By Jessica Faulkner, Director of Public Relations • Central Baptist College
The MUD Run and Blue Party on Aug. 21 brought an exciting close to MUD (Mustangs Under Development) Week 2025 — a week full of energy, connection and Mustang pride. This annual tradition serves as the official kickoff to the academic year, welcoming new students into the CBC family in unforgettable fashion.
The Student Orientation Staff (SOS) led the charge with a variety of events designed to foster community and fun, including Capture the Flag, Minute to Win It, Kickball and many others. This semester, we welcomed 174 freshmen and transfer students, with the Green Team emerging as the 2025 MUD Week Champions. As part of tradition, the winning team members each signed The Post, a commemorative display honoring champions from years past.
The week concluded with the Blue Party, where every new student donned CBC blue to symbolize their official entrance into the Mustang family.
Recognizing Outstanding S.O.S. Members
Following MUD Week, several SOS members were honored for exceptional service. The Spark Plug Award was presented to one member from each team who served as a driving force and source of energy for their peers. Recipients of the Spark Plug Award were Nadiyah Bunton (Green Team), Reed Wanamaker (Orange Team), Lauren Duncan (Red Team) and Luke Oden (Yellow Team). The Reflector Award was given to the team member who best reflected Christ to new students and fellow SOS members. Recipients of the Reflector Award were Mary Grace Hall (Green Team), Madison Smithhart (Orange Team), Shaylee Carver (Red Team) and Audrey Krisell (Yellow Team). The Director’s Award recognizes one SOS member whose leadership shined brightly throughout the week. This year’s Director’s Award went to Reed Wanamaker (Orange Team), who will serve as an SOS Team Leader for MUD Week 2026. Additionally, the Red Team was awarded the coveted Spirit Stick for demonstrating unmatched enthusiasm and team pride.
A Team Effort
This year’s MUD Week was made possible by 39 dedicated SOS members, along with the hard work of Student Services, faculty and staff. A special thank you goes to Student Activities Coordinator, Blake Pittman, for his countless hours planning and executing the week’s events.
As we step into a new academic year, we are excited to see how God works in the lives of our students and look forward to watching them grow throughout their journey at CBC.
