Since its creation in 1962, the WAC has been the home of over 40 collegiate programs, including Hawaii, Arizona and the United States Air Force Academy. But after only five seasons of ACU being in the conference, the WAC is set to rebrand as the United Athletic Conference on July 1.

Of course, the Wildcats are quite familiar with conference shifts, going back all the way to their time in Division II.

ACU to Division I

ACU had a lot of success at the Division II level, racking up an astounding 57 national championships and 167 Lone Star Conference titles. But after 40 years, the university decided to move up to Division I in 2013.

Julie Goodenough, the head coach of the women’s basketball team, was one year into her tenure when the move took place. When she was hired, she knew that the university was already slated to advance to Division I and began to plan accordingly.

“We were just going to run it like a D-I program from the beginning,” Goodenough said.

In women’s basketball, the Wildcats went out with a bang, winning the Lone Star Conference regular season title in their final year.

But as the university made the switch, there were a few growing pains. The new schedule for the team, coming to campus earlier in the year for practices, and other changes required shifts by the university. From housing to additional summer classes, the university needed to make additional changes in order to support teams as they began to get acclimated to Division I.

“So there have been a lot of changes that the school had to get on board with,” Goodenough said. “So certainly it’s not just a decision that impacts your athletic department, but it impacts the entire university.”

Early D-I Success

At the time, when a collegiate program shifted from Division II to Division I, there was a four-year reclassification period. During this time, the university was ineligible for postseason play in conference and national championships.

In their 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons in the Southland Conference, the Wildcats took the conference regular season title in women’s basketball. However, because of the NCAA regulation, they were not able to compete in the Southland Conference Tournament.

In 2019 however, things were very much in the Wildcats’ favor. Both basketball teams won the Southland Conference Tournament and received automatic bids in the NCAA Tournaments. The women’s team, under the direction of Goodenough, made the team’s first March Madness appearance in program history.

“You know the first Southland Tournament championship and first opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament, it was pretty fulfilling to be a part of that,” Goodenough said.

That same year, the men’s team, which was led by Head Coach Joe Golding, made it to the NCAA Tournament. Two years later, the team would go back to the NCAA Tournament and upset Texas in a nail-biting showdown that went to the final minutes of regulation.

Other programs at ACU also saw great success in the Southland. In 2021, the baseball team, under the leadership of current head coach Rick McCarty, won the Southland Conference regular season title.

The Shift to the WAC

During the 2020-2021 academic year however, the university began to discuss the possibility of shifting conferences. In conjunction with three other Texas teams, Lamar, Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin, ACU made the official transition to the WAC on July 1, 2021.

According to Goodenough, the athletic administration at ACU felt like the Southland was “going in a downward direction” and wanted to align with schools with similar resources. Additionally, another big factor that encouraged this move was the travel for the teams to get to away games.

“Both leagues are totally different due to geography,” McCarty said.

With the addition of four collegiate programs from Texas, the WAC grew to a total of 12 teams. However over time, the teams within the conference began to shift. Since 2022, the WAC lost two teams every year as schools moved between conferences.

The teams that left are as follows:

Chicago State and Lamar, 2022

New Mexico State and Sam Houston State, 2023

Stephen F. Austin and UT Rio Grande Valley, 2024

Grand Canyon and Seattle, 2025

Heading into the 2025-26 season, there were seven total teams in the WAC, with the Utah Valley already making moves to leave the conference. With this increasing necessity to have enough teams to compete, talks began about what to do.

Origins of the UAC

The UAC was formed as a football partnership between the Western Athletic Conference and the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2023.

In order to receive an automatic qualifier in the FCS postseason, a conference must have at least 6 teams competing. After both conferences separately began to sponsor football in 2021, neither conference had enough teams to independently qualify for a spot in the postseason.

So in 2023, the two conferences created the UAC to allow their football-playing schools to compete and have a shot in the FCS playoffs.

After seeing the success of the UAC in football, and with the dwindling number of WAC teams, talks began about what the best course of action would be. ACU’s Athletic Department began to consider several other conference options.

However, the final decision was to stay with the WAC as it would transition to become the UAC. The conference will now become an all-sports conference rather than the football-only conference it was created to be. Evan Nemec, assistant AD for media relations, had been hearing rumors of what the plan would be before it was initially announced that the school would go to the UAC.

