Encounter Week
By Zena Hargroves | Encounter Week is a spiritual launch pad for the campus to start the semester. It is also an opportunity for the student body to earn extra chapel credits. There will be a guest pastor and band that will perform and have worship services twice a day. “It is a time to […]
BSM Reaches Out To Students
By Emily Hughitt | The Baptist Student Ministry is a Howard Payne University student-led organization that focuses on campus ministry and outreach. Bryan Pate has been the BSM Director for two years and believes the goal of the BSM is to make and grow disciples. “Our vision is that we would see every student that […]
BSA Aims for Overall Inclusivity
By Mia Romero | The Black Student Association, BSA, is an organization at Howard Payne University that aims to make every student on campus feel seen despite their race. “We want students to know that there is a place for them to feel welcome, heard, seen, and appreciated as a student here,” Amaya Marshall, president […]
Traditional Spring Sing Makes A Comeback
By Jordan Favors | After three years, Sprng Sing, a beloved tradition at Howard Payne University, is back. This year’s theme is “One Hit Wonders” which is sure to entertain the student body, faculty, staff, and community members. In the spring of 2020, Covid-19 prevented Spring Sing from taking place that semester and the […]
HPU Gains New Director of Student Leadership and Engagement
By Mia Romero | As we enter a new semester at Howard Payne, Kailee Knudsen has taken over the role of the new Director of Student Leadership and Engagement. Knudsen graduated from Southwest Baptist University where she majored in organizational and strategic communication with a minor in graphic design. When asked to explain what being […]
The Yellow Jacket’s First All Female Staff
By Madison Boggs | The Yellow Jacket student publication has been running for many years, but this year is special for many reasons. It is The Yellow Jacket’s first all-female staff. Communication Department Chair Dr. Julie Welker said, “Having an all-female newspaper staff has been a fun experience. These young ladies are hard workers and […]
A Farewell to a Howard Payne Icon
By Mackynlie Conklin | Student life on Howard Payne’s campus has always been a key factor in the student experience. One person who has made it their goal to create the best environment for HPU’s students is Josh Snow. Snow began working at HPU in the admissions office in July of 2013. Later in 2015, […]
How One Professor Returned to His Alma Mater to Impact the Community
By Madison Boggs | When Jordan Villanueva graduated from Howard Payne University in 2013 with a double major in Spanish and Christian Studies, he had little expectation of coming back to HPU as faculty just eight years later. Post-graduation, Villanueva jumped right into ministry. He began while he was still in college as the Youth […]
Clinical Teaching Program Sets Students Up For Future Success
By Mackynlie Conklin | There are many hands-on programs offered on Howard Payne’s campus to assist students in gaining experience in their career fields. The clinical teaching program is part of a senior student’s graduation plan in order to graduate as a certified teacher. Throughout the clinical teaching program, the student will be placed at […]
Brownwood Eats – A List of the Best Local Restaurants
By Jordan Givens | After a new student moves in, one of the first questions asked is “Where do we eat?” Many alumni answer with a resounding “Underwood’s, or if you’re early enough Common Grounds.” While both are great options, many Howard Payne students miss out on the rest of Brownwood’s good eats. After asking […]
Jacket Journey Revamped After Tough Year
By Jordan Givens | As many other organizations on campus were affected by COVID so was the first experience of being on campus for new students. COVID-19 was detrimental to a lot of campus events, including Jacket Journey. Jacket Journey is Howard Payne’s new student orientation where most new students can interact with the campus […]
Jake Parker Feature
By Bailey Farmer | Many people around Howard Payne’s campus know who Jake Parker is because of his role on the football team. But what some do not know is how he made his way to HPU. Parker, a senior Kinesiology major from Tyler had never heard of HPU or Brownwood before coming to. “God was […]
Senior Memoir From Our Staff
By Brienna Williams & Tia Campos | Brienna Williams, YJ Staff Writer – “My time at Howard Payne University has been short. I transferred in at the beginning of my Junior year. I originally began my college career at The University of Mary Hardin Baylor and never expected to end up at HPU, but I […]
