Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ achieved its ninth consecutive year of record enrollment, with more than 7,800 students enrolled for Fall 2026.

The student body total of 7,877 marks an 8% increase over last year, a 48% increase over the past five years, and a 60% increase over the past decade.

The university¡¯s repeated record enrollments are a result of a clear focus on Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s unique offering, disciplined execution from the enrollment teams, and expansion of high-demand, market-facing programs, said Dr. Phil Schubert, Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ president.

¡°Our strong performance in this highly competitive market speaks to the unique experience we offer,¡± Schubert said. ¡°At Ä¢¹½´«Ã½, students don¡¯t have to compromise. They can receive an academically rigorous education at a national research university in a formative, Christ-centered environment. We¡¯re committed to welcoming each new student and walking with them as they seek God¡¯s call in their lives.¡±

Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s fall enrollment includes 1,054 new freshmen who come from every region of Texas, the continental United States and across the world. Among the residential freshman class are 16 valedictorians, three National Merit Finalists and 37 international students. Nursing, engineering, management, finance, kinesiology and psychology are some of the most popular areas of study for residential freshmen this year.

Undergraduate enrollment in online programs rose 25% from last year, and overall enrollment in online programs grew by 18%. The university also has a record number of graduate students system-wide, with 2,355.

Quick Enrollment Facts

• Undergraduate students: 5,522
• Graduate students: 2,355
• Abilene campus: 3,631
• Online programs:? 4,246
• International students: 217

New Programs in Fall 2026

• Bachelor of Science in construction management
• Bachelor of Science in data science and statistics
• Bachelor of Science in sports media
• Master of Science in nuclear science and engineering
• Master of Engineering in nuclear science and engineering
• Doctor of Philosophy in nuclear science and engineering
• Bachelor of Science in education studies (online)
• Master of Science in Nursing (online)
• Center for Pre-Law Professions

¨C Wendy Kilmer
Sept. 14, 2026

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Christian leaders and church members from across the country will gather at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ this October to explore the transformative power of love at the 120th annual Summit Oct. 7-9. continues through Sept. 22.

The annual event, part of the university¡¯s , provides conversations about faith and life for ministers, church leaders and other believers. Participants study scripture, share practices, discuss specific ministry contexts, and spend time in fellowship and worship. This year¡¯s theme, “A Call to Genuine Love,¡± is based on Romans 12.

The 2026 conference includes focusing on adult formation, emerging adulthood, Hispanic ministry, preaching ministry, rural and small-town churches, and continuing education for spiritual direction. Each group¡¯s discussions and learning experiences are designed for the needs of that group. In addition, two general interest communities are available: New Testament and Old Testament.?

¡°In Romans 12, Paul challenges us by looking at the everyday moments as the example of a life built around love,¡± said Dr. Jennifer Schroeder, Summit director. ¡°Christian life doesn¡¯t only involve our minds ¡ª how to think about love ¡ª but our entire selves: our identity. We look forward to exploring Romans 12 together and experiencing the practice of becoming a people of love.¡±

Keynote speakers include:

• Dr. Josh Graves, senior minister at Otter Creek Church in Nashville
• Dr. Sara Barton, chaplain and director of pastoral care at Baylor University
• Dr. Heather Gorman, associate professor of New Testament at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½
• Mitch Wilburn, preaching minister at The Park Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma

On Thursday evening, Oct. 8, the entire Summit community will come together for Anchor Point, which includes dinner, worship and a plenary session with Gorman.?

Worship throughout the event will be led by Nic Dunbar, worship minister at The Hills Church in North Richland Hills and a vocalist, songwriter, creative director and producer.

An additional opportunity is the Oct. 6-7 with a focus on ¡±Pastoring Difference: Learning to Love Diversity as a Way of Church Life.¡± Dr. Willie James Jennings will teach about environments that celebrate differences and reflect the reconciling work of Christ in increasingly diverse congregations. Jennings is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Theology and Africana Studies at Yale University Divinity School and the author of several award-winning books.