“It was a surprise when I found out that was what the plan was,” Nemec said. “But it makes sense from an efficiency stand point for the two conferences to work together. I think the big message is there’s more power in numbers.”

That decision was primarily made by Zack Lassiter, vice president for athletics, and Dr. Phil Schubert. Schubert, as the president of the university, is very involved in athletics and understands its value to the university as a whole. This decision though, was made without many conversations with the coaches of each of the programs on campus.

“I wasn’t really involved in it,” McCarty said. “So you just kind of play the game that you have to play in terms of the conference.

Goodenough seconded this opinion saying that she felt like the decision was made with the best interests of the teams in mind. She expressed that this shift was not a “knee jerk reaction” and was carefully considered by leadership.

“I think the athletic director and all their administrators as well as Dr. Schubert have always been super thoughtful and very meticulous about what’s best for our athletic department but also be in alignment with the standards of ACU in general,” Goodenough said.

In July of this year, the UAC will welcome three WAC teams that are following the conference, Abilene Christian, UT Arlington and Tarleton State. Additionally, five schools from the ASUN, those that sponsor football programs, will also be joining the conference; Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama, West Georgia and Central Arkansas. West Florida will also be joining the WAC as a football-playing affiliate. Furthermore, Arkansas-Little Rock is also set to join the conference but they will not compete in football.

With new opponents on the calendar, the teams have already been looking ahead to get ready for the first season of UAC play. Ijeoma Moronu Alstrup, head coach of the volleyball team, said they have already been looking at who their new opponents will be.

“We’ve started just kind of looking at who was most successful in their conference last year and what we would need to do to compete with them,” Alstrup said.

Another change that comes with playing new teams is traveling to different locations to play. Goodenough said that the travel side of things is going to be “completely different” in the new conference.

“I mean it’ll be all new territory and our director of operations is our travel coordinator and she’s gonna have a lot of new things to do,” Goodenough said.

But with the spring seasons winding down, the teams are set to have their summer breaks before getting right back into the swing of things in their first year in the UAC.

The post Wildcats gear up for conference realignment appeared first on The Optimist.

The university announced the change Monday and said in a statement from Vice President for Athletics Zack Lassiter that Shaw had a huge impact on the ACU program:

“We are incredibly grateful to Coach Shaw for his 12 years of dedication and service to ACU,” Lassiter said. “He has made a lasting impact on our student-athletes and our program, both on and off the course. We appreciate the leadership, integrity and commitment he has shown throughout his time here and wish him the very best moving forward.”

Shaw led the Wildcats through the transition to Division I in 2014 and to a 2022 Western Athletic Conference championship, but in recent seasons the team has shown some inconsistency.

The Wildcats finished third in the final season of WAC play after placing fifth in each of the previous two seasons (2023–24 and 2024–25) and eighth in 2022–23.

The university also said a national search for the program’s next head coach has already started.

This is the latest leadership change at ACU. Most recently, Jo Koons was hired as head softball coach on June 27, 2024, following the dismissal of Abigail Farler on May 7.

The post University, men’s golf coach part ways after 12 seasons appeared first on The Optimist.

“It was 100% worth it,” Kelso said. “Bruno Mars is such an icon.”

Likewise, Emma Santoro, sophomore kinesiology major from Fort Worth, went to a Ty Myers concert in Abilene. She paid $30 for the concert.

“If I were Ty, I would’ve charged more because of how famous he is,” Santoro said. “But we don’t have to tell him that.”

Despite the $270 difference, both described nearly identical experiences.

“I took videos of all my favorite songs,” Santoro said. “And pictures for Instagram too.”

Kelso echoed those statements and said her experience would have been different without her phone.

“I love taking videos and pictures throughout the concert,” Kelso said. “Of me and my friends, to post and to send it to my family.”

For many ACU students, going to a concert is not just a night out. Because Abilene is not exactly on every artist’s tour schedule, attending a concert often turns into a mini vacation. Road trips, outfit planning and a quick moment of financial regret after buying the ticket.

But for many, it is worth it, and the price is part of the experience.

And whether in DFW, Abilene or elsewhere, as soon as the lights go down, the entire crowd reacts the same.

Phones go up.

Screens glow.

And suddenly, hundreds of people are watching the same concert, through their own devices.

But sometimes, the best moments happen when the screen goes dark.

Bill Horn, professor of language and literature, said he has noticed a shift over decades of attending concerts.

“People are watching the concert through the phone,” Horn said, lifting his hands in front of his face, mimicking someone holding a phone. “That’s the problem.”

Horn grew up going to concerts before smartphones existed. Back then, the audience interacted differently.

“We hold up lighters to let them know we wanted an encore,” Horn said, smiling at the memory. “The whole arena lit up with real fire.”

With lighters being replaced by phone flashlights, Horn said those moments look different now.

But some traditions remain. A few years ago, Horn took his daughters to a concert in Austin. Before they even found their seats, he passed down advice from his own concert-going experience.

“First thing you do, go straight to the T-shirt table,” Horn said. “Because if you don’t, the shirt you want might be gone.”

He laughed, describing it as a rule learned the hard way.

His merchandise strategy might not have changed, but Horn said the overall experience has.

Instead of focusing on the stage, many focus on capturing it, adjusting angles, zooming in and making sure the video turns out right.

“People are trying so hard to capture the moment that they’re actually missing the moment,” Horn said.

He said the shift is not just cultural, but economic.

“Concerts used to be $15,” Horn said. “They made their money from selling records.”

He said he saw KISS live in Abilene for that price, shaking his head slightly as if he still could not believe it.

“Now concerts are where the money is,” Horn said. “Streaming changed everything.”

As prices go up, so does the pressure to make the experience feel worth it, and for many students, that means documenting it.

Santoro followed that pattern until her phone died halfway through the concert. But instead of that ruining the night, she said, it changed it.

“It felt nice not having to hold back from singing,” Santoro said. “Just getting to enjoy whatever he was playing at the time.”

Without her phone, one moment stood out more clearly.

“[Ty Myers] played the electric guitar backwards behind his back,” Santoro said.  “This is something you can’t experience when you listen to his songs on your phone.”

For Horn, those kinds of moments used to define concerts.

“You knew it was a unique experience,” Horn said. “There was excitement before, during and after.”

And after, he added, was just as important.

“You’d be talking about it with your friends,” he said. “Reliving it. That was part of it.”

Now, the next day often looks different.

Instead of conversations, there is scrolling.

Clips fill social media feeds. The same songs, the same stage, slightly different angles.

And most of those videos are rarely watched again.

Santoro said going through them can feel strange.

“Seeing all the videos makes me sad, because it’s over,” Santoro said.” But I do get excited when pictures turn out good, so I can drop a fire post.”

The mini vacation ends.

The posts go up.

And the concert, somewhere between the stage and the screen, becomes something you experienced.

But mostly something you recorded.

The post Concert culture shifts as students document more appeared first on The Optimist.

Regala grew up wanting to play soccer in college, but as he got older he fell more in love with baseball, the team aspect of it, and playing on both sides of the ball and realized he wanted to play college baseball.

After this realization, the question of where he would play then arose for him. With no Division I offers, he turned to the head coach of the Division I baseball program in his hometown of Abilene, Rick McCarty.

McCarty was no stranger to Regala on and off the baseball field. McCarty said he watched him play high school football on Friday nights at Wylie High School while watching his daughter, who is a year younger than Regala, be a cheerleader.

He also added that his son played Little League baseball with Regala’s younger brother, Dylan, and made it to the Little League World Series.

“There’s a lot of crossover with family, community, events and all those things,” McCarty said. “I’ve gotten to see Braden for eight years now. So just to watch him mature has been pretty neat.”

Once Regala discovered ACU and McCarty’s culture, he fell in love with it, and he knew he wanted to grow his faith at ACU and become a better baseball player.

At 5-foot-8, Regala is undersized for his position compared to the typical Division I outfielder. He has not let this stop him.

“I kind of use it as motivation,” he said. “Just to also speak to other kids that are younger that size doesn’t really matter in baseball. You can achieve your goals, no matter how big or small you are.”

Despite Regala’s size, McCarty said he has a lot of things going for him, including being a switch hitter, his speed and his short game defensively.

