Never Forgotten The Easter Elephant has been on display at Wayland for 25 years (Mural painted by Dr. Candace Keller) The President’s Pen Family remains through growth and change randchildren are truly a gift land family. We are attracting more “first from God. Duanea and I have in family” college attendees than ever Gnow been blessed with four before. All of these students represent young lives in two Texas cities. We have an unparalled opportunity to change the two little girls and two little boys. Three future of our nation and our world with live in Lubbock with their parents Sarah the catalytic difference of a Christian and Tim Thompson and one lives in San faith-based excellent education. Dr. Paul Armes Antonio with her folks Ashley and Aaron We also serve significant numbers President Cox. of individuals who are called non-tra- Wayland Baptist University There are several interesting things ditional students. Most of these are about grandchildren. I never believed working adults who attend Wayland the names “MiMi” and “PawPaw” were classes during the evenings and/or on particularly appealing in sound until our Saturdays—after the work day/week grandchildren started using them as is completed. The average age of our I never believed descriptors of Duanea and me. It is also non-traditional student is about 36 years amazing that these little lives change old. It takes many of these individuals “the names “MiMi” every single day. Each time we see years to earn a degree, but when they them, we are amazed that in just a few do eventually graduate, they bring their and “PawPaw” hours they have grown and learned and spouses, children and, sometimes, their expanded. Each child is unique—though grandchildren to celebrate Commence- were particularly they are genetically similar, they are ment with them. If you’ve never been to individual and distinctive in nature and an external campus graduation, you will appealing in sound personality. Children and grandchildren find it to be a profoundly meaningful and are truly gifts from God! moving experience. I hope you’ll find one until our grand- Families are important. At their best, to attend soon. It will touch you deeply. they are places of growth and love and For many years, Wayland has also children started nurture. been committed to the education of our You are part of a very special family nation’s military personnel. We teach using them as called Wayland Baptist University. For on and/or adjacent to a large number more than 100 years (over 25 tradition- of military bases across our nation. We descriptors of al student generations!), this university support these students with the same family has been growing, adapting, caring and compassionate spirit which Duanea and me. changing, and expanding. We look very has always been a part of the Wayland different now as a faith-based institution experience. Often, our military students of higher learning than we did just 20 are able to continue their education at years ago. the university through our Virtual Cam- We serve large numbers of traditional pus (online) program. aged students at our Plainview campus. The faces of each of these 6,000-plus “ Interestingly, we are also serving more students are different and distinctive. and more traditional aged “commuter” students in other locations in the Way- see ARMES page 5 FOOTPRINTS Volume 60, No. 1 Editorial Board Danny Andrews, BA’72 Publisher Jonathan Petty, BA’95, MA’09 Editor Alumni Officers Tyke Dipprey, BSOE’96 President Stacie Hardage, BBA’90 Vice President Danny Andrews, BA’72 Director, Alumni Development Amy Loafman, BA’08, MEd’12 Features Assistant Director of Alumni Kristen Reddoch, BA’12 Single mom succeeds in justice Alumni Assistant 2 administration program. Executive Board Dr. Gary Abercrombie, BS’73 Easter Elephant celebrates 25 years on Kevin Carter, BBA’93 4 display at the Museum of the Llano Estacado. Rose Ann Chavez, BSOE’06 Brenda Gonzalez, BA’73 Mike Manchee, BS’94, MEd’97 The Hub is helping to coordinate efforts Richard Miller, BS’87 8 for Plainview’s non-profit organizations. Danny Murphree, BS’69 Daleyn Schwartz, AAS’85 Greg Feris resigns after 24 years as Caren Smith, BA’92 16 Yolanda Vera, BA’83 Wayland Athletic Director. Courtney Williams, BSIS’02 Danny Wrenn, BA’84 Also Inside FOOTPRINTS is published by the Association of Former Students at Wayland Baptist University. 20 Provences honored with Steinway No outside advertising is accepted. Wayland Baptist University is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Wayland is accredited by the 23 Brooks retires from Lubbock campus Commission on Colleges of the Southern Associa- tion of Colleges and Schools to award degrees at the 24 Young Alumni forms board associate, baccalaureate and master’s levels. