Spring 2020 Department of Communication News

Student News

HPU Communication students at The Alamo

During the Fall semester, COM students had internships at Wendlee Broadcasting, Heartland Church, Willie’s Tees, and HPU Athletics. The required internship provides students opportunities for practical application of concepts they are learning in the classroom.

Students enrolled in COM 3330 Sport, Media, and Culture visited The University of the Incarnate Word in October and met with HPU alum Zachary Carlton. Carlton is the Interim Associate Director of Athletics/External Affairs at the D1 university.  

HPU COM students at UIW

Students toured the facilities and learned about day-to-day communications operations for a D1 university. The students then attended a San Antonio Spurs game, where they conducted an in-depth analysis of the communications operations of game day.

HPU COM Hosts Etiquette Seminar

Students enrolled in Professor Hair’s Organizational Communication course and Dr. Welker’s Strategic Communication Strategies course attended a one-day professional etiquette seminar. Mrs. Pam Blake, owner of the Central Texas School of Etiquette, conducted the seminar. Students learned concepts ranging from mingling, conversational skills, interviewing skills, introductions, and proper use of utensils and fine dining.

HPU SSB Wins Big at Bayou City Swing Tournament

HPU’s speech & debate team, Student Speaker Bureau, won big at the Bayou City Swing tournament last weekend. Lucy Manning won Top Debate Speaker, and was 2nd place in IPDA debate. Freshman Devin Schurman was 3rd Place debate speaker, and an IPDA debate quarter finalist.

HPU COM students attend marketing seminar at Brownwood Chamber of Commerce Business Expo

Communication majors and minors attended a marketing seminar for media outlets at the BCOC Business Expo. Students learned practical tips from media professionals at KOXE, Wendlee Broadcasting, and the Brownwood Bulletin.

HPU SSB hosts Heart of Texas Speech and Debate Tournament

The Department of Communication speech and debate team, Student Speaker Bureau, hosted The Heart of Texas Tournament at HPU in September. Nine universities including UT-Austin, ACU, TCU, TSU, West Texas A&M, UMHB, and Wayland Baptist competed at the tournament.

HPU SSB students competed well at their first tournament of the year. Every student on the team earned an award:

• Parker Brown—first place, impromptu speaking
• Esmeralda Maldonado—6th place IPDA debate speaker award
• Haylee Maddox—quarterfinalist, IPDA debate
• Alek Mendoza—4th place dramatic interpretation
• Madison Neal—semifinalist, extemporaneous speaking
• Rishona Raub—semifinalist, extemporaneous speaking
• Devin Schurman—semifinalist, impromptu speaking; 6th place NPDA debate speaker award
• Alek Mendoza & Haylee Maddox—first place dramatic duo interpretation

Faculty News

Dr. Julie Welker and Professor Richelle Hair

Dr. Welker and Professor Hair attended the Texas Speech Communication Association convention in October and presented on panels.

Dr. Welker spoke about online education trends, and Professor Hair spoke about Title IX issues on college campuses.

Student Highlight

Bailey Farmer, Strategic Communication Major

Bailey Farmer, a sophomore communication major from Houston, received a grant from the National Collegiate Athletic Association to attend the NCAA Division III conference in Anaheim, California in January 2020.

The NCAA selects students all over the nation to attend this conference. The purpose of the conference is to learn how to make the division III athletics better.  Farmer has been on the Lady Jackets Golf Team for two years.

“I am excited to represent Howard Payne and the ASC division, and enjoyed learning how to improve division III athletics,” said Farmer.

Farmer will graduate in 2022 with a degree in communication. With her degree, she hopes to work in the sport media field, or she hopes to work with professional sport statistics.  Farmer is on the HPU golf team and works in HPU athletic communications.

Upcoming Events Spring 2020

• SSB competes at Texas Intercollegiate Forensics Association Spring Championships, Feb. 7-9, Texas State University

• SSB competes at National Christian College Forensics Association national tournament March 6-8 in Grove City, PA

• Department of Communication Italy and Greece Short-Term Study Abroad Trip—May 2020.  Contact Dr. Welker at jwelker@hputx.edu for all event registration and information.