Alumni Organizations & Awards

Alumni Association

All HSU graduates automatically become members of the Alumni Association. All Association members receive the Range Rider and other Alumni mailings and communications.

This governing body for the Alumni Association meets regularly and assists in structuring alumni-related programming. This working board of 21 members (max) represents a wide variety of demographics. They meet 4-5 times a year. Each member is integral to the Board’s success.

The Alumni Association Board, in partnership with the Office of Alumni Engagement, seeks to communicate with alumni and to provide avenues for alumni to continue and further their relationship with HSU and with others among the 25,000 alumni throughout the world.

Look for the Alumni Association Board of Directors Application link in September 2024.

The Hardin Simmons Board of Young Associates (BYA) is a select group of alumni who volunteer to help HSU achieve its mission. Members are under the age of 40 and passionate about providing quality education in a Christian environment for all HSU students.

The Board is involved in many areas including but not limited to; assisting in recruitment, fundraising, promoting academic excellence and student leadership, encouraging alumni support and participation, and providing assistance as requested for projects and activities.

Membership is offered to applicants who are three years past their graduation date and under the age of 40. Total number of members does not exceed 75. Membership to the Board is granted upon invitation through the BYA membership committee with the approval of the University and Board of Trustees.

Click here to apply for the Board of Young Associates. New members will be notified in March.

The Board of Development is made up of alumni, exes, and friends who desire to support Hardin-Simmons University. The Board members support the University through awarding student scholarships, promoting awareness, sparking interest, and providing financial support for the University. The Vice President for Engagement and Advancement serves as the administrative officer for the Board. The board meetings are held at Homecoming and in the Spring.

Alumni Awards

Each year, Hardin-Simmons honors our alumni and former students. Awards are given for outstanding achievements in either their careers, their community, or their dedication to HSU. If you know of an alum who meets the criteria for one of our awards, please click here to nominate them. Our award categories are:

The Alumni Service Award is the highest alumni honor HSU can bestow. It has been presented since 1943 to former student(s) who has contributed the most in his or her field of endeavor toward the betterment of HSU, or who has rendered the greatest service to the University. Awards are selected by a committee whose members are established by a campus leadership role.

2023 John J. Keeter, Jr. Alumni Service Award

Filemon Ortiz, Jr., ’66

Filemon Ortiz, graduated from Hardin-Simmons University in 1966 with a BS in Spanish and History. He obtained his law degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 1974. In Del Rio, Texas, he has worked in private practice, served as city attorney and municipal judge, and was county attorney for Val Verde County. He currently practices law with the Ortiz & Ortiz law firm.

He is a founding member and director of Del Rio’s Amistad Rookie Baseball League, the Asociación de Ayuda Comunitaria, and the Association of Christian Men of Del Rio, and consults as an attorney for the Mexican Consulate in Del Rio.

While at HSU, Filemon was a member of the Los Rancheros Spanish Club and worked with area Hispanic church youth. He was an HSU trustee from 2014-2022 and he now serves on the Board of Development.

Filemon has been married to Maria Elina for 54 years. They have three children and six grandchildren.

This award, given since 1970, is presented to alumni whose personal and professional accomplishments are exemplary of the ideals and aims of the University and thus bring honor to HSU. Awards are selected by a committee whose members are established by a campus leadership role.

2023 Distinguished Alumni Award

Dr. Corbett Boone ’00

Corbett Boone attended Hardin-Simmons, graduating in 2000 with a BS in Biology and a minor in Chemistry and Leadership. In 2005, he earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Texas Medical School, then completed residency and a fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. He has been a Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician at Southwest Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics in Waco since 2009.

In high school, Corbett became an Eagle Scout. While at HSU, he lettered in football all four years, helped his team win three Conference championships and served as captain his senior year. He was president of the sophomore, junior and senior classes, the student body, Tau Alpha Phi and Beta Beta Beta. In recent years, he has served on the HSU Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Corbett and his wife, Stephanie, have three children.

