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.

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.

Senior Bible and religion major Liisa Kilmer has always been intrigued by travel. Wanting to experience an overseas trip, she found International Student Services. The International Student Association is an organization on campus that unites students from countries all over the world. By planning dinners and several international events each year, the ISA strives to make AU feel like home for its international students. Understanding the impact of international experience, the ISA encourages all AU students to travel to destinations outside of the United States. After looking into the program, Kilmer was very interested and immediately began looking into her credits and degree requirements.

Kilmer first scheduled a meeting with Shane Kirkpatrick, associate professor of religion and her academic mentor, to discuss the program’s credits and registration. The logistics of the trip were handled by her advisor, but Kilmer took the initiative when it came to planning and choosing the destination — Australia. “It was a great example of approaching education actively, not passively, and taking the initiative to make your education your own,” said Kirkpatrick.

Australia was not Kilmer’s first choice, but she based her decision on the curriculum rather than the destination. “Originally, I wanted to go somewhere in Asia, because I have always been fascinated with that culture,” said Kilmer. “Unfortunately they didn’t offer the programs I was looking for. Then I came across a Christian arts school in Australia that offered classes in graphic design, dance, drama, music, and theology. I have always been passionate about Christian worship as well as the arts. This program gave me an opportunity to tie the two together. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with Australia and its coastal culture.”

Kilmer and 25 other American students met in Los Angeles, where they boarded a plane to Australia. When they first arrived, all of the students went on a scavenger hunt in the heart of Sydney. The students were divided into teams and ran throughout Sydney, searching for monuments and several other tourist attractions. While traveling home from the scavenger hunt, the American students encountered a disgruntled older man, who clearly wasn’t fond of the United States. “There is a really big gap between generations in Australia when it comes to attitudes toward Americans,” said Kilmer. “Younger Australians love Americans, but older Australians tend to be bitter and cynical toward us. The older generation watches America’s international affairs very closely. They may know more than we do.”

Kilmer was the only student from AU. The other students were from schools spread throughout the United States. For four months, Kilmer stayed with an Australian host family and attended school in Drummoyne, a suburb of Sydney. She and another American student shared a house with a family of five.

Embracing a new country and home, Kilmer was also exposed to life in a crowded household. “I grew up as an only child, so sharing a house with six people took some adjusting,” said Kilmer. “The schooling and grading systems are really different from ours too, so that was probably the hardest adjustment.”

Living with Australians not only taught her to adapt culturally, but challenged her religiously. “None of them were Christians, which created an unusual household dynamic, but made for stimulating conversation,” said Kilmer.

Studying abroad not only introduces students to a new culture, but allows students to see their own culture from others’ vantage points. Embracing a new culture, new friends, and new family would make anyone nervous. Kilmer is no exception. “Before I left, I was feeling restless,” said Kilmer. “For people who are afraid of traveling, I would recommend Australia. The culture is unlike any other, yet it’s not overwhelmingly different.”

Kilmer encourages students to take advantage of AU’s International Student Services. “I knew it would either satisfy my thirst for travel and get it out of my system, or it would just make me want to travel more, said Kilmer. “Now that I’m home, I can say it definitely did the latter.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

“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.

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.

“I wanted to give our community an opportunity to voice their opinions about what’s been happening in the area,” said Murphy.

A range of voices were represented at Thursday night’s forum, from retirees to current Anderson University students. Murphy was pleased with the turnout.

“It speaks to our intellectual seriousness of our community when we have a showing like this the day before spring break,” said Murphy.

The panel consisted of Donna Albrecht, a former teacher in Egypt; her husband, Eric Fricke; Dr. Carl Caldwell, a retired AU professor; Jordan Clark, an AU senior studying political science; Dr. Daniel Allen, AU professor of political science; and Hussain Alhashem, an AU student from Saudi Arabia.

[Photo: From left, Hussain Alhasem, Eric Fricke, and Donna Albrecht speak to Anderson University students and members of the community at a seminar and discussion on the events happening in the Middle East.]

Allen began the discussion by offering his synopsis of the region.

“It’s been enthralling, but this is just the ending of chapter one. It’s very hard to build a democracy,” said Allen.

Clark, who spent a semester in Cairo last year, said there were two common responses to Hosni Mubarak’s regime in Egypt; one was apathetic, the second was the lively engagement that has been broadcast around the world. He also stated that those who were active in the protests showed a “remarkable” sense of unity, as Muslims and Christians shared in their frustration with the government.

“It was a microcosm of their vision of the Egypt of the future, where class and religion are no longer barriers,” said Clark.

Social media have played a major role in how people from around the world follow the uprisings. Albrecht said that before 2011, she was never that involved with Facebook, but once her friends in Egypt started posting comments and videos she says she became an “addict.” She said one of her former students posted a video while he was being teargassed. He has not posted since, which leaves Albrecht to worry about his status.

One of the first questions from the audience was “what is the U.S.’s role?”

