Howard Payne University recently welcomed alumni and other guests to campus for Homecoming 2025. This year’s Homecoming included Yellow Jacket Preview and Family Weekend.
“It was incredible to see so many alumni, friends and families on campus during Homecoming weekend,” said Lindsay Badgeley ’09, director of alumni relations. “We had the chance to reconnect with alumni and friends at a variety of activities on campus, celebrate several outstanding alumni and welcome prospective students and their families. We want to express special appreciation to our sponsors and our volunteers for helping to make Homecoming a success.”
HPU alumni and friends enjoyed additional weekend events including the Homecoming parade, HPU Family Picnic, the Alumni Choir Concert, Cobbler on Campus, Homecoming pep rally and more. This year included the Hildebrand-Jackson Recording Studio tribute in recognition of the late Ray Hildebrand and Jill (Jackson) Landon, the duo known as Paul and Paula.
The HPU Alumni Association sponsored prize money for the parade float winners, which were announced during the game. The winners were Delta Epsilon Omega (First Place), Chi Alpha Omega (Second Place) and Zeta Chi (Third Place).
The Yellow Jacket football team had a 36-18 win over the East Texas Baptist University Tigers. The 2025 Homecoming Court was announced during halftime. Named Homecoming Queen and King were Brenna Douthit, a nursing major from Waxahachie, and Deaven Connelly, a math education major from Burleson. The titles of Homecoming Princess and Prince went to Sydney Tate, a finance and Honors Academy major from Royse City, and Brock Horton, an accounting and Honors Academy major from Fort Worth.
Other Homecoming Court nominees were Victoriano Cooper, biochemistry and music major from Early; Byron Foster, allied health science major from Brownwood; Kaylin Greger, allied health science major from Belton; Julie Ivy, Christian education major from Shiner; Addison Long, nursing major and information technology minor from Cross Plains; Benjamin Mabry, Christian Education major from Gatesville; Bailey Nobles, biomedical science major and psychology minor from Robstown; and Nathan Weems, information systems management major from Abilene.
Also honored at halftime were HPU’s 2025 alumni honorees: Trey Oakley ’99, Distinguished Alumnus; Marshal McIntosh ’15 and MBA ’16, Outstanding Young Graduate; Dr. Donnie Auvenshine ’75, Medal of Service; Tim Whetstone ’85, Grand Marshal; Joanne (Cunningham) Crawford ’65, Coming Home Queen; Rev. Salome Guzman, Dr. José Rivas Distinguished Service Award; and Rev. Candy Smith ’71, JAM Faithful Servant Award.
HPU thanks the following businesses for their support of Homecoming. The title sponsor is Citizens National Bank. Gold sponsors include Bruner Auto Family; Chick-fil-A Brownwood; City of Brownwood; City of Early; HPU Alumni Association; United Supermarkets; Underwood’s Bar-B-Q; Wendlee Broadcasting; and Willie’s T’s. Navy sponsors are Dr Pepper Bottlers, Brownwood, Inc.; Painter & Johnson Financial; and P.F. & E. Oil Company. White sponsors are Smith & Sharpe Insurance Agency; and TexasBank. The Partner Sponsor is Nathan’s Jewelers.
For more information about HPU, please visit www.hputx.edu.
