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You are here: Home / Features

The boy who cried fire alarm: Students become apathetic to evacuation expectation 

May 7, 2025 by Callie Leverett

From nighttime cookie dough cravings to early morning curling iron sessions, nothing is safe from the wrathful screech of a dorm fire alarm.  Providing more sleep deprivation than safety precaution, the fire alarm system may have lost its credibility throughout the residence halls.  ACU values the on-campus community and requires students to ... [Read More…]

Filed Under: Features

Mullens’s 3D idea fueled by his own experience

April 11, 2025 by Zion Webb

Wes Mullens never imagined a fly-fishing problem would give birth to a business idea — or maybe he did because as Mullens puts it, the idea was “just the tip of the iceberg.” This example is due to a recent trip, but Mullens has gone through many other problems like being born with a disability. Mullens, a junior business management major ... [Read More…]

Filed Under: Features, Showcase

Learning to Walk Again: McCabe-Gossett continues journey back from neurological disorder

March 28, 2025 by Brylie Mahar

In the fall of 2024, Jasmine McCabe-Gossett began noticing mild neuropathy in her hands and feet. It quickly progressed to “one of the most profound cases of neuropathy” her doctor had seen, she said. After begging the doctors to refer her to a neurologist, EMG Nerve Conduction Testing was completed, and the results were so alarming that doctors ... [Read More…]

Filed Under: Features, Showcase

Host, hostesses prepare for annual production

March 27, 2025 by Callie Leverett

As Sing Song weekend dances closer, clubs, classes and production teams work to perfect their acts. Sing Song is one of ACU’s most cherished traditions. Hosts and hostesses have been a part of the show since the early 60s and play a big role today. They are responsible for entertainment as the upstage is rotating. Courtney McGaha has been the ... [Read More…]

Filed Under: Features

Finding the best eats in the ‘325’

March 26, 2025 by Optimist Staff

Each spring, events including Sing Song and graduation bring a campus full of visitors to ACU, and lots of those families and friends spread out to share good meals all over Abilene. To help with that decision about where to eat, students from the Media Writing course also spread out, gathering the following list of culinary possibilities. We ... [Read More…]

Filed Under: Features

Ring by Spring: Love is in the air on campus

March 26, 2025 by Callie Leverett

As May graduation approaches, many students celebrate as their classmates engage in ring-by-spring culture.   Ring by spring is a colloquial expression that frequently visits conversation every spring semester. The expression originally referred to the pressure seniors feel to be engaged before graduation. Now, it is more of a lighthearted joke ... [Read More…]

Filed Under: Features

21st Annual Autism Extravaganza brings awareness, community

March 20, 2025 by Brylie Mahar

Region 14 Education Service Center (ESC) hosted the 21st Annual Autism Extravaganza at the Hunter Welcome Center on March 5 with over 350 in attendance. This event was free to attend and provided a multitude of resources and insights for educators, professionals, families and community members about Autism Spectrum Disorder and those living in a ... [Read More…]

Filed Under: Features, Showcase

Students benefit nonprofit by volunteering in Doggy Day Out program

March 3, 2025 by Callie Leverett

Abilene's All Kind Initiative allows college students who cannot foster or adopt to make a difference through its Doggy Day Out program. The program is not limited to foster care and adoption; anyone can participate and give an animal a little fresh air. Cathy Spano works at the front desk at the Pet Adoption and Resource Center – where All-kind ... [Read More…]

Filed Under: Features

Honoring Jenna Jones: A light in the lives of many

February 21, 2025 by Brylie Mahar

Jenna Jones, 21, of McKinney passed away on Jan. 26, 2025, due to unexpected health issues. Jenna was a senior actuarial science major in the Department of Mathematics with a business minor, and she was looking forward to graduating in May.  Jones was born on Aug. 29, 2003. A Celebration of Life was held in her memory on Thursday, Feb. 6 at ... [Read More…]

Filed Under: Features

English faculty member publishes first novel

February 7, 2025 by Lindsey Blasingame

Bucket lists provide people with goals to complete throughout their lives, and now Sherry Rankin can cross one thing off: being a published writer.  Rankin, assistant professor of language and literature, published her first book on Feb. 1. She said it has always been her dream to write a book, published or not.  “I'd like to be able to say ... [Read More…]

Filed Under: Features

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9 May

BREAKING: The 2026 teacher of the year is Dr. Clint Buck, assistant professor of accounting in the College of Business Administration.

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BREAKING NEWS: James Bradshaw and Maddie Grace Fridge are the 2026 Mr. ACU and Miss ACU.

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