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HT Celebrate its Founding With a Focus on Health and Wellness

Thursday Oct, 13 2011

(AUSTIN, Texas) 10.13.11 — The commemoration of two higher education institutions will be honored during Huston-Tillotson University’s four-day Charter celebration Oct. 27-30, 2011, that will focus on health and wellness. The two colleges—Tillotson College, founded by what is now the United Church of Christ, and Samuel Huston College, founded by The United Methodist Church—have roots that date to 1875. 

Charter Day represents the official designated celebration of the trustee signing of the Charter of Incorporation by the State of Texas that established Huston-Tillotson College (now known as Huston-Tillotson University). The 1952 merger created one of the largest black Protestant church-related colleges in the country.  Today the University is experiencing its highest enrollment since the 1952 merger with 904 students matriculating and a campus expansion with the proposed Health and Wellness Center. The increase represents 12 years of growth under Larry L. Earvin who became president in 2000. The Center will serve as a catalyst for awareness and preventive health care for HT students and East Austin residents.

Charter Day Convocation, held on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, at 10 a.m. in King-Seabrook Chapel will feature Ashton Cumberbatch, Vice President of Advocacy and Community Relations, Seton Family of Hospitals, as the keynote speaker. In addition, the program profiles top ranking seniors, features the concert choir under the direction of Gloria Quinlan, and showcases the jazz combo under the direction of Javier Stuppard.   

            A fall symposium, entitled “Vocation as Call” opens the Charter Day celebration on Thursday, Oct. 27 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Agard-Lovinggood Auditorium.  The symposium features recent graduates in the medical profession along with Kurt Senske and other community leaders in the health profession. Senske, author of “The Calling: Live a Life of Significance”, is the Chief Executive Officer of Lutheran Social Services of the South and the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Fortune 500 financial services organization Thrivent Financial. Pastor Karl A. Gronberg, Gethsemane Lutheran Church, will facilitate the panel discussion.

            The celebration will conclude on Sunday, Oct. 30 during a 4 p.m. “Healthy Wholeness” worship with Tyrone D. Gordon, Senior Pastor, St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church, bringing the message.  The scripture from 1 Corinthians 2:9—Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, nor has it entered into the hearts of men the wonderful things God has prepared for they that love Him!—is the focus for the service that also features the concert choir during this one-hour program.

            The complete week of programming is as follows:

             All programs are free and open to the public.  Huston-Tillotson University  is located at 900 Chicon Street. For more information, visit the calendar pages or call 512.505.3073.