BELTON, Texas—As part of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor’s (UMHB) Family Weekend celebrations, the university held its senior Ring Ceremony on Friday, September 18. Nearly 200 seniors graduating in December 2026 and May 2027 participated in the tradition on the Luther Memorial lawn in the heart of campus. Special music was provided by One Voice, senior Melissa Wilcox read scripture, and senior Abel Zavala prayed to begin the ceremony. Dr. Brandon Skaggs, UMHB’s Vice President for Student Life, spoke about the tradition, Tony Morales, class of 2002, gave an alumni testimony, and senior Mia Davis offered a student’s perspective.

“It’s always great to be back on campus to celebrate with our future alumni,” said Tony Morales. “Alumni, do you still wear your class ring? What does it mean to you? This ring doesn’t just mark where you have been; it represents where you belong. Alumni, we belong to such a special place!”

Senior Mia Davis addressed her classmates by saying, “As we leave tonight with our rings on our fingers, may we see them as reminders of everything UMHB has given us—and everything we have given to UMHB. May your ring be a symbol of accomplishment, representing all that you have learned, experienced, and poured into this university during your time as a Crusader. Seniors, let us wear our rings with pride and finish this season with confidence, determination, and a renewed sense of purpose, trusting that God has gone before us and has a plan for every step ahead.”

UMHB’s official school ring was custom designed in 1995 when the university marked its sesquicentennial, and the ring’s intricate design incorporates many of the university’s rich traditional symbols listed below:

• The Living Flame symbolizes UMHB’s enduring commitment to education.
• The Crusader represents the spirit of the university in its quest for excellence.
• The Luther Memorial arches memorialize the first building on the Belton campus.
• The W.W. Walton Chapel symbolizes the university’s strong Christian heritage and continued desire to reach the world for Christ.

Students wear the ring with the university’s name facing them until they graduate, when it is turned to face outward, symbolizing the graduate’s readiness to face the world. The UMHB ring is a visible, tangible manifestation of the ever-present bond between UMHB and its alumni.

To learn more about UMHB’s Ring Ceremony or to watch a recording of the event, visit www.umhb.edu/ring.

BELTON, Texas—The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor’s (UMHB) College of Visual and Performing Arts invites the community to experience the arts on campus this fall, beginning with a One Voice concert this Saturday at 3:00 p.m., following the UMHB home football game. The concert will take place in Baugh Performance Hall in the Sue & Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center. In the visual arts, Garrett Hines’ exhibition Sacred Windows is currently on display in the gallery at the Baugh Center for the Visual Arts through September 25. An artist lecture, “Journey of an Iconographer,” is scheduled for September 17 at 3:30 p.m. in Manning Chapel, located inside the Paul and Jane Meyer Christian Studies Center.

To access the complete list of events in the 2026-2027 season brochure, visit Season Brochure - College of Visual & Performing Arts.

“The arts are much more than a performance or exhibition. They are a vital way we make sense of the world, connect with one another, and express the creativity God has placed in each of us,” said Dr. Evan Campbell, UMHB’s associate dean of music.

“Whether in the gallery or on the stage, our students, faculty, and guest artists are committed to creating work that resonates with authenticity and intentionality. Every event is an opportunity to gather, be challenged, and find inspiration,” added Stephanie Chambers, UMHB’s associate dean of art.

To purchase tickets for events in the Performing Arts Center, visit www.umhb.edu/pac.

BELTON, Texas— In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor's (UMHB) 11^th Annual Latino Festival is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 17, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Moore Street on the UMHB campus. The Fiesta en la Calle event is hosted by UMHB Kingdom Diversity and the Hispanic Student Association (HSA).

“As we celebrate this year’s 11^th Annual Latino Festival, I can’t help but think back to when I arrived on the UMHB campus as a transfer student in 1987,” said Rebeka Retta, assistant director of UMHB Kingdom Diversity and HSA advisor. “Reflecting on the Hispanic population on campus back then and what it has become today is truly a testament to UMHB’s commitment to honoring and celebrating the Hispanic culture. I hope you will join us at UMHB to ‘Celebrar La Cultura Hispana.’”

The Fiesta en la Calle will include a parade of flags, dancing, food trucks, cultural games, piñatas, soccer demonstrations & skills training, bilingual worship, photo opportunities, and a UMHB nursing health booth offering free blood pressure screenings, pulse checks, and medical resources. The event will also feature special performances by Guzman Ballet Folklórico and Ballet Folklórico Bayacú.

