Chart Toppers at Foster Pavilion
Foster Pavilion has a reputation for bringing A-list entertainment to Waco, hosting past musical guests such as Forrest Frank and Lauren Daigle. This summer, the venue continues its streak with performances by chart-topping artists La Fiera de Ojinaga and Los Pescadores del Río Conchos. The group’s one-night-only concert is this July 19, at 3 p.m.
Regional Mexican five-member ensemble, La Fiera de Ojinaga, is known for its distinctive sound and high-energy live performances. Since debuting in 2012, the group has steadily grown in popularity, captivating audiences and promising an unforgettable show this July.
Joining them is Los Pescadores del Río Conchos, a group originally from Cuchillo Parado in the municipality of Coyame, Chihuahua, Mexico. Since their debut in 1994, the band has made a lasting impact on Mexican music. With more than one million monthly listeners on Spotify, Los Pescadores del Río Conchos are sure to draw an enthusiastic crowd to Foster Pavilion this summer.
Read more about the world-class concerts and entertainment at Foster Pavilion in our recent article, That’s Entertainment
Soaring Above Tragedy
Lt. Col. Kimber Nettis is making history as the first female commander of Baylor’s Air and Space Force ROTC. A Baylor University graduate, Nettis brings a deep personal connection to her alma mater and is poised to serve as a powerful role model for cadets under her leadership.
As a teenager, Nettis survived a traumatic bus accident while traveling with her Christian youth group. This event would ultimately shape the course of her future. Despite witnessing the deaths of friends seated both in front of and behind her, Nettis acted with remarkable courage, helping pull fellow passengers from the wreckage. Her bravery during the tragedy earned her the ROTC’s Gold Valor Award, which made it possible for her to afford an education at Baylor.
Today, as commander of Baylor’s Air and Space Force ROTC, which is ranked the No. 1 medium detachment in the nation, Nettis is committed to upholding and advancing the program’s standard of excellence. Nettis feels immense gratitude returning to the school she loved and holding the position she has dreamed of since her time as a Baylor cadet.
Marching for Martin Luther King
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 19, 2026, Wacoans from across the community gathered for a march to honor the legacy of the revolutionary activist and visionary leader.
The annual event, which has taken place for more than 20 years, is led by local chapters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Participants gathered at Indian Spring Park before embarking on the march and later reconvened at the Multi-Purpose Center for an uplifting Gospel Extravaganza and a community lunch. This powerful tradition continues to unite Wacoans, offering a meaningful opportunity to celebrate Dr. King’s enduring legacy while reaffirming the importance of working together toward a more just and hopeful future.
Meet the Author
Beth Allison Barr, Ph.D, New York Times bestselling author of “The Making of Biblical Womanhood,” will be featured in Baylor’s Reader Meet the Author series, presented by the Office of the President and the Office of the Provost. This series spotlights the scholarly and creative achievements of Baylor faculty. It offers the campus community an opportunity to engage with their research and writing.
At this event, Dr. Barr will discuss her newest book, “Becoming the Pastor’s Wife: How Marriage Replaced Ordination as a Woman’s Path to Ministry.” The conversation will take place on February 17, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Schumacher Flex Commons. A virtual option will also be available via Zoom Webinar.
To learn more about Dr. Barr and her work, listen to her appearance on The Greenroom, where she joins us for an in-depth conversation about her journey as a writer.
Tune into an episode of The Green Room with Dr. Beth Allison Barr
Exciting Research on Black Baptist History
Baylor historian and associate professor of history Ronald Angelo Johnson, Ph.D., associate professor of history, is launching an exciting new research project that seeks to fill critical gaps in the historical record of Black Baptist worship in North America. The project is made possible through the generous support of Baylor alumna Ella Wall Prichard of Dallas and Corpus Christi (BA ’63).
As an ordained minister and lifelong Baptist, Johnson feels a profound connection to the churches at the center of his research. His study will focus on the years leading up to 1866, before Reconstruction and the Civil Rights Movement, an era in which much of the history of the Black Baptist church has been lost or overlooked.
The scarcity of preserved records, largely due to many Black Baptist churches being part of white American–controlled denominations, will make the research challenging. Nevertheless, Johnson is eager to recover and bring to light these important and often untold stories.
“We want Baylor to become a place that produces the next generation of researchers and scholars in early Black Baptist history,” said Johnson, according to an article from Baylor College of Arts & Sciences. I see this as part of Baylor’s mission and our spiritual contribution as a Christian research university.”
In addition to his background in ministry, Johnson also spent time working as a CIA intelligence analyst, a U.S. foreign service diplomat, and a Navy chaplain.
Johnson’s primary area of interest is the early history of modern America as explored in his most recent book, “Entangled Alliances: Racialized Freedom and Atlantic Diplomacy During the American Revolution.”
Spring Sports Roundup
Basketball – Although Baylor fell to No. 12 Texas Tech 92-73, Tuesday night at Foster Pavilion, the night held special meaning in the hearts of players, students, and the alumni community. This game honored The Immortal Ten, the 10 players killed in a bus accident in Georgetown, Texas, on Jan. 22, 1927.
On the 99th anniversary of the accident, players wore the names of the “Immortal 10” on the back of their jerseys as the Baylor community remembers this tragic accident and celebrates the lives of the 10 players involved.
Football – Two new players join Baylor for the upcoming football season, both transferring from the Florida Gators. Sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway will join the Bears along with junior Tony Livingstone.
In other football news, former Baylor quarterback Jarrett Stidham is set to start in the AFC Championship game. A Super Bowl is on the line for Stidham after a broken ankle sidelined Broncos starter Bo Nix.
Big 12 conference schedules are being released, and one of Baylor’s biggest rivalry games is now set. The Bears will host TCU on Oct. 17 during Week 7 of the college football season.
Track and Field – Senior sprinter Tiriah Kelley gave Baylor track and field a record-setting performance at the Corky Classic. Kelley won the women’s 200 meters by nearly a full second, running a time of 22.56 seconds and posting the fastest time in the world this year.
Making his collegiate debut, freshman Landon Freeman cleared the 7-foot high jump on his second attempt, making him Baylor’s first 7-foot high jumper since Marcus Swiat in 2000.
Acrobatics and Tumbling – Members from all three NCAA divisions voted last week at the 2026 NCAA Convention to add acrobatics and tumbling as a championship sport. The decision establishes a National Collegiate Championship in which athletes from all divisions will compete for a single national title, with the inaugural championship projected for 2027.
Baylor’s Acrobatics & Tumbling team, which has won 10 consecutive national championships through the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association, will now have the opportunity to compete at an even higher level.
Fans will get an inside look at the team’s historic winning streak on Thursday, Jan. 29, as Baylor+ brings fans along the journey with a feature-length documentary titled Perfect 10.
Golf – Hall of Fame coach Mike McGraw is retiring from coaching effective immediately. McGraw is a 42-year veteran coach who led the Bears to six NCAA Championship berths, and is stepping away to focus on caring for his wife of 30 years, Pam McGraw, amid health issues.
During his years coaching the Bears, he led the team to 20 team championships, 13 individual titles, and 11 All-America selections. Ryan Murphy will serve as interim coach this spring in McGraw’s absence.