When Regala arrived for his freshman season, he was not the only former Wylie Bulldog on the roster. Fellow outfielder Reese Borho, a year older than Regala, had already been on the roster for a year.

In his freshman campaign, Regala stood out as the team’s starting center fielder, batting .295, leading the team in stolen bases with 29, recording an on-base percentage of .342 and earning the No. 3 spot on a SportsCenter Top 10 for a diving catch against Dallas Baptist.

McCarty said off the field, Regala checks all the boxes and represents the team well in the community.

“He’s got this smile,” he said. “He’s one of those guys when you walk in the room, the temperature kind of goes up because he’s just got a good personality.”

After his freshman season, he and Borho were joined by another former Bulldog, senior infielder JT Thompson. Thompson joined the Wildcats after two seasons at Ranger College and one season at Rutgers.

From Little League baseball to varsity football, it has been a long time coming for these three to play together at the collegiate level.

Borho, who committed to ACU a year before Regala, knew they would be playing together at ACU, but it was a pleasant surprise when Thompson called Borho last summer to tell him he was coming back to Abilene.

Regala recalls the first time all three of them played together was his sophomore year of high school when they were on the varsity football team together at Wylie.

“That was kind of the first time we were all three together,” Regala said. “That kind of carried over into baseball and started building a tighter bond to each other.”

One moment the trio had this year was when all three were in the outfield together and created an “all Wylie outfield,” as Regala called it.

Thompson said it was awesome not only for them but for their parents, who have known each other for years.

“My mom comes up to me after the game and hugs me,” he said. “She shows me a picture as soon as the game’s over, and we’re all dancing in the outfield after a win. Like it should be. All the Wylie boys.”

Another full-circle moment these three had this season was when the Wylie Little League came to Bullock Brothers Ballpark for a night of practice with the Wildcats.

Thompson described it as a déjà vu moment for them growing up in Abilene, going to ACU games and wanting to play for the Wildcats.

“It’s awesome to leave an impact on those kids,” Regala said. “Just driving around being from Abilene, it’s nice to go to a restaurant and see one of those kids and they remember your name. Just getting to talk to them and encourage them and be a role model for them. It’s pretty neat.”

The post Abilene native inspires next generation of baseball players appeared first on The Optimist.

With the game tied and bases loaded for the Trailblazers, Ella Beeman, junior right-handed pitcher from Lowell, Arkansas, came into pitch. Beeman walked the game-winning run in on her first batter.

In the top of the seventh inning, the Wildcats failed to record a hit, flying out, grounding out and striking out to lose the game and close out the season.

“It really wasn’t any different than what has happened all year, unfortunately,” head coach Jo Koons said. “We need to do a better job on defense, just clutching up in those moments, and it starts in the circle.”

With the loss, ACU fell to 7-41 on the season and 4-14 in the Western Athletic Conference, putting them in seventh place in the standings, one spot behind the Trailblazers, which caused them to miss the conference tournament by one game.

The must-win series for the Wildcats began with a win in their first game on Friday, winning 13-10 in eight innings. Friday’s second game was a different story as ACU lost 6-3.

Pitching was a problem not just in this series but has been an area of struggle all season. The team’s ERA among the team’s five pitchers is 8.77.

“When you’re not getting what you want, you gotta do it differently,” Koons said. “[The] weight room will be a big piece of that, getting them to be able to sustain longer conditioning.”

The team’s record was worse than Koons’ first season last year, which was 15-38 and ended with a first-round exit in the WAC tournament as the fifth seed.

Despite missing the WAC tournament this season, she said this season will give the returners for next season a great foundation to build on and “heal them into next season.”

The post Softball ends season with loss in must-win series appeared first on The Optimist.

The open letter, by a group called The Salt & Light Resistance, was started by Collin Packer, the director of strategic development of Let’s Talk Race Ministries in Allen, who received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from ACU; Jerry Taylor, retired associate professor of Bible, missions and ministry; and Dr. Mark Hamilton, professor of biblical studies.

Among those who have signed the document are Dr. Cliff Barbarick, chair of the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry; Josh Ross, one of the newest university board members; and Dr. Barry Packer, a former chair of the Board of Trustees. The signers also include more than 1,000 people associated with Churches of Christ across the U.S.

The letter warns against Christian nationalism and highlights the mistreatment of people of color in the U.S.

