Category: Alumni News
New Faulkner Center to offer marriage, family resources
The Paul and Gladys Faulkner Center for Marriage and Family will provide speakers, events and other resources for the Abilene Christian University community as well as the local Abilene area and beyond. The center will be partially funded by the newly established Paul and Gladys Faulkner Center Endowment. Both the endowment and the center honor … Continued
10 Questions with Dr. Scott Acton, who helped develop the James Webb Space Telescope
Though he had an idea what was coming, the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope left ACU physics alumnus Dr. Scott Acton (’84) speechless. He had spent “half a lifetime’s worth of effort” working on the mission, most recently as Webb’s wavefront sensing and controls scientist with Ball Aerospace. In April, he … Continued
Dramatic rescue orchestrated by ACU alumni brings Ukrainian orphans safely to Croatia
When Russia began shelling Ukraine in February, ACU alumnus Andrew Kelly (’01) and his wife, Jenny, were 6,000 miles away in Abilene, Texas. But their thoughts immediately flew to 10 orphaned children living at a rescue shelter run by Jeremiah’s Hope, a Ukrainian ministry Andrew founded in 2003 along … Continued
ACU Day of Giving aims to serve students, change lives
Projects benefiting from Abilene Christian University’s fifth annual Day of Giving on April 26 – scholarship programs, transformational student experiences, cutting-edge technology – are all designed to help students dream bigger and aim higher. On this designated day of generosity, alumni and friends of ACU can contribute gifts of any amount to any of … Continued
Halbert, Osborne presented with top awards at 2022 Alumni Day Luncheon
For those in attendance of ACU’s 2022 Alumni Day Luncheon, one fact was very clear: Thousands of lives have been changed thanks to the work of the two guests of honor. Family, friends, coworkers and hundreds of others gathered Feb. 19, 2022, at the Hunter Welcome Center to celebrate Kathy (Gay ’78) Halbert and Brandon … Continued
ACU to honor Halbert, Osborne with alumni awards
Abilene Christian University has named its Outstanding Alumna of the Year and Young Alumnus of the Year and will present the awards Saturday, Feb. 19, to Kathy (Gay ’78) Halbert and Brandon Osborne (’05). Kathy, cofounder of the Caris Foundation, is ACU’s Outstanding Alumna of the Year. Brandon, executive director of Abilene Youth Sports Authority, … Continued
Third-grade teacher becomes inadvertent Instagram influencer
By day, Katelyn (McLarty ’14) Cole is an elementary school teacher, wrangling third-graders for the Northwest ISD in Fort Worth, Texas. But in her off time, the ACU alumna has become a popular Instagram influencer with more than 90,000 followers who share her passion for books. An avid reader – she made her … Continued
New endowments provide support for faculty, students in political science and criminal justice, music
Two generous gifts to Abilene Christian University will provide funding for faculty in the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice and a student scholarship in the Department of Music. Dr. Neal Coates, professor and chair of political science and criminal justice, established the two endowments in honor of his late wife, Cynthia Coates. The … Continued
ACU alumni to gather for Homecoming on campus Oct. 14-17
Abilene Christian University’s Homecoming will return to an in-person format after missing last year due to pandemic concerns. Alumni will be back in Abilene for traditional Homecoming festivities Oct. 14-17 with the theme “Any Dream Will Do.” Many of the weekend’s activities, including Chapel and class reunions, are taking place outdoors to reduce the … Continued