"Fiesta en la Calle is always something I look forward to each year. It’s such a fun way to bring the UMHB community together, celebrate different cultures, and create memories with friends,” explained senior health science major Karlie Guzman, president of UMHB’s Hispanic Student Association. “I’m excited to see what this year’s event has in store and to be part of another great UMHB Latino Festival.”

BELTON, Texas— This summer, 80 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) students, faculty, staff, and alumni traveled the globe to serve others, share the gospel, and put their faith into action through nine Global Outreach mission teams.

From the Himalayas to the Caribbean, and from Alaska to the United Kingdom, UMHB Global Outreach teams traveled to nine locations, including Alaska, Belize, Canada, Indonesia, Kenya, Montana, Nepal, the Rio Grande Valley, and the United Kingdom. Each team served in a different capacity, but all shared a common purpose—to follow Christ by meeting practical needs, building relationships, and proclaiming the hope of the gospel.

“These experiences give our students the opportunity to see what it means to live out their faith beyond the walls of the university,” said Tiffany Horton, UMHB’s Director of Global Outreach. “They return home with a deeper understanding of God’s heart for the world, a greater willingness to serve, and stories of how God worked in ways they could never have planned.”

In Belize and Kenya, UMHB students used their training and skills to provide medical care in communities with limited access to health services. The Belize team served in schools and hosted pop-up medical clinics, and in Kenya, the team operated pop-up clinics, served at a hospital, and spoke with students at a local school. During their time in Kenya, the team saw more than 500 patients and witnessed 157 girls make professions of faith in Christ.

For teams serving in Montana and the Rio Grande Valley, the ministry centered on children, families, and practical acts of service. The Montana team spent three weeks in Kalispell working with a local church’s summer camp. Each week brought opportunities to serve a different age group, from elementary students through high schoolers, while building relationships and sharing the gospel. In the Rio Grande Valley, students led a Bible camp, painted a mural, and stepped into whatever work was needed to care for their hosts and serve the surrounding community.

In Sunderland, England, the United Kingdom team partnered with local schools and a church to connect with children through sports. Students led physical education classes in primary schools each morning and hosted a flag football camp each afternoon. Through teaching and conversation, the team used sports as a bridge to build relationships and to share the hope they have in Christ. The week culminated with a powerful reminder of the relationships they had built when many of the children and families they met attended the local church that Sunday.

In Indonesia, students worked among Muslim communities, teaching English in local schools and cafes while building relationships and learning about the surrounding culture and community. The Canada team also used relationships and conversation as a pathway for ministry, sharing about Christ and His redeeming work with people in public spaces while traveling to work and school. The team engaged people in conversations in a public square, served chai to members of the South Asian community, served children and families at a local church, and taught English three evenings each week.

For a four-person team in Nepal, the mission began long before they boarded a plane. Through prayer and preparation, the team sought to trust God with every aspect of their journey. Once in Nepal, the team partnered with the International Mission Board (IMB) and local translators to trek nearly 50 miles through the Himalayas, traveling to remote villages to share the gospel.

In Alaska, UMHB partnered with a new ministry to strengthen the connection between a local church and its Bible camp, which was held at a nearby park. During the team’s first week, more than 40 children attended the camp, providing an opportunity for students to serve, build relationships, and share their faith.

Whether providing medical care, teaching children, trekking into remote villages, serving a meal, or simply sitting down to have a conversation, UMHB students learned to recognize opportunities to serve wherever God placed them. The experiences also gave students an opportunity to see their education, skills, and faith come together in meaningful ways and to return to campus with a broader understanding of what it means to live as Christ-followers in a global society.

The Global Outreach program reflects UMHB’s mission to prepare students for leadership, service, and faith-informed discernment in a global society. Through opportunities to serve locally, nationally, and internationally, students are challenged to move beyond themselves and live out their calling by serving others. To learn more, visit Global Outreach - Spiritual Life (umhb.edu).

BELTON, Texas—The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor's ROTC program is proud to announce they are planting 2,977 American flags at Luther Memorial on the UMHB campus to honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001. This event honors the 25^th anniversary of that tragic day.

UMHB students will begin planting flags on Saturday, September 5, at 9:00 a.m., and the memorial will remain for one week. Members of the UMHB and surrounding communities are encouraged to visit the memorial any time until Saturday, Sept. 12, when the flags are removed.

“The success of this event is especially important to us because it provides an opportunity to honor and remember the nearly 3,000 individuals who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, as well as the service members, first responders, and others who sacrificed so much in the years that followed,” explained Cadet Jaeran Rosario, UMHB’s Army ROTC Cadet Platoon Leader and ROTC Club President. “As ROTC cadets, we believe it is our responsibility to preserve the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and ensure that their stories and service are not forgotten. Having strong participation from the UMHB community would allow us to come together, reflect, and respectfully honor their legacy.”

