News

Baylor University announced a $2.5 million gift from alumni Susan and Lee Bush of Athens, Texas, establishing, in part, the Lampsato Endowed Chair of Baptist World Missional Engagement and the Lampsato Endowed Fund at Truett Seminary.

I want to provide an important update regarding a recent matter involving a grant awarded to the Center for Church and Community Impact within the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work.

From Denney Willie to Davis Wendzel, no fewer than 48 Baylor Bears have reached baseball’s highest level over the last century-plus. Willie debuted in 1911, Wendzel in 2024, and there’s been a host of Baylor greats to reach Major League Baseball in between, including All-Stars, a Rookie of the Year, and a Hall of Famer.

So, who are the best Baylor alumni to reach the big leagues? That’s a question we first aimed to answer six years ago. Since then, five more Bears have reached the big leagues, and we’ve seen players stake their claim for a new spot (or a higher spot) on the list. So, we humbly present our new-for-2025 list of the nine best Bears in Major League history:

For the fifth straight year, a Baylor Bear was taken in the first round of the NBA draft — and this one went higher than any Bear before him.

With the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers selected Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe — making the Big 12 Freshman of the Year the highest draft pick in Baylor basketball history. The previous mark was held by Ekpe Udoh, who was selected at No. 6 by the Warriors in 2010.

What started with a brave leap from Hong Kong in 1959 has grown into a multigenerational Baylor legacy. 

When Nelson Yim (MS ’63) arrived at Baylor to study chemistry, he didn’t know the language, the culture, or what to expect. But he said “yes” to an opportunity that would change his life, and the lives of his future family.

Dog mom, author, entrepreneur—and proud Baylor Bear—Anna Reiman (BBA ’13) is on a heartfelt mission to share God’s love with the next generation, all featuring her mini Goldendoodle, Cowboy. 🐶 📚

Since graduating from Baylor four decades ago, Doug Rogers (BFA ’82) has truly had a fairy tale career.

From Friends and The Drew Carey Show, to Shrek and Tangled, to the castles at Disney Shanghai and Hong Kong (pictured above left), to Turning Point Ministries’ Why the Nativity?, he’s seen a myriad of projects come to life.

Charles M. Ramsey, Ph.D., B.A. ’97, M.A. ’00, associate University Chaplain and director of campus ministries and church connections, has been selected as University Chaplain and Dean of Spiritual Life, effective June 9. 

We could write a month’s worth of posts about recent Baylor graduate Kristen Nakamura (BA ’25). She was a Getterman Scholar, and a University Scholar studying English and math with a minor in creative writing. An award-winning poet whose Honors thesis and undergraduate research included translating the post-WWII haiku shared between her Japanese-American great-grandmother and her twin sister. Tutor. Piano teacher. BRH Choir member. Mission trip veteran. HRC College Council. Summa cum laude graduate. Phi Beta Kappa. Fulbright ETA recipient to Indonesia.

But for all of those honors, what Nakamura really wanted to talk about was the community and sense of belonging she found at Baylor.

The annual Alumni Awards honor graduates who advance Baylor’s mission in their careers and lives.

Baylor graduates are highly sought after in the workplace, with an impressive 91% placement rate of recent graduates in either employment or grad school. This success is in part thanks to BU’s strong relationships with top employers, and the Baylor Career Center’s concierge-style approach to recruitment that benefits both student and employer.

Recent data shows these are the top 10 employers hiring the most Baylor grads right out of school:

You may remember the name Deonte Epps (BA ’13) from a post we wrote a couple of years ago, as the Baylor alum was working his dream job at ESPN as a content creator. Today, Epps is not only a content associate (a promotion from his last role); he’s also an Emmy winner, thanks to his work with ESPN’s NFL Live, which won the Emmy for Outstanding Studio Show – Daily.

For someone who feels a personal mission to make the world a better place for children, there may be few better fits than Feed the Children, a global nonprofit which seeks to end childhood hunger. All of this made a significant opportunity at the organization just right for Emily Callahan (BA ’00), a Baylor alumna and longtime non-profit leader whose personal mission dovetailed with the organization she now leads.

Congratulations, Class of 2025 — you did it!