Learn more at and to secure your spot.

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Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ junior is a triple major, an honors student, a trumpeter in Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s Big Purple Band, and on Tuesday could add ¡°world champion dunker¡± to his already impressive resume.

After winning a preliminary round of the competition in July, Hazzard is one of eight dunkers who will vie for the title in a bracket-style competition in the Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 8 p.m. ET in Atlanta, Georgia. The event, backed by NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, will be streamed on TNT, HBO Max and TruTV.

Originally a high school basketball player in his hometown of Little Elm, Hazzard’s path shifted in his sophomore year after he tore both hamstrings. During his recovery and a subsequent growth spurt, he discovered the niche world of professional dunking. He is largely self-taught, having spent years recording his progress solo, often in a gym at the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Money Student Recreation and Wellness Center.?

His breakthrough came in May 2025 when a viral video led to an invitation to a Jumpman 23 showcase in London hosted by Jordan Brand, which was convenient, as he was already in Oxford, England, as part of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s Study Abroad program. He now competes in O¡¯Neal¡¯s Dunkman league.

Hazzard describes his surreal entry into that organization: ¡°I received a call from this guy named Chuck, and he was like, ¡®Hey, Shaq saw one of your videos and said, ¡®Get this man on Dunkman.¡¯¡±

Despite being a lesser-known name in the field, Hazzard is a second-seed favorite among the world¡¯s elite dunkers, including notable names like Mac McClung. Hazzard remains unphased by the pressure of live, televised competition.?

“I just enjoy the moment, because it’s not like I’m doing something that I don’t love,¡± he said. ¡°I’m doing the thing I find the most joy in, and I get to do it in front of everyone else. So, I actually feel really relaxed in situations like that. My mental mindset is that I’m just excited to get back out there and compete.¡±

Meanwhile, the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ community is rallying to support a fellow Wildcat with an on-campus watch party in Moody Coliseum Tuesday. The Dunkman competition will be streaming live on the big screen, with games, contests, and opportunities to win cash prizes throughout the night. Doors open to the public at 6:45 p.m., and concessions will be available for purchase throughout the evening.

¡°It¡¯s a great feeling to know that I have a lot of supporters on campus,¡± Hazzard said ¡°People are willing to take time out of their night to watch me. I’m super lucky to have that.¡±

¨C Wendy Kilmer
Aug. 24, 2026

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Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ junior ¨C a triple major, an honors student, a trumpeter in Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s Big Purple Band ¨C has now added ¡°world champion dunker¡± to his resume, taking home the trophy and $500,000 in the

After winning a preliminary round of the competition in July, Hazzard was one of eight dunkers competing on national television in a bracket-style competition Tuesday in Atlanta, Georgia.?

Originally a high school basketball player in his hometown of Little Elm, Hazzard’s path shifted in his sophomore year after he tore both hamstrings. During his recovery and a subsequent growth spurt, he discovered the niche world of professional dunking. He is largely self-taught, having spent years recording his progress solo, often in a gym at the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Money Student Recreation and Wellness Center.?

His breakthrough came in May 2025 when a viral video led to an invitation to a Jumpman 23 showcase in London hosted by Jordan Brand, which was convenient, as he was already in Oxford, England, as part of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s Study Abroad program. He now competes in O¡¯Neal¡¯s Dunkman league.

Hazzard describes his surreal entry into that organization: ¡°I received a call from this guy named Chuck, and he was like, ¡®Hey, Shaq saw one of your videos and said, ¡®Get this man on Dunkman.¡¯¡±

Despite being a lesser-known name in the field, Hazzard was a second-seed favorite entering the competition. Hazzard remained unphased ahead of the live, televised competition event.?

