with a student, as they take the time to know each individual personally. This makes for a more effective learning environment and creates an open door to ask questions. Everyone here is so friendly; the first time you meet someone, you feel like you’ve known that person forever.

It’s impossible to not have a friend at HPU. The Howard Payne community follows Jesus Christ. This university was built on a strong foundation. During my time here at HPU, I’ve made amazing friendships that will last a lifetime and connected with professors who not

IT’S THE PERFECT MIX OF B OT H AC A D E M I C E XC E L L E N C E A N D C H R I S T- C E N T E R E D E N V I R O N M E N T.

PHOTO AT TOP RIGHT COURTESY OF DR. KRISTEN HUTCHINS

only know their content but truly know their students by name and need. I admire all my professors. However, Dr. Kristen Hutchins, professor of biology and chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, will always have a special place in my heart. Not only does she want to know my short- and long-term goals, but she always builds my capacity in the field of biology by challenging me to give and do my best on a daily basis. The care that she has for all of her students is endless. In addition, Dr. Hutchins took me and a small group of my classmates to visit Texas A&M to tour the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and it was absolutely amazing! From that experience, I’m determined to be one of the best veterinarians to earn a biology degree from Howard Payne University.

Just as any other college student being away from home for the first time, I experienced times of amazing happiness and challenges that would remind me of all the lessons learned during Chapel and have deepened my walk with the Lord. Now I know the true purpose of suffering when the Bible says, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you” (1 Peter 5:10, KJV).

Lastly, being a part of the Lady Jacket volleyball team as a student-athlete has helped me develop, cultivate and refine lifelong skills that will help me to be not only a godly woman but a true professional in the veterinarian arena. I’m very proud to be a Yellow Jacket and would highly recommend HPU to every graduating senior I know. It is truly a blessed place to be.

Once a Yellow Jacket, always a Yellow Jacket. Sting ’em!

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Far left: Amaya is proud to be an HPU Yellow Jacket and enjoys the atmosphere on campus. Above: Amaya (at right) and classmates visit Texas A&M’s veterinary college on an academic excursion led by HPU faculty member Dr. Kristen Hutchins (at left). Below: Amaya was joined by her mother, Phyllis Howard, at the HPU Women’s Club’s 2020 Yellow Rose Luncheon, at which Amaya was awarded the Yellow Rose Scholarship.

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sharing notes CREATIVE COLLABORATION IN HPU’S JAZZ BAND ENRICHES CHASE PITTMAN’S OVERALL COLLEGE EXPERIENCE

PHOTOS BY KYLE MIZE AND JARVIS GREEN

y philosophy is to surround myself with players who are better than me,” says guitarist and bassist Chase Pittman. “That way, I can pick their brains and learn their tricks of the trade so it makes me better.”

Chase, a senior from Trophy Club, is a member of Howard Payne University’s Jazz Band. He says that playing in an ensemble, versus being a solo performer, brings heightened levels of enjoyment and development.

“I learn the most from the collaboration, especially in a musical context,” he says.

One of the most exciting elements of jazz performance is the interplay between musicians, frequently based on a written framework but open to spontaneous flights of improvisation. Players who might otherwise have little in common spin a creative collaboration – an in-the-moment high-wire act that depends not only on skill and focus but also on careful attention to what the others are playing. Through this kind of interaction, they can push each other to greater and greater levels of musical expression.

“What I’ve noticed from being in Jazz Band is that, as we take turns soloing on the solo section of a song, I’ll listen to someone else playing a solo as I’m playing the chord changes, and that’ll give me a musical idea. I’ll get inspired by something I hear and think, ‘Hey, I should steal that and incorporate that into my solo.’ It’s a lot of collaboration, and you learn from other players.”

Chase also credits the multi-talented Stephen Goacher, HPU professor of music

H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

and director of Jazz Band, as a particular influence. He appreciates Mr. Goacher’s supportive, empathetic nature as well as his wide-ranging expertise.

“I’m always inspired by hearing Mr. Goacher play,” Chase says, “because he never plays the same solo twice. Sometimes we’ll be playing a swing tune and he has a very refined, swing sound on the saxophone, and then we could play a funk or Latin tune and he’s got a very funky type of sound. I’m always inspired to learn from him and then go listen to other music and incorporate more ideas into my own playing.”

Chase says the urgency of focusing on his own playing doesn’t outweigh the need to actively listen to the musicians around him.

“This can be difficult for a lot of jazz players,” he says. “I can be trying so hard to sound good on my instrument that I’m missing the greatness of everyone else and what they’re playing – missing out on the beauty of the whole sound of the band together.”

Interestingly, though Chase is a longtime musician, he is not a music major. He majors in accounting but credits his experiences in Jazz Band for contributing to his academic growth as well as other aspects of college life.

“It’s a stress reliever,” he says. “For an hour and a half each day, I’m sitting down, playing music and not having a care in the world.

Also, a big thing in my personal development is that the discipline to want to get better with the guitar has transferred to my business classes. That drive of ‘I want to be the best guitar player I can be’ transfers to ‘I want to be the best accountant I can be,’ so I’m putting more effort into studying for tests.”

Though Chase isn’t a music major, he plans to be a lifelong musician as he looks beyond graduation from HPU. “Music will definitely be an integral part of my life until the day I die,” Chase declares.

“It’s too much fun for me to quit.”

“Jazz is one of the few purely American art forms,” says Chase Pittman.

If you’d like to give jazz music a listen but don’t know where to start, Chase invites you to hear a few OF HIS FAVORITES via the following FIVEtrack playlist.

“Afternoon,” Pat Metheny Group “The Gathering Sky,” Pat Metheny Group “Four on Six,” Wes Montgomery “That Warm Feeling,” Count Basie “Nutville,” Horace Silver Quintet

By Kyle Mize

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Looking

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H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

forward and looking up How Daniela Puente ’21 learned to trust God with her future Which college to attend? Which major to choose? Which career to pursue? These decisions are daunting, and many high school graduates feel the need to have the future mapped out for fear of making a mistake or wasting an opportunity. Daniela Puente ’21 felt this pressure. A stellar pupil her entire life, Daniela wanted to have a clear view of PHOTO BY BY REBEKAH STERLING ’18

the finish line. What she found at HPU was not the answer to her calling, but the community to help her discover it.

BY REBEKAH STERLING ’18 H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

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Daniela Puente ’21 (far right) says involvement in many areas of campus life enriched her college experience.

Pictured with Daniela at the Pancake Supper in fall 2020 are, from left, Chiana Potts, Cynthia Montalvo and Mya Ross.

Daniela’s connection to Howard Payne University began with her family. Her parents, who are both college professors, made education a priority in the Puente household and her older sister, Beca, graduated from HPU in 2017. Even so, Daniela had reservations about attending the same school as her sister.

“Beca is a very intelligent individual, so there was going to be a high standard for me and that was a little bit intimidating,” she admitted.

Despite her hesitancy, Daniela was ultimately drawn to HPU by her sister’s encouragement as well as the opportunity to study two very different subjects: public policy and biology. She participated in the Guy D. Newman Honors Academy program with an ultimate goal of attending medical school after graduation.

Daniela’s two majors, though certainly not incompatible, required a unique and rigorous combination of courses.

Fortunately, Daniela found herself surrounded by people who supported her career aspirations even as they evolved and changed throughout her undergraduate experience.

