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.

Simmons, novelist and mother of two boys, has been writing since her middle-school days. She began writing poetry and later developed an interest in short stories and novels after excelling in a creative writing class in the 1990s. Along with publishing her novel, her accomplishments include publishing two poems and being ranked in the top 100 winners in the 1995 Writer’s Digest Writing Competition.

Cantrell and Simmons met in a creative writing class. In the class, Simmons wrote a short story that would later be the inspiration for her novel. One day, Cantrell approached Simmons and said that she had a dream about her story and that they needed to write together.

Cantrell and Simmons began to meet weekly to work on the story. They would write separately and then bring their ideas together to create scenes for the novel. The pair started working together in 2000 and finished the novel by 2002, when they began the editing process. The novel was then shelved for a few years, but the story was submitted and accepted for publication in 2010 by Bellfire Press. Their debut novel, Like Him With Friends Possess’d, was published last November.

According to Simmons, the title is taken from a line in Shakespeare’s 29th sonnet. “There are references to other sonnets interspersed throughout the novel, and the chapter titles are lines from the sonnets also,” said Simmons. “But the 29th fits the theme of the story the best, and it provides a common tie to the two main characters.”

After the novel was published, Simmons and Cantrell attended multiple book signings and fairs including the 4th Annual Local Author Book Fair and Signing at the Anderson Public Library, and Moneyhun’s Fine Gifts and Furnishings also hosted a signing for them.

“I loved the novel! It was intriguing and attention-grabbing,” said Inge Baird, assistant professor of German and Spanish at AU. “For me, what was really neat was that there was a big chunk of the story that took place on a farm. I could relate to that. The novel was very vivid in the respect that I felt like I was actually there and could easily visualize what was happening.”

Dr. Timothy Fox, professor of Spanish and co-chair of the Department of Modern Foreign Languages, had nothing but good things to say about Simmons. “I can’t say enough about what Bea means to us in this department,” said Fox. “A lot of us consider her a dear friend.”

Simmons’ novel may be purchased through Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble, among other places. She is currently working on a few stories and plans to continue writing. “I would eventually like to publish more novels,” said Simmons.

— Tiffany Vega is a junior from Valparaiso, Ind., majoring in public relations and minoring in marketing. Vega 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 chapel was an opportunity for us to celebrate the amazing work that goes on as our students, staff, and faculty have served our community over the course of the year,” said Stephanie Moran, director of the Community Partnership Center at AU. “As the university continues to commit itself to preparing students for a life of faith and service, this chapel is a way to honor that commitment.”

Individuals recognized for awards include:

• AmeriCorps Student Engagement Award: Lauren Cantrell, Sarah Conway, Heather Gruber, Michael Heckendorn, Ben Herrick, Rachael Huddy, Ashley Ledford, Jon Maxwell, Ruben Orozco, Carmen Oswalt, Meredith Tarplee, Kylene Wilder
• International Students of Service: LaToya Francis, Amrutha Pulikottil, Nabin Timsina
• Community Responder Award: Sarah Russell
• Community Partner of the Year Award: Park Place Community Center
• Faculty awards: Dr. Tim Fox and Dr. Rebecca Hull
• Staff Community Partner Award: Pauletta Swank
• 2012 Newman Civic Fellow: Ryan Petter

Park Place Community Center has provided real-time learning experiences for students in various areas of study including education, social work, kinesiology, ministry, and others. AU students have participated in the Center’s food pantry, after-school programs, mentoring programs, and special events.

Dr. Timothy Fox, professor of Spanish, has been committed to service learning with his students. Fox and his students have translated documents into Spanish for United Way of Madison County, and recently translated the City of Anderson’s bus route. The students also have helped translate birth certificates and driver’s licenses for recent immigrants from Mexico and Central America.

“These translations give our students some real-life experience in translating actual documents and all the nuances involved in translation,” Fox said. “It also gives them the satisfaction of helping the community.”

Dr. Rebecca Hull, professor of kinesiology, has worked with the community for decades, supervising such programs a gym class for home-school children. More than 70 families and 150 children participate each year in the home-school program, which was created by Gertrude Wunsch, professor emerita of physical education.

“The program is a win-win situation,” said Hull. “Our AU students polish their teaching skills while the homeschool children get a well-balanced, physically active, and fun program.”

Hull, along with AU Wellness Program Director Connie Hippensteel, recently acquired grant funding to establish a wellness challenge program for employees at Madison County Community Health Center.

Pauletta Swank, office manager and training coordinator in the Human Resources Office, has worked with community partners and local agencies to provide employment for AU students through the work-study program. She has also worked to coordinate volunteers for Colts Camp at AU. Agencies across the city of Anderson have noted her reputation as a representative of AU and her commitment to service.

Sarah Russell was recognized for the Community Responder Award for her work with Operation Foundation, a student-run, weeklong service project that seeks to bring physical restoration to the city of Anderson. The project is in its fourth year.

The Newman Civic Fellow Award is dedicated to acknowledging and creating opportunity for emerging civic leaders, as nominated by Campus Compact’s member college and university presidents. Nominated by AU President Dr. James L. Edwards, Ryan Petter has developed business applications for an orphanage in Zambia, set up a computer network for a hospital in Ghana, and helped build a home in Mexico, in addition to service involvement in Anderson community.

“Ryan’s commitment to combating poverty through economic development offers long term hope,” said Edwards. “He is both inspired and inspiring.”

The AmeriCorps Student Engagement Award recognizes students who have logged more than 300 hours of service through the AmeriCorps program.

Due to their international status, Francis, Pulikottil, and Timsina did not qualify for the AmeriCorps Award, but they were still committed to community service throughout the year.

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 City of Anderson Transit System (CATS) recently published about 1,000 of its brochures in Spanish with information on bus routes, hours, fares, and other information, said department director Stephon Blackwell.

The Spanish brochures were placed everywhere that the English ones are located about two weeks ago, including at the main downtown terminal and inside stores like Walmart and Meijer, which have popular bus stops outside, he said.

“The Hispanic population is growing,” Blackwell said. “Communication and information is key. We want to try to eliminate that barrier with the brochures. Not being dependent on someone to give them information makes everyone more comfortable.”

Blackwell said the transportation department has not collected statistics that would show what percentage of their ridership is from the Hispanic community, but he knows that many Spanish-speakers do use the buses.

Dr. Tim Fox, co-chair of the Department of Modern Foreign Languages and Professor of Spanish at Anderson University, enlisted five of his students to help the city with the translation project. Students Layne Oncks, Whitney Wright, Alex Coffey, David Naffie and Drew Kidd each translated one of the brochures, which were then edited by Fox.

One of the requirements for students in the advanced Spanish conversation class is to do some sort of community service project in Spanish, such as working as an interpreter or helping a church with a Hispanic ministry.

“When this brochure request came up, it isn’t exactly what they usually do, but it was a fantastic opportunity for students,” Fox said.

The professor and students did the translation for free, which saved the city money, Blackwell said. The new brochures were printed in-house, he said.

“There has been a growing Hispanic or Latino presence in the city for a long time, going back to the late 1970s and certainly early 1980s,” Fox said. “They have been contributing members to the Anderson community so it’s nice to be able to offer this service (bus brochures) to them. To make them available in their native language is one way of saying we are glad you are here.”

The transportation department is also working on creating brochures in braille, and Blackwell hopes to have that project completed by mid-summer.

According to a city news release, another project under way meant for better communication with the Hispanic community is the creation of a City of Anderson website in Spanish.

— Melanie D. Hayes is a reporter with 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.

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.

Since high school, Drake knew she wanted to study abroad. As a foreign language major, she was required to spend a semester studying language in a foreign country.

“I was planning on studying abroad in France and had found a program with the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) in Rennes,” said Drake. “While I was browsing through the site, I found a new program in Rabat, Morocco. I had always been interested in Northern Africa, so I looked into it, but did not intend to study abroad there.”

The next day in her French class, Drake’s professor mentioned an email from CIEE presenting a new program in Morocco.

“I took it as a sign from God,” said Drake. “I called my dad to get his opinion, and within 24 hours I changed my location of study to a city in a country I knew nothing about.”

Her first week in Morocco was initially intimidating. Going in, she only knew two things about Morocco: it has a king, and it’s an Islamic state. Not knowing what to expect, she felt a little unprepared. Upon landing in the strange, new country, she piled into the backseat of a tiny car with two other girls and traveled to the hotel. Her first weeks were filled with tourist attractions and getting to know her resident director. She stayed in a hotel for a few days with other students until she met her host family.

Drake immediately became familiar with the taxi system and learned which prices were fair and which were overpriced. It didn’t take long for Drake to discover the majesty around her and the splendor of her temporary home. She observed the tall minarets featured on Islamic mosques, and reflected on her own faith.

“It was weird to see minarets all over the city and hear the call to prayer five times a day, but I soon grew to hear the music and see the beauty of it all. Truly, the first week is a blur of disconnected memories. Perhaps it is the stress of a new place, but it’s probably due to the fact that the first week was a whirlwind of introductions, sightseeing, rules, schedules, and a newfound freedom I wasn’t sure what to do with,” said Drake. “As long as I kept an open mind, I could handle anything that came my way.”

Studying abroad brings many opportunities for learning, personal growth, meeting new people, and experiencing new sights, smells, and tastes. According to Willi Kant, director of international education at AU, study abroad experiences provide unique opportunities for students to learn other languages and cultures. Students also become aware of their own cultural assumptions.

