April 15, 2016
MARSHALL, Texas (4/15/16) – East Texas Baptist University’s oldest, most honored tradition returned for its 69th year on Friday, April 15, 2016, naming the 2015-2016 Senior Girl Call-Out. The ceremony was held on the front lawn of Marshall Hall.
This year’s Senior Girl Call-Out is Gabrielle Besch of Bonham. ETBU First Lady Michelle Blackburn presented Miss Besch her award which was an engraved crystal vase filled with yellow Texas roses.
Miss Besch is an Elementary Education major with a specialization in English/Language Arts. Her parents are Jared and Jennifer Besch. She is a member of First Baptist Church in Bonham. As a member of First Baptist, she has volunteered in Vacation Bible School and the church’s nursing home ministry. She has also served as a Disciple Now youth, and children’s leader.
Miss Besch was a member of ETBU’s Student Government Association for three years. She has served SGA as secretary and the chair of both the Public Relations and Events Committees. Miss Besch participates in the Ornelas Bible Study, University Scholars Program, had as helped with the planning for the Miss ETBU Scholarship Pageant and Fall Formal for three consecutive years. She has been on the Dean’s List with Honors for five semesters and will graduate in May with honors. She plans to find employment in the Dallas area teaching elementary school, attending graduate school for Early Childhood, and marrying her fiancée, Levi Malone.
The Senior Girl Call-Out ceremony is a simple, but beautiful ceremony honoring senior women who best reflect the values of the University. The one “called-out” is a young woman who is courteous, kind, loves scholarship, appreciates beauty, and shows evidence in her daily living of spiritual perception and reverence.
Miss Sallie Duncan, then Dean of Women initiated Senior Girl Call-Out in 1947. The script for the ceremony, which was written by former librarian Dr. Mary K. Armstrong, has remained the same for 69 years. Armstrong also wrote the arrangement for the ETBU school hymn.
This year, 23 senior girls participated in the ceremony along with their “little sisters” who are underclassmen chosen by the seniors. Charlotte Keifer of Cypress was the little sister of Miss Besche. From all the senior girls who choose to participate in the Call-Out, the ETBU faculty and staff elect one to honor as the Call-Out recipient.
Senior Girl Call-Out participants were: Jordan Anderson of Marshall, her little sister, Mackenzie Fioto of Frisco; Jessie Boone of Dickinson, her little sister, Hannah Begs of Hawkins; Lynze Boriski of Winsboro, her little sister, Kayla Gaston of Marshall; Shelby Campbell of Channelview, her little sister, Katelyn Sowell of Channelview; Amber Carver of Lufkin, her little sister, Lauren Lee of Chireno; Morgan Garrett of Coushatta, La., her little sister, Taylee Alexander of Rowlett; Jayce Greer of Chester, her little sister, Mallory Kauffman of Sugarland; Alicen Guedry of Beaumont, her little sister, Madelyn Smith of McKinney; Anna Gutierrez of Humble, her little sister, Vicky Gutierrez of McAllen; Ashley Johnson of Troup, her little sister, Amanda McAllister of Frisco; Danielle Kenebrew of Lufkin, her little sister, Arlette Henderson of Houston; and Sasha Kotowych of Humble, her little sister, Erin Miller of Lumberton.
The others are: Erica McAllister of Frisco, her little sister, Stephanie Asher of Houston; Clarissa Montoya of Wylie, her little sister, Jaci Telles of Nederland; Crystal Rimes of Marshall, her little sister, Ebony Abrone of Marshall; Samantha Rios of Joshua, her little sister, Maria Franco of Longview; Lydia Sanchez of Marshall, her little sister, Elizabeth Coti of Longview; Rachel Sirman of Keithville, La., her little sister, Caroline Hayman of Houston; Stevi Slaughter of Longview, her little sister, Caitlin Alverson of Katy; Lauren Elizabeth Stevens of Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, her little sister, Paige Stevens, Cochrane, Alberta, Canada; Caitlin Still of Rowlett, her little sister, Rebekah Still of Rowlett; and Morgan Walters of Longview, her little sister, Bailey Weinzapfel of Rowlett.
East Texas Baptist University offers graduate programs in business, counseling, religion and education, as well as 40 undergraduate degree programs. ETBU provides a Christ centered education that emphasizes the integration of faith and learning. The ETBU experience is known for “Embracing Faith, Engaging Minds, and Empowering Leaders.” For information, visit www.etbu.edu.