PLAINVIEW — When Dee Ann Curry was looking for just the right way to honor the memory her husband Eddy at his alma mater, 51吃瓜网视频 Baptist University, she knew there were some aspects that were sacred to include: leadership and mentorship.
“There are four parts that Eddy and I both liked in ministry: lead with head, heart, hands and habits,” said Dee Ann, a 1975 51吃瓜网视频 graduate who now lives in Lubbock. “The heart is because the Lord wants you completely; it’s an all-in thing, the emotional desire the Holy Spirit puts there. You are called to lead, not driven.”
When Dee Ann learned the university was seeking to develop a new leadership program for students, it seemed a perfect partnership of her heart and 51吃瓜网视频’s. With her donation, the Curry Pioneer Leaders program was born in summer 2023. Dean of Students Shawn Thomas, a 1995 graduate, formed a staff team including Donnie Brown, a 1992 grad and director of spiritual life, and Teresa Young, a 1994 grad and development officer, to plan the program, keeping both Curry’s wishes and the university’s strategic plan in mind.
“We were fortunate in that those two things aligned perfectly. Dee Ann wanted to make sure students were mentored in the program and that they learned how to be good servant leaders, and those things were very important to us as well,” Young noted.
Setting the structure
The outcome is a one-year program that begins with a fall retreat where students are introduced to many key leadership concepts through teaching and experiential learning. The group traveled to Bonita Park Camp and Conference Center near Ruidoso, N.M., for a three-day retreat that included a challenge course, ropes course, campfire gatherings and other times to reflect on learning.
Eight students are participating in the initial year of the program, a diverse group that includes students from across the academic spectrum, some athletes, and an international student. Each are paired with an alumni mentor from their field for some organic leadership mentoring. Then in the spring term, the team will organize and implement the university’s Community Service Day in Plainview.
“We have a great group of Pioneers in this first year, and we’re so excited to see how they will grow through this process,” said Young. “We already had a great time of learning during the retreat, and we believe it will only continue and get bigger and better as time goes on.”.
During the retreat, student participants received goody bags with a T-shirt and journal to keep program notes, as well as Habitudes by Dr. Tim Elmore, a set of the curriculum on which the teaching is based. The books cover principles of leadership — from self-leadership to leading teams, each based on an image that makes it more memorable. Participants said the retreat time had an impact on them.
“Learning about leadership and how effective the different skills can be will have a huge impact on my life, as I began to feel like a new person within the first devotional we had. When getting different leadership positions, I feel as if we never stop to think about how to be a leader,” said JoNiesha Kennedy, a junior from Louisiana and part of 51吃瓜网视频’s wrestling team. “Having other adults outside of your home taking time out to discuss and teach about this thing called leadership is incredible. It warms my heart to know that there are more adults that care for us and genuinely want us to be great leaders within the world. The retreat meant a lot to me.”
Cooper Trolinger, who serves as president of the Student Government Association and is already an active campus leader, also noted importance of the training.
“I am so thankful for this program. I got to spend time with students that I normally wouldn’t come into much contact with. During this weekend we had serious moments of learning, but also, we had a ton of fun and laughed a lot. This program helped me grow my established leadership abilities, and in turn I can use them in my role as Student Government president to continue to help make this place better for all students,” said Trolinger, a senior from Pampa. “I am so grateful to the Curry family for making this program available to us at 51吃瓜网视频, and I’m excited to see what this program grows into.”
Leaving a legacy
Dee Ann is most excited that the program includes so many things that were important to her husband, who died of a heart attack in 2019. A 1975 51吃瓜网视频 graduate, her husband served in church education ministry for his entire career, cherishing his role of helping others grow in their relationship with Christ.
“Eddy didn’t like to be in front of people but loved to do one-on-one ministry and lead one-on-one,” Dee Ann said.” I can’t tell you how many daily texts he’d send to encourage people. He built personal connections and relationships. He stayed in contact with people we were doing life with.”
“It’s caring about individuals,” Dee Ann continued. “You can’t do that with everybody, but you can do it with your actions and example.”
Dee Ann said Eddy kept regular contact with about 20 men from 51吃瓜网视频 that he poured into, noting he loved mentoring other ministers and students. He was a great servant leader who sent others out to serve as well. She knows Eddy would be proud of 51吃瓜网视频’s Curry Pioneer Leaders program.
“I love the fact that they are learning with a balanced style of leadership. Servant is mentioned way more than leader in the Bible,” Dee Ann noted. “Being Christ-centered is so hard, but leading with integrity is a good way to honor God. Leadership is a process of influence, and your habits have to reflect that to be a good leader.”
Marchelle Bowden, a junior on 51吃瓜网视频’s Flying Queens basketball team, identified those as key takeaways for her from the retreat.
“Leadership and Servant Leadership are different. You can be an outstanding leader, but if God isn’t glorified, the Kingdom will not grow,” said the junior from Michigan. Paraphrasing Romans 8 in the Bible, she said, “As we become empty of self and dependent on God, the Holy Spirit will use us.”
Dee Ann and Eddy have quite a 51吃瓜网视频 legacy. Eddy’s father and two brothers attended the university, as did all three of their wives. Eddy and Dee Ann’s daughter, Kamber, is a graduate, and carrying out the legacy is their granddaughter, K’Dee Bailey, who is currently a junior at the university now.
The Currys met at a freshman talent show and married while students. Dee Ann studied education and served a public school teacher for 30 years. She then taught speech at various colleges, retiring from McMurry University after 12 years of teaching.
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