Similar to the CowParade in Chicago and the Major League Baseball statues on parade in New York City, the Walking Man Project is a community display of 10-foot Walking Man statues with an emphasis on moving and thinking forward.

Walking Man statues are purchased by local businesses as blank prototypes and then sponsored by local artists who create unique designs on their Walking Man. The statues will be displayed around town for three months and then sold in an auction with the money going to local charities. The Walking Man Project allows citizens the opportunity to participate in a treasure hunt along with a photo contest. More than 30 statues are being designed.

[Photo: AU students Jason Quinn, Joy Kang, YeJin Ha, and Xavier Walton work on their interpretation of the Walking Man statue.]

AU became involved with this project through the motivation of Levi Rinker, creator of the Walking Man Project. “Anderson is my hometown,” said Rinker. “My parents attended Anderson College, which makes me a project of AU. I wanted to give back to the community and bring a sense of energy to the town. I came up with the idea while looking at a scrap pile of wood. I decided I could either build something of it or burn it, which I soon realized was a symbol of our economy. This project psychologically and metaphysically cleanses the town and creates an icon.”

Students in the Department of Art+Design created the design for AU’s Walking Man. Freshman visual communication design major Xavier Walton is excited about the design choice. “We wanted our Walking Man to have a purpose and reach out to the community,” said Walton. “Therefore, one side of our design will represent AU and the campus, and the other side will represent the faith and service that AU strives to carry out in the community.”

At the end of the auction, the money AU receives will go toward student financial aid. “I am happy the money will be going toward student aid. It feels good to know this project will help students with tuition costs and loans,” said Walton.

Chris Williams, director of university communications and community relations, believes this project will bring AU one step closer to the community. “This project is in line with what we strive to do at AU: educate for a life of service. One aspect of that is being a part of the community,” said Williams. “There is a lot of evidence of this partnership. AU has a deep rich history in the arts, which can be seen through the outdoor art on our campus such as Helios and the Eternal Flame. AU is always interested in partnering with organizations in the community because AU is here for the community just as the community is here for AU.”

AU hopes to work with more local organizations in the future. “Any time organizations come together to promote the community, it is better for all of us,” said Williams. “It is exciting to be able to partner with the community again. AU would not be here without the city of Anderson.”

For more information visit The Walking Man Project website.

— Kelli Oxley is a sophomore at Anderson University, majoring in communication arts. Oxley is an associate with Fifth Street Communications^™, writing on behalf of the Anderson University Office of University Communications.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

It had been a lot of hard work, but the Mishawaka women said there was much fun mixed in with that dedication and they would miss their experiences from college.

They were just two of 645 who graduated from AU on Saturday afternoon at the Kardatzke Wellness Center.

“It’s scary but awesome,” Elizabeth Barwick said of her feelings about graduation. “I don’t want to leave everyone, but I’m excited about all the opportunities ahead of me.”

Both graduated with bachelor’s degrees while majoring in mathematics education. Elizabeth wants to move back closer to the Mishawaka area, while Katherine plans to look for a teaching job in the Anderson area.

[Photo: Carl Erskine addresses graduates during commencement on Saturday, May 5.]

“We got a really, really good education,” Katherine Barwick said. “I’m grateful for that. I know people are looking for AU graduates for education jobs.”

Bracken Henry of Mount Gilead, Ohio, and David Herron of St. Louis were both graduating with master’s degrees in business administration. Henry had graduated with his undergraduate degree from AU, while Herron, 38, came through the program as a nontraditional student.

“I took my time to get this, and I’m very satisfied to be here today,” Herron said. “I was impressed with the program and staff. Everything was outstanding.”

Henry said he “loved” the program. His advice to future students would be to be ready to work hard.

“It is not easy, and it’s a lot of hard work,” he said.

Herron’s advice, he said, may seem silly but is sincere.

“Take advantage of as many experiences as you can so you can get the most out of the program as you possibly can,” he said.

The graduates weren’t the only ones who were having a hard time hiding their glee. Friends and family of the students packed the Wellness Center, many lining up outside, camera in hand, waiting for the graduates to march past.

Michael and Dawn Anderson — AU grads themselves — came from Akron, Ohio, to see a former co-worker and friend graduate with her doctorate.

“She has worked so hard to get here,” Michael Anderson said. “We wanted to show our support for all of that hard work.”

Dawn Anderson said she did a lot of pushing and supporting of her friend, especially in the beginning.

“I strongly believe in education, and I knew it was something that was important for her to do,” she said. “I really just helped her know she could do it. And she did, yea!”

Terry and Ruth Canfield, of Akron, came to see their son Nate Canfield graduate with a bachelor’s. He majored in business management with a concentration on nonprofits.

“We love the school and are so glad they chose Anderson,” Ruth Canfield said.

Terry Canfield, a Church of God pastor, said having both sons graduate from AU was an “answered” prayer.

“I’m so proud and excited,” he said. “We are just thrilled.”

Commencement speaker Carl Erskine — former Major League Baseball player and sports legend of Anderson — focused on taking leaps. In this Leap Year, the graduating class is about to take the biggest leap of their lives, he said.

Erskine talked at length about the leaps taken by his team, the Brooklyn Dodgers, in recruiting Jackie Robinson — the MLB’s first black player. Erskine related many of the benefits of that risk. Later, Erskine recalled how friends and family took a leap of faith when it came to the birth of Betty and his son Jimmy, born with Down Syndrome.

“The world was no more ready for Jimmy than it was for Jackie (Robinson),” Erskine said. But quickly he noticed a change and said he continues to see the change today.

At the end of his address, Erskine showed his World Series ring and a gold medal Jimmy had won swimming in the Special Olympics, an organization he continues to champion.

Erskine asked the graduates which one meant more. Are you getting the most out of what you’ve been given, he asked.

“As you leap into your next life class,” Erskine said, “you will find something — others may not remember what you said, others may not remember what you did, but everybody will remember how you made them feel.”

AU President James Edwards reminded students that graduation was a time to count your blessings but also a time to count your debts. And while his statement was followed with laughter, Edwards was quick to say he wasn’t just talking about student loans.

— Abbey Doyle is a reporter for The Herald Bulletin. Reposted with permission. Photo credit: Don Knight.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

Aleza Beverly, dean of the School of Adult Learning, has been the director of summer classes since the mid 1990s. She is an advocate for taking summer classes. “It gives students a chance to jump ahead on hours or to make up hours that they have not been able to do during the regular semester,” said Beverly.

Summer classes can work for any student, even those who cannot stay at AU for the summer. “Reading courses are a type of independent study where the instructor gives the student the syllabus and then they turn the work in later,” said Beverly. They also require a GPA of at least 2.5. Tutorial classes do not require minimum GPA, but they require the instructor and the student to remain in contact throughout the summer. “Tutorial courses give more structure to the independent study,” said Beverly.

Dr. Jaye Rogers, associate professor of history, has been teaching summer classes since she started working at AU 16 years ago. However, when she began her college career, these types of classes were hard to find. “When I started college at 26, with two small children, there were no online courses anywhere,” said Rogers. “It was enormously difficult and expensive to arrange childcare to fit with my class schedule.” She is now very supportive of online classes. “They offer all students — but especially nontraditional students — a way to fulfill academic requirements while also juggling their many other responsibilities.”

Rogers also enjoys the opportunity summer classes offer to get to know her students in a more personal way. “I find that I get to know a little more about my students during summer courses because a face-to-face class that lasts four weeks is a little more intimate,” said Rogers. “We are all just more relaxed, and that allows all of us to be more engaged in the classroom.”

Summer classes also offer many benefits for traditional students, many of whom may have a hard time finishing their major in just four years. Summer classes allow them to lighten their schedule during the school year or to add another major or minor before they graduate. Many students are even able to graduate early because of summer classes. Christie Combs, who majored in accounting and minored in finance and management at AU, was able to graduate early in December 2011 because of the summer classes she took throughout her college career. “It would have been nearly impossible to graduate in three and a half years with 150 credit hours without taking summer classes,” said Combs.

Graduating early is typically a significant reason for students to participate in summer classes, and many may complete internships for credit in the summer. Scheduling hours to complete an internship with a business is often easier in the summer, and for some students this may even lead to a full-time job.

“The internships I did over the past summers for credit led to my internship last summer, which eventually helped me obtain my current full-time job,” said Combs. She now works for Defense Finance and Accounting Services, where she interned during the summer of 2011 and worked part-time during her final semester at AU.

Summer classes can be scheduled with the registrar through May 7, the first day of summer classes.

— Marissa Phillips is a junior from Brookville, Ohio, majoring in communication arts. Phillips is an associate with Fifth Street Communications^™, writing on behalf of the Anderson University Office of University Communications.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

But it’s always intriguing to see where these seniors come up with their concepts whether it’s a 3-D dragon head sticking out of a wall or a music-accompanied video of circles and lines.

One is influenced by diversity. Another yearns to make order out of chaos. One likes comedy. And yet another finds art in her hometown images.

The exhibition, titled “Menagerie,” runs through May 3 at the Wilson Galleries in the Krannert Fine Arts Center.

[Photo: AU student Kenton Pratt (right) explains his glass work to Kevin McClung.]

A standout is the work of Anna C. Allen. “Inhale” is a porcelain bowl surrounded by off-white leaves with the curves of potato chips but they look too fragile to touch. “Exhale” is a similar piece with leaves surrounding a serene, small lake setting. Her “Blossoming Burst” is a tantalizing aqua and gray porcelain tray. Though hanging on a wall, the work would be an art piece at any angle.

In her self-penned notes, Allen writes, “I make everyday objects that in time become special or sacred. A special bowl that you love to use or a one-of-a-kind piece that has a special place in the home.” In essence, moments that we generally take for granted can really be precious.

Samantha Deatrick shows respect and admiration for her Owen County home with four posters. Each features a historical or tourist scene such as the digital print, “Patriotism,” an iconic sculpture of a World War I doughboy by Spencer artist Ernest Viquesney. In another, she depicts a scenic walk in McCormick’s Creek. Deatrick should approach other Hoosier communities for similar posters.

Dominating one exhibition room are eight large hanging posters by Tiernae Salley who shows the uniqueness of a close-up as each of her subject’s reacts to the presence of the camera lens.

[Photo: AU student Cody Linn photographs exhibits as he is framed by a pair of portraits by Tiernae Salley.]

Jonathan Tapp’s video/music piece, “Where Do We Come From?” combines a soothing Middle Eastern chant with pulsating circles and rotating lines. Tapp works from the idea that percussion, harmony, and melody can be expressions of one’s spiritual being in Christ. But viewers might wish there was a chair nearby to enhance the dreamy atmosphere.

Thankfully, there’s a chair in another room next to Sadie Frey’s written proposal for a student lounge in the art department. The chair is made with help from Jeffrey Jackson from discarded wood pallets.

If you visit, gaze at the artist biographies on an entry wall then walk through the four exhibition areas first. Return to read the bios and go back to see what new insight you might gain. And the whole experience won’t take 15 minutes.

— Scott L. Miley is features editor for The Herald Bulletin. Story reposted with permission. Photo credit: Don Knight/The Herald Bulletin.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

“We spent a lot of time trying to truly understand the many characteristics and personality of AU,” said Chris Williams, director of university communications and community relations. “We are looking to foster and nurture that dialogue, and we think these visual reminders encourage that conversation.”