Caldwell answered by stating President Barack Obama is in a “difficult” position, because what is happening in the Middle East espouses many of the values Americans hold, and it seems like we ought to support the activists. However, if Obama does interfere, he will be seen throughout the global community as “meddling.”

“There’s a prevailing opinion in the region that the U.S. is too involved, but I think that will change,” said Caldwell.

Fricke said there is a feeling of self-reliance in places like Egypt and Libya, where protesters are saying to the international community “We started this, we’ll finish it.”

Following the 90-minute discussion, Murphy said he was pleased with the dialogue between panelists and the audience.

“It started off a little slow, but once we started introducing some controversial topics I think it really got going,” said Murphy.

— Sam Brattain is a reporter for The Herald Bulletin. Story reposted with permission.

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.

Kelsey traveled to Allen, S.D., this past summer to intern at Pass Creek Church of God on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The reservation is one of the poorest locations in the U.S. “In the town of Allen, alcohol and drug abuse is the norm,” said Kelsey. “Everyone knew where the drug dealers lived, and taking a drunken guy to the hospital at 4 a.m. wasn’t something out of the ordinary.”

While at the church, Kelsey led work groups from churches and schools across the country that visited the reservation. New groups came to the reservation every two weeks, and Kelsey organized their lesson plans, led vacation Bible school, and helped coordinate evening activities such as kickball or basketball. Kelsey bonded with each new group that came in.

“Kids need someone to watch out and care for them,” said Kelsey. “A lot of those kids are not used to getting any attention and they need someone to love them and teach them about Christ.”

Most of the groups that came through were assigned to different work projects. They would help build or restore buildings on the reservation, and Kelsey was able to teach them certain woodworking skills.

One of the highlights of Kelsey’s internship was the Free Christian Music Festival at the end of the summer. He took a group of teenagers to Rapid City and listened to bands such as the Newsboys, Down Here, Barlow Girl, and Thousand Foot Krutch. “Most of these kids have never left the city of Allen before, which has a population of about 400 people,” said Kelsey. “There were more than 50,000 people at the music festival, so you can only imagine how excited those kids were.”

Prior to his internship, Kelsey had visited South Dakota during a two-week mission trip through AU’s Tri-S program. Willi Kant, director of international education at AU, encourages the South Dakota trip because it gives students an opportunity to engage with the people in work, worship, and cultural learning.

“There is no better way to learn about Native American history and culture than to spend time with the people,” said Kant. Tri-S has been involved with Native American communities since the late 1960s and also works with communities in Oklahoma and Arizona.

Throughout his internship Kelsey learned more about himself and grasped a more tangible idea of what he wants to do after graduation.

“One skill I developed during my internship was being prepared to have an answer when asked the hard questions,” said Kelsey. “I learned how to genuinely love, comfort, and care for people and meet their needs as best as I can.”

Kelsey will earn a degree in Christian ministries and would like to work for a nonprofit organization or work in a social justice setting.

— Laura Overman is a senior from Peru, 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 2,700 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.

Norman and Louetta Beard were named the 2010 recipients of the Heritage Award, a designation reserved for those who have made a lasting impression on the legacy of AU.

The Heritage Club includes AU alumni who have pledged their estates, insurance policies, and other financial holdings to the university upon the members’ deaths.

Both graduates of AU, Norman and Lou Beard continued working on campus long after graduation.

Lou Beard served on several boards at Park Place Church of God and taught piano on campus.

Lou Beard led the children’s choirs at Park Place for more than 20 years.

Norman earned a master of divinity from the School of Theology and began working there in 1953.

He was the dean of students and assistant to the president, and is best known for his role as vice president and dean of international education, according to Chris Williams of AU.

Norman Beard was one of the architects of the Tri-S program, which stands for “Study, Serve and Share.”

The program was created in order to give students international experiences, enriching their college educations with a world view through travel and service work abroad.

“Norm guided and developed this program to a level that became a model of higher education,” AU President James Edwards said Sunday at a luncheon for the couple.

During his time with Tri-S, Norman helped plan several world conferences for the Church of God which drew 1,200 to 4,000 people from 85 countries.

The Beards have made a “world of difference with a lifetime of service to this institution,” Edwards said.

—Brandi Watters is a reporter for The Herald Bulletin. Story republished with permission.

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

The two trips that were offered this year were to Belize and China. Both trips lasted two and half weeks. The School of Nursing believes this opportunity allows students to step outside their comfort zones and experience how health care is delivered in other countries.

[Photo: AU nursing student Jenna Yeager with a young patient in Belize.]

Assistant Professor of Nursing Judy Shockey Carter led 13 nursing students around the northwest part of Belize to work alongside physicians in a hospital. “We stayed at a Seventh Day Adventist hospital in San Ignacio and woke up early in the mornings to take care of patients,” said Carter.

Alfonso Ayala, a graduate of the Anderson University School of Theology, is a physician at the hospital and assisted the Belize group during their stay. They participated in festivals, church services, and built relationships with the people of the community.

The students took blood pressures, temperatures, and went on mobile clinics to help coach mothers on how to prepare and take care of their babies after birth. They also studied pharmacological pay management during their stay and worked as nurse techs and aids. They performed injections, dress changes, started IVs, and did assessments in the different communities.

“This was my first time to lead a trip through AU, but I have been on several mission trips in the Caribbean and to Mexico,” said Carter. “I really enjoyed deepening my relationships with the students and interacting with the different communities during our stay.”

Before going on the trip, the students were expected to know general knowledge of the country they would be visiting. They composed a research paper covering the history, different aspects of cultural religions, family structures, the language, political systems and specific health issues the country was experiencing. After the students stayed in the different cultures, they compared and contrasted what they learned on the trip and how it differs from health care in the U.S.

[Photo: AU nursing students Megan Stout, Jenn Lunsford, Jill Heffernan, and Bonnie Lanning in Hangzhou, China.]

Jenn Lunsford was one of seven students who attended the China trip, led by Professor of Nursing and Graduate Coordinator Dr. Paula Boley.

“Not only did we experience China, but we got to interact within the different communities, evaluate the prevalence there, and learn about traditional Chinese medicines,” said Lunsford. “We stayed in Beijing, Hangzhou, and Shang Hi and studied childhood obesity in the elementary and middle schools of their communities. We were paired up with nursing students of their culture and were given the opportunity to visit their homes and meet their families. I learned what it was like to be a minority in a different culture and how to deal with a language barrier while trying to do assessments on the patients.”

Jenna Yeager traveled with Carter and 12 other students to the warm, sunny weather in Belize. Before Yeager left for Belize, she said the hardest part would be adapting to the culture and trying to communicate with different language barriers. But after returning to the U.S., she was ready to turn around and go back.

“The hardest part was coming home. I have never seen a more beautiful place than Belize, and I got to practice my Spanish with the people of the community,” said Yeager. “Here in American hospitals, we waste a lot. And in Belize, they don’t have a lot of resources. They conserve everything and learn to improvise with everything they’re given. If I think in that concept, it would help me here and teach me to be more resourceful.”

Carter is grateful for the overseas trips offered through AU and the opportunity for students to be exposed to different cultures. “I love the well rounded education that AU offers, and this trip is definitely beneficial to the learning experience for the students,” said Carter. “AU is a small campus with a big heart. I have a heart for teaching students. It’s not just about education; it’s about the whole person. I wouldn’t want to teach anywhere else.”

A third group of students, led by Associate Professor of Nursing Marlene Poe-Greskamp remained in the United States, and worked with the homeless in Indianapolis while studying the policies and reform of health care.

—Laura Overman is a junior from Peru, 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 2,700 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.

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.

The simulation included eight committees that worked to write resolutions or reports on current international issues. Each delegation sent one or two representatives to the committees their countries are in. At the end of the conference, the committees came together and brought their resolutions to the General Assembly to pass them into action.

[PHOTO: Anderson University senior Adam Renner looks over a resolution while sitting in committee.]

Model UN advisor Dr. Daniel Allen, assistant professor of political science at Anderson University, said he was “extremely impressed by our Model UN students. Their successes result from a deep commitment to study, plan, and work with others to craft quality solutions to global problems.” New to AU this year, Allen said he learned that AU students are “creative and have a great deal to offer their communities in terms of their service and leadership abilities.”

Senior and head delegate Adam Renner won the Best Delegate award for his committee. The Best Delegate award is voted on by each committee and is based on which delegate most effectively maintains the persona of a foreign nation’s diplomat. It is a recognition of charisma, knowledge, and the ability to play a role outside the typical viewpoint of a Western individual. “The award in itself is not the goal of the event, but rather the experience is the goal,” Renner said. “It is a sense of accomplishment though, in knowing that the committee I was in thought that I was well prepared, a competent debater and speaker, and personable enough to sway delegates in resolutions.”

Junior Elizabeth Vincent played a different role in the conference by being part of the International Press Delegation instead of representing Oman in a committee. “We produced two or three papers a day covering the developments in the different committees and feature stories,” Vincent explained. “It was the fastest turnaround time I have ever worked with, but it was great experience.”

[PHOTO: Anderson University students Marcus Smith and Oscar Ndao discuss their committee's issues at the Model UN.]

Paul Rusesabagina was the 2009 keynote speaker for the conference. The real-life hero saved more than 1,200 lives during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, and his story inspired the film Hotel Rwanda. He is also the president and founder of the Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation, which Rusesabagina says “provides a voice to the victims of genocide and supports peace efforts in Rwanda and throughout the world.”

Each participant took away a different lesson. “My favorite part was the intense debates between other delegates,” said freshman Paige Warnock in agreement with several other participants who expressed the same feelings. “I learned a lot about how people in the real United Nations represent their countries, and it taught me to respect the people who control certain aspects of the nation I live in.”

— Elizabeth Vincent is a junior from Greenfield, Ind., majoring in communication arts and minoring in political science. Vincent 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 2,800 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.

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.

“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.

For many incoming students at AU, there is a strong family or church connection, but for Barwinska, there was no prior connection. But in the course of her online research, she discovered a personal touch at Anderson University that led her to this campus.

“I was sending a lot of e-mails to Scott Martin, who was the director of international students at the time, probably at least one a day,” she says. “I had a lot of questions, being an international student. And he was patient enough to respond every single day. I decided to come to AU thinking it would be a really good school, and it turned out to be.”

From the moment she stepped off the plane at Indianapolis International Airport, Barwinska was greeted by fellow AU international students, forming connections that remain strong today.

And among those connections, her friendship with fellow 2009 graduate Emily Wasonga was key to Barwinska’s decision to go to Africa in May 2007 and eventually to write her book, To Be … in Africa.

A native of Kenya, Wasonga was familiar with the work of Frida and Paul Enane, who had established the Frepals Clinic in Kibera, Kenya, where they served the medical needs of some of Kenya’s poorest citizens.

Wasonga felt a calling to do something to support the work at Frepals, and the idea that emerged was to hold a pageant that would focus not on the external beauty of the contestants, but on the beauty of their ideas for service in East Africa. This program is now known as the AU-East Africa Ambassador Initiative.

Although she was involved in the planning of the pageant, Barwinska had no plans to go on the trip … until she was approached by Wasonga.

“One day, Emily came to me and said, ‘I know the project is going to work out, and I’m going to go home, and I want you to come with me,’” Barwinska recalls. She began thinking about all the reasons why such a trip would be difficult to arrange. But that personal challenge from her good friend outweighed those concerns, and Barwinska agreed to go.

The main focus of the trip, coordinated through AU-East Africa, was to provide support and resources to the Frepals Clinic. However, an equally important aspect of the trip, according to Barwinska, was for the participants to simply “be” in Africa, to be present and form relationships with Kenyans.

Barwinska maintained a journal during her trip, and at times she would share some of her writings with Martin for feedback. She says, “I remember Scott telling me one day, ‘You know, you should be more detailed, because when you go back to it and read it after a few years, it will all come back to you.’” So, she recorded as much detail as she could, details about the environment, the people she met, and the emotional impact the experience had on her.

After her return to campus, Barwinska referred back to her journal as she began sharing her experiences with family and friends. In the process, she began wondering if her writings could be turned into a book. So she consulted Martin once again.

“I thought maybe I could just write it and publish a copy for myself, maybe for a couple of friends,” she recalls, “but Scott said, ‘You could actually get this published.’ And I thought it just sounded so impossible, so improbable. How do you even go about doing it? And Scott said, ‘Just do it. We’ll figure out a way.’”

When the manuscript was finished, Martin realized the book was a perfect fit for Global Student Solutions (GSS), an organization he had established to serve the needs of international students studying abroad in the United States.

“GSS has been planning to serve global students through publications, and we wanted to do books,” he says, “so when Daria’s book came along, it was a great fit. This blending and exploration of culture and life-changing experiences is what we are all about. Here is a Polish student who is studying in America and is further challenged to examine her life through another global student from Kenya. The book walks with her into Kenya, where she tries to be ‘present’ and really feel another culture.

“I can’t overstate the significance of having a voice like Daria’s in the public forum,” he continues. “While this is still a ‘western’ voice on the developing world, I think it offers a different perspective that will be informative to people and help us as we engage cross culturally.”

It has been two years since Barwinska’s trip, but she continues to be active in addressing the needs in East Africa. She and Wasonga are currently working to collect shoes for East Africans, as well as books and toys for orphanages and schools. And she hopes one day to return to Kenya.

Although she graduated from AU this spring, Barwinska remains on campus, working in the Department of Student Life and considering options for her future. As a student at AU, she studied biology and worked for two years as an intern with a contract research organization in Greenfield. In the second year of her internship she conducted independent research, serving as a study director. Now she is looking toward graduate school, with the goal of earning a PhD in genetics and pursuing a career in research. With her experiences at AU, she feels up to the task.

“Just knowing that I could do my internship for the past two years, and that I got to do my own study last year, I think that really shows I was well prepared by the faculty here,” she says.

For more information about Barwinska’s book, or to purchase a copy, visit Global Student Solutions. Contact info@globalstudentweb.org for information on book signings or other opportunities to hear Barwinska share her story.

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.

–Randy Dillinger serves as Web Content Editor and SEO Manager in the office of University Communications at Anderson University.

“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.

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.

Approximately 40 colleges in each of the six geographical regions in the U.S. were selected as meeting four key criteria that make a college truly exceptional: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant communities, and successful outcomes. These are the “hidden gems” of higher education institutions – as determined by a review board of academicians, guidance counselors, and parents.