“Living in another cultural context and dealing with cultural difference brings a greater awareness of one’s own culture,” said Kant. “Morocco provided a distinctively unique cultural context for Lisa’s study abroad.”

It was within this cultural context that Drake can recall a unique moment she encountered God while hiking with her roommate.

“We climbed to the top of a hill next to the city. We could see all of Azrou laid out before us. The clouds seemed close enough to touch. The sky was the bluest azure I had ever seen. We were talking in the quiet surroundings when, all of a sudden, the call to prayer started echoing throughout the valley,” said Drake. “At first, it was just a single voice carried out from a single minaret. Soon after, another joined in the song, then another, then another until the music ricocheted off the mountains to create a chorus of prayer. It was the most beautiful moment, and I felt so close to God sitting next to the sky, hearing the reminder to pray, and staring at the beautiful nature He had created just for us.”

Drake established relationships with many professors, other students, and locals who left a lasting impact on her life. She left Morocco with countless memories and an experience of a lifetime. She credits AU’s Department of Modern Foreign Languages for preparing her and bringing cultural misconceptions and stereotypes to light. The foreign language faculty taught her to be open-minded and warned of the impending culture shock she’d find in the journey. They also required her to keep a journal and write a reflection paper to help process her time abroad.

“Sometimes it seems like it was eons ago or that it was someone else who lived in Morocco for four months,” said Drake. “But it was me, and I love opportunities to share my experiences. It helps me educate other people and relive some of the memories that changed my life and my world forever.”

— Jonathon Hosea is a junior from New Castle, Ind., majoring in communication arts and minoring in peace and conflict transformation. Hosea 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.

“Many people throughout the world are need of proper health care education and medicine,” said Baird. “However, they lack a mentor who is fluent in their native language.”

Bridging the Gap trains bilingual citizens in the field of health, including understanding doctor’s procedures, health care options, and information about health insurance. To complete the program, individuals must pass a language proficiency exam and attend 40 hours of classroom lectures. The individuals who pass the exam are then given a certification that permits them to interpret and translate in hospitals nationwide. In the United States, the interpreters are able to assist the patient in understanding all healthcare and prescription options available to them.

“Medicine is practiced differently throughout the world. Some countries use teas and herbal supplements, contrary to our country’s reliance on prescription drugs,” said Baird.

The certification she has acquired will benefit not only her, but her students. Having a certification allows her to better educate her students on the potential career opportunities that await them after college. Spanish interpreters are currently in high demand. Although Baird mostly interprets Spanish, there is an occasional need for Portuguese or German interpretation. Because many of her foreign language students hope to teach English as a foreign language, Baird hopes that her abilities will not only help people in need, but influence her students to follow a similar career path.

Esther Doub holds a paid position as a medical interpreter for the Madison County Community Health Center. She hopes that the foreign language students at AU see the local opportunity to use their degree. “There are plenty of fields besides education available to those who hold a degree in a second language,” said Doub. Now that Baird holds this certification, Doub hopes that more students will be exposed to this potential career path in the foreign language field.

Baird hopes to serve as an interpreter at hospitals in the area. She hopes that through her cultural experiences and medical interpretation class, she will be able to reach those in need, and help those who are unable to communicate.

“It’s not just interpreting words, but cultural difference between the two,” said Baird. “Since I have embraced several cultures in my lifetime, I am better able to determine the disconnect between the two languages and cultures and receive exceptional health care.”

— Kristen Schaap is a senior from Chicago, Ill., majoring in communication arts. Schaap 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.

Students participating in the global studies program must complete an 18-hour core of interdisciplinary courses. These classes provide an introduction to a broad spectrum of topics such as economics, politics, geography, and intercultural competence. After completing the global studies core, majors must obtain advanced training in a foreign language and a 12-hour area of concentration in one of four categories. Topics available include international affairs and human security, community health with an emphasis on food, nutrition and hunger, community development with a focus on economics and social growth, and culture, which concentrates on humanities. [Photo: Dr. Leroy Quashie (left) and Dr. Daniel Allen are among the faculty members who developed the new global studies major.]

An interdisciplinary team of faculty spent the last two years researching and developing the program. “Its inception recognizes that globalization involves links across the traditional academic departments,” said program director Dr. Daniel Allen, assistant professor of political science. “Students wishing to fully engage with a globalized world need to develop an understanding of the political, economic, social, cultural, spiritual, and geographic forces that shape our world.”

Advisors for the concentrations include Allen; Dr. Jerry Fox, professor of management at the Falls School of Business; Dr. Leroy Quashie, associate professor of family science; Sally Shulmistras, professor of French; and Willi Kant, director of international studies and Tri-S.

Each student involved in this program must complete a capstone course that requires an intercultural experience. Because the program can be tailored to fit individual goals and vocations, this capstone experience will be molded by the advisors based on each student’s needs and interests. For some, this will require a Tri-S trip. For others, it will require a study abroad program. In some cases, students will be allowed to do an intercultural exchange within the United States.

“The most exciting part about this major is its diversity,” said senior sociology major Meredith Tarplee. “This major could be applied to anything from sociology to nursing to ministry. It really opens up a new world of opportunity for students that most other schools don’t offer.”

Development of this program is guided by the dean of the College of Science and Humanities, Dr. Blake Janutolo. “At no time in history has it been truer that we are all one global family interconnected in most of what we do,” said Janutolo. “A major in global studies will help a student understand how we are interconnected with each other and how that interconnectedness affects our lives. It should prepare the student to interact and work in a global setting and value cultures different from his or her own.”

— 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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

As a student at AU, Kourouma was involved in track and field and cross country. She also took advantage of a Tri-S trip to Wounded Knee, S.D., and a biking trip over spring break. [Photo on left: Michelle and her husband, Paul, on their wedding day in Africa.]

“My sophomore year there was a bike trip over spring break to Florida that was planned by Anderson alumni,” said Kourouma. “They invited a bunch of students to come along, and I remember them putting ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ on the handle bars of our bikes. I remember us pushing ourselves physically further than we ever had before.”

Kourouma treasures the opportunity she had at AU to dig deeper.

“The thing that I loved about AU was that we had the freedom to ask questions,” she said. “It was a Christian university, but it didn’t accept the cookie-cutter answers. That really allowed students to ask questions and look at things from other points of view.”

Kourouma came to AU and knew exactly what she wanted to do. She wanted to get a degree in French and join the Peace Corps.

“As a student Michelle was very focused on her education,” said Jan Newbold, assistant professor of French. “She was inquisitive and had a mind of her own. When very few students were vegetarians, I remember the menu of our French soirées always including something like quiche or crêpes that Michelle, our vegetarian, would be able to eat.”

“At AU, it was the professors who influenced me the most,” said Kourouma. “I spent a lot of time in that department, and they really worked overtime to give us the richest experience that they could. They pushed us to dream bigger and to do more than we ever thought possible.”

During Kourouma’s time at AU she had the opportunity to study in Strasbourg, France, for a year instead of just the one semester required for modern foreign language majors.

“I was so excited to go because I had been studying French for so long,” said Kourouma. “I remember having a lot of adjustment issues, but also being really impressed with the language and cultural preparation that I had had. With the other students that were there, I was able to make comparisons, and I remember being very grateful for the education that I had gotten at Anderson University.”

After Michelle’s study abroad in Strasbourg, it was evident to Newbold that she was not only very capable as a linguist, but also enjoyed learning about other cultures.

“Not only did she come home speaking good French, but she had become interested in the Alsatian dialect, history, and culture,” said Newbold.

Newbold said that alongside the courses Michelle had taken in the French major, Michelle’s friendship with two other determined students was helpful to her preparation.

“They decided to speak French whenever they were together after returning from their study in France,” said Newbold. “They also requested that we start a book club centered on francophone African literature. No credit was needed or wanted. Facilitating an exploration of African literature, which none of us knew much about, and developing together a deep appreciation for the literature and the culture was one of my most memorable academic experiences at AU.”

When Kourouma left AU, she joined the Peace Corps and moved to Africa where she eventually met and married her husband, Paul. [Photo on right: Michelle Kourourma's children, Finda Hawa and newborn Andreanna.]

“I was interested in the Peace Corps when I first arrived at AU. I remember calling the Peace Corps office my sophomore year, and they said to get my degree first and then to call them back,” said Kourouma. “So when I called them after I graduated, I told them that if I could not go to a French-speaking country and use my teacher training then I didn’t want to go. They said that was no problem and ended up sending me to Guinea.”

In Guinea, Kourouma taught English and French and later became an educational consultant. She lived there for two years and then took a job in Kissidougou, another city in Guinea. Kourouma said that she would not close any doors, so when her friend suggested that she think about moving to Kissidougou, she decided that it wouldn’t hurt to check it out.

“I was in the capital talking to a volunteer that was in Kissidougou, and she said that she knew I was really focused on middle Guinea, but that I should consider Kissidougou,” Kourouma said. “She said that it was a great city and there was a lot of non-governmental organizations and positive action going on there. So I went down there to visit her. Within two weeks they were calling me telling me that they had a place for me.”

While in Kissidougou, she met Paul at a church that they both attended. When the Peace Corps was evacuated from Kissidougou due to violent protests, Kourouma decided that she wanted to stay in Africa and not return to the U.S. She stayed in Mali where she became a teacher training specialist and was closer to Paul. They married on Aug. 4, 2007.

Kourouma was awarded the Distinguished Young Alumni Award in 2008, but could not attend the ceremony because she was pregnant with her first child, Finda Hawa.

“Even now, I don’t feel like I have done anything special,” said Kourouma. “Sometimes I look at my life and think that I have so far to go and so much more to learn. But receiving the award was very humbling.”

Kourouma recently finished her master’s degree in intercultural communication at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County and is now enjoying life with her family, including baby daughter Andreanna.

While Kourouma has had amazing adventures throughout her life, her fondest memories involve her family. “I still am just telling myself to stay focused on the present, stay focused on God, and try to focus less on what isn’t,” said Kourouma.

— Kristyn Rhynard is a senior from Ithaca, Mich., majoring in communication arts. Rhynard 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.

Senior Sarah Wilbur studied in Merida, Mexico, last semester and took classes varying from communication in Latin America to underwater archaeology. On the days she was not in the classroom, she spent most of her time with her host family and walking the streets of Merida.

“Merida is such a calm and peaceful city filled with energy, beauty, and motion,” she said. “The community of Merida has a deep love for Mexico, and I was able to feel their love, pride, and patriotism for their country.” [Photo on left: Sarah Wilbur and host brother Carlitos after teaching him to carve his first pumpkin for Halloween.]

Wilbur was prepared for the trip through conversations with students who had previously traveled abroad. She heard their personal experiences and insights, and that gave her a better understanding of what to expect. Wilbur said she left Mexico with a better understanding of the people and the culture.

Senior Laura Sellers also studied abroad last semester, in Aix-en-Provence, France. During Sellers’ stay, she explored Aix-en-Provence, and ventured as well into Germany, Monaco, and smaller cities in France.

“My favorite part of the trip was visiting other cities and trying to blend into many different cultural puzzles,” said Sellers. “I went to class for about eight hours most days, studied in the evenings, and went out to social gatherings on the weekends.”

Sellers has always loved traveling, and while she needed to study abroad for class credit, she had been looking forward to the experience since her first day at AU. “Studying abroad gave me a change of pace,” said Sellers. “It gave me a different time zone, a new continent to explore, and a feeling of freedom.” [Photo on right: Laura Sellers in Monaco.]

Although Sellers says she is an independent person, the trip revealed her strengths and weaknesses. “I saw for myself what others tell me about regarding my strengths, abilities, weaknesses, and difficulties,” said Sellers. “I grew socially and spiritually while studying abroad and also changed my outlook on how fast I am to judge someone without looking and listening closely. This experience taught me a lot about the good in people.”

Sellers studied French literature, French and English translation, French grammar, and took a French novel class. She practiced her French inside and outside the classroom by making trips to the market, social events, and her favorite — a cheese factory established in 1890.

Drew Kidd, also a senior at AU, studied in La Samana, Dominican Republic, last fall. Like Wilbur, Kidd had an enjoyable experience living with his host family. “I miss my host family the most,” said Kidd. “I spent the majority of my time with them because of where I lived in relation to other students.”

Kidd typically woke up to his host’s housekeeper making him breakfast around 8 a.m. “I had a lunch break at 12:30 p.m., and the entire city would shut down until 3 p.m. for siestas and lunch,” said Kidd.

When Kidd wasn’t around his host family or friends he was studying history of the Caribbean, contemporary Hispanic-American literature, and Spanish grammar. He enjoyed all his classes and balanced his time between school and exploring La Samana.

Kidd said his faith was strengthened through different experiences and encounters during his semester abroad. He participated in different types of worship, spent alone time with God, and had a faithful host family to interact with. He improved his Spanish speaking abilities by interacting with his host family, friends, and people in the community. [Photo on left: The wide tides of La Samana where Drew Kidd studied abroad.]

“AU did a great job in preparing me for my semester abroad,” said Kidd. “My Spanish professors not only prepared me in the classroom, but also hosted orientations prior to my trip. I think studying abroad is a great experience, and a student doesn’t have to be a language major to participate.”

Dr. Timothy R. Fox, professor of Spanish, encourages students to get involved with the study abroad program and experience Tri-S trips. “A study abroad experience can create lasting relationships,” said Fox. “It can open the doors for study, research, service, professional development, and work. Oftentimes, a student will change majors or even life direction as a result of a study abroad experience.”

Even if students can’t break away for a semester to study abroad, they can still get a taste of what it’s like to live in a different culture by participating in the Tri-S program. Tri-S was formed to allow students the opportunity to travel to various countries for a few weeks and experience the culture through missions, work camps, or other types of programs.

“Tri-S is a wonderful short-term version, but there are study abroad experiences that can never be replicated in ten-day to two-week visits,” said Fox.

— Laura Overman is a senior from Anderson, Ind., majoring in communication arts. Overman 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.

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.

Alpha Mu Gamma is a national collegiate foreign language honor society that recognizes students for outstanding achievement in foreign language studies. “It allows the students who love foreign cultures and languages, and excel at them, to get together and do things with others and for others,” said Professor of French Sally Shulmistras.

[Photo: Sophomores (left to right) Kaitlin Gunnoe, Libby Lalande, and Gretchen Livingston hold their certificates of initiation while at the new inductee ceremony for Alpha Mu Gamma. Credit: Amanda Martin]

Shulmistras has served as advisor of AU’s Alpha Mu Gamma chapter since its introduction on campus in 1978. She has also served as the national organization’s president and vice president and is currently chair of the scholarship committee. Her passion stemmed from being a member of the society while she was a student at California Lutheran University.

Among the 16 current members of the AU chapter are the four most recent inductees: Kaitlin Gunnoe, Gretchen Livingston, Elizabeth Lalande, and Ashley Ledford. The sophomores were honored recently for their outstanding achievements in Spanish.

Although Spanish is the most prominent foreign language among AU chapter members, the university also offers French, German, Hebrew, and Greek.

Students who major in a foreign language are required to study abroad at some point during their time at AU. Gunnoe, a double major in Spanish and criminal justice, has her heart set on Madrid, while setting her sights on a career in law.

“I hope to apply to Harvard Law School and become a prosecuting attorney in New York,” said Gunnoe. She feels that having an honor society like Alpha Mu Gamma on her application will help tremendously.

[Photo: Senior Rachel Beebe reads the welcome and pledge to new inductee Libby Lalande. Credit: Amanda Martin.]

Livingston hopes being a part of Alpha Mu Gamma will serve as a stepping stone for her future. “I’ll have the blessing of getting to know even more people and cultures,” she said, “which is truly my passion.”

Alpha Mu Gamma not only helps students like Livingston and Gunnoe accomplish their goals, it also brings the opportunity of scholarships. There are three national $1,000 scholarships for the study of any language and one $400 scholarship for any student studying Spanish.

— Aimee Munn is a junior from Indianapolis, Ind., majoring in communication arts and minoring in political science and history. Munn 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.

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.

The newest set of siblings in the AU family is Collin and Curtis Trent, both AU graduates. The brothers, who also met their wives on campus, both started working at AU this fall. Not only are they both proud alumni, but their mother, Mary Trent, also works at the university as a financial aid counselor. [Left to right: Collin and Curtis Trent]

“It’s nice starting here in the fall because first semester was one of my favorite memories on campus,” said Curtis. “It is the start of a fresh year with a fresh attitude.”

Collin is excited to be back on campus, as well. “Working in college admissions gives me chance to be a part of one of the most exciting times in students’ and parents’ lives,” said Collin.

Both of the Trent brothers have fond memories as students at Anderson. Curtis recalls a mind opening experience with Dr. Merle Strege in Liberal Arts Seminar and fun memories of brotherhood in Dativus, which both brothers were involved in. “My most unique memory was singing hymns with Professor Paul Saltzman at local nursing homes,” recalled Collin. “We were actually asked to sing at a funeral of one of the patients.”

“In the back of my mind, I knew I would end up back here,” said Curtis.

Joe and Ben Davis are another pair of brothers who both attended AU and ended up working on campus. Joe is in his twelfth year in admissions and was named director of admissions this fall. Ben, director of alumni relations, has worked for the university nearly three years. As a student, Ben was involved in men’s chorus, the Andersonian, and intramurals. [Left to right: Joe and Ben Davis]

“I loved the campus life as a student,” said Ben. “Some of my favorite AU memories were dorm life, forming those tight friendships, playing pranks, and making memories.”

Like Collin, Ben said he always felt like he would come back to AU.

“I have always cared deeply for the people and mission of the institution,” said Ben. “The best part about being back is the relationship-oriented work I do in the alumni office, which all benefits the institution.”

While on campus, Joe primarily focused on participating in Dativus and the men’s soccer team.

“I started working in Admissions the summer after I graduated from AU and I had no idea that it would turn into a career,” said Joe. “I love AU and I’m passionate about Christian higher education.”

Drs. Tim and Jerry Fox are also brothers with family ties to the university. Tim, a professor of Spanish, has worked at the university for 13 years and has numerous fond memories on campus from his time as a student. He was involved in a social club and the track team, which was coached by James Macholtz.

“One of my favorite memories was in the spring of 1980, when the track team won the conference meet for the first time ever in our history,” said Tim. “I was proud of our team for all our hard work and very happy for Coach Macholtz, who was so deserving of a conference championship.” Macholtz stadium was named in his honor in 1985 after his passing. [Left to right: Dr. Tim Fox and Dr. Jerry Fox]

Tim and Jerry, a professor of business and economics, were both also part of God Squad, an athletic outreach program that impacted lives around the world.

“I went to the Philippines as part of the program,” said Jerry. “We rebuilt churches and led youth trips while we were there.”