This weekend, more than 4,000 Bears — the largest class in Baylor history — celebrated earning their degrees, the culmination of the Baylor experience. Thousands of their friends and family filled the Ferrell Center for each ceremony, and countless more watched online and joined in the celebration via social media to honor BU’s newest graduates.

Will Critchfield’s student experience at Baylor led directly to working with cutting-edge technology in his field, then a connection with a prominent Baylor graduate, and finally, an impressive first job after graduation.

For Critchfield, a member of the Class of 2025 from Glen Rock, N.J., success has never been about coincidence; it’s been about faith, perseverance, and the unwavering support of his Baylor community. As he graduates from Baylor this week with a major in film & digital media and a minor in entrepreneurship, his next chapter will begin with a role at NBC.

Legendary comedian Jeff Dunham will bring his new North American Tour ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE to the Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion, Waco’s new premier concert venue, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3.

Camille Watson, B.A. ’22, has won the prestigious Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship – one of the U.S. State Department’s flagship initiatives for recruiting top-tier talent for Foreign Service careers. 

The 2025 Baylor Alumni Awards honor individuals who embody the distinctive mission of the University and their remarkable achievements.

Two takeaways from the Forrest Frank concert, the first public concert in Foster Pavilion:

1) If you get a chance to see Forrest Frank live, GO.
2) If you get a chance to see a concert at Foster Pavilion, GO.

Lauren Daigle, multi-award-winning country music singer, is set to perform in concert at Baylor University’s Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12.

Earning recognition as a Master Teacher at Baylor is a rare honor — the highest a BU professor can receive for his/her teaching. In January, President Linda Livingstone announced the lifetime designation for four Baylor professors, increasing the roll of Master Teachers to 33 since the honor was first bestowed more than 40 years ago.

Among the newest honorees is Wiff Rudd (BME ’77), a Baylor graduate and distinguished member of Baylor’s School of Music since 2002. As Professor of Trumpet and Brass Area Coordinator, Rudd’s students have achieved notable success — especially the Baylor Trumpet Studio, which has won six first-place titles at the National Trumpet Competition since 2009.

Believe it or not, it was 20 years ago today — March 24, 2005 — that America first visited the offices of the Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company. To put that in context, current Baylor freshmen had not yet been born. Yet here in 2025, thanks to reruns and online streaming, today’s college students (and millions upon millions of other people) have visited those offices again and again, to laugh (or cringe) at the antics of Michael Scott, Dwight Schrute, Jim and Pam, and of course, Angela Martin, played by cherished Baylor alumna Angela Kinsey, BA ’93.

In the two decades since the premiere of NBC’s The Office, the show and its characters have become American pop culture touchstones. But don’t get the impression that Angela Martin and Angela Kinsey are the same person.

Baylor University’s 2025 senior class has selected Don Carpenter, clinical associate professor of accounting and business law in the Hankamer School of Business, as the 2025 Collins Outstanding Professor.

Baylor graduate John Dillon (BBA ’93) has earned national attention as an innovator in the restaurant industry, and when La Madeleine was looking for a leader to drive growth and expansion, they called on the Baylor grad (who spent the last year serving Hankamer School of Business students in a meaningful way — more on that in a minute).

La Madeleine, a Dallas-based French café and bakery with 80+ locations nationwide (including one just down I-35 from Baylor’s campus), named Dillon president in January. The Baylor grad, who most recently served as founder and principal lead at HMS Growth Partners, previously spent over 16 years with Denny’s, first in marketing and then as the chain’s president. At Denny’s, he built a reputation for innovation, shaping the brand’s voice and elevating the diner chain’s perception through humorous social media posts and a re-brand as “America’s Diner.”

From dorm room songwriting to headlining at Common Grounds, Baylor played a key role in the start of Tori Templet’s (BA ’22) music journey. 💚🎶 That foundation propelled her to the national stage as a contestant on The Voice. 

Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business and the Christian Leadership and Ethics Office will host the second annual Armes Family Christian Leadership in Business Summit May 20-21 at the Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation. 

Jarrell McCracken’s innovative fusion of faith and storytelling launched Word Records, shaping the contemporary Christian music industry and leaving a lasting legacy.