The first of these reminders appeared in the form of a mural painted in the southeast stairwell by Greg Hojnacki, a junior from Hudson, Ohio. The mural depicts icons such as the Eternal Flame and the spire of Park Place Church of God above the five core values of AU: integrity, excellence, servant leadership, responsibility, and generosity.

“Chris Williams and Joe Davis approached me about six months ago and commissioned me for this piece after viewing some of my other work,” said Hojnacki. “Using only the four-color palate of the university, I really tried to represent the contrast of where AU has been and where we are going, all the while remembering what we hold on to.”

[Photo: AU student Greg Hojnacki's mural, located in the southeast stairwell of Decker Hall.]

As a part of a junior-level graphic design course, eight students also created conceptual posters, which bring many of AU’s new “We Don’t Believe” statements to life. The posters will be hung in the Kane Dining Room in Olt Student Center, a room where nearly 1,000 prospective students and families visit each year.

“We weren’t just looking for store-bought pieces of art,” said Joe Davis, director of admissions. “We wanted to showcase the talent of our students by creating a space reflective of our community. We want parents and students to not only see, but truly understand what we are all about and make them think about what they are looking for in a university.”

The course itself was built around providing students with professional practice through client interaction. Professor of Art Kevin Rudynski led the students through this experience.

[Photo: A conceptual poster designed by AU student Melissa Strich, one of eight posters providing a visual representation of the university's "We Don't Believe" statements. The posters will be displayed in the Kane Dining Room in the Olt Student Center.]

“They each were tasked with choosing one of the many ‘We Don’t Believe’ statements and designing a visual representation of that concept,” said Rudynski. “Through their work they were able to present another dimension to the reader.”

Additionally, pole banners depicting the university’s newly adopted logo and five core values will be hung on Fifth Street outside of Decker Hall and Reardon Auditorium.

“All of these additions reflect the permanence of our story,” said Williams. “We are who we always have been. It’s exciting to see us continue to own our story.”

— Charlie Holcomb is a junior from Westfield, Ind., majoring in communication arts and minoring in political science. Holcomb is an associate with Fifth Street Communications^™, writing on behalf of the Anderson University Office of University Communications.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

Although at first unsure of what major to pursue when he left for college, Tapp explained that, after several helpful conversations with friends and family, he realized he couldn’t ignore his creativity any longer. He chose to major in visual communication design, and shared, “I didn’t know much at all about design at first, but with the help of great teaching faculty and great colleagues, I’ve been privileged to learn more than I ever thought possible.”

When searching for the perfect place to intern, Tapp discovered MediaFuel. He became interested when he learned about the diversity of their projects — and when he arrived, his expectations were more than met. “We literally covered everything at MediaFuel from illustration sketches, to typography, to video and voice recording,” he said. It proved to be a great match for Tapp, whose own design interests include logo design, branding development, illustration, and typography.

Because of the variety of projects at MediaFuel, every day of Tapp’s internship was a little different. Some days he worked strictly on illustrations, while on others he set type and worked with logos. One day he recorded a jingle with his boss for a company commercial.

Of course, there were challenges. When he first started his internship, Tapp found it difficult to adjust to the style of the work he was assigned to do. He asked a lot of questions to be sure he was on the right track and was able to learn from his co-workers, who pushed him to learn how to create quickly and efficiently. They helped him improve his design skills and figure out how to navigate a professional work environment.

By the time his internship was over, Tapp realized he had grown both in personal confidence and in his own design practices. Reflecting on the experience, he said, “My internship helped me to see what my career might be like in the future, and it also helped me to realize some of the things I need to improve as a designer before becoming a true professional. MediaFuel also helped me realize that a positive, Christ-centered workplace really does exist, and that it is possible to be creative, have fun, and work hard all at the same time.”

About the Department of Art+Design

The Department of Art+Design at Anderson University offers majors in the areas of glass, fine arts, visual communication design, and art education. Students gain experience through intensive studio practice, professional internships, and by working closely with a faculty of professional artists and designers.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

The fictional movie tells the story of a not-too-distant future in which society has collapsed. In its place, is a country divided into 12 districts and a capital. Once every year, each district chooses two young representatives to participate in The Hunger Games.

Okeniyi will play the role of Thresh, the representative selected from District 11 to partake in The Hunger Games. “Thresh is definitely the strong, silent type and does more speaking with his actions than his words,” said Okeniyi. “However, he does have a gentle side to go along with his rough exterior.” Director Gary Ross often told Okeniyi to think of his character as a gentle giant.

Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Okeniyi came to AU with plans to become a graphic designer, not an actor. “I have always enjoyed performing, whether it be acting, singing, or dancing,” said Okeniyi. “When I initially moved to the United States, I put performing on hold because it was now time to ‘grow up and be realistic,’ but the longer I put it on hold, the more the passion festered and grew inside of me.”

During his time at AU, Okeniyi participated in step dancing, “Cheap Thrills,” and the university production of “Nickel and Dimed.” His true passion, however, was discovered when he took an introductory acting course during his senior year. The class was taught by an AU alumnus, Steven Pierce. “Instead of treating the class like an intro class,” said Okeniyi, “Steve took us on as serious acting students. Through his teachings, he inspired me and reignited the fire for acting within me.”

“The purpose of this class is to create actors who can honestly and deeply relate to each other,” said Ronald Johnstone, director of theatre arts. “It doesn’t matter if you are a beginning student or a world-renowned actor. That is the essence of acting.”

After graduation, Okeniyi moved Los Angeles to pursue his dreams. He now lives with AU alumni and fellow actors Marcus York and Alex Davis. “Living with close friends who are fellow actors, you are able to share the weight of your stresses, concerns, and success,” said Okeniyi. “They keep me very grounded.”

Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Okeniyi enrolled in acting workshops and learned about the film industry by working as an extra in various films. “Learning your craft is the job,” said Okeniyi. “As an actor, you have to stay sharp and really be on top of your game.”

According to Okeniyi, his experience between projects includes a lot of time reading scripts for potential projects which then lead to numerous meetings with casting directors and directors, auditioning for projects, and promoting upcoming projects like “The Hunger Games” for various events. “One day I may be going on an audition, another day it might be a meeting for a project, or another day it may be some kind of event,” said Okeniyi.

Okeniyi’s first acting jobs were the lead role in an independent film called “Slew Hampshire,” followed by the co-lead role in a short film titled “Lions Among Men.”

According to Okeniyi, finding out that he had landed his first major role in “The Hunger Games” was a surreal moment. Barely over the excitement of his newly found success, the exciting news sent him into a mild shock. “It was not until I called my family that the moment became real to me,” said Okeniyi.

Although he is working alongside many famous actors, Okeniyi was never made to feel excluded or isolated by his fellow cast members. “Everyone involved in the movie was extremely welcoming to me,” said Okeniyi. “They really made the newcomers feel important and necessary to the success of the film.”

Although he cannot currently release the details, there are several other exciting projects lining up in Okeniyi’s future. His career is quickly growing, yet he has never lost sight of God and relationships with friends and family.

“You really have to want it within yourself. It can’t be about fame or money. It has to be for the passion of acting. Everything begins with a vision and you have to be willing to work hard to fulfill that vision,” said Okeniyi. “There are definitely going to be hard times involved when anyone chases a dream, but this experience is different. So many things can cause difficulties: money, missing friends and family, people telling you what you can’t do, etc. You really have to be confident in yourself and develop thick skin in order to protect that dream.”

— Kelly Gualdoni is a junior from Fort Wayne, Ind., majoring in communication arts. Gualdoni is an associate with Fifth Street Communications™, writing on behalf of the Anderson University Office of University Communications.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

This spring’s exhibition will feature the work of senior Art+Design students Anna Allen, Bailey Hunt, Christopher Russell, Jacob Lockhart, Jeffrey Jackson, Jonathan Tapp, Jordan Arnold, Kameron Robinson, Katie Price, Kenton Pratt, Krista Diamond, Luke McClung, Sadie Frey, Samantha Jo Deatrick, and Tiernae Salley.

A menagerie is a collection of diverse and/or eclectic people, animals, or things not typically placed together but held in one place in preparation before the performance in the big top. The “Menagerie” exhibit represents 15 individuals who have come together to display a diverse and unique culmination of art and design work. All have gone through Anderson University’s Department of Art+Design, but have emerged with unique experiences that will lead them in a multitude of directions.

The show will remain open on weekdays through May 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The seniors will be presenting their gallery talks on April 10th and 12th from 6 to 9 p.m. in Wilson Galleries. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Tai Lipan, director of Wilson Galleries at (765) 641-4320 or talipan@anderson.edu.

— Katie Price is a senior from Kokomo, Ind., majoring in fine arts and minoring in public relations. Price is writing on behalf of the Anderson University Office of University Communications.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

During commencement, Anderson University will award four honorary degrees. Anderson University will award John E. Wilson, AU alum and basketball legend, with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters; Lois A. Settlemeyer, former scientist with Dow Chemical and past member of the Anderson University Board of Trustees, with an honorary Doctor of Letters; Dr. Frank Campbell, longtime Anderson physician, with the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters; and Charles Dickmann, renowned Anderson attorney and community philanthropist with the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.

A live webcast of the full commencement program will be streamed at www.anderson.edu/commencement/webcast. Coverage will begin at 3 p.m. EDT.

Other events scheduled during Anderson University’s commencement day on May 5 include the Falls School of Business hooding ceremony at 11:30 a.m. in Byrum Hall for candidates of both Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Business Administration degrees.

Related events scheduled prior to commencement include the School of Theology Senior Recognition and Awards Chapel on Tuesday, April 24, at 11 a.m. in Miller Chapel. The hooding ceremony for the Doctor of Ministry graduates will take place on Friday, May 4, at 6 p.m. in Miller Chapel.

The hooding ceremony for the Master of Education and the Master of Music Education will be conducted on Thursday, May 3, at 6 p.m. in the Reardon Auditorium Lobby. The certification ceremony for the Teach for Indiana Program (TIP) will be conducted on Saturday, May 5, at 11 a.m. in Decker Hall, Room 133.

A special pinning ceremony for the Anderson University School of Nursing will be conducted on Friday, May 4, at 6 p.m. in Reardon Auditorium.

Carl Erskine was a pitcher for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1948 through 1959. He was a pitching mainstay on Dodger teams that won five National League pennants, peaking with a 1953 season in which he won 20 games and set a World Series record with 14 strikeouts. He pitched two no-hitters during his career. A native of Anderson, Ind., he returned to the community after his baseball career. He coached the Anderson University baseball team for 12 years, guiding them through four championship seasons. He retired from an executive position at STAR Financial Bank. He is a trustee emeritus of the Board of Trustees for Anderson University where he served for many years. He continues to devote time to Anderson University and the Anderson community. Included among the books Erskine has authored is What I Learned From Jackie Robinson: A Teammate’s Reflections On and Off the Field.

