BrownwoodNews – HPU has received a grant of $207,000 from the James A. “Buddy” Davidson Charitable Foundation of Midland, designated for the schools Biomedical Science Program. $150,000 will be used for an endowed scholarship in Mr. Davidson’s name with the remaining $57,000 used for new furnishings and fixtures in Lecture Hall 123 of the Winebrenner Memorial Hall of Science.
Launched in January 2017, the Biomedical Science Program is designed for students pursuing fields such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, physician assistant, physical therapy, biomedical engineering and biomedical research.
Dr. Kristen Hutchins, associate professor of biology, serves as director of the Biomedical Science Program.
“In addition to the generous scholarship fund for biomedical science students, we are also looking forward to updating the look and function of one of our lecture halls in Winebrenner,” she said. “This space is utilized by our Biomedical Science Program as well as other campus departments year-round. Most of the current furnishings and fixtures are original to when the room was completed, making them right at 55 years old.”
Improvements will include replacing the stadium-style seating with large tabletop work spaces which will allow for greater levels of collaboration; replacing the existing tile flooring with carpet to reduce noise and create a warmer classroom setting; and adding a new mobile podium/desk which will provide faculty members and presenters with more flexibility and complement the updated furnishings.
HPU has received significant support from the James A. “Buddy” Davidson Charitable Foundation in the past. The foundation has given approximately $766,000 to HPU for the James A. “Buddy” Davidson Chair of Christian Studies and an additional $58,000 for computers, furnishings and lab supplies for the university’s School of Nursing.
“We’re extremely thankful for the foundation’s ongoing support of HPU and our students,” said Karina Daniel, the university’s director of corporate, community and foundation relations. “The scholarship funds and much-needed facility updates will not only benefit students and faculty within the Biomedical Science Program, but offer immeasurable encouragement to the university’s efforts to provide students with high-quality facilities that match our high-quality academic programs.”