Howard Payne Hosts First Worship Leader Lab
This April, students at Howard Payne University were given the opportunity to participate in HPU’s first Worship Leader Lab. This lab gave students the opportunity to learn from several worship leaders from across the state, many of whom graduated from HPU. Dr. Chris Rosborough, assistant professor of music and director of choral activities said that […]
HPU Senior Overcomes Battle With Autism
By Mackynlie Conklin | Coming to a university is difficult and exciting enough, but for one of Howard Payne University’s student in particular, it presents additional challenges. Micah McDowell, a 21-year-old senior majoring in history said that Proverbs 3:5-6 is a strong influence in his own life. “The thing is I leaned on my understanding […]
Enrolled and In Love
By Mackenzie Langham | Eli and Brienna Williams did not expect that they would meet and marry each other when they started at their separate universities. However, fate had other plans. Brienna went to the University of Mary Hardin Baylor and Eli went to Howard Payne University. Strategic communication major and junior at the time, […]
Reliving the Journey of a Howard Payne Alum
By Mackenzie Langham | Mandy Callaway’s Howard Payne story is full of unexpected twists and turns, romantic beginnings, trials and perseverance. Thankfully, her HPU story exceeds her experience as a student, and continues to this day. Callaway graduated from Howard Payne University in 2001, Callaway earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a […]
Wheelington’s Road to HPU
By Brienna Williams | Dr. Rusty Wheelington, Professor of Christian Studies, is a well-known and highly respected professor on the Howard Payne campus. Strike up a conversation with any student who has been through the Christian Studies department and you will hear words such as kindhearted, humble, gracious and genuine in reference to Dr. Wheelington. […]
Podcast Creators in Our Midst
By Mackenzie Langham | Podcasts are extremely popular in today’s culture, and have been for some time. It is fascinating how so many people desire to stop and listen, not only for the sake of entertainment, but in many cases so people can be poured into. One of Howard Payne’s very own students has chosen […]
HPU Model UN Returns with Awards
By Brienna Williams | During the first week of February seven Howard Payne students traveled to Rome, Italy to represent HPU at an International Model United Nations conference. Out of 15 different nations represented at the conference Howard Payne was the only school from the United States. Model United Nations (MUN) is a conference in […]
Student Spotlight: Collin Davis
By Mackynlie Conklin | HPU Junior, Collin Davis, was involved in a roll over crash last semester while traveling back from a baseball tournament against Hawaiian Pacific University. Davis was one of the two seriously injured athletes in the crash, and was unable to participate in the 2019 season. Thankfully, Davis is now fully recovered and […]
Faculty Profile: Dr. Kevin Kelley
By Tamera Ryan | High energy, engaging discussions and crazy board drawings are a given in any class or discussion with Dr. Kevin Kelley. A St. Louis University graduate, Kelley got his bachelor’s degree and masters and doctorate degrees in the state of Missouri in 2007. His memberships in kayaking and karate clubs on campus […]
Staff Profile: Isaac Williams
By Cailen Jenkins | The Baptist Student Ministry motto is “To know Christ and make Christ known,”and that is exactly what Isaac Williams is doing. Williams is from May, Texas and attended and graduated from Howard Payne University with a Christian Education degree in May of 2019. Williams stepped right into a position in the […]
Choate has long history with HPU
By Kyra Chapa | Abram Choate graduated from Howard Payne in 1998 with a degree in exercise and sport science. During his time in college, Choate was an athlete and a member of Zeta Chi. After graduation, he served one year as the head boys basketball coach at Harvest Christian Academy in Pasadena. He later […]
HPU Football Senior Spotlight
Mackynlie Conklin | Football season at Howard Payne University has kicked off to a great start. The Yellow Jackets took home the win this past Saturday with a 48-34 victory over Austin College. This was the team’s first season opening win since 2014. Even though the oldest class of players didn’t experience the 2014 season […]