Candy (Thweatt) Noble ’83

Candy Noble graduated from HSU in 1983 with a BBS in Education. After years as a homemaker, in 2018, she ran for and won election to Texas House District 89. Now in her third term, Representative Noble is a strong voice for conservative causes and serves on the important House Ways and Means and Human Services committees.

As an HSU student, Candy was active in Student Congress and Tri Phi Social Club, served as President of the Cowboy Activities Committee, and was named to Who’s Who. Since graduation, she has served on the HSU Board of Development and Board of Young Associates and is currently a member of the school’s Board of Trustees.

Candy hails from a family with strong HSU ties: her father, five brothers, two daughters, and a son-in-law graduated from the school.

Married to Robert for 40 years, Candy is mom to three daughters and nine grandchildren.

Dr. Garland “Brent” Wallace ’98

Brent Wallace graduated from Hardin-Simmons University in 1998 with a BBA in Marketing. He has since earned a Master of Arts in Human Communication and a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution and Mediation from Abilene Christian University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration from Texas Tech University.

Since 2014, Brent has served as the 11th President and first Chancellor of the North Central Texas College District, after holding the role of Vice President of Instruction and Chief Academic Officer. Earlier positions in higher education included Dean of Instruction and Chair of the Business Management Division at Cisco College.

Brent is currently the secretary/treasurer of the Texas Association of Community Colleges and chairs the Community and Technical Colleges Joint Formula Funding Advisory Committee. In his community, he serves on various local boards, is a Deacon and pianist at his church, and speaks at state and national higher education conferences.

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.

2024 Outstanding Young Alumni Award

Mrs. Sarah (Wesley) Cameron ’12

Sarah Cameron graduated from HSU in 2012 with a BBS in social work. After graduation, she returned home to Arizona and began working at Hands of Hope, a Christian pregnancy center where she assisted women as an advocate for their health and healing.

In 2014, Sarah and her husband Alec felt God’s call to become licensed foster care parents. After multiple foster placements, the Lord led a sibling group to Sarah and Alec and they are now a forever family.

Sarah works as a foster care trainer at Christian Family Care Agency where she uses her hands-on-experience as a foster parent to teach, equip and support the next generation of foster families. She also works at Sage Creek Ranch Events as an event manager where she creates experiences that make her clients feel seen and heard, making their event as special as it can be.

Sarah and Alec have three daughters and one son. The family attends Second Mile Church.

Dr. Jordan Daniel ’07

Jordan Daniel received a BBS degree in sport, fitness, and leisure studies in 2007 and a M.E. in sport and recreation management in 2008, both from HSU. In 2013 he received a Ph.D. in recreation, parks, and tourism science from Texas A&M University.

Jordan is an associate professor in the department of kinesiology at Angelo State University. Initially hired in 2013 as an instructor of kinesiology, he has progressed through the professorial ranks. He has presented at multiple conferences and published or co-published numerous articles in the sports and recreation arena.

While at HSU, Jordan played football for the Cowboys, serving as team captain in 2007. He was an ambassador in the leadership program and served as a resident assistant in Anderson Hall.

Jordan and his wife Jill have three daughters and are members of Southland Baptist Church in San Angelo.

Dr. Ben Lovvorn ’04

Ben Lovvorn serves as the Executive Pastor of First Baptist Church Dallas where he leads and oversees all matters related to the church’s ministry, administration, and operation. Lovvorn also leads FBC Dallas’ worldwide broadcast ministry, Pathway to Victory, which airs on over 1,000 radio stations and 11,000 cable and satellite systems and serves as the President of First Dallas Media which owns and operates one of the most listened to Christian radio stations in the country.

Ben graduated from HSU in 2004 with a BBA in business management. He earned a juris doctorate from Baylor University Law School in 2007 and completed a Ph.D. in Christian leadership in ministry from Liberty University in December 2023.

While at HSU, Ben received the Outstanding Management Student Award and the John Wood Award in Business Ethics. He played football for the Cowboys, winning two ASC Championships, and was named to the NCAA ASC All-Academic Team.

Ben and his wife Parris have four sons and one daughter.

Click through to see the most recent Hall of Fame inductees.