“We are truly honored to have received the designation of ‘College of Distinction’ by Students Horizons,” said Dr. Michael Collette, vice president for Enrollment Management and Information Systems. “We believe that this distinction will provide a level of pride for our students and their families for this recognition, and confidence that we have been acknowledged by our peers for having high quality faculty, uncommonly good teaching, nationally recognized programs, and very engaged students.”

Anderson University was required to go through an application process to be considered, be nationally recognized by education professionals, employ outstanding teachers that provide innovative learning experiences, have an active campus and community that allows for personal development, and be highly valued by employers for its outstanding preparation. Colleges of Distinction also recognized an impressive nine other colleges in the state including: Goshen College, Butler University, Manchester College, St. Joseph’s College, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Saint Mary’s College, Taylor University, University of Evansville, and University of Southern Indiana.

College seekers can also visit the Colleges of Distinction website to learn more about featured schools, including Anderson University. Furthermore, visitors can read tips from high school guidance counselors and essays from college students, presidents, and other members of different campus communities.

Student Horizons, Inc. is a digital services company devoted to higher education. Founded in 2002 by concerned parents and admissions professionals, their mission is to enable students to find colleges and universities that appeal to and complement their unique personalities and aspirations. Student Horizons, Inc. is located in Bethesda, MD.

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.

Dr. Dale Bales of the department of chemistry and physics was the eighth person at Anderson University to receive the John A. Morrison faculty award this past year. Bales first joined the faculty of AU in 1976, left for a brief time in the early 1980’s, but returned in 1987 to stay. He has served the institution for 28 years.

Chad Wallace, now chair of the department of chemistry and physics taking over the title from Bales, indicates the following: “I had the great opportunity to know Dale Bales at two different times in my life. The first was when I was a chemistry undergraduate student attending here. ‘Dr. Bales’, as I knew him then, was my teacher, adviser, and mentor. I saw a man of great knowledge, insight, wisdom, and humility. He epitomized to me the perfect blend of scientist and committed Christian.

In fact, for all of these years I have known him, he has almost always been a pastor of some local congregation while excelling in his duties at AU. He so inspired me, that I knew I wanted to attend graduate school so I might one day come back to my alma mater and hope to influence students’ lives a fraction of what he did.”

The recipient of the John A. Morrison staff award has served in various capacities in her lengthy tenure of 34 years with the university. She has been a student, taught classes, and is currently a staff member serving as Manager of Student Technology Services and Group Coordinator for Information Technology Services.

In her most recent assignment, Jan Schmidt, along with her colleagues in the ITS department, has been an integral part of equipping our campus with up-to-date technologies and training us in their use. Schmidt has also committed significant time to leading a number of Tri-S service trips around the world (including Calcutta, India, Grand Cayman and London) where she has developed powerful and meaningful relationships with students and those they served.

The Morrison award is designed to recognize faculty and staff who go beyond excellence in performance and have demonstrated a commitment to something larger than self. Each year, one staff and one faculty member will be selected from those nominated by the faculty and staff and announced at the annual Recognition Luncheon. Nominees for the Morrison Award should demonstrate a commitment to the university’s mission and core values.

—Stefanie Leiter is Web Content 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 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.

As Dean Branson, director of student programming, pointed tightly-packed vehicles toward temporary parking spaces, returning students and some experienced parents waited for any chance they had to help another freshman into the dorms.

“They’re responsible for unpacking, but we get their stuff up to the room as quickly as we can,” Branson said.

Cars came loaded with all the comforts of home — lamps, rugs, television — downsized to fit into each of the single rooms that most students must share with an unfamiliar roommate.

“We have to know that the people coming here have never done this before,” Branson said. “So we have to make them feel at home.”

Hominess is what attracted Nathan Breneman to AU. The freshman from Dublin, Ohio, said the size of the campus made the school seem like a good fit. He was settling into Dunn Hall on Thursday, but said he wasn’t nervous about starting classes, although he was worried that living without his own car would take a lot of getting used to.

His parents were also wondering about how their lives would be different with their oldest son out of the house.

“I just know the home will be a lot quieter,” said Jenny, Nathan’s mother. “He’s the talker. He’s the one who always has something going on.”

Nathan is one of an estimated 600 new undergraduates enrolling at AU this fall, the school reported. The university expects the size of its full-time freshman class to increase between 12 and 15 percent this year, but exact figures will not be known until late September.

Approximately 80 percent of new undergraduate students are coming from Indiana or neighboring states, but 47 states and 30 countries are represented in the total undergraduate population of about 1,850 students, the university reported.

Callie Zelber and Kelly Thomas moved into Rice Hall on Thursday. Strangers less than a year ago, the two girls met though Anderson University’s new social networking site for accepted students, a Web site that lets people seriously considering AU to talk.

Admission’s counselor Christy Kihm said lots of students had found roommates using the site. “It was a big hit.”

