September 9, 2026
East Texas Baptist University held its annual Convocation ceremony on Wednesday, September 9, welcoming students, faculty, and staff to officially launch the 2026–2027 academic year. Dr. Donna Hedgepath, President of Wayland Baptist University and a fellow leader within Christian higher education, joined the ETBU campus community as the event’s keynote speaker.
Convocation is a longstanding tradition at East Texas Baptist University, marking the beginning of each academic year and bringing the University community together in celebration and anticipation of the year ahead. Through worship, music, and a featured message, Convocation sets the tone for the academic year and reminds the University community of its shared commitment to Christ-centered education.
“As we celebrate Convocation today, the beginning, we are really thinking about all the new things that are possible this semester,” Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Thomas Sanders said. “Regardless of your situation, Convocation is an opportunity to recognize what the verse in 2 Corinthians 5 says—‘The old is gone, the new has come.’ Today is a great opportunity for us to celebrate this new beginning.”
During her charge, Dr. Hedgepath encouraged students to look around at the people and resources God has already placed in their lives and consider how they can live out their purpose today, rather than waiting for a particular season of life.
“You don’t have to wait until you graduate, or turn 30, or 40, or 50, to live with purpose,” Dr. Hedgepath said. “It begins today, right this second. Your classroom that you go to after this can be a place of purpose. Your residence hall, house, or apartment, can be a place of purpose. The athletic field, court, or performance hall can be a place of purpose. Every ordinary moment can become an opportunity to serve in an extraordinary way.”
A West Kentucky native, Dr. Hedgepath received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Campbellsville College. Dr. Hedgepath taught middle and high school choral music and arts and humanities while earning her Master of Music in Music Education from Campbellsville University. She holds specialized training with migrant education and is an endorsed gifted and talented educator.
Following her years in public schools, Dr. Hedgepath taught for the School of Music at Campbellsville University. Later, she joined the School of Education faculty and completed her Ph.D. in Music Education at the University of Kentucky with a research focus on teacher quality. Dr. Hedgepath served as education professor, associate dean, and dean of the School of Education. She has earned numerous recognitions for teaching including Kentucky Music Educators Association College/University Teacher of the Year and Campbellsville University’s Non-Tenured Faculty Award and Algernon Sidney Sullivan Award. She also served on the governor-appointed Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board, where she served as Chair. While at Campbellsville University she served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
“We thank Dr. Hedgepath for challenging our faculty, staff, and most importantly our students with the Fall 2026 Convocation charge,” ETBU President Dr. J. Blair Blackburn said. “We are blessed to call her a dear friend and collaborative partner in Christ-centered education. We have a common call to serve in Kingdom education, and we are grateful the Lord brought her from Kentucky to the great state of Texas.”
Convocation also included the annual dedication of ETBU's undergraduate classes, overseen by Assistant Provost Ms. Elizabeth Ponder. This student-led commissioning featured Scripture readings over each class, followed by a student commitment to be a light that is recited by every student in the room.
As is tradition, the service each year features a dedication of ETBU faculty and staff, drawing from 1 Peter 4:8–12, where the Apostle Peter encourages Christians facing opposition to demonstrate love, hospitality, and faithful service to one another.
Following Convocation, Dr. Hedgepath joined ETBU faculty and staff for a special luncheon, where she shared more personally about the ways the Lord has guided her throughout her life and career. She reflected on being encouraged from a young age to pursue opportunities without placing limits on what she could accomplish, and talked about how being approachable and leading with empathy are at the core of her leadership style.
“It’s important to me—and we raised our sons, are raising our granddaughters, and share with the students at Wayland to believe the same—to be the nicest person in the room,” Dr. Hedgepath said. “When you have experienced failures and pain in your own life, you tend to be more aware of other people’s pain. I would always encourage someone in leadership to choose empathy, to be approachable, and non-judgmental.”