News

The Baylor University Libraries dedicated the Ray I. Riley Digitization Center and the Dottie S. Riley Conference Room during a ceremony on Oct. 3. The facilities' completion marks a significant step forward in the digitization capabilities of Baylor Libraries.

Baylor University researchers have found a promising new method to determine the date of skeletal remains. The relatively simple technique of applying statistics to chemical measurements could provide a quicker way for crime scene investigators and others to determine the post-mortem interval of bones, or the time that has elapsed since a person has died.

Houston Lawyer Joe Coleman, senior partner with the firm of Looper Reed & McGraw, has been named Baylor Lawyer of the Year for 2008. Coleman, a Baylor graduate and former member of the Board of Regents, will be honored at a Nov. 11 luncheon at the Houston Country Club.

Baylor University's School of Music presents saxophonist Leo Saguiguit and his chamber group, Trio Chymera, as part of the Lyceum Series at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 9, in Roxy Grove on the Baylor Campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Baylor University's Academy for Leader Development and Civic Engagement will host state Sen. Royce West from 6 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 7, in the Banquet Room on the fifth floor of Cashion Academic Center in the Hankamer School of Business on the Baylor campus. West is the third speaker in the Leadership Lecture Series for the fall semester with a presentation on Leadership in Public Life.

The Baylor University School of Music will continue the Lyceum Concert Series with a lecture by musicologist Dr. Brenda Romero at 4:45 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, in the Meadows Recital Hall in the Glennis McCrary Music Building on the Baylor campus.

Baylor University is ready to rock at the annual Battle of the Bands, sponsored by Kappa Delta and the office of campus programs, will take place at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 3, in the student union bowl on the Baylor Campus.

Jason Taylor, a Baylor University biology doctoral student, has received a highly competitive Science to Achieve Results (STAR) fellowship from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Baylor Law School has awarded its prestigious Leon Jaworski Scholarship to Elena Cincione of Chicago. The full-tuition scholarship, named for the Baylor Law alumnus who served as Special Prosecutor during the Watergate crisis, is awarded to incoming law students who have outstanding records in advocacy programs, such as debate, mock trial and moot court.

Dr. Robert Sapolsky, professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University and a well-known stress expert, will deliver Baylor University's annual

Baylor University's department of spiritual life hosts chapel speakers every Monday and Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. in Waco Hall on the Baylor campus. This October, students will be inspired from faith-based entrepreneurs, students, pastors and Baylor alumni.

Baylor University's Student Foundation will host a night of messy games and food at Freshman Follies from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 30, in Fountain Mall on the Baylor Campus.

The Baylor University School of Social Work will present its 11th annual Preston M. Dyer Ethics Workshop from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Region 12 Service Center, 2101 West Loop 340, in Waco. This year's topic will focus on "Ethics in Action: Texas Law for the Social Worker."

Baylor University's Academy for Leader Development and Civic Engagement will host Dr. Roland Goertz from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30, in the Kayser Auditorium in the Hankamer School of Business. Goertz will continue the Leadership Lecture Series with a presentation on "Leadership in Social Contemporary Issues."

Baylor University's

With an estimated 85 percent of women experiencing hot flashes as they approach menopause, finding effective non-medication treatment is vitally important. A new Baylor University study shows hypnotic relaxation therapy can decrease the frequency and severity of hot flashes in menopausal women, including breast cancer survivors.

Dr. Thomas G. Long, The Thomas Bandy Professor of Homiletics in the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, will be the featured speaker at the annual Fall Preaching Convocation Sept. 29-30 at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary.

When the Iraq war first started seven years ago, supporting the troops was on the forefront of everyone's mind. Now, however, some Americans, and college students for that matter, tend to forget about what is going on overseas as they deal with the everyday stresses of life. In an effort to change that, Memorial Cafeteria on the Baylor University campus will host a "Support the Troops Week" during dinner hours from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, through Friday, Sept. 26, in the cafeteria lobby.