John E. Wilson, known on the Anderson University campus in the 1940s as “Jumpin’ Johnny,” made his mark on the sports of basketball and baseball. After high school, Wilson came to Anderson University and quickly became a star player. He earned 11 letters, was selected All-conference three times, team MVP three times, named an All-American twice, and once finished third in the nation in scoring. Wilson still holds the school record for career scoring average and season scoring average. After leaving AU, Wilson played baseball for one year with the Chicago American Giants in the Negro Leagues before playing basketball for the Harlem Globetrotters from 1949 to 1954. Wilson returned to AU in 1970 to finish his bachelor’s degree in education. He earned a master’s degree in education from Indiana State University and has coached at the high school and college levels. He is a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, the Anderson Black Expo Basketball Hall of Fame, and the AU Athletic Hall of Fame.

Lois Settlemeyer earned a bachelor’s degree from Anderson University in 1966 and a Master of Ministry from the Anderson University School of Theology in 1978. Relying on her undergraduate studies in chemistry and mathematics, she worked for Dow Chemical Company for 31 years using her skills in research, analysis, and technical problem solving. Retiring from her work as a development scientist, Lois moved to the Northwest. She expanded her interest in photography and is now an award-winning photographer of macro and landscape photos. Lois also dedicated 15 years as a trustee for Anderson University.

Dr. Frank Campbell earned his medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine. He worked in a private medical practice in Anderson, Ind., for 30 years and served as chief of staff at Community Hospital. In 1996, he took time away from his practice to care for his aging father. He returned to practice in 2007 at the Madison County Community Health Center, where he continues to serve as medical director. He also serves on the Saint John’s Health System’s Foundation Board. Last fall, the Anderson University School of Nursing honored Campbell with the 2011 Friend of Nursing Award.

Charles Dickmann served as an attorney in the Anderson community for 62 years with Sansberry Dickmann Freeman & Builta. He continues to provide counsel for the firm. A native of Hancock County, Ind., he holds bachelor and law degrees from Indiana University. Before pursuing his education, Dickmann served in the military during World War II. He was drafted as a private in December 1941 and served in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy during the war. By end of the war, he was promoted to the rank of captain. Since coming to Anderson in the early 1950s, Dickmann has remained active in the community, providing leadership on countless boards. He was named the Anderson Herald Bulletin “Man of the Year” in 1985 and was inducted into the Madison County Junior Achievement Business Leaders Hall of Fame in 1986.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

The event, the first of its kind at AU, will offer prospective students the opportunity to interact with professors and current students, tour departments, and explore different areas of study at AU.

See the Academic Departmental Open House Flyer [PDF].

The Admissions Office traditionally offers visit days year-round and individual departmental visit days in the fall. The creation of this event was a response to departmental requests for an additional visit day in the spring semester and research from other colleges.

“Our hope is to bring a lot of potential students and families to campus and enable them to make those final decisions by facilitating interactions between them and key people in the departments,” said Admissions Event Coordinator Audrey Weiger.

The event is designed especially for prospective students who have already been accepted to the university. The invitation has been extended to these students and their families as way to get a more in-depth look into key programs and facilities offered at AU. “One of the best ways to make a final college decision is to hone in on different departments,” said Weiger.

The Academic Departmental Open House will take place in the following locations on campus:

• Art and Design – Krannert Fine Arts Building
• Biology – Hartung (Second Floor)
• Falls School of Business – Hardacre Hall
• Chemistry and Physics – Hartung Hall (Third Floor)
• Communication – Broadcasting Center
• Computer Science – Decker Hall (Third Floor)
• School of Education – Decker Hall (Third Floor)
• English – Decker Hall (Third Floor)
• History and Political Science – Decker Hall (Third Floor)
• Kinesiology – Kardatzke Wellness Center
• Mathematics – Decker Hall (Third Floor)
• Modern Foreign Languages – Decker Hall (Third Floor)
• School of Music – Krannert Fine Arts Building
• School of Nursing – Hartung Hall (Third Floor)
• Psychology – Hartung Hall (First Floor)
• Religious Studies – Hartung Hall (First Floor)
• Sociology, Social Work, Criminal Justice, and Family Science – Decker Hall (Second Floor)

Parking will be available near the soccer fields (location 31 on the AU campus map) and shuttle transportation will be available to and from the academic location(s). Admissions personnel will be present to provide assistance. Registration is not required to attend the event.

To learn more about the Academic Departmental Open House, contact the AU Office of Admissions by phone at (765) 641-4080 or by email at info@anderson.edu.

— Katie Price is a senior from Kokomo, Ind., majoring in fine arts and minoring in public relations. Price is writing on behalf of the Anderson University Office of University Communications.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

Every year, a professional visual artist from outside the university is invited to select works for the Student Juried Exhibition. The competition is open to all Art+Design students, regardless of year and major, with awards for Best of Show and specific areas of study. Types of media usually represented in the show include painting, design, sculpture, glass, print media, and photography.

“This exhibition gives students the opportunity to experience the typical processes and interactions artists go through when showing work at a professional gallery,” said Tai Lipan, director of the Wilson Galleries. “It’s also a way to build their résumé and talk about their work with the juror, a professional artist who comes from a perspective outside the university context.” [Photo on left: Eric Kass, Or For Worse; 2010, collage/inkjet print]

Since 2010, the Wilson Galleries have hosted a Juror’s Exhibition in conjunction with the Student Juried Exhibition. Seeing the artwork and reading the statement of the guest juror give both students and gallery visitors a helpful context for the selection of work in the student show.

This year’s juror is Indianapolis-based artist and designer Eric Kass, who describes himself as “a forty-year-old teenager one time farmer turned commercial artist”. Kass, who specializes in “highly-unique, lovingly-crafted, tailored-to-fit brand stories,” has a deep love for typography and deliciously descriptive adjectives. He finds inspiration through music, books, emotion, paradox … and a little bit of everything.

The Jessie C. Wilson Galleries serve Anderson University and East Central Indiana with monthly exhibitions that feature the work of regionally and nationally recognized artists. Through these exhibitions, the gallery is dedicated to enriching and engaging AU students, as well as promoting the visual arts within the greater community. For more information, contact the director of exhibitions programming, Tai Lipan, at (765) 641-4320 or by email to talipan@anderson.edu. Visit the Wilson Galleries online to learn about other upcoming gallery events.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

In creating work for the Conservatory exhibit, AU art+design majors became interested in the irony of talking about nature housed in an artificial green space. They also found themselves wondering “How do we make something about nature with a non-natural material, glass?” [Photo on left: Glass student Kameron Robinson prepares his exhibit pieces.]

For senior Kenton Pratt, the focus became the mysterious absence of animals. His piece in the show is an installation of bird cages … which are empty. “I kept thinking, maybe there should be birds here, but if there were, the would be caged.” Birds also played a role for Stephanie Cochran, whose inspiration for the exhibit came from Bauer Birds, who gather colored trash to make wild, fantastical nests. “These birds are collectors, and what they do is kind of like what artists do,” she shared.

Senior Kameron Robinson, on the other hand, found himself asking, “How can I enhance the space without reproducing it?” He was drawn to the bold, vertical lines of the lady palm trees in the Conservatory and created mirrored, organic shapes which help magnify their fascinating textures and shapes. Because of their mirrored quality, his pieces allow viewers to examine not only the plants but also their own presence in the Conservatory space.

Also included in the exhibition is work by alum Davin Ebanks (BA ‘98), as well as a collaborative piece by AU glass professor, Arlon Bayliss, and students from his Introduction to Glass course.

One of the unique features of the exhibition is its collaborative nature. Bayliss, and Brent Cole, associate glass professor at Ball State, began plans for the project last spring. As next-door neighbors in the world of glass, both schools’ programs have much to gain from the kind of collaboration this exhibition offers. “Working together enables us to do bigger things,” Cochran explains, “this show wouldn’t have happened without the help we were able to give each other.”

Collaborating with a public venue also gave students a taste for the demands of a professional exhibition. Similar to the off-campus experiences of other majors, exhibitions provide art+design students the opportunity to go out into the community and envision where they might fit in the professional world. Robinson said, “Although I gained some exhibition experience during my internship this summer, this was my first public exhibition, and I was glad to go though it together with other undergrads.”

Built in 1914 by German architect George Edward Kessler, Garfield Park Conservatory houses 10,000 square feet of beautiful, historic plants from tropical regions throughout the world. It also hosts changing educational displays and three spectacular seasonal shows each year — no small undertaking. Through Neo Natural, students have been able to bring greater public awareness to the institution. According to Stephanie Cochran, “Part of the calling of artists is to bring awareness to the beauty in our community, and this is one way to do that.”

Date: January 21 – March 18, $3/person, $8 per family
Opening Reception: Saturday, January 21, 2012, from 5-7 p.m. Free Admission
Location: Garfield Park Conservatory & Sunken Garden
2505 Conservatory Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46203

About the Department of Art+Design
The Department of Art+Design at Anderson University offers majors in the areas of glass, fine arts, visual communications design, and art education. Students gain experience through intensive studio practice, professional internships, and by working closely with faculty of professional artists and designers.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

This collection of World War II posters offers viewers an opportunity to examine a time in American history and consider the role visual artists served in the war effort. Posters proved to be a form of visual communication throughout the 20th century, especially during World War II, when the US government used them to enlist support of its citizens. [Photo on left: Glen Groth, WWII: He's Watching You, 1942.]

Of special interest is the variety of approaches to poster design including photography, typography, and collage integrated with persuasive messages to encourage support of the war effort. The posters also show the influences of period art movements. Jean Carlu’s posters reflect both his European heritage and the impact of Cubism. Lester Beall, an American designer, studied European avant-garde art and design, and his use of photomontage echoes works by Russian designers like Gustav Klutsis.

The posters also employ well-known propaganda techniques. Illustrated imagery was most frequently naturalistic, and texts and symbols were kept simple to easily communicate the central message to the viewer. Phrases like “Loose lips sink ships,” and “He’s watching you,” had a flair for the dramatic, appealing to viewers’ emotional perceptions of the war efforts.

Now a part of the Wilson Galleries’ permanent collection, these World War II posters originally hung in the Cummins Engine Factory in Columbus, Ind. During the war years these posters encouraged factory workers to maximize their efforts on the home front. The workers were often referred to as “production soldiers,” and the posters affirmed the importance of this role, declaring messages that forged a direct relationship between production and patriotism.

When the war drew to a close, Mary Dugan, the wife of a foreman at the factory, kept the posters preserved in storage. Shortly after the 50th anniversary of World War II, the collection was donated to the Wilson Galleries by her granddaughter, Kathleen Dugan, a painter and professor of art in the Department of Art+Design at AU. [Photo on right: Jean Carlu, Give 'Em Both Barrels, 1941.]

The Jessie C. Wilson Galleries serve Anderson University and East Central Indiana with monthly exhibitions that feature the work of regionally and nationally recognized artists. Through these exhibitions, the gallery is dedicated to enriching and engaging AU students, as well as promoting the visual arts within the greater community.

For more information, contact the director of exhibitions programming, Tai Lipan, at (765) 641-4320 or by email to talipan@anderson.edu. Visit the Wilson Galleries’ exhibits website to learn about other upcoming gallery events.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

The 24,000-square-foot, $4 million project is expected to be completed this summer with ground breaking having taken place May 5. [Photo on left: Construction continues on the York Performance Hall and Galleries project on the Anderson University campus. Workers have begun installing prefabricated walls.]

“It is very exciting,” Williams said of the project. “It is going to a be a space that will be acoustically superior giving a proper performance space to our music students, faculty and guest artists to showcase their art and performances. It is a truly wonderful addition to the campus.”