Tim recalled a trip the group made to Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas. “As a multiracial group, we all had our stereotypes challenged by our experiences of hospitality and God’s grace as shared through his people of all colors,” said Tim. “The experiences brought us together in ways we could never have foreseen.”

Jerry started his career at AU the same year he graduated from the institution in 1979. He began working in the development office and is now a faculty member in the Falls School of Business.

“One of my favorite aspects about working at AU lies in the involvement with students, inside and outside the classroom,” Jerry said.

The brothers’ grandfather was a part of the second graduating class of the university, which was known then as Anderson Bible College. Jerry’s wife, Deborah Miller Fox, is also a professor at AU in the English department.

Through these families’ stories it is evident that Anderson University is a place of tradition and camaraderie. The university is a place where many people hold countless cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

— Joseph Matas is a senior from Anderson, Ind., majoring in communication arts and minoring in marketing. Matas 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.

“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.

The 15 students, along with Anderson High School ENL (English as a New Language) teacher Heather Cunningham and ENL community liaison Romelia (Lupita) Raudales, visited Anderson University on May 5, where they met up with 17 AU students enrolled in a multicultural education class taught by Dr. Jan Dormer.

The AU students, comprised of education majors in all content areas, presented lessons on the importance of civic engagement and how to write an effective letter.

[Photo: Anderson University student Lindsey Brown presents a lesson in civic engagement, with fellow AU student Nathanael Lyon in the background.]

The college students then worked one-on-one with the high school students, helping them compose letters to Congressman Mike Pence. In the letters, the high school students expressed their thoughts on immigration, and in particular, on the DREAM Act, proposed federal legislation that would provide a path to legal recognition and access to higher education for certain undocumented minors in the United States.

“The AHS students were very excited to learn the concepts presented by the AU students,” Cunningham said. “They were somewhat nervous at first, but they learned a lot about opportunities that they have and became passionate about what they could do to help the cause.”

According to Dormer, the experiment seems to have made an impact for many of the students. “A couple of the high school students brought up some very good changes that they wanted to see in the Act,” she said. “We seized on that initiative, saying ‘Great! You are writing to your representative, and you can tell him what you think. That’s what democracy is all about!’ … I believe active learning was taking place, and that the students truly do understand democracy in a much more tangible way after this experience.”

[Photo: AU student Megan Bontrager works with Anderson High School student Noe Bautista.]

Dormer had on a previous occasion taken her class to meet the Latino students, so they could get acquainted with each other.

“Most of my students had never interacted with Latino English language learners in the states,” she said. “That initial meeting was a great experience for them, and spawned the desire to do something else together.”

For the AU students, the follow-up meeting provided the opportunity to put into practice the skills they had learned in the classroom.

“We have worked on skills such as speaking more slowly with clear enunciation, asking informational questions to see if understanding had been achieved, and rephrasing messages in simpler language to ensure comprehension,” Dormer said. “The one-on-one letter writing task gave the AU students an opportunity to put these skills into practice with English learners.”

Dormer said the experience was also important for AU students as classrooms of the future will likely include English language learners. “At AU, we strive to prepare teachers for this reality, equipping them not only to deal with English learners but to welcome them into their classrooms, embracing the diversity that they bring,” Dormer said.

[Photo: The Anderson High School students display the letters they wrote to Congressman Mike Pence.]

Anderson University junior Ashli Woodard found the opportunity to be valuable. As a language arts education major, she presented a lesson to the students on how to write an effective letter.

“Not only did I receive real-life teaching experience, but I made a connection with a student,” she said. “I was able to identify with this group of students through sharing stories, laughs, and so much more.”

Through Dormer’s class, Woodard discovered she enjoyed working with English learners, and is now pursuing an ENL license.

While the AU-ACS collaboration provided lessons in democracy and effective communication, Dormer also sees the interaction between the high school and college students as significant in at least one other respect. “I think that interacting with the college students sent a strong message to the high schoolers: ‘Stay in school; you can be what you want to be; don’t give up.’ Many of these students have so many strikes against them,” she said.

The AU and ACS partnership in meeting the educational needs of English language learners is now three years strong, according to Donna Albrecht, AU’s director of English as a New Language (ENL). “Our program trains teachers in working with culturally and linguistically diverse students,” she said. “We have also helped establish the Club Latino after-school program for elementary students at Anderson Elementary School to assist them in developing literacy and fluency in their first language, Spanish.” AU students are also involved in after-school tutoring of English language learners, Albrecht said.

— Randy Dillinger is web content editor and SEO manager at Anderson University

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.

“At AU, many of our students, from many disciplines, experience the joys of creating works of self-expression, researching important ideas, and discovering new knowledge.  Scholars’ day is an opportunity for our students to showcase that work,” said chemistry professor and scholars’ day organizer Chad Wallace.

The idea came to Wallace as his students presented their research at various chemistry conferences.  He realized that these discoveries are often shared within their discipline-specific community, but go unnoticed by the larger academic community.  He thought it would be a great idea to share that work with the rest of Anderson University.  He also realized that he did not know what other departments do. Wallace approached Dr. Marie Morris, vice president for academic affairs and dean, about hosting the event at the end of the school year.  He then formed a committee to bring the idea to life.  That committee contacted department chairs to nominate or ask students to participate in Scholars’ Day.

Each participant put together an abstract about what they worked on for the academic year or their college careers. The physical plant, Wallace, and retired professor Dale Bales collectively constructed the presentation boards for the students. The abstracts were then put together in a program so viewers could locate each student’s work the day of the event. Visitors to the event were welcome to engage the students and ask questions about their research.

Senior history and political science major, Courtney Bettner, tied in her love of research with her other passion of French history and culture. Bettner studied “Africa’s Triple Heritage and West African Francophone Literature” for her class with modern foreign language French Professor Sally Shulmistras. Though many students, faculty and staff passing Bettner’s projects did not speak French, the opportunity behind Scholars’ Day is to help make others on campus aware of each major’s unique differences.

“Scholars’ day is very interdisciplinary,” added Bettner. “This event creates an interesting atmosphere since so many majors are represented and helps each major explain what they have been working towards for their degree.”

Another project presented from senior psychology student Kristin Bradley was titled “Parenting Styles in Relation to Academic Performance and Academic Stress.” Bradley focused on these parenting styles and their effects on college age students. Bradley felt this experience with Professor Linda Swindell was meaningful and hopes AU develops Scholars’ Day to help represent more majors in the future.

Though many students worked on their projects for an assigned class, junior Melissa Carlson felt the independent studies she has taken separate from required classes in her chemistry major as invaluable. Carlson has completed one previous independent study in the fall and plans to research over the summer what she will focus on in the fall for her senior seminar.

For the spring semester, Wallace suggested to Carlson a study through an article from ECHO, a non-profit organization whose vision is “to bring glory to God and a blessing to mankind by using science and technology to help the poor.” Her project titled “Helping the World’s Poorest Farmers: HPLC Determination of L-Dopa in Mucuna Pruriens (Velvet Beans)” involved research to expel a harmful chemical from the beans while leaving the nutritious protein behind in the bean.  Velvet beans could be an important crop for farmers to grow in third-world nations. This was Carlson’s first independent study without the help of other students and believes the opportunity to present was a “stepping stone” towards future studies.

“It is impressive to see how the undergraduate students not only working on independent studies and various research but how well they can help explain these studies in a way others can understand,” added Morris.

“The first AU Scholars’ Day was a huge success,” said Wallace. ”It was exciting to see the interactions of our presenters with their fellow classmates and professors. I am thankful for the hard work of the many individuals who helped make this event so successful.”

To receive more information about the event, visit the Anderson University Scholars’ Day event program. To view photos from the event, visit the 2010 Scholars’ Day Flickr album.

- Stefanie Leiter is the Web Content Manager in the Office of University Communcations at Anderson University.

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.

Fiechter, a senior at Anderson University, recently returned to Indiana after studying abroad six months in impoverished Nicaragua, located in Central America. Average temperatures of 95 degrees during the cooler, rainy season became normal for this Bluffton, Ind., native.

Fiechter’s experience was an interesting combination of study abroad, mission work and cultural studies. The unique part about his opportunity is that he built his six-month program himself. [Photo on left: Fiechter, who was able to study abroad thanks to the Center for Public Service program and a Rotary International scholarship, found the Rotary International marker in Rivas, Nicaragua.]

Caleb is a member of AU’s Center for Public Service. CPS is an honors program designed to prepare students for jobs in the public service field. Students are encouraged to participate in programs abroad, in other regions of the United States and in Anderson, Ind.

“CPS requires us to have one faculty mentor and one off-campus advisor,” said Fiechter. He credits his faculty mentor and Spanish instructor, Jennifer Barr, for recommending he apply for a Rotary International Scholarship. “I had to put together a series of applications and essays explaining what I would do while I was in Nicaragua,” said Fiechter. He then presented his abroad program to the board and was rewarded the $16,000 needed for the experience.

Not only did Fiechter study Spanish four days a week at the León Language Institute, but he took classes on Nicaraguan history and the recent revolution. Fiechter is majoring in English, working on a complimentary major in Spanish and completing a minor in Peace Studies. That combination made the experience in Nicaragua a perfect fit. Fiechter said he found a great deal of interest in Nicaragua’s political past and took weekend trips to history landmarks throughout the country.

Fiechter also discovered a passion for agriculture in the mountainous Northwest corner of the country. He volunteered two days a week with an organization called Nuevas Esperanzas, implementing a drip water irrigation system on Volcán Telica. The volcano looming in the distance from León is home to small villages of people who are forced to walk five hours each day for a very small amount of water. “We trained women in the small communities how to utilize these drip kits so they could harvest rainwater and grow more crops,” said Fiechter.

