The Young Alumni Association's founding board was appointed by the former Assistant Alumni Director and after a successful first year this the association voted in their first elected board this past December. Association members elected eight returning board members and seven new members.

The returning board members are Tara Fox BA '08/MA '10, Amber Smith BA '07, Kristen Reddoch BA '12, Shaney Brewer BSIS '10/MEd '13, Rebekah Crowe BA '02, Sarah Langston BSIS '10/MEd '13, Rodrigo Silva BBA '12, and Johnny Terra BBA '11/MBA '12.

New members include Aubrey Pedigo, David Bush, Beth Hoffman, Shanna Donica, Ashlee Juarez, Crystal Rodriguez, and Sarah Schmalzried. Read more about our new members.

Along with voting for the 2015 Young Alumni Board, association members also voted on two different amendments to the association's constitution and bylaws. The first amendment allows elected board members to elect their own board officers, and the second amendment allows the board to re-elect returning board members.  Both amendments passed with over 72% of the votes. 

Dear Fellow Pioneers:

The "pulse" around campus is picking up with the return of our students for the spring semester. However, as cold as it's been lately, somebody needs to tell spring to hurry up and get here.

 Any time I see Wayland students holding hands I tell them, tongue-in-cheek, that public displays of affection are permissible only in the spring when some of them will be perpetuating the tradition of "a ring by spring" or affirming that WBU means "Wedding Bells University."

 -- We send congratulations to new head coach Aaron Meister and his 10th-ranked women's team for a seventh place finish in the Women's National Duals in Fort Wayne, Ind.

 -- I have inherited a wonderful new avocation this year with the retirement of Dean of Students Tom Hall as the play-by-play announcer for Wayland basketball. Want some ancient history? Tom used to come down from West Texas State University in Canyon back in 1967-68 and 1968-69 and help me do Wayland basketball on campus radio station KHBL.

 -- Coach Matt Garnett's Pioneers are off to the best start in school history at 14-1 and ranked No 11 in the latest NAIA Coaches Poll while Coach Alesha Robertson-Ellis's Queens are 7-6 but, like the Pioneers, 3-1 in Sooner Conference action going into this week's games and gaining some votes in the poll.

 -- I want to thank everyone who has purchased my book, "Things I Have Saw and Did - 50 Years of Thinking Out Loud" with proceeds benefitting the general scholarship fund at Wayland.

 The books are $25, which includes shipping and each purchaser will be in a drawing at the end of this month for a very nice large warm Wayland blanket.

 Checks should be made to Danny Andrews, 1305 Itasca, Plainview, TX 79072 and I'll get the book right back in the mail.

 One person said they hadn't laughed so much in years and some friends of ours who, like Carolyn and I, got married while they were Wayland students, jokingly said "this book has saved our marriage."

 Blessings and much joy to you and yours for a wonderful 2015.