The building will also support a special art gallery space for the Warner Sallman art collection that includes depictions of Christ as well as a special wood art collection donated by the York family featuring Binh Pho, a renowned wood artist, Williams said.

View a slideshow of images of the construction project on the York Performance Hall and Galleries website.

—Abbey Doyle is a reporter for The Herald Bulletin. Photo credit: John P. Cleary. Story republished with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

Orcutt and a friend began the Shadeland Bicycle Collective in the fall of 2008 in a classroom at Shadeland Elementary School. After his graduation in May 2011 with a fine arts studio major, Orcutt turned all of his attention to the Shadeland Bicycle Collective. Through donations and word of mouth, the collective grew into a full nonprofit organization, complete with professional bicycle repair tools, stands, an official logo, a website, and a new location on West 11th Street in Anderson. The collective held its grand opening on Oct. 22, 2011. [Photo on left: Ben Orcutt talks with Kris and Lisa Stevens at the grand opening for his bike collective.]

The collective functions as an educator, an advocator, and a repair service — with priorities in that order. “We run a full-service repair shop like any bike shop does,” said Orcutt. “The main difference is that we do that so we can fund what we do with the rest of our time, which is primarily education. You have a membership to the shop and that membership gives you access to all the tools, equipment, repair manuals, and knowledge of the other people in the room with the intent to repair your own bicycle. The whole project is empowering people to maintain their own form of transportation.”

[Watch an interview with Ben Orcutt during the Anderson University Homecoming 2011 Webcast.]

Since education is the goal, Orcutt works with various other organizations, such as the Cub Scouts, the Park Place after-school program, and the Christian Center. “For example, the Park Place after-school program has different clubs for the kids. There’s an art club, a reading club, a sports club, and then there’s a bike club. They have kids sign up to work directly with me,” said Orcutt. “We strip [the bicycle] all the way down, and we learn all the names of the parts and what they do. We clean it all, and then we repaint the frame and rebuild it all clean and new. It’s pretty cool because the kids get to see everything completely disassembled and their own ability to rebuild it and make it look completely new.”

Orcutt enjoys teaching children, along with encouraging people in homeless shelters and drug and rehabilitation transition homes. “All of those places are filled with people that don’t have a lot of control over things in their own life,” said Orcutt. “They’re told what to do a lot of the time. We found that giving people the ability to control just one little thing in their life, like transportation, has a really big impact on their self-esteem. That is the goal, and we get to that through a variety of bicycle-related means.”

The bicycle collective is part of a larger nonprofit organization, The Shadeland Project, which also includes a thrift store and an after-school program. Many of the people who started The Shadeland Project also attend church at The Mercy House, the same church Orcutt attends. “We’ve always believed in the bike collective,” said Matt Connor, senior pastor at The Mercy House. “Our ministry philosophy is that we support whatever the people in the church dream up.”

Advocacy for bicycles is another goal of the collective. Orcutt is working with the Madison County Council of Governments — specifically with the bicycle and pedestrian coordinator of Madison County. The objective is to lower the number of cars and other polluting vehicles on the road and to increase the number of bicycles.

“The collective is a beautiful mission on every level: helping the environment, supporting healthy lifestyles, empowering people to own their own transportation, and building community,” said Connor. “Riding bicycles helps in so many ways, even in terms of being aware of all aspects of your neighborhood and community versus driving with no concern for the space between.”

Experiences at the church and at AU have prepared Orcutt for his new role at the bicycle collective. “The thing I learned in college is figuring out how to do something on my own. If I don’t know how to do something, I know how to figure it out,” he said. “When I came to this campus, everything I wanted to do didn’t exist here. My group of friends and I realized if we want something to happen, we have to do it for ourselves. And through that, I feel like I have a confidence to just go for it.”

Connor agrees, saying he has seen the same changes in Orcutt. “I believe the art department at AU taught Ben a special do-it-yourself work ethic and ingenuity that allowed him to feel like he could also do the same with his life. His mission has been one great art project of making old things new and bringing something into existence that was previously only in his head.”

Following graduation, Orcutt chose to stay in Anderson to continue pursuing the Shadeland Bicycle Collective. “People talk about trying to do missions somewhere, trying to save the world somewhere else,” Orcutt said. “But nearly all of the kids in this city are on free or reduced lunch. The graduation rate is around 60 percent. If anybody needs help, this town needs help. I think there are too many people who are ignoring what’s already happening in their own backyard.

“There was a guy we worked with at the Christian Center. He was young — 18 or 19 — and he had never graduated from high school. He grew up in what I gathered to be an incredibly abusive home, and he had mental issues. But he learned how to take the chain off of a bike and fix it with a chain breaker tool. So every time someone would come in to the shop needing their chain fixed, I would send them over to him. He was really nervous at first to show somebody else how to do it. But I think that was the first time he had ever taught somebody else something successfully and I could tell that was a really big deal for him. That was when I decided that this project was worth pursuing.”

— Alyssa Applegate is a senior from Dayton, Ohio, majoring in communication arts and minoring in Spanish. Applegate is an associate with Fifth Street Communications™, writing on behalf of the Anderson University Office of University Communications.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

This year’s show revolves around the question, “What bothers us?” The artists’ answers are simple and clear: the use of offensive advertising, the declining quality of design, and the lack of the handmade element in printing.

Clipner’s work demonstrates the importance of handmade qualities in designs and in conceptual developments behind them. Her work is a combination of lithography and woodcut prints and screen print posters that relate her own and others’ experiences. The purpose of this body of work is to reveal common struggles many of us go through and give us hope for the future.

Gray’s work showcases the craft of making handmade prints and posters not just for the purpose of media production but also as an art form in itself. This designer shows illustrations and propaganda artwork that reflect both personal battles and perspectives of war in Iraq. In a second series of designs Gray reflects on current design trends.

Rudynski’s work focuses on changing the ways in which overused advertising techniques and spam affect the everyday viewer. He aims to bring to light the problems that people interact with everyday in advertising, to educate others, and to offer solutions to improve people’s experiences with advertising on the Internet. His artwork is a two-part representation of the problems in advertising through a video and screen print posters.

For more information, contact the Anderson University Department of Art+Design at (765) 641-4322. Visit the Arts Events section of the website for upcoming College of the Arts events.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

“Best of Indiana Glass” is an annual juried exhibition hosted by Gallery 924 in Indianapolis. The exhibition was sponsored by the Indiana Glass Arts Alliance and featured a diverse selection of glass works, ranging from traditional vessel forms to contemporary sculpture. [Photo on left: Cochran and fellow art majors (Maggie Durbin and Kenton Pratt) with her piece, Untitled.]

Over the summer, Cochran interned with local glass artist Ben Johnson, who encouraged her to enter the show. Her two pieces Anticipation … They Could Have Been Gray and Untitled were accepted, and Untitled, a piece made of cast glass, won fourth place. For Cochran, the experience was one of surprise and excitement.

The piece Untitled is a “sort of self-portrait,” Cochran explains. Cochran says her piece stems out of her natural perspective as a woman who has had to fill many different roles, although not all of them fit very comfortably. She’s proud to have won an award for the piece, but having the opportunity to see how others were engaged by it is even more meaningful to her. At the opening reception she discovered that people of all ages were able to find their own stories in her work. “It hit a lot of women,” she says. “It was exciting to have conversations with them.”

Anticipation, Cochran’s second piece in the show, is a blown glasswork. The idea came while searching through photos of underwater sea creatures. It was an experience of “unexpected beauty at a dark time.” She sees Anticipation as a beginning link to her current work, which relates to themes of both the beauty and manipulation of nature. Cochran enjoys working with living things. “When something dies, the light leaves it. Glass captures that moment of life. I like to work with how glass vibrates that light.” [Photo on right: Anticipation ... They Could Have Been Gray, 2011]

Cochran chooses to work in glass because of the community that comes from working with fellow glass artists. She explains that in glass, “You can’t do it yourself. You have to form relationships and be interdependent.” She adds that she has found herself challenged as a person as well as an artist, learning to accommodate others who are working with her and sharing the same space. These relationships have become a source of energy for Cochran — and as she sees it, the enthusiasm is contagious.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

Rosengarten is originally from the Midwest having done her undergrad at Wright State University then went on to receive her M.F.A. in painting at Boston University studying under the renowned painter, John Walker. She now lives in Yellow Springs, Ohio teaching painting and drawing at the University of Dayton.

The exhibition discussion gave students the opportunity to learn more about her progression through the years and processes used to make the work. Rosengarten describes her work as being on the line between abstraction and representation.  She works both with drawing and painting, but her work currently on display at the Wilson Gallery is a series of charcoal and pastel drawings of plant forms that feature high contrast and dramatic mark making. “ Drawing is my way of coming home and is the medium in which I identify myself,” said Rosengarten. She enjoys the ease of the medium and the ease of problem solving within the drawings.

During the presentation Rosengarten chronologically showcased her work from undergrad studies to her current work.  She referenced many of her exemplars from over the years and how she’s applied their techniques in her own work such as, Susan Rothenberg, Mark Rothko and Richard Diebenkorn.  She believes that regardless of how long you have been making art you should still be looking at exemplars. “Researching allows you to understand your art in the context of other artists’ work,” stated Rosengarten.

By bringing in artists and exhibition like Jennifer Rosengarten the art+design faculty hope to continue exposing their students as well as the larger AU community to different artists’ work and opportunities within the art industry.

The current exhibition is “Perry Four: The Paintings of Tim Kennedy”, which be open until November 12. For more information on current exhibitions please visit the Wilson Galleries event page or contact the Director of Exhibitions Programming, Tai Lipan, at (765) 641-4320 or by email.

– Katie Price is a senior from Kokomo, Ind., majoring in fine arts and minoring in public relations. Price is writing on behalf of the Anderson University Department of Art + Design.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

“We are pleased to make this strategic appointment at this time in the life of the university,” said Dr. James L. Edwards, president of Anderson University. “This title is appropriate to her comprehensive role and her leadership. Dr. Morris is highly regarded on campus and in the wider academic community.”

In her role as provost, Morris will provide leadership and vision for internal functions of the university developing collaborative relationships between university programs, departments, and divisions. Along with the president, the provost assists in representing the university to various constituent groups: church, community, and education. The provost serves in place of the president in the president’s absence.

In March of 2009, Morris was named vice president for academic affairs and dean at Anderson University. She is only the sixth person to serve in the role. She previously served as vice president and undergraduate academic dean at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va.

While at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU), Morris served as a faculty member in the Nursing Department, chair of the Nursing Department, Honors Program director, self-study director for EMU’s reaccreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools, associate academic dean, and vice president and undergraduate academic dean.

Morris earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Eastern Mennonite University, a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Virginia, and a Ph.D. in nursing administration from George Mason University. Her dissertation was entitled, Voices of Women: A Qualitative Study of Effective Female Nurse Faculty.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

Over the last few years of serving with Anderson University Campus Ministries, I became more exposed to the world of nonprofits. Through these experiences and my courses in public relations I had gained a fair amount of experience working with smaller organizations. But I wanted to see how a larger nonprofit organization functions.

My internship search led me to the World Vision headquarters in Seattle, Wash. The organization’s website notes that, “World Vision is a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families, and communities to overcome poverty and injustice.”