The Rotary International Scholarship program is one of the largest and most prestigious grant awarding institutions in the world. They call their scholarship recipients “Ambassadors of Goodwill,” a fitting title for Fiechter and his ambitions for the experience.

“The interesting thing about Nicaragua is that everyone is just passing through,” said Fiechter. The country hosts new backpackers, students and missionaries every week. This gave Fiechter a unique and diverse experience meeting people from all over the world. [Photo on right: Fiechter enjoyed this view down Volcán Telica. Local residents would walk five hours each day to the nearest village for water.]

Fiechter will graduate in May 2010 and plans to stay in Anderson, Ind. and continue utilizing his Spanish skills. “I’m applying for a position with the Indiana Department of Education as a tutor to children of migrant workers,” said Fiechter. “But eventually, I’d like to make my way back down to Central America.”

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.

Stephanie Sablich is a senior at Anderson University majoring in elementary education. In order to earn her degree, she completed a term of student teaching. Typically education majors find a student teaching job somewhere near their university. Sablich, however, decided to pursue a position in Chicago.

When she got to Chicago, Sablich was phased in to teaching. The program she was with slowly gave her responsibilities, and every two weeks she would pick up a new subject to teach. Sablich eventually did all the planning, prepping, and teaching for a first grade classroom.

Sablich stayed busy all day. At 9:15 a.m., all students were in their classrooms ready to learn. Throughout the morning, students would work on literacy by breaking into small groups based on achievement level. In addition, they would go to an oral Spanish class three days a week.

Lunch and recess would signify the start of the afternoon, which was followed by independent reading. The students would then go to either gym or music, each twice a week. Forty minutes later, students would be challenged in a math curriculum called “Everyday Math.”

To end the day on a good note, Sablich liked to wrap up with something light, like reading them a book. By 3 p.m., the students were racing to their bus and Sablich called it a day after an hour or two of prep time.

A dynamic aspect of Sablich’s teaching position was that several of her students were English Language Learners (meaning they were learning English as a new language). At this young age, many of them were still developing English language skills and were not yet fluent in the language. However, living in a primarily English-speaking world gave them access to some of the English idioms and phrases that were not necessarily proper or typical.

“For example,” said Sablich, “I had a little boy who spoke very little English. He was often pretty unfocused, probably because he understood very little of what went on in the classroom. One morning, I was talking to him with a mix of English and Spanish, and he responded to me ‘Sure thing!’ Another time, I found him singing the ‘bow-chicka-wa-wa’ song, and then agreeing to do an assignment by saying ‘A-ok!’ Again, this boy was lacking understanding of basic vocabulary necessary to engage in everyday conversation, but he could repeat English idioms better than many English-speaking students.”

While Sablich did some practicum work in the central Indiana area, she really enjoyed teaching in Chicago. “The demographics are very different in Chicago than in Anderson,” Sablich said. “The staff is smaller [in Chicago] than in Anderson, and every school is controlled by a local board: six parents, a principal, teacher, community member, and a student.”

Sablich learned a lot through her student teaching in Chicago. “To look back on where I was, that was only two and a half months ago,” she said. “What a world of difference that has made.”

While she has grown academically, she also believes she has grown a lot personally.

“On a personal level I’ve never had the opportunity to get so close to a group of kids,” she said. “When you spend that much time with them, it naturally follows that you would.”

After she finishes her degree, Sablich hopes to teach in Chicago on the west side of the city. Although it’s a rougher part of town, she feels that is where her heart is. Eventually, Sablich hopes to pursue educational policy after teaching for a period of time.

— Joshua Mifflin is a senior from Anderson, Ind., majoring in communication arts and Spanish. Mifflin 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 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth 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.

Christy Oden, a senior at Anderson University, had the opportunity last spring to study abroad in Montpellier, France. Enrolled in a school with about 300 foreign exchange students, she took classes in French, such as conversation, writing, and comprehension. “I had about nine classes a week,” said Oden. “But I didn’t have a lot of homework. Most of our work was done in class, and I appreciated that. It was nice to not have to worry about a lot of work so that we could be in France and be in the culture.”

[PHOTO: Anderson University student Christy Oden (back row, third from left) poses with some of her fellow exchange students in France before her return home to the U.S.]

Along with another foreign exchange student, Oden stayed with a French host family. The family was an older couple who had worked with the same school for many years. “Every night at 7:30 we would sit down to have dinner, watch the news and talk about it,” Oden said. “We would also tell them our traveling plans while they would correct our grammar.”

Living temporarily in another culture had more of an impact on Oden than just educationally, though. It also expanded her creativity in pursuing other interests.

“I have taken a great interest in the culinary profession, largely due to my time spent in France,” said Oden. Her next step is to pursue a career in the culinary arts. She added, “This could lead me to live, work, and travel abroad.”

The chance to study abroad is indeed a unique opportunity. The education is not restricted to walls; instead, the country and its culture are the classroom.

— Joshua Mifflin is a senior majoring in communication arts and Spanish. Mifflin 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 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth 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.

“It’s been very tough … it’s shocking to me because I don’t who in my family is there. People go to Port-au-Prince every day to take care of their daily means,” said Luzincourt, 29, a native Haitian who is seeking an education major and hopes to become a Spanish teacher.

Luzincourt received calls from friends asking about his family, including his parents who live three hours from the capital and brothers who live an hour away.

[PHOTO: Rousseau Luzincourt holds a picture of his sister and her daughter. Credit: John P. Cleary / The Herald Bulletin]

“People are calling me, asking me how can we help, what can we do. I cannot give them any answers because I haven’t been able to talk to anybody,” Luzincourt said.

“When I heard about the news, I never thought it would have such impact (on Haiti),” he said, “We had two hurricanes in 2008 and I said why Haiti, why Haiti?”

Good news online

An Internet posting from Haiti held mixed emotions Wednesday for Jacqueline Ackerman: “The Ackermans are safe … Please continue to pray for the Ackermans and all of the people of Haiti, as it appears likely that casualties will be many.”

Her parents, John and Jodie Ackerman, perform mission work in Haiti for the Church of God (Anderson). Her sister, Jessica, is a high school senior there.

Jacqueline, an Anderson University graduate raised in Haiti, was among local residents trying to check on loved ones. Unable to reach her parents by phone, Jacqueline went to their Web site, totheleastofthese.org.

Her father, who operates a medical mission, and mother, who is a teacher, were safe; however, she recognized the devastation facing the country.

“This is going to be really overwhelming for the entire country. It seems like Haiti always has problems with hurricanes … political turmoil,” she said from her Fishers home. “When I heard about the earthquake, I thought, oh, great, here is something else keeping them from becoming a democratic country like they need to be.”

Local man interviewed

Luke Renner, an Anderson native who is savvy with cameras, was interviewed early Wednesday on NBC, National Public Radio, and MSNBC, among others. He, his wife and two children live about 100 miles from Port-au-Prince. Renner, 34, operates a film and media school in a land where an entire community might share one television.

He told ABC News affiliate KGO-TV in San Francisco, “We were sitting in our house, checking the e-mail and things like that when all of a sudden the house started rocking and rolling and it was almost like the house itself was sitting on beach ball. It was very much like a gyroscope.”

With a degree in broadcasting from Anderson University, he is hoping to teach communication skills to residents of Cap Haitien. On Wednesday, he used his skills to talk about the disaster before grabbing his camera equipment and heading to the capital with a medical crew.

His father, Ancil Ray Renner of Anderson, talked with his son earlier Wednesday. “Even though he was 100 miles away, he said it was pretty frightening for 20 to 30 seconds. There were lots of screams in the community outside his door.”

Luke Renner is working on three projects in Haiti: HANDS Across Haiti, The Learning Village and The Caribbean Institute of Media Technologies. His Web site is firesideinternational.org.

Orphans sleep outside

Dr. Mark Fulton, an Anderson dentist, was in Haiti a month ago checking on a clinic and orphanage sponsored by Mission Haiti Midwest. He is president of the board.

The medical compound is located outside Port-au-Prince. “The clinic is still standing but what we’re finding out is that people who are hurt in the outlying areas are coming to our clinic,” Fulton said. “Our doctors are in Port-au-Prince. We don’t know if they’re dead or alive so we have nurses trying to serve the people there.”

After the Tuesday evening quake, mission workers slept outdoors with about 30 of the orphans. “They were afraid to sleep inside due to the chance of building collapse from aftershocks,” Fulton said.

Another concern: Many of the children were to be adopted by people in other countries. The paperwork, located in Port-au-Prince, may be beneath rubble.

More than 32,000 reasons for concern

The Church of God (Anderson) has 233 congregations and 32,000 constituents in Haiti led by national leader Phyllis Newby. As of Wednesday, Church of God Ministries had not received information about the extent of the effect of the quake on churches and constituents, said David Farlow, chief of strategic communications for Church of God Ministries, Inc.

One major ministry is the House of Blessings Orphanage; reports indicated that the orphans are safe and that the orphanage suffered little damage, though there was some damage to a school under construction, Farlow said. The Church of God compound operated by Phyllis Newby located outside of the capitol, home to the national offices and a hospital, suffered damage but not loss of life.

Donations are being accepted to the Disaster Relief Fund. Farlow said, “We anticipate the need in Haiti will be significant.”

