Mar
26
2012

ETBU Junior Will Hill Headed to Nationals


Posted by Tiger Pride in Honors, Student Life


He dropped the ball in the kitchen, and with a little draw and left, began the break and run that allowed him to run the table.  He followed that up by throwing me a four pack in a race to six, and put the match all but out of reach.

Most people wouldn’t have a clue what any of that means, but you can guarantee Will Hill, a 29-year-old junior at ETBU, does. Recently, he qualified to play in a national 9 Ball Billiards Tournament by winning the 2012 Association of College Unions International 9 Ball Region 12 Billiards Tournament played March 9-10.

During that match, he shot his way through the loser’s bracket of the double elimination regional tournament to win it all, beating winner’s bracket winner Jerry Yang of the University of Texas-Dallas twice to win the championship. “I won the championship by winning two straight over Jerry Yang, 5-1 and 5-2. He is a good player and had only lost two games in the whole tournament before he played me.”

With the winner of a match determined by the first player to win five games, he was down in one match 4-1. “I was down and came back to win 5-4. I had to get my game on in order to win that one.”

“I won the regional tournament last year as when I was a student at another university, but was not able to play in the national tournament because I ruptured my Achilles,” said Hill, who was taught the game by his father.

Hill is now looking forward to July when he will compete in the national tournament to be played at Indiana University-Bloomington. “Every region has five or six players they bring to the national tournament,” said Will. “The players I will be competing against are really good.”

It sounds like Will is pretty good, himself.

We are so proud of Will and wish him the best in July!

Way to go Will!  GO BLUE!

If you want a translation of the first paragraph, it simply means that the player placed the ball on the table after his opponent scratched, and with bottom left English, which spins the ball to the right, he made his shot. Then, he began to make each ball one after the other, not even giving his opponent a chance to shoot, knocking in each ball in order. He ended up taking the match after he won four out of six games in a row.
 
Information taken from a press release by ETBU PR Director Mike Midkiff.
Feb
8
2012

Seventeen Magazine Highlights ETBU Transfer Student’s Blog


Posted by Tiger Pride in Just for Fun, Student Life


Caroline Chabata is all smiles showing off her new ETBU shirt!

Choosing a college can be pretty tough.  There are so many choices to make and so many things to consider.  Degree offerings, location, quality, faculty/student class ratios.  The list could go on forever.

Oh yeah…and money as well.

And while mom and dad tend to look at facts and figures, students these days rely on what their peers are saying and thinking about college.  They wanna hear the story of someone who is going through what they are about to jump into.  In order to make the right decision on a college, they wanna hear someone their age tell them what it is really all about.

Someone like ETBU transfer student Caroline Chabata, who was recently featured in the “It Happened To Me” section on Seventeen Magazines website where she talked about her choice to transfer to ETBU.

Caroline had this to say: “It really did help to wait and do my research. I found out that this school gave out scholarships not only for academics, but also for Christian leadership. This means if you’re involved with things like helping out with Sunday school, or the praise and worship team at your church, you get scholarships! If you’re looking for an easy, generous scholarship, I would recommend looking at schools that correspond with your religion and offer scholarships for your involvement.”

Future college students really should check out those facts and figures before deciding.  But learning about scholarships like the one she mentioned from one of your peers seems to make such a bigger impact than simply a line buried in an admissions brochure somewhere.

Caroline talked about how she was a little nervous about starting this next chapter in her life.  Who came to the rescue?  Her friends, giving her advice on what to and what not to do.  “…’Do not fall asleep in the Quad’, or ‘lock your bike otherwise, it’ll end up in some tree.’  I’m looking forward to coming back over the summer with my own helpful tips and fun college stories!”

It is amazing to see how much social media like Facebook, Twitter, and even a blog-style section in the Seventeen Magazine website, have opened the channels of communication between these students, and even more so, that they understand the power of their stories and the great impact it has on lives.

We are so proud to have students like Caroline on our campus!  It is a great big world, but people like Caroline are showing others on a world-wide scale that there’s always a place for you.

And how was her post at seventeen.com received?  One commenter simply said this:  “WOW I’m excited to see what happens too! I’m happy that you were able to transfer with no hassle and find a university that fits you and your needs.”

Way to go Caroline!  GO BLUE!

Read Caroline’s entire post here at Seventeen Magazine’s site.

Feb
7
2012

97% Participation


Posted by Tiger Pride in Faculty/Staff, Student Life


Let me tell you something we can all be proud of! 97%

That’s the percentage of participation of the Faculty and Staff of ETBU in giving back to the University.

Each year, faculty and staff give to the Annual Fund which provides scholarships for students, and for the last 2 years, 97% has been the participation rate.

At a reception on Wednesday, Dr. Dub explained to the facult/staff in attendance that when speaking to donors outside the University, a common question is simply, “Are the employees giving back to the University?”  Simply put, the answer is yes!  Dr. Dub mentioned that really impresses them.

He also mentioned that the giving was an indicator that the faculty and staff are committed to the University.

We are excited to be a part of such a great university and are so proud of the giving that has gone on over the last year.