I was one of 40 interns at the headquarters this summer. I worked as a Communications/PR intern with their 30 Hour Famine team. 30 Hour Famine is an engagement program that teaches youth about global poverty, hunger and how they can respond. I worked with a very energetic and fast-paced team that allowed me to get hands-on experience in a wide variety of areas.

My projects included an array of different tasks such as loyalty marketing research, analyzing surveys, brainstorm meetings, and painting signs for upcoming conferences. I enjoyed getting a behind-the-scenes look at brainstorming, planning, and setting up conferences. I was also given the opportunity to lead training and team building for a group of teenagers who were given the opportunity to serve as ambassadors for the Famine.

World Vision provided us with opportunities to meet with people from across the organization, including World Vision U.S. President Richard Stearns. These sessions provided us with information and guidance about the organization, individual life stories, tips for entering careers, and how to determine whether to work at a for-profit or nonprofit organization.

Before I ever set foot in the headquarters, I knew that I would walk away with an amazing career experience over the course of this 12-week internship. However, I walked away with so much more than résumé skills.

Every person I came in contact with at World Vision was passionate about the work they were doing, whether it was answering calls, analyzing spreadsheets, or doing emergency relief around the world. They were all willing to tell their stories of how they got to World Vision and the impact it has had on their lives.

Working with such a large organization not only allowed me to see the many facets of the nonprofit world, but also gave me the opportunity to meet people from around the world and gain more awareness and a greater understanding of global issues.

In what was the quickest 12 weeks of my life, I learned more than I ever imagined about nonprofits, as well as myself. Through the culmination of my experiences both at AU and at World Vision, I now have a greater understanding of how I can use my skills and talents to impact the world, and I have gained more direction as I wrap up my final year at AU.

— Katie Price is a senior from Kokomo, Ind., majoring in fine arts and minoring in public relations. Price is writing on behalf of the Anderson University Office of University Communications.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the eighth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

“While we are grateful to be included among the best of Midwest universities, we want most of all to be measured by our quality and our student success,” said Anderson University President Dr. James L. Edwards. “Our mission to transform lives through education will be met by nothing less.”

The 2012 Best Colleges guidebook provides the most thorough examination of how more than 1,400 accredited four-year schools compare on a set of up to 16 widely accepted indicators of excellence. Among the many factors weighed in determining the rankings, the key measures of quality are: peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving, and, for National Universities and National Liberal Art Colleges, “graduation rate performance” and high school counselor ratings of colleges.

For more information on the rankings, visit www.usnews.com/colleges/.

Over the past two decades, the U.S. News & World Report college rankings, which group schools based on categories created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, has grown to be the most comprehensive research tool for students and parents considering higher education opportunities.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the eighth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

In her recent work, Rosengarten has looked to gardens as a means to explore how a sense of place is evocative of mood, memory, and transition. She currently teaches drawing and painting at the University of Dayton. [Photo on left: Jennifer Rosengarten, Chlorophyll.]

The Foundations Exhibition showcases selected foundation student work from the Department of Art + Design 2010-11 academic year and is on display in the Hallway Gallery at Wilson Gallery. Areas of study represented in the exhibition include 2-D and 3-D design, drawing, and color theory.

Both exhibits run through September 24, 2011.

Daily Gallery Hours:
Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
For more information, contact the Director of Exhibitions Programming, Tai Lipan, at (765) 641-4320 or by email. Click here for future gallery events.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the seventh consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

“Anderson University is a distinct place often described in the past by our alumni and others as ‘very special.’ We want to bring greater distinction and clarity to that idea that will gain wide affirmation from those who are a part of the AU family and those who will come to know us,” said Anderson University President Dr. James L. Edwards.

The process began more than two years ago. The new logo and font were designed and developed by Kerry Shaw, director of Publications at Anderson University. The logo features the university’s name with an overarching base and orange flame. Students and alumni will associate this graphic with the Eternal Flame landmark located in front of Decker Hall. Edwards added that the goal of this long and very widely involved process is “clarity and distinction.”

Dr. Marie Morris, vice president of academic affairs, said, “I don’t really view this as a ‘brand direction’ but rather clarifying the AU story – its rich heritage and its bright future. I’m thrilled to be at AU at this time for this very important clarifying moment. Our world is changing and how we educate and prepare students must also keep pace with the times. It’s a new day for us at AU.”

Established in 1992 to mark the university’s 75th anniversary, the Eternal Flame echoes the university’s mission to educate and prepare individuals for lives of faith and service in their families, churches, and society. The new logo is a visual stepping stone to help define the bigger story among the countless experiences yet to be told about AU.

“Many on campus know that we provide students with something spectacular at Anderson University,” said Chris Williams, director of university communications. “We need to learn to share the story of Anderson University with others. The new logo is just one of the many ways we will be sharing this story with a variety of audiences in the future.”

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the seventh consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Forbes.com included only the top 20 percent of all undergraduate institutions in the 2011 rankings. The rankings were prepared by the Center for College Affordability and Productivity (CCAP).

“We have one more indication just how special Anderson University is, based on achievement of our students and graduates,” said Anderson University President Dr. James. L. Edwards. “The story of quality is another vote of confidence for a truly remarkable faculty. We are grateful for this recognition.”

Forbes executive editor Michael Noer explained the ranking process in an article on Forbes.com.

“Our annual ranking of the 650 best undergraduate institutions focuses on the things that matter the most to students: quality of teaching, great career prospects, graduation rates, and low levels of debt. … We try and evaluate the college purchase as a consumer would,” said Noer.

The rankings are based on five general categories: post graduate success (30%), student satisfaction (27.5%), debt (17.5%), four-year graduation rate (17.5%), and competitive awards (7.5). A complete ranking methodology may be viewed at http://blogs.forbes.com/michaelnoer/2011/08/03/americas-top-colleges/.

Data collected by Forbes is corroborated by data from the Student Satisfaction Inventory and the National Survey of Student Engagement. Data from the SSI, for example, shows that students rank Anderson University above the mean on a large battery of questions ranging from classroom instruction to campus safety.

Anderson University has been recognized for its quality programs in recent years. AU has been recognized by US News & World Report as one of America’s best colleges and universities for seven consecutive years. The Princeton Review also has recognized Anderson University as one of the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for 2011.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2011, US News & World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the eighth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

The Lilly Endowment Fund awarded Smith an $8,000 grant created to enable teachers to take time to pursue their personal interests, explore subjects that intrigue them, and allow them to travel and further their knowledge.

Smith proposed “Color Me Wild: An Artist’s Journey Through the National Parks” for the grant. It involved trips to the national parks that were photographed by Ansel Adams in order to write, hike, backpack, photograph and paint. “My grant took me out to the western U.S. to visit eight national parks where I painted, photographed, backpacked, blogged and lived out of my car for six weeks,” stated Smith. “Upon my return, I taught several lessons based on my trip with my students and had my work displayed at local library and a Broad Ripple gallery.”

The art and design faculty highly encourage students to pursue opportunities like Smith’s and alumni to come back and create awareness about those opportunities. “We have amazing alumni who have achieved great personal success in their fields and are hoping that the current students will gain confidence in what they can achieve in their future professions,” said Tai Lipan, assistant professor of art and director of Wilson Galleries. “The alumni are very generous and concerned to give helpful feedback to the students because they remember what it was like to be in the student’s shoes.”

Smith’s experiences at AU helped him obtain the Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Grant. “The outside the box thinking that many professors and projects demanded was incredibly helpful, as well as the amount of writing that is done in the department,” said Smith. “Getting an art degree at AU is like getting an art, history, English, fill-in-the-blank degree.” In addition to his experiences on campus, Smith also took advantage of opportunities like attending Chautauqua School of the Arts in the summer, which better prepared him for carrying out the art making aspect of his the grant.

By bringing in alumni to speak to current students, the faculty hopes to inspire them to pursue opportunities and gain a greater knowledge of what careers in the art world and ultimately their futures could look like. They encourage students to broaden their knowledge and connections by attending other programs and internships during their time at AU, and plan on bringing in more alumni speakers in the near future.

Smith’s advice for current students is to take advantage of every opportunity and work hard in everything they do. “As far as working hard, you have four years in one of the most intensely creative atmospheres that an artist will ever be in,” stated Smith. “Don’t stumble through those four years, grab on and be intentional with your time and energy.”

— Katie Price is a junior from Kokomo, Ind., majoring in fine arts and minoring in communication arts. Price is an associate with Fifth Street Communications™, writing on behalf of the Anderson University Office of University Communications.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the seventh consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

“For many years the faculty in the Department of Art + Design have been scholar artists mentoring students in the areas of visual communication design, fine arts studio, fine arts glass, and visual arts education,” said Dr. Marie Morris, vice president for academic affairs. “As a result, AU graduates in Art + Design are doing some amazing work. We are delighted to launch this new website which tells the story of these accomplished graduates, highlights their gifted professors, and the exciting curriculum that challenged them to reach their fullest potential.”

The website presents in-depth information on each academic major including visual examples from student portfolios in six studio disciplines. Special opportunities, courses of study, and graduate profiles help prospective students know what to expect within each major. Detailed faculty profiles along with portfolios of professional work provides a look into recent studio activities by each faculty member. An expanded Wilson Galleries section features a detailed look at the upcoming exhibition season as well as images of past exhibitions.

Current faculty and students along with alumni may find the resources and calendar of events sections useful with information on department events and contacts for internships and materials suppliers.

“I am excited to have our department more fully represented within the larger university site,” said Kevin Rudynski, department chair for Art + Design. “With the addition of the visual portfolio sections, we’ve added the ’show’ to the ‘tell’ which is crucial for a visual arts program. We expect that the new site will serve as both as a beacon for individuals searching to study the visual arts at a Christian liberal arts university and a resource for current students and visual arts professionals.”

Stefanie Leiter in the Office of University Communications served as the team leader on the project with Meredith Christopfel, a 2009 Art + Design alumna, and Rudynski. The redesigned website was developed in conjunction with Brainstorm, an Indianapolis firm, which has served as a partner with the university since 1998.

“As a recent graduate, it’s been a joy and honor to work on this website project for the Department of Art + Design,” said Christopfel. “As a student, I was a committed art major; now, as an alumna, I remain a loyal fan. It feels really great to work for an organization I believe in, and to give back to a community that has invested so much in both my personal and professional development.”

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the seventh consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Dr. Jeffrey Wright, Dean of the College of the Arts, acknowledged at the groundbreaking how grateful he was for the time and resources put into this project. Wright is looking forward to showcasing the work of faculty, students and guest artists for years to come. He thanked the individuals who “grasp our vision on this project at this time.” He added that the arts are at the core of the liberal arts education at AU and a “way to express for all that is left unsaid in all other academics.”

[Left to right: Dr. David Markle, Senior Pastor of Park Place Church of God; Mike Montgomery, KRM; Robert Coffman, Vice President for Advancement; Dr. Jeffrey Wright, Dean of the College of the Arts; Twyla and Phil Harp, sister-in-law and brother of Dr. Elizabeth York; Dr. James L. Edwards, President of Anderson University; and Lou Gerig, Chair, AU Board of Trustees]

The new facility will support a permanent gallery space for the renown Warner Sallman art collection at Anderson University as well as an additional gallery space for a valuable wood art collection donated by Dr. James and Dr. Elizabeth York that includes works of leading artists, including pieces created by internationally-renowned wood artist Binh Pho. Anderson University maintains a special website dedicated to Warner Sallman’s work – www.warnersallman.org.