“This movement confuses the gospel with a political agenda and makes us susceptible to the death-dealing designs of corrupting leaders. It disguises venomous hatred with pious words. It uses the precious name of our Savior, the saving symbol of the cross, and the music by which we celebrate our redemption to mask the great harm done to large groups of our fellow human beings,” the letter said.

Collin Packer said the letter is specifically for Church of Christ members because they had seen responses from many other denominations and wanted there to be a way for the Church of Christ, which has no governing body, to be on record.

He said that although he believes the issue of Christian Nationalism is not directly correlated with one administration, recent policies regarding immigration have raised concerns for him and the other supporters.

“We see Christian nationalism as a blending of our Christian identities and  our American identities,” Packer said. “[Christian nationalism] expects that if you are going to be American, that you are a particular kind of Christian that advocates for Christian perspectives, laws and ways that are not inclusive as our democracy.”

He said that when the Christian faith is tied to nationalism, then it does not properly reflect the teachings of Jesus or the goals of Christianity.

Packer said that he hopes the letter causes people to speak out against injustice.

“I would agree that partisanship is not helpful in church,” said Packer. “But what it means to love our neighbor and to do that publicly is to seek justice.”

Hamilton said that for a long time, the idea that the church and state should be connected was a marginal idea; in the last several months, he has seen it become much more mainstream.

The idea that “Christians are supposed to be in charge of everything. Christians make all the decisions … It’s not a few odd people out somewhere. It’s a view that’s elected people to high office,” Hamilton said.

He said that on the surface, the idea that the goals of the Church and the goals of the state aligning may sound nice, but in practice, it results in the state taking over the church and political agendas are confused with the gospel.

Hamilton said he’s seen these Christian nationalist views appear in a variety of different ways, such as, when Pete Hegseth read a prayer from the movie “Pulp Fiction” last month. He said ge’s heard from people who want the current war in Iran to continue because they believe it will hasten Jesus’ return. He’s also seen others supporting the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools.

“We construct this narrative that somehow, before some in some date, sometime in the ‘50s or ‘60s, we were a Christian country, and then suddenly we weren’t,” Hamilton said. “ I think that the date, the facts, just don’t support that claim at all.”

Hamilton said that before the letter was signed, he and many of the others who signed felt like they were the only ones who believed what was happening was wrong, but he’s been encouraged by all the support the letter has gotten.

“I thought I was alone, I thought I was going crazy,” he said. “Now I see I’m not alone. I may be going crazy, but I’m not doing it alone.”

Beyond the letter, the Salt and Light Resistance also has classes and articles where people can read more about their beliefs, and Packer said he hopes they will also have in-person classes in the future where people can learn more.

The post Open letter resisting ‘Christian nationalism’ signed by over 1,000 appeared first on The Optimist.

Now, as a 20-year-old graduating senior, I have spent the past two years serving as editor in chief. In my time as EIC, I have seen the best and the worst of the university. I have reported on how the community unites and how controversy can create a divide. It is a responsibility that I have never taken lightly.

Ashley Henderson, 2024-26 editor in chief, prepares to graduate after spending all three years of her college career on The Optimist staff. (Photo by Emily Rose)

Even after spending countless hours in the newsroom, handling the pressure of stressful situations and opening myself up to constant criticism, I will be forever grateful for my experience. It has given me the perspective and confidence to help others.

Here are some of the greatest lessons I have learned.

Truth and empathy are not competing values

The pursuit of truth requires compassion, empathy and care for the people it impacts. We can seek the truth by holding people accountable and asking difficult questions while recognizing human imperfections. It is not always easy to balance, but it is vital to better connect with those who have different backgrounds or beliefs from ours.

In today’s society, information is available at our fingertips, but strong journalism requires more than facts. It requires storytelling and understanding. It requires us not to make assumptions about others. It requires us to find a way to connect with those we disagree with and tell their stories. We must listen to one another and look at issues from all perspectives.

Change is inevitable and produces growth

Growth requires us to step out of our comfort zones, get involved, and speak up for what we believe in, even when it’s scary. If I had not been open to new opportunities, such as taking on new roles or learning new skills, I would have missed out on the experiences that shaped me.

