Howard Payne University alumna Mary Helen Ceniceros (deceased) and current student Angela Romero-Puente were honored at the Shine Conference, an event presented by the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas (Convención) for women of all ages and held in San Antonio February 23-24. Attending on behalf of HPU was Jordan Villanueva, who serves as the university’s assistant to the president for Hispanic relations as well as instructor of Christian studies. Villanueva is also an HPU graduate.

“These two ladies have demonstrated leadership among our Hispanic Baptist churches,” said Villanueva. “HPU has a long history of partnering with and supporting Hispanic Baptists in Texas. These awards are a continuation of that rich legacy. It is an honor to celebrate legacies and leadership among our Latinas in Texas.”

The Latina Legacy Award was given posthumously to Mary Helen Ceniceros, a 1995 graduate of HPU who taught Spanish in Brown County school districts for decades. She also served faithfully as a pastor’s wife alongside her husband at Iglesia Nueva Vida in Brownwood. Her service to her alma mater included a number of years on the HPU Alumni Association’s Board of Directors. 

The Latina Leadership Award was given to current HPU nursing student Angela Romero-Puente for being an up-and-coming leader among Latinas in Hispanic churches. She currently serves at Iglesia Nueva Vida in Brownwood along with her husband. She also serves on the Congreso Leadership Team, helping plan and coordinate the largest Hispanic Baptist student gathering in North America. 

“It’s an honor to receive the Latina Leadership Award,” said Romero-Puente. “I am so grateful to God for giving me the strength and love to do His work. He has provided me with amazing friends, family, professors and my husband, Daniel Puente, who have supported and loved me through every door God has opened and closed. Wherever God is taking you, trust Him to provide every step and do not doubt Him. His plans are far greater than we can imagine.”

James Ceniceros represented his late mother at the award presentation.

“On behalf of the family, we would like to thank those in recognizing our mother for her years of service to the Hispanic community,” he said. “We celebrate her legacy of faithfulness to the church and the Hispanic community. We are grateful to Howard Payne and Convención for honoring our mother’s legacy and being such strong supporters of the Latina community.”