Spring 2014 | Philanthropy

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INSIDE: Meet three of the first Slough Scholars; plus stories on scholarships established by two beloved former faculty members

philanthropy U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A R Y H A R D I N - B AY L O R

S P R I N G 2014

welcome

The spring semester arrived with a flurry of activity on campus.

Feeling rejuvinated after Christmas break, students made their way back to campus eager to begin a new semester and get involved in spring activities. In February, the university celebrated its 169th Charter Day with a campus-wide birthday party and the traditional laying of a wreath on Judge Baylor’s grave. Later that month, a dedication ceremony was held for the renaming of West Ninth Avenue in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Assisting with the unveiling of the new street sign was Dr. Alveda Celeste King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Students have also been planning and looking forward to participating in beloved traditions including the annual Spring Revival, Easter Pageant, and Midnight March later this semester.

As students are busy with classes and activities, the university is putting the finishing touches on the Bawcom Student Union, anticipating moving into the facility late this spring. Planning has also begun on the design of the new performing arts center, which will sit at the front of campus welcoming visitors with beautiful floor-to-ceiling glass walls and a state-of-the-art theater.

There is much to look forward to in the months to come, and we are so thankful for your continued support for scholarships and capital projects through Momentum: The Campaign for Mary Hardin-Baylor. Your gifts and pledges ensure that each semester truly is the “experience of a lifetime” for our students!

Philanthropy is published three times a year by the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Division of Communications and Special Projects.

To share your comments, you may write to the editor at UMHB Box 8431, 900 College Street, Belton, Texas 76513; send emails to jjones@umhb.edu, or phone 254.295.4164.

For more information about giving to UMHB, please contact the Office of Development at 254.295.4601.

Former students honor the memory of Scott & White College of Nursing pioneer When former students Jerry Caldwell ’73 and Linda Pehl ’73 heard of the passing of one of the pioneering figures in the UMHB College of Nursing, they rallied together with other nursing graduates to raise funds to establish the Dr. Ruth LaVerne Gallman Endowed Scholarship. Gallman (pictured, right) served as the first faculty member and program director when the Scott & White diploma program moved to UMHB to became a baccalaureate program in 1970. Gallman set up the curriculum and established the school’s rigorous standards.

This September, Caldwell sent a letter to all of Dr. Gallman’s former students giving them the opportunity to contribute toward the scholarship fund. A few weeks later a similar letter was mailed to all Scott & White College of Nursing graduates.

AS OF FEBRUARY 10, 2014

52 donors HAVE CONTRIBUTED A TOTAL OF

$37,117 THE GOAL IS FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP TO REACH THE $50,000 PRESIDENTIAL ENDOWED LEVEL. If you would like to make a gift in memory of Dr. Gallman, please visit umhb.edu/giving and specify that you would like to designate your gift to the Dr. Ruth LaVerne Gallman Endowed Scholarship Fund.

THIS SPRING, THE NUMBER OF NEW INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENTS

Largest endowment gift from living donor given anonymously

increased by

In December, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor announced that two friends of the university made a gift of $2 million to fund scholarships for UMHB students. The couple requested anonymity and asked that the gift be used to establish two endowed scholarships—one for piano performance majors, and the other for students who have interest or a background in agriculture.

“This donation is the largest endowment gift from a living donor in the history of the university,” said President Randy O’Rear. “The establishment of these endowments will set in motion a series of scholarship awards that will touch the lives of students every year, in perpetuity.”

The $2 million gift comes as part of the university’s Momentum campaign to raise funds for facilities, scholarships, and the endowment at UMHB. To date, alumni and friends have contributed $52.6 million toward the $60 million campaign goal.

684% 149

NEW I N T E R N AT ION A L GR A DUAT E STUDENTS

ENROLLED IN SPRING 2014

C O M PA R E D TO 1 9 N E W I N T E R N AT I O N A L G R A D U AT E S T U D E N T S I N THE SPRING OF 2013 [ A DIFFERENCE OF 130 STUDENTS ] THESE S T U D EN T S R EP R E S EN T

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COUNTRIES I N C L U D I N G:

BAHR AIN, CANADA, CHINA, INDIA, K ENYA, KOR EA, LEBANON, MEXICO, NIGER IA, RUSSIA, SPAIN, SR I LANK A, TANZANIA, U NITED KINGDOM, AND VENEZUELA

MANY ARE ACTIVE ON CAMPUS, SERVING IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION, CHARTERING SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, WORKING IN GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS, AND SERVING AS RESIDENT ASSISTANTS.

