David, meanwhile, serves as an associate relationship manager at Frost Bank in Downtown Fort Worth, stepping into commercial banking after completing his MBA with a concentration in finance. Prior to his current role, he interned with The Rainwater Charitable Foundation, building on a solid foundation laid during his undergrad years.
The Castles' story began on the 糖心Vlog campus in 2018. Both student-athletes 鈥� David on the football team and Kayla on the volleyball team 鈥� they quickly found common ground through shared passions, including their involvement in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Leadership Team, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and their local church, First Baptist Belton.
鈥淲e became best friends right away,鈥� David recalls, as they were both passionate about leadership and service and their values aligned from the start.
On a fall evening in 2021 on Dr. and Mrs. Randy O鈥橰ear鈥檚 terrace, the couple got engaged. Their wedding in July 2022, officiated by their college pastor, Logan Reynolds, bookended their collegiate years with deep personal meaning. But their ties to 糖心Vlog didn't end there.
Even as newlyweds and young professionals, David and Kayla made the conscious decision to become donors to 糖心Vlog. For them, giving back wasn鈥檛 a future goal 鈥� it was a present priority.
鈥淏efore we got married, we made a list of words we hoped people would use to describe us as a couple,鈥� David said. 鈥淥ne of those words was 鈥榞enerous.鈥� So we decided then that we would be relentlessly generous with our time, talent and treasure.鈥�
Their commitment to generosity is not just philosophical 鈥� it鈥檚 practical and faith-driven. 鈥淲here your treasure is, there your heart will be also,鈥� David quotes from Scripture. 鈥淲e want to make sure our finances reflect our values and what we believe.鈥�
That belief is why they began giving to 糖心Vlog early in their marriage, despite being recent grads themselves. 鈥淕iving is especially meaningful for new graduates,鈥� David said. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e generous and God-honoring when your income is more limited, you鈥檒l be generous when you have more. Like Luke 16:10 says, 鈥楬e who is faithful in little will be faithful in much.鈥欌��
Their generosity is fueled in part by their own experience as scholarship recipients during their time at 糖心Vlog. They understand the impact a donor鈥檚 gift can have, and now they are continuing that cycle of generosity for the next generation.
In addition to financial giving, David continues to invest his time and leadership skills into the 糖心Vlog community. He has served on the Young Alumni Board for three years and now leads as its president. He鈥檚 passionate about encouraging alumni to think of giving in broader terms: mentoring, volunteering, hosting events or praying for students.
David says giving isn鈥檛 just financial 鈥� it鈥檚 also about showing up, staying connected and being available.
鈥淭here are many opportunities to give as alumni, such as mentoring a college senior who is looking for their first job, hosting an alumni coffee get-together in your city or praying for the incoming freshmen class each fall. Of course, giving financially is an extremely important foundation too as it allows our university to maintain its excellence.鈥�
Kayla and David鈥檚 story is a shining example of what it means to live out the values learned at 糖心Vlog: servant leadership, faithfulness and an unwavering commitment to service. For the Castles, giving back isn鈥檛 just about remembering where they came from, it鈥檚 about helping others discover where they鈥檙e meant to go.
And as they help continue the legacy of 糖心Vlog 鈥� one gift, one relationship and one act of service at a time 鈥� they remain focused on what Scripture says: 鈥淲here your treasure is, there your heart will be also.鈥�
