Wayland Baptist University: Notable Alumni and a Legacy of Impact

Wayland Baptist University (WBU), a private Baptist university based in Plainview, Texas, boasts a rich history and a tradition of producing graduates who have made significant contributions across various fields. Affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Wayland Baptist has extended its reach with 11 campuses in five Texas cities, six states, American Samoa, and Kenya. Wayland alumni have made a positive impact in a variety of career, volunteer and organizational opportunities throughout the world.

A Foundation of Faith and Education

Founded in 1906 by James Henry Wayland and his wife, who offered land and funds to establish a Baptist college, Wayland Baptist University opened its doors in 1910. The institution holds the distinction of being the oldest institution of higher education in continuous existence on the High Plains of Texas. Wayland Baptist was admitted to the American Association of Junior Colleges in 1926 and would later be approved as a senior college by the Texas Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Wayland's commitment to inclusivity is notable. In 1951, it became the first four-year liberal arts college in the former Confederate states to integrate voluntarily, thanks to the efforts of teacher Annie Taylor and then-president James W. "Bill" Marshall.

Academic Excellence: The School of Mathematics and Sciences

The School of Mathematics and Sciences at Wayland Baptist University plays a crucial role in providing quality education in these disciplines. The School of Mathematics and Sciences at Wayland Baptist University administers all mathematics and science courses taught on the Plainview campus and also those taught online. Degrees are offered in math, math education, biology, molecular biology, chemistry, and geology, along with several preprofessional service course areas such as prenursing and pre-engineering. Currently, the school has 15 faculty members-6 math and 9 sciences, with three emeritus faculty. The School serves over 400 students each semester.

Initially, math and science courses were taught in several temporary locations on the WBU campus. Eventually, they, along with most other courses, were taught in Gates Hall, and later also in the library. The Division of Math and Science was formally designated in the 1940s. Science courses were moved to refurbished army barracks located on the north side of the campus in the 1960s. The Moody Science building was constructed in the early 1970s from a generous grant from the Moody Foundation. Several of the features in the new building were designed by faculty members. Since its completion, all Plainview campus math and science courses have been held there.

Notable Alumni: Champions in Academics and Beyond

Wayland Baptist University has produced a diverse group of alumni who have excelled in their respective fields. Here are a few examples:

Emileigh Willems: A 2015 graduate, Willems earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with Honors, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a perfect 4.0 GPA. She is continuing her academic pursuits in a Ph.D. program at the University of Colorado at Denver, focusing on Applied Math. She began a Ph.D. program at the University of Colorado at Denver in August 2015 to study Applied Math and hopes to find a job doing math in government or industry upon completion of that program.
Dr. Phillip J. Carlson: Graduating in 2007 with degrees in mathematics and chemistry, Dr. Carlson pursued advanced studies at Iowa State University, earning a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry in 2012. Dr. Philip J. Carlson, a professor at Belhaven University, graduated from Wayland in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree in both mathematics and chemistry. After graduation, Carlson attended Iowa State University where he studied electronic structure theory and fluorescence spectroscopy and earned his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry in 2012. Carlson also obtained a Master of Arts degree in Biblical Studies in 2011--a series of successful events that were inspired by his experiences at Wayland. He is now a professor at Belhaven University.
Dr. Rosemary Ribera: Dr. When Dr. Rosemary Ribera first visited Wayland, she was unsure that the small school would be able to prepare her a future in dentistry. However, her fears quickly faded as she encountered the friendly environment and met with knowledgeable professors.
Dr. Jarrett H. Ross: After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology in 2013, Ross pursued studies in medical school with the same determination and dedication. During his time at Wayland, Dr. Jarrett H. Ross was dedicated to many notable organizations on campus, including the Wayland President's Ambassadors, the Texas Academy of Science, and the Pioneer Health Service Corps.

Read also: Cost of Attendance at Wayland
Lauryn Bruggink: A 2016 biology graduate, Bruggink was a member of the Wayland women's wrestling team and actively involved in campus service. Lauryn Bruggink graduated from Wayland in May of 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in biology. She is from Oak Creek, Colorado. A member of the Wayland women's wrestling team and an active participant in service on campus, Lauryn has also immersed herself in the highly regarded science program at Wayland.
Matt Brown: A football and track and field coach at Idalou High School, who is a gold and bronze winner in the Parapan American Games.
Michael E. Devon Morris: Former track and field athlete for Wayland Baptist University, ran for Jamaica in the 1988 Summer Olympics.
Brandon Schneider: Current women's head basketball coach at The University of Kansas; previously at Stephen F.
Earned a Master of Arts in Counseling from Wayland in 2009: and has served as a counselor at Lubbock Veterans Counseling Center, working with hundreds of combat veterans and their family members to help them deal with depression, PTSD, minimal brain injuries, and more sustained in service to the nation. He has initiated outreach to older veterans in care facilities and used a therapy dog to comfort many.