“I just enjoy the moment, because it’s not like I’m doing something that I don’t love,¡± he said. ¡°I’m doing the thing I find the most joy in, and I get to do it in front of everyone else. So, I actually feel really relaxed in situations like that. My mental mindset is that I’m just excited to get back out there and compete.¡±

Meanwhile, the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ community rallyed to support a fellow Wildcat with an on-campus watch party in Moody Coliseum Tuesday.?

¡°It¡¯s a great feeling to know that I have a lot of supporters on campus,¡± Hazzard said ¡°People are willing to take time out of their night to watch me. I’m super lucky to have that.¡±

¨C Wendy Kilmer
Aug. 26, 2026

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The Friday, May 8, ceremony at 7 p.m. will award 52 doctoral and 261 master¡¯s degrees. On Saturday, May 9, 650 bachelor¡¯s degrees will be presented in two ceremonies ¨C 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.?

The 10 a.m. ceremony includes bachelor¡¯s degree candidates from?

• College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
• College of Biblical Studies
• College of Health and Human Services
• College of Learning and Development
• Onstead College of Science and Engineering?

The 2 p.m. ceremony includes bachelor¡¯s degree candidates from

• College of Business Administration
• College of Health and Behavioral Sciences
• College of Leadership and Professional Studies?

Dr. Wes Crawford (’02 M.Div.), vice provost, will give the charge to the graduate class at the Friday ceremony. Kevin Washington (’11 M.A.), associate athletics director and athletics chaplain at Baylor University, will give the charge to the undergraduate class at both ceremonies on Saturday. Washington played football at Notre Dame and Ä¢¹½´«Ã½, earning bachelor¡¯s degrees in sociology and film and television and master¡¯s degrees in communication and biblical counseling.

All three ceremonies will be livestreamed; visit acu.edu/commencement for more information.??

Honorary Doctorate

At the Saturday morning ceremony, Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ will award an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters to Barbara (Bell ’50) Packer. Alongside her late husband and former Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ board chair, H. Lynn Packer (’50), she played an integral role in advancing the mission of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ through investment and support of initiatives that shaped the university¡¯s spiritual and academic identity. The Packer family¡¯s impact is reflected in the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building, the Robert S. and Katherine Bell Chapel on the Hill, two endowed chairs in the College of Biblical Studies and the Packer Scholars program.

Outlive Your Life Award

In both Saturday ceremonies, Dr. Perry Reeves (’65) will be awarded the Dale and Rita Brown Outlive Your Life Award. A longtime member of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s chemistry faculty, Reeves¡¯ love of teaching and research made him an inspiration and mentor to generations of future scientists, science teachers and medical professionals. The Outlive Your Life Award is named for its first recipients, Dale and Rita Brown, and for the book by Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ alumnus Max Lucado, Outlive Your Life: You Were Made to Make a Difference. The award recognizes all types of servant leadership exhibited by friends or alumni of the university.

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These moments define the first-year experience at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½, where relationship-building is as essential as class attendance.?

This intentional community-building begins on move-in day, when students are immediately welcomed into the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ family. Faculty, staff and upperclassmen unload cars and carry belongings up stairs, creating an atmosphere of celebration rather than drudgery.?

After a goodbye blessing with families, Wildcat Week officially begins. Students are immediately welcomed into one of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s most meaningful traditions, the Candlelight Devo, which will bookend their university journey.?

¡°Wildcat week serves as the foundation of the student experience,¡± says PJ Martinez, dean of student engagement. ¡°It equips first-year students through them learning the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ traditions, experiencing Abilene, a place they¡¯ll call home for the next 4-5 years, and meeting people who are on a journey similar to theirs.¡±?

Throughout the week, students participate in concerts, service projects, communal worship and creative activities. Martinez points to Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Fest as a highlight, where students connect with local churches, non-profits and businesses, as well as more than 75 student organizations.

¡°A sense of joy¡± permeates the event, Martinez says, as incoming students meet alumni and begin to understand the strength of the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ community.?

All of these activities are intentional, ¡°designed to create a sense of belonging from the very beginning of a student¡¯s college experience,¡± says Lillie Goode, Student Director of Wildcat Week for 2026.?