Following the massive success of his 2024 national tour, GRAMMY-nominee and double Dove Award-winning artist Forrest Frank will bring his 2025 Child Of God Tour Part 2 to Baylor University’s Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 22. 

Baylor University today officially launched the Extend the Line Scholarship Initiative, which aims to raise $250 million by 2030 for student scholarships to help ensure a Baylor education remains accessible and affordable for both current and prospective students.

From Baylor to wartime research and industry, Anderson's groundbreaking work shaped the modern science Baylor researchers advance today.

College traditions are beloved on college campuses across the country. At Baylor, traditions are rooted in connection and community, giving students a lifelong tie to the University.

Discover how Baylor leaders have helped widen access to higher education across Texas and beyond.

From John Hill Westbrook’s trailblazing impact through today’s character development program, Baylor Athletics prepares Champions for Life.

For more than 100 years, Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business has integrated ethics and innovation with strong business practices.

Raise your hand if this has happened to you: You’re walking through the grocery store (or the airport, or Disney World, or the Great Wall of China…), and you spot that unmistakable Baylor green and gold on a shirt or cap. Then comes the universal nod of acknowledgement, if not the all-out “SIC ‘EM!” and “You went to Baylor too?!”

Those don’t have to be the only times you meet fellow Bears. Baylor Alumni hosts hundreds of events across the country each year, where alumni (and others) meet old and new friends, network, discuss Baylor news, and of course, cheer on the Bears. Naturally, the more Baylor people live in an area, the more events like these that city is likely to host — and not surprisingly, the top five metropolitan areas for Baylor alumni are all in Texas:

Ruth Parker Graves is a shining example of Baylor’s mission in action — a Baylor grad who saw a need and applied her calling to make a difference.

Country music stars Cross Canadian Ragweed and Turnpike Troubadours will co-headline a live show at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, on Saturday, Aug. 23.

Baylor faculty continue to advance materials science solutions following in the footsteps of this Baylor Alum’s contributions to space science and modern computing

The Buffalo Bills are playing this weekend for a spot in the Super Bowl — their first since 1994 — thanks in large part to a Baylor Bear.

Barely three years removed from winning Sugar Bowl MVP after Baylor beat Ole Miss, two-time Baylor graduate Terrel Bernard (BSED ’20, MSED ’21) is now the Bills’ starting middle linebacker. Before this season began, Bernard’s teammates voted him one of two team captains (alongside All-Pro quarterback Josh Allen) — a huge sign of respect for a young player.

New York City is the financial capital of the United States (and arguably, the world) — so it makes sense that Baylor finance alums might be gathered in the Big Apple.

Last month, the Baylor University Office of Investments — the folks who have managed the university’s endowment so well their success garnered national attention — brought together Baylor finance alums in the region for a special dinner, with plans to make the gathering an annual event.

If last year made clear that this is a golden era for NBA Bears, this season just runs up the score — with Baylor moving into the top 10 among universities with players currently in the NBA, right there with schools like Kansas and Texas.

No fewer than 11 Bears are currently on league rosters; a school-record 10 Baylor alumni have played this year, and one more just signed a contract that should allow him to soon make his debut. (Consider that from 1949 to 2010, a total of 10 Baylor alumni played in the NBA. In 2024-25, we’ve seen that many in just three months!)

Each December, Christianity Today announces the winners of its annual book awards, books CT deems “most likely to shape evangelical life, thought, and culture.” This year’s winners included a slew of Baylor alumni — especially in the “Culture, Poetry and the Arts” category.

Christianity Today recognized four books in this area — a winner, an award of merit, and two finalists — and three of the four honorees were written by a group of five Baylor English doctoral graduates.

The third annual reunion of the Baylor Black Alumni Alliance in Fall 2024 centered around nurturing connection, celebrating distinguished alumni and investing in the next generation of students. 

Alumni can rediscover their college home, visit familiar sights and see the new additions to Baylor’s campus on campus tours tailored just for them.

Baylor alumni at the center of the gaming industry.

