Scholarship Recipient: Madison Lewis ’23
Christian Studies & Mass Communication | Goldthwaite, Texas

Tell us about your journey to HSU.
My journey to Hardin-Simmons began with a campus tour in 2016 with my brother. My aunt attended HSU, but I had never been to campus until that day. Though my brother did not attend, I was blown away by the beautiful campus and the friendly community. Since then, I tucked away the idea of HSU until I graduated high school and attended in the fall of 2020.
Tell us about the impact scholarships had on you.
Since my sophomore year of high school, I knew I was called to ministry and had begun searching for Christian colleges. Initially, the price of a private Christian university scared me. I was afraid my family couldn’t afford a private education, but as we looked into it, my parents and I were pleasantly surprised to see that HSU scholarships with the local scholarships I received, made my dream pursuable after all!
What HSU organizations were you involved with?
I served as a ministry leader in the Baptist Student Ministry (BSM) from 2021-2023 and was a member and later co-president of Circle K, a volunteer organization at HSU. In addition, I worked with HSU Productions as a student worker in Visual Media and as a student writer for University Marketing.
How has your degree program helped prepare you for your career calling?
Combining strategic communication with Christian studies was invaluable. I was able to hone my writing and media skills while developing my knowledge and ministry experience. Both degrees helped me grow and flourish while preparing me for my specific area of media church ministry, a great need for many churches.
What has been your greatest achievement thus far?
Being awarded the Altom Christian Service Award during my senior year at Hardin-Simmons was hugely impactful. It was encouraging to feel that my heart for others was seen.
What is next for you?
I plan to continue working for Woodridge Baptist Church in Kingwood, Texas. I would love to make the trek up to my alma mater for Homecoming or other events when I can because HSU and the people there made such an impact on my life.