¡°By the end of the week, it is our hope that Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ starts to feel like home because of the relationships, traditions, and shared experiences new students develop during those first few days on campus.¡±

That community doesn¡¯t end when classes begin. Students stay with their Wildcat Week groups throughout the first semester in Cornerstone, a foundational course that shapes the rest of their Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ experience. Led by faculty from across disciplines, the class invites students to explore the purpose of a liberal arts education.

Additionally, Cornerstone faculty involve students in community-building activities, such as service projects, shared meals and class outings to Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ events. Each class has a dedicated peer mentor, an upperclassman who guides students through their first semester.?

For Merit Gamertsfelder, a business management major and Cornerstone peer leader, the transition from Wildcat Week to Cornerstone is critical in building community: ¡°Cornerstone helps freshmen get connected with others right off the bat. Wildcat Week plays a big part of this too, establishing friendships first and then growing into them in the classroom.¡±

Seeing the same small group several times a week in the classroom and beyond helps students build confidence, Gamertsfelder says. ¡°At first everyone is shy and timid, but by the end they have all become comfortable and have let their inner selves shine.¡±

Together, Wildcat Week and Cornerstone propel students through their first year with a foundation of belonging. As Martinez puts it, ¡°Once Wildcat Week is done, the growth and the enjoyment doesn¡¯t end ¨C it¡¯s only beginning!¡±

¨C Kayla Hewitt

May 1, 2026

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Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action will host the Don Williams and Royce Money Distinguished Lecture Series May 1 at 7 p.m. in Chapel on the Hill in the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building. The event, featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annette Gordon-Reed, is free and open to the public.

Gordon-Reed will be speaking on ¡°The Story of Our Founding and Its Impact for Us Today,¡± and the lecture is designed to help the community engage in collective remembrance, said Tryce Prince, executive director of the Carl Spain Center.?

¡°This year marks the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. America 250 provides us with an opportunity to practice what the Carl Spain Center refers to as ¡®collective remembrance.¡¯ We can courageously face our past, its triumphs and tragedies, knowing the power of God within us helps us realize our great potential,¡± Prince said.

Gordon-Reed is the Carl M. Loeb University Professor at Harvard University. She has won 16 book prizes, including the Pulitzer Prize in history in 2009 and the National Book Award in 2008 for The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family. Her most recent book is On Juneteenth, a memoir and history of Texas. A selected list of honors includes a Guggenheim Fellowship in the humanities, a MacArthur Fellowship, the National Humanities Medal, the Frederick Douglass Book Prize, the George Washington Book Prize and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. She is a Texas-raised historian and appears as a featured expert in Ken Burns¡¯ recent PBS documentary The American Revolution.

¨C Wendy Kilmer

April 22, 2026

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Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s student film festival returned to the historic Paramount Theatre this spring for the 22nd premiere event to celebrate student achievement in film. The event featured projects from 14 teams, including narrative, documentary and animated films represented.?

The theme of FilmFest 2026 was ¡°On Set,¡± and the evening included past and present judges and mentors describing the experience of being on a film set. Tim Holt (¡¯15), a past FilmFest participant and Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s Young Alumnus of the Year, described the challenge of stepping onto a new set.

¡°We¡¯re always trying to make bigger and better videos, and the sets change from shoot to shoot from smaller sets of teams of three to four to bigger shoots which will have probably 50 to 60 people on set. The roles might be carried over but you¡¯re always going to be learning something new based on the type of content that you¡¯re trying to produce.¡±?

More than 100 students participated in producing this year¡¯s films, with a third of those students working on more than one film. In fact, five students this year contributed to at least five films, including Brooke Musia and Lauren Burris who won Best Direction for their film After Emmy and Abbey Monroe who directed the Best Picture winner Courting, along with writer, editor and sound roles on other films.?