Zelber, of Indianapolis, and Thomas, of Miamisburg, Ohio, said they connected over their shared love of the Disney princesses, and now their dorm room is festooned with images of Belle from “Beauty and the Beast.”

The girls said it was a challenge to decide which clothes to bring, and they both made a point to pack photographs and their beloved teddy bears.

With five days left before classes start, Kelly said she’d be using the time to relax, meet some new people, and if there’s time, find out where her classes are. dresser to herself, she joked that it was a good excuse to go buy more clothes.

VIEW FLICKR PHOTO ALBUM OF 2008 MOVE-IN DAY

—Barrett Newkirk is a reporter for the Herald Bulletin. Story republished 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.

To rank schools, US News first organizes colleges and universities by category, and then ranks them within each group. Rankings are based on a wide range of criteria, including academic reputation, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, and financial resources to name a few.

“While the best college for a given student will always be measured by personal fit, we are truly honored to be listed among the best in our region,” said Dr. James L. Edwards, president of Anderson University.  “These surveys give our students and their parents the confidence that we are highly regarded and worth considering as they make their important choices for the investment of their college years.  We consider this highly regarded listing a tribute to our faculty and staff who are deeply committed to excellence and to student success.”

“We are pleased to be recognized as one of the best colleges in the Midwest by U.S. News and our peer institutions,” said Dr. Michael Collette, vice-president for Enrollment Management and Information Systems. “We are blessed with a strong faculty and we are encouraged by the financial resources provided by donors as well as the continued acknowledgment of our academic strength at an affordable value.”

The US News rankings will appear on the magazine’s web site on Friday, August 22. College-bound students can use the site to search for colleges according to their own interests, fill out interactive worksheets and search for scholarship and financial aid information. Excerpts of the college rankings will be published in the September 1 edition (on newsstands August 25) of the weekly news magazine. The full rankings will be published in the annual America’s Best Colleges guidebook, also available in libraries and bookstores on August 26.

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.

Summer school students also have the opportunity to select offerings such as reading courses of assigned textbooks, journals and research documents; flexible online study; tutorial courses which regularly meet with an arranged instructor; or special Tri-S courses that provide academic credit through study abroad.

“Summer school is an opportunity for students to get ahead or catch up on graduation requirements. The rate per credit hour is approximately two-thirds less than traditional tuition during the regular school year,” said Aleza Beverly, Dean of the School of Adult Learning. “For students who are able to stay in the area during the summer, there are three- and four- week face-to-face classes in the day and evening with tutorial options. For those going home or studying abroad, an online course or reading independent study course is a good option. These options make summer school attractive and affordable.”

Registration continues until the first day of each scheduled class. View the Schedule of Undergraduate Classes [PDF] for the summer of 2008. Tuition for summer school at AU in 2008 is $310 per semester hour. All current AU students enrolled in the spring semester are automatically admitted for Summer School. New and former students wishing to enroll should contact the AU Admissions Department at 1-800-428-6414.

For further information and details about Summer School 2008, please contact Aleza Beverly, Dean of the School of Adult Learning and director of Summer School, at 765-641-4251.

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.

Thousands of people still hustled to find their seats in Ward Fieldhouse as the color guard presented the flags to begin the ceremony.

VIEW PHOTOS OF GRADUATION ON FLICKR

Friends and family members of all ages, dressed in all kinds of attire, sat among each other for the joyous day—to celebrate the graduation of the university’s class of 2008.

The ceremony hasn’t changed much over the years, said sisters Nicole Fischer, 26, and Kate Lintondo, 31.

The two women sat with their grandparents in the audience as their mother, Katrinna Fischer, 49, received her master’s degree in teaching.

Katrinna Fischer teaches at Eastside Elementary School in Anderson. Her family has sat through several commencement ceremonies at Anderson University as other family members have graduated: Nicole; Kate; Kate’s husband; and Katrinna.

“We just like education,” said Nicole, who is now in law school.

Katrinna Fischer earned her bachelor’s degree from Anderson University not too long before she started the graduate program. Next year, she’ll start at Ball State University to earn her doctorate.

“She’s excited,” Kate Lintondo said. “She’s looking forward to it.”

All of the graduates, and their teachers, seemed excited for the future.

Commencement speaker James T. Morris, who was given an honorary doctor of law degree, said he was told this group of students was the most prepared class for public service from the university.

“The world is eager for you to make your mark, to do what you can,” he said.

Morris, executive director for the United Nations World Food Programme, talked about Myanmar and the world’s efforts to help the country, which was recently hit with a disastrous cyclone. He also spoke about efforts to eradicate world hunger and help the children of the world.

“Spending time on a team of people, seeking a common cause for a common good, that is the most rewarding experience that a human being can have,” Morris said. “This is a Christian university. This is a university with global outreach. … The practical application of our faith, whether you’re Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist, brings us together in a common ground.”

Coming together is how the world will rid itself of hunger, Morris said.

“You never feel so good about yourself with someone else working for someone else,” he said. “Leadership and being an effective person is about seeing your calling in its biggest context.”

The joyous occasion ended as most do—some were laughing and some were crying, but all were ready to go on to another adventure.

—Jessica Kerman is a reporter for the Herald Bulletin in Anderson. Story republished 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 60 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Students in the Falls School of Business will have a new choice in major beginning in the fall of 2008. The Falls School of Business will be offering a Global Business major beginning with the next catalog year. The 65-credit hour major also requires students to enroll in at least six hours of international experience to be approved by the dean and take additional hours of a foreign language.

“Anderson University, by tradition, is internationally focused,” said Terry Truitt, dean of the Falls School of Business. “Strong programs like Tri-S, our foreign language department, and AU-East Africa show the University’s broad reach… The global mindset isn’t something new; we are just building on our strengths.”

The Department of Communication Arts has undergone extensive restructuring in this new catalog. Communication Arts majors now have the option to specialize in Audio/Video/Cinema Production, Broadcast Journalism, Journalism and Public Relations. The department also offers opportunities for practical experiences seldom seen at the undergraduate level.

Donald Boggs, chair of the Department of Communication Arts, said, “Communication media have changed dramatically since our Mass Communication major was created in 1977 and we have restructured the department and the major to reflect the changes. The Internet and other factors have brought a ‘convergence’ of media and specialized media. Meeting the needs of niche audiences will represent the future of communication.”

Through the Federal National Professional Development grant, the ENL program is now able to provide students with an ENL license, training educators to assist English language learners in the classroom.

The ENL program helps educators serve the needs of English language learners, gain cross-cultural understanding and experience hybrid classes with face-to-face and online work. Ryan Weiss, Assistant to the Director said, “New teachers often face a challenge in teaching LEP students. We give teachers the tools and instruments to overcome these obstacles.”

—David Hynds is the Web Content Specialist for 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 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.

AU will award James T. Morris with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree and Phyllis R. Naylor with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

Other events scheduled on Anderson University’s May 10 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. In addition, the hooding ceremony for the School of Education will also be conducted at 12 noon on May 10 (as well as the certification ceremony for the Teach in Indiana Program–TIP) in Schield dining room of the Olt Student Center.

Earlier events associated with commencement weekend include the School of Theology Senior Recognition and Awards Chapel on Tuesday, April 29, at 11 a.m. EDT in Miller Chapel. In addition, a special pinning ceremony for the Anderson University School of Nursing will be conducted on Friday, May 9 at 6 p.m. in Byrum Hall.

James T. Morris serves as Special Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and President for Pacers Sports and Entertainment. Before joining the Pacers, Morris spent five years as the Executive Director for the United Nations World Food Programme. As head of WFP, Morris oversaw the world’s largest food aid organization, with more than 12,000 staff members, 90 percent of whom work in the developing world.

In July 2002, Morris was appointed UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa, a region which continues to be gripped by a major food emergency. In 2003, he successfully guided the World Food Programme in carrying out the largest humanitarian operation in history, feeding 27 million Iraqis.

After serving six years in city government in Indianapolis, Ind., Morris moved to the Lilly Endowment, Inc. in 1973. He served as president for six years until 1989. Morris then became chairman and chief executive officer of IWC Resources Corporation and Indianapolis Water Company.

While serving in these leadership roles and on several corporate boards, Morris has carved time out of this already busy schedule for volunteer activities. He was affiliated with the United States Olympic Committee as treasurer and as chairman of the audit and ethics committee, was a member of the Board of Governors of the American Red Cross, and was chairman of the Board of Trustees of Indiana University. He has contributed time and guidance to many civic and community organizations.

Phyllis R. Naylor, author of the 1992 Newbery Medal winner Shiloh, was born in Anderson, Ind. She wrote her first book in kindergarten and sold her first story at age 16 for $4.67. Before she started writing full-time in 1960, Naylor worked as a teacher and editor. Since she sold her first children’s book in 1965, she has written 136 books for children and adults.

Shiloh is the story of an 11-year-old Marty Preston who chances upon a mistreated beagle pup in his hometown of Friendly, West Virginia. Marty is not prepared for the ethical questions he has to face. Should he return the dog to its owner, only to have the animal abused again? Should he tell his parents? Should he steal food to help the poor creature? Marty’s efforts to cope with these questions provides the moral backbone for this story, which is presented in a language and manner that will be understood by third- and fourth-grade readers.

Kimberly Majeski grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and graduated from college with a degree in Political Science. After serving on the staff of a United States Congressman and two state representatives including the Speaker of the House and the Majority Floor Leader, Majeski received a call from God to preach. She immediately began preparing and studying for what has now become her life’s work.

