October 18, 2025
East Texas Baptist University celebrated Homecoming 2025 by welcoming alumni and friends to on-campus festivities Friday, October 17, through Saturday, October 18. Throughout the week, the University held a variety of events that engaged students in faith and friendship, including pumpkin painting, Conversations with the President, trivia Tuesday, Powder Puff games, and Western dancing.
“It’s always a joy to look across Baker Chapel and see generations of Tiger students, graduates, faculty, and friends gathered together in celebration, worship, and fellowship,” President J. Blair Blackburn said. “Whether we reflect on times past in the days of the College of Marshall, or whether you studied at East Texas Baptist College or East Texas Baptist University, we are united today by the same Christ-centered mission that continues to shape minds and spirits here on this sacred Hill.”
On Friday morning, ETBU students and alumni gathered for the annual Homecoming Chapel service to honor the 2025 Golden Blazers, Alumni Awards recipients, Golden Lightkeeper Award recipient, and the class of 1975. Since the program’s inception in 2010, 109 members have been presented with ETBU’s traditional Golden Blazer as a symbol of leadership, spiritual authority, and God’s blessing. These ambassadors have provided generous financial support and countless volunteer hours to ETBU. The 2025 Golden Blazers are Jean (Atkinson) Davis (’97), Ruth (Atkinson) Hoffman (’77), and Billy Hoffman (’77). This year's Alumni Awards honored Steve Akin (’73) with the Unsung Hero Award and Joshua Zamora (’10) with the Young Alumnus Award; Laura (Hopkins) Sammons (’98) accepted the J. Wesley Smith Achievement Award, Dr. Randall O’Brien (’85) was awarded the Alumni Achievement Award, and Claudia and Mac Abney were honored with the W.T. Tardy Service Award.
“Students, you are each finding an edge in your future, whether it is a career that you can't picture yet, a calling you don't feel quite ready for, or just a challenge that is too high,” Sammons said. “But what I challenge you today is when you find yourself at that edge, whatever it may be, lean into the faith and the foundation that you're building here at ETBU. Because you are getting everything you need to be able to take that step and not just step off the edge, but to soar.”
Alumna Jeanne (Gibbs) Gray (’70) was honored with the Golden Lightkeeper Award, a distinction reserved for alumni who graduated over 50 years ago and have made lasting impacts in their vocations, church, and communities. Mrs. Jeanne (Gibbs) Gray (’70) is a dedicated educator with 41 years of experience, specializing in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades, with a deep passion for teaching 2nd grade. She holds a Master's Degree in Library Science and has spent her career enriching young minds. Her husband, Dee Gray, was a math teacher for 49 years. Mrs. Gray has two daughters and three grandchildren. Family, church, and education have always been central to Mrs. Gray’s home life.
“In 1966, a very shy, quiet girl looked up at the East Texas Baptist College archway and fell in love,” Gray said. “I fell in love with the campus, the people, and life on the Hill. By 1966, I found myself in Scarborough Chapel, shaking the hands of Dr. Howard C. Bennett, president of East Texas Baptist College. He handed me my diploma, and he said, ‘Jeanne, life is going to get even better.’ As I walked across the stage, I realized East Texas Baptist College had prepared me for my life career. Not only that, ETBC had given me confidence to pursue my dreams.”
During the two-day celebration, the Tiger Family enjoyed a variety of activities, including a Jazz Band concert, ETBU theatre production, Tiger Pep Rally, Late Night Breakfast, Decade Reunions, the Tiger Family Carnival and Tailgate, and ETBU Tiger Football, Volleyball, and Soccer.
“It's so wonderful to come back and touch base with my old classmates. I have enjoyed reminiscing and visiting the campus,” Debbie (Ross) Kuss (’75) said. “We're planning this afternoon to go and look at the new buildings and new facilities because we haven't been here in a good while, probably 15 years. It's way more beautiful than it ever was. That's not to say it wasn't beautiful back then, but it is definitely improved in appearance and, of course, size. I'm just delighted that the Lord continues to bless this place.”
The 2025 Homecoming Court was revealed during halftime of the football game against Hardin-Simmons University. The court featured Freshman Duke and Duchess Noah Zarate and Katelynn Scott; Sophomore Duke and Duchess Mason Stancliff and Kirbee Webb; Junior Duke and Duchess Clayton Darby and Annsleigh Stewart; and Senior Duke and Duchess Carlos Jaral and Darcie Palmer. ETBU seniors Max Karseno and Christina Walbridge were crowned the 2025 Homecoming King and Queen.
“It means the world to be voted for this honor by my fellow classmates and students at ETBU,” Karseno said. “I am so thankful that God brought me to this university and the amazing friendships I have made during my time here on the Hill. This experience is even sweeter because I get to do it alongside Christina, and we can cap off our senior year together.”
The King and Queen were nominated for embodying the qualities of a Christian leader, scholar, and servant. Max Karseno is a Carrollton, Texas native, majoring in Sport Management. He is a member of Mobberly Baptist Church in Marshall. A dedicated student-athlete, Karseno is a member of the 2025 ASC Championship ETBU Men’s Tennis team and was named tournament MVP. During his time as a Tiger, he has earned All-ASC Second Team (2024) and All-ASC Academic honors in both 2023 and 2024. Beyond athletics, Max is on the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) leadership team, is part of the campus Intramural staff, contributes to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, is involved in the MARSH PITT, serves as a Tiger Camp leader, and mentors fellow students as a Thrive Peer Mentor. Christina Walbridge is a senior nursing major from Plano, Texas. She is an active member of Mobberly Baptist Church in Marshall, where she serves as a children’s ministry apprentice. On campus, Christina is a Resident Assistant in Carlile Hall and has welcomed incoming students to campus over the past three years as a Tiger Camp leader. She is a member of the Texas Nursing Students Association (TNSA) and is also a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society.
“To me, winning homecoming queen is such a testament to the Lord’s goodness in my life, Walbridge said. "I cannot be more grateful for this community that ETBU and the Lord have given me, and being chosen alongside Max was just the sweetest gift.”