Alumni, supporters to be honored during Blue and Gold Banquet

PLAINVIEW —Wayland Baptist University’s Alumni Association will honor several alumni and supporters at the annual Blue and Gold Banquet during homecoming, slated Feb. 9, at Trinity Sanctuary on the Plainview campus.

Honorees for 2023 include:

Distinguished Alumni Award: Dr. Vernon Stokes, a 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. He also served on Wayland’s Board of Trustees for 19 years, including three years as chairman.

Distinguished Alumni Award: Patrick Timothy Aland 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. He volunteers with Big Brothers, Big Sisters and serves other veteran service organizations as well as his church, participating in several mission trips to Central America and Vietnam.

Distinguished Young Alumni Award: JR Dunn has served 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. He was active in the ministry as a Wayland student and now enjoys sharing the gospel with students across the Plainview campus, discipling students, and leading them to reach their peers through mission trips and training endeavors.

Distinguished Benefactor Award: Ben and Bertha Mieth became friends of Wayland while he 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. Bertha has been an active supporter of Wayland’s Sally Society.

Joe and Freda Provence Distinguished Lifetime Service Award: Freda Provence came to Wayland with husband Joe and completed her education in 1974. With Joe, she 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. They have received numerous honors, including the prestigious President’s Award.

Joe and Freda Provence Distinguished Lifetime Service Award: Libby Cleveland has 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. Mattox School of Mathematics and Sciences and enjoys helping students get past the math hurdle to succeed in completing their college degree.

Set to begin at 6 p.m., the banquet will include a catered dinner and a program to recognize several who have made an impact throuygh the years. Tickets are $15 per person for guests and can be reserved through Jan. 31 in the Office of Alumni Services at 806-291-3600.