Individuals can make donations online by visiting www.chog.org/DisasterRelief. Or they can mail checks to: Church of God Ministries, PO Box 2420, Anderson, IN 46018-2420. Write Project 45.04502 in the memo line.

— Scott L. Miley, is associate features editor at 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 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth 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.

Through national and regional conferences, the development and exchange of resources, and participation in online networking, NetVUE will help institutions deepen vocational exploration by their students. The goals of the network are to share knowledge, best practices, and reflection on experiences among campuses while facilitating the incorporation of additional independent colleges and universities into this enterprise.

In announcing the launch of NetVUE, CIC President Richard Ekman said, “Over the past several years, the Council of Independent Colleges has made a commitment to advancing vocational exploration as a guiding force in American independent higher education. The concept of vocation emerged as a significant factor from various sources and has been applied in different ways for different campus constituencies. CIC hopes that NetVUE will capitalize on what has been learned about the theological exploration of vocation and how it can be adapted and developed to strengthen colleges and universities, their leadership, and the education they provide for their students.”

Dr. Marie Morris, vice president for academic affairs and dean stated that “Anderson University has a long and rich history of changing students’ lives through its commitment to educate students for a life of faith and service, through its focus on academic and Christian discovery and opportunities for experiential learning. We thought it important to join with others who share a commitment to fostering discovery and exploration in vocation as we prepare students for this ever changing world. As a member of NetVUE we look forward to increased opportunities for collegial sharing and to the future impact we anticipate in furthering our school’s mission.”

NetVUE is generously supported by Lilly Endowment Inc., which has funded similar programs over the years. “We have discovered,” said Craig Dykstra, Lilly Endowment’s senior vice president for religion, “that structured programs that encourage and guide students in the theological exploration of vocation do indeed help them draw on the wisdom of their religious traditions as they make decisions about their futures and figure out how to lead lives that really matter. We have been approached by hundreds of colleges and universities seeking to enhance their educational programs by incorporating vocational reflection more intentionally into their curricular and co-curricular activities. We are delighted that CIC is committed to sustaining and extending this important conversation and helping colleges across the country to advance their educational missions in this way.”

For more information about NetVUE, visit www.cic.edu/NetVUE.

The Council of Independent Colleges is an association of more than 600 independent, liberal arts colleges and universities and higher education affiliates and organizations that work together to strengthen college and university leadership, sustain high-quality education, and enhance private higher education’s contributions to society. To fulfill this mission, CIC provides its members with skills, tools, and knowledge that address aspects of leadership, financial management and performance, academic quality, and institutional visibility. The Council is headquartered at One Dupont Circle in Washington, DC.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth 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.

Located in Omaha, Neb., Word Made Flesh (WMF) founder Chris Huertz, a popular chapel speaker, has made quite the impression on students at Anderson University. Since 2006, three students have felt called to work at the organization with others volunteering or interning.

Linsey Higgins BA ’06 is in the middle of a three-year term on field staff in Lima, Peru. Higgins works as a coordinator for a girl’s Bible study, helps those in her communities struggling to leave the streets, visits those who have started a new life away from the struggles of street life, and serves as a field administrator keeping the Lima mission running.

“The people who serve with WMF are amazing people who seek to live in a way that gives dignity to those among whom they serve,” says Higgins. “So often the poor are dehumanized, but the poor are my friends. We believe that our poor friends have so much to teach us, so much to share and give, while many people only seek to give to the poor, not recognizing their beautiful and unique gifts.”

Higgins, a family science major and Spanish minor, took off a semester her junior year to be on the WMF servant team in Lima. After graduation, Higgins returned on the field staff in Lima.

Combining her passion for people and a story, Mandy Mowers BA ’06 struggled in college “to work in a role that would allow me to use my journalism talents for the good of people in need.”

While serving as an RA, Mowers expressed to her RD and other RA’s her desire to find a meaningful way to use her Journalism and writing major. Higgins, her friend and fellow RA, encouraged Mowers to contact the WMF Advocacy Department.

After graduation, Mowers went on a Tri-S trip to India. Her time spent in Kolkata volunteering with the Missionaries of Charity—even meeting some WMF Kolkata staff—confirmed her desire to work with WMF.

Following a one year internship that started in October 2006, Mowers said the choice to stay on staff was an easy decision.

“I get to advocate on behalf of friends who need help,” says Mowers. “You may have heard a saying like, ‘We’re a voice for the voiceless.’ At WMF, we assert that our friends are not voiceless—they just aren’t always heard. Our job is to amplify these voices as we advocate on their behalf,” adds Mowers.

Now serving as publications editor, Mowers works mostly on The Cry, WMF’s quarterly journal, and makes assignments, edits pieces, and creates layouts. Mowers edits most print materials that WMF produces and offers editorial assistance to staff submitting articles to other publications.

In the fall of 2006, Paul Yoder BA ’06 visited Mowers. During his visit, Yoder met with the director of administration for WMF to discuss their computer needs and realized he could make a computer program to help automate a time-consuming task for WMF. Yoder continued his contact with WMF for a couple years while living in Anderson and created software for WMF in his spare time. During the spring of 2008, Yoder pursued moving to Omaha to work for WMF and in October was hired as an office manager working on staff computers, programming, and serving other office needs.

“I have two main passions in my life: ministry and computers,” says Yoder. “I’m able to pursue both these passions while working at Word Made Flesh as I serve the field missionaries by creating programs to help automate their administrative tasks.”

Word Made Flesh was founded in 1991 as a non-profit organization existing to serve among the most vulnerable of the world’s poor. In 1994, Word Made Flesh opened its first children’s home in Chennai, India, focusing primarily on pediatric AIDS care. Word Made Flesh has since established communities in Asia, Latin America, Europe and Africa. Visit www.wordmadeflesh.org for more information.

—Stefanie Leiter is the Web Content Manager at AU. Featured in the Summer 2009 Signatures.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth 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 pleased to be listed among the top schools in our category,” said Dr. James L. Edwards, president of Anderson University. “Universities that are achieving their mission especially in these very challenging times deserve this recognition and we are proud to be among them. When a student finds the right college of quality that is an excellent fit in terms of culture, programs and degrees, and overall mission, the future opens in such powerful ways, and for that student, the selected school is the best in the nation. We intend to be such a school for so many.”

The 2010 America’s Best Colleges package provides the most thorough examination of how more than 1,400 accredited four-year schools compare on a set of 15 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 graduation rate performance (National Universities and Liberal Art Colleges).

Over the past 26 years, the U.S. News college rankings, which groups 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. The America’s Best Colleges ranking package, which includes extensive editorial content and multimedia resources, has helped families navigate the difficult decisions involved throughout the college process, from college admission and selection to financing options.

The exclusive rankings, which include more than 1,400 schools nationwide, are available today at www.usnews.com/colleges, will also be published in the September issue of the U.S.News & World Report magazine, on newsstands starting August 20.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth 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 chose Anderson University and the other terrific schools we recommend as our ‘regional best’ colleges primarily for their excellent academic programs,” said Robert Franek, Princeton Review’s Vice President of Publishing. “We also work to have our roster of ‘regional best’ colleges feature a range of institutions by size, selectivity, character and locale. We choose the schools based on institutional data we collect from several hundred schools in each region, our visits to schools over the years, and the opinions of independent and high school-based college advisors whose recommendations we invite. We also take into account what each school’s customers – their students – report to us about their campus experiences at them on our 80-question student survey.”

The 158 colleges The Princeton Review chose for this year’s “Best in the Midwest” designations are located in twelve states: Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The Princeton Review also designated 218 colleges in the Northeast, 123 in the West, and 141 in the Southeast as best in their locales on the company’s 2010 Best Colleges: Region by Region section on its Web site. The 640 colleges named “regional best(s)” represent only about 25% (one out of four) of the nation’s 2,500 four-year colleges.

The Princeton Review does not rank the colleges in its 2010 Best Colleges Region by Region Web site section. The Princeton Review survey for this project asks students to rate their own schools on several issues — from the accessibility of their professors to quality of the campus food — and answer questions about themselves, their fellow students, and their campus life.

The Princeton Review is known for its tutoring and classroom test preparation courses, books, and college and graduate school admission services. Its corporate headquarters is in Framingham, MA, and editorial offices are in New York City. It is not affiliated with Princeton University and it is not a magazine.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth 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.

“I’m looking, but …,” said 37-year-old Dawn Vetor, of Madison County, her voice trailing off. “I have some prospects, but nothing fluid.”

Angela Shelton, 30, Anderson, a former paraeducator at East Side Middle School, was a little more upbeat.

“I’m optimistic,” said Shelton, her silver braces shined as she flashed a bright grin. “I’m looking for a job.”

Both women, graduating with bachelor’s degrees in organizational leadership, were among the 700 students going through Anderson University’s 91st commencement.

Like Shelton, many graduates were hopeful of their future job prospects, despite not yet having offers.

“I’m trying to be optimistic,” said Jon Weber, 22, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. “It’s rough.”

Weber, who received a degree in marketing, said he’s had five interviews and applied at 15 to 20 companies. But he’s received no offers.

Emily Wasonga seemed nonplused at her job prospects. The 21-year-old native of Kenya earned degrees in international education and communications on Saturday. She said she had no concrete career plans, but emphasized the university’s aim of instilling a sense of Christian service in its students. She said she wants to work in a humanitarian field.

“If it’s a matter of making money,” Wasonga said, “there are a lot of ways to make money.”

Commencement speaker Carl H. Caldwell touched on the unsettling nature of the times.

“To say you graduate in an uncertain time is an understatement,” he said. “If you’re not worried about this, I guarantee your parents are.”

