From Near-Dropout to Tech Industry Professional

While growing up in Tyler, Texas, Adrian played football and ran track and was on two state championship teams while in high school. When his senior year ended, he thought he was done with football and was set to attend Texas Tech University. But a call from a UMHB football coach changed his trajectory.

“I didn’t know anything about UMHB, but I gave (the coach) a chance and agreed to come to a recruiting family weekend,” Adrian said. “Once I set foot on campus, you can say the rest was history. I met people that weekend that I still consider good friends. The strong Christian values and the idea of the small, intimate learning environment were enough for me!”

Even though he had many challenging personal moments during the first few years at college, he decided to “have faith that God had a plan.”

His faith was challenged further though when he had a season-ending shoulder injury during fall camp his sophomore year that required surgery.

“I started to lose my purpose and focus, and I almost decided to leave the school entirely,” he said. “But I remember sitting in an FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) meeting one night and praying that God would send me a sign and give me a purpose if this is where I am supposed to be.”

At the end of the meeting, the speaker announced that he was looking for volunteers to help with FCA.

“I volunteered to become an FCA leader, which radically transformed my life,” Adrian said. “The lessons I took away from that were that football did not define me and that God can use our gifts in many different ways.”

Adrian said he loved his time at UMHB so much that he now says he can “write a novel about my favorite things about UMHB,” particularly the feeling of “community” he experienced here.

“Having a group of people who show genuine care and interest in you and who support each other is something I experienced and will never forget,” he said.

He also loved the social opportunities, specifically with the Campus Activities Board, the Baptist Student Ministry, and Search Cru, where he eventually served as president.

“These things mean so much to me because not only did I receive an excellent education, but I also developed social and personal skills that made me a better Christian and person.”

It’s also part of the reason he has remained involved with UMHB over the years. However, the ultimate reason is that he believes God has called him to do so. He currently serves as a member of the Young Alumni Board and volunteered as a judge at last year’s Stunt Night. Adrian and his wife, Rebecca ’11, live in Smithville with their five children, Kase, 7; Emma, 6; Everett, 4; Braxton, 2; and Baker, who was born Dec. 2, 2021.

“God used my time at UMHB to teach and mold me into the person I am today,” he said. “I met my wife and made lifelong friends, and being able to support and give back is something I feel led to do.”