During HBU鈥檚 Annual Family Weekend, the听University Alumni Relations Office presented the 2017听Spirit of HBU听Walk of Honor Induction. The dinner and听ceremony honored听a听number of听alumni, supporters,听students, athletes,听faculty and staff听for their significant听contributions.听听
The four leading awards were the Distinguished Alumnus听Award, Meritorious Service听Alumnus Award, the Hallmark Award and the Emma Key Faithful Servant Award.听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�听
Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipient: The Honorable Joe Zimmerman, MBA 鈥�89听
Mr. Zimmerman is the mayor of Sugar Land, a respected engineer and a frequent campus special guest.听听
Meritorious Service Award Recipient:听Debra听Perich, 鈥�99
Ms.听Perich听served HBU as Guild听president from 2012 to 2014, has chaired the Silver Tea Fundraiser for several years and continues to provide significant leadership to the Guild.听
Hallmark Award Recipient:听Coach Theresa Fuqua
During听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听BacktheTrack听campaign.听
Emma Key Faithful Servant Award:听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.听
HBU Family of the Year Award:听The Penney Family
Dr. David and Nancy Penney and son Ryan Penney, 鈥�19听
The听Penneys听have served in areas including University music, Student Life and the Guild.听
HBU Family of the Year Award:听The听Tellepsen听Family
Jennifer and Tadd听Tellepsen, MBA 鈥�99
The听Tellepsen听family has partnered with HBU on the construction of venues including the Hodo Residence College and Husky Stadium. Tadd听Tellepsen听has served on the Alumni Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees.听
Spirit of Excellence Gala Award Recipients
Elizabeth and John W. Gibson, Junior, Spirit of Excellence Award 2016听
Sue and Dr. Robert B. Sloan, Spirit of Excellence Award 2016听
Mary Ann Belin, President鈥檚 Award 2016听
Linda Higginbotham, President鈥檚 Award 2016听
Dr. Stewart Morris, Founders Medal 2016听
President鈥檚 Award
Festus听Amoye, 鈥�16听
Christopher Atkins, 鈥�16听
Nemil听Bhatt, 鈥�17听
Jessica Bird, 鈥�16听
Morgan St. John, 鈥�16听
Carlos Cruz, 鈥�16听
Kelsi Hendrix, 鈥�17听
Alanna听Khubieh, 鈥�17听
Michael听Pearcey, 鈥�17听
Thalia San Roman, 鈥�17听
Abdi听Sagastume, 鈥�17听
Victoria Simms, 鈥�17听
Christian Wiggins, 鈥�16听
Opal听Goolsby听Professor of the Year
Dr. Christopher Hammons听
Mayfield Outstanding Staff Award
J.R. Harris听
Ritamarie听Tauer, MACCT 鈥�85听
2017 Athletics Hall of Honor Inductees
Sherill听Hadrick, 鈥�07听
Ms.听Hadrick听played on the women鈥檚 basketball team from 2002 to 2006, earning All-America honors in 2004 and 2006.听听
Gene听Iba听
Mr.听Iba听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.听
Ulfar听Jonsson听
Mr.听Jonsson听played for the men鈥檚 golf team in 1988 and 1989, earning All-America and All-Trans Athletic Conference honors in 1988.听
Mollye听Micak, 鈥�12听
Ms.听Micak听played shortstop for the softball team in 2010 and 2011, and was selected as the Great West Conference Player of the Year in 2011.听
Courtney听Whittleman, 鈥�11听
Ms.听Whittleman听was a member of the volleyball team from 2008 to 2011,听and was named the Great West Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 and 2011.