HBU December 2003 40 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE From the President his year marks an important milestone in the history of Houston Baptist University – the 40th anniversary of its first entering class in 1963. To that end, we are recognizing a year-long celebration of the growth this institution has experienced over the years.T Starting with our Opening Convocation in the fall to our commencement ce r emonies at the end of the year, we will honor our past, embrace what we have become and consider how we will grow in the future. Dr . Ron Ellis, a 1977 graduate and president of California Baptist University, kicked- of f the year-long celebration as he returned to campus for Opening Convocation. Ago o d friend and proud alumnus of the University, Ron shared his HBU experience and how the relationships he built during those years made an impact on his educational journey. The Spirit of Excellence Gala and Founders’ Day Convocation also marked the occasion as our four living Founding Fathers — Senator Lloyd Bentsen Jr., Jake Kamin, Don McMillian and Dr. Stewart Morris — were honored with the Spirit of Excellence Awa r d; and all living Founding Fathers, Founding Trustees and current and past trus t e e s we r e invited to return to campus for a special Founders’ Day celebration held in their ho n o r . This issue of the HBU News begins a ret r ospective series on the changing face of the campus … from student life, academics and spiritual life to athletics and the development of the physical plant, HBU is maturing as the Christian institution envisioned by its Founding Fathers — one, however, that has remained steadfast in its mission to serve as a witness to Jesus Christ. Looking back on the more than 40 years since Houston Baptist University’s founding, one can see a history rich with the many people who have built the institution fr om the ground up — founders who shared a vision for a Baptist college in southeast Texas, administrators who have executed the University’s mission, trustees who have guided and counseled the University leadership, faculty who have planted and nurtured the seeds of knowledge in the next generation, staff who have provided the needed support for consistent University operations, students who have made up the life-blood of the institution, alumni who have gone on to become leaders in their chosen prof e s s i o n s and of course, the many friends who have supported the University with their time and res o u r ces. All have woven a unique and integral thread in the fabric of HBU. Fr om the time our first class entered in 1963 to the time the 2003 freshman class joined our ranks, HBU has grown stronger with each passing year. Celebrate with us all that this year rep r esents and look forward to what the Lord will provide for us in the years to come. E.D. Hodo VOL. 41, No. 3 December 2003 EDITOR Contents Vivian Camacho BA’91 f e a t u r e s MANAGING EDITOR Candace Bush ’03 Founders’ Day DIRECTOR, DESIGN & GRAPHICS This year’s Founders’ Day featured Dr. Voddie 8 Nan Donahoe Baucham BA ’92 and paid special tribute to Founding Fathers, Founding Trustees, current and EDITORIAL ASSISTANT past trustees as well as faculty and staff celebrating Laura Mackey an anniversary year at HBU. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Megan Baumgardner ’05, Shaun Bradshaw ’05, Sarah Conn ’05, Jacque Cottrell, Spirit of Excellence Gala Rochelle Ferrada ’05, Judy Ferguson BA’67, With Karen Hughes, former White House adviser, 10 Tomie Lunsford ’04, Tracy Upton ’07 serving as speaker, Founding Fathers Senator Lloyd Bentsen Jr., Jake Kamin, Don McMillian and PHOTOGRAPHERS Dr. Stewart Morris received the Spirit of Excellence Bob Allred, Bruce Bennett, Candace Bush ’03, Award in September. Vivian Camacho BA’91, Dr . Rhonda Furr, Danny Heinlein ’04, Jincy Kunnacherry ’03, Mike Malone, Clay Porter SPECIALTHANKS 40 Years of Excellence In 1963 Houston Baptist College opened its doors to14 Patricia Bailey, Linda Hammack, Donna Payne its first freshman class. In recognition of that anniversary, HBU is celebrating 40 Years of VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING Excellence. This issue of the HBU News begins a Sharon Saunders series of features on HBU’s history. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: HBU News welcomes letters to the editor. Mail should be addressed to: HBU News, 7502 Fondren Road, d e p a r t m e n t s Houston, TX 77074-3298 or you can e-mail us at [email protected], and should include the writer ’s full 2 From the President 23 Encore & More name, address and daytime telephone number. Letters may 4 Campus Report 24 Updates be published based on available space and may be edited for 21 The Guild 26 Sports purposes of clarity. 