Howard Payne University names 2026 Homecoming Court nominees for Brownwood celebration

Howard Payne University has announced the nominees for its 2026 Homecoming Court, beginning a week of anticipation ahead of the university’s Homecoming celebration in Brownwood. The university made the announcement on Sept. 28, 2026.

The nominees are scheduled to appear in the Homecoming parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3. Later that day, the court will be crowned during halftime of Howard Payne’s football game against Nelson University at Gordon Wood Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.

The parade and football game will place the nominees at the center of a day that combines university tradition, student activities and Yellow Jacket athletics. Howard Payne said additional information and the complete Homecoming schedule are available at hputx.edu/homecoming.

King nominees include athletes, ministry leaders and a technology student

Jacob Hill, Biak Sang and Nathan Weems are the nominees for Homecoming King.

Hill is a senior mathematics major from Hagerstown, Maryland, and a member of the HPU baseball team. After college, he plans to become a high school math teacher and baseball coach, combining his academic field with his involvement in athletics.

Sang is a senior Christian education major from Dallas. He plans to serve full time in ministry after college. On campus, he is a member of the Delta Epsilon Omega fraternity and participates in the worship gathering ministry for Howard Payne’s Baptist Student Ministry.

Weems is a senior computer information systems major from Abilene who is planning for a career in tech support. He leads the free lunch ministry for HPU’s Baptist Student Ministry and is also scheduled to appear in the university theatre production of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, which is part of his Homecoming involvement.

Queen nominees represent academics, athletics and campus organizations

Abigail Henderson, Elsa Leake and Kourtney Melton are the nominees for Homecoming Queen.

Henderson is a senior biomedical science major from Junction. Her campus activities include the HPU volleyball team, the Student Activities Council, Tri-Beta and Kappa Alpha Gamma. She serves as president of Tri-Beta and as a Kappa Alpha Gamma executive. She is also a Sumners Scholar and a member of Gamma Beta Phi.

After graduation, Henderson plans to attend The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Her stated career goal is to become a physician assistant.

Leake is a senior business administration major from Georgetown with a minor in youth ministry. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a master’s degree at Howard Payne University and seek opportunities to serve in her local community.

Melton is a junior history and Guy D. Newman Honors Academy major from Katy. She serves on the Baptist Student Ministry lead team and is involved with The Hobby Hive craft organization, where she is an officer. She is also the head delegate for the Model United Nations team, a member of the choir and an honorary member of Pi Theta Chi.

Melton plans to earn a master’s degree in public history after graduation. She hopes to pursue a career as an educator at museums and historic sites.

Prince nominees bring campus leadership and service experience

Manuel Chaco, Matthew Van Gorp and Emmanuel Young are the nominees for Homecoming Prince.

Chaco is a junior kinesiology major from Kempner and a member of Howard Payne’s baseball team.

Van Gorp is a junior Christian education major from El Campo. He serves on the Baptist Student Ministry lead team, works as a resident assistant in Taylor Hall and is president of the Delta Epsilon Omega fraternity.

Young is a junior allied health major from Kilgore. His campus roles include serving on the Student Activities Council, working as a student employee for the HPU Office of Admissions and serving as president of Zeta Chi.

Princess nominees participate in music, theatre, ministry and residence life

Dariany Cottle, Makenzie Estrada and Karly Hardy are the nominees for Homecoming Princess.

Cottle is a junior theatre education major from Port Neches. She participates in the HPU Yellow Jacket Band, choir and theatre programs. After graduation, she plans to become a theatre teacher.

Estrada is a junior nursing major from Kingwood. Her plans after college include continuing her education to earn a master’s degree and becoming a missionary midwife.

Hardy is a junior criminal justice major from May. She is a resident assistant in Veda Hodge Hall and helps with the Baptist Student Ministry’s worship gathering ministry.

University background and Homecoming schedule

Howard Payne University was founded in 1889 and describes itself as a Christ-centered liberal arts university in Brownwood dedicated to preparing students for lives of faith, leadership and service. The university says it offers more than 100 majors, minors and pre-professional programs across six schools and serves students at three locations.

HPU identifies five core values: centered on Christ, focused on community, called to service, committed to excellence and dedicated to stewardship. The university says its academic programs, student life, competitive athletics and service opportunities are designed to prepare graduates to make an impact in their communities and professions.

The Oct. 3 schedule gives the Homecoming nominees two public moments during the celebration: the 10 a.m. parade and the halftime court presentation at the football game. The game against Nelson University is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. at Gordon Wood Stadium. The full schedule of Homecoming events is available through Howard Payne’s website.