The York Performance Hall and Galleries project will feature orchestra space for 45 musicians, a choir loft for 75 voices, and an advanced acoustical design. The main floor of the facility will accommodate approximately 250 seats while the balcony space will support approximately 75 seats. A large lobby with glass walls will provide natural light and wide views of campus — providing an ideal setting for greeting guests and hosting receptions.

“We are so grateful for the commitment and support of the York family,” said Bob Coffman, vice president for advancement at Anderson University. “This new facility will provide a world-class environment in which our students and faculty will perform. Through their generosity, Dr. James and Dr. Elizabeth York are making a significant difference in the lives our students.”

Dr. James and Dr. Elizabeth York have given of their time and resources to make a difference in people’s lives. Their giving spirit was what convinced the couple that Dr. James York should retire early from his practice of orthopedic surgery so that they could work in mission hospitals throughout Africa. It also prompted them to contribute to the Harry L. and Henrietta Harp Endowed Memorial Fund at Anderson University. And it is one of the primary reasons they created the James M. York, M.D., and Elizabeth H. York Endowed Scholarship Fund through the Anderson University School of Theology. The Yorks also provided resources for the York Seminary Village project at AU and the York Children’s Book Collection within the Nicholson Library.

The architectural firm of KRM in Anderson is designing the project. Contractors managing the 18-month construction of the facility — targeted to begin in early summer 2011 — will be announced at a later date pending a further review and evaluation of project costs and projected gift income by the Executive Committee of the AU board of trustees.

Lou Gerig, AU board of trustees chair, expressed his gratitude at the groundbreaking to the faculty who will make this place more than a building but a learning experience for those aspiring careers in music, performance or art.

President Edwards acknowledged this project as “one more reason for students to come to AU for a world class education. Imagine the future that will unfold from here,” added Edwards.

Anderson University alumni and friends can help support a seat at the performance hall by making a gift online or sending a gift by mail. View photos from this event. Visit the York Performance Hall and Galleries website for more information.

— Stefanie Leiter is the Web Content Manager in the Office of University Communications at Anderson University.

The Dreams. Discovery. Direction. campaign is designed to raise support for endowment and scholarships, facilities and equipment, academic and student programs, and operational needs. Major components of the campaign include resources for capital projects, endowment, and operational support. The campaign will conclude Dec. 31, 2011. The last major campaign effort for Anderson University, with a goal of $75 million, ended in 1999 and raised $83.7 million.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the seventh consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Dr. Beverley Pitts, president of the University of Indianapolis and a 1968 graduate of Anderson University, received an honorary Doctor of Letters during the chapel. Honorary degrees will also be awarded to AU alumni Steven Curtis Chapman and Charles Myricks, Jr., during the May 7 commencement ceremony at Anderson University.

[Photo: Dr. Beverley Pitts and AU President Dr. James L. Edwards.]

During her address, Pitts reflected on her experience at Anderson University and on those who made her education possible. She encouraged students to consider with gratitude those who made their own journeys possible.

“We are all part of a shared culture at AU,” Pitts said. “Faculty, administrators, and graduates long before us built an institution based on the Christian values of personal responsibility and concern for others, high quality learning, and a commitment to service. You don’t even know who they are, but much of what you are now experiencing, the privilege of an excellent education in a faith-based institution, is based on their humble beginnings. … Stand high on the shoulders of those who brought you to this point. Be grateful for the privilege that they have given you. I hope you will take great advantage of this privilege and do good with what you know.”

Students recognized during chapel:

Renee Bader, a psychology major, is a member and officer in Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Chi, and Psi Chi. She is also a Center for Public Service Fellow. Bader anticipates getting married and starting graduate school this summer. She plans to attend the University of Cincinnati to earn a master’s degree in school counseling.

Elizabeth Barrow, a biology major and chemistry minor, served as president of Sigma Zeta, president of Alpha Chi, president of the Pre-Professional Health Society, and was co-founder of Operation Foundation: Project Anderson. She served as a TA in a number of science classes and as a tutor in Organic Chemistry. She is also a Center for Public Service Fellow and an officer in Phi Eta Sigma. Barrow is active in a number of campus groups and participated in Tri-S trips to Australia, London, and Honduras. She plans to attend IU Medical School to obtain her M.D.

[Photo, from left: Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean Dr. Marie Morris, Ambrosia Davidson, Joanna Tilley, Keith Sayer, Samantha Toeller, Beth Barrow, Renee Bader, and AU President Dr. James L. Edwards.]

Ambrosia Davidson, a marketing major and Spanish minor, is a member of the AU Honors Program, Delta Mu Delta, Alpha Mu Gamma, Alpha Chi, Phi Eta Sigma, and the Center for Public Service. During her time at AU, she participated in Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), worked with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, and served an internship at Minnetrista Cultural Center in Muncie. After graduation, Davidson plans to finalize details for her wedding and pursue employment in marketing communications or public relations.

Keith Sayer, a Bible/religion and English double-major, is a member of Alpha Chi, Sigma Tau Delta, and the AU Honors Program. He plans to attend either Vanderbilt Divinity School or Duke Divinity School this fall to pursue graduate studies in religion. Sayer hopes to teach religion at the undergraduate level and participate in teaching ministries of the church through research, writing, and possibly serving as a teaching minister.

Joanna Tilley, a pre-med biology major with minors in chemistry and Christian ministries, is a member of Alpha Chi, Sigma Zeta, Pre-Professional Health Society, Alacritas, and the Center for Public Service. She plans to pursue medical school this fall at Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg, Va.

Samantha Toeller, an elementary education/special education major and applied music minor, has served in Kappa Delta Pi and Alpha Chi. She is completing her full-year student teaching experience, with classroom experience in 2nd and 6th grades as well as in intermediate special education resource. Toeller hopes to receive a teaching position at a school in Indianapolis or Chicago, and to teach within a multicultural setting in the intermediate grades.

Gabe Miller, an exercise science major, is this year’s Outstanding Senior Male Athlete. As a four-year starter for the men’s basketball team, he received 1st Team All-HCAC honors following both his junior and senior seasons. Miller led the Ravens in assist over the past four seasons and led in steals the past two years. He played a key role on the 2009-10 team that won the HCAC season championship and made it to the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament. He was the team captain during his junior and senior years.

[Photo, from left: Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean Dr. Marie Morris, Athletic Director Marcie Taylor, Gabe Miller, Ellen Thompson, and AU President Dr. James L. Edwards.]

Ellen Thompson, a biology major, is this year’s Outstanding Senior Female Athlete. She was a member of the women’s basketball team the past four seasons, a member of the women’s golf team during her freshman and sophomore years, and a member of the softball team the past two seasons. In basketball, Thompson earned HCAC All-Conference and team MVP honors during the 2010-11 season. She is the ninth leading scorer in school history with 965 points, second in free throws made (281) and free throws attempted (381), and fourth in free throw percentage at 73.8 percent. She was team captain during her senior season.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the seventh consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Groh was recognized for her illustration in support of the 2010-11 Anderson University campus theme, “Awakening to Wonder,” developed in consultation with Dr. Todd Faulkner, AU campus pastor. The design had already earned Groh a Student Gold Addy at the East Central Indiana ADDY awards ceremony on Feb. 26, and will advance to the national competition in May.

A senior visual communication design major, Groh was also recognized last year with a Silver ADDY.

As Groh began working on the concept for “Awakening to Wonder,” she was faced with the challenge of creating a compelling visual theme within a short period of time. Despite looming deadlines, Groh was able to give thoughtful attention to the meaning behind the design.

“The idea of the ‘Awakening to Wonder’ theme was to encourage students to revert back to the view of the world they had as children; to stop and consider the small details that get lost in life as we lose the curiosity that we had when we were young,” said Groh. “The sunrise imagery for the theme represents this idea, evoking the urge to wake up to what is around us and relish the beautiful things God has made.”

Groh said the design is a personal milestone, as it represents her first work created for a large public audience.

“We congratulate Erin Groh upon her receiving an ADDY award for her outstanding design for the Spiritual Life theme of ‘Awakening to Wonder,’” said Tom Bruce, executive director of university advancement. “Erin has been a key student member of our outstanding publications team, and we know she will continue to bring great design to her future professional endeavors.”

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the seventh consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

“The performance hall project adds a significant dimension to the outstanding programs found in the School of Music,” said Dr. James L. Edwards, president of Anderson University. “The lead gift for this project has come from Dr. James York and Dr. Elizabeth York. These great friends of Anderson University have lifted our vision for what we can accomplish toward a bold and vibrant future in several of our outstanding programs.”

The Performance Hall and Galleries project is a part of the $110 million Dreams. Discovery. Direction. campaign for Anderson University. The campaign is the largest fundraising effort in the university’s history. To date the campaign has raised $97 million. Major components of the campaign include $51 million for capital projects, $34 million for endowment, and $25 million for operational support.

“We are so grateful for the commitment and support of the York family,” said Bob Coffman, vice president for advancement at Anderson University. “This new facility will provide a world-class environment in which our students and faculty will perform. Through their generosity, Dr. James and Dr. Elizabeth York are making a significant difference in the lives our students.”

Dr. James and Dr. Elizabeth York have given of their time and resources to make a difference in people’s lives. Their giving spirit was what convinced the couple that Dr. James York should retire early from his practice of orthopedic surgery so that they could work in mission hospitals throughout Africa. It also prompted them to contribute to the Harry L. and Henrietta Harp Endowed Memorial Fund at Anderson University. And it is one of the primary reasons they created the James M. York, M.D., and Elizabeth H. York Endowed Scholarship Fund through the Anderson University School of Theology.  The Yorks also provided resources for the York Seminary Village project at AU and the York Children’s Book Collection within the Nicholson Library.

The architectural firm of KRM in Anderson is designing the project. Contractors managing the 18-month construction of the facility — targeted to begin in early summer 2011 — will be announced at a later date pending a further review and evaluation of project costs and projected gift income by the Executive Committee of the AU board of trustees.

It is anticipated that the new facility will support a permanent gallery space for the Warner Sallman Art Collection at Anderson University as well as an additional gallery space for other specialized art collections owned by the institution. Anderson University maintains a website dedicated to Sallman’s work — www.warnersallman.org.

The Performance Hall and Galleries project is designed to be an acoustically superior venue that will give proper recognition to the work of students, faculty members, and guest artists. The architectural and acoustical design of the facility will enhance the nationally recognized programs of the School of Music. The hall will be carefully constructed and shaped to ensure that music is heard and experienced in powerful and moving ways.

“This is a project that we have been anticipating for a long time that we feel will have a significant impact on the growth and development of the School of Music,” said Dr. Jeff Wright, dean of the School of Music at Anderson University. “All of us in the School of Music are very excited about the impact that the performance hall will have on our work and the development of students.”

The Performance Hall and Galleries project will feature orchestra space for 45 musicians, a choir loft for 75 voices, and an advanced acoustical design. The main floor of the facility will accommodate approximately 250 seats while the balcony space will support approximately 75 seats. A large lobby with glass walls will provide natural light and wide views of campus — providing an ideal setting for greeting guests and hosting receptions.