Way to go Faculty and Staff!  GO BLUE!

Jan
26
2012

.COM Represents ETBU & Honors a Hero in MLK, Jr. Parade


Posted by Tiger Pride in Faculty/Staff, Just for Fun, Student Life


Picture left to right, ETBU Admissions Counselor Stephanie Taylor, freshman Tafadzwa Charuma, Miss ETBU Crystal Lopez, junior Billy Overton, senior Ebony Watts, freshman Shanola Chalmers, Jayson Zo Jone, Barronique Alexandria, and freshman Chris Hendrix.

.COM recently entered a float in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade in Marshall and took home the “Beauty” award. .COM is a multi-cultural group that meets each week for Bible Study and participates in community service projects.  The float was funded by The Office of University Advancement.

ETBU Student Government Vice President Alvaro Copa spoke on behalf of the University at the day-time MLK celebration as well.

We are very proud of our students for participating in honoring a great American.  Way to go!  GO BLUE!

Dec
14
2011

ETBU Unveils Centennial Logo


Posted by Tiger Pride in Academics, Alumni, Athletics, Faculty/Staff, Just for Fun, Memories on the Hill, Spiritual Life, Student Life


100 years ago, the very spot where I sit and type this was simply a hill.  No Scarborough.  No Marshall Hall.  Not even the College of Marshall, which would become East Texas Baptist College, then East Texas Baptist University.

Just a hilltop whose destiny would be forever changed by the formation of the University we now know and love.  It has been an amazing 100 years!

So we’re going to spend this next year of 2012 honoring those 100 years!  What a better way to kick it off than with the recently unveiled Centennial Logo.

The logo was developed through collaboration with the Centennial Council, the President’s Office, and the division of Enrollment Management and Marketing.

The logo incorporates the official lowercase ETBU and name with a banner featuring our official school colors, the word Centennial, and the date of our founding 1912, and the 100th year, 2012.  The logo also features a symbol of the University, the Beacon, and the numerals 00 to create 100.

The Centennial Year will be a busy one, including 4 special editions of the Hilltop Magazine, all dedicated to various point of University history, a Centennial themed 2012 Homecoming, and many more events throughout the year.

Help us celebrate the Centennial Year of East Texas Baptist University!  Stop by campus, get involved in an event, and don’t miss Homecoming this year.

It has been an amazing 100 years and we look forward to the next 100 years!

Way to go ETBU and HAPPY BIRTH-YEAR!!

Read more about the logo here.

Sep
23
2011

ETBU Football Player Saves a Life


Posted by Tiger Pride in Athletics, Student Life


James Fugate, a Junior ETBU Football starter, recently had the chance to do something amazing: save a life.

James signed up on a list to be a bone marrow donor. Even though actually getting the call to donate isn’t as common as you’d think, it just so happened he was a perfect match for a patient. So to Baylor Medical Center James went to give.

It’s pretty cool how he’s keeping a very humble attitude about it. He’s pretty emphatic about people understanding that he’s no hero or anything special. He simply says he used what God gave him to help someone else.

He’s a leader on the football team. He’s a leader in his fraternity. He is a leader on the various mission trips he goes on, the last one to Alaska over the summer. He’s a good-hearted person who simply wanted to help.

For his wanting to help, for his humility, and for his actions, we are monumentally proud!

Way to go James! GO BLUE!

Be sure to watch the video above for the full story!

Sep
15
2011

Quads on the Hill


Posted by Tiger Pride in Honors, Just for Fun, Student Life


The Kent Girls. Older sister, Kallie, is in the center. The Quads (from left to right) Kinsey, Klaire, Kaitlyn, and Karson Kent.

On February 4, 1993, life at the Kent house changed forever.

That’s the day that Kevin and Jill Kent added quadruplets to their family of three.  What once was Kevin, Jill, and their daughter Kallie, became Kevin, Jill, Kallie, Kinsey, Kaitlyn, Klaire, and Karson.  And after years of sharing a big bedroom and wearing matching outfits, the Kent Quads – and the Kent Family – recently had another big day:

Move-In Day at ETBU.

“Our older sister came here and she fell in love with it (ETBU),” Kinsey said.  The quads came to stay with their older sister and found how welcoming people were at the university.  “We fell in love with campus, too,” Klaire said. “It’s a really great place to learn and to grow.”  “And we all four felt God wanted us to be here,” Kinsey said.

The story, originally by the Longview News-Journal, was picked up by the Associated Press and found its way into papers and news feeds all over the US and world.

We’re proud of these girls – all five (Kallie, and the Quads – Kinsey, Kaitlyn, Klaire, and Karson) – in that, though the attention of the world is on them because of the uniqueness of their family, what the world will really see is a family who loves God, is pursuing an education, and that the girls chose to pursue that education at a place that means the world to us, ETBU!

GO BLUE!!

Read the AP story at the ABC News site here.

