Baylor Proud

May

2013

Baylor Stadium celebrates milestones in advance of bringing football back to campus

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Athletics, Videos

Baylor Stadium construction

How big a deal is Baylor Stadium for the university and the football program? A media tour of the construction site yesterday drew dozens of reporters and news crews from Waco and beyond who wanted to see how the Bears’ new home is progressing.

[MEDIA REPORTS: Video and story from the Waco Tribune-Herald || WFAA Dallas/Fort Worth video || BaylorBears.com video || Baylor Photography photos || Baylor Lariat story || KCEN video || KXXV video || Fox44 Waco video || YNN video]

Construction company representatives and Baylor officials agreed: Work is coming along quite nicely, thank you. The outer shell of the stadium (which you can easily see while driving down I-35) should be complete by August or September, with the larger pieces inside cast and in place by the end of the year. Construction of the Umphrey pedestrian bridge across the Brazos River will begin later this summer, and the project is on track to be ready for the Bears’ 2014 home opener less than 500 days from now.

Visting the construction site, my first impression was just how close Baylor Stadium felt to campus. The law school right across the river feels practically next door — as close as, say, Moody Library to the SUB. (Check out this 360-degree video of the stadium and campus, taken from about where the new scoreboard will be, to get a feel for yourself.) I can’t wait until we get to experience game day on campus.

A few other notes from Tuesday’s event: President Ken Starr announced that $100 million has now been raised in private support for the stadium, and that number will continue to rise as club seats go on sale June 1 and additional gifts come in. All premium seating so far (Founders Suites, Premium Suites and Loge Boxes) have sold out, and a waiting list is growing, while 1,500 new season tickets have been sold for 2013 in anticipation of the new stadium a year later. More than 1,400 Stadium Bricks have also been sold to adorn a plaza outside the stadium.

(Click the image at right for an interesting comparison of Floyd Casey Stadium and Baylor Stadium.)

Sic ’em, Baylor Stadium!

May

2013

Road trip takes Baylor seniors back to Independence, where it all began

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Photo Galleries, Student life

Independence, Texas, symbolizes a lot of things to folks around Baylor. It was where the university began, back in 1845, and today is the place where many students begin their time as Bears, with a visit during Baylor Line Camp. So it’s fitting that many seniors choose to close their time at Baylor with a visit back to Independence.

Each year, as the spring semester closes, the Baylor Alumni Network organizes a senior trip to the university’s original home, where participants enjoy dinner on the grounds, photos at sunset by the historic columns from Baylor’s old campus, and a pre-graduation ceremony set amongst our university’s rich history.

[Click here to see more photos from the Senior Road Trip to Independence.]

In less than two weeks, this students will be Baylor’s newest alumni. Four years ago, many received their Baylor Line jerseys in Independence. Soon, they will be a permanent part of the Baylor Line that stretches back almost 170 years.

Sic ’em, Baylor seniors!

May

2013

Engineering students build robots that ‘mind the gap’

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Academics, Just for Fun, Videos

The challenge: Build a robot that can traverse an 8-inch gap, but that at start and finish is no taller, wider or deeper than 12 inches.

Last week, a group of Baylor students nearing completion of Engineering Design I (EGR 3380) put their semester projects to the test. Some of the robot vehicles flew; some built their own “bridges;” some unfolded to add length, then refolded after crossing the gap. Each took a different approach. Most worked; a few didn’t. But every student had fun and learned in the process. Here’s a short video showcasing their efforts:

Sic ’em, Baylor engineering students!

You might also like:
* Students design 400-square-foot housing for use following natural disasters (Jan. 2013)
* Engineering students take on new challenge in Baja SAE competition (Oct. 2012)
* Engineering grads earn attention for eye-controlled Super Mario play (Oct. 2010)

May

2013

National Women’s Soccer League’s inaugural rosters include Baylor senior

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Athletics, Honors

Hanna Gilmore Brittney Griner and Brooklyn Pope aren’t the only Lady Bears headed to pro sports.

Former Baylor soccer standout Hanna Gilmore made it through tryouts to land a spot on the inaugural season roster of the Chicago Red Stars, part of the newly founded National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The eight-team league is organized by the U.S. Soccer Federation and began its first season in April, and the 22-game schedule runs through August.

Gilmore appeared in all 86 Baylor matches during her four years in Waco, starting 78 as a forward and midfielder for the Bears. She finished her tenure at BU last fall ranked sixth in program history in career goals and career scoring and aims to contribute that same sort of offense as a forward for the Red Stars.

