May 8, 2016
MARSHALL NEWS MESSENGER (5/8/16) - East Texas Baptist University graduate Hoyce Mitchell said Saturday that he will always be thankful for his time at the Marshall university where he honed his basketball skills, earned an education and grew in his walk with God.
"ETBU helped me grow as a person, spiritually, physically and emotionally," Mitchell said Saturday. "Earning my degree makes me feel good because that's one more accomplishment, one more step in my life."
Mitchell now hopes to move on to the pro-basketball circuit, starting overseas first.
Fellow graduate Cordarius Williams, 21, of Marshall said he's already secured a job teaching and coaching in Mesquite.
"I love baseball and math," Williams said. "I was always the one people would come to in school for help in math. I also held the most stolen bases and runs on my team at Marshall High School. Now, I'm going to teach math and coach."
Williams said he too is thankful for his time at ETBU, where his Christian faith grew along with is knowledge.
"When I came here, I thought that statue out front was Peter washing Jesus' feet, now I know, it's about serving others and that statue is Jesus washing Peter's feet," Williams said. "I've had a great experience here and I know more about Christ than I did when I came here."
Baptist University of the Americas President and guest speaker Rene Maciel spoke to the 149 ETBU graduates on Saturday about remaining strong in their knowledge of who they are as they go out into the world.
"The struggle is not finding a job or getting into graduate school, the struggle is finding yourself," Maciel said. "The world will try to mold you and shape you into someone else. You will begin to ask 'who am I?'"
Maciel said in times such as those, it's important for the graduates to remember their maker.
"Mankind was made in God's own image," he said. "We look for ourselves all of the time because we are seeking him - his image. Students, take a good look in the mirror because you have a likeness of your heavenly father."
Graduate Leslie Martinez, 21, said she is excited to enter graduate school now at Louisiana State University.
"I want to get my masters in management so I can get into a management position with a company," she said.
"I really did enjoy my time here at ETBU though. The most fond memory I have is serving with Dr. (Blair) Blackburn and Dr. (Tommy) Sanders when we built a house for a family in Marshall."
ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn said it is that duty of servant leadership that he hopes graduates take with them in the world.
"We have a kingdom building mandate here at ETBU," Blackburn said.
(Used by permission www.marshallnewsmessenger.com, story by MNM reporter Bridget Ortigo)