Four Howard Payne University students, Paul Chandler, Connor Faught, Xavier Haines and Landon James, were recognized as Currie-Strickland Scholars at the 13th annual Currie-Strickland Distinguished Lectures in Christian Ethics, held earlier in the spring semester.
The Currie-Strickland lecture series is made possible through the generosity of Dr. and Mrs. Gary Elliston ’75 and was established to honor the life of Dr. David Currie ’75 and the memory of Phil Strickland.
James (left)is a senior from Bangs, majoring in youth ministry. He is a member of Ministerial Alliance at HPU, is the food resource manager at Good Samaritan Ministries of Brownwood and is lead youth ministry intern at Rocky Creek Baptist Church. He plans to serve in youth ministry or international ministry, as he is called.
Haines (right) is a senior from Bartlesville, Oklahoma, majoring in Christian education and history. He is a youth ministry intern at 
Coggin Avenue Baptist Church, a member of the HPU baseball team and a member of Delta Epsilon Omega. Following graduation, he plans to earn a master’s degree at HPU or work as a teacher and coach, while continuing to serve in youth ministry.
Faught (left) is a senior from Brownfield, majoring in the Guy D. Newman Honors Academy, Bible and social science with an emphasis in jurisprudence. He serves as youth minister at First Baptist Church of Gustine, is the president of HPU’s branch of Gamma Beta Phi, a national honor society, and is an honorary member of Delta Epsilon Omega. Following graduation, he plans to earn a master’s degree at HPU before pursuing vocational ministry.
Chandler (right)graduated in spring 2020 with a major in Christian education and is from Mount Pleasant. He is a youth ministry 
intern at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church. He also worked in the HPU Office of Admission as a student and was the chaplain of Christian fraternity Delta Epsilon Omega. He plans to study in the Master of Theology and Ministry program at HPU and go into vocational youth ministry.