The Spring, Texas, native isn’t the first Bear to get a shot at professional soccer. Former Baylor All-American Dawn Greathouse played all three seasons (2001-03) in the short-lived Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA); one of her BU teammates, Courtney Saunders, was drafted into the league in 2001 but did not appear in a game.

Sic ’em, Baylor soccer!

May

2013

New Pinterest board offers ideas for Baylor graduation day celebrations

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Alumni, Student life

It’s hard to believe that the calendar has already turned to May… Weren’t we just putting away Christmas decorations? But here we are; classes end Friday, finals start a week from today, and graduation is barely more than two weeks away.

Are you ready? By now, seniors should probably have their caps and gowns lined up and their announcements mailed. But there’s still time for other last-minute details: graduation party planning, picking out a frame for that diploma, etc.

For that, we’ve launched a new board on our Pinterest page titled simply, “Baylor Graduation.” There, you’ll find green-and-gold cake designs (and other graduation-themed treats), some fun photos from past commencements (this one is a favorite) and more to help seniors get ready for their big day. (It might also bring back memories for you graduates of years past, and remind underclassmen reading this of what you’re working for.)

Of course, you’ll also find plenty more Baylor pride on our other Pinterest boards. If you haven’t started following us yet, here’s a taste of what you’ve been missing:

This framed Line jersey (a birthday present that could also be a fun graduation gift);
Home decoration ideas like this green-and-gold guest room;
This photo of the Eiffel Tower showing its Baylor pride;
Tailgating recipes like these Dr Pepper cookies; and
Popular Baylor gameday gear like this, this and this.

Sic ’em, Baylor grads and Baylor pinners!

Apr

2013

Bloomberg BusinessWeek includes Baylor entrepreneurship program among nation’s top 5

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Academics, Honors

Baylor Entrepreneurship products If you want to start your own business, there are few places in the country better to train than Baylor University.

Bloomberg BusinessWeek earlier this month ranked Baylor’s undergraduate entrepreneurship program No. 3 in the country and tops in the state of Texas, echoing the results of recent Princeton Review/Entrepreneurship Magazine listings which have included Baylor among the nation’s top five each of the last four years.

[Read more about how the Hankamer School of Business prepares entrepreneurship students for success in this feature from the Spring 2013 issue of Baylor Magazine.]

The new results are based on feedback from students at 124 different business schools nationwide. Baylor was the only university south of the Mason-Dixon Line or west of the Mississippi to crack the top five, joining such schools as Cornell and Syracuse.

One of the oldest and most respected entrepreneurship programs in the country, Baylor entrepreneurship continues to come up with new offerings for students, including the recently announced business incubator partnerships in Waco and Addison, Texas.

Sic ’em, Baylor entrepreneurship!

Apr

2013

‘Mama Griffin’ speaking tour to raise funds for RG3 QB scholarship

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Athletics, Extraordinary Stories

Raising RG3: A Conversation with Jackie Griffin

We are blessed to call Robert Griffin III a Baylor Bear. It’s hard to imagine anyone better representing all that Baylor stands for, both on and off the field, particularly on a national stage.

As a young parent, I’ve wondered what RG3′s parents did to raise such an outstanding young man. Now “Mama Griffin” is sharing her story in a series of events that also aim to raise money for the recently announced Robert Griffin III Quarterback Scholarship.

Jackie Griffin will speak to audiences in Dallas (May 2), Houston (June 13), Nashville (Aug. 22) and Waco (Aug. 29) about raising RG3 — stories of the Redskins QB’s youth and the philosophy that guided his upbringing. Tickets are available now for the events in North Texas and Houston; ticket info and details for the other two locations will be released when available.

[Here's a sample of Jackie talking about her famous son to Washington, D.C.'s ABC7.]

Proceeds from each event will benefit the RG3 Scholarship, which seeks to endow the quarterback position at Baylor (a similar approach to that taken for Duke basketball, Michigan football and other programs), thus freeing up budget funds to be used for other purposes. Thanks to the Griffins for lending their support to this effort!

Sic ’em, RG3, Jackie, and all those who have supported the RG3 Scholarship!

Apr

2013

Memorial service on Baylor campus honors fallen heroes from West explosion

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Service

Ferrell Center, site of ceremony for West firefighters

The 12 first responders who died battling the fire that led to last week’s explosion in West, Texas, were remembered during a memorial service in the Ferrell Center Thursday afternoon. Baylor University was honored to provide the site for the service, which was organized by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Texas LODD Task Force.