Read also: Learn More About Wayland Baptist University's Enduring Spirit
Earned his bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Wayland in 1999: He then worked for alumnus Tony Ricketts at KFLP radio in Floydada. Employed since 2001 by Foster Communications in San Angelo, Texas, since 2001, he is a sales executive and sports director. In that role, he sells advertising for four different stations and coordinates coverage of the city’s high school sports games between himself and a small group of broadcasters.
Serving as Baptist Student Ministries director at Wayland since August 2020: after serving in church ministry. He earned his WBU degree in 2013 in intercultural missions and then a Master of Divinity degree from Truett Seminary.
Served on the Board of Trustees: and they have contributed to numerous projects through the years in support of Christian education through Wayland. They are serving as chairs of Wayland’s Thrive campaign and made the lead gift of $2.5 million to support the School of Nursing and other needs.
Helped coordinate the Miss Wayland Pageant for many years: She also worked as administrative assistant to several Wayland presidents, retiring in 2007 after 25 years of service. After retirement, she and Joe helped found and lead the Friends of Music (now Friends of the Arts) to support students.
Impacted hundreds of Wayland students through more than 30 years of teaching math: After serving 30 years as a public-school math teacher, she came to the college ranks, taking on elementary and intermediate math courses under the Academic Achievement Department. She currently is an assistant professor for the Kenneth L.
Dr. 1959 graduate of Wayland: who went on to earn advanced degrees at Texas Tech and embark on a career in public education. He taught at the elementary, junior high and high school levels, did some college adjunct instructing, and then moved into public school administration. He served as an assistant principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent. He came out of retirement to serve Ector County schools as superintendent for four years, retiring again in 2000.

A Legacy of Athletic Prowess: The Flying Queens and Pioneer Spirit

The Wayland Baptist athletic teams, known as the Pioneers, have a strong tradition of success, particularly in women's basketball. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) since the 1994-95 academic year. Wayland Baptist compete in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, track and field and wrestling; women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, track and field, volleyball and wrestling; and co-ed sports include cheerleading and eSports.

The Hutcherson Flying Queens: A Dynasty in Women's Basketball

Wayland's women's basketball program, the Hutcherson Flying Queens, holds the distinction of being the winningest team in women's collegiate basketball history. On November 30, 2017, during the 2017-2018 season, the Flying Queens posted their 1,600th win, 300 plus more wins than any other women's collegiate basketball team in US history. From the 1948-1949 season through 2017-2018 season the Flying Queens posted 1622 wins against 562 losses for a winning percentage of .743.

Their history is marked by numerous championships and international representation:

AAU (Amateur Athletic Union): Between the 1948-1949 season through the 1976-1977 season, Wayland competed in AAU women's basketball and was one of only a few colleges to compete in this classification, as teams were primarily industrial and basically professional. The Wayland Team won 10 National AAU Championships, placed second nine times, and third three times.
NWIT (National Women's Invitational Tournament): Wayland competed in the NWIT for 9 years (1969-1977), winning 9 consecutive NWIT National Championships and receiving 23 NWIT All-American Awards. The NWIT faded in prominence when the NCAA and NAIA assumed governance for women's basketball and was discontinued in 1996.
AIAW (Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women): Wayland competed in the AIAW play-off structure for nine years, 1974-1982. During that period the team made it to the Final 4 three times finishing third in 1976 and fourth in 1978 and 1982.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics): The Wayland Team has competed in NAIA Division I basketball from 1983 through 2018.
FIBA (International Basketball Federation): Between 1953 and 1975, Wayland was represented on all seven of FIBA's Women's World Championship Teams.
Pan American Games: Between 1955 and 1979, Wayland was represented on all seven USA Pan American teams. Twenty-seven Flying Queens competed in these games.
USA All-Star Teams: Between 1958 and 1978, eighteen Flying Queens were selected for basketball tours that were part of the State Department's Intercultural Exchange Program to enhance relations between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The team's legacy is intertwined with the Hutcherson family, who sponsored the team and provided transportation, leading to the "Flying Queens" moniker. Beginning with the 1950-1951 season, the Wayland Team became the first women's basketball team to fly to all away games, as Claude and Wilda Hutcherson, owners of Hutcherson Flying Service, picked up sponsorship of the team and flew the team to away games in Hutcherson Flying Service planes. This tradition of flying resulted in the team being named the "Hutcherson Flying Queens".