BELTON, Texas—The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) Arts Academy is excited to launch its new youth visual arts program this fall, offering creative classes for children and teens. From hands-on art exploration for preschoolers to skill-building drawing classes for teens, students will have the opportunity to create, imagine, and grow as artists in a fun and encouraging environment. The new classes expand the Arts Academy’s growing art offerings and provide young artists with exciting opportunities to develop their creativity and artistic skills.

The UMHB Arts Academy exists to provide quality, innovative arts instruction and experiences for all ages within a Christian environment, teaching skills and techniques that will enhance not only the lives of the students but also the quality of life within the community.

Classes begin on September 8. Enrollment is limited, and classes fill up quickly. Register today at www.umhb.edu/arts-academy or call 254-295-4686 for more information.

BELTON, Texas— The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) celebrated the beginning of the school year and welcomed more than 700 new freshmen to campus during its 181st Fall Convocation service on Aug. 12. This year, the student body consists of more than 3,200 students.

After UMHB faculty processed into the Frank and Sue Mayborn Campus Center arena, there was a parade of flags representing each of the 31 countries and territories around the globe and 34 states around the nation from which UMHB students have journeyed to campus this year. UMHB accounting major and reigning Miss MHB, Jessie Norvell, shared a passage of scripture from Psalm 27:1-6.

In opening remarks, UMHB President Dr. Randy O'Rear said that Convocation, which marks the official beginning of a new academic year, has been observed since 1845, when the college began in Independence. That year, there were just 24 students attending classes. He shared, “You’ll look back at these times you’re in right now as some of the best times of your life. The faculty and staff are here to help you and support you, and we look forward to watching you grow and develop the relationships that will be so meaningful for the rest of your lives. Thank you for choosing Mary Hardin-Baylor. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this journey. We couldn’t be prouder that you’re here, and we’re looking forward to a great year.”

UMHB welcomed alum and associate professor in the Master of Arts in Counseling program, Dr. Jude Austin, as the event’s keynote speaker. In his address, Austin shared a powerful message about facing the unknown with the courage to be formed by God. “The moment you have in front of you right now is all we have promised. Somewhere along the way, every single one of us will encounter moments that expose us. They aren’t interruptions to our education. Those moments are our education. And not because God delights in our confusion or struggle or fear, but because God so often meets us at the intersection of fear and formation,” Austin explained.

He went on to remind students of Adam’s encounter with God in Genesis 3 and connected it to their current season. “Fear changes our posture. What feels vulnerable and threatening, we distance ourselves from. Fear, vulnerability, distance. Adam doesn’t simply hide behind a tree; he hides from the one he was created to walk with. And thousands of years later, today, we’re still finding places to hide. Whether it’s behind achievement, perfectionism, humor, busyness, or carefully curated versions of ourselves on social media, fear has a remarkable ability to distort our reality. But scripture keeps telling us something else.”

After sharing more Biblical truths about walking through fear or the unknown, Austin ended with encouraging words. “So, this year, when fear finds you, because it will, meet it with courage, humility, and a teachable heart.”

In addition to his role as a UMHB professor, Austin serves as coordinator of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. He is an elder at the Vista Community Church and an award-winning educator, keynote speaker, and author. His research focuses on counselor education pedagogy, particularly helping counseling students develop therapeutic presence in clinical practice. Austin is the co-author of several counseling texts, including the recent ACA publication ‘Mind Your Business: Merging Financial Wisdom with Meaningful Work.’

To end the ceremony, Dr. Tim Crawford, dean of the College of Christian Studies, offered a blessing in Hebrew. He explained, “In 1978, archaeologists discovered a burial site in Jerusalem at a place called Ketef Hinnom. The site was remarkable because it was undisturbed since it was used in the days of the prophet Jeremiah around 600 BC. Among the findings in that cave were two tiny rolled-up sheets of silver. After they were carefully unrolled, they were discovered to be covered with writing. The writing was difficult to make out, but the researcher noticed that the name of God appeared three times in the few lines. It is the oldest piece of the Bible found to date and is sometimes called the ‘priestly blessing’ found in Numbers 6:24-26. This morning, I want to ask this blessing over us as we begin our new academic year.”

BELTON, Texas—On Saturday, Aug. 8, as part of this year's Welcome Week, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) students participated in Love CTX. The annual event is designed for students to discover service opportunities and grow closer to their Cru Groups by serving the community.