Joshua Varner won Best Cinematography for Sins and Cinders, but shot or helped shoot three other films. One of the stand-out-performances this year came from a sophomore multimedia major participating in FilmFest for the first time. Jaden Frecka won Best Original Score for his film Keeping up with the King but also wrote original music for six other films or, in all, half of all submitted films.?

During the event, students also heard from Randy Brewer (¡¯93), long-time producer with Revolution Pictures in Nashville now in Abilene as Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s chief storyteller. Brewer told students it¡¯s ¡°important to network long before you graduate.¡± He partnered with FilmFest last May on a road trip to Nashville that included visits to sets and production studios where students met professionals in a range of fields. ¡°You may think, like I did, ¡®I want to be a director,¡¯ and then when you get out there, you may change your mind and think, ¡®Maybe I¡¯d be better at what they do.¡¯ I think everyone should look for a mentor.¡±

This year’s judges were industry mentors from production hubs in L.A., Tulsa and Atlanta. Sommerly Simser (¡®10) is a returning judge and finance executive at Netflix. She is a member of the Television Academy and Women in Film and is the founder of the Tinseltown Scholarship Society, a nonprofit supporting aspiring college filmmakers.?

Two new mentors joined the FilmFest Gala this year. Amy Teague is a set decorator and production designer from Tulsa whose credits include Twisters, Reservation Dogs, The Low Down and The Great Awakening currently in theatres. Nate Corrona comes from Dustbrand Films in Atlanta having directed and produced more than 200 music videos with Grammy-winning artists like Crowder, PJ Morton and Lecrae. Both met with students this year to share their experience and provide feedback leading up to the FilmFest Gala.

Brewer advised students that opportunities to connect with mentors or get chances to be on set exist through FilmFest. ¡°Who are the mentors at FilmFest who are people you can go up to and ask could I have coffee with you? What are some ways I should be on set? You have the opportunity to be mentored more, but you just need to step out.¡±

Visit acu.edu/filmfest to learn more.

¨C Kyle Dickson

April 20, 2026

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During the month of February, Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ will celebrate Black History Month with guest speakers, social events, a local bus tour and other student and faculty activities. Several Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ groups collaborated to plan and host the events, including the Office of Intercultural Engagement and Belonging, the Black Student Union, the Adams Center for Teaching and Learning, and the Office of Spiritual Life.

¡°Join us as we celebrate Black History Month, a time to honor the strength, faith, excellence and enduring impact of Black voices and stories. Together, we remember the past, recognize the present and inspire the future,¡± said Thurmond Metters, director of multicultural student engagement.?

• Feb. 14 ¨C?Soul Food Social ? 2-3:30 p.m., GATA Fountain at Peck Plaza.
• Feb. 16 – Chapel Speaker: Dr. Ray Miller,* senior pastor at First Baptist Church Abilene ? 11 a.m., Moody Coliseum.
• Feb. 18 ¨C Faculty Session ¨C ¡°Beyond February: Integrating Black History Throughout the Year¡± ? 11:30 a.m.¨C12:45 p.m.Adams Center for Teaching and Learning.
• Feb. 20 ¨C?Abilene Black History Bus Tour ? 1-5 p.m., leaving from Brown Library Parking Lot.
• Feb. 21 ¨C?Hair and Fashion Pageant Show ? 6:30-8:30 p.m., Hunter Welcome Center
• Feb. 23 – Chapel Speaker: Thurmond Metters,* director of multicultural student engagement ? 11 a.m., Moody Coliseum.
• Feb. 23 ¨C?Faculty Session ¨C ¡°Community Remembrance Project Memorializing Abilene¡¯s Black History¡± ? 11:30 a.m.¨C12:45 p.m., Adams Center
• Feb. 27 ¨C?AFRAM (African American Festival),* featuring food, games and performances ?? 6-9 p.m., Campus Mall

* Open to the public

¨C Wendy Kilmer
Feb. 10, 2025

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Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ and The Grace Museum will host visiting Chinese artists and dignitaries from Jan. 15-17 for collaborative exhibitions, a public dialogue and a live painting experience, all part of an intercultural project conceived by Robert Green (’79), department chair and professor of art and design at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½.