“At the end of my sophomore year I added an international business minor,” Daniela shared. “That was the point where I changed career directions and where I wanted to go after graduation. I don’t think I would have been able to do that anywhere that wasn’t Howard Payne.”

Dr. Kristen Hutchins, professor of biology and chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, was a source of wisdom and encouragement to Daniela as she reassessed her future.

“She helped me with my academic plan, adjusting my coursework after traveling abroad and assessing different needs for my career path,” Daniela explained. “The very first master’s program I applied to was because of her. She was so patient with me and she’s done a great job with the department as a whole - reaching out to us and making sure we felt like a community.”

Letting go of the plans she had made for herself was a 18

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challenge. Daniela had to learn how to thrive in seasons of uncertainty.

“When I realized medical school probably wasn’t going to happen after graduation and I wasn’t sure if that’s what I wanted to do anymore, I kind of panicked,” she recalled. “It was difficult to take that risk because that meant leaving the clear-cut path for medical school. I had to trust myself to make decisions for my future and trust that the Lord has a plan for me. And I needed to do what I was passionate about – not just what I thought would make me a lot of money or would make my parents happy with me.”

Daniela was used to approaching her studies as a series of boxes to check to get a good grade. However, her professors at HPU challenged that mentality. It wasn’t unusual for Daniela’s Honors Academy classes to forgo the traditional lecture format for other styles of teaching. Daniela recalled the impact that classes with Dr. David Claborn, professor of government, made on her.

“He challenged me not to just go for the A,” she shared.

“He wants his students to apply the concepts that he’s teaching. He would put an emphasis on simulations because he wanted us to challenge ourselves – not just take a test, get an A and leave.”

Daniela’s framework for learning continued to expand as she spent a semester abroad in London.

“Our classes were rarely in a classroom,” she said. “I got the opportunity to learn about things that I normally wouldn’t have been exposed to within my majors, including British Literature and The History of Rock and Roll. My parents are both immigrants from Mexico, so those were very helpful for my social studies.”

With her parents and younger brother living in East Texas, Daniela was used to six-hour road trips to and from Howard Payne throughout each semester. This made visiting another country in less time than that a new and exciting experience.

“My roommate and I traveled our way through France, H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

PHOTOS BY BY REBEKAH STERLING ’18

Italy, Spain and Ireland,” Daniela shared. “It was crazy to see all those places in such a short span of time and to see the way the world works outside of the United States.”

Back on campus, Daniela found that getting involved in extracurricular activities became another enriching part of her Howard Payne experience.

“I was a part of Student Activities Council all four years, which plans events like Pancake Supper, Christmas on the Plaza and HPU Fest,” she said. “I also pledged Delta Chi Rho my freshman year and was inducted into both Gamma Beta Phi and Beta Beta Beta, the biology honors society. I was also involved in the Student Government Association my freshman and sophomore years. Being involved made it easier to be my own person and find my people.”

These people walked with Daniela when she began to feel uncertain about the faith she had known her entire life.

“My parents are both college professors, but my dad has also been a preacher my whole life,” Daniela shared. “I was a classic preacher’s kid – at church whenever it was open.

Going six hours away for college meant that no one was making me be a Christian or attend church. In my first couple years of college, I let a lot of personal hurts move me away from my faith and what I knew to be the truth. I really had to find my own faith and learn why I was claiming to be a Christian and what that meant for my life.”

Daniela’s suitemates, Kylie Johnson ’21 and Cynthia Montalvo, were patient and supportive of Daniela during that season.

“Kylie’s been such a wonderful example for me,” Daniela said. “She stuck it out and always had grace for me. Then one of my best friends from home, Cynthia, decided to come to Howard Payne and I had both of them to encourage me and accept me when I began to rediscover my faith.”

The incorporation of faith in the classroom also became vital for Daniela, as she sought to grow academically and spiritually.

“Being at an institution that always values faith in the classroom has been invaluable to my spiritual journey,” she remarked. “I don’t think I would be where I am today without those lessons.”

Taking a course on American Political Culture during an election year and a global pandemic had the potential to be fraught with controversy and negativity. Instead, Daniela was grateful that faith was never excluded from those conversations.

“The discussions reminded me that I need to be prepared to talk to people with different views and communicate with them in a way that doesn’t alienate them,” she said. “I also learned why I should care about different issues and how to have discussions about them, while holding true to my values.”

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The global pandemic hit the second semester of Daniela’s junior year, causing HPU to transition to online classes and once again clouding Daniela’s vision of the future.

“It was a scary thing to go through,” she admitted. “A lot of junior and senior year is volunteering and taking internships, and that disappeared. I had been working as a student worker, so when classes went online I was unable to work, and my parents thought they wouldn’t be able to work. That caused a lot of uncertainty in the middle of one of my most demanding semesters.”

Despite the hardship of 2020, the pandemic underlined the importance of the topic of Daniela’s senior thesis and shed new light on the significance of her future education and career in public health.

“My academy thesis focused on disparities in health care among racial and ethnic minorities,” she shared. “I think the pandemic just strengthened my desire to work in public health.”

With this in mind, Daniela applied to several master’s programs in public health, ultimately accepting an offer of admission from Syracuse University – where her sister will also be attending.

“To have my sister by my side as I earn this master’s degree is such a blessing,” Daniela shared. “I have a supporter and best friend right by my side going through a similar experience and that makes the intimidating part of it easier to navigate.”

Following grad school, Daniela hopes to find a job in Washington D.C., utilizing her background in public policy and healthcare to help draft new legislation.

Daniela reflected on how HPU has prepared her for her next steps.

“Allowing me to study my two majors was huge for me,” she said. “I was able to get a biology degree, which helped me become an analytical thinker, have a process behind my research and know the science behind things, while the Honors Academy Daniela is grateful for the ways HPU has strengthened prepared me in ethics and her faith and prepared her leadership and helped me to pursue her calling. recognize the importance of those things.”

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Nina Ouimette, dean of HPU’s School of Nursing and professor of nursing, has always felt called to serve. Teaching the next generation of nurses has been a large part of fulfilling that calling.

Dr. Ouimette has a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, Master of Science degrees in nursing and in child development and family relations, and a doctorate in instructional technologies. She is also nationally certified in nursing informatics.

In the early part of her career, Dr. Ouimette worked as a clinical nurse in pediatrics. She later worked for Hendrick Health in Abilene as a medical-surgical nurse educator and led staff development before becoming a part of Hendrick’s first Department of Nursing Informatics. Following her time at Hendrick, Dr. Ouimette worked as a faculty member at Hardin-Simmons University’s Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing and was eventually named dean.

After more than 40 years of learning about nursing, working as a nurse, and educating nurses and future nurses, Dr. Ouimette’s desire to serve ultimately led her to HPU. “When I was contacted about this position at HPU, I just decided to take that leap of faith,” she shared. “It’s not often that you get the opportunity to start up a whole new program. It was just a gift.”

Dr. Ouimette joined HPU’s faculty in 2017 and immediately went to work on developing the program. The School of Nursing received its Texas Board of Nursing 20

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program approval in 2018 and is currently pursuing national certification.

Nursing is now one of the fastest-growing majors at HPU. A major element of the school’s curriculum is unifying Christian values with important nursing skills and characteristics.

“A lot of moral ethics from our faith are the moral ethics that you need as a nurse,” Dr. Ouimette explained. “In nursing you have to take care of everyone, and we teach how to serve in a way that is non-judgmental and maintains confidentiality.”