For example, I was named an executive producer on our 2024 live election show without having any major broadcast experience. However, I committed to the project and gained knowledge of production, which led me to discover my interest in multimedia journalism and anchoring. It was evidence that while we may not be prepared for changes or new responsibilities, sometimes all you have to do is just answer the Lord’s calling.

The Lord is faithful

Jesus tells his disciples in the Gospel of John that the world is full of trouble, but he has overcome the world. Every day, there is more evidence of the world’s brokenness. During my college years, I have seen the impact of sin, rejection and loss. But I am reminded that God is at work through it all.

Our plans and goals do not always align with what God has in store for our lives. We have to accept that we will struggle. Doors will open and close, friendships will be lost and gained and seasons of trial will test our faith. Life may not go as planned, but Jesus is present in the midst of it. That is where our faith becomes stronger, and we learn to lean on him. Our hope is not found in carefully constructed plans, but in the Creator of the universe who holds them all.

As I step away from The Optimist, I do so with deep gratitude for how the Lord has used my time to shape me into the person and journalist I am today. More importantly, it has given me some of my favorite memories and experiences.

To my team, thank you for being the hardest-working, most talented individuals I could have asked for and for making me excited to work every day. Your work often goes unnoticed by most, but I am incredibly appreciative of everything you do. Thank you for giving me grace as I grew alongside you. Thank you for being true friends who supported me through the highest of highs and lowest of lows. The Optimist became my home away from home and my second family.

It has been an honor to serve and represent a publication with such a rich, impactful history. It was the best three years, and I will never take it for granted.

Officially signing off,

Ashley Henderson, 2024-26 EIC

The post Letter from the editor: Learning to lead appeared first on The Optimist.

The campaign, which now runs for two days, encourages members of the ACU community to contribute to areas of campus that have impacted them.

Donations collected during the event helped fund a variety of initiatives across the university, including academic departments, student organizations, athletics and emergency support funds.

Samantha Adkins, executive director of donor relations and annual giving, said the campaign began in 2017 as a single 24-hour giving day with just three designated funds.

Over time, it has grown significantly in both length and participation.

“It started in 2017 with three funds that you could give to for the day, and it really was just a 24-hour period,” Adkins said.

Today, the campaign has expanded to nearly 40 highlighted funds while still allowing donors to contribute to any area of the university.

The event is now called “1906 Minutes for ACU,” referencing the university’s founding year and spanning two days.

“We just thought it would be a fun way to increase the time, but also tie into ACU’s history,” Adkins said.

The funds include initiatives across academic colleges, athletics, and scholarships, such as the Exceptional Scholarship Fund, which raised over $250,000 for undergraduate students.

Some of the funds supported during ACU Gives also focus on service opportunities for students.

Zane McGee, director of the Halbert Center for Missions and Global Service, said donations through the campaign help prepare and send students to serve communities around the world.

The program raised $20,125 this year, beating its goal of $20,000, according to the ACU Gives website.

“ACU Gives allows our center to recruit, equip and send students to work alongside their global neighbors for the betterment of their communities,” McGee said. “We believe that when students engage in Christ-like service, it not only draws people closer to God, but also produces tangible good for those whom we encounter.”

McGee said the goal this year is to raise more than $20,000 to support student mission opportunities, supported in part by two donor families who offered a $10,000 matching gift.

“These funds from ACU Gives improve the equipping of students for well-formed service in the image of Christ,” McGee said.

Anthony Egbo, former football player and director of the Wildcat Annual Fund, said the success of this year’s campaign, including the men’s basketball fund nearly doubling its goal from $130,000 to almost $256,000, reflects growing confidence in ACU athletics during a time of change.

“I think what it says is that people believe in what we’re doing in athletics,” Egbo said. “College athletics has changed a lot over the last couple of years, and for us to stay relevant while still doing things our way, it requires increased support.”

Egbo said the donors are recognizing the shifting landscape of college sports, including the rise of NIL, conference realignment and new financial models, and are choosing to invest in ACU’s mission-driven approach.

“The community is really getting behind that vision,” he said.

Funds raised through ACU Gives will have a direct impact on student-athletes, supporting both their athletic performance and personal development. Egbo said donations help provide opportunities such as mission trips, faculty upgrades and expanded resources for teams.

