Category: Features
Tony Maldonado (’19) | Accounting and Finance
Antonio “Tony” Maldonado is busy. Actually, that’s putting it mildly. The junior accounting and finance double-major (with Dean’s Honor Roll grades) works part time at H-E-B Grocery to help pay for school. He’s also an active member of the men’s social club Gamma Sigma Phi, volunteers with an outreach ministry through Hillcrest Church of … Continued
Savannah Ochran (’18) | Theatre
When Savannah Ochran (’18) added ACU to her list of schools to visit, her mother raised a simple question: “Why would you go to West Texas to study theatre?” The teenager from Tyler, Texas, wasn’t looking for just any theatre program, however. The quality it produced and opportunities it offered mattered to her, of … Continued
Dr. Jennifer Grimes (’03) | Veterinarian
When Jennifer Grimes was 14, one of her family’s quarter horses was stricken with colic and required emergency surgery to save its life. That was the day she decided to become a veterinarian. The family rushed the horse to Texas A&M University’s surgical facilities and rejoiced when the surgery was successful. For Jennifer, however, the … Continued
Chris Monroe (’89) | College of Business Administration
If you think your fuel bill is high, meet Chris Monroe (’89). His bill is a staggering $500 million per month. Monroe, treasurer for Southwest Airlines, was featured in a CNBC report in May 2012 about his fuel-hedging efforts that have saved the airline more than $3 billion over the past decade. Southwest Airlines … Continued
Hollie Young (’05) | Marriage and Family Studies
Children can find much to frighten them in a hospital setting – syringes, anesthesia, loud machines, strangers in white coats. Hollie (Rambo’ 05) Young, a certified child life specialist at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, uses familiar objects to help young patients cope with their fears. Child-friendly environment Whether the child is in ER, day … Continued

Three unmarked graves from WWI point to Wildcats who died serving their country
EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Charlie Marler (’55), Abilene Christian University professor emeritus of journalism and mass communication, spends a good bit of his retirement time researching the history of his alma mater. One area of particular interest involves the way the lives of students, faculty, staff and alumni were affected by military conflict. On this Memorial Day, … Continued
Rebecca Barker (’04) | Deep In The Heart Art Foundry
Head Patineur and Conservator, Deep In The Heart Art Group As an art student at ACU, Rebecca Barker (’04) helped shape one of the campus icons, Jacob’s Dream, an almost 40-foot bronze sculpture, surrounded by weathered stones. Now Rebecca helps shape other artists’ work as head patineur and conservator of Deep In The Heart Art … Continued
Haitian graduate has big plans for his ACU education
Armed with a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies, a master of divinity, and minors in political science and business administration, Megeste Pierre (M.Div. ’18) is ready for just about anything he might be interested in. He’s interested in all those topics and has great plans for using them. Megeste, a native of Haiti, got his master … Continued
Nil Santana | Assistant Professor of Art and Design, Director of Maker Lab
The integration of technology into the 21st-century classroom is an essential part of the ACU experience. However, for professors in ACU’s creative arts programs the use of technology requires – ironically – more creativity. Today, there is a sense of communal construction of knowledge. Students are not restricted to the walls of the classroom, nor … Continued