Following a processional down University Parks Drive that included 300+ fire trucks from all over the country, a capacity crowd filled the Ferrell Center, including President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, 4,000 uniformed responders, and thousands of other citizens paying their respects from the West, Waco and Baylor communities and beyond. Many more watched from other venues; on campus, in Waco Hall, the Bill Daniel Student Center and McLane Student Life Center, as well as at Baylor Ballpark, Getterman Stadium, and the Hurd Tennis Center, which were all opened and carried the broadcast for the overflow crowds.

[VIDEO: U.S. President Barack Obama || Baylor President Ken Starr || Governor Rick Perry || Memorial processional]

“No words adequately describe the courage that was displayed on that deadly night,” said President Obama, the 7th sitting U.S. President to visit Baylor, following Harry S Truman, 1947; Dwight Eisenhower, 1956; Lyndon B. Johnson, 1965; Gerald Ford, 1976; Ronald Reagan, 1988; and George W. Bush, 2002. “What I can do is offer the support and the love and prayers of the nation. We may not all live here in Texas, but we’re neighbors, too. We are Americans, too. And we stand with you and will not forget.”

[PHOTOS: From the processional and ceremony, courtesy Baylor Photography]

“America’s great poet laureate, Robert Frost, wrote that, ‘Good fences make good neighbors,’” said Judge Starr. “Today, there are no fences… because we are all together as neighbors. We are standing together, figuratively, arm in arm.”

Together, the entire Baylor family honors those who died last week in West and prays for all those whose lives have been affected by the tragedy.

Apr

2013

President’s Scholarship Initiative meets $100 million goal — five months early!

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Alumni, Extraordinary Stories, Student life

President's Scholarship Initiative complete

Way to go, Baylor Nation: Your generosity has led to The President’s Scholarship Initiative topping its $100 million goal ahead of schedule!

At this semester’s final Dr Pepper Hour Tuesday afternoon, Baylor President Ken Starr shared the good news with a Barfield Drawing Room crowd full of students, faculty and staff, alums and friends of the university — just down the hall from where he announced the initiative’s launch less than three years ago.

[Click here to watch the announcement, and here for photos.]

The scholarship campaign was the President’s first major move after taking office, beginning just three months into his term at Baylor, and it backed up his early words that students are Baylor’s top priority. Tuesday, Judge Starr said the initiative has raised more than $101 million for student scholarships, thanks to gifts from more than 11,000 members of the Baylor family — almost half of which were giving to the university for the first time.

These funds — the largest scholarship push in Baylor history — will go a long way toward making our distinctive Baylor education accessible to those who are called to take their place in “That Good Old Baylor Line.” But today’s news doesn’t mark an end to the need for scholarship support from the entire Baylor family; it’s just the first step.

My wife and I were both blessed by scholarships when attending Baylor, and we’re proud to be able to give back even the tiny bit that we can afford as a young family. We’ve seen throughout the course of the initiative that every donor and every gift — large or small — makes a difference when we all come together. Please join us in supporting Baylor scholarships; click here for more information on how you can make a difference.

Sic ’em, Bears!

Apr

2013

Baylor equestrian moves forward with dedication of new Carlile Equestrian Building

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Alumni, Athletics

Carlile Equestrian Building at Baylor

Fresh off a national championship in 2012, the Baylor equestrian program today celebrates the completion of phase two construction at their home, the Willis Family Equestrian Center.

The new Carlile Equestrian Building (to be dedicated in a ceremony this afternoon) provides the program with locker rooms, administrative offices, meeting space and a treatment and training room. Made possible by a lead gift from Baylor Regent Dr. Kenneth Q. Carlile, BA ’69, PhD ’96, and his wife, Celia, the facility benefits the 75+ student-athletes who compete for the equestrian program, which just completed its eighth season as a varsity sport at Baylor.

In that short time, Baylor has already won the 2012 Hunter Seat National Collegiate Equestrian Championship title and the 2010 Big 12 Championship under head coach Ellen White, BA ’81, who has led the program from its beginning.

If the Carlile name sounds familiar, it should. Ken and Celia have given faithfully to numerous projects across campus, including the Carlile Geology Research Building and the Ken and Celia Carlile Atrium in the Baylor Sciences Building, as well as the Kenneth Q. and Celia C. Carlile Endowed Scholarship, and many other Baylor initiatives in the sciences, student life and law.

Sic ’em, Carlile family and Baylor equestrian!