News - 2025

East Texas Baptist University is expanding its support of local churches and the families who lead them through a new initiative: the ETBU Promise Scholarship for Children of Texas Baptists/Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) Senior Pastors. This scholarship provides a tuition-only award of up to $20,000 per year, totaling $80,000 over four years, to help the children of senior pastors pursue Christ-centered higher education at ETBU.

A new report from the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas (ICUT) reveals that East Texas Baptist University contributed $120 million to the East Texas regional economy, emphasizing the University’s role as a vital driver of local economic growth, job creation, and workforce development.

East Texas Baptist University celebrated a historic milestone with the installation of the Lambda Iota Chapter of Pi Kappa Lambda, a national music honor society, within the Department of Music and Theatre Arts. The charter installation and induction ceremony took place on Monday, April 7, in Mabee Recital Hall in the Jenna Guest Music Building.

The Lambda Iota Chapter was officially authorized by Regent James C. Scott, Past President of Pi Kappa Lambda (2002–2006), of the Alpha Alpha Chapter at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas.

East Texas Baptist University hosted the 2025 East Texas Regional Phi Alpha Theta Conference on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the Ornelas Student Center. This annual gathering of student historians provided an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students from across the region to present their research and engage in scholarly discussions.

The conference featured research presentations on a variety of historical topics, ranging from civil rights activism and political movements to wartime history and cultural analysis.

East Texas Baptist University held a special 10th Anniversary Chapel on Monday, April 7, to celebrate a decade of faithful leadership by Dr. J. Blair Blackburn as President of ETBU. The service, which took place in Rogers Spiritual Life Center’s Baker Chapel, brought together students, alumni, faculty, and staff for a morning of worship and reflection on God’s faithfulness to the University during Dr. Blackburn’s administration.