Students in the School of Nursing have had many opportunities to serve the community throughout the course of the pandemic. Last year’s seniors helped give more than 3,000 vaccines at Brown County’s mass vaccine clinics, while juniors worked in nursing homes that were under-staffed. Dr. Ouimette expressed how proud she is of how the students have represented HPU off campus.

“People know our students are reliable and consistent,” she said. “We have a good relationship with Hendrick Health, the health department, the school systems, Center for Life Resources, the fire department and EMT services.”

Dr. Ouimette shared how rewarding it has been to work in a Christian environment where the success of every student is valued and prioritized.

“I love growing people – the faculty, the staff and the students,” she said. “I love that, in my spiritual journey, I’m H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

Dr. Nina Ouimette's 43 years of experience in the nursing field help her lead HPU's School of Nursing.

PHOTO BY REBEKAH STERLING ’18

still learning and I’m always going to be growing, but I’m also at a point where I can teach and mentor.”

Dr. Ouimette and the faculty and staff within the School of Nursing are proud of the program they’ve developed, which has tripled in size since its start in 2018. They hope to eventually have approximately 30 students in each cohort and develop an accelerated program for non-traditional students.

Dr. Ouimette currently lives in Brownwood with her husband, Mark. They have three grown children – John, H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

Michelle and Nicole – and three granddaughters – Raegan, Cora and Astrid.

As she looks with anticipation toward the future of the nursing program, Dr. Ouimette is grateful for all that has prepared her for this season.

“I’ve been enriched by working in small and large environments and I’ve been enriched by people along the way,” she shared. “Now I’m at a place where I can give back. My calling now is just helping others grow.”

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GEARING UP F Student-athletes equipped for success in sports, academics and life after graduation – By Seth Rainey ’19

Pictured above: HPU’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics – student-athletes, trainers, coaches, administrators and other staff – gathered for a photo at the start of the fall 2021 semester.

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H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

FOR VICTORY PHOTO BY REBEKAH STERLING ’18

Athlete or not, the actions are familiar.

Early hours. Showing up day after day. Balancing repetition and innovation. Training and working with a team toward a unifying goal. Finding motivation internally and in fellow team members.

Whether practiced in the formality of the workplace, the academic rigor of the university classroom or under the bright lights of the athletic field, the steps and responsibilities that determine success are endlessly transferable.

These parallels make establishing productive behaviors and habits vital to successes both current and hoped for. This is particularly true at the critical stage of learning that college represents.

At Howard Payne University, the development of these skills is shaped by the institution’s unique H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

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community and culture. Faith affects all parts of the university, including athletics. The mission statement of HPU’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, included in email signatures of department staff, displayed throughout athletic facilities and represented in the work of coaches, staff and athletes, reflects the values of the whole of HPU while spelling out the priorities that guide the department: “The Howard Payne University Athletic Department aspires to equip Christian leaders for society using sports at HPU as a platform for success in competition, in the classroom, in the community and in all future endeavors.”

To Hunter Sims, director of athletics, the statement’s implications for HPU athletics are clear.

“At HPU, we’re trying to produce Christian leaders who will benefit society – that’s really the bottom line,” said Sims.

“We feel like great leaders are agents of change, so we are always looking to use the platform of sports to raise up great leaders who will our impact our society.”

This clarity of vision carried on amid the obstacles of 2020-2021. As the world faced the COVID-19 pandemic, HPU was faced with maintaining the safety of studentathletes through adherence to NCAA protocols and policies.

Despite these challenges, a commitment to the department’s mission remained as coaches and staff sought to do more than just get through the difficult times. Sims, coaches and other staff redoubled their commitment to the department’s mission statement as a “new normal” became reality.

“We made the decision to be dealers of hope,” Sims said.

“We felt that it was our primary job to provide hope for students when there wasn’t a lot of hope. This time taught us to always be thankful for what we have. When we are dealing

hope to our student-athletes, personnel, fans and community, we feel like everyone has the best opportunity to be successful.”

True to the ideal of serving students in whatever capacity possible, the focus of HPU athletics is to equip the entire student-athlete so that, when students complete their athletic career, they are equipped with characteristics and qualities that will contribute to their continued success. Coaches and other staff know this growth is about more than just bringing HPU success on the playing field. It’s about helping students succeed in academics and in extracurriculars – even in helping the community grow through consistent investment.

Sims says the lessons taught through opportunities at HPU represent a launch point for future growth, successes and service extending through the course of each student-athlete’s life.

“When it comes to thinking about our graduates, we talk about the ‘four-year, 40-year’ experience,” he said. “We’re asking them to make a four-year commitment to us with the return being the next 40 years of their lives working, in marriages, being parents, serving others and more, all influenced by their time at Howard Payne.”

This goal – to grow student-athletes who will impact the world after their time on HPU’s campus – is more than just altruism. Rather, it is guided by the Christ-centered principles that influence the larger campus culture of HPU. “We want our students to have great memories of HPU, to reach their full potential spiritually and be prepared academically,” said Abram Choate ’98, M.Ed. ’17, assistant director of athletics for athletic communications. “It’s about achieving success in whatever they do, while caring for people along the way. There’s nothing worse than a dog-eat-dog world – just

Student-athletes and department personnel pose for the drone’s camera.

“We are always looking to use the platform of sports to raise up great leaders who will our impact our society.”

– Hunter Sims, director of athletics

PHOTO AT LEFT BY SETH RAINEY ’19; PHOTO AT RIGHT BY JARVIS GREEN

pushing everybody aside so that you can get ahead. That’s not how Christ wants us to function. When we do great work in our field and love others, Christ is glorified.”

Serving students holistically takes on many forms. A recent priority in ensuring a positive student experience has been providing students with options for proper mental health support. HPU’s athletic department has partnered with Believe Perform, a leading mental health resource in sports, to help address the needs of students in this area.

“Believe Perform is helping us work toward new ways to instill leadership qualities and work through issues in society that we really need to focus on – mental health, workload, life balance for the student,” said Sims.

This emphasis on mental health extends to team culture as well. Students and coaches alike are encouraged to watch for problems that their teammates and players may be experiencing and help point them toward support options provided at the university. This often starts with strong camaraderie between student-athletes, coaches and athletic staff.

As part of this team-oriented atmosphere, players and coaches often show up to athletic events in support of other student-athletes – a demonstration of the community that exists among HPU teams.

“It’s important to create opportunities for our sports to connect with each other and encourage students to support each other,” said Choate. “Our coaches bring their teams together to cheer on other sports throughout the season. This sends the message, ‘We’re going to go cheer them on, because we know they’re cheering us on. We’re going to give that back.’”

Community exists beyond the team. HPU’s athletic department engages in partnerships that pair each team with a different local organization or charity. Through these partnerships, student-athletes give back to the community and forge valuable connections.

“These opportunities show students that service is needed in our society and is also rewarding for the people who are serving and making a difference,” said Sims. “We also think it’s important for those community organizations to know that Howard Payne athletics, our student-athletes, coaches and H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

staff, are willing to step up and volunteer in our community.”

These areas of emphasis are ongoing on an annual and semester-to-semester basis. Just as vital as establishing these recurring priorities has been the department’s enthusiastic embrace of change.

In the past year, HPU athletics has undergone exciting changes, including the hiring of three new head coaches.

Jason Bachtel ’03, head football coach, and Nadir Dalleh ’00, head men’s basketball coach, are alumni and former student-athletes. Rachel Janzen, head women’s basketball coach, is another promising addition to the coaching staff.