The Tri Delta Sorority at Baylor University will host its annual kickball tournament this Thursday, Sept. 25, through Friday, Sept. 26, at the fields behind the Baylor Sciences Building. The Kicks for Kids campus-wide tournament will benefit

Turtle Island Quartet, a two-time Grammy award-winning chamber ensemble, will present "A Love Supreme: The Music of John Coltrane" at Baylor University's School of Music Distinguish Artist Series at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 23, in Roxy Grove of Waco Hall on the Baylor campus.

Vaughan Jones, an award-winning professor of mathematics at the University of California, Berkeley, will present two lectures, "Flatland: A Great Place to do Algebra" " at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 24, in room D109 of the Baylor Sciences Building and "Departmental Colloquium: An Avalanche of Associative Algebras Coming from Planar Algebra" at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 25, room 344 of Sid Richardson Building on the Baylor University campus.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 18, 2008)- American religion is remarkably stable and quite surprising in its diverse beliefs, practices and realities, according to the latest findings from the Baylor Religion Survey, one of the most extensive surveys ever conducted on American religious attitudes.

Author and "Hogwarts Professor" John Granger will present a two-day lecture on J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter books and the Christian faith as part of the Honors College Lecture Series at 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, in the Brooks College Great Hall and at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, in Alexander Reading Room on the Baylor campus.

Dr. Wallace Daniel, the 2008 recipient of Baylor University's Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year award, will give the honor's annual lecture at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, in the Baylor Sciences Building, room D.110, on the Baylor campus.

Baylor University's George W. Truett Seminary will present the 2008 W.C. Dobbs Endowed Lecture by Dr. Gregory A. Boyd, senior pastor of the Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minn., at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, in the seminary's Paul W. Powell Chapel. Boyd will speak on "Kingdom Citizens in a New Empire."

The Guerrilla Comedy Troupe of Baylor University will showcase its improvisational talent with performances at 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, and 9:30 and 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at Theater 11 in the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Building on the Baylor campus.

Editorial cartoons have played a key role in many historical events in America. For decades, they have brought the political concerns of the public to life in the black-and-white print of the newspaper.

Derek Haas, a Baylor University graduate, co-writer of four screen plays ("2 Fast 2 Furious", "Catch That Kid", "3:10 to Yuma" and "Wanted") and author of The Silver Bear, will participate in a DVD and book signing party with Robert Darden, associate professor of journalism at Baylor and Haas's former professor. Darden, who is also a magazine editor and author of numerous books, will autograph and answer questions about his new book, Jesus Laughed: The Redemptive Power of Humor with Haas at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 19, in the Baylor Bookstore on Baylor's campus.

Baylor University's Armstrong Browning Library will host Benefactors Day at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, in the McLean Foyer of Meditation and Hankamer Treasure Room at Armstrong Browning Library on the Baylor Campus.

Mike Blackman, a Baylor University journalism graduate and veteran reporter and editor, has joined his alma mater as the Fred Hartman Distinguished Professor of Journalism. As the newest addition to the journalism department, Blackman will bring in several prestigious speakers throughout the year.

Visiting AIDS clinics, installing hydro-electric generators, tutoring children and building relationships through Christ are only a few of the ways through which Baylor University students impacted the lives of others through six world-wide missions and local service trips offered this past summer.

Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business will host the fourth annual "Symposium: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Integrated Supply Chains" on Sept. 18 and Sept. 19. All events discussing the use of RFID in supply chains will take place on the fifth floor of the Cashion Academic Center at the Hankamer School of Business on the Baylor campus.

Dr. Jody Baumgartner, an assistant professor of political science at East Carolina University and an expert on American and French presidential elections, will present his lecture on "Comparing Presidential Selection in the U.S. and France" at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, in Kayser Auditorium at the Hankamer School of Business on the Baylor University campus.

With the current intersection of politics and Christian issues, the Christian Ethics Today Foundation will host a conference on "Red Letter Christians, An Emerging Evangelical Center, and Public Policy Issues" on Sept. 16 - 17 at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary.

In conjunction with Dr. Pepper Hour, A study abroad fair will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16 in the Barfield Drawing Room of the Bill Daniels Student Center on the Baylor University campus.