For the seventh year, UMHB's Love CTX event supported One More Child, which provides Christ-centered services to vulnerable children and struggling families. Nearly 400 UMHB students packed 28,000 meals and wrote notes for Belton ISD students. This year, the local H-E-B in Belton donated all food items for the meals, equaling more than $19,000 in donations.

“H-E-B is honored and excited to work with UMHB and One More Child to serve the Belton community again,” expressed Amy Flores, H-E-B's area community coordinator. “As a company committed to Texans Helping Texans, we are proud to work alongside these dedicated students who are making a meaningful difference in the lives of local children and strengthening our community one meal at a time.”

“Strong partnerships make it possible to meet real needs in our communities,” shared Joanna LeMasters, director of initiative engagement at One More Child. “We are thrilled to work alongside UMHB and H-E-B once again to provide meals for Belton students and ensure more children have the resources they need to thrive.”

“This is one of my favorite parts of Welcome Week,” said Katy Hartt, UMHB's associate director of student leadership and organizations. “Seeing our new students jump right into serving their new community is really incredible. I love that we get to partner with One More Child and H-E-B to provide meals to our BISD students.”

The meals will go to Belton ISD's Project Heartbeat program to help students who may not have food at home and will be distributed throughout the school year. “Supporting our Project Heartbeat students, including those experiencing homelessness through the McKinney Vento program, students in foster care, and other underserved students, truly takes a community. We are incredibly grateful for the partnership and generosity of One More Child, UMHB, and H-E-B,” said Christina Wilson, McKinney Vento liaison, coordinator for Project Heartbeat with Belton ISD. “Thanks to their support, we were able to provide food to students in pre-K through 12th grade across every Belton ISD campus last year, and we hope to do the same again this year. Their commitment has made a meaningful difference in the lives of our students and families.”

Belton, Texas – On Wednesday, August 5, more than 700 new Crusader students traveled to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor campus for the start of this year’s Welcome Week. Students in this year’s freshman class range in age from 17 to 43 and represent 14 states and nine countries. Nearly 350 students, approximately 48% of this class, are first-generation students, which is a significant milestone for many families.

Campus came alive early this morning as new students and their families arrived for Move-In Day. They were greeted by hundreds of enthusiastic students, faculty, and staff volunteers eager to help them settle in and feel at home. For many families, the warmth and hospitality of the UMHB community stood out right away. “Today has been exciting, and the campus has been so welcoming,” shared Lola and Omar Battles, parents of freshman Chase Battles.

The efficient move-in process allowed students and their families to spend less time unloading and more time celebrating the beginning of this new chapter. “Move-in was so quick and easy. We loved the hype and seeing familiar faces that we call family,” said Justin Gaidusek, UMHB alum and local resident. “We are excited about our daughter carrying on the UMHB legacy and finding another legacy student as a roommate to share in the experience.”

As students settled into their residence halls, anticipation continued to build for the experiences ahead. “I’m most excited to see what it’s like to be in college,” said freshman Mason Miller.

Many students also credited UMHB’s student leaders with helping ensure a smooth transition to campus life. “My resident assistant has been super welcoming and helpful,” explained freshman Addie Gilliam. “She went the extra mile to help us get settled. She’s been so helpful with the transition to college – super stress-free and seamless.”

The move-in experience marks the beginning of Welcome Week, a series of events designed to help new students adjust to campus life, build friendships, and develop a strong sense of community before classes begin on Monday. To learn more about Welcome Week events, visit www.umhb.edu/welcomeweek.

“Welcome Week is the best week of the year on our campus! I especially love to see our returning students help welcome the new students to the UMHB community,” said Katy Hartt, UMHB’s associate director of student leadership and organizations. “The week is filled with fun events that showcase our university and really focus on making new UMHB students feel at home and excited to be here!”

BELTON, Texas— On Wednesday, August 5, new Crusader students will move into their residence halls at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) for the start of this year’s Welcome Week.

Throughout Welcome Week, students will settle into their rooms, participate in many traditions, and build lasting friendships as they join the UMHB family. The week is designed to ensure students feel at home, make connections, and begin to find community before beginning class on Monday, August 10.

Some Welcome Week highlights will include:

• Big Fair – an opportunity for students to explore all the available student organizations at UMHB
• Spirit & Traditions – an opportunity for students to learn about Cru spirit and UMHB traditions
• The Plug – an opportunity for students to connect with local churches and service organizations
• Love CTX – a service event where students pack meals for Belton ISD children in partnership with H-E-B and One More Child
• Dubbing Ceremony – new students are “dubbed” with a ceremonial sword by the university administration as “Crusaders Forever”

To learn more about Welcome Week activities, visit Welcome Week (umhb.edu).