Bachtel’s family has been represented in HPU athletics for decades, both as athletes and coaches. Bachtel himself was a three-year letterman as quarterback. Dalleh was a key member of the men’s basketball team, which went to three straight conference championships and made three NAIA national tournament appearances in his time as a player.

The coaches’ connections to HPU make them well positioned to lead their respective programs.

“We’re really blessed and happy to have Coach Bachtel and Coach Dalleh, two highly successful alumni coaches, come back and lead programs here,” said Choate.

Janzen joins the university as the new head women’s basketball coach after a coaching career with college-level teams in Kansas and Oklahoma.

“We are thrilled to have Coach Janzen leading the women’s basketball program,” said Sims. “She is very committed to her faith and committed to competitive excellence.”

Additional causes for optimism are recent demonstrations of support that have helped carry HPU athletics through the COVID-19 pandemic. On Dec. 1, 2020, the university participated in GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that unites people, communities and organizations to celebrate generosity and raise support for non-profit organizations.

The athletic department ended the day with donations of more than $130,000 – a powerful source of encouragement.

“GivingTuesday showed us how much alumni and friends love HPU and believe in Christian higher education,” said Sims. “Even though things weren’t normal and seasons were L I N K / FA L L 2 02 1

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cut short, through this success we were encouraged to keep progressing. It was a rejuvenating shot in the arm for us to have those resources to show our students how much they’re cared for and supported by people who love this university.”

In a significant shift, HPU athletics recently signed a contract with Nike and BSN Sports to provide new, rebranded

apparel and equipment. The move comes as a boost to the teams and the whole department. The partnership will help provide upgrades to enhance to the student-athlete experience.

“Signing a contract with Nike and BSN allows us to get the things we need to progress the way we need to,” said Sims.

“We want our students and alumni to be proud of the HPU

2020-2021 HPU Team Summaries

FOOTBALL

VOLLEYBALL

MEN’S SOCCER

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Current Head Coach: Jason Bachtel ’03 (1st year) Notes: First year for new head coach Jason Bachtel ’03 … Under Coach Bachtel, nine players received All-Conference honors … Freshman QB Landon McKinney led ASC in passing (1,310 yards, nine TDs); McKinney was named ASC Freshman of the Year … WR Jake Parker named D3football.com All-American leading the nation in yards per game (150.8) and receptions (7.5) … Kyle Bell named D3football.com 2nd Team All-Region leading the league in total tackles with 56 in five games … 19 players named to the ASC Academic All-Conference.

Current Head Coach: Colleen Westfall ’08 (7th year) Notes: Mya Ross was named 2nd Team All-Conference as an outside hitter …

Ross was also named the 2020-21 Tami Pattillo Memorial Award winner … 10 players were named to the ASC Academic AllConference list.

Current Head Coach: Trey McLaughlin (1st year) Notes: First season for new head coach Trey McLaughlin … Under McLaughlin, two players received All-Conference honors …

Nine players were named to the ASC Academic AllConference list.

Current Head Coach: Nadir Dalleh ’00 (1st year) Notes: Under head coach Troy Drummond, two players received All-Conference honors …

Seven players were named to the ASC Academic AllConference list … In April 2021, Nadir Dalleh was named the new head men’s basketball coach.

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WOMEN’S SOCCER Current Head Coach: Brandon Badgeley ’09 (5th year) Notes: Four players earned All-Conference honors …

20 players were named to the ASC Academic AllConference list … Women’s soccer boasts the highest team GPA of any female sport at HPU.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Current Head Coach: Rachel Janzen (1st year) Notes: Under head coach Yannick Denson, five players received All-Conference honors … Amanda Turpin was named ASC Freshman of the Year … 12 players were named to the ASC Academic All-Conference list … In June 2021, Rachel Janzen was named the new head women’s basketball coach.

H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

brand. This is just one of the ways we are pushing the brand forward, providing connectivity externally with alumni and internally with our students, and providing our students with a voice so they know they are being given opportunities to grow as people in our athletic department.”

Through success, adversity, significant milestones and

great changes, the future is bright.

“I love where we’re headed,” said Sims. “We’re going to be even better than we were at being thankful, being consistent, being dealers of hope and being able to define our own success. We want to compete at the highest level as we strive to provide the best student experience possible.”

WOMEN’S GOLF

WOMEN’S TENNIS

MEN’S TENNIS

BASEBALL

Current Head Coach: Troy Drummond (6th year) Notes: Mallory Garcia earned All-Conference honors …

Two players named to ASC’s Academic All-Conference list … Bailey Farmer was named National Associate StudentAthlete Advisory Committee Representative.

Current Head Coach: Brandon Hettick (3rd year) Notes: Zoe Sprayberry was named the ASC Women’s Tennis Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year … Three players were named to the ASC Academic AllConference list.

Current Head Coach: Brandon Hettick (3rd year) Notes: Landon Ferree was named the ASC Men’s Tennis Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year … Five players were named to the ASC Academic AllConference list … Dominic DeNardo was named the Paul J. Cunningham Memorial Award winner.

Current Head Coach: Stephen Lynn ’04, M.Ed. ’17 (16th year) Notes: Xavier Haines was named 2nd Team All-Conference as a relief pitcher … 25 players were named to the ASC Academic All-Conference list … Baseball boasts the highest team GPA of any male sport at HPU.

PHOTOS AND TEXT COURTESY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

MEN’S GOLF Current Head Coach: Troy Drummond (6th year) Notes: Two players received All-Conference honors …

Team finished third at the ASC Championships … Kaleb Brown finishing third overall at ASC Championships became the first medalist for Howard Payne since HPU Sports Hall of Fame member Tim Pavlas medaled in 2000 … HPU shot a school-record low of 286 in round one of the Linda Lowery Invitational, besting the previous record of 287 … Two players were named to the ASC Academic All-Conference list.

H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

SOFTBALL Current Head Coach: Jose Mata, M.Ed. ’14 (17th year) Notes: Three players were named All-Conference …

Ten players were named to the ASC Academic AllConference list.

For all the latest schedules, results and more regarding HPU athletics, visit www.hpusports.com.

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HPU alumni couple opens new Chick-fil-A in Brownwood ridget (Wells) Jones ’08, the new owner and operator of Brownwood’s Chick-fil-A, is a familiar face to the Howard Payne University family. She and her husband, Jonathan ’08, both grew up in Brownwood and graduated from HPU. The free-standing Chick-fil-A location opened in November 2020, and the friendly staff and delicious chicken are popular favorites in the community, as evidenced by the full parking lot and ever-flowing drive-thru line.

It was not always their plan to return to Brownwood. After graduation, Bridget and Jonathan got married and moved to Belton. Bridget started teaching elementary and middle school, and Jonathan was a teacher and coach. In 2012, Jonathan’s coaching career took the couple to Leander ISD in the Austin area. When their oldest daughter, Rylin, was just six months old, Bridget was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The young family faced hard days, but God was faithful as Bridget went through treatments and was able to beat the cancer. After her recovery, she began tutoring students and had the opportunity to buy a local franchise, Just Between Friends Williamson County, a consignment event business for children’s and maternity items.

After several years of running and managing the business, Bridget won Franchise of the Year in 2017. As a business owner, Bridget sought to pour into her team and the community and give back in every way she could.

