[../../news/0001/header2000/header-simple.htm]

  President's Update

May 2003

Dear Huntington College friends and family,

The campus has been buzzing with much energy as classes have wrapped up and students are finishing with finals. This Saturday, May 17, will mark our 105th Commencement. Families and friends from across the nation and world will arrive at the College to partake in this special day. The Baccalaureate service, held for the families of the graduates, will begin at 10:30 a.m., in the Merillat Centre for the Arts with the Honorable Paul R. Cherry, Judge of the DeKalb Circuit Court in Auburn, delivering the address. 

At 3:00 p.m., Commencement will begin at the Alumni Plaza on front campus. We are expecting well over 200 graduates, one of our largest graduating classes, to receive their degrees. Our speaker will be Maestro John Nelson, Music Director of L’Ensemble orchestral de Paris. John has served as Music Director with the Indianapolis Symphony, the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, the Caramoor Music Festival in New York and has appeared with major orchestras throughout the United States. As an internationally acclaimed conductor, he has been engaged by numerous European, Asian and Australian orchestras. Throughout his acclaimed career, Maestro Nelson has endeavored to integrate his love of classical music with his love of the Lord. His commitment to masterworks of sacred choral music led him to co-found Soli Deo Gloria, Inc., a non-profit organization which encourages composers and conductors to promote great sacred works in our time. Established in 1993, Soli Deo Gloria, Inc., promotes, preserves and enhances classical sacred music in the Biblical tradition, and facilitates the creation of sacred classical music to the glory of God.

In addition to Maestro Nelson, who will receive an honorary Doctor of Music degree, Huntington College will present two other honorary degrees. Dr. Ronald P. Baker, a graduate of Huntington College, will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree. He grew up in Sierra Leone while his parents served as United Brethren missionaries. In 1968, Dr. Baker graduated from Huntington College with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. He continued his education at the Indiana University Medical School in Bloomington, Indiana, where he earned his M.D. in 1972. He and his wife, Jane, served for 16 years at a medical mission in Mattru Jong, Sierra Leone at the Mattru United Brethren in Christ Hospital. Today, Dr. Baker’s ministry is rooted in Berrien Springs, Michigan, yet continues to reach around the globe.

Dr. Paul R. Fetters will be presented an honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree. He entered Huntington College in 1951 and earned a B.A. from Huntington College, B.D. from Huntington College Theological Seminary, M.Div. from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, M.S. in Education (Guidance and Counseling) from St. Francis College, and D.Min. from Fuller Theological Seminary. Dr. Fetters has served eight pastorates throughout Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. He joined the Huntington College faculty in 1960 as a part-time instructor in the Huntington College Theological Seminary. He was instrumental in the seminary’s transformation into the Graduate School of Christian Ministries, where he served as Dean and Professor of Practical Theology at Huntington College.

I hope that you will be able to join us for this memorable day for many of our guests and graduates. Please join us in praying for our graduates as they leave Huntington College to impact our world for Christ.

Sincerely,

G. Blair Dowden

President

 

Admissions

 

Fall 2003 Enrollment

 

The chart above summarizes the number of prospective students who have applied and been accepted to Huntington College for the fall 2003 semester. The bars represent year-to-date comparisons over the past five years.


 

 

 

Academic

 

Art

 

Mr. Christopher Gantz, assistant professor of art at IPFW, recently served as the guest juror for the Huntington College 13th Annual Juried Student Art Exhibit, held in the Robert E. Wilson Gallery. Brandon Schwartz received the “Best of Show” award for his ceramic piece, “8-Legged Vessel.” The Robert E. Wilson Purchase Award went to Christy Harris for her photograph, “Lonely Swing.” Scott Cooper earned second place overall with his print, “City Street.” Jessica Williams won third place overall with her oil painting, “Untitled Series of 3.” For a list of all winners, see www.huntington.edu/news/0203/artshow.htm.

Projet Mobilivre-Bookmobile project, a group that tours through Canada and the United States in a vintage Airstream trailer, will travel to the Huntington area on May 14 and 15, 2003. Visitors to the Bookmobile will witness an outstanding collection of book works by a diverse range of artists and writers.

 

Business

Mr. James O’Donnell, associate professor of business and executive-in-residence, delivered the semester’s final Forester Lecture on May 5, in the Merillat Centre for the Arts main auditorium. In his lecture, Mr. O’Donnell shared that investor fascination, with the promises of technology, drove an unprecedented period of growth in the U.S. economy. The economic bubble burst in the year 2000, resulted in the loss of heady growth and investor wealth. This lecture told the story of the Internet technology bubble, as well as two of its earlier relatives: the Great Tulip Craze that swept through Holland in the early 1600’s and the South Sea Bubble that infected England in the early 1700’s.