Egbo said programs are already seeing tangible improvements, including a new weight room for multiple sports and planned upgrades to the track and football facilities. Other investments include enhanced gear, marketing efforts and increased programming focused on life skills and spiritual formation.

“It’s mission trips, developing life skills, it’s jerseys, it’s facilities, it’s nutrition,” Egbo said. “A lot of it you’ll see visibly, but a lot of it is internal work that we do with our athletes.”

The post ACU Gives raises $1.4 million in annual day of giving appeared first on The Optimist.

At these events, the graduating seniors heard from speakers, worshipped, and were given awards nominated by faculty and students.

Student Government Association awarded the Mr. ACU and Miss ACU awards to James Bradshaw, theatre major from Sachse, and Maddie Grace Fridge, child and family services major from Sugar Land.

PJ Martinez handed out the other awards, Honor Man, Honor Woman, B. Sherrod Scholarship, the Trustees award, the Dean Adams Achievement Award and the V.W. and Loreta Kelley scholarship.

“Each year, the faculty student life committee accept nominations to honor some of the graduating seniors,” Martinez said. “The committee reviews these nominations and then votes to select winners.”

This year’s award winners are listed below.

Honor Man and Honor Woman:

• Honor man: Canaan Fairley, political science major from San Antonio.
• Honor woman: Tamil Adele, criminal justice major from Midland.

Trustees Award:

• Kelsey Wilson, biology major from Wichita Falls.
• Kyla Flanagan, mechanical engineering major from Abilene.
• Zeke Whisenhunt, engineering major from Greenbriar, Arkansas.
• Makeda Marquardt, accounting major from Abilene.

B Sherrod Scholarship:

• Emmery Kovalcik, physics major from Bossier City, Louisiana
• Avrie Paxson, mathematics major from Littleton, Colorado.
• Jacqueline Garcia Torres, marketing major from Abilene.
• Lillian Ross, accounting major from Beaumont.

Dean Adams achievement award:

• Ana Rodriguez, biology major from Manor.
• Erick Rivera-Miller, political science major from Cherokee.
• Kelson Agbenu, management major from Aledo.
• Kaylin Graves, advertising and public relations major from Arlington.

V.W. and Loreta Kelley scholarship:

• Brooklyn Arreola, interdisciplinary studies, Lovington, New Mexico.
• Sophie Lopez, advertising and public relations major from San Salvador, El Salvador.

Fridge said she was surprised to receive the Miss ACU award.

“It’s been such a treat to celebrate with my friends,” Fridge said. “Honestly, I have no idea how to feel [about graduating]. I’ve been really excited about this milestone for a really long time, and there’s a lot of bittersweet things that come with it, but mostly I’m feeling excited.”

From there, the class made its way to Beauchamp Amphitheater for the annual candlelight devotional, led by Dr. John Boyles, associate professor of Bible, missions and ministry, for a moment to pray, worship and reflect on their time on campus.

On Saturday, 670 undergraduate students will walk the stage, earning degrees from the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Biblical Studies, the College of Health and Human Services, the College of Learning and Development and the Onstead College of Science and Engineering will graduate at 10 a.m. 

Students graduating from the College of Business Administration, the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences or the College of Leadership and Professional Studies will graduate at 2 p.m., with Dr.  Phil Schubert, president of the university, leading both commencements.

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A student reported their scooter was stolen from the bike racks at Smith Adams Hall. The investigation is ongoing, and there is video of the incident, but the suspect has not been identified. 

5/5/2026 0820 hrs. Suspicious Vehicle, Adjunct Area

ACUPD responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle in the 1800 block of Cedar Crest Dr. The driver was found to be in possession of a controlled substance and arrested. 

5/3/2026 0100 hrs.  Alcohol Incident, New Mabee Hall

A student was contacted inside a residence hall and was under the influence of alcohol. A referral to the Dean of Students was made. 

4/29/2026 1530 hrs. Assault, Off Campus    

An ACU student reported a known individual assaulting her at an off-campus location. ACUPD took the report and referred it to APD for prosecution. 

ACUPD ACTIVITY STATISTICS

April 29 to May 5, 2026 

Chief’s Tip of the Week: If you see something, say something. Suspicious persons, especially in parking lots, should be reported to ACU PD at 325-674-2305. 

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