Around the same time, fellow HPU couple Joshua ’09 and Kelly (Hulett) ’09 Cunningham purchased a Chick-fil-A franchise in the San Antonio area.

Bridget followed the couple’s journey on social media, and she reached out 28

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By Dr. Kalie Lowrie ’06 H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

Jonathan ’08 and Bridget (Wells) ’08 Jones recently returned to Brownwood to open the new Chick-fil-A location.

PHOTO BY JARVIS GREEN

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At a recruiting event in Dallas, Bridget ran into one of the Chick-fil-A leaders who interviewed her the first time.

He remembered Bridget and her desire to work in a rural area. When she mentioned she grew up in Brownwood, his eyes lit up and he told her they were preparing to build a free-standing location in Brownwood. The Joneses saw God’s hand at work and Bridget was encouraged to continue the application journey.

In February 2020, Bridget was selected to be the owner/operator of the new Brownwood Chick-fil-A location.

Jonathan became an operating partner and together they began to plan for their new adventure. The Jones family moved to Brownwood in March, just weeks before the pandemic shut down the state and nation. The following months were filled with planning, interviewing, strategizing and preparing to launch the new location in November 2020. The restaurant added 110 new jobs to the area and the Joneses desired to make their restaurant a premier employer in the community. While Bridget serves as the owner of the franchise, she views the ownership as a partnership with her husband. Jonathan serves in a variety of capacities within the restaurant and builds relationships with businesses and individuals within the community.

“We have had a lot of really hard days and really great days,” Bridget said. “It’s a blessing to work alongside H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

JONES PHOTO BY JARVIS GREEN

to Joshua about what it would take to become a Chick-fil-A franchise owner. In 2017, she began the seven-step interview process through Chick-fil-A, along with approximately 40,000 other applicants. Bridget made it through six stages of the process and received an answer that she would not be moving forward in the process for owning and operating a Chick-fil-A at that time.

Undeterred, Bridget connected with an operator in the Cedar Park area and worked her way from the bottom to the top, working every position possible in the restaurant. The experience gave Bridget new insight and understanding for each position, the hiring process and various aspects of the restaurant business as a whole, which was invaluable. In 2019, she was a restaurant director and reapplied through the Chickfil-A franchise process.

“It was the most God-appointed opportunity,” Bridget said.

The Joneses desired to stay in Texas if possible, but were open to the possibility of getting selected for a franchise elsewhere in the country from Detroit to somewhere in California.

On her second attempt, the application process had been lengthened to nine steps and the applications had doubled from 40,000 to almost 80,000. In the past, Chick-fil-A has typically opened 100-200 restaurants a year and only about 10 percent of owner/operators are women, making Bridget’s odds even tougher.

Although it’s a business, we want to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

CHICK-FIL-A FACILITY PHOTO BY BRIENNA WILLIAMS ’21

Jonathan. We try to leave work at work and be home with our kids in the evenings.”

The couples’ two children, Rylin and Braxton, are often at the restaurant and get to experience the family business first-hand.

“It’s been exciting to see where the Lord has taken us and grown us together as a family and spiritually as we have put our faith in God,” Jonathan said. “I was excited to see Bridget do this, to show her perseverance and grit when told ‘no.’ She kept going even when the end result was not guaranteed. For her to live that in front of our kids and show that type of grit for them at such a young age is inspiring. She let me chase my dreams for 12 years as a coach and now it’s an honor to be her biggest cheerleader. God has His fingerprints all over it.”

Howard Payne has become even more special to the couple since returning to the community as alumni. During college, Bridget worked two or three different jobs at a time to pay for school. She also transferred into HPU as a junior after attending Texas A&M University for two years. The familiarity with professors and staff was encouraging to her and, as she looks back now, she sees how God led her to HPU. “The more we’ve grown professionally,” Bridget shared, “I’ve been pleasantly surprised to see how many HPU grads we run into in different fields.”

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Located on East Commerce Street near Pecan Bayou, Brownwood’s new Chick-Fil-A franchise opened in November 2020.

Now, their restaurant employs eight HPU alumni, including several in leadership positions, and at least 12 current HPU students. Bridget loves to hire students and works with their schedules to ensure they can stay engaged on campus and still work at the restaurant.

The background Bridget and Jonathan have in education gives them a deeper empathy for students and the college experience.

When the restaurant first opened, the couple desired for their business to be operationally excellent. They wanted to get food out the door safely and deliver an excellent experience for the customer. Now, after several months, they are able to focus more on community connections through catering services, sponsorships, developing a leadership program at Brownwood High School and several other endeavors.

Inside the restaurant, Jonathan sees their location as a place where people can come, see a smiling face, enjoy good food and rest.

“Although it’s a business, we want to be the hands and feet of Jesus,” Jonathan said. “We love to serve the people who come here. It’s a safe, family-friendly place, which is huge for us.”

The Jones family mission has been to serve and love people.

“Our jobs may have changed,” Bridget said, “but our mission remains the same.”

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Darren McElroy graduated from HPU with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre in 2011 and now performs with Sight & Sound Theatres in Branson, Missouri.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DARREN MCELROY ’11

arren McElroy ’11 has been drawn to performance since an early age. He graduated from HPU with a theatre major and has since gone on to a successful career as a professional stage actor.

In his acting career, Darren has performed in numerous theatres in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area and Pennsylvania. He now performs with Sight & Sound Theatres in Branson, Missouri, helping to bring to life stories from the Bible.

“Collectively, I want to live my fullest by following Christ,” he said. “Where I am now, the beautiful thing is that I’m able to do both things – we express the Gospel through theatre, so that’s definitely a win-win. I’m able to do what I love and pursue my purpose.”

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His path to spending each day doing what he loves has taken time and every step of his story has been shaped by his Christcentered worldview. After graduating from HPU, Darren returned to Dallas, where he started a job at Starbucks to fill in the gaps as he auditioned for shows in the area. After spending time working as a barista and looking for parts, he caught a break.

“I think once you get to a certain point, you are kind of just hoping anything and everything will work,” he said. “I had the opportunity to audition for the concert version of Ragtime the Musical and I got it.”

Though his journey may not have all the hallmarks of rags-to-riches stories commonly heralded in show business, his story

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is one of dedicated pursuit of his passion for theatre.

“Some mornings, I was waking up at about 3 a.m. to get to work,” he said. “When the shift was over around 3 p.m., I would leave Starbucks and make my way to the bus stop to get to the theatre. Rehearsals usually went until 8 p.m. or 9 p.m., so I would get home around 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. at night and then do it again the next day.”

Over time, he began to find his place in the Dallas theatre community and was offered more roles. Even as more opportunities in theatre became available, he continued to work at Starbucks. While working in two seemingly unrelated fields, he didn’t look past the opportunities for connection that were being presented to him in his current circumstances.

“As followers of Christ, we definitely have a charge to love people,” he said. “So that was my aim, even in the days where I didn’t feel up to it. There were days where I fell short, but, overall, I feel like people could see Christ through me and I was able to build relationships with folks there.”

This mindset of representing Christ in all that he does is reflected in the sense of purpose he brings to the stage.

“What I look to do as a performer is to be a catalyst of positive change through thought-provoking and life-altering storytelling,” he said. “I’m not above embracing roles of levity to provide sustainable livelihood for myself and my household,

but I also have a strong aversion to creatively inept, vain or debased material. Every choice that I make is going to be a sound decision, rooted in agape love and the truth of the life, death and resurrection of the person of Jesus Christ.”

