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The President’s Pen Dr. Armes announces retirement plans for 2016 ear Members of the Wayland office team. Baptist University Family, I am particularly thankful for the D Duanea and I are in our 15th Cabinet members who have partnered year of service at this wonderful institu- with me in the journey of the last 15 tion of higher learning. Our journey with years. They are truly gifted and passion- you has been profoundly meaningful and ate individuals. They know and embrace gratifying, and you will always have a very the dream that is Wayland, and under- Dr. Paul Armes special place in our hearts and lives. stand the unnumbered blessings we have President After careful and prayerful reflection received from the hand of Christ through Wayland Baptist University over the last few months, we have deter- the years. You can have unwavering confi- mined that it is time for the next phase dence in Dr. Bobby Hall, Dr. Claude Lusk, of our lives. As a result, I communicated Dr. Elane Seebo, Mrs. Lezlie Hukill, and with our Board of Trustees in their regular Mr. Mike Melcher. The school continues to meeting on April 23rd my intention to be in excellent hands. I want you to retire as Wayland’s president on June 30, The truth is, it is just time for this tran- 2016. Our Trustees have been very kind sition. Duanea and I have some grandchil- know that nothing and gracious in their response to this dren commitments to keep, and I have “ decision. multifaceted plans for retirement includ- at Wayland or in The coming 14 months will give the ing, hopefully, preaching more often. We Board an opportunity to engage in its hope to do more personal travel and visit my relationship search for my replacement, and perhaps some National Parks. Rest assured, we to provide some overlap between the new will not be idle! with our wonderful president’s tenure and my own. A search There is much to be done during my committee has already been named and last year of service. I will use my remain- Board is pushing us has begun its work in earnest. ing Footprints columns to highlight some I want you to know that nothing at of the opportunities and challenges we away... Wayland or in my relationship with our are facing. wonderful Board is pushing us away—just Wayland’s future is bright. In a day the contrary. We have loved (and continue of great educational flux and change, to love) our work at the school. So many this school is uniquely staged to meet “ good things have happened. I can truly the challenges/opportunities of the 21st say with David, the Psalmist: “The bound- Century with creativity and effectiveness. ary lines have fallen for me in pleasant All of us who serve here have such a clear places.” and compelling sense that we are in God’s I am deeply grateful for the support I hands. My own personal assurance of have enjoyed from our committed faculty that fact has never been greater or more and staff. Micheal Summers has been profound. a special friend and colleague through As always, thanks for your continued these years as he connects the university prayers for Wayland Baptist University to local churches. Mrs. Carolyn Andrews and for Duanea and me. We have been has been an excellent and loyal Executive honored to be a part of this incredible Assistant since the very beginning of my family, and will always consider ourselves tenure at Wayland. Gracie Glowicki (soon to be Pioneers! to be Mrs. Tyler Duggins) has been a Grace and peace, wonderful and energetic addition to my Paul Armes, PhD FOOTPRINTS, Volume 61, 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’89 , Vice President Danny Andrews, BA’72, Director, Alumni Development Executive Board Dr. Gary Abercrombie, BS’73 Kevin Carter, BBA’93 Rose Ann Chavez, BSOE’06 Brenda Gonzalez, BA’73 Mike Manchee, BS’94, MEd’97 Richard Miller, BS’87 Danny Murphree, BS’69 Daleyn Schwartz, AAS’85 Caren Smith, BA’92 Yolanda Vera, BA’83 Features Courtney Williams, BSIS’02 Danny Wrenn, BA’84 2 Taylor Olson uses pet to help cope with Post Young Alumni Board Traumatic Stress Disorder Sarah Langston, BSIS’10, M.Ed’13, President Shaney Brewer, BSIS’10, M.Ed’13, Vice President WBU alums finding success with their event Sarah Schmalzried, BBA’12, Treasurer 6 Kristen Reddoch, BA’12, Secretary planning business David Bush, MBA’14 Dr. Rebekah Crowe, BA’02 Shanna Donica, MBA’05 Dr. Dana West set to become first female Tara Fox, BA’08, MA’10 10 superintendent for Amarillo ISD Beth Hoffman, BBA’10, MBA’12 Ashlee Juarez, BSIS’09 Aubrey Pedigo, BSIS’14 Students teaming up to fight trafficking Crystal Rodriguez, BA’14 12 Rodrigo Silva, BBA’12 Amber Smith, BA’07 Johnny Terra, BBA’11, MBA’12 Also Inside FOOTPRINTS is published by the Association of Former Students at Wayland Baptist University. No outside advertis- 15 WBU Clovis moves to a new campus ing is accepted. Wayland Baptist University is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Wayland Baptist University is accredited by the South- 20 Alums cure through clowning ern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award degrees at the associate, baccalaureate, and 23 News in Brief master’s levels. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404- 679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Wayland 30 Sports Briefs Baptist University. Non-profit rate postage paid at Lubbock, Texas 79404. 33 Janice Beach-Hardwick fighting cancer Telephone (806) 291-3600. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to FOOT- PRINTS, Wayland Baptist University, 1900 West 7th St. 34 Thinking Out Loud 1291 437, Plainview, TX 79072. Wayland Baptist University does not discriminate on the 36 Class Notes basis of race, color, religion, age, sex or national origin in administration of its policies, admission policies, scholarships and loan programs, athletic and other school administration. If you have any questions or comments about Footprints, e-mail Danny Andrews at [email protected], or Jonathan Petty at [email protected], or write to us in care of the Wayland Alumni Office. A Dog’s Life Taylor Olson and his therapy dog, Major, take a break in Pete’s Place. Major has been key in Olson’s dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Olson was injured in 2009 while serving in the U.S. Navy. 2 footprints Pet Therapy Taylor Olson’s therapy dog has helped him return to a normal life, attend school, and start a business with his wife, Jessica by TERESA YOUNG of the smaller environment, and I knew I had Director of Annual Giving to focus on a place where I can be comfort- able with people,” said Taylor. “It’s hard for isitors to the Wayland classrooms me to be in a room full of people I don’t these days might encounter a know. The college environment has been ex- Vstudent who is furrier than usual. tremely intimidating, but Wayland has been He sleeps through classes from time to time, really great about giving me the ability to but he’s friendly and everyone can’t help but come back to school and be successful. The love him. small class environment and ability to get His name is Major, and he’s a service dog closer to my professors has been good.” for Taylor Olson, a U.S. Navy veteran who is Having grown up in Plainview and attend- attending Wayland after suffering a traumatic ing Wayland concurrently while at Plainview brain injury in 2009 while deployed in Guan- High, Olson knew the smaller classrooms tanamo Bay, Cuba. would be vital to his ability to focus on his Major is a furry friend indeed, but he education rather than his surroundings. serves a vital role for Olson, who suffers from Since his injuries came at the hands of fellow Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and needs servicemen, he understandably has issues the dog to keep him calm in crowds or even with trust, and large crowds often represent to remove him from a room if his anxiety a high potential for personal threats to his gets too high. After two years of anger and safety. With a smaller room of friendly faces confinement to his home, Taylor trained and Major by his side, Taylor is able to relax Major – whom he and wife Jessica owned more and absorb the content of his classes since he was a puppy – to be a service dog, without the stressful distractions. opening the doors to a world of new oppor- Since enrolling in the spring of 2014, tunities. Among those was college, and the Taylor has mostly taken basic courses toward Olsons moved back to their hometown of a bachelor’s degree, bringing in some credits Plainview and Wayland to pursue the next he earned as a concurrent student and dream for Taylor. some work experience from the military. He “Wayland was important to me because is currently a sophomore and is a part-time footprints 3 student for now, majoring in science. Jes- sica, an LVN who is his full-time caregiver through the VA, sometimes accompanies him to classes. At Wayland, he has felt welcomed and encouraged. “My professors have gone above and beyond to make me comfortable and help me succeed, and that’s been really nice,” Taylor said.