Endowed scholarship established in honor of head football coach This February, the Pete Fredenburg Endowed Scholarship was established in honor of Fredenburg, who has served as head football coach since the program’s inception in 1998. After being named the 2013 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award winner for Division III in January, Liberty Mutual contributed $20,000 to the UMHB Alumni Association in his honor. The alumni association then collaborated with the Crusader Football Alumni Association to bring the scholarship to the $25,000 endowed level. The scholarship is designated for graduate students seeking a career in coaching. Both associations expect to continue contributing to the endowment in the future.

“We wanted to use the money for something that would support future coaches because we know that is something Coach Pete is passionate about,” said Rebecca O’Banion, director of alumni relations. “We’re honored to recognize his great career building the Cru football program through this scholarship.“

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meet the first

BY JENNIFER MEERS JONES ’08

slough scholar

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G.C. AND DURINDA SLOUGH’S LEGACY LIVES ON THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS FOR JUNIORS AND SENIORS IN THE COLLEGE OF CHRISTIAN STUDIES. MEET THREE OF THE FIRST RECIPIENTS.

NEWS OF A NEARLY $700,000 BEQUEST TO THE UNIVERSITY came as an unexpected blessing in the summer of 2011. The estate of Temple residents G.C. and Durinda Slough was divided between UMHB, Temple College, and Memorial Baptist Church, where the Sloughs were members and faithfully served for over fifty years.

In their lifetimes, G.C. founded and operated Shallow Ford Construction Company of Temple until he sold the company at his retirement in 1981. Durinda served as a certified medical technician and record librarian at King’s Daughters Hospital, and then later worked with her husband as secretary of Shallow Ford Construction.

The bequest stated that the funds were to be used to establish a scholarship for religion majors preparing for ministry.

“We talked about different ways that we could distribute the money, which was going to yield around $30,000 a year. We decided that we wanted to make it a large enough scholarship amount that it could really make a difference,” said Dr. Tim Crawford, dean of the College of Christian Studies, adding that one of the primary concerns for students and their parents is

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whether they will find a job that will support them following graduation. With this in mind, administrators felt that the funds would be especially beneficial to rising juniors and seniors, in the effort to reduce the amount of debt they would carry with them once they completed their degree. It was decided that the funds would be split into six $5,000 scholarships, with three of the scholarships awarded to juniors and three awarded to seniors.

These students must have maintained a 3.0 cumulative GPA and be preparing for ministry in a Texas Baptist church.

“We wanted this scholarship to benefit our majors who are preparing for ministry in local churches,” Crawford said. “Many people aren’t aware of this, but Texas Baptist churches are facing a serious lack of people for the number of positions they have open. There are a lot of churches in Texas, and many of them are doing without ministers right now. We hope this scholarship shows our commitment to ministering to local churches by helping students to finish school and get into churches to start serving.”

The following pages feature the stories of three of the first recipients, who were named Slough Scholars in the fall of 2013.

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K R IS T IN MERCER Not only did Christian Studies major Kristin Mercer graduate from UMHB in just two and a half years, but she also maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout her college career. She was named a Slough Scholar during her last semester in college.

“The scholarship really helped me financially last fall,” Mercer said. “We didn’t have to pay much at all for my last semester, which was such a blessing and allowed me the luxury of just focusing on studying and keeping my good grades up.”

Growing up in Belton as the daughter of a pastor, Mercer was already familiar with the UMHB campus when she chose it as her college.

“I was involved in choir through the UMHB Conservatory when I was little and came to football games, so UMHB has always been home. When I felt the Lord’s call on my life for ministry, UMHB naturally seemed like the right place to be.”

As a student, Mercer was involved in the Baptist Student Ministry’s leadership council, helped with Easter Pageant, and played in the Cru spirit band. She is currently enrolled in Truett Seminary in Waco and plans to serve as a children’s minister one day.

