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Alumni reflect on FilmFest impact as student festival enters 20th year

This spring more than a hundred students submitted films for the 19th FilmFest Gala at the historic Paramount Theatre: FilmFest Flashback. The event featured short films in a variety of genres including western, scifi, thriller, rom-com and documentary with awards given out in 14 categories.  Because of a shift in scheduling in 2008 that moved … Continued
play4more summer soccer camp

Social impact venture Play4More emerges from soccer camp for refugee children

What started as a summer soccer camp to engage Abilene’s refugee children has expanded into a global effort providing free soccer balls to underprivileged children across the world, and will partner this summer with Bob Goff’s Love Does organization to offer a soccer camp for Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Drs. Jason (’96) and Heidi (White … Continued

Ginna Sadler

ACU Remembers: Ginna Sadler

Virginia “Ginna” Joyce Gufstafson Sadler (’70), professor emeritus of art and design at Abilene Christian University, died March 12, 2023, in Abilene, Texas, at age 74. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. March 25 in the Ministry Activity Center at University Church of Christ (733 E.N. 16th St., Abilene, Texas 79601). Visitation … Continued

ACU Remembers: Dr. Marianna Yarbrough Rasco

Longtime Abilene Christian University professor Dr. Marianna Yarbrough Rasco (’53) died March 10, 2023, in Abilene, Texas, at age 93.  A memorial service will be held at University Church of Christ (733 E.N. 16th St., Abilene, Texas 79601) on Wednesday, March 15, at 2 p.m., with burial afterward at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Abilene. Visitation … Continued

Wildcat Mentor program inspires women’s basketball players

Nurse practitioner Millie Goetz started out as a professional mentor to ACU basketball player Addison Martin. Now she is much more – a cheerleader on and off the court, as well as a friend. The two were matched by head women’s basketball coach Julie Goodenough as part of the team’s Wildcat Mentor program, which pairs … Continued

Jasper Howard

ACU Remembers: Jasper Howard

Former longtime ACU trustee Jasper Smith Howard (’54) died Jan. 25, 2023, in Texarkana, Texas, at age 90.  Visitation will be held Feb. 10, 2023, from 6-8 p.m. at Texarkana Funeral Home (3515 Texas Blvd., Texarkana, Texas 75503). Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Feb. 11, 2023, at Walnut Church of Christ (2720 … Continued

Art professor demonstrates how creativity, hard work lead to success

ACU design professor Ryan Feerer (’05) has put his creative touch on hundreds of projects, but perhaps his most widely seen – and certainly his favorite to date – is a series of USPS Forever stamps with a western theme. The stamp series, released in July 2021, celebrates the enduring legacy of Western wear and … Continued

Dr. Ray Whiteside

ACU Remembers: Dr. Ray Whiteside

Former longtime psychology professor and chair Dr. Lonnie Ray Whiteside (’53) died Dec. 24, 2022, in Abilene, Texas, at age 92. Visitation with the family will be Friday, Jan. 13, from  5-7 p.m. at Piersall Funeral Directors (733 Butternut St., Abilene, Texas 79602). A private graveside service will be held Saturday, Jan. 14 at the … Continued