During HBU鈥檚 Annual Family Weekend, the聽University Alumni Relations Office presented the 2017聽Spirit of HBU聽Walk of Honor Induction. The dinner and聽ceremony honored聽a聽number of聽alumni, supporters,聽students, athletes,聽faculty and staff聽for their significant聽contributions.聽聽
The four leading awards were the Distinguished Alumnus聽Award, Meritorious Service聽Alumnus Award, the Hallmark Award and the Emma Key Faithful Servant Award.聽Dr. Robert B. Sloan, HBU president, said, 鈥淭hese great people have invested their lives here, and continue to be assets to Houston Baptist University. Honoring them is our way of saying we appreciate you, and are proud of you.鈥澛�
Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipient: The Honorable Joe Zimmerman, MBA 鈥�89聽
Mr. Zimmerman is the mayor of Sugar Land, a respected engineer and a frequent campus special guest.聽聽
Meritorious Service Award Recipient:聽Debra聽Perich, 鈥�99
Ms.聽Perich聽served HBU as Guild聽president from 2012 to 2014, has chaired the Silver Tea Fundraiser for several years and continues to provide significant leadership to the Guild.聽
Hallmark Award Recipient:聽Coach Theresa Fuqua
During聽her 10-year tenure as the head Track & Field and Cross-Country coach of HBU, Ms. Fuqua has built a successful program and started the聽BacktheTrack聽campaign.聽
Emma Key Faithful Servant Award:聽Julie Nguyen, 鈥�18
Ms. Nguyen is an HBU senior and a mathematics major. As a resident assistant, she has been a faithful campus servant and a friend to many.聽
HBU Family of the Year Award:聽The Penney Family
Dr. David and Nancy Penney and son Ryan Penney, 鈥�19聽
The聽Penneys聽have served in areas including University music, Student Life and the Guild.聽
HBU Family of the Year Award:聽The聽Tellepsen聽Family
Jennifer and Tadd聽Tellepsen, MBA 鈥�99
The聽Tellepsen聽family has partnered with HBU on the construction of venues including the Hodo Residence College and Husky Stadium. Tadd聽Tellepsen聽has served on the Alumni Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees.聽
Spirit of Excellence Gala Award Recipients
Elizabeth and John W. Gibson, Junior, Spirit of Excellence Award 2016聽
Sue and Dr. Robert B. Sloan, Spirit of Excellence Award 2016聽
Mary Ann Belin, President鈥檚 Award 2016聽
Linda Higginbotham, President鈥檚 Award 2016聽
Dr. Stewart Morris, Founders Medal 2016聽
President鈥檚 Award
Festus聽Amoye, 鈥�16聽
Christopher Atkins, 鈥�16聽
Nemil聽Bhatt, 鈥�17聽
Jessica Bird, 鈥�16聽
Morgan St. John, 鈥�16聽
Carlos Cruz, 鈥�16聽
Kelsi Hendrix, 鈥�17聽
Alanna聽Khubieh, 鈥�17聽
Michael聽Pearcey, 鈥�17聽
Thalia San Roman, 鈥�17聽
Abdi聽Sagastume, 鈥�17聽
Victoria Simms, 鈥�17聽
Christian Wiggins, 鈥�16聽
Opal聽Goolsby聽Professor of the Year
Dr. Christopher Hammons聽
Mayfield Outstanding Staff Award
J.R. Harris聽
Ritamarie聽Tauer, MACCT 鈥�85聽
2017 Athletics Hall of Honor Inductees
Sherill聽Hadrick, 鈥�07聽
Ms.聽Hadrick聽played on the women鈥檚 basketball team from 2002 to 2006, earning All-America honors in 2004 and 2006.聽聽
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Mr.聽Iba聽was the head men鈥檚 basketball coach of HBU from 1977 to 1985, leading the Huskies to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 1984.聽
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Mr.聽Jonsson聽played for the men鈥檚 golf team in 1988 and 1989, earning All-America and All-Trans Athletic Conference honors in 1988.聽
Mollye聽Micak, 鈥�12聽
Ms.聽Micak聽played shortstop for the softball team in 2010 and 2011, and was selected as the Great West Conference Player of the Year in 2011.聽
Courtney聽Whittleman, 鈥�11聽
Ms.聽Whittleman聽was a member of the volleyball team from 2008 to 2011,聽and was named the Great West Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 and 2011.