But Caldwell said there’s a lack of certainty at all times — including when he graduated from Anderson University in 1966 during the Cold War.

“Every graduating class has had to face problems,” he said.

Caldwell, the school’s vice president of academic affairs, retired at the end of the school year. He had been with Anderson University since 1996. He earned his master’s degree in history from Ohio University and his doctorate in history from Indiana University.

Next year, Caldwell and his wife, Carolyn, an accounting professor at AU, will move to the Middle East, where they will teach at American University of Iraq in Sulaimani.

But Caldwell’s speech offered a reassuring tone.

“Seeing you before me, I feel very proud of our future,” he said.

For a full gallery of photos, visit The Herald Bulletin site.

—Shawn McGrath is a reporter for The Herald Bulletin. Photo credits: Don Knight. Story republished with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth 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.

Thomas, a Center for Public Service fellow, first gained cross-cultural experience by traveling with Tri-S to London in 2005. Since London, she has participated in five additional Tri-S trips and in May will travel to Australia. [Pictured left with students in Russia.]

“Carrie exemplifies the scholar/leader who is committed to academic excellence, international travel and education, public service, as well as campus and community leadership,” said Joel Shrock, Director of Center for Public Service. “Carrie’s record of accomplishments is beyond impressive, it is dazzling.”

Through each international experience, Thomas learned it was possible to pursue her career outside the traditional American public school system. Along with a strong interest in European culture, Thomas started her international teaching journey at Anderson University by serving on the licensing feasibility committee for adding the English as a New Language Program. She will be receiving a certification in English as a New Language.

“Dr. Nelson encouraged me to think about applying for the Fulbright Scholarship during an international politics class I took in the fall of my junior year,” said Thomas. Thomas started the application process after accepting a position at Dubravushka Boarding School in Obninsk, Russian Federation, as an English Language teacher for students ages 5-17.

Most recently, Thomas was a student teacher in Vienna, Austria, this past semester at the Danube International School. She student taught English A and English as a Second Language, in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme for grades 6-10.

“Both Russia and Austria were different opportunities and experiences,” said Thomas. “In Russia, teaching was more difficult because I had few resources and little structure with which to work. In Vienna, I had more support and was paired with a great collaborating teacher as opposed to teaching on my own. I think teaching on my own first was a more backwards approach but one that served as a great opportunity.” [Pictured right in Vienna.]

Thomas’ award is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Her responsibilities will include teaching English as a foreign language at Gymnasium Jura Hronca (Grammar and Secondary High School) in Bratislava, Slovakia. She will also work on conducting some independent research on language teaching and the education system of Slovakia.

Thomas is graduating May 9 with a 4.0 GPA and is a Presidential Scholar, Sigma Tau Delta (English Honors Society) 2007-08 president, Kappa Delti Pi (Education Honors Society) 2007-08 secretary, AU International Education Committee member, AU English as a New Language Committee member and Athletic Committee member. Thomas also started her own Carrie Thomas Youth in Philanthropy Endowed Fund through the Hendricks Community Foundation which provides grants to youth organizations and is a member of AU’s Women’s Golf Team.

She is the only AU English major to have received the Recognition of Excellence for her PRAXIS II English Language, Literature, and Composition exam. This honor is earned by scoring in the top 15 percent of candidates nationwide who took the test in the past five years.

“Carrie is best described as an ambitious academician, intellectually courageous, highly admired by faculty and students, always considerate of the needs of others, and one who works well with people of all ages and backgrounds,” said Dean of the School of Education Diana Ross. “She has been an outstanding student leader at Anderson University.” [Pictured left in Slovakia.]

Thomas’ grant starts in the fall of 2009 and will last 10 months. She plans to start graduate work in the future on comparative and international education along with second language acquisition.

“It is amazing how God places people in your life at the right time and right place,” said Thomas. “ God has blessed me with opportunities like Tri-S, ENL and people like Dr. Nelson, Dr. Shrock, and Dr. Ross who have helped shape and guide my future plans.”

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.” With this goal as a starting point, the Fulbright Program has provided almost 300,000 participants—chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

- Stefanie Leiter is the Web Content Manager at Anderson University.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth 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.

Amy Lynn Bader is majoring in Elementary Education and has spent this semester student teaching in first and third grade. After graduation, she will be getting married and moving back to her home state of Ohio, where she is seeking an elementary teaching position.

Andrea C. Brinkley will graduate with a degree in Elementary Education. Following a final Tri-S trip to Romania and Hungary, she hopes to find an elementary teaching position in Indiana next school year.

Katie Ann Kinman will major in Elementary Education with a specialization in Character Education and a minor in Spanish. After graduating, she plans to teach in an elementary school in the central Indiana area beginning this fall. She also hopes to pursue a Master’s degree in the field of education.

Rachel Elizabeth Koontz is double-major in Chemistry and Biology. After graduation, she will work on earning a Doctor of Medicine degree at either Wake Forest University or Indiana University School of Medicine.

Candice Nichole Lane is a double major in Psychology and Spanish. After graduation she will move to Indianapolis and begin a year-long research assistantship with IUPUI. This summer she will get married and apply to psychology graduate programs.

Carrie Anne Thomas is majoring in Language Arts Education and International Education with certification in English as a New Language. She was recently selected for a Fulbright Award through the Fulbright Program for U.S. Students, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. After graduation Carrie will assume her English Teaching Assistantship in the Slovak Republic, teaching English as a Foreign language at Gymnasium Jura Hronca (Grammar and Secondary High School) in Bratislava. While there, she will also conduct independent research on language teaching and the education system of Slovakia and participate in additional school and community activities.

Raymond Joseph Kenney and Erica Christine Narwold were unable to attend.

Jeremiah Townsell is a Criminal Justice major from South Bend, IN. As a four year starter for the Raven football team, Jeremiah twice earned 1st team ALL-HCAC honors. He ranks 10th on the career tackles list, 9th on the career sacks list, and 2nd on the career tackle for a loss list. Jeremiah was the 2008 Defensive MVP, 2007 and 2008 Lineman of the Year and was a Team Captain during the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

Melenda Hawthore is an exercise science major from Indianapolis, IN. As a four year member of the women’s basketball team, Melenda earned HCAC All-Conference honors in the 2006-2007 and the 2008-2009 seasons. She was a member of the HCAC All-Tournament Teams in the 2006-2007 and 2008 -2009 seasons. In addition, she was a finalist for the HCAC Player of the Year in 2008-09. This past season Melenda became one of only 7 players in the history of AU women’s basketball to score 1,000 points. As a two year member of the track and field team, Hawthorne was twice named to the HCAC –All Conference team; in 2006 in the high jump and in 2007 in the javelin.

—David Hynds is the Web Content Specialist for Anderson University.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth 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.

To be a member for Alpha Chi, students have to be of junior or senior status and in the top ten percent of their class. While all Alpha Chi students on campus are invited to submit a paper or presentation of work in their major for the national competition, Anderson University can only submit two papers for the national scholarship competition. Students compete either as juniors or seniors. This year three Alpha Chi students submitted papers for the scholarship competition. A faculty committee then selected the two students to represent Anderson University. Both students this year competed in the junior category.

Zehner will be serving as student body president next school year on campus and is a triple major in chemistry, biology, and philosophy.

“Anderson University has a long history with Alpha Chi and having our students win national and regional scholarships,” said Blake Janutolo, Dean of College of Science and Humanities.

Senior Heike Baird from Anderson, Ind., was an alternate winner for the Nolle Scholarship and received a $100 award. Baird also served as an alternate for the regional scholarship, a $200 award. Baird is majoring in English with a minor in Spanish. [Photo: Front row, left to right: Jennifer Perry, Heike Baird, Candice Lane. Back row, left to right: Nick Zehner, Blake Janutolo, Trish Janutolo, Marcus Smith, Nathan Turner]

“Nick and Heike have continued that tradition by submitting excellent papers for the scholarship competition and giving dynamic, professional presentations of their work at the National Convention. Watching their presentations made me proud to be part of an university that produces students that excel in their academic achievements,” added Janutolo.

A nominee for the Nolle Scholarships must be planning to be a senior in the fall semester of the award year.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth 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.

Director of the Career Development Center Maryann Coty shared that over 700 current undergraduate students have utilized the center’s resources and services.

“Using our office resources, meeting with our staff, or simply viewing the Career Development Center web site can help direct students with their internship and employment search,” said Coty.

Alumni contacting the Career Development Center for career advice, resume help, or connecting them to other alumni has increased due to layoffs and the current economy since the fall of 2008. Through a new intuitive headed by the Alumni office, the Alumni Mentoring Program creates a connection with students and alumni, and even alumni with other alumni to network professionally in their given industry and region.

“Connecting with our office is important either as a student, an alumni, or serving as an Alumni Mentor,” said Coty. “Industry networking connects students to the organizations they wish to pursue in an effort to research the job market, how the economy affects the industry, and the different sectors to their career choice.”

One example was the recent April 3 Media Career Day the Career Development Center, INvision AU and the Dept. of Communications Arts hosted in Reardon Auditorium. The Career Development Center brought in alumni from a television station, radio station, reporters, a publishing company, and newspapers to allow students to see all the job opportunities and majors encompassed in the media industry. This not only helps with networking efforts but helps undeclared students to see the vast opportunities in the media field. [Media Day pictured left.]

INvision AU is another tool the Career Development Center offers in finding paid internships for students. The Lilly Endowment grant allows AU to place interns in an organization with an agreement that the company matches the grant for future interns.

