UMHB Holds Fall 2026 Convocation

BELTON, Texas- The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) celebrated the beginning of the school year and welcomed more than 700 new freshmen to campus during its 181st Fall Convocation service on Aug. 12. This year, the student body consists of more than 3,200 students.

After UMHB faculty processed into the Frank and Sue Mayborn Campus Center arena, there was a parade of flags representing each of the 31 countries and territories around the globe and 34 states around the nation from which UMHB students have journeyed to campus this year. UMHB accounting major and reigning Miss MHB, Jessie Norvell, shared a passage of scripture from Psalm 27:1-6.

In opening remarks, UMHB President Dr. Randy O'Rear said that Convocation, which marks the official beginning of a new academic year, has been observed since 1845, when the college began in Independence. That year, there were just 24 students attending classes. He shared, "You'll look back at these times you're in right now as some of the best times of your life. The faculty and staff are here to help you and support you, and we look forward to watching you grow and develop the relationships that will be so meaningful for the rest of your lives. Thank you for choosing Mary Hardin-Baylor. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this journey. We couldn't be prouder that you're here, and we're looking forward to a great year."

UMHB welcomed alum and associate professor in the Master of Arts in Counseling program, Dr. Jude Austin, as the event's keynote speaker. In his address, Austin shared a powerful message about facing the unknown with the courage to be formed by God. "The moment you have in front of you right now is all we have promised. Somewhere along the way, every single one of us will encounter moments that expose us. They aren't interruptions to our education. Those moments are our education. And not because God delights in our confusion or struggle or fear, but because God so often meets us at the intersection of fear and formation," Austin explained.

He went on to remind students of Adam's encounter with God in Genesis 3 and connected it to their current season. "Fear changes our posture. What feels vulnerable and threatening, we distance ourselves from. Fear, vulnerability, distance. Adam doesn't simply hide behind a tree; he hides from the one he was created to walk with. And thousands of years later, today, we're still finding places to hide. Whether it's behind achievement, perfectionism, humor, busyness, or carefully curated versions of ourselves on social media, fear has a remarkable ability to distort our reality. But scripture keeps telling us something else."

After sharing more Biblical truths about walking through fear or the unknown, Austin ended with encouraging words. "So, this year, when fear finds you, because it will, meet it with courage, humility, and a teachable heart."

In addition to his role as a UMHB professor, Austin serves as coordinator of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. He is an elder at the Vista Community Church and an award-winning educator, keynote speaker, and author. His research focuses on counselor education pedagogy, particularly helping counseling students develop therapeutic presence in clinical practice. Austin is the co-author of several counseling texts, including the recent ACA publication 'Mind Your Business: Merging Financial Wisdom with Meaningful Work.'

To end the ceremony, Dr. Tim Crawford, dean of the College of Christian Studies, offered a blessing in Hebrew. He explained, "In 1978, archaeologists discovered a burial site in Jerusalem at a place called Ketef Hinnom. The site was remarkable because it was undisturbed since it was used in the days of the prophet Jeremiah around 600 BC. Among the findings in that cave were two tiny rolled-up sheets of silver. After they were carefully unrolled, they were discovered to be covered with writing. The writing was difficult to make out, but the researcher noticed that the name of God appeared three times in the few lines. It is the oldest piece of the Bible found to date and is sometimes called the 'priestly blessing' found in Numbers 6:24-26. This morning, I want to ask this blessing over us as we begin our new academic year."