• A sneak peek at Baylor’s Class of 2023

    Lauren Nealy, Emmeline Bearden, Drake Toll, Brittney Lange & Rylan McCoy

    Each summer, we take a look at some of the freshmen who will be joining the Baylor Family come fall. Here’s your first look at some of the members of Baylor’s Class of 2023:

    * What can’t Lauren Nealy do? Nealy graduated sixth in her class at Denton’s Liberty Christian School, having served as a student mentor, manager of the school’s cheer team, vice-president of the photography club, and on the Science Olympiad team. At Baylor, she plans to study supply chain management in the Hankamer School of Business.

    * Emmeline Bearden is one of only six incoming freshmen accepted into the Baylor 2 Law program this year. The program guarantees participants who accomplish certain academic goals a full tuition scholarship to Baylor Law School upon graduation from BU — an education that will help the Waxahachie High School salutatorian toward a career where she can act upon her passion for justice.

    * Two years ago, Vilonia High School (about 45 minutes north of Little Rock) was looking for a way to broadcast its athletic events. Drake Toll made it happen, investing an estimated 1,500 hours of his free time over the last two years to getting the school’s “Eagle Vision” off the ground — all while keeping a 4.0 GPA. At Baylor, he plans to study journalism and business while hopefully working with some of Baylor Athletics’ broadcasts in preparation for an eventual job in sports.

    * As a young girl, Brittney Lange dreamed of graduating first in her class. This spring, her dream came true, as she was named valedictorian at Cuero High School (90 miles east of San Antonio). At Baylor, she plans to hone her creativity by studying studio art and professional writing.

    * Rylan McCoy is one of many Eagle Scouts enrolling at Baylor this fall — but perhaps the only one coming all the way from Michigan to Waco. For his Eagle Scout project, McCoy worked for a year to put together “basic needs” kits for member of the community in need, organizing donation drives to collect items such as shampoo, soap and toothpaste.

    Sic ’em, #BU23!