🎓💚 Stephanie Mata’s Baylor journey is one of purpose, family, and joy. A social work major and family studies minor graduating this May, she knew Baylor was her calling the moment she visited, ready to pursue her purpose with confidence.🐻

Each year, the NFL recognizes one player with its Walter Payton Man of the Year award — honoring those who excel not only on the field, but also in the community by demonstrating “a steadfast commitment to creating a positive impact beyond the game.” It’s a big enough deal that winners get to wear a special patch on their uniforms for the rest of their careers.

This year, the league’s 32 nominees for the award (one per team) include not one, but two Baylor Bears: Andrew Billings (Chicago Bears) and Jalen Pitre (Houston Texans).

In 1995, John Morris (BA ’80) succeeded the legendary Frank Fallon (’53) handling radio play-by-play duties for BU football and other sports. Fallon had been the “Voice of the Bears” for more than 40 years, from 1953-95; Morris has now filled that same role for almost 30 years, calling everything from RG3’s Heisman run to the 2021 Baylor men’s basketball national title.

The two broadcasters now have something else in common. This month, Morris joined Fallon as a recipient of the NFF Chris Schenkel Award, awarded by the National Football Foundation to individuals for long, distinguished careers broadcasting college football with direct ties to a specific university or platform.

🎓 Barbara Walker (BS ’67), Baylor’s first African-American female graduate, broke barriers and built a legacy of service through her impactful career in social work. Her influence continues through Michael Johnson (BBA ’99), who established the Barbara Walker Endowed Scholarship in Social Work to honor her unwavering commitment to making a meaningful difference.💚🐻

Back in 2001, the Baylor University Rugby Team rucked, scrummed, and kicked their way to the USA Rugby Men’s Division II Collegiate National Championship, marking an unforgettable moment in Baylor sports history.🏆🏉

For the third time in six years, a Baylor Bear is the national student-teacher of the year.

That same Bear is also the Texas student-teacher of the year — the sixth time in nine years a Baylor grad has been so honored.

This year’s double honoree is Ashlyn Bergethon (BSED ’24), now an Algebra I and Honors Algebra II teacher at Robinson High School just outside Waco — the same school where she did her student teaching.

When Steven Follis (BBA ’10, MSIS ’11) saw the devastation brought to communities throughout Appalachia after Hurricane Helene, he knew he had to do something. North Carolina was home, and the need was great. Follis, a product manager at Intel who’s also a certified pilot, wanted to help.

Max Muncy already held the career records for most MLB home runs, runs scored and RBI by a former Baylor player. Now, he holds the BU record for most World Series rings, too.

Muncy’s Dodgers won their second World Series in his seven seasons in L.A. on Wednesday night, adding the 2024 title to the team’s 2020 championship. Muncy started all five games at third base, batting fifth in all but one game, as Los Angeles won the series over the New York Yankees, four games to one.

The Baylor Interdisciplinary Core was honored to welcome Priya Chandna, B.S. ’21, as the speaker for its annual Homecoming Lecture. Her talk, titled “A BIC Advantage: Merging Liberal Arts, STEM, and Nursing Excellence,” highlighted her transformative BIC experience and the ways the program’s interdisciplinary approach has empowered her to excel as a compassionate and skilled nurse practitioner.

In 1909, Baylor hosted the first collegiate homecoming celebration in the nation. This week, we again renew that tradition, as the Baylor Family returns to campus to “catch that Baylor spirit again,” as President Samuel Palmer Brooks famously wrote more than a century ago.

At Homecoming, Baylor rolls out the red carpet to welcome you — alumni and friends — home. It’s the biggest Baylor Family reunion of the year — all about seeing old friends, recalling fond memories, sharing those stories with the next generation, and celebrating together as one.

Whether you’re a Homecoming regular or this is your first trip to campus in years, you’ll want to start your Baylor Homecoming experience this year at the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center.

The Hurd will serve as “Homecoming headquarters” for visitors this week, with Baylor staff on hand Friday and Saturday to answer questions and help you connect with school/college/campus events — plus a host of activities, photo ops, student performances and more for Bears of all ages.

Usually a “Where are they now?” feature is prompted only after decades have passed — enough time for life events to accumulate that warrant such an update.

Brooklyn McKnight (BBA ’21) simply has too much going on to wait that long.

