Howard Payne University hosted the annual conference of the National Association of Baptist Enrollment Professionals (NABEP) on campus July 16-18. Kevin Kirk, assistant vice president for enrollment management at HPU, finished his term as the group’s president during the conference.

“I have had the honor of serving as president to this organization this past year and hosting the conference is a great way to finish out my term,” Kirk said. “Our colleagues were here to learn, fellowship and be encouraged in their ministry to young people and their families seeking a Christian higher education.”

The event brought enrollment professionals from 12 Baptist universities and five states to Brownwood. The theme was “NABEP RoundUp 2012” and HPU’s Office of Admission set the scene with cowboy hats, boots, a rubber-band gun shooting range, a trip to a ranch and more. Ouachita Baptist University, of Arkadelphia, Ark., co-hosted the event.

Other participating schools were Baylor University, East Texas Baptist University, Hannibal-LaGrange University, Hardin-Simmons University, Houston Baptist University, Mississippi College, Missouri Baptist University, Oklahoma Baptist University, Southwest Baptist University and University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

NABEP provides networking and professional development opportunities for Baptist colleges and universities throughout the United States. The group currently consists of 25 member schools.