2024 Outstanding Young Alumni Awards

Recipients of the Outstanding Young Alumni Award have achieved a significant level of distinction within their chosen field or have brought extraordinary benefit to the world. They reflect the quality and caliber of today’s HSU students and alumni. At the time of their selection, recipients have graduated from Hardin-Simmons not more than 20 years prior and are not over the age of 45.

The 2024 Outstanding Young Alumni recipients were recognized on Friday, March 1, 2024, at Hardin-Simmons University with a banquet at which family and friends celebrated their accomplishments.

MRS. SARAH (WESLEY) CAMERON ’12

Sarah (Wesley) Cameron earned a B.B.S. in social work from HSU in 2012. She returned home to Arizona and worked with Hands of Hope, a Christian pregnancy center in Tucson. In 2013, she married her husband,

Alec, forming a partnership that God has since used to bless a procession of children and families who have moved through their lives.

After observing the profound needs of kids in the foster care system, Sarah and Alec considered becoming foster parents. Over four years, the couple took in seven separate short-term placements. In 2017, Sarah and Alec opened their home to a sibling group of three girls and one boy.

Seven years later, they and the children are a permanent family.

Sarah works as a foster care trainer with the Christian Family Care Agency using her experience to teach and support other foster families, frequently reminding them that beautiful things come from broken things.

Since 2020, Sarah has also helped run her in-laws’ event venue, Sage Creek Ranch, where she enjoys working with people celebrating joyous occasions.

As an HSU student, Sarah was involved in Alpha Iota Omega, Baptist Student Ministry, and Pioneer Drive Baptist Church’s campus ministry. She was also a student worker in HSU’s history department.

Sarah and Alec live with their children in Tucson, where they attend Second Mile Church.

DR. JORDAN DANIEL ’07

Jordan Daniel received a B.B.S. degree in sport, fitness, and leisure studies with a minor in leadership in 2007 and an M.E. in sport and recreation management in 2008, both from HSU. In 2013, he earned a Ph.D. in recreation, parks, and tourism science from Texas A&M University. He began working as an instructor at Angelo State University the same year and is currently an associate professor in the department of kinesiology.

Jordan played football with HSU coach Jimmie Keeling’s ’15 H.D. program for four years, captaining the squad as a senior. He was a Leadership Program ambassador and worked as a resident advisor and dorm director. Later, he served under coach Jesse Burleson ’00/’17 as a football and strength graduate assistant.

At Angelo State, Jordan is recognized on campus for his distinctive bowties, jovial demeanor, and ability to connect with students. He has received numerous teaching accolades, including the 2020 ASU Faculty Achievement Award, and is known as one of Angelo State Recruiting’s secret weapons. He is a proactive creator, establishing and hosting a popular Texas Recreation and Park Society podcast and spearheading the Angelo State University Values Conference. He also holds the 2022 Guinness World Record for a Zercher Squat of 650 lbs.

Jordan and his wife Jill have three daughters and attend Southland Baptist Church in San Angelo

DR. BEN LOVVORN ’04

Ben Lovvorn graduated with honors from Hardin-Simmons in 2004, earning a B.B.A. in business management with an emphasis in finance and leadership studies. He received a Juris Doctorate from Baylor Law School in 2007 and, in 2023, earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Leadership in Ministry from Liberty University School of Divinity.

As an HSU student, Ben was named to the dean’s and president’s lists and received the Outstanding Management Student Award and the John Wood Award in Business Ethics. He was a member of Delta Mu Delta, the National Honor Society of Business Administration. He also played

varsity football for three seasons, during which he was a two-time varsity letterman and All-Academic team member.

After law school, Ben practiced commercial law before God unexpectedly opened a door for him to serve at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano. Ben became the director of administration and operations, overseeing three campuses and more than 30,000 members.

Three years later, he was named executive pastor of First Baptist Dallas, where he now leads a staff of more than 150 and a congregation of 16,000. He manages the church’s ministries, administration, operations, finances, fundraising, building projects, and more, and is president of First Dallas Media, which operates one of the nation’s most popular Christian radio stations.

Ben and his wife, Parris, live with their five children in Carrollton.