McKnight is half of the media wonder duo, Brooklyn & Bailey. The pair took the social media world by storm as teens, amassing a following of over 87 million worldwide. Brooklyn earned her entrepreneurship degree from Baylor a mere three years ago — cum laude, we might add — and already had a litany of accomplishments and life events under her belt before she could hang her diploma.

This year’s inductees into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame include a host of famous names from iconic organizations, such as Good Morning America host George Stephanopoulos, ESPN analyst Dick Vitale, and leaders from NBCUniversal, Disney, Fox and Comcast.

Among them is a Baylor graduate: Valari Dobson Staab (MBA ’84), a broadcast innovator whose influence stretches over 40 years, from local television stations to regional sports networks across the nation.

It’s been quite a year for Forrest Frank (BBA ’17):

• Hit No. 1 on iTunes worldwide chart (for all genres)
• Five of iTunes’ top 100 Christian songs for 2024
• Chosen as the soundtrack for Baylor’s 2024-25 commercial (our favorite honor, obviously)

Now, the Baylor grad has been recognized yet again, having won the 2024 Dove Award for New Artist of the Year!

From dreaming of Baylor to leaving her mark on it—Andrea Rowan (BA ’03) made lifelong memories as a student and now has her artwork featured in the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center! 💚✨

A year ago this time, Baylor was celebrating the opening of the brand-new Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center. Since then, the Hurd has become exactly what university leaders hoped it would become: the new “front door to campus,” and an important part of campus life for both current and prospective students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

A quick look back at the Hurd’s first 12 months:

Baylor’s unofficial Scriptural foundation in recent years has been Matthew 5:14-16, especially: “You are the light of the world… Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Both the terminology and meaning have shaped recent major endeavors, from the “Where Lights Shine Bright” and “Give Light” campaigns through the Illuminate strategic plan. Baylor’s next major efforts will continue the focus on those verses, this time on the reason we let our light shine — “so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

For Baylor fans who were there, it may be hard to believe that 50 years have passed since a young head coach named Grant Teaff and a now-legendary group of players led the Bears to their first undisputed conference title in a half century, pulling off the “Miracle on the Brazos” along the way. For fans who weren’t around then, they’re a team every Baylor fan should know.

Lots of events bring people to Waco in the fall: Move2BU, football games, Family Weekend, Premiere, Homecoming, Commencement… You get the idea. And the one thing all those visitors have in common? They’ll all need to eat while here.

For years, we’ve been writing up various guides for visitors to Waco. At last, here they all are, in one place — just for you.

Alumni represent and connect with Baylor wherever they are.

Rachel and Luke Whyte make Waco home for themselves and their community.

It’s now been more than 100 years since the first Baylor alum appeared in an NFL game. That would be Russ Blailock, an offensive lineman who made his debut with the Milwaukee Badgers in 1923 — just three years after the league was founded, and only a year after it changed its name to the National Football League.

This year, there are 14 Bears in the league to start the season: nine on active rosters, one on the injured list, and four more on practice squads. Here are the Bears we’ll be cheering on Sundays (plus the occasional Monday, Thursday and December Saturday):

Waco’s conspicuous growth over the past decade has seen options for fine dining grow and multiply. White linen tablecloths, impeccable service and haute cuisine are no longer an entire day’s investment, but can be found (with free parking and no need to valet) right here in Waco. Take your pick:

Three best friends raised their sons together—now, 19 years later, their boys are roommates at Baylor just like their moms were. Talk about a full-circle moment! 🏠🐻

A new school year and a new football season present a new opportunity to share what Baylor is all about. Baylor’s 2024-25 university commercial will debut on television during Baylor football’s season opener Saturday, but BU social media shared the spot earlier today.

The 30-second spot features breakout Christian music singer/songwriter (and 2017 Baylor graduate) Forrest Frank, whose music you’ve likely heard on Christian radio and/or TikTok. The commercial pairs one of Frank’s original songs, “Never Get Used To This,” with shots featuring the vibrancy and joy of the Baylor student experience.

An important part of Baylor’s growth as a Christian research university has been the expansion of doctoral degree programs, which have in turn welcomed increasing numbers of doctoral students. This year, that growth has culminated in a record — and a brand new Commencement ceremony celebrating student accomplishments.