The Rock the Vote Concert scheduled for Friday night has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 7:30pm in the SUB Bowl. The Baylor University department of student activities will host a national "Rock the Vote" campaign, encouraging students to register to vote and advocating the rights of young people Sept. 8-12, with a finale concert Friday in the SUB Bowl on Baylor's campus.

For the past five years, Pedro Morales, a mathematics doctoral student at Baylor University, has trained high school students from his home country of Guatemala to compete in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). In 2008, his work and the efforts of his students finally paid off at this year's international math competition. One of Morales' students, Esteban José Arreaga Ambéliz, became the first Guatemalan to medal in an IMO, bringing home the bronze in July.

Baylor University has enrolled 14,541 students, the largest overall enrollment in university history, according to official 12th-day enrollment statistics compiled by the Office of Institutional Research and Testing. The university also enrolled its second largest and most diverse freshman class, as well as record numbers of students in the Graduate School and George W. Truett Theological Seminary.

Dr. Ted Baehr, an award-winning director, accomplished radio and television personality and dedicated media activist, will lecture about his accomplishments, activism and spiritual goals for the media industry on Sept. 15 from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Alexander Drawing Room on Baylor Campus. The lecture is hosted by Baylor's Honor College, which brings a variety of scholars, authors and public figures throughout the year for the Partner Lectures Series.

Dr. Stephen D. Davis and the Baylor University faculty of the department of biology will host an on-going dialog about undergraduate research as part of the 2008 Robert Foster Cherry Award Recipient Fall Dialog Series at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10. The event location will be in the Baylor Sciences Building, room A.108, on the Baylor campus.

Baylor University's School of Social Work received the 2008 Texas Homeless Network Outstanding Community Service Award at the network's annual conference Sept. 4 in Austin. The award recognizes an individual or group that has helped advance policies or innovative solutions to homelessness or worked with communities to make a difference in fighting homelessness.

Dedicated Baylor University alumnus and former trustee Milfred Lewis of Missouri City, Texas, passed away Sept. 2 in Houston. A lifelong leader, he advanced Baylor through his generous philanthropy to the university, including the naming gift for the Lewis Art Building of the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center in the late 1970s, as well as nine years of service on the Board of Trustees.

Hurricane Gustav impacted the Waco area with evacuees at two local nursing homes and at the Veterans Administration. With Hurricane Ike heading towards Texas, trained persons in social work, psychology, counseling and ministry -- who want to maximize their training to support persons who have sought refuge here in Waco -- are needed. Weekend training is being offered in Waco Sept. 19-21 for professionals as well as students in these professions.

Baylor University's School of Music will showcase its faculty members - with special guest Kurt Kaiser - during an inspiring evening of music and reflection for the Waco and Baylor communities on Sept. 11. "Faith and Music: A Liturgical Celebration of Music and Reflection" will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, in the Paul Powell Chapel at Baylor's George W. Truett Theological Seminary. Admission is free.

Baylor University's Academy for Leader Development and Civic Engagement will host Brian Mosley from 6 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10, in the Blume Conference Center on the fifth floor of Cashion Academic Center in the Hankamer School of Business. Mosley will begin the Leadership Lecture Series for the fall semester with a presentation on "Leadership in the Church."

They journeyed South with the idea of serving the Mexican people by providing health services. What they experienced, instead, was a time of joy and spiritual rejuvenation.

Celebrate Mammoth Day at the Mayborn Museum Complex on the Baylor University campus Thursday, Sept. 4.

Baylor University's Martin Museum of Art will host exhibitions by contemporary artists Al Souza, John Tilton and Blair Meerfeld, Thursday, Sept. 4 through Saturday, Oct. 11.

Pete Kerr, who is in his second quarter at Baylor Law School, will speak about his recent tour of duty to Iraq at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, in room 120 at the Sheila and Walter Umphrey Law Center.