 

Aug
30
2011

A Campus You Can Be Proud Of


Posted by Tiger Pride in Academics, Alumni, Athletics, Faculty/Staff, Honors, Just for Fun, Memories on the Hill, Spiritual Life, Student Life


We’ve nearly posted 100 stories that make us so proud of our Tiger Family. From academics to athletics, organizations to faculty/staff honors, we can truly say we have so much to be thankful for, so much to be proud of.  I’d like to add one more to the list:

Our campus.

Maybe you haven’t been to the Hill in years. For some, the last time they saw ETBU was the day the walked across the stage to receive their degree. If that’s you, then you need to come on back for a visit.

You may not recognize the place.

Is it the new Ornelas Student Center? Perhaps. This is a building that was promised to the students years ago, and now it is a reality. Students hang out, study, meet, worship, eat, and drink in this building. It is a beautiful building that fits perfectly with the architecture of the existing campus, but most importantly, it is a place the students can say was built just for them.

You need to come for a visit.

And then there’s the former Bennett Student Center, now called the Bennett Student Commons (BSC), a building built years before the current students were born (maybe even before their parents were born)! Though it has stood for nearly a half century, it was clear that it needed an upgrade.

After around 90 days of construction over the 2011 Summer, we were happy to open its doors for the start of the Fall 2011 semester!

And again if you are one of those who hasn’t been back in a while, you wouldn’t recognize it. A massive new facade/entryway on the north side of the Quad  gives way to a completely remodeled, greatly enlarged Caf. I was with a few students during that first day and all the could say is, “Are you sure we’re at ETBU?”

You need to come for a visit.

The entryway is in the exact spot where Phillips Dining Hall once was. Phillips has made a move to the lower floor of the BSC. The new entryway on the north side of the BSC leads into a classy, fine dining space in in the place of the old bookstore and post office areas and boasts stained hard wood paneling, recessed ceilings and lighting, and fine carpets – not to mention the fact that about three old Phillips could fit in the new Phillips. It truly will take your breath away!

You need to come for a visit.

The Murphy Science Building has new flooring, $200,000 of new scientific equipment, renovated labs including a biology class with attached lab. The unsightly power lines near Meadows, Linebery, and Mabee have been moved underground. A new statue, “The Divine Servant” is now just outside the north entrance of the Ornelas Spiritual Life Center. A new athletics facility, the Tiger Football Strength Training Center, will provide a space for Tigers to workout and serves as the visiting team’s locker room during the season. A new Faculty-in-Residence apartment has been created in the University Apartments. The Library has all new carpeting. Oh, and last season, the football stadium got lights which allow for night games at ETBU. We have two new masters programs, education and religion. Our enrollment is up, the best in five years, our students are happy, and our campus is as pretty as a picture.

Like I said, you really need to come visit.

So much has been going on. So many changes have been happening. The campus is beautiful and the buildings are amazing – it’s something to be proud of. But most importantly, what I always remember, is that, no matter how many buildings come and go, no matter how often faculty, staff, and students’ faces change, and no matter how long it has been since you’ve seen pines, oaks, and the hallowed hill, the light still shines, for academic excellence and for Jesus Christ our Savior.

It’s time for a visit. Come see what our Tiger Family is so very proud of.

GO BLUE!!

How about Homecoming 2011? The weekend of October 14th-16th ETBU will be alive with Tiger Spirit as we celebrate Blue and Gold Forever: A Legacy That Lasts. You can learn more here!

Aug
19
2011

ETBU Athletic Training Awarded 10 Year Certification


Posted by Tiger Pride in Academics, Athletics, Honors, Student Life


The ETBU Athletic Training department is relied upon by our coaches and student-athletes to treat problems, help keep problems away, and to help each student-athlete perform at their highest level.  They help each athlete be excellent on the fields and courts.

What is awesome is that the Athletic Training department, themselves, are operating at that excellent level.  We can prove it, too – not just from the words of our coaches and athletes, but from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).

The CAATE, from which ETBU gets its athletic training accreditation, has awarded ETBU with a 10 year accreditation.  Why is that so important?  Since the organization awards five and ten year awards, it indicates that our athletic training program, according to David Collins, ETBU Director of Athletic Training, is  “considered exceptional having met all standards required.”

ETBU Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Sherilyn Emberton said, “This type of accreditation signifies the quality efforts of the staff and faculty that support the athletic training program at ETBU. We are very proud of their accomplishments and celebrate this national recognition of high standards in program excellence.”

Proud we are!  Way to go Athletic Training!  GO BLUE!

Read the full story by Public Relations Director Mike Midkiff here.

Aug
19
2011

ETBU ATPE Receives Statewide Recognition


Posted by Tiger Pride in Academics, Honors, Student Life


The ETBU chapter of the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) was recently named the local unit of the year.

ETBU ATPE chapter president Amy Crumrine traveled to Austin during the ATPE Summit held July 20-23 to receive the award.

According to Dr. Mary Thompson-Price, the faculty sponsor, not only did the chapter have to submit a detailed report about chapter activities, Amy was interviewed by a selection committee prior to the conference.

We knew our education department was great, but we are so proud to see the department’s chapter receive such an honor on the statewide stage!

Way to go ATPE!  GO BLUE!

Read the full story here.

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