Earlier this year, Pamela Tremont (BA ’90, MA ’92) was sworn in as the United States ambassador to Zimbabwe — the culmination of a road to foreign service that began at Baylor three decades ago.

At Baylor, Tremont earned her bachelor’s in political science and her master’s in international relations, during which time she was also a part of Baylor Ambassadors, the Foreign Affairs Association, and the Golden Key International Honor Society. Upon graduating from Baylor, she embarked on a career that has included stops at U.S. embassies in Turkey, the United Kingdom, Zambia, Cyprus, Ukraine, and Sweden, most recently as deputy chief of mission in Stockholm.

With the 2024 Summer Olympics complete, Baylor Bears are coming home from Paris with a school-record four medals (earned by four different Olympians) — continuing BU’s long history of Olympic excellence.

You might recognize Forrest Frank (BBA ’17) from his hit band Surfaces, which has dropped several iconic pop songs over the last few years. Their songs charted on Billboard’s “Hot 100” in the U.S. and nine other countries.

Or, you might recognize Frank from your favorite Christian radio station. His debut Christian album, Child of God, hit No. 1 worldwide on the iTunes charts last week — not just for worship, but across all genres.

Baylor basketball senior forward Jalen Bridges has signed a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns.

Steven E. Turley, PhD, recently appointed as the director of Truett in Houston, began his career in pastoral ministry and later earned a PhD in history. His passion for both ministry and the academy led him to find an ideal position at Truett in Houston, where he can combine his pastoral and academic skills and gifts.

In a recent conversation, Dr. Turley shared insights into his background, work, and aspirations for the future of Truett in Houston.

Baylor University has announced the appointment of Karen J. Foli, Ph.D., RN, ANEF, FAAN, as the inaugural Louise Herrington Endowed Chair in Mental Health Nursing, the first endowed chair position in the history of Baylor’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON). 

As Baylor’s Board of Regents holds its regular summer meeting this week, four new Regents are taking their seats at the table to start new terms: two serving at-large, plus one new Faculty Regent and one new Student Regent:

At least one Baylor Bear has brought home the gold in seven of the last eight Summer Olympics. Seven different Bears will look to extend that run this summer in Paris.

Those Bears will be representing four different nations: Brittney Griner (BSED ’19, basketball) and Avery Skinner (volleyball) for Team USA; current Baylor student-athletes Nathaniel Ezekiel (400m hurdles) and Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi (javelin) in track & field for Nigeria; John Peers (men’s tennis – doubles) and Kristy Wallace (BSED ’18, basketball) for Australia; and Nuni Omot (BSED ’18, basketball) for South Sudan. Baylor track and field head coach Michael Ford (BBA ’97) will also be in Paris as men’s sprints/hurdles coach for Team USA.

Baylor baseball junior right-handed pitcher Mason Marriott was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixth round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft Monday afternoon.

Baylor University’s Mathematics for Early Learners Academy, sponsored by the Baylor School of Education, is underway now at the Mayborn Museum on the Baylor campus through July 25 for students ages 4 to 6.

After two successful decades in the corporate world, Gabe Madison, B.B.A. '00, answered a call two years ago to serve as president of Bonton Farms, an urban farm in south Dallas that not only addresses food insecurity but also focuses on meeting myriad community needs, including health, wellness, housing and so much more.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing celebrated the 15th anniversary of FastBacc®, a 12-month accelerated track for a post-baccalaureate Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Commemorating the milestone moment, a reception was held after the FastBacc® Summer 2024 White Coat Ceremony on Monday, July 8, 2024. The festivities, attended by many alumni and faculty, included recognition of key donors and past FastBacc coordinators.

After 40 years as one of the faces of San Antonio’s KSAT, Jessie Degollado (BA ’72) is stepping out of the spotlight.

Degollado was one of a host of KSAT veterans to retire July 1, ending an era in San Antonio. Whether reporting on issues affecting San Antonio, South Texas or both sides of the Rio Grande, Degollado used her journalistic nose, her knowledge of Hispanic culture and language, and just plain hard work to keep the people of San Antonio informed for four decades.

