
NoneEast Texas Baptist University celebrated the achievements of 202 graduates at its commencement ceremonies in Baker Chapel of the Rogers Spiritual Life Center on Saturday, Dec. 7. Guided by University President J. Blair Blackburn, the ceremony marked the conferral of degrees to 140 undergraduate and 62 graduate students. The event was filled with Scripture readings, songs of praise and worship, heartfelt prayers, and blessings bestowed upon the graduates. The December 2024 graduating class marked the largest fall class in university history. “This milestone commencement is a result of the combined efforts of faculty and staff focusing on ETBU’s mission of graduating Christian servant leaders so they can follow their calling to God and humanity,” Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Thomas Sanders said. U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin from West Virginia delivered the commencement address during the morning ceremony. He has represented West Virginia in the United States Senate since Nov. 15, 2010. Senator Manchin grew up in a coal mining community, learning the values of family, fairness and hard work from his immigrant grandparents, who inspired his commitment to public service. As a former small business owner, state legislator, and six-term governor of West Virginia, Manchin prioritized “retail government,” focusing on constituent engagement and bipartisan solutions. His legislative efforts emphasized job creation, fiscal responsibility and a balanced energy policy that integrates environmental and economic needs. Manchin chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and serves on the Appropriations, Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs Committees. “It is an honor to have Joe Manchin, United States senator for West Virginia, here with us today,” President Blackburn said. “Thank you for serving your home state of West Virginia and our nation. Sen. Manchin is respectfully regarded as an esteemed statesman among both political parties. Americans across our country, and those of us in Texas, are grateful for Sen. Manchin and his leadership.” Manchin urged graduates to embrace their calling and approach life with a spirit of unity and collaboration. “There’s no way in the world you can make it by yourself,” Senator Manchin said. “I’ve never had anybody who worked for me; they worked with me. We all have to work together to make something happen. Success depends on the team moving in the same direction. Whether you’re leading a team or contributing to one, always remember that it’s not about tearing people down but building them up so they can rise and grow. That’s how we create lasting impact.” In the afternoon ceremony, Karen O’Dell Bullock was awarded an honorary doctorate and delivered the keynote address. An esteemed scholar and educator, Bullock has taught at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels for over 30 years. A Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary graduate with M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees, she has held leadership roles at Southwestern, Dallas Baptist University, and B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary, where she recently retired but continues teaching and mentoring doctoral students. Bullock serves as executive vice president of the Baptist Center for Global Concerns, addressing global inequities through leadership training, agricultural projects and medical clinics. She is a passionate advocate for Christian heritage, missions and justice, and also chairs the Baptist World Alliance Commission Council. “We are what we read,” Bullock stated while addressing the graduates. “We are shaped and influenced by the books we read. They prepare us not only for interesting conversations but also for facing the real challenges of life. As graduates of East Texas Baptist University, an institution grounded in Christian values, you’ve been immersed in God’s Word. Its teachings are woven into the fabric of this campus, from the halls to the classrooms. These divine messages inspire us to grow in character, to deepen our faith, and to prioritize being over mere knowing or doing. You’ve been challenged to follow Christ while pursuing your academic goals. As you step into the world, remember that life won’t always be easy. You may face hardships, trials, and setbacks. But God promises to strengthen you and sustain you.” Each semester, ETBU President Blackburn presents an award to a graduate who represents a Christian leader, scholar and servant on campus and in the local community. Hannah Hobson, a bachelor of arts graduate in worship studies, was honored with the President’s Award for the Fall 2024 graduating class at East Texas Baptist University. A native of Shreveport, Hobson achieved an exceptional academic record, maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout her time at ETBU. Hobson, a gifted musician and devoted leader, has been a cornerstone of ETBU’s chapel bands for the past three and a half years. Her campus involvement also includes marching band, pep band, symphonic band, pom and theatre, showcasing her multifaceted talents. Hannah represented ETBU on the band and choir global study and serve trip to Israel and earned a place in the College Band Directors National Association Intercollegiate Honor Band. Her outstanding achievements were further recognized with the Department of Music and Theatre Arts Academic Excellence Award. Beyond campus, Hobson has faithfully served in ministry. She has completed practicum hours at First Methodist Church in Marshall and contributed to the worship ministry at First Methodist Church in Shreveport, where her father serves as music minister. “The quality of Hannah’s academic work is superior,” Nathan Phillips, chair of the Department of Music and Theatre Arts and Director of Bands, said. “She completes assignments