The School of Music is one of the largest and strongest academic units on the campus of Anderson University. Graduates perform in some of the most prestigious venues in the world, including The Metropolitan Opera in New York City and La Scala Theatre in Milan. Graduates are also teaching in some of the strongest school systems in the nation, leading music ministries in important churches, sharing their artistic vision through all facets of the music industry, and pursuing graduate degrees from prominent universities.

“As a performing artist, I understand the importance of a performance hall in creating a venue where the expression of art can be realized,” said Lawrence Brownlee, a 1996 alumnus of Anderson University and a world renowned bel canto tenor. “It also provides an intimate space where the acoustics and atmosphere contribute to an experience that both listeners and performers can enjoy. For those students who will go on to have performing careers, it is vital for them to understand the setting in which their performances will take place. The performance hall has many possibilities, and I am sure it will benefit the Anderson community in countless ways.”

All current Anderson University music students and alumni share one thing in common. They perform as soloists and as members of musical ensembles during their years at AU. Each week, the School of Music hosts multiple performances that showcase the artistry of student musicians. In addition, the School of Music presents performances by faculty members and guest artists, many of whom are featured in a special Thursday Night Concert Series which attracts significant audiences from the campus and community. In short, the School of Music boasts an active performance calendar that will be supported by the new performance hall.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the seventh consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

Nine graduating seniors with both visual communications and studio work will have work featured including Sarah Velez, Bev Parker, Ricci Emmons, Daniel Jewett, Ira Drummy, Jason Tan, Erin Groh, Julie Pavey and Makayla Martin.

“We have all worked really hard and have been waiting for a long time for this moment,” said Groh, a visual communications design major from Ohio. “Not just the moment of our show opening, but also what is to come after we graduate and move on to the next step of our lives. This is what ‘The Creaking Door’ symbolizes; the culmination of what we have experienced and the anticipation of what we are about to encounter.”

The senior show has a diverse collection of artwork including woodcuts, screen prints, photography, sculptures, paintings and drawings. The show will remain open on weekdays through May 7 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The seniors will be giving their presentations on April 12 and 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. in Hartung 101.

Admission is free and open to the public. For all inquiries, please contact Tai Lipan, Director of Exhibitions Programming at (765) 641-4320 or talipan@anderson.edu.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the seventh consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Chapman will address the graduating class of 2011 during the 3 p.m. (EDT) program and will receive an honorary doctorate along with the Rev. Charles Myricks, chief operating development officer for the National Association of the Church of God, and Dr. Beverley Pitts, president of the University of Indianapolis. Anderson University’s commencement will be conducted in the Ward Fieldhouse of the Kardatzke Wellness Center. Myricks will speak earlier in the day during Anderson University’s baccalaureate service at 10 a.m in Reardon Auditorium. All events are free and open to the public. AU will offer a live webcast during Commencement starting at 2:45 p.m. EDT.

Other events scheduled during Anderson University’s commencement day on May 7 include the Falls School of Business hooding ceremony at 11:30 a.m. in Byrum Hall for candidates of both Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Business Administration degrees.

The hooding ceremony for the Master of Education and the Master of Music Education will be conducted at noon in Schield Dining Room, Olt Student Center. The certification ceremony for the Teach for Indiana Program (TIP) will be conducted at 10 a.m. in Decker Hall, Room 133.

Events earlier in the week include the School of Theology Senior Recognition and Awards Chapel on Tuesday, April 26, at 11 a.m. in Miller Chapel. The hooding ceremony for the Doctor of Ministry graduates will take place on Friday, May 6, at 6 p.m. in Miller Chapel. In addition, a special pinning ceremony for the Anderson University School of Nursing will be conducted on Friday, May 6, at 6 p.m. in Byrum Hall.

Individuals receiving honorary degrees during the May 7 commencement ceremony at Anderson University include the following:

STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN — DOCTOR OF MUSIC

Steven Curtis Chapman is a Christian singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and author. He attended Anderson University in the early 1980s while starting his career as a songwriter. Chapman has developed into one of the most prolific singers in the genre, releasing more than 20 albums to date. Chapman has also won five Grammy awards and 56 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, more than any other artist in history. His seven “Artist of the Year” Dove Awards — his latest in 2009 — are also an industry record. In addition to his music career, Chapman, along with his wife Mary Beth (also an AU alum), established a nonprofit foundation called Show Hope (formerly called Shaohannah’s Hope) to mobilize individuals and communities to care for orphans through its international orphan care work as well as adoption aid grants. Chapman plans a summer 2011 album release for his new project titled re:creation.

CHARLES MYRICKS — DOCTOR OF DIVINITY

Charles Myricks, Jr., is a gifted musician and playwright with a deep love of music. He graduated from Anderson University in 1982 and went on to receive his Master of Arts degree from Ashland Theological Seminary. He has served as vice president and general manager of Word Gospel Records. Under his leadership, Word Gospel artists received 3 Grammy Awards, 8 Dove Awards, and 12 Stellar Awards. He has served as a trustee at Anderson University and in ministry with the Arlington Church of God in Akron, Ohio. He currently works as chief operating development officer for the National Association of the Church of God.

DR. BEVERLEY PITTS — DOCTOR OF LETTERS

Dr. Beverley Pitts serves as president of the University of Indianapolis. In that capacity, she oversees an institution with 4,500 students, including a branch campus in Athens, Greece, and doctoral programs in occupational therapy, physical therapy, and clinical psychology. She earned a BA from Anderson University in 1968 and an MA in journalism and doctorate in higher education from Ball State University. Prior to becoming provost at Ball State University, she held positions of associate provost, assistant provost, director of academic assessment, and director of general studies at Ball State. She was also founding chair of the Department of Communication at Anderson University.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the seventh consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

Betsy Barnum graduated from AU in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and completed a Master of Fine Arts in Printmaking from the San Francisco Art Institute in 2006. In 2007, she received a $10,000 grant to fund the creation of her own work, which later toured the Midwest. She currently resides in Seattle, Wash., where she rents a studio to create her own work and also rents space at a printmaking shop to teach etching workshops. Barnum’s experiences include participating in exhibitions and showing her work across the United States and in Canada.

Barnum credits Anderson University for contributing to her success. “I learned valuable career, writing, and communication skills which continue to be invaluable as a practicing artist,” said Barnum. AU allowed her to integrate her love for art with her interests in writing and history. From this, she “received the basis of learning how to see, write, and communicate as an artist and as an intelligent person.”

Barnum’s exhibition pieces included work completed from 2008 through August 2010. The inspiration for most of these pieces came from her daily life and various experiences. She particularly enjoys patterns, which were displayed in her small bird and figure pieces at the gallery. Those pieces took two to three hours to complete and allowed her to experiment with composition. “All of the work is a type of narrative that explores my daily life and emotional struggles,” said Barnum. “The pieces themselves are meant to evoke a singular moment or feeling, and then work with the others in the series to form the deeper story of life.”

Trent Miller earned a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from Boston University after graduating from AU in 1999 with a degree in visual arts. After graduate school, he began teaching art at various schools and is currently at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. His exhibition experience includes many group and solo exhibitions over the years in various cities.

The Anderson University exhibition was his first show conducting critiques and giving an artist’s talk, where an artist simply presents different pieces to the audience and discusses the meanings behind them. “I’ve done each of these things, but not all at the same time, so this extended kind of visit is a first for me,” Miller said.

AU played a role in helping Miller become an artist outside of the university setting. “I would especially like to point to the continued help from Professor Kathleen Dugan,” he said. “It was her encouragement at AU and in years to come that convinced me I could actually be a working artist.”

Miller looked to interesting outside sources to influence some of his exhibition pieces; although, he stated that it’s not always about the inspiration. “For me, it’s about getting into the studio every day and working, working, working. When you do this, good things will happen,” Miller said. All of his pieces took between one month and one year to complete. Three of the featured pieces at the exhibition were Oh Philip, referencing the painter Philip Guston; INRI, a mix of transfiguration and crucifixion paintings found in the Russian Icon painting tradition; and The Burial of Andrei Tarkovsky, a tribute to the Russian filmmaker of the same name. “Each of these three pieces pays homage to someone or something that I hold dear,” Miller said.

David Schnuckel graduated from AU in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. He then completed his Master of Fine Arts at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y. He worked with the Kokomo Opalescent Glass production studio and taught as an adjunct professor within the art department at Alfred University in New York. He currently resides in Rochester and is a visiting assistant faculty member at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Schnuckel is continually developing his own work and showing it both nationally and internationally. His first solo exhibition was this past summer in Brooklyn, N.Y. It was well accepted and reviewed in an international glass publication that has opened the door for more exhibitions in the near future. One thing Schnuckel appreciates about AU’s Art and Design department is its emphasis on writing. In his professional career, he has had to submit many written pieces.

“Being introduced to the rigors of using the written word to analyze personal thought, opinion, and observation early on has made a lot of the scholarly aspects of being a professional artist and educator that much easier,” he said. It also gives him a professional edge when applying for jobs, receiving grants, and seeking gallery representation.

The pieces Schnuckel chose to display for the Visiting Artist’s Exhibition were also used for his solo exhibition over the summer. “It’s a body of work that investigates the use of imagery and the written word within a sculptural context,” he said. “It reinterprets the historical practice of glass painting and portraiture in what I think is both personally and contemporarily relevant.”

Some of the pieces took only a few days to create while others took several weeks. All of the pieces in his showcase served as a reevaluation of “personal mishap and misjudgment,” meaning he took old discarded glass and turned it into something with “renewed vitality and purpose.” This served as the tying bind between all of the pieces in his collection.

The three artists featured at the exhibition have different mediums, techniques, and artistic processes, and the diversity represented in their works demonstrates the variety of opportunity that AU’s Art and Design department has to offer.

— Alyssa Applegate is a junior from Dayton, Ohio, majoring in communication arts and minoring in Spanish. Applegate is an associate with Fifth Street Communications™, writing on behalf of the Anderson University Office of University Communications.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the seventh consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

The alumni artists include: Trent Miller (BA ‘99), MFA Painting, Boston University [artwork on left]; Betsy Barnum (BA ‘04), MFA Printmaking, San Francisco Art Institute [artwork in middle]; and David Schnuckel (BA ‘03), MFA Glass, Rochester Institute of Technology RIT [artwork on right].

The exhibit ends with a closing reception with the artists on November 13 in the Main Gallery from 3-4 p.m. Artist Presentations are on November 13, from 4-6 p.m. in Decker 133.

Daily Gallery Hours:
Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

For more information, contact the Director of Exhibitions Programming, Tai Lipan, at (765) 641-4320 or by email. Click here for future gallery events.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the seventh consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Jantzi, an Indiana artist, will have her solo exhibit of recent drawings and paintings on display in the Main Gallery at Wilson Gallery from Sept. 3-25. Jantzi has a B.A. in Medical Illustration from Indiana University and an M.F.A. in Painting from American University. She currently works as an Assistant Professor of Art at Valparaiso University. The observed and invented plant forms in Sarah’s work reflect a reverence for the formal rhythms found within the natural world as well as stories of the human condition. [Photo on left: Sarah Jantzi, Thaw, 2010.]