The purpose Darren finds in theatre is inspired by the passion for theatre and performance that he says has always been in his blood.

“I knew I was going to be doing some type of performance, whether that was on stage or not,” he said. “As a kid, I used to create these shows for my family – I guess you could call them sketches or skits – and perform in front of the family and try to get my brother to come along.”

He recognizes the power of storytelling to convey powerful emotion and meaning. This power, combined with his worldview, is what creates his respect for content and calls him to carefully consider what stories he is helping to tell.

An experience he had while performing To Kill a Mockingbird in high school helped influence his perspective on theatre as more than a means to entertain. Due to the play’s content that unambiguously deals with the effects of racism, Darren’s stepfather raised concerns related to his own past growing up in Mississippi.

“My stepfather felt like the play would bring back hurtful memories and painful times,” Darren said. “He took it a

Darren McElroy speaks with Dr. Nicholas Ewen ’02, associate professor of theatre, during a seminar for theatre students at HPU held in spring 2021.

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H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

PHOTO BY SETH RAINEY ’19

step further and asked if I thought that theatre is deception and deceitful. I told him I believe it’s the complete opposite, because I don’t think the creators of whatever piece of art or performance you are taking in look at their creation and believe it to be fake.”

After watching the play, his stepfather expressed a changed viewpoint on theatre.

“He told me he understood why I do what I do,” said Darren. “He also made it clear he supported me, and he did.

I think that’s really what pushed me to want to do theatre in a professional capacity, or at least to want to study it.”

In light of this experience, Darren emphasized theatre’s important role in portraying reality.

“One of the great phrases in theatre and the arts is ‘art imitates life.’ That understanding indicates that we wouldn’t have any type of art if it wasn’t for human experience, the human condition and people who have feelings, conversations or go places. When playing a character, I am relaying the truth.”

As a Christian, portraying the truth, especially that found in the Gospel, is of great importance to Darren. Alongside his natural affinity for the theatre, he felt a call to ministry.

This meant that finding a university where he could study theology and theatre was the deciding factor in his college search, and HPU fit the bill.

A renewed view of how his calling could be manifested took shape as he began to understand how his gifts could be used in the world of theatre, both on and off the stage.

“Preaching can happen beyond the pulpit,” he said. “It’s such a cool thing that, if I do a show, it doesn’t necessarily have to say Jesus’s name, but because I am a professing Christfollower I am able to be a light inside of a world that might not even see Jesus. I can be a light among those who don’t know Jesus, who don’t care about Jesus, who may have hurtful relationships within the church or because of being an artist.”

Being a light, he emphasizes, requires a consistency that permeates all aspects of his life.

“If I’m going to be me the entire time – working hard and being someone who has compassion among people – then I have to be able to carry that with me in everything,” he said.

“I can’t just set it down and leave it somewhere from time to time. If I do that then I’m losing a piece of myself, and it doesn’t benefit anyone.”

He says remaining true to his identity as something that doesn’t change is vital, regardless of the role he is playing or his station in life.

“My identity is in Christ. He has made me who I am and I don’t lose sight of who I am because of a specific role that I play.”

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ith less than a 5% chance to live, and even smaller odds of attending college, things haven’t always been easy for Johnny Cravey.

Born with an illness that caused his lungs to fill with fluid, the infant struggled to breathe and began turning blue.

“The doctors said if I were to live, then I would be in a wheelchair because of the lack of oxygen to my brain,” Johnny said.

And yet, after an emergency procedure, he survived – with 100% of his re-oxygenated blood given to him by donors.

Johnny went on to have a relatively normal childhood, growing up in Huntsville with his brother, Jake, and their sister, Katie (Cravey) Carpenter ’20, and playing the game he loved: baseball.

But something still didn’t seem right.

Johnny struggled in school, particularly with memorization. Doctors attributed his challenges to ADD or ADHD. Still, he managed to graduate from high school and planned to play baseball at a university in Texas. To receive learning accommodations for his classes, Johnny was told he would need an exact diagnosis from a neurologist.

“We went to Houston and ran a bunch of tests – scans, memory, questions and reactions to everything that works the brain,” 36

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much – he just wanted to participate any way he could. Since Johnny was a transfer student, Coach Lynn asked how many years of eligibility Johnny had left. He answered that he still had all four, because he had been redshirted in community college.

Once again, something that had been a frustration worked out in his favor.

“Coach Lynn said, ‘We need pitchers, and you really want to pitch. You’re on the team,’” Johnny recalled. “I ended up performing well enough for them to use me.”

Since that day, Johnny has enjoyed learning and growing at HPU while majoring in youth ministry. He has plans to return to coaching and hopes to teach Bible classes.

Johnny shared how one of his favorite professors, Dr. Rusty Wheelington, professor of Christian studies, became a huge encouragement in his life.

“I’ll never forget the first test that I took with him,” Johnny said. “He told me to write what grade I expected to get on the test at the top of my paper. I’d never made above a C on a test, so I put a 70. It turned out that I made 100 on the test. He told me, ‘Don’t ever sell yourself short.’”

In the spring of 2020 Johnny made the honor roll, which recognizes students who maintained between a 3.5 and 3.64 GPA, and in the spring of 2021 he was recognized as Outstanding Non-Traditional Student.

“I’ve never made the honor roll, not even in elementary school,” said Johnny, now a senior. “I just feel like I’ve seen God’s favor, affirming that I made the right decision to come to Howard Payne. I never in my dreams would imagine doing anything like that.”

Johnny reflected on how, despite life’s many curveballs, God has been directing his path all along.

“I think I’m just proof that you don’t have to have a timeline for your life,” he said. “I used to be mad because my friends were doing these great things, but I’m also doing great things – just not on their timeline.

God’s timing is always perfect. I’m learning to stop looking to my right or left, to stay in my lane and know that the lane that God has for me is perfect.”

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PHOTO BY REBEKAH STERLING ’18

Johnny Cravey enjoyed playing baseball as a Yellow Jacket and was recently hired as student assistant coach.

Johnny said. “They concluded that I have frontal lobe brain damage from the lack of oxygen when I was a baby.”

This means Johnny’s ability to listen to or read information and repeat it is equivalent to that of a first-grader. “‘If you go to college, you’ll probably fail,’” Johnny remembered the doctor telling him. “‘I suggest you just get a job, because you’re not made for college.’”

Devastated but not dissuaded, Johnny applied to several more schools – and felt the sting of rejection more than once. A coach from another school recommended he visit Howard Payne University.

Although Johnny was drawn to HPU, he said things just didn’t fall into place at that point. He decided to attend a community college, where he tried out for the baseball team. To his frustration, he was redshirted. While he would retain his eligibility, his skills would need to improve before he could join the team.

Because of this, Johnny returned home and got a job. He worked at a grocery store while coaching junior high and high school baseball. Though he enjoyed coaching, he often struggled with comparison.

“I would scroll through Facebook and see someone who got married or graduated with a master’s degree and I’d ask God, ‘Is this really what You want me to be doing?’”

In the meantime, his sister began attending HPU. “Katie had great friendships that I didn’t have,” Johnny shared. “I thought, ‘Man, I really would love to have that kind of community.’”

So, Johnny tried HPU again. After years of what seemed like setback after setback, the delay worked in his favor. Johnny received several scholarships as well as more financial aid through FAFSA, since he’d been working full time.

