Service « Baylor Proud

Points of Pride — Service

Aug

2012

Alum, professor come together to fight mental illness in Central Texas and abroad

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Academics, Alumni, Service

Joe Padilla and Matt Stanford Helping those with mental health challenges is a passion of Baylor alums Joe Padilla, BA ’95, and Dr. Matt Stanford, BS ’88, MA ’90, PhD ’92, founders of Mental Health Grace Alliance. Working in tandem, the two have turned this passion into a mission-minded non-profit organization dedicated to helping others.

Because both Padilla and Stanford believe in a holistic approach to treatment, they have been purposeful about establishing partnerships with other mental health agencies in addition to providing a host of services.

After graduating from Baylor, Padilla and his wife, Jessica, worked overseas with Antioch Ministries International. In 2009, though, Padilla began researching and implementing a holistic recovery process for his wife, who suffered from ever-increasing mental health challenges. Through this approach, Jessica made remarkable process, and today she leads an active and full life.

Dr. Stanford is a professor of psychology, neuroscience and biomedical studies at Baylor. An accomplished author, he has been published in such outlets as USA Today and The New York Times. His writings are inspired by the questions he receives from people of faith when working with those affected by a variety of illnesses, including personality disorders and traumatic brain injury.

Dedicated to putting hands and feet to faith, both founders have also spent time in Libya in the past year in conjunction with Acts of Mercy. Working with refugee groups, PTSD training and support groups have been instituted for Libyans who continue to recover from the revolutionary war.

Sic ’em, Joe and Matt!

Jul

2012

Lady Bears — and their biggest fan — enjoy President’s welcome at White House

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Athletics, Honors, Photo Galleries, Service, Videos

Lady Bears with President Obama Even an occasion as special as a visit to the White House would not have been the same for the Baylor Lady Bears if their biggest fan hadn’t been able to enjoy the experience, too.

Thus, members of the Baylor women’s basketball team were excited to learn that 11-year-old Haley Klepper would accompany them in Washington, D.C., as President Barack Obama hosted the national champions at the White House on Wednesday.

[SEE: Video of the entire event || Video and photos of the team's day in D.C.]

Klepper, the daughter of longtime Baylor supporters, suffers from a rare disorder that has decreased her mobility and hearing. When head coach Kim Mulkey learned of the situation, she made Haley and her sister Hannah practically a part of the team. The sisters were given their own locker at the Ferrell Center, and throughout the Lady Bears’ 40-0 season the two spent time with the players at practices and before games. When the team won the national title, the players pulled Haley and Hannah up on stage to share the moment.

Thus, it seemed only right that the Kleppers would get to join the team for this honor, too — and Obama even noted as much in his short address. “Haley is as brave as can be and has gone through some struggles, but when the team found out about Haley … they immediately took her under their wing,” said the President. “We’re thrilled to have Haley here.”

President Obama also congratulated the Lady Bears on their successes both on the field and off, noting their GPAs and history of community service along with their undefeated record. “This team sets a terrific example for girls everywhere — as athletes, as scholars, as leaders in their community,” said Obama. “I could not be prouder of this team.”

Of course, this isn’t the first time the Lady Bears have visited the White House; the team was also invited back in 2005 after winning the program’s first national title. [See photos from that visit.]

Sic ’em, Lady Bears!

Jul

2012

Young alum’s San Antonio boutique serving through sales

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Alumni, Service

Evolve boutique On the surface, northern San Antonio’s Evolve boutique may look like just another trendy clothing store. Its owner admits that Evolve is a “girly store,” featuring fashions that follow the latest trends. But a closer look finds there’s something more beneath the surface.

Founder Victoria Santoscoy, BBA ’09, sells apparel and accessories following the fair trade model she learned about at Baylor. As a business major, Santoscoy took a course called “Poverty in Waco” from Dr. Jimmy Dorrell, BA ’72, MA ’93, that taught about the idea of fair trade — typically, using business to help impoverished people improve their standard of living by providing a market in which they can sell their products at a fair price.

Evolve’s merchandise comes from all over the world, including from people in Africa and the Far East as well as local San Antonio residents. Santoscoy told NSIDE San Antonio that she envisions the store as one ”that could be a part of the community – a place you would gladly call a neighbor,” and she takes pride in being able to use her gifts and her degree to give back.

Sic ’em, Victoria!

You might also like:
* ‘Sales for Social Impact’ class teaches students how to use business to benefit impoverished communities (June 2012)
* Alum’s textbook company promises to give a book to a child in need for every book sold (Feb. 2011)
* Young grad’s company uses water bottle sales to provide water for those in need (Nov. 2009)
* Young alum’s fashion industry connections to help impoverished women (June 2009)

[We learned of this story from a Bear who shared her Baylor pride. Do you know of an inspiring story, news item, or just a fun link that makes you proud of Baylor and the Baylor family? Let us know! Click here to submit your point of pride!]