thoroughly and often goes beyond the requirements in order to do her best work. As a musician, Hannah is one of the finest instrumentalists I’ve ever taught. She has superior technique and musicianship and elected to give two recitals that were not required for her degree. She treats everyone she meets with compassion and fairness. She goes out of her way to serve and encourage and gives of her time and energy.” Blackburn encouraged the graduates and reminded those in attendance of the university’s Christ-centered mission. “Today, we celebrate your academic achievements, spiritual growth, and answered callings to serve,” Blackburn said. “As a Christ-centered university, ETBU has equipped you to become Christian servant leaders, ready to impact the world with the hope, love, and light of Jesus Christ. From this Hill and ETBU, we are sending you out as Kingdom leaders — educated, empowered, and emboldened to influence and impact people. May you carry the torch of faith and transform lives, for the glory of God.”The Indianapolis Colts (7-8) and New York Giants (2-13) meet Sunday with playoff hopes on the line for Indianapolis. Kickoff from MetLife Stadium is set for 1 p.m. ET (FOX). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NFL odds around the Colts vs. Giants odds , and make our expert NFL picks and predictions . Indianapolis escaped with a 38-30 home win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 16, while covering as a 4-point favorite and the Over (43.5) coming in. RB Jonathan Taylor dominated with 218 rushing yards and 3 TDs on 29 carries. The Colts defense also forced 3 crucial turnovers. The Colts have slim odds to make the playoffs. They need to win out, while the Denver Broncos lose out long with either the Cincinnati Bengals or Miami Dolphins winning their final 2 games. ( The Broncos played at the Bengals Saturday ). Indy is 9-6 against the spread (ATS) on the season with an 8-7 Over/Under (O/U) record. New York set a franchise record by losing a 10th consecutive game in Week 16. The Giants were blown out 34-7 at the Atlanta Falcons as 10-point underdogs. New York's offense struggled in the loss, finishing with 14 first downs and only 234 total yards, 95 yards less than Atlanta's 329. Plus, the Giants turned the ball over 3 times. The defense has allowed at least 30 points in back-to-back losses. The Giants are 3-11-1 ATS with a 5-10 O/U record. Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now ! Colts at Giants odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook ; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NFL odds . Lines last updated Saturday at 5:58 p.m. ET. Colts at Giants key injuries Colts Giants FOOTBALL NEVER STOPS Live games, analysis and more 7 days a week: Get ESPN+ Colts at Giants picks and predictions Prediction Colts 28, Giants 20 Moneyline PASS . The Colts (-375) will pick up the win as their season depends on it -- and next week's game. While this could be a trap game for the Colts, they will simply be too motivated and are going against too poor of an opponent. Whether Richardson is able to go at QB or not, this game should still be an easy win for the Colts. However, the price is juice is way too much to bet on. Focus on the spread instead. Against the spread LEAN COLTS -7.5 (- 105 ). This is also a face on the Giants, who are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 outings. But beware, the Colts are just 1-3 ATS in their last 4 outings. Over/Under BET OVER 40.5 (- 110 ). The Over has hit in each of the last three games for the Colts and is 5-1 in their last 6 games. The Over has also hit in each of the last 4 matchups between these squads, though that dates back to 2010. Don't go crazy because as already mentioned, the Under is 10-5 for the Giants this season. For more sports betting picks and tips , check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW . Follow @payton_shanks on Twitter/X . Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook . Access more NFL coverage: BetFTW | TheHuddle Fantasy Football | BearsWire | BengalsWire | BillsWire | BroncosWire | BrownsWire | BucsWire | CardsWire | ChargersWire | ChiefsWire | ColtsWire | CommandersWire | CowboysWire | DolphinsWire | EaglesWire | FalconsWire | GiantsWire | JaguarsWire | JetsWire | LionsWire | NinersWire | PackersWire | PanthersWire | PatriotsWire | RaidersWire | RamsWire | RavensWire | SaintsWire | SeahawksWire | SteelersWire | TexansWire | TitansWire | VikingsWire | DraftWire | TouchdownWire | ListWire More NFL Picks and Predictions! Atlanta Falcons at Washington Commanders odds, picks and predictions Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers odds, picks and predictions Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings odds, picks and predictions
Libra Daily Horoscope Today, Dec 10, 2024 predicts new responsibilities at workplaceIs the artificial intelligence stock market boom still wired or tired? Top AI stocks such as ( ) and ( ) face high expectations. For many companies — such as Google parent ( ), ( ) and Facebook parent ( ) — the rise of generative AI poses both risk and opportunity. Amid the emergence of — which generates text, images, and video — it's a good time to be cautious amid the hype, especially given at ( ). Meanwhile, startups OpenAI and Anthropic are battling Google, Meta and others in developing . has gained 37% in 2024 despite growing competition in internet search. OpenAI recently laid out more details of its plans to adopt a in 2025, amid negotiations with investor Microsoft and a feud with ( ) founder Elon Musk. Tesla stock has advanced 73% this year. AI Stocks: Nvidia Cooling Off Many companies suddenly tout AI product roadmaps. In general, look for AI stocks that use artificial intelligence to improve products or gain a strategic edge. Meanwhile, chipmaker Nvidia has been a bellwether for AI stocks. has jumped 176% in 2024 