The Foundations Exhibition from Sept. 3-25, showcases selected foundation student work from the Department of Art and Design 2009-10 academic year and will display in the Hallway Gallery at Wilson Gallery. Areas of study represented in the exhibition include 2-D and 3-D design, drawing, and color theory.

Daily Gallery Hours:
Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

For more information, contact the Director of Exhibitions Programming, Tai Lipan, at (765) 641-4320 or by email. Click here for future gallery events.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the seventh consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

“We are honored to continue to be ranked as a top tier institution by U.S. News and World Report,” said Dr. Michael Collette, vice president for Marketing and Strategic Planning.  “It is even more fulfilling to know this ranking is based greatly on the strength of AU’s academic reputation, respect for our quality faculty and wide recognition the many programs of academic distinction.”

The 2011 Best Colleges package provides the most thorough examination of how more than 1,400 accredited four-year schools compare on a set of up to 16 widely accepted indicators of excellence. Among the many factors weighed in determining the rankings, the key measures of quality are: peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving, and, for National Universities and National Liberal Art Colleges, “graduation rate performance” and high school counselor ratings of colleges. U.S. News has made some significant changes to the 2011 Best Colleges’ ranking methodology and presentation. For more details on these changes, go to www.usnews.com/collegemeth.

Over the past two decades, the U.S. News college rankings, which group schools based on categories created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, has grown to be the most comprehensive research tool for students and parents considering higher education opportunities.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the seventh consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Benton, who majored in visual communications and minored in public relations, found a job that accommodated both fields. Three months of constant job-hunting after graduation, Benton finally landed a job at Central Indiana Corporate Partnership where he is the Digital Media Specialist. Central Indiana Corporate Partnership is a corporate partnership of non-profit organizations whose main objective is to foster economic growth in Indiana. This is done through smaller non-profit initiatives that work with industries and are represented by an initiative.

Benton and two members of the marketing team ensure that Central Indiana Corporate Partnership’s initiatives and visual identity are consistent among the various forms of communication utilized by the organization. Benton also assists the marketing team in developing print and web design solutions, as well as developing new social media applications. Along with these tasks Benton is responsible for e-mail marketing communications and any other visual design needs that an initiative may have.

“My advice for students who are looking for a job is to be patient and trust that something will open up,” said Benton. During the searching months, Benton utilized as many of his contacts as possible, letting them know that he was looking for a position, passing around his portfolio, and applying for anything that remotely fit the job description he was looking for. “You never know what contacts or opportunities can come out of applying for a job or going in for an interview,” said Benton.

Much like Benton, Cook majored in visual communication design. He landed a job at Miles Design located in Indianapolis, Ind. Miles Design does mostly high-end, premium brand strategy, which includes logo design and other print collateral the client needs, but also helps lay the foundation for how to maintain a strong brand. Cook also does design for web, which includes Web sites, e-mail marketing and blog design.

“Collaboration and criticism are both an important part of the job which was a daily part of the art and design program at AU,” said Cook. “It’s not about ‘owning’ a piece or an idea – it’s about delivering the best possible design solution to a client’s business problem.”
Cook’s advice for students who are looking for a career after graduation is to make as many connections with professionals that you can whether it’s through networking events or meeting one on one with professionals in your field.

- Melissa Powers is a senior from Indianapolis, Ind., majoring in communication arts. Powers is an associate with Fifth Street Communications writing on behalf of Anderson University Communications.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2009, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the sixth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

According to exhibit information, the word “identity” is thus split into two: “id,” the part of the personality dealing with basic drives, and “entity,” that which we are. When the two combine into art, they form an “identity.”

The show opened Saturday, April 10 in the Wilson Gallery of the Fine Arts Building [Campus Map and Directions].

 Works by 11 art and design seniors will be on display until at least the first of May and possibly until graduation.

The artists are Caryn Creviston, Rachel Matthews, Kathryn Morton, Austin Anderson, Marcus Deal, Talia Richardson, Jennilyn Geyer, Jenny Jung, Mandy Coplin, Leanne Miller, and Will Johnson.

AU’s Art and Design Department offers a variety of media from which students can choose, including glass, painting, and sculpture. And each student’s satisfaction in his or her art is unique.

“I think it’s specific for each person,” said Coplin, a Highland graduate, during an interview at Wilson Gallery.

[PHOTO AT LEFT: Mandy Coplin, courtesy The Herald Bulletin.]

Coplin’s concentration is in visual communication design. “For me, I don’t feel like my design actually happens when I’m printing something out, but more when I’m coming up with the whole concept.”

As opposed to Coplin, whose work involves graphic design, typography, illustration and computer-assisted design, senior Caryn Creviston of Carmel is an old-school sculptor.

“I have a huge respect for all of the 2-D artists and graphic design people,” Creviston said, “because I am totally clueless when it comes to that.”

Creviston, whose works have been adapted into cast aluminum and ceramics, has been focusing on autobiographical works, in keeping with the exhibit’s theme.

“I have five pieces in the show,” Creviston said. “They are all self-portraits. Two of them, in fact, have music.”

[PHOTO AT RIGHT: Caryn Creviston, courtesy The Herald Bulletin.]

Muncie’s Austin Anderson, a Delta graduate, is also in visual communication design. Anderson first does his illustrations, then transfers them into a computer for manipulation.

“A lot of what I do is based in digital media,” Anderson said when asked about the differences between computer art and hands-on media like sculpture or glass.

“We’ve actually talked a lot about that in some classes. With hand-printed materials, there’s more of an experience that goes along with actually physically doing the work, as opposed to having the computer do the work for you.”

[PHOTO AT LEFT: Austin Anderson, courtesy The Herald Bulletin.]

“I always enjoyed drawing, like in church,” said Leanne Miller of Pendleton, also a visual communication design senior. “When I was a kid, I’d always be scribbling.”

Miller, who grew up on the family farm, was not convinced she could translate her interest into a practical career.

“After high school, I tried several different jobs and didn’t go to college right away,” said Miller, who works in hand-printed images and screen printing. “Then I was, like, ‘Well, this isn’t for me. What do I really want to do?’ I realized that graphic design would probably be a good fit for me.”

Her fellow artists shared Miller’s concerns about employment post-recession.

Coplin, for example, said she wasn’t concerned so much about which medium to work in as she was her ultimate goal.

“I’ve been working a lot on design as a means of service for small businesses and for nonprofit businesses,” Coplin said. “It’s the client that matters to me.”

“One of my goals is to work with poster production as far as advertising musical performances and bands,” Anderson said. “As for immediately after school, I’d just like to get into any kind of job I can get.”

[PHOTO AT RIGHT: Leanne Miller, courtesy The Herald Bulletin.]

“My dream job would probably be working on stationery and printing it by hand,” Miller said. “But just getting a job at this point is a goal.”

“I’m not going to be focused on trying to find the perfect career in the art world,” Creviston said. “When I graduate, I’m going to find a job to support myself right away, but I will always do art, even if it’s just for myself.”

— Rodney Richey is a reporter for The Herald Bulletin. Reposted with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2009, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the sixth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

CLICK HERE FOR A CAMPUS MAP AND DIRECTIONS TO AU.

During commencement, Anderson University will award two honorary degrees. Anderson University will award Dr. William G. Enright (the 2010 Anderson University commencement speaker) with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree and Dr. Mark W. Fulton (an Anderson-area dentist and the co-founder and President of Mission Haiti, Inc.) with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

Other events scheduled on Anderson University’s May 8 commencement day include the Falls School of Business hooding ceremony at 11:30 a.m. in Byrum Hall for candidates of both Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Business Administration degrees.

The hooding ceremony for the Master of Education and the Master of Music Education will be conducted at 12 noon on May 8 in Shield dining room, Olt Student Center. The certification ceremony for the Teach in Indiana Program (TIP) will be conducted in Decker Hall, room 133, at 12 noon.

Events earlier in the week associated with commencement weekend include the School of Theology Senior Recognition and Awards Chapel on Tuesday, April 20, at 11 a.m. E.D.T. in Miller Chapel. In addition, a special pinning ceremony for the Anderson University School of Nursing will be conducted on Friday, May 7, at 6 p.m. in Reardon Auditorium.

William G. Enright, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University and former Senior Pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis.

He is a graduate of Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California and McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois. His Ph.D. is from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He also holds two D.D. (honorary) degrees from Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana and Dubuque Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa.

Dr. Enright is currently a director of the Lilly Endowment, Inc, The Wishard Hospital Foundation Board and a trustee of Hanover College. His most recent appointment was as “Advisor for the National Cathedral Association” of the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. His civic involvement in Indianapolis has included serving as a member of Envisioning Indianapolis, the Police Advisory Board, the Board of Directors of the Central Indiana Council on Aging, and the St. Vincent Hospital Advisory Board. In addition, he served as co-chair of The Mayor’s Taskforce on Racism. He is co-founder of the Celebration of Hope, a program for racial reconciliation, which was recognized by President Clinton as one of ten national programs to be honored at the White House. He has also been honored by two governors with a Sagamore of the Wabash.

He has authored several books, the latest being Channel Markers, and lectured at numerous colleges, universities and theological institutions as well as business associations such as The Young Presidents and World Presidents organizations. In July, 2005, he served as “preacher and chaplain” for the Chautauqua Institution in New York.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2009, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the sixth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

The stamp features the Head of Christ painting surrounded by a gold border. The full press sheet includes 30 stamps — 15 on the left and 15 on the right. The middle of the sheet features the name of Warner Sallman set in stylized script, flanked by two of Sallman’s other well-known works: Christ at Heart’s Door and The Lord is My Shepherd. The first-day cover also features Christ at Heart’s Door, and a cancellation mark that features a stylized “WS” for Warner Sallman.

According to Anita Häggblom, director of Åland Post Stamps, the stamps will be available for purchase in a variety of formats, including full sheets; singles; blocks of two, four, or six; gutter pairs; and first-day covers. Stamps may be purchased directly through Åland Post Stamps on the Web at www.posten.ax, or through Åland’s U.S. distributor, David Bein, at Nordica, P.O. Box 284, Old Bethpage NY 11804 (Web: www.nordicastamps.com; e-mail: nordicad@optonline.net; phone: (516) 931-3485).

Åland Post Stamps has been issuing stamps since only 1984. Yet today, more than 35,000 customers have standing orders for new issues, according to Häggblom. Aland issues about 15 new stamps each year.

One of the most important criteria in selecting artwork for Åland stamps is that the subject have some connection to the Åland Islands. The Head of Christ stamp is no exception as Sallman’s father, Elias, emigrated to the United States from Åland in 1886.

Head of Christ is arguably one of the most recognized religious works of art around the world. The original painting is housed within the Warner Sallman Collection in the Jessie C. Wilson Galleries at Anderson University.

[PHOTO: Anita Häggblom, director of Åland Post Stamps, visited the Anderson University campus last fall to finalize details for the production of the Sallman stamps. Pictured with Häggblom is Jason Knapp, professor of art and director of the Jessie C. Wilson Galleries.]

Since May 1987, Anderson University and Warner Press have jointly shared ownership of the Warner Sallman Collection. Warner Press holds the copyright and distribution rights, while the university maintains the physical collection. The collection may be viewed on the Web at www.warnersallman.com. Warner Sallman prints and products are available on the Warner Press Web site at www.warnerpress.org.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2009, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the sixth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.