The Center for Astrophysics, Space Physics and Engineering Research (CASPER) at Baylor University will host several seminars and theory group meetings highlighting new technology and approaches to space development and research. The seminars are held from 2 to 3 p.m. in room C231 of the Baylor Sciences Building. CASPER is an official Baylor center formed by a partnership between Baylor and Texas State Technical College.

Dr. George W. Gawrych, associate professor of history at Baylor University, has been awarded a Fulbright Senior Researcher Scholar grant to do research in Turkey during the 2008-2009 academic year, according to the United States Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

Baylor University's spiritual life department hosts chapel speakers every Monday and Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. in Waco Hall on the Baylor campus. This September, students will be inspired from faith-based entrepreneurs, pastors and Baylor alumni.

In observance of Labor Day, Baylor University administrative offices will be closed and no classes will be held on Monday, Sept. 1.

Christian music industry giants were on hand Aug. 28 for a dedication ceremony marking the official opening of the new Curb Learning Lab for Music & Entertainment Marketing at Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business. Mike The new learning facility provides a home for the Music and Entertainment Marketing program.

The U.S. Bureau of the Census today released estimates of income, earnings and poverty for 2007. Sociologists and demographic specialists at Baylor University's Center for Community Research and Development (CCRD), who have analyzed the data, found that Waco and McLennan County have poverty levels well above the national norms.

Baylor University will welcome several distinguished speakers and performers to campus this fall. Below is a list of the lectures, conferences, symposia, and performances that will be held during the fall semester at Baylor.

Baylor University is encouraging its students, alumni, faculty and staff to wear their Baylor green and gold colors on Thursday, Aug. 28, as the university participates in the nationwide "College Colors Day," sponsored by the Collegiate Licensing Co. (CLC)

As Baylor University continues to enhance its sustainability initiatives, the university has been recognized for its efforts by the National Wildlife Federation in their Campus Environmental 2008 Report Card, the nation's largest study on trends and new developments in campus sustainability.

The Mayborn Museum Complex is celebrating international cultures in a Worldwide Extravaganza day on Saturday, Aug. 30 at the museum. Several dance and singing groups from across Texas will perform along with a presentation of exotic animals by animal specialist David Kleven, also known as "Critterman."

In one of their first acts as freshmen, the Baylor Class of 2012 will receive the torch that signifies their role as bearers of the Baylor Spirit and legacy at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, in the SUB Bowl on Baylor's campus.

Baylor University has welcomed to campus its second-largest and most diverse freshman class in university history, as more than 3,000 students moved into university residence halls Aug. 20-21. The Class of 2012 will take part in Welcome Week activities before classes get under way on Monday, Aug. 25.

Baylor University's incoming class of 2012 will have the opportunity to participate in the annual "Big Event" as part of Welcome Week at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Ferrell Center on Baylor's campus.

The Baylor University Student Foundation recently was selected as the 2008 Association of Student Advancement Programs' (ASAP) Outstanding Student Foundation. The announcement was made during the 2008 ASAP Network Convention in Salt Lake City.

Dr. Howard K. Batson, chairman of the Baylor University Board of Regents, announced today the appointment of Dr. David E. Garland as interim president of Baylor University. Garland will succeed Harold R. Cunningham, who has been acting president since July 2008.

Baylor Law School, which prides itself on its rigorous course work, wants new students to know that it also promotes a family atmosphere. To that end, the fall 2008 class as well as returning students, faculty and staff will be treated to a Back-to-School Barbecue, hosted by Baylor Law Dean Brad Toben and his wife, Beth, who is a prosecutor with the McLennan County District Attorney.

"Going green at Baylor" is taking on a new meaning. In a continuing effort to greatly expand the amount Baylor University recycles, new recycling containers will be deployed at hundreds of locations around campus, including at athletic events, starting with the first Baylor home football game Aug. 28 versus Wake Forest.

Baylor University student Sarah Rafique, a junior journalism major from Georgetown, has been awarded the prestigious Gilman Scholarship, which will allow her to study in Egypt for the fall semester.

Aug. 18 was a great day for coffee drinkers at Baylor University, as Independence Coffee Co. unveiled its Baylor Signature Series, a line of Baylor-themed coffee blends that connects Texas' oldest continuously operating university to its original roots at the historic village of Independence, Texas.