Baylor University’s Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center is hard to miss as the campus’s spectacular front door right off Interstate 35 in Waco. Throughout July, the Hurd Welcome Center will serve an additional purpose for road-weary travelers: a convenient daytime Travel Stop offering a cool place indoors to take a break.

In 22 seasons as head coach of the Baylor women’s tennis program, Joey Scrivano has built a record of success as the winningest coach in program history. This spring, he added a new title to his resume: Baylor graduate.

Scrivano walked the stage at Commencement in May after earning his master’s degree in sport pedagogy. For a coach who consistently encourages his players to be lifelong learners, it was a chance to live out what he preaches — and it provided a deeper appreciation for the experience his student-athletes receive at Baylor.

Throughout the summer, Baylor head football coach Dave Aranda will join alumni and fans across the state of Texas on the Texas Tour.
 
Fans can join Coach Aranda for an opportunity to learn more about the culture of excellence that Baylor football is developing and what fans can expect to see on the field this fall. The following dates and locations are listed below:
 
July 16 – Houston Texas Tour
July 18 – DFW Texas Tour
July 22 – San Antonio Texas Tour

Earlier this month, the Baylor Facebook page asked its nearly 250,000 followers a simple question: “What’s the most random place you’ve met another Bear?”

More than 500 answers later, a couple of things became clear:

Something special happened in April when the Texas Rangers hosted the Oakland Athletics. Former Baylor standout Davis Wendzel had just been called up, joining a Baylor teammate, Cody Bradford, on the Rangers. In the opposite dugout, another of their former teammates, Shea Langeliers, was preparing to play for the Athletics. This is believed to be the first time three Baylor alums were all on active rosters in the same game.

That series highlighted just how special of a time this is for Baylor baseball fans, as five Bears have played in the big leagues this year, tying the single year high-water mark for Baylor alums.

For almost 20 years, legendary music executive Mike Curb has supported what was previously known as the Sports Strategy and Sales (S3) program in Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business. In honor of his longtime support, the S3 program has been renamed the Curb Sales Strategy in Sports and Entertainment (S3E) program.

Last week, business leaders and business researchers came together at Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business to dive into an important topic. They weren’t there to discuss revenue or industry disruptions; instead, they came to talk about faith — specifically, what it means to be a Christian leader in the workplace.

Over parts of two days, businesspeople of all levels took part in the first-ever Armes Family Christian Leadership in Business Summit, which featured presentations from a series of keynote speakers along with interactive panel discussions on the integration of faith and topics like innovation, inclusion, and ethics. Held May 16-17 inside Baylor’s Foster Campus for Business and Innovation, the event brought together CEOs, founders, leading researchers and others to talk about living out one’s faith in the workplace.

The Air Force ranks include more than 61,000 officers; only 108 of those have reached the rank of brigadier general. In December, Baylor graduate Randall Cason Jr. (BS ’95) joined that esteemed group — and he chose to return to his alma mater to mark the occasion.

Sixty families in rural northern Sierra Leone’s Tonko Limbo Chiefdom have seen their lives and livelihoods transformed, due in large part to Paul Conteh, M.S.W. ’15

After Jimmy Garza, Jr., B.B.A. ’97, ran into someone wearing a Baylor T-shirt in Washington, D.C., he saw it as a sign to reconnect with his alma mater. 

Before Matthew Pierce (BBA ’09) enrolled at Baylor, he and his mother had a conversation about how they would fund his undergraduate education. Unsure of where the money would come from, Pierce’s mother reassured him that God would give him more on the journey than at the start.

Looking to make it to the big leagues? Sure, you could be a first-round pick… or, you could earn a graduate degree from Baylor’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences.

Not one, not two, but three recent Robbins College grads have reached the pinnacle of pro sports just a few years after earning their Baylor diplomas — in athletic training, nutrition sciences and physical therapy:

Congratulations, Class of 2024 — you did it!

This weekend, more than 3,500 Bears walked the Ferrell Center stage to receive their hard-earned diplomas. Thousands of their friends and family filled the Ferrell Center for each ceremony, and countless more watched online and joined in the celebration via social media to honor Baylor’s newest graduates.