Outstanding Seniors Recognized
(L-R) Shirley Walker, associate professor of social work, presents Kay Anderson with a gift of appreciation for her years of service.
Social work, education and nursing graduating seniors were honored in pinning ceremonies held the evening prior to commencement. Thirteen students received their Social Work pin and three awards were given. The Academic Achievement Award was given to Laura Kuban of Terrell; the Spirit of Social Work Award was given to Tracy Benson-Daniel of Waco; and the Outstanding Field Student Award
New Trustees Three new trustees joined the Board of Trustees in February. The new members are Gary Heavin of Gatesville, John Messer of Belton, and Mary Priest of Salado. Gary Heavin is founder and CEO of Curves International, the largest fitness franchise company in the world. Curves has more than 8,700 centers worldwide and more than four million members. Mr. Heavin is also the author of several best-selling books including Permanent Results Without Permanent Dieting, Curves, and Curves on the Go. He has a bachelor’s degree from Thomas Edison State College, and he has received the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from TESC. In 2004, Heavin
went to Carey Glenney of Georgetown and to Bonnie Curington of Palacio. Kay Anderson ’63 was given special recognition for her more than 30 years of service in the department of social work. She retires at the end of the summer session. Eighty students were pinned during the Education Pinning Ceremony. The students elect two students to represent them during the ceremony by giving their personal reflections on the year. This year the students chosen for this honor were Kristal Boyd, of New London, speaking for elementary education; and Spenser Wiley, of Austin, representing secondary education. Thirty graduates participated in the Nurses Pinning Ceremony. During the program, outstanding graduates were recognized and given awards. The Spirit of Nursing Award was presented by U.S. Army Capt. Lauren Dowless to Jessica Wright of Leander.
The Golden Cross Award was given to Jamy Dillon of Leander. The Purple Heart Award was given to Amber Thiele of Crawford. Two graduates were awarded the Clinical Excellence Award: Seresea Mitchell of Temple and Kayla Ranly of Westphalia. The Academic Achievement Award, which is given to the student with the highest GPA, was presented to Emily Rackley of Greenville who had a 3.93 GPA. The recipient of the Laura Cole Wiley reflects Award was Spencer on his experiences in B e v e r l y secondary education. Torrecillas of Cedar Park.
was honored with the first-ever International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association Visionary of the Year award; he was named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year for the southwest region, and the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the national level. Gary and his wife, Diane, are members of Highland Baptist Church in Waco. John Messer has been with the law firm of Messer, Potts & Messer since June of 1977. A 1970 graduate of Belton High School, Mr. Messer received his B. A. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1974 and his law degree from Baylor University in 1977. He is a past-president of the Belton Area Chamber of Commerce, Belton Lions Club and Belton ISD
Board of Trustees. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of First Texas Bank, Belton. Mr. Messer and his wife, Laura, are members of the First Baptist Church in Belton. Mary Priest attended UMHB in 1968-69. She and her late husband, Redge, were in the stocker-feeder business close to Moody. She continues to be associated with Priest Cattle Company which is run by her son. A member of First Baptist Church in Salado, Priest has spent many years teaching Sunday School and the last ten years teaching the adult singles. She served as a member of the community action group for the Salado school bond issue. Originally from Round Rock, Mary has two grown children and six grandchildren. UMHB LIFE
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