Christopher Freeland, 2015 graduate of Bangs High School, is very happy with his decision to attend Howard Payne University even though many students are hesitant to enroll in a college near their hometowns.

“Given the time, Howard Payne can be a home away from home, just not far away,” he said. “Given the chance, it can be an opportunity for exponential growth, quality experiences and treasured connections.”

Freeland, a student in HPU’s Guy D. Newman Honors Academy, majors in chemistry with a biochemistry concentration. He is thankful for HPU’s Heart of Texas Scholarship which awards $60,000 to eligible students from Brown County and surrounding counties. The scholarship makes a private Christian education near his hometown an affordable reality.

“I wanted to go to Howard Payne and the Heart of Texas Scholarship offered major financial relief,” he said.

According to Freeland, many students from the area dismiss the idea of attending HPU simply because it is close to home.

“But Howard Payne is like a different world,” he said. “When you walk across campus, it’s a community in itself. It’s healthy to go out and gain independence. But you can do that at Howard Payne.”

Freeland enjoys his time at HPU. He is a member of the Student Speaker Bureau, HPU’s speech and debate team. He is also active in the theatre department and writes for the Yellow Jacket student newspaper. However, he does have one regret from his freshman year.

“Living off campus was not the best idea,” he said. “It’s easy to feel disconnected and isolated when you have the option to go home after class. Even trying to integrate into campus life is difficult when you are not a resident. I have been impressed with the ability of students to involve everyone, even those who do live off-campus.”

Freeland plans to move into an on-campus residence hall his sophomore year.

“I believe that Howard Payne is an excellent community that nurtures Christian faith and provides a challenging academic standard,” he said. “I look forward to moving on campus and experiencing fully all of Howard Payne’s opportunities.”

There is still time to apply for HPU’s fall 2016 semester. The Heart of Texas Scholarship, paid over four years, is automatically awarded to students from the Heart of Texas area who meet unconditional admission requirements and enroll full-time in the fall and spring semesters. Qualifying students will have graduated from high schools or homeschools in Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, McCulloch, Mills and San Saba counties. For more information about this scholarship and other opportunities awaiting students at HPU, contact the Office of Admission at (325) 649-8020 or enroll@hputx.edu. More information may also be found online at www.hputx.edu/heartoftexas.