after surging 239% last year. But Nvidia stock has plateaued since early October but may have a . For Nvidia, ramping up production of next-generation Blackwell AI chips in 2025 has been a key issue. Rival ( ) soared on its . Broadcom makes custom AI chips for cloud computing titans. Meanwhile, ( ) makes cloud computing networking gear for Meta, Microsoft and others. Also, Arista stock has gained 92% in 2024. Meanwhile, data analytics software maker ( ) has bucked the trend that chipmakers are the best AI stocks. has soared 360% this year. Palantir stock ranks No. 3 in the roster of growth stocks. Microsoft is the biggest investor in generative AI leader OpenAI, having spent some $14 billion on the startup. Still, Microsoft stock has gained only 14% in 2024 vs. the S&P 500's 25% gain. Further, Nvidia-based is a new AI cloud infrastructure provider that plans an IPO in 2025. Key Issues For Top AI Stocks Meanwhile, Meta 's ( ) top AI executive, Clara Shih, to head a new "Business AI" group. Meta stock has gained 69% in 2024. Also, capital spending has boomed at cloud computing giants Amazon, Microsoft and Google. Tech giants are spending heavily on , such as AI chips and servers, as well as research and development. Capacity constraints in Microsoft's data centers are limiting its ability to meet demand, resulting in a slower growth forecast for its Azure cloud-computing business. Amid increased capital spending by cloud computing giants, the big question is how much incremental AI-related revenue they're getting. The cloud giants in the September quarter notched , indicating that AI investments may be paying off. Also, ( ) has been one of the top AI stocks to watch. Apple stock has gained 32% in 2024. The big question is whether Apple Intelligence features in iPhone 16 models will spur a big upgrade cycle. The best AI stocks to buy span chipmakers, software companies, cloud computing service providers and technology giants. What's clear is that AI stocks are under more scrutiny. "We expect AI to transition from a 'tell me' to a 'show me' story, with any disconnect between investments and revenue generation to come under increased scrutiny," said a Bank of America report. " Software Makers Pivot to AI Agents So far, the biggest demand for AI chips has come from cloud computing giants and internet companies. Broadcom, Qualcomm, ( ), and ( ) are other AI chipmakers to watch. Broadcom and Marvell make custom AI chips for cloud computing giants. In general, semiconductor plays have out-performed software companies as the best AI stocks. Many software companies, meanwhile, have yet to monetize AI products. One big issue for software companies is how fast customers ramp up pilot programs to commercial deployment. Having struggled to generate new revenue from "copilots," software companies are now turning to . Also, for most big application software companies, how to charge for AI-related products has been an issue. Many U.S. companies are pursuing custom AI software development projects, which will take longer to ramp up commercially. Also, AI technology uses computer algorithms. The software programs aim to mimic the human ability to learn, interpret patterns and make predictions. Until recently, machine learning was largely limited to models that processed data to make predictions. The AI models focused on pattern recognition from existing data. Corporate spending on AI projects was modest as companies mulled return on investment. AI Stocks To Watch By Industry Group New generative AI models process "prompts," such as internet search queries, that describe what a user wants to get. Generative AI technologies create text, images, video and computer programming code on their own. Companies will aim to boost productivity by developing customized AI for specific industries. Proprietary company data will be used to train AI models. AI systems require massive computing power to find patterns and make inferences from large quantities of data. So the race is on to build AI chips for data centers, self-driving cars, robotics, smartphones, drones and other devices. For chipmakers, analysts expect a market for "edge AI" — on-device processing of AI apps to emerge. While "training" AI models is now the biggest market for chipmakers like Nvidia, the market will shift to " ," or running AI applications, in the long run. Will AI Startups Challenge Tech Giants What's more, one key question for investors is whether tech industry incumbents will be the big generative AI winners. Or, will a new wave of AI startups eventually dominate? OpenAI has told employees its now on an annual revenue run-rate of $3.4 billion, up from $2 billion in January. OpenAI has raised $6.6 billion in new funding, , up from $86 billion early this year. The new round was led by venture-capital firm Thrive Capital. Microsoft again invested. New investors include SoftBank and Nvidia but not Apple as rumored. Large language models provide the building blocks to develop applications. Further, LLMs help AI systems understand the way that humans write and speak. Also, LLMs require training data for specific tasks. Companies with access to troves of data hold an edge. OpenAI is part of a wave of LLM startups that includes AI21 Labs, Anthropic and Cohere. Anthropic introduced Claude 3, the newest version of its chatbot, and claimed its performance is better than OpenAI's GPT-4. However, OpenAI's dominance faces a . Musk's xAI announced it will open source its Grok LLM, and released the source code for public use. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump named former ( ) executive and Silicon Valley venture capitalist David Sacks . Further, Sacks is an associate of ( ) and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who has emerged as a key advisor to Trump.
Georgia QB Carson Beck's status for Sugar Bowl uncertain as he considers treatment options on elbow