 

Communication

Huntington College communication students earned several awards at the 2003 Indiana Association of Student Broadcasters (IASB) College Competition on April 12. Taking first-place honors were Michael Szapkiw in the Radio Spot Production category and Michelle Saylor in the Radio Public Affairs/Feature category. Szapkiw earned second place in the Radio Public Affairs/Feature category, as did Saylor, Beth Hurley and Ashley Fox in the TV Music Video category and Kathryn Nix, Timothy Ahlenius and Andre Laird in the TV Newscast/Anchoring category. Placing third were Szapkiw and Nix in the TV News Package category. “I am so proud of what our students have accomplished this past year in regards to media,” said Dr. Lance Clark, assistant professor of communication. “Winning several awards in the IASB College Division demonstrates our commitment to excellence in both content and form. This is the second year we have won major awards in this competition.”

Two students presented research topics at the Sixth Annual Student Research and Creative Endeavor Symposium, held at IPFW on April 15. G. Spencer Owen presented, “Spiritual Warfare in the United States:  Political Rhetoric and Public Opinion (President Roosevelt’s Use of Gods and Devils Rhetoric in His ‘Arsenal of Democracy’ Speech on 29 Dec. 1940).” Kelli Anne Whiteman presented “P69 Pertacin, Folding and Proteolysis Experiments.” Owen was under supervision of Dr. Kevin Miller, assistant professor of communication, and Whiteman was under supervision of Ms. Patricia L. Clark, department of biochemistry.

Five student speakers competed in the 2003 Spring Semester Great Forester Speak-Off on May 7. Jordan Phillips took first place for his speech, “Why Patriotism and Christianity are Incompatible.”  Second place went to Dana Siferd, who argued that homosexual couples should be allowed to adopt. The other three finalists were Chad Pryor, who spoke against affirmative action within the college and university system, Catherine Tapp, who advocated for action to help feed the poor of the world, and Ashley Gonterman who argued against downloading copy written material off the internet. 

 

Educational Ministries

Two special awards were presented to senior educational ministry students at the 32nd Annual Forester Night on May 6, 2003. Timothy Furry received the Christian Educator Award from the North American Professors of Christian Education. Kenneth Miller received the Outstanding Student Award from the Association of Youth Ministry Educators.

 

English

Dr. Del Doughty, associate professor of English, was recently recognized in

Modern Haiku for his long poem, "Flow," as the "Best Poem of the Spring Issue 2003."  In June, Doughty will present a poster session entitled, “A New Kind of Science, A New Kind of Poetics?” at the conference, "A New Kind of Science 2003," in Boston.

Dr. H. Jack Heller, assistant professor of English, presented his paper, “Dogberry’s Inscrutable Grace: Reformist ‘Propisms’ and Renaissance Malapropisms,” at the 38th Annual Congress on Medieval Studies at Western Michigan University on May 10, 2003. His paper examines the religious language used by the comic character Dogberry in Shakespeare’s play Much Ado About Nothing.

Dr. Todd Martin, assistant professor of English, has a review essay of After Southern Modernism which appears in a recent issue of South Atlantic Review, and he has completed an entry on E. E. Cummings for the Encyclopedia of the Home Front: World Wars I and II (forthcoming). He will travel to Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the end of May to present a paper, “The Enormous Room as Spiritual Autobiography: A Puritan Context for the Text,” at the American Literature Association’s annual conference.

Dr. Linda Urschel, professor of English, chaired a session on English instruction at small, liberal arts colleges at the National College English Association Conference in St. Petersburg, Florida, April 3-5, 2003. 

 

History

Dr. Dwight D. Brautigam, professor of History, has been selected from a national applicant pool to attend one of 29 summer study opportunities supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Endowment is a federal agency that supports seminars and institutes at colleges, universities and other research institutions so that teachers can work in collaboration and study with experts in humanities disciplines. Brautigam will participate in an institute entitled, “Cultural Stress from Reformation to Revolution.” The six-week program will be held at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC. The sixteen teachers selected to participate in the program each receive a stipend of $3,700 to cover their travel, study and living expenses. 

Dr. Jeffrey Webb, assistant professor of History, delivered a paper at the recent Society of Early Americanists biennial conference in Providence, Rhode Island, titled, "'A Perfect Waste Wilderness': Landscape Narratives and the Culture of Improvement in the Colonial Mid-Atlantic Region."  In addition, he finished several articles for publication in the forthcoming Colonial America: An Encyclopedia of Social, Political, Cultural, and Economic History (Sharpe Reference). He will spend the summer preparing a manuscript for the Complete Idiot's Guide series on the subject of Christian denominations, an article on Alexander Hamilton for the Dictionary of Literary Biography, and a paper for the Third Annual Conference on Hierarchy and Power in the History of Civilizations to be held in Moscow in June, 2004.

Dr. Jeffrey Webb was awarded the distinguished Professor of the Year on May 6, 2003. Each year, a faculty member is selected by the student body to receive this prestigious award. “I was deeply honored to be selected by the students as the Professor of the Year,” he said. “The award was unexpected, but much appreciated. I think it is a testament to the support I have been given by my colleagues at Huntington College who taught me how to teach in the first place.”

 

Mathematics

The semiannual Huntington College High School Mathematics Competition was held April 23, 2003, in the Science Building at Huntington College. Nine area high school teams met to compete for individual and team awards for their demonstration of mathematical ability. Competing teams were Adams Central, Ayersville Local Schools, Hamilton Southeastern, KASH (Kokomo Area Schools at Home), Jimtown, Lima Central Catholic, Marion High, North Miami High, and Oak Hill High. Oak Hill took first place with 615 points followed by Hamilton Southeastern with 600 points and Marion with 540 points. 

 

Music

Dr. John Thompson, instructor in music, successfully defended his dissertation, Aspects of Realism in Musorgsky's "Songs and Dances of Death,” earlier this month at the University of Memphis.

The third annual Concerto Winners Concert featured four winners of the Huntington College Concerto Competition, which was held last October. HC students Jay Michaud and Drew Wutke, along with two area high school students, performed in the April 25 concert in the Merillat Centre for the Arts main auditorium.

 

Psychology

Dr. Wayne Priest, assistant professor of psychology, and Dr. G. Lee Griffith of Anderson University co-led a marriage retreat seminar for the Wabash Friends Church. The seminar was held in downtown Fort Wayne with 60 couples attending. Dr. Priest also gave a presentation on “Redeeming Emotions” at a Methodist church in Warsaw.

Lauren Hines, a senior psychology major, was recently accepted into the Ph.D. program in Counseling Psychology at the University of Tennessee. “It is quite unusual for an undergraduate psychology major to gain acceptance into a Ph.D. program before completing a master’s degree,” said Dr. Wayne Priest. “This is just one more indication of Lauren’s excellent ability and significant knowledge within this field.”

Fifteen psychology students attended the 16th Annual Michigan Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference at Albion College earlier this month. Huntington College provided five oral presentations and two poster presentations. The students who presented work at the conference were Lauren Hines, Kara Kauffman, Katie Lloyd, Kyle Miller, Aaron Kent, Diana Ashley, Kelly Aspacher, Derek Yoder, Elizabeth Karst, Jerra Moreland, Kathleen Turner, Kelli Wyman, Tiffanie Frizzell, Nicole Slusser and Jocelyn Cluver.

 

Theatre

The next issue of the Christian in Theatre Arts (CITA) quarterly magazine "Christianity and Theatre" will publish an article written by Mr. Mike Burnett, assistant professor of theatre, and his wife, Ella, titled “The Crisis of the Christian in Theatre:  A Light Under a Bushel or City on a Hill?” This article deals with such questions as:

  • As a Christian actor, is it OK to cuss on stage?
  • As a Christian actor, is it OK to portray a character of loose morals?
  • As a Christian, is it OK to direct a play with content that may be offensive to some, even if the ultimate message is of good morals?
  • As a Christian, how can I do challenging works in secular theatre without compromising my faith?

Huntington College presents…Cotton Patch Gospel, a summer theatre troupe that will travel throughout the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states June through August. The production will be directed by Dr. Don Rainbow, professor of theatre arts, and managed by Mr. Josh Kesler. The cast includes Drew Wutke, Ashley Fox, Zachary Luginbill, Joshua Dawes, Kendra Brenneman, Leah Coon, Daniel Olson, Rusty Eshleman, Tyler Radcliff and Jeff Edgel. More information on the group will be posted online at www.huntington.edu as the summer draws nearer.

 

Student Development

 

Alpha Chi

 

 

Alpha Chi National College Honor Society at Huntington College was recently named a Star Chapter for the 2001-2002 school year. Only about ten percent of the approximately 300 chapters receive this award. To be eligible for this award a chapter must induct members locally, send at least one faculty member and one student to the regional or national convention during the award year, have at least one student presentation on the convention program, nominate at least one student for a national Alpha Chi