22 The Paw Print 28 Alum-A-Gram HBU NEWS (USPS 252-660) is published quarterly by the Office of Marketing, Houston Baptist University, printed by SOUTHWEST PRECISION. Periodicals postage paid at Houston, Texas. o n t h e c o v e r POSTMASTER: Send address changes to HBU News, 7502 Fondren Road, Houston, Texas 77074-3298. As HBU celebrates the 40th anniversary of its 1963 entering class, this issue of the HBU News begins a series of retrospectives on the past 40 years. CONTACT US: Marketing . .281-649-3362 HBU complies with all applicable federal and state non-discrimination laws, and does not engage in prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, nationality or ethnic origin, gender, age, or disability in either Admissions . .281-649-3211 employment or the provision of services. www.hbu.edu Inquiries concerning this notice or the application of the laws referenced herein should be referred to the Vice President for Financial Affairs. Campus Report BAUMGARDNER RECEIVES PRESIDENT’S AWARD COAH OFFERS NEW MAJOR It came as a total surprise. She thought she was only going to The College of Arts and Humanities Nashville to represent HBU. But has recently put into place a new major – that wasn’t what happened. She Biblical Languages. received the highest award herself. The new major within the Department Megan Baumgardner ’05, a of Christianity and Philosophy is an in- junior majoring in Political Science depth look at Greek and Hebrew and Mass Media and the co-editor languages of the Old and New Tes t a m e n t s , of the Ornogah yearbook, was res p e c t i v e l y . The goal is for the students to named one of two recipients of the be able to read and interpret ancient texts 2003 President’s Award for including the Apocrypha and Dead Sea Excellence in Student Journalism by Sc r olls to help shine light on the Biblical the Southern Baptist Conference at te x t s . the Baptist Press Student Dr . David Capes, Chair, Christianity Journalism Conference in October. and Philosophy, said the intense look at the “Growing up, my brothers and Megan Baumgardner ’05 accepts the President’s historical languages “would not give them sisters were into sports and good at Award for Excellence in Student Journalism from SBC President Morris H. Chapman. the ability to speak modern Hebrew or it,” Baumgardner said. “I never Gr eek, but it’s more for education. found anything I was consistently good at except school and grades. To get this award, “W e started offering the major in June for something I have found I am good at, is awesome.” because we felt this major would better fit Nicole Dees BA’03, editor of the yearbook for the past three years and current students’ needs, and we are trying to adviser, was very proud of Baumgardner who is in her second year on staff. st r engthen the offerings of the department, “I don’t think there is anyone more deserving,” Dees said. “She made up for her especially if someone in the Christianity lack of experience last year with her heart, and she was the jewel of the staff.” department is looking for a second major.” Baumgardner is very active on campus participating not only on the yearbook, but For more information, call Sharon also as a Husky Pack Leader at Welcome Days, writing for the HBU News and enjoying Wiser at 281-649-3000 ext. 2212 ? academic success. ? STUDENT PUBLICATIONS WIN AWARDS ELLIS VISITS CAMPUS Keeping up with the standard set by previous student publications, the Or n o g a h yearbook and the Collegian newspaper have once again started the year winning awards . The Ornogah came away with not only the President’s Award given to Megan Baumgardner ’05 at the Baptist Press Student Journalism Conference in October, but also seven individual awards. Nicole Dees BA ’03, previous editor and current adviser, took first place in Art/Illustration and first place in Best Overall/Single Spread. Jessica Smith ’06 took first place in Club/Portrait/Academic and Heather Mooney ’03 took second in Sports Copy. Baumgardner took second and third place in Club/Portrait/Academic. Sally Ruiz ’04 and Shaun Bradshaw ’05 took second place in Student Life Copy. “It’s nice that a lot of different people won this year,” Dees said. “They all worked so hard and deserved the recognition they received.” The Collegian entered the Columbia Scholastic Press Association newspaper critique for the first time this year and won the Silver Medalist Award. The staff was 16 points from the Gold Medalist Award, but Alice J. Rowlands, Dr. Ron Ellis BA ’77 visits with Collegian Adviser and Associate Professor, Mass Media, was pleased with the results for President Hodo prior to Opening their first year.