The Baylor Alumni Association will present the Abner V. McCall Humanitarian Award to Dr. Linda F. Garner, professor of nursing at Baylor University's Louise Herrington School of Nursing, during summer commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Ferrell Center.

Dr. Paul Freston, an internationally recognized scholar who conducts research on religion and society in a number of different countries, has accepted the position of Distinguished Senior Fellow and director of the Program for Studies of Religion in Latin America at Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion (ISR).

Baylor University will confer degrees on more than 500 graduates during summer commencement exercises at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, in the Ferrell Center on the Baylor campus.

Two Baylor University scientists have come up with a new method to cause a spaceship to effectively travel faster than the speed of light, without breaking the laws of physics.

The Hispanic population in McLennan County has grown by more than 10,000 persons - or 27 percent - since the 2000 Census, according to an analysis by sociologists and community specialists at Baylor University's Center for Community Research and Development (CCRD). This far exceeds the modest 2 percent growth of the non-Hispanic population locally over the same period, the researchers found.

Robert Jacobson Denton, 80, Professor Emeritus of Health, Human Performance and Recreation at Baylor University, passed away Aug. 5 in a Dallas care center. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Seventh and James Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd.

For the fourth consecutive year, Baylor University will serve as the satellite host for The Leadership Summit 2008, an annual global gathering of 100,000 church and business leaders in more than 230 cities worldwide from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, and Friday, Aug. 8, in Waco Hall on the Baylor campus. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Thursday and at 8 a.m. Friday.

Baylor Law School will hold commencement exercises at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, in Jones Concert Hall in the Glennis McCrary Music Building. Jeremy Counseller, associate professor of law, will deliver the keynote address. Additionally, John Paul Neyland, the highest ranking student in the graduating class, will deliver student remarks. Baylor regent John C. Reimers of Beaumont also will participate in the program and will help award juris doctor degrees to the 35 graduates.

Billy Ray Hearn, the 1954 Baylor University church music graduate renowned as the "father" of contemporary Christian music, was honored with the 2008 Award for Exemplary Leadership in Church Music, given by Baylor's Center for Christian Music Studies during the Alleluia! Church Music Conference July 22-25 at Baylor.

Already recognized as one of the nation's oldest Air Force ROTC units, Baylor University's Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Detachment 810 is marking another milestone July 31.

Baylor University Acting President Harold R. Cunningham today announced the appointment of Dr. Elizabeth Davis as interim provost, effective immediately. The appointment comes at the conclusion of several days of meetings in which Cunningham sought the counsel of various university groups for their recommendations to fill the position.

Baylor's Model Organization of American States (MOAS) team moved to a new level of excellence this summer with their participation in a Model Organización de Estados Americanos (MOEA) held July 14-17 at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile in Santiago.

The Baylor Lariat, the Baylor University student newspaper recently has been named "Best Student Newspaper" by the Houston Press Club and was awarded second place in the 2008 Newspaper of the Year category from the Associated Press Managing Editors (APME) Association of Texas.

On July 27, Baylor University students Justin Brown, Alyson Erikson, Nathan Lloyd and Andi Nakasone rode into Anchorage, Alaska, the final destination on their 74-day, 4,500-mile bicycle trek from Texas to Alaska to raise awareness of suicide prevention and college students' mental health.

Baylor Regents today voted to modify the size of its governing body, increasing its board size from a previous goal of 16 to 24 members. The vote came as the board was concluding its annual summer retreat, which this year was held in Grapevine.

The Baylor University Board of Regents voted today to begin the search for a new University President. Board Chairman Dr. Howard K. Batson said the decision was necessary in order to unite Baylor's many constituencies and move the University forward in its next period of growth and renewal. Batson said the move represents the Regents' acknowledgement of a need for unifying leadership as Baylor strives to achieve its goals under Baylor 2012.

A down housing market calls on real estate agents to change their tactics, according to Dr. Chris Pullig, Director of the Keller Center for Residential Real Estate Sales & Marketing at Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business. His recent study of lead conversion rates revealed that varying market conditions call for different approaches to lead generation.