Jul

2012

Students put Baylor classroom lessons to work on summer mission trips

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Academics, Athletics, Faith, Service, Student life, Videos

Baylor nutrition team in Guatemala More than 200 Baylor students went out this summer on university-sponsored mission trips, using what they’ve learned in the classroom to serve in the real world.

Engineering majors provided assistance to a school in Rwanda… Music majors used their talents as outreaches for charitable organizations in Malaysia and Hong Kong… Nutrition science students developed educational materials on diabetes and childhood nutrition to share with rural Hondurans… Public health teams worked alongside doctors in Kenya… Other teams headed to England, Ghana, Greece and Uganda.

It’s inspiring to read, see and hear the students’ responses to their trips:

Sophomore Josh Hansen put together this video recapping his Ghana team’s experience.
The Baylor Music Missions Team blogged and photographed throughout their trip.
The Kenya Women’s Leadership Team did the same, sharing stories and videos.
Students share about their week teaching nutrition with Mission Guatemala.
Student-athletes like football’s Levi Norwood and women’s basketball’s Suni Agbuke blogged during the Sports Ministry team’s Kenya trip.
Baylor Missions posted tons of photos on Facebook.

A few excerpts… “A wonderful experience of personally seeing the extensive love for Christ in God’s global church Body.” … “God has showed me that we as the inhabitants of a richer country are privileged with the responsibilityto fulfill the needs of less fortunate nations.” … “We are transformed as a result of the transforming work that we are in the midst of. … We don’t go because they need us, but we do go because we absolutely need them. We go because we need God.”

Teams are already forming for next year, and if you feel so led, they could use your support.

Sic ’em, Baylor missionaries!

Jun

2012

‘Sales for Social Impact’ class teaches students how to use business to benefit impoverished communities

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Academics, Alumni, Research, Service, Student life

Working on a well in Nicaragua Many Baylor graduates can point to one particular class that shaped their future careers. For May 2012 graduate Austin Barnes, BBA ’12, it was a unique offering he took a year ago in the Hankamer School of Business called “Sales for Social Impact.”

Funded by a generous grant from 3M and taught by faculty in Baylor’s Center for Professional Selling,”Sales for Social Impact” (SSI) teaches students about the intersection of business, marketing and poverty. Throughout the semester, SSI students demonstrate their understanding by creating a business model to bring social and economic benefit to an impoverished region.

Partnering with a couple of former 3M research scientists who developed a solar water pasteurizer, Barnes’ SSI class last fall — a group of just 12 students — crafted a feasible business plan to provide Nicaraguans with clean water in a sustainable way. Course participants traveled to Nicaragua for five days to conduct primary research (that’s a well they worked on there pictured at right) and presented their business plan to 3M executives in St. Paul, Minn.

“Sales for Social Impact (SSI) prepared me for the job market by making me a more well-rounded candidate,” said Barnes. “Through SSI, I was able to delve deeply into market research and develop a business model from the ground up, which made me an extremely attractive job candidate.”

That work paid off, as Barnes was hired just days after graduating last month; he is now the chief technology officer for Vendevor, a start-up company developing e-commerce software for underdeveloped countries. Vendevor’s ultimate goal is to help entrepreneurs in developing countries support and expand their businesses internationally.

Sic ’em, Austin, Vendevor and SSI!

May

2012

Six Bears to continue studies abroad thanks to prestigious Fulbright Scholarships

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Academics, Alumni, Honors, Research, Service, Student life

Baylor 2012 Fulbright winners If you want to study or teach internationally after graduating from college, there are few more prestigious opportunities than the Fulbright Program. Established by Congress in 1946 and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, each year the program sends some of the nation’s brightest and most ambitious students across the world to continue their education or to teach English in countries from Afghanistan to Zambia.

Six Baylor students and recent graduates were selected as Fulbright Scholars this spring. Three will pursue advanced studies abroad, in The Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Mexico, while three others will serve as English Teaching Assistants in Indonesia, Russia and Turkey. All spoke of how well Baylor prepared them for an opportunity like the Fulbright, and in turn how the Fulbright experience will benefit them in their careers and in life.

(more…)

Apr

2012

Bears react in love and service following last week’s North Texas tornadoes

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Alumni, Service, Student life

North Texas storms, April 2012 When a round of severe weather that included tornadoes and baseball-sized hail) hit North Texas last week, our thoughts of course went to the thousands of alumni and students’ families living in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. (Chances are you saw the video pictured at right on the news or Internet.)