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 25 WBU grad opens urban mission program for questions about the accreditation of Wayland Baptist University. Non-profit rate postage paid at 28 Athletics Wrap Lubbock, Texas 79404. Telephone (806) 291-3600. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to FOOTPRINTS, Wayland Baptist University, 1900 36 Thinking Out Loud West 7th St. 1291 437, Plainview, TX 79072. Wayland Baptist University does not discrimi- 37 Class Notes nate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex or national origin in administration of its policies, admission policies, scholarships and loan programs, If you have any questions or comments about Footprints, athletic and other school administration. e-mail Danny Andrews at [email protected], or Jonathan Petty at [email protected], or write to us in care of the Wayland Alumni Office. Brenda McCartie was fortunate. Being adopted at 9 days old saved her from what potentially could have been a bad situation and put her in a position where family, faith and forgiveness has helped her to accomplish her goals. Moving On McCartie’s next stop is law school by Jonathan Petty Thanksgiving, and Dr. Justin Law- course is taught like a first-year Director of Communications rence was summarizing the se- class in law school. Dr. Lawrence mester for his Preparation for Law said he covers topics that students renda McCartie, a senior at School students. The course is an will see in their initial classes. He Wayland Baptist Universi- intensive look at what students also challenges them, holds them to Bty, was sitting in the back can expect in their first year of law higher standards, expects more out of the class when her cell phone school – what Dr. Lawrence refers to of them and even tries to embarrass vibrated. as a “mini boot camp.” them in front of their classmates. It was the final time the class McCartie’s phone vibrated again. All things that Lawrence, who holds would meet, just days before The Preparation for Law School a jurist doctorate from the law 2 footprints school at Texas Tech University, says students will face in their first year. McCartie was completing the first se- mester of her senior year. She had already applied to several law schools, but took the class anyway because it was the last class she would be able to take with Lawrence, her mentor. McCartie looked at her phone. “I saw on there the dean’s name from (Texas Tech Law School),” she said. “It popped up with his email address and I thought that was odd.” McCartie wasn’t expecting anything from the Tech Law School until late December of January, when she understood the school would send out its acceptance notices. As McCartie has an aunt and uncle in Austin, Brenda McCartie’s she glanced at the email, she realized it was both of whom are attorneys. Hearing them 2-year-old son, Braylon, her acceptance letter to the School of Law speak about their jobs during summer visits is a big supporter of her at Texas Tech in Lubbock – a lifelong dream sparked the young girl’s interest. She still has decision reminding her, come true. papers from her days in kindergarten where “Guns Up! Momma,” McCartie will graduate from Wayland in the children were asked to draw a picture of upon her acceptance to May with a degree in justice administration what they wanted to be when they grew up. Texas Tech law school. and psychology. Becoming a lawyer has been While others were focusing on Barbie dolls, a pursuit of hers since an early age. As a rock stars or astronauts, her focus was always single mother, the pursuit of education hasn’t on being a lawyer. been easy, but McCartie’s driven nature and Local attorney Lanny Voss served as personal expectations didn’t allow her any the attorney when Brenda was adopted. He other options. She won’t even admit that maintained contact with the family through- it has been much of a struggle. It was just out the years, taking an interest in McCartie something she was going to do. And although and her education. When she saw Voss at a she admits to making some mistakes along community function or basketball game, he the way, with the love and support of her would always ask her how things were going family, fiancé D.J. Johnson, and son, Braylon, and would encourage her. she looks forward to continuing her educa- “He would always give me money to go tion and one day being able to help others get a coke or something,” McCartie said. “I who are in need. didn’t know he was a lawyer at the time, but I McCartie’s interest in studying law de- thought he was always nice.” veloped when she was very young.