Harley Redin: A Coaching Legend

Coach Harley J. Redin was one of the most influential individuals in the history of women's college basketball. He began his tenure as Head Coach of the Wayland Baptist Flying Queens in 1956 after serving as the men's basketball coach and athletic director for eight years. Coach Redin led the Flying Queens to 76 wins during their historic 131 consecutive game win streak spanning from 1953-1958. Women's National Team in 1959 and the 1971 Pan American Games. In 2018, Coach Redin was the recipient of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award.

For 18 years under the coaching leadership of Redin, the team won 431 games against only 66 losses. The team won six national AAU championships, and finished second six other times. Redin went on to coach the USA Women's Pan American Team in 1959 and 1971. He was inducted into the inaugural class of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2018, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame presented Coach Redin the Bunn Lifetime Achievement award. Outside of enshrinement, this award is the most prestigious presented by the Hall of Fame.

Other Athletic Achievements

Beyond basketball, Wayland Baptist has excelled in other sports:

Cross Country and Track & Field: The cross country and track and field program have won a total of 14 national championships. The programs compete at notable track meets and cross country events such as the Cowboy Jamboree, Texas Relays, Drake Relays, and the Michael Johnson Classic. In 2012, Wayland's men's track team won the NAIA National Championship by a margin of 38 points, which was the largest margin of victory in 23 years.
Football: On April 1, 2010, Wayland Baptist announced its intention to bring back the football program and join the Central States Football League (CSFL) in 2012. The football team has competed in the Sooner Athletic Conference since the 2017-2018 season which was the first season the SAC added football.

Alumni Awards: Recognizing Excellence

Wayland Baptist University recognizes the achievements and contributions of its alumni through various awards:

Distinguished Alumni Award: This award honors graduates who have made distinctive contributions to their profession, demonstrated exemplary leadership in their community, and/or shown strong loyalty to Wayland through service or giving. Distinguished Alumni winners should make a distinctive contribution to their profession, serve in exemplary leadership roles in their community and/or demonstrate a strong loyalty to Wayland through service or giving. This honor is limited to graduates of Wayland, whether undergraduate or at the graduate level.
Distinguished Young Alumni Award: Similar to the Distinguished Alumni Award, but specifically for graduates age 35 or under. Distinguished Young Alumni winners should make a distinctive contribution to their profession, serve in exemplary leadership roles in their community and/or demonstrate a strong loyalty to Wayland through service or giving. This honor is limited to persons who are age 35 or under who have earned a degree from Wayland. For Plainview or WBUOnline graduates only.
Distinguished Benefactor Award: Recognizes individuals or couples who have generously supported Wayland through financial contributions. This award honors an individual or couple who have generously given to Wayland through financial support to any programs, projects or special initiatives, either over a long period of time or a short one.
Pioneer Alumni Educator Award: Honors alumni who have served the community through education. This new award recognizes an individual who has served the community through education, whether working as a teacher or up through district administrator level. This honor is limited to a graduate of the university but can be from any campus.

These awards highlight the diverse ways in which Wayland alumni are making a difference in the world.

Volunteer Mission Band

Spend a few moments with some of Wayland's most seasoned alumni and you will surely hear something about the Volunteer Mission Band. Starting around the early 1920s, the organization was made up of students who wanted to serve outside the walls of the university. The 1925 yearbook said the group's purpose was "to win lost souls for the Master. Students would load up into Wayland's bus or the famed "blue goose" station wagon and head to area churches, where they would then lead worship services or work with children's or youth programs. Different ministerial students would preach the sermon; others would sing, play musical instruments or share a testimony. The group remained active through the 1950s and '60s and eventually morphed into revival teams based out of the religion department. Today, Wayland students are still actively involved in serving in area churches, often helping with Disciple Now weekends for youth, guest preaching or leading worship.

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