Below are a couple of stories about how the Baylor family reacted to the devastation in love and service. They were relayed to us by Dr. Martha Lou Scott, BS ’71, EDD ’84, associate vice president for student life, who contacted some of the Bears living in the worst-hit areas to make sure all was okay.

“I was in the computer lab catching up on homework,” wrote Truett Seminary student Mike Quinlan, “when I received a text from a friend who lives in D.C., Ryan Everson, BA ’05, telling me that he was praying for me in light of the approaching storms. I live in the DFW area and commute to Baylor twice a week to attend Truett Seminary; in Waco for the day, I was oblivious to the storms.

“I quickly called my wife, Brooke Quinlan, BS ’99, who along with our one-year-old, Truett, was in the process of taking cover amidst the sound of tornado sirens. In lieu of class, I spent the next hour calling and checking on relatives and eventually trying to coordinate clean-up efforts. At the close of the hour, Truett Professor D. Steven Porter led our class in an extended time prayer for me, my family and those in the path and affected by the storms. In the end, everyone was safe and my family only suffered material losses. I am grateful for genuine care and concern of Baylor students, alumni, staff and administration during this time.”

(more…)

Mar

2012

Baylor-Army program graduate honored for healthcare industry leadership

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Alumni, Honors, Service

Major General David Rubenstein, MHA ’89, has seen and done it all in his 35 years in the military, from leading a medical platoon in Germany to serving as Deputy Surgeon General of the U.S. Army — essentially the COO of an $11 billion healthcare operation. In June, he’ll retire from the Army to focus on developing healthcare leaders through seminars and other talks.

In late February, Rubenstein was announced as a 2012 recipient of the American College of Healthcare Executives’ Gold Medal Award, the highest honor bestowed by the international professional society, given to those who “best exemplify leadership contributing to the improvement of healthcare services and community health.

For the past two years, Rubenstein — a graduate of the Army-Baylor Graduate Program in Health and Business Administration — has served as commanding general of the U.S. Army Medical Department Center, where he is responsible for envisioning, designing, developing and evaluating the U.S. Army’s battlefield medical doctrine, organizations, and equipment across the entire spectrum of the Army’s current and future missions. He has also been chief of the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps since 2008, overseeing some 10,000 officers representing 23 different areas of health services and medical care.

Sic ’em, General Rubenstein!

Previously on Baylor Proud:
* Multiple top-25 programs making Baylor a leader in healthcare administration (Oct. 2011)
* Baylor and U.S. Army celebrate 60 years of academic partnership (June 2011)

Feb

2012

Forensics prof uses skills to bring closure to migrant families missing loved ones

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Academics, Alumni, Research, Service, Videos

The remains of a 12-year-old boy found along the Texas border — almost certainly a migrant from Mexico — strike Baylor professor Dr. Lori Baker, BA ’93, MA ’94, hard. His clothes and belongings held no identification, and even a DNA test found no match.

It’s for individuals such as this that Baker, an associate professor of anthropology in Baylor’s College of Arts and Sciences, has established a database that she hopes can connect unidentified bodies with their loved ones — to provide families and friends with some closure, “a place to pray,” as she puts it.

KRGV Channel 5 in south Texas talked to Baker in depth about her efforts, highlighting her work in this lengthy video report. The work is not pleasant — as Baker says, “forensic scientists are never called in because something good happened” — but it is important. After all, everyone is someone’s friend, brother, sister or child.

Sic ’em, Dr. Baker!

Dec

2011

Social work’s Global Mission Leadership to move ahead thanks to generous gift

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Academics, Service

Global Mission Leadership students A $3.6 million gift from Carl and Martha Lindner will allow Baylor to continue a unique program that prepares Christian leaders to become catalysts for change in communities all over the world.

Launched in 2008, the Global Mission Leadership Initiative brings to Baylor’s School of Social Work international graduate students who have demonstrated servant leadership and strategic thinking while working in their home cultures. Here, they earn a master’s degree in social work, after which they serve — many within their home communities — as agents of change, using holistic approaches to build up impoverished communities.

The initiative began with a three-year grant from the Henry Luce Foundation; the Lindners’ gift will create an endowed fund to support the program going forward, reducing its reliance on such grants. It comes with a call, however, for others to step forward to provide scholarship support that can sustain and even increase the number of students in the program. The program’s first students will graduate this spring; two of those five students are pictured at right.

Sic ’em, Mr. and Mrs. Lindner, Baylor social work, and Global Mission Leadership students!

Points of Pride — Service

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