East Texas Baptist University met Tuesday with members of the Nu-Town Revitalization Group (NRG), a local non-profit organization that strives to promote social, educational, and economic awareness to improve the Marshall community. University President J. Blair Blackburn presented co-founders Chris Frazier, Tasha Williams, and Anna Ansari with a donation of $1,500 toward the creation of NRG’s forthcoming Educational Resource Center and Youth Recreation Center.

East Texas Baptist University hosted a group of prospective students and their families on Monday, October 12, for the first Preview Day of the 2020-2021 academic year. Students interested in attending ETBU can visit campus and receive a comprehensive overview of life at ETBU through admission and financial aid sessions, academic showcases, campus tours, student life panels, and a chapel worship service. For those who may have missed the chance to attend the October Preview Day, the University is hosting a Tiger Day coming up on Saturday, November 14, 2020.

East Texas Baptist University held its Spring 2020 Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, June 13, at 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn presided over the socially distanced ceremonies as 173 students received undergraduate degrees and 20 earned graduate degrees, for a total of 193 graduates. Students were allowed to choose their participation style either “in-person” or “virtual” at the celebratory worship services.

As East Texas Baptist University makes plans to begin the Fall 2020 semester, ETBU is striving to make quality, Christian education even more affordable and accessible amid the challenging economic times facing our country. East Texas Baptist is reducing the graduate tuition rate by 50% and expanding degree programs in order to serve and meet the increased needs for higher education in the East Texas region.

Haley Harmening, a senior worship studies major from Richmond, Texas, was crowned as the 64th Miss ETBU on Wednesday, April 22. Harmening, who is actively involved at ETBU and in the surrounding East Texas community, was selected from 8 contestants during the annual pageant sponsored by ETBU’s Student Government Association. Sophomore speech communication major Bailey Snow was selected as first runner up, and junior elementary education major Cayce Billingsley was selected as second runner up.