“I changed a lot in the two and a half years that I was at UMHB—I came in at 17 and left at 20. I benefited so much from having such amazing professors and BSM leaders in my life to help me grow both spiritually and academically. I know that I still have a lot of growing up to do, but it was great to have such godly examples in my path as I set a foundation for this next chapter of my life.”

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K A R L BAKER This semester, Slough Scholar Karl Baker has a very important role to play. In April, Baker will portray Jesus in UMHB’s 75th Annual Easter Pageant.

“Being selected for this role helped me become more aware of how people look to us as Christians to be an example of Christ to the world.

Since growing out my beard for the role, no matter where I go—even just walking to class—everybody knows who I am representing. I stand out because of the way I look. It is a responsibility, but I am humbled to have the opportunity,” Baker said.

The role took on a new meaning this December when Baker traveled with UMHB professor Dr. Steve Wyrick and other students on a study abroad trip to Israel and Jordan.

“It was absolutely the trip of a lifetime. Seeing the sites where Jesus’ ministry took place really brought it home—this is where it happened.

I could imagine scripture coming to life, which I know will enhance the pageant experience even more for me.”

The senior Christian ministry major grew up in Pennsylvania and then moved to Graham, Texas, as a junior in high school. After looking at schools across the country, he ultimately decided on UMHB, thanks in part to the reputation of the College of Christian Studies.

“Seventy-five percent of the learning comes from the classroom setting with the wonderful professors we have, but there is also so much that comes from engaging with other students and the discussions that happen in and after class. That balance of both the classroom setting and building relationships with other students is what has really defined the UMHB experience for me.”

Baker plans to graduate this May, then marry his high school sweetheart Melanie, who is also a senior at UMHB, early this summer. The couple will then move to Chicago so Baker can attend Moody Theological Seminary to prepare to serve in full-time pastoral ministry.

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L EAH WHITE Junior Christian studies major Leah White has a heart for serving the Lord.

She doesn’t yet know quite where that passion will take her, and she is okay with that.

“I am at a point of knowing where my heart is; now it’s just a matter of the doors that God opens, so I am staying alert to that. I don’t have a specific path yet, but I know that my desire is to serve the Lord any way that I can.

And wherever that takes me, I will go,” she said.

This approach hasn’t failed her yet. In fact, this was how the Georgetown native found herself at UMHB in the first place.

“In high school, I was a Questbridge Scholar, which is a select group of students across the country who are high-achieving, low-income students. A lot of us are first-generation college students, so we may not have parental guidance on how to prepare for college. This program shows you college options across the United States and provides assistance with applications.”

Because of this program, White assumed she would attend college across the country. Although UMHB is only about 40 minutes away from her hometown, it wasn’t even on her radar until a friend suggested she apply.

“I took the suggestion as a fleeting idea, but then God moved in my heart and urged me to really consider this place. And in the process of touring UMHB, I felt Him saying, ‘Child, I have this plan for you here, and it’s going to be beautiful.’”

White now serves as the college missions intern at First Baptist Belton.

Her position helps connect college students with the rest of the church by informing them of upcoming mission trips and other opportunities to serve.

White said being named as a Slough Scholar came in perfect timing.

“I was looking at how I was going to continue going to school so this scholarship was well-needed. It served as a peace and a comfort, knowing that the Lord is taking care of me in little ways, preparing me for His blessings. It has just taken just a few more worries away.”

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Dr. Mickey Little celebrates the unveiling of the Mickey Little Endowed Scholarship plaque with friends at the university during a luncheon this past November.

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the gift of

adventure

BY JASMINE SIMMONS

BELOVED FORMER PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROFESSOR ESTABLISHES SCHOLARSHIP FOR EXSS MAJORS

DR. MILDRED “MICKEY” LITTLE IS REGARDED AS A LEGEND by many on campus for her 16 years of faithful devotion to the university’s athletic department. From 1955 to 1971, she coached nearly every sport on campus and served as the head of the Department of Health and Physical Education for seven years.

“My goal was always to help build an outstanding health and physical education program so that our graduates were qualified to become outstanding teachers and coaches,” she said.

Before leaving UMHB to teach at Texas A&M University in 1971, Little was named an honorary alumna. She went on to found and direct the Outdoor Education Institute, an outdoor leadership program, and co-founded the Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Program at TAMU. During her time at UMHB, Little frequently assisted students who struggled to pay their college fees, so it was fitting when she decided to establish a scholarship to continue helping future generations of students. Little said this scholarship is a way for her to pay forward the generosity of her older brother who covered all of her college expenses while she was a student at the University of Texas. The Mickey Little Endowed Scholarship is designated for Exercise and Sport Science students in need of financial assistance.

“I would hope that the students who are awarded the Mickey Little Endowed Scholarship are all-around good students who are enthusiastic about living a good life,” she said.

Little herself has taken advantage of every opportunity to “live a good life.” Always up for an adventure, she celebrated her 79th birthday by going sky diving. An avid camper, backpacker, and canoeist, her life has been devoted to traveling and teaching others.

“I love the challenge of teaching those who seem destined to become couch potatoes and helping them to become enthusiastic about outdoor adventure activities,” she said.

Little enjoys visiting new places to take photographs and collect data for camping and hiking guides. She has written material for national parks and several states including Texas, Florida, California, and Colorado.

She is now enjoying retirement in the log home she built just outside of Pedernales Falls State Park in Johnson City, Texas. She maintains a passion for outdoor recreation and offers her estate as a location for day-outings for youth groups near the Austin area. She has also served on 20 different mission teams and has led youth and adult canoe trips on the Guadalupe River.

“My life’s passion is working with young people and teaching them the joy of giving their very best in all they attempt.”

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difference mak FORMER DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ESTABLISHES ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP TO INFLUENCE A NEW GENERATION

BY JESSA GRASSI MCCLURE ’08 DR. GEORGE WALTHER HELPED CREATE THE UMHB COLLEGE of Business with his dynamic and Biblically-based teaching strategies and became the first dean of the college. And now, he is making an impact once more by donating an endowed scholarship to help not only future business men and women, but also those who are going into the ministry. Walther wants to especially encourage female students who are going into full-time ministry in honor of his late wife, Emily, who dedicated her life to the ministry.

Before coming to UMHB, Walther and his wife spent many years ministering to married couples and instilling their philosophy of equal partnership marriage.

“God gave Emily the message to start this ministry,” the former dean said. “It was my privilege to share that vision with her.”

Their message inspired many couples throughout their years of service, and when Walther was hired by UMHB in 1985, he brought his philosophies and Bible-centric teachings to the business department, influencing hundreds of students, including future UMHB president Randy O’Rear.

“Dr. Walther was a tremendous influence on me during my time as an undergraduate student at UMHB,” O’Rear said. “I was enrolled in the first class he taught here, and it was easy to see that he was a man of great faith who cared deeply about each and every one of his students’ success.”

The influential professor eventually became the first dean of 10

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the College of Business and spent the next 20 years guiding students to careers that were built on a foundation of Biblical truth.

“When I taught ethics in the business college, I would teach the Old Testament passage that says, ‘What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?’” Walther said. “I would tell the students that when they left Mary Hardin-Baylor, if they would try to do justice, put down evil, love mercy, and walk humbly with God all of their days, they would truly be difference makers.”

Now, through the Emily N. and George H. Walther Endowed Scholarship, more students will get the opportunity to become “difference makers.”

“This endowed scholarship is a tremendous blessing to UMHB and will touch countless lives,” O’Rear said. “It is very fitting that it is also named for Emily, because she was the number one priority in Dr. Walther’s life. The Walther name and legacy will live on forever through this generous investment in scholarships for our students.”

While Walther knows the scholarship will help students financially, he also hopes that it blesses them spiritually.

“I hope that the recipients will experience some of the love that comes with the scholarship. If I get the chance to meet the recipients in person, I would love to give them a big hug, pray for them, and let them know that we really love them.”

akers “The Walther name and legacy will live on forever through this generous investment in scholarships for our students.”

- DR. RANDY O’REAR President

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900 College Street • Belton, Texas 76513

Momentum: The Campaign for Mary Hardin-Baylorr is focused on raising $60 scholarships endowments, endowments and million for scholarships, new facilities. As of Dec. 31, 2013, a total of $52.6 million has been raised.