The show in Ä¢¹½´«Ã½’s Shore Gallery, titled ¡°Boundless: A U.S.-China Collaborative Exhibition,¡± features works by Chinese artists: Zhai You, Gao Yun, Fan Lei, Shao Lian, Wang Ping and Wei Dong, alongside American artists: Dallas-area artist Bonny Leibowitz; Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ adjunct instructor of art and design Hollie Brown; Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ art and design professor Kenny Jones (’82); Abilene artist Polly (Compton ’82) Jones; and Green. A smaller companion exhibition entitled ¡°Boundless: Origins¡± will be in the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Brown Library, featuring works by Green and Chinese artist Sheng Dongqiao. Zhai, Gao, and Fan will be in Abilene for the openings and events. In addition, Chen Chunmei, minister-counselor for cultural affairs for the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Washington, D.C., will attend the opening of these exhibitions on Jan. 17.

Three main events are planned:

• Public Dialogue: A public dialogue between American and Chinese artists, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 15 at The Grace Museum. A piano recital by Hanqiu Xu, visiting college assistant professor of piano and collaborative arts at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½, will follow at 8 p.m. in the Williams Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.
• Opening Reception: The opening reception for ¡°Boundless: A U.S.-China Collaborative Exhibition,¡± 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Jan. 17, at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½’s Shore Gallery. This event will include a poetry reading by Dr. Steven Moore, professor of language and literature at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½; a musical performance by Austin-based actor Ryan Chu (’24); and opening statements by Green and Zhai. Zhai is vice president and secretary general of the Jiangsu Chinese Painting Society.
• Collaborative Live Painting: A public collaborative painting experience where Chinese and American artists will create two works together from 2-4 p.m., Jan. 17, at The Grace Museum.
  

All events are free and open to the public.

Green¡¯s project ¨C ¡°Boundless: An Intercultural Exhibition and Dialogue¡± ¨C centers around exhibiting Chinese and American art, along with public dialogue, in both China and in the U.S. The Chinese exhibition, ¡°Connecting Hearts Through Art: A China-U.S. Artistic Exchange¡± took place in May and June at the Yuan Contemporary Art Museum in Nanjing, China. Green and Kenny Jones traveled to China for the opening of the show. They were joined by Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ alumnus Allen Smith and Chinese-American artists Kiki Liu (a ceramicist from Los Angeles), Zhao Jianmin (from San Francisco), and Wang Qingxiang (from Brooklyn, New York). Two other American artists¡¯ works were included in the exhibition ¨C Leibowitz and Abilenian Jingyi Teng, although they did not make the trip to China.

¡°The greatest benefit of this exhibition is that it appears in China and America,¡± Green said. ¡°Though it will speak differently in each setting, it will amplify the importance of cross-cultural dialogues and creative initiatives on both sides of the Pacific.¡±

The concept for this project emerged about two years ago when Green connected with Sheng to discuss shared interests in Chinese art, and their conversations sparked the idea of exhibiting works together.?

¡°I was motivated to reach out to him because our paintings were indebted to traditional Chinese landscape painting styles that date back to the 18th century and beyond,¡± Green said. ¡°It seemed to us that as we were in dialogue with one another, so, too, were our works. Our paintings carried on a conversation with the past and with each other.¡±

The two collaboratively planned both events, developing a catalog of works and agreeing on exhibition titles.?

¡°We were also convinced that having the artists attend the exhibition, come to the opening reception, sit for a public dialogue with local audiences and include interactive elements were necessary to promote mutual understanding and respect,¡± Green said. ¡°The public dialogue will allow us to discuss our different approaches to artmaking and the things that we admire in the art of our respective cultures. Additionally, it will emphasize a theme of respect between Chinese and American people during an era marked by distrust and sometimes demonization.¡±

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