At the end of his campus tour, Johnny met with the head baseball coach, Stephen Lynn ’04, M.Ed. ’17. Johnny didn’t expect

John and Amy (Mayberry) Gayhart share a laugh with their children, (from left) Slater, Mabry and Jack.

Created for more

John ’00 and Amy ’00 Gayhart devote their lives

to raising awareness for special-needs adults

By Coby Sauce, MBA ’14 38

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H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOHN ’00 AND AMY ’00 GAYHART

hen asked to share his testimony, John Gayhart ’00 of Prosper always begins with the years just after graduating from Howard Payne University – married to his college sweetheart, career in progress and a baby on the way. Their lives followed the expected trajectory for nearly two years. And then came the diagnosis – the moment life changed forever for John, his wife Amy (Mayberry) ’00 and sweet daughter Mabry.

“We were the so-called perfect family,” says John. “I had been a captain of HPU’s football team. Amy was president of Delta Chi Rho. We were even named ‘Mr. and Miss HPU.’ If we would have wanted the white picket fence, we could have had it.”

When Mabry was just two years old, she was first identified as having special needs, a diagnosis which would eventually expand to include non-verbal autism and SYNGAP1, a neurological disorder with only 800 known cases worldwide.

John and Amy have devoted their time and efforts to creating the best life possible for Mabry, now 18, and her brothers, Jack, 16, and Slater, 11.

What began as therapeutic horseback-riding lessons for Mabry as a child led to Amy becoming a board member and, now, executive director of Blue Sky Therapeutic Riding and Respite in Prosper. Amy created and directs PURPOSE , a day program for special-needs adults. Through the program, individuals learn and practice a number of life skills and complete jobs for which they earn paychecks. Blue Sky limits the number of participants so clients may receive individualized attention.

“The need for quality programs for special-needs adults is so great,” says Amy. “And what we would really like is for people to see our model that we have created and realize that it didn’t take a lot to get it started. You don’t need a million dollars to start a program like this. Our goal is for Blue Sky to stay small but for it to be recreated easily in other cities and states.”

John’s career is in sports flooring, but he has many “passion projects” related to individuals with special needs. He launched The ABLED Movement, a non-profit organization that works to raise awareness of the needs and desires of adults with special needs and the limited options available to them to discover and live out their purpose. Funds raised through The ABLED Movement are distributed to other non-profit organizations that provide opportunities for these individuals.

John also began completing half marathons while pushing Mabry in a running stroller, a journey they call #run MABRYrun.

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“We weren’t expecting the number of people we’ve met through this and the number of lives we see Mabry touching as she’s out there at these events,” John says. “Everyone just can’t wait to come up and meet her. All of us are created to be in community. Mabry was created perfectly, and part of God’s plan for her is for her to interact with people. She touches people’s lives like nobody else I’ve ever seen.”

Through all their activities, the Gayharts share the Gospel and the work Christ has done in their lives.

“Howard Payne is such an important part of our story,” John says. “When we were first married, we had no idea our life was about to get flipped upside down.”

John says you can’t get lost at HPU. “At many larger schools, you can try really hard to fit in and still get lost in the shuffle,” he says. “At Howard Payne, it’s such a tight community that people are going to seek you out, hold your hand and lead you to the place where you’re going to fit.”

The Christian fellowship and love they experienced at HPU set the stage for their work later in life.

“The classes that we took, Chapel – everything was a really big part of helping us experience Jesus for ourselves,” Amy says. “We discovered Him and who we are in Him.”

The college sweethearts pose for a post-game photo.

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hough he has positively impacted the lives of an untold number of students throughout his time at Howard Payne University, Dr. Frankie Rainey, retired professor of Christian studies, has one regret – that he was never an HPU student himself.

“I do regret that I am not a graduate of Howard Payne,” he says. “I thought when I went to teach there I could take classes and get another degree, but life happened.”

“Life,” in Dr. Rainey’s case, includes 14 years as a professor in HPU’s School of Christian Studies and 10 years as professor of biblical studies at Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary & College in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. Before and after his tenure at HPU, he served in pastorates throughout Texas, leading to a total of almost six decades in teaching and ministry.

Dr. Rainey grew up in Houston and graduated from Plainview’s Wayland Baptist University in 1960. He went on to earn three degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth – master’s degrees in theology and divinity and a doctorate in theology. He served in an adjunct role at the seminary while pastoring nearby, and it was then that he first learned of HPU’s excellent reputation in its pursuit of preparing students for lives of service.

“Students came to the seminary from churches and schools everywhere,” he says. “But it didn’t take us long to notice a difference in quality of the HPU graduates. They were just a notch above everyone else.”

Dr. Rainey received a call shortly thereafter from the 40

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dean of HPU’s School of Christian Studies and moved to Brownwood to join the HPU faculty in 1979. He taught several different subjects in biblical studies including pastoral ministry, preaching, counseling and, his favorite by far, Greek.

“I’m still very much a student of Greek myself,” he says.

“I read in the Greek New Testament every day. That’s important if someone wants to keep up with it.”

In addition to his personal study, Dr. Rainey meets weekly to study the Greek New Testament with a group of men from his church, Glen Meadows Baptist Church in San Angelo.

“The study of Greek enables a person to get as near to what the original writers of the Bible were saying as is possible,” he says. “You couldn’t get any closer. I think many misconceptions about biblical texts come from teachers.

The students have been misled. Pastors have to have a knowledge of biblical languages.”

Dr. Rainey returned to HPU in 2016 and continues to serve in an adjunct role.

“I’ve flunked retirement three times already,” he says, genially, “and I don’t think I’m retired now. I want to keep serving as long as I can.”

Dr. Rainey and his wife of 64 years, Sue, have two children, four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Dr. Rainey says his wife has been an “indispensable help” throughout his ministry.

“She typed every one of my papers throughout school and the rough draft of my dissertation,” he says. “She’s really well equipped.”

Three of his family members are HPU graduates – daughter Rhonda Bertrand ’83; Rhonda’s husband, Ray Bertrand ’89; and their son Phillip Bertrand ’12.

For others considering continuing their education at HPU, Dr. Rainey has words of encouragement.

“I would tell them that they will be treated as individuals,” he says, “they will be known by name, they will feel cared for and they’ll get a wonderful education.”

Dr. Rainey says there are many parallels between pastoring a church and teaching students.

“In Ephesians, Paul says the Risen Lord gave to the church pastors and teachers,” he says. “It’s one office. I like to think when I’m pastoring, I’m teaching and when I’m teaching, I’m pastoring.”

Dr. Rainey also approaches learning as something that ought to be fun.

“I take learning seriously, but I want students to enjoy it,” he says.

His students over the years have shared in this philosophy.

“They love to set me up every once in a while,” he says.

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Dr. and Mrs. Rainey are pictured outside their home in San Angelo.

PHOTO BY SETH RAINEY ’19

“One time I had a big class with every seat full. When I turned around to write something on the board, I heard every one of the chairs move forward.”

The students continued to move their chairs forward every time Dr. Rainey’s back was to the room.

“By the time class was over, they were nearly even with me,” he says.

His joy for his teaching material is evident, but most memorable to his students is his joy of the Lord.

“You don’t meet many people like Dr. Rainey in your lifetime,” says Mickey Wells, a 1983 HPU graduate. “He is one of the godliest men I’ve ever met. He would go the extra mile for me then and he’s not any different today than he was in 1979.”

