Howard Payne University held a brief send off at the Davidson Music Complex’s parking lot for two groups departing for Europe to make international appearances in the next two weeks.
At 8:15am Wednesday morning, HPU musical group Winds of Triumph and the HPU theater group boarded a charter bus and headed for the airport, the first leg of the journey.
HPU President Dr. Bill Ellis sent the groups off with a prayer before their departure, encouraging them to take advantage of every second of this trip and to take as many pictures as possible. He prayed that God would give them safety in their travels, that they would be able to perform to the best of their abilities bringing Glory to God, health during their travels and that they would represent HPU well. Ellis also thanked God for the opportunity given to the students – not only experience the travel but their opportunity to minister through their talents.
Locals were able to enjoy bon voyage performances by the theater group on Sunday at the HPU theater and Tuesday evening by Winds of Triumph at the Mims Auditorium.
HPU’s Winds of Triumph musical ensemble will perform in conjunction with the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8. A group from HPU’s Department of Theatre will perform at the International Collegiate Theatre Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, on August 6, 8, 9 and 11.
Headed to London are Allen Andrus, a senior from Anson; Elizabeth Bates, a 2011 graduate from Austin; Christopher Burnett, a sophomore from Early; Mercedes Cardenas, a junior from Brownwood; Kimberly Collins, a senior from Bay City; Talitha Cook, a May graduate from Howe; Taylor Cook, a junior from Howe; Tyler Cooper, a senior from Brownwood; Megan Irwin, a sophomore from Brownwood; Tyler Matthews, a senior from Weatherford; Grant Newman, a senior from Springtown; Ethan Yeats, a sophomore from Big Spring; and Kyle Ziegler, a senior from Brownwood.
Students going on the Scotland trip are Katelyn Bare, a sophomore from Quito, Ecuador; Colbie Crow, a freshman from Brownwood; Katherine Dobson, a junior from Rowlett; Audrey Harris, a junior from Early; Joshua Helms, a senior from Lindale; Tucker Hull, a junior from Brownwood; Jared Russell, a sophomore from Hillsboro; Rivers Shotwell, a senior from Grand Saline; Phoenix Solis, a junior from Brownwood; Alexandra Taliaferro, a sophomore from Springtown; Doris Walton, a freshman from Lolita; Meredith Underwood, a freshman from Brownwood, and Jarrod White, a junior from Ben Wheeler.
Pictured above are the groups before departure. Below are more photos of the send off.
Dr. Ellis wishes the groups well on their journey and offers a prayer for their safety.
