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East Texas Baptist University celebrated the academic achievements of its students during the annual Honors Chapel awards ceremony held on Wednesday, April 22. The event recognized students for their dedication to scholarship, servant leadership, Christian character, and campus involvement. Students were honored for their induction into prestigious academic honor societies and received departmental Academic Excellence Awards selected by faculty members.
 
2026 Academic Excellence Award Recipients:
 
Perseverance Award | Sha’Destini King 

East Texas Baptist University inducted 42 students into the prestigious Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society (ALD) during a ceremony at ETBU’s Great Commission Center on Friday, April 17. A national honor society, ALD distinguishes first-year academic success with invitations to join extended only to students who obtain a 3.5 GPA or higher during the first semester of their freshman year.

East Texas Baptist University has received a transformational $12 million legacy gift from the estate of longtime supporters Lee and Willie Feagin.

The bequest of $12,000,000 is a gift to the University’s endowment and will provide ongoing support for the institution for generations to come. Lee and Willie Feagin were Baptist philanthropists from Tyler County, Texas, who prior to their deaths, established a trust to support the endowment of East Texas Baptist University. The testamentary gift is the largest in the institution's history.

After 13 years of faithful leadership, Dr. Gene Wilkes will retire as Dean of B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary at East Texas Baptist University, passing the torch to Dr. David Ritsema, who will step into a key leadership role as the seminary continues to grow and serve future ministry leaders.

During spring break, East Texas Baptist University’s Baptist Student Ministry sent a team of 28 students to participate in Beach Reach, a ministry outreach in South Padre Island. The ETBU students joined hundreds of fellow Christian college students to share the Gospel with those they encountered as they sought to meet their physical needs for food and transportation.