“This is a great opportunity to help students find internships, to gain experience, build required soft skills, connect students with an organization, and build a foundation for their career plan,” said Coty.

Coty breaks down each class year below to prepare students for internships and employment:

Senior Year

• Make sure your resume clearly identifies the education and skills you’ve obtained. When apply for a job, target your resume toward the organization and the job description.
• Actively get in touch with your network list. Contact everyone you know, relationships built over your time at AU, alumni connections, internships, part time jobs, volunteering in the community, etc.
• Let your network know what field you are interested in and that you are graduating.
• Attend job fairs to learn about organizations and job opportunities, and to make connections.
• At the start of your senior year have a good understanding as to when organizations within your field of interest recruit for employment. Some organizations may recruit in the fall for the following summer. This requires a great deal of researching of organizations. With today’s economy be open to taking internships.
• Follow up with the organizations in which you’ve applied for employment.

Junior Year

• Actively search for a summer internship. Talk to your faculty advisor, an alumni mentor, your network, and the career center.
• Contact the career center to prepare for interviews.
• Research the different skills you will need to develop and/or improve upon within your field of interest. Internships are a great way to develop communication, organizational, team building, leadership, and other skills organizations seek in entry level employees.
• Determine your strengths versus your weaknesses.
• Prepare to be competitive in the job market.

Sophomore Year

• Connect with alumni. Learn about the job opportunities available within your field of interest. Alumni can help educate you on what is current in the industry.
• Begin to create your network list. Include family, friends, faculty, alumni, and other professionals.
• Start networking early with alumni and everyone you know. Connections are the key to building lasting professional relationships.

Freshman Year

• Develop a short- and long-term career plan that meets your career goals with the assistance of a career counselor.
• Your resume allows you to see the knowledge and skills you currently possess.
• Sign up for LART 1200, Career and Life Planning, if undeclared. The class encourages those students who are undecided to determine interests relative to the current job market.

To view further information on a student timeline, click here.

“I wish employers knew how much we desire to have jobs and how eager we are to enter the work force – that’s a charisma not a lot of employees can say they still have,” said senior art major Dane Benton on today’s economy and job market search.

The CDC assists students and alumni with applying their academic and life experiences to attain career goals; provides them with the services and resources necessary to make better informed career decisions; and develops the skills necessary to implement their career plans.

—Stefanie Leiter is the Web Content Manager at Anderson University.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,750 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth 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 at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU), Morris has 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 & Undergraduate Academic Dean.

Dr. 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.

Dr. Morris has been listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and she is an Executive Leadership Development Fellow within the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). She has received the Bennett, Kellogg, & Mellon Scholarship, the Edgar A. Thurman Foundation Grant and the Lilly Fellows Faculty Mentoring Program Grant.

She presently serves as a Board Member with Lilly Fellows National Network; Chair of the Mennonite Education Agency Deans & Marpeck Deans; Member of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society (Epsilon Zeta and Pi Mu), and Institutional Representative for Virginia Network for Women and a Reaccreditation Evaluator for Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools.

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 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth 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 four honorary degrees. Anderson University will award Rev. Emory Williams (distinguished Church of God minister) with an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree, Billy Jo Hall (longtime member of the Anderson University Board of Trustees and investment advisor at LPL Financial Services in Mount Sterling, Ky.) with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, Thomas J. Snyder (president of Ivy Tech Community College) with the honorary Doctor of Laws degree and Bobbette Snyder (executive director of the Madison County Leadership Academy) with the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

Other events scheduled on Anderson University’s May 9 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 9 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 11:30 a.m.

Events earlier in the week associated with commencement weekend include the School of Theology Senior Recognition and Awards Chapel on Tuesday, April 28, at 11 a.m. E.D.T. in Miller Chapel. On Friday, May 8, at 6 p.m. E.D.T. the hooding ceremony for the Doctor of Ministry graduates will take place at Miller Chapel / Tallen Hall in the SOT. In addition, a special pinning ceremony for the Anderson University School of Nursing will be conducted on Friday, May 8 at 6 p.m. in Byrum Hall.

Dr. Carl Caldwell is a 1966 graduate of Anderson University and is the fifth chief academic officer in Anderson University’s 91-year history. Caldwell’s responsibilities have focused on the development of Anderson University programs, faculty and strategic planning. Before coming to Anderson University, Caldwell served as vice president for administration, vice president for academic affairs, and dean of the college at Franklin College in Franklin, Ind.

Caldwell received a master of arts in history from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, and a doctorate in history from Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. He has completed individual research and study seminars at Oxford University in England, as well as in Israel, Syria, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen Arab Republic.

In addition to having held several teaching assignments, Caldwell has also lectured on Middle East history, political structures and policies. His administrative positions have included associate dean for academic affairs at Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., and dean for academic affairs at Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Va.

In November of 2002, Caldwell received the national Chief Academic Officers Award from the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC). The award, delivered at the Institute for Chief Academic Officers, is annually presented to an individual who advances academic excellence at private colleges and universities. It is one of the Council’s highest honors for exemplary academic leadership. He has been a member of the Chief Academic Officers (CAO) Task Force, a frequent speaker at CIC’s Institute for Chief Academic Officers, and a mentor to new CAOs.

In October of 2008, Dr. Caldwell announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2008-09 academic year from a distinguished career of 38 years in academic and administrative leadership. He has served at Anderson University since the spring of 1996.

Caldwell and his wife, Carolyn, a 1964 graduate of Anderson University, have two sons and four grandchildren. Following retirement, the Caldwells will continue to serve in full time positions at the American University of Iraq – Sulaimani.

Dr. Kerry Robinson is the senior pastor of East Side Church of God, in Anderson, Ind., a congregation he has served since December 1996. East Side Church is located near the campus of Anderson University and Church of God Ministries, Inc. and is widely recognized for its mission to “Lift up Jesus Christ so that people may Discover Hope for Life.” As the primary speaker for East Side Church of God, Dr. Robinson shares passionately to groups of various sizes in diverse settings in an effort to help individuals discover the hope of Jesus Christ.

Prior to his current assignment, Dr. Robinson was the Senior Pastor of White Chapel Church of God and President of Warner Christian Academy in Daytona Beach (1992-1996) and Senior Pastor of Scott Memorial Church of God, Chattanooga, TN (1983-1992).

Dr. Robinson is a graduate of Anderson University, Anderson School of Theology, and has done postgraduate work at Emory University in Atlanta. He is a graduate of Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham, AL., with a Doctor of Ministry Degree. Dr. Robinson has served in leadership for the Church of God at the state, regional, and national levels.

Dr. Robinson is married to the former Becky Meyer and they have two adult sons.

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 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth 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.

But several college students are changing the way some kids see their future, and themselves.

College Mentor for Kids, a program founded in 1994 by two Indiana University students, works to change all that and help kids to dream big.

Twice a week in Hartung Hall on the campus of Anderson University, 40 college students and 40 elementary kids in the first through fourth grades merge together to experience college life and all it has to offer.

Both Robinson Elementary and Anderson Elementary students know that on Tuesdays and Wednesdays of every week during the school year, they get to ride a bus to campus and partner up with their “big buddy.”

After snacks and reading time, participants break into groups and do different activities on campus.

“We get to see people, like famous basketball players and nurses,” said Jalen Cooley, a second-grader at Robinson Elementary. “I want to be a lawyer.”

Another Robinson second-grader, Amy White, said, “I like meeting people and we got to go to the library … I think I want to be a veterinarian someday.”

Derek Thurber, sophomore at Anderson University, said he likes working with the kids and finds it a good experience. “I work with Juan, a first-grader at Robinson Elementary. He seems to be improving in his behavior and enjoys the activities.”

Students on campus who are interested in mentoring children in this program must go through a three-step process. The president and vice president of the program will interview each candidate to find out what experience they have with kids, what their goals are and why they want to participate in the program.

Then the candidates give a short impromptu speech, answering questions such as how they would explain or answer the children’s questions. The students must also demonstrate how well they work with and communicate with children by being observed in a group.

“I got involved in College Mentor for Kids because I am an education major,” said Michelle Milius, sophomore at AU. “Michael, my first-grade buddy, has improved so much, and I’ve learned a lot of patience.”

Alexis Gentry, a freshman at AU, has two little buddies, a boy and a girl. “One of my buddies wants to come here when he grows up and asked if I will be here when he comes.”

She said they found it interesting that the college students have roommates in a dorm and do not live with their parents.

Michael Watts, a junior at AU and president of College Mentor for Kids Anderson Chapter, explained what makes this program unique:

“We have them do various things around the AU campus … activities such as going over to the wellness center and meeting with athletic trainers to see what you would do to become an athletic training major, or going to the library and seeing what librarians do, how to research and how to use the computers, and then we’ve been over to security to see what a police officer would do — basically to get them familiar with the college campus and what is a college education.”

Watts said when the children are new to the program, he asks them what they think college is and what people do there. Responses are pretty limited, but by the time the program ends each one has a better understanding and idea of how college could play an important role in their future.

“I would tell anyone wishing to aspire to great things or goals, to always believe in yourself. No matter the situations or circumstances for the present time, the future may hold something different. If you keep your head up and your eyes set on your goal, you can achieve anything,” said Watts.

He’s enjoyed watching his own little buddy grow and become a better student in school. “He even takes an interest in me and asks me about my own family. I like that I can impact and help even one student.”

—Kim Ousley is a reporter for the Herald Bulletin. Story republished with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth 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.