Andrew Green, a senior studio art and architecture major from Henderson, Nev., has received the prestigious Alfred H. Nolle Scholarship from the Alpha Chi National College Honor Scholarship Society, a competitive $1,500 award given annually to 10 high-achieving college students from across the country.

"Benevolence 101: Caring for 'the Least of These'" will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at First Baptist Church of Waco with lunch provided. The workshop is for church office managers and administrative assistants who often are the first to field walk-in requests for financial or other assistance from persons in need in the community.

The Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI), a national educational organization headquartered in Wilmington, Del., recently selected Kirsten Appleyard, a senior University Scholar from Renfrew, Ontario, Canada, as a Marion G. Wells Honors Fellow. She is one of 50 Honors Fellows selected for the 2008-09 academic year. Each year, ISI's prestigious Honors Program selects the nation's most talented undergraduates to participate in a year-long program of educational enrichment.

A $50,000 donation from the Christ Is Our Salvation Foundation will underwrite a national conference on "The Next Big Idea," to be held Feb. 9-11, 2009, at Baylor University.

Robinson, Hewitt, Lorena, Crawford and Mart have grown in double-digit percentage terms since the last census in 2000. These and other numbers were released today in Washington as the Census Bureau announced its annual set of sub-county population estimates, which has been analyzed by sociologists and community specialists at Baylor University's Center for Community Research and Development.

Dr. J. Randall O'Brien, who has served Baylor University for 17 years as a faculty member and administrator, was introduced today as the 22nd President of Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn. For the past three years, O'Brien has served as Baylor's Executive Vice President and Provost. He will leave this position effective Aug. 1.

The Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University released an ISR Special Report, "Not By Faith or Government Alone: Rethinking the Role of Faith-Based Organizations," at the White House Faith-Based and Community Initiatives National Conference on Research, Evaluation and Outcomes held June 26-27 in Washington, D.C.

Terry Brown, an adjunct professor in the department of family and consumer sciences at Baylor, died June 28 from injuries in an auto accident. He was 53. Services were held July 2 at the 3 Horse Ranch near Rosebud, with burial in 3 Horse Ranch Cemetery.

Rarely do high school students have a chance to take part in university research, gaining experience through interactive work with professors. Two specific Baylor University programs provide students with such an opportunity.

Baylor University closed out a successful fiscal year 2008 with an operating budget surplus for the fourth consecutive year and significant advances in diverse areas of university life, including academic programs, student life and athletics. A financial surplus permitted Baylor to appoint more faculty and staff, to fund the implementation of major strategic initiatives across the university and to advance the goals of the Baylor 2012 vision.

ExxonMobil's most recent matching gift to Baylor University brought the entity to more than $5 million in cumulative gifts given to Baylor through the ExxonMobil Foundation's Educational Matching Gift Program. More than $370,000 was given this year as a three-to-one match of gifts made by the company's employees and retirees.

With concurrence of the Faculty Senate, Baylor University Executive Vice President and Provost Randall O'Brien has appointed Dr. Robert M. Baird, professor of philosophy and Master Teacher, to the position of Faculty University Ombudsperson.

Husband-and-wife deans at Baylor University, David and Diana Garland, have joined seminary and social work forces and been awarded a $300,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation to educate and equip indigenous church leaders for effective, holistic ministry in their home cultures.

Before America's Super Bowl every year, there's one question as anticipated as the game itself: who will sing the national anthem? So who will perform the national anthem (or anthems) before Sunday's finals of the European Soccer Championship, a worldwide stage that rivals the Super Bowl? Texas native and Baylor University graduate Eddie Gauntt will perform the German national anthem before Sunday's internationally televised match in Vienna between Germany and Spain.

The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health has introduced a groundbreaking bilingual scholarship program that will offer up to $1 million to Spanish-speaking students at accredited graduate social work programs in Texas -- including Baylor University's School of Social Work -- in the next three years. The new statewide program is the first of its kind in Texas and possibly in the United States.