ACU's College of Business Administration to emphasize faith, ethics with 1999 graduates during "Senior Blessing" For immediate release March 29, 1999 Schedule - Speakers ABILENE - The concepts of personal faith, family-focused life goals and the guidance of God may be somewhat distant in the fast-paced corporate world, but the faculty of Abilene Christian University's College of Business Administration assures students those concepts mesh very well with the character of strong business leaders. "And if our seniors missed that concept during their four years here, we have one last time to reinforce to them that faith in God is the most important variable of a person's life," said Dr. Rick Lytle, assistant dean of ACU's College of Business Administration. That "one last time" will come April 13 when the ACU's College of Business Administration seniors and faculty head to Camp Butman for a day called Senior Blessing. At a retreat facility 30 miles west of Abilene near Merkel, Texas, Lytle said the Senior Blessing is "kind of a crowning" where seniors and faculty share food, conversation and an occasional Frisbee game between motivational sessions. The focus, though, is not where the students are going in the corporate world, but how they get there. "We want three things for our business students," said Dr. Jack Griggs, dean of ACU's College of Business Administration. "We want them to be brilliant at the basics. We want each graduate to have faith in God and a commitment to Biblical principals and ethics that allows him or her to undertake tasks they would never attempt without a strong faith. And we want them to leave ACU with friends who will stick by them for life and hold them accountable and responsible for their professional and personal actions." Those are big goals for any business school, Griggs said. "But we are committed to those goals because we see the difference they make in the lives of our graduates. They are as good as any business school graduates from anywhere in the U.S., but their commitment to ethical, moral, Christian behavior sets them apart from all others." To emphasize the differences Christian standards can make in the lives of business professionals, Mike McCoy, his wife Myra McCoy and Kent Williams, all of McCoy's Building Supply Centers, will make presentations about balancing Christian priorities, family values and ethical standards in life. Mike McCoy, along with his brother, Brian, shares the office of co-president of McCoy's Building Supply Centers. Williams is the vice president of corporate leadership and people development for McCoy's. The McCoys are committed to Christian standards as the priority in all aspects of life. Mike and Myra McCoy, together with Brian McCoy and his wife, Wetonnah, annually extend an invitation to the 1,500 employees of the McCoy's corporation to an expense-free opportunity to attend a family life, marriage or parenting conference. Values such as these will be their topics at the April 13 Senior Blessing, where the theme for the day will be "The bottom line isn't the bottom line". Following team building exercises, the McCoys and Williams will kick off a morning session at 10:30 a.m. After lunch, at 1:30 p.m., a second session will follow. A third session by the McCoys and Williams will take place at 3:15 p.m. The day will conclude between 4 and 4:30 p.m. as the faculty physically surrounds the students to pray for them and bless them as new Christian business leaders. "Our students must know the difference between right and wrong and combine that knowledge with a discerning faith that causes them to do the right thing even in the face of adverse consequences," Lytle said. "What we do at the Senior Blessing will make that difference very evident." -30- ACU's College of Business Administration's Senior Blessing Schedule April 13, 1999 Time Activity 7 a.m. Caravan from ACU's Mabee Business Building to Camp Butman, near Merkel, Texas 8 a.m. Arrive at Camp Butman 8-8:30 a.m. Continental breakfast Welcome and prayer 8:30-10 a.m. Team building exercises 10-10:30 a.m. Devotional 10:30 a.m.-noon Session 1 with the McCoys and Williams Noon-1:30 p.m. Lunch and recreation 1:30-2:15 p.m. Session 2 with the McCoys and Williams 3-3:15 p.m. Snack break 3:15-4 p.m. Session 3 with McCoys and Williams 4-4:30 p.m. Concluding remarks The blessing 4:30 p.m. Return to Abilene ACU's College of Business Administration's Senior Blessing Guest Speakers April 13, 1999 Mike McCoy Mike McCoy was born in Texas in 1953, and he graduated with a B.S. in management from Texas Tech University. Mike shares, with his brother, Brian, the office of co-president of McCoy's Building Supply Centers. This family-owned business has 102 retail outlets located in six states with $470 million in annual sales. Their corporate office is in San Marcos, Texas. Together with Brian McCoy and his wife, Wetonnah, Mike and Myra McCoy annually extend an invitation to 1,500 employees of the McCoy's corporation to an expense-free opportunity to attend a family life, marriage or parenting conference. Mike and Myra's eldest son, Andy, met Laurel Roberson on a Campus Crusade for Christ summer project, and they were married in 1996. Matt McCoy met Denise Roberson at a Campus Crusade for Christ summer project, and they were married in 1998. Katie, the youngest McCoy and only daughter, attends Texas A&M University. Myra McCoy Myra McCoy, a native Texan, married Mike McCoy in 1972. She received a B.S. in early childhood education from Southwest Texas State University in 1975. Myra served as chair of the San Marcos Christian Women's Club from 1983-85. She served as discussion group leader and substitute teaching leader for Bible Study Fellowship from 1986-95. Additionally, Myra serves in various leadership roles at the Cypress Creek Church. Myra's civic involvement include: The American Cancer Society of Hays County, San Marcos Junior Service League member, San Marcos Heritage Board and a variety of roles from 1980-98. Mike serves on the board of directors of Campus Crusade for Christ. Together, Mike and Myra have traveled to Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Jordan, Cypress, Egypt, Morocco, France and Thailand. During these travels, Myra has actively participated in numerous speaking engagements. Kent Williams Kent Williams, a native of Lockhart, Texas, was born in 1954. After spending time in both the United States Air Force and the National Guard, Kent attended Southwest Texas State University. He began his career with McCoy's in 1977 as a member of the store construction crew at McCoy's New Braunfels location. As vice president of corporate leadership and people development at McCoy's, Kent is responsible for the fleet, human resources, operations efficiencies, recruiting, risk management, security, and training and development departments. One of Kent's current projects is the Business as Unusual initiative. This project is a joint effort on the part of Mike and Brian McCoy to increase and develop the relational skills of McCoy's managers and leaders. It is just one example of the leaders of the McCoy's corporation investing in their greatest asset, the individuals who work for the company. On a personal note, Kent recently celebrated his 20th anniversary with his wife, Belinda, who is a fourth grade teacher in Austin. Kent and Belinda currently reside in Austin with two children, Ryan and Megan. -30- If you are a member of the media who would like more information about this release, please contact Tom Craig, director of media and community relations, at craigt@nicanor.acu.edu or call 915-674-2692. Last update: March 29, 1999 This page is maintained by Tom Craig, craigt@nicanor.acu.edu. http://www.acu.edu/people/news/990329-blessing.html