Hey, Fellow Pioneers:
If it's as wild where you live as it is around here right now, I thank you just for taking time to read this column. Let me hit some quick highlights.
*With Thanksgiving approaching, our Donor Dinner on Nov. 17 gave us a chance to thank those who have given endowed scholarships that continue to bless Wayland students - some of whom get to meet the donor of the scholarship funds they receive. Also, our honorees for the National Philanthropy Dinner in Lubbock on Nov. 19 are trustee Bruce and Jolene Julian, generous donors from Perryton, a small town at the top of Texas that has sent us many of its graduates through the years. We can't say "thank you" enough.
*We have started a new "happy" for alumni for whom we have an e-mail address by sending free gift opportunities during their birthday month. We are also offering savings through Liberty Mutual on all types of insurance and some of your purchase benefits the Association of Former Students. You can contact me at andrewsd@wbu.edu or 806-291-3603 for details.
*We're excited that Dove Award-winning Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, featuring Wayland graduate Paul Harkey (the best bass voice in America), will be presenting their new Inspiration of Broadway show at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, in Harral Auditorium. The concert will feature several gospel songs as well as some of the all-time great inspirational songs from Broadway plays and musicals. If you are in the area, this is a "must see" by some truly great vocalists and performers. Tickets will be available soon and we'll get you all the details. If you don't live close enough to Plainview to make it, you might want to consider purchasing a ticket or tickets for relatives or friends who do as a great Christmas gift that can be used after the holidays.
*Looking for a Christmas gift that also will benefit Wayland. My book, "Things I Have Saw and Did - 50 Years of Thinking Out Loud" is available for $25 (postage included). It's 449 pages and about 250 stories of faith, family, sports, Wayland, newspaper experiences, interesting people and miscellaneous tales. You can send a check to Danny Andrews, 1305 Itasca, Plainview, TX 79072 and I'll sign the book and get it right back in the mail. You'll also be eligible for a drawing for a nice big Wayland blanket. I've been able to put about $14,000 in the general scholarship fund and would love to add your contribution.
*Congratulations to Benard Keter on repeating as Sooner Athletic Conference cross country champion, to the volleyball team for winning the Sooner regular season title and conference championship again (with Shahala Hawkins the regular-season and tournament MVP), the soccer teams for making the playoffs with junior Bailey Stengler of the women's team named SAC Goalkeeper of the Year and the football team on the best season (4-6) since football was restarted in 2012.
A number of Wayland athletes have earned high honors this fall. Check the wbuathletics.com website for all kinds of information, photos and schedules and for opportunities to keep up with streaming and audio of Wayland sporting events.
*We had a good turnout for our Wayland Alumni and Friends Ice Cream Party during the Baptist General Convention of Texas meeting in Frisco on Nov. 9. Thanks to all who came to that event or visited our booth at the convention. We also enjoyed the Baptist Singing Men's concert that included several Wayland alums.
*The Alumni Board and Young Alumni Board will be hosting the Late Night Study Break Breakfast at 9 p.m. on Dec. 7. It's a great tradition of service and allows us to interact with the students and encourage them as they take their final exams.
We wish a happy and blessed Thanksgiving to all of you.