Dr. Joe Loughlin ’83, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Temple, says Dr. Rainey has remained a dear friend and mentor since his graduation from HPU. “At heart, Doc is a pastor/teacher, and that is how he H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

approached his work with us students at HPU,” Dr. Loughlin says. “He was always focused to gently guide, encourage and, when things got really tough, offer some humor to keep things light.”

No matter the attitude or prank a student would bring into the classroom, Dr. Loughlin says, Dr. Rainey remained unflappable, kept the upper hand and always got the last laugh.

“On the first day of every semester, to conclude his review of the syllabus, he would state, ‘We’ll accomplish two things this semester, brothers and sisters. We will learn Greek and we will have fun. If we’re only able to accomplish one of those, well, we’ll just have fun!’

Who couldn’t learn in that environment?”

Dr. Rainey feels humbled to hear his former students’ kind words about him.

“It certainly affirms that it has been God’s will for us to be at Howard Payne,” he says. “And there’s a great deal of satisfaction to hear that you’ve had a positive impact on students.”

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In Memoriam Howard Payne University sadly lost the following alumni and other members of the HPU family between the dates of February 20, 2021, and August 27, 2021 (except where noted).

HOWARD PAYNE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI Robert Aldridge ’61,

James D. Crow ’17,

February 14, 2021

Joy (Barnett) Davis ’54,

July 12, 2021

June 22, 2021

Myrtle J. (Wyatt)

July 16, 2021

Donahoo, March 6, 2021 Jean R. (Flowers) Dudney

Armstrong ’59,

’61, April 17, 2021 Norma Jean (Rosson)

Alvin L. Anderson ’71, Kittie L. (Parks)

August 4, 2021 (Former faculty/staff)

John T. Blackstock,

March 19, 2021

Zimmalew (Cooper) Boeker ’57,

August 7, 2021

Sharon R. (Ramsey) Bookman, June 9, 2021

Bryan Boyd ’64,

January 27, 2021

William P. Brooks ’60,

March 3, 2021

Rev. Kenneth F. Brown ’52, July 2, 2021 Emma G. (Ismonde) Cain, March 14, 2021

Dennis L. Campbell ’64,

May 19, 2021

Johnny D. Carnes ’63,

March 13, 2021

James Carstarphen 59,

April 26, 2021

Sammie D. (Smith) Chambers,

March 3, 2021

Grady M. Chastain ’62, Jason D. Click ’97,

July 29, 2021

Dr. Robert C. Cloud ’64, June 24, 2021

(Distinguished Alumni, 2004)

Lillie P. (Niell) Crain ’45,

February 25, 2021 42

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Neal Ford, May 17, 2021

Dr. David C. George ’60,

March 7, 2021

Mary L. (Brooks) Gosney

March 23, 2021

Dr. Clyde W. Payne ’50,

May 21, 2021

Carol J. Pearson ’97,

August 7, 2021

Wilma (Mobley) Penn,

March 18, 2021

Wanda (Van Stone) Pierce, May 30, 2021

Ricky D. Porter,

June 15, 2021

Rev. Thomas P. Potter ’59,

March 1, 2021

’54, July 5, 2021

Daniel F. Rankin ’71,

February 11, 2021

Douglas M. Reid ’63,

Hendrick ’65,

Lee H. Russell ’70,

Hueland H. Hale ’79, Linda R. (Woodard)

May 31, 2021

Damone E. Hendrix ’73,

March 24, 2021

Timothy W. Inman ’92,

July 21, 2021

Joe E. Jackson ’60,

March 9, 2021

Riley J. Jacobs ’03,

March 8, 2021

Jackie M. Jeffery,

May 15, 2021

Ella B. (Diggs) Jones ’78,

March 4, 2021

Taraiz (Qubty) Karafa

August 8, 2021

February 12, 2021 June 3, 2021

Ruth A. (Striepe) Schwartz,

Evelyn (Rickman) Smith ’59, June 16, 2021

LaVon Snider ’81,

February 27, 2021 (Retired faculty/staff; Medal of Service, 1991)

Lorene H. Springer,

April 29, 2021

James E. Sullivan ’69,

June 28, 2021

Robert T. Taylor ’53,

June 17, 2021

Don C. Thompson,

June 6, 2021

Darrell Townsend ’55,

April 10, 2021 (Sports Hall of Fame, 1990)

Arzeneth (Hernandez) Valencia ’62,

August 12, 2021

Jackie W. Vaughn ’62,

August 16, 2021

February 26, 2021

Norvel W. Welch ’51,

’70, February 10, 2021

Delores D. (Belvin)

Ann (Ricks) Sheffield

(Retired faculty/staff; former President’s Development Council; Medal of Service, 2011)

Corrine (Cook) Shields,

August 14, 2021 (Former faculty/staff)

April 24, 2021 Williams ’66,

March 20, 2021

Mary L. Williams ’83,

June 16, 2021

Clarence M. Wilson ’69,

July 11, 2021

’74, March 8, 2021

Charles R. Lindsey,

May 13, 2021

March 30, 2021

Dr. Roger L. Brooks, HPU President

April 13, 2021

(1973-1979),

Joel K. McClatchy ’65, Ruth Melendez ’57, Islasu (Blakely) Minor,

April 18, 2021

January 2021

Ronald J. Nichols ’75,

March 27, 2021 H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

DR. BROOKS PHOTO FROM HPU ARCHIVES

April 9, 2021

Flynn ’54, July 16, 2021

George D. Pauley ’52,

IN MEMORIAM

HPU STUDENT Cecil O. Cox,

March 30, 2021 DANIEL BAKER COLLEGE ALUMNI Doris Marie Givens ’46,

June 10, 2021

Louise (Koch) Pewitt ’48,

June 10, 2021

Col. Phillip A. Shaw ’40,

July 21, 2021 ADDITIONAL HPU FACULTY, STAFF, BOARD MEMBERS AND FRIENDS Dr. Lina Allen,

February 14, 2021 (Friend)

Fred R. Boshers,

July 22, 2021 (Retired faculty/staff)

Dr. Kenneth E. Dance,

August 2, 2021 (Former faculty/staff)

Agnes Garner,

February 19, 2021 (Former faculty/staff)

Wanda Gibbs,

Yet this I call to mind

and therefore I have hope:

April 11, 2021 (Friend)

Kenneth L. Henson,

April 6, 2021 (Former faculty/staff)

Wanda Irwin,

April 23, 2021 (Friend)

Because of the Lord’s great love

we are not consumed,

Lorraine (Lincke) Nance,

BELL TOWER PHOTO BY REBEKAH STERLING ’18

June 23, 2021 (Former faculty/staff) Carol Spratt, June 30, 2021 (Friend) Glen Tuggle, May 6, 2021 (Friend; former President’s Development Council) Dr. Daniel E. Wegner,

June 30, 2021 (Former faculty/staff) Pat Westfall, July 2, 2021 (Friend) H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

(Lamentations 3:21-23, NIV)

L I N K / FA L L 2 02 1

43

Alma Mater

High above old Bayou’s waters, out on Center’s heights Stands our noble Alma Mater, towering in her might

Hail to thee our Alma Mater, hail the Gold and Blue 44

L I N K / FA L L 2 02 1

H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y

PHOTO BY REBEKAH STERLING ’18

Keep her colors ever floating, sing her praises due

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ST UDE NT PERSPECTIVE This photo of HPU’s Old Main Tower was taken by Haleigh Clevenger, a senior from Brownwood majoring in English and studio art.