Majeski served on the pastoral staff of the Trinity First Church of God in Nashville, Tennessee and also served as the Director of Education for the Cumberland Crisis Pregnancy Center where she enjoyed an extensive speaking ministry taking the message of truth and purity to many churches, women’s events and to over 13,000 young people in the public school system.

Majeski was ordained in 2000 and earned her Master of Divinity in 2003 from Anderson University School of Theology while serving as a Ministry Coordinator in the national offices of Women of the Church of God. During her career, she has served as a conference speaker, women’s retreat leader, Bible teacher, and pastor, She is married to Kevin Majeski and the two now live in Anderson, Indiana where Kimberly is the campus pastor of 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 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 60 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

To rank schools, US News first organizes colleges and universities by category, and then ranks them within each group. Rankings are based on a wide range of criteria, including academic reputation, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, and financial resources to name a few.

“For nearly a quarter century, consulting the U.S.News & World Report rankings has been a vital first step for prospective college students and their parents in the complex process of determining which institution best fits their goals,” said U.S.News & World Report’s editor, Brian Kelly. “Designed as a one-stop resource, the rankings supply hard data and analysis to help college applicants make apples-to-apples comparisons of schools across the country. Through these rankings, and the ‘America’s Best Colleges’ guidebook, our goal is to help equip students and their families to make a knowledgeable decision based on clear, comparative research.”

All the US News rankings will appear on the magazine’s web site on Friday, August 17. College-bound students can use the site to search for colleges according to their own interests, fill out interactive worksheets and search for scholarship and financial aid information. Excerpts of the college rankings will be published in the August 27 edition (on newsstands August 20) of the weekly news magazine. The rankings will also be available online.

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 60 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Three years prior to the 2006-07 academic school year, AU started meeting about an Honors Program through a development committee. With the program (made possible through a grant from Lilly Endowment), came planning, surveys to current students and alumni, curriculum intentions, and many other factors to create such a program for the university.

“We wanted a cohort of committed Christians who wanted to excel in learning, who were leaders in the community and knew how to represent AU’s campus,” said Dr. David Murphy, professor of History an co-director of the Honors Program. “We believe in combining our goals of intellectual and social learning in keeping with our mission to the program and AU.”

From the “Christian ideals” of the program it states the following: Anderson University is committed to the highest ideals of Christian higher education. As an integral part of that commitment, the Honors Program seeks to prepare students of demonstrated achievement for leadership in a range of fields of endeavor. Within this context, our scholars will be challenged to cultivate the life of the spirit, maturing in the virtues of integrity, justice, and generosity.

Dr. Carl Caldwell, vice president for Academic Affairs, nominated and appointed members to the committee to organize such a venture for incoming students. Committee members met to determine the desire and structure for such a program thus beginning the research and contact with other colleges in preparation for the program launch.

“We feel as though we learned from these other colleges and received feedback into how to structure and create such a program,” said Murphy. “For instance, we wanted to integrate these students with others on campus through dorm life and classes. Many other colleges have separate living quarters for honors students but we felt an overwhelming urge not to create such a lifestyle.”

Vivian Coffman, who works in the Center of Public Service (CPS) office and part-time for the Honors Program, appointed two upper classmen mentors, from CPS, to work with the cohort students. In addition, 2004 alum Erin Coffman and two other colleagues helped lead orientation sessions in adjusting to college life as a student and leader (curriculum from a youth leadership development program where she works in Washington D.C.)

“Because we did not have other honor students on campus we felt it was important to have upper classmen serving as mentors to these students and to see a familiar face when in the honors office,” said Vivian Coffman.

Rebecca Nelson, one of the first students to enter the program from Oak Lawn, Ill., felt that the three-day orientation program served the Honors Students in more ways than one.

“With arriving four days earlier on campus to adjust being away from home then coming into the honors orientation with three youth leadership experts, helped ease my anxiety coming into college,” said Nelson.

“I feel our roll in being mentors to these students is that they will use our mentorship how they see fit,” said senior Stephen Hawkins. “To let them know we [with sophomore mentor Lauren Roller] are people they can come to if they have problems, need questions answered, and to help them transition to college is important.”

Through CPS, Tri-S, SGA, and many other organizations on campus, Dr. Janice Fulkerson, associate professor of Education and co-director of the Honors Program, looks to these students as being future leaders on campus and in the community.

“We hope each year to have more and more applicants to the program and to have these students become ambassadors for the program in their hometowns and when talking to students and community members,” said Fulkerson.

“Retention is a huge factor for this program,” said Murphy. “We need to keep the brightest and best students in Indiana and in doing so need to create a program with a strong sense of belonging, which I think we have accomplished this year with our first group.”

Upon successful completion of 23 credit hours (one class per semester) over four years that will stand for and meet 17 liberal art credit requirements, students will receive special recognition at commencement, and on their transcripts and diploma.

For more information about requirements and the program itself, please visit www.anderson.edu/honors.

—Writer Stefanie Leiter is the editor of the Anderson University Web site in the AU Office of Communications.