Howard Payne Students Join Mission Waco Poverty Simulation
Howard Payne University social work students completed a 43-hour poverty simulation run by Mission Waco for the 15th consecutive year.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Howard Payne University Department of Social Work students took part in Mission Waco's Poverty Simulation, spending 43 hours living through the challenges of poverty while nearly constant rain fell during the exercise. The HPU group, led by Shantel Oplotnik, joined Mission Waco's team in worship and prayer over the weekend.
Why it matters
The simulation gives social work students direct experience with the uncertainty and hardship faced by people living in poverty, which is a core part of their training. Its repeated participation over 15 years reflects a sustained partnership between the university and the Waco nonprofit.
The HPU group marked its 15th year in the simulation, which lasted 43 hours. Results of the participants' experience were not reported.
The players
Mission Waco
Mission Waco is a Waco-based nonprofit organization that runs community programs, including the Poverty Simulation.
Howard Payne University
Howard Payne University is a private university in Brownwood, Texas, whose Department of Social Work sends students to the simulation.
Shantel Oplotnik
Shantel Oplotnik is an assistant professor of social work and director of the social work program at Howard Payne University.
The details
Students Ivan Flores, Faye Qaisar, and Yari Villagomez joined the HPU group, which was led by Shantel Oplotnik, assistant professor of social work and director of the social work program. Oplotnik first took part in the simulation in 2019 as an HPU student, and the group worshipped and prayed with the Mission Waco team during the weekend.
Timeline
2019: Oplotnik first participates in the simulation as an HPU student.
Weekend of the simulation: HPU students complete the 43-hour Mission Waco Poverty Simulation.
Philanthropy Context
The 15-year participation by Howard Payne students in Mission Waco's Poverty Simulation shows a long-running partnership between a Texas university and a local nonprofit. The annual repetition continues a model in which social work students learn about poverty through structured, experiential programs.
Readers who want to understand poverty can see how local programs use simulations to build awareness. Community members interested in similar experiences can look into local nonprofit programs offering participation.
The takeaway
Experiential programs like the Poverty Simulation give students a direct view of the daily pressures faced by people in poverty. Consider volunteering with or supporting local nonprofits that run similar community education efforts.
Further reading
Explore more Waco philanthropy coverage to see how local nonprofits are addressing community needs.
More information
Learn more about the program on the HPU Department of Social Work information page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Brownwood News.
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