
Category: Features


Brush up on Rangers history with video from ACU’s RangersU in honor of World Series
As the official higher education partner of the Texas Rangers, Abilene Christian University wants to help fans celebrate the start of the World Series with free video content from RangersU highlighting the storied history of Rangers baseball. In 2022, ACU launched an educational partnership with the Texas Rangers called RangersU powered by ACU, which offers … Continued

Bringing Big Tex to campus in 1955 was no small feat
Visitors to the State Fair of Texas this month will find it hard to miss Big Tex, the 55-foot-tall cowboy who has stood sentinel over the nation’s largest state fair since 1952. Millions of fairgoers each year experience his towering presence, friendly wave and iconic “Howdy” greeting. His legacy, however, is not confined to the … Continued

U.S. News highlights ACU’s nationally ranked student experience for fifth year in a row
For the fifth consecutive year, the student experience at Abilene Christian University, both in and out of the classroom, was ranked as one of the nation’s best in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report rankings released today – in the categories of Study Abroad, Learning Communities, Service Learning, First-Year Experience and Senior Capstone. Overall, … Continued

Willises’ picture worth a thousand words to Cracker Barrel employees, students they fed
A framed photo of the late Dr. John Willis (’55) and his wife, Evelyn (Forrest ’56), graces the fireplace mantel at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store on Highway 351, a testament to the power of a shared meal. Willis, a beloved Bible professor at ACU for 46 years, was well acquainted with the deep connections … Continued

Lynay students, staff volunteer with Ukrainian refugee children in Poland
A group of ACU students took their soccer skills and a desire to love their neighbors to Poland this summer to conduct a soccer camp for Ukrainian refugee children who have resettled there. The 12 students, all Lynay scholars at ACU, traveled June 4-15 to Warsaw, where they partnered with Abilene-based Play4More Soccer and Bob … Continued

ACU announces $25 million gift, first named college in its rise as a national research university
A Houston family’s long legacy of philanthropy and service to Abilene Christian University culminated in a $25 million gift announced this week from Kay Onstead. Her generosity marks the fifth largest single donation in the university’s history, and Kay and her late husband, Robert, have given more than $59 million to Abilene Christian over their … Continued

Two ACU students receive Fulbright Grants for 2023-24
Two recent Abilene Christian University graduates will live, work and learn abroad next school year as recipients of the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. ACU had six students apply to the program this year, with four qualifying as semi-finalists and two selected … Continued

Q&A with May 2023 graduate
Joan Lavaki graduated from Abilene Christian University in May with a degree in ministry and vocation and will attend Yale Divinity School in the fall. What drew you to your major in ministry and vocation? I was actually a vocal music education major before I became a ministry and vocation major. I thought that music … Continued

Bible professor inspires others as world-champion skydiver with a love for missions
A typical weekend for a professor may include spending time with family or going on vacation. But for Larry Henderson, director of ACU’s WorldWide Witness program, it might also include jumping out of an airplane 10,000 feet in the air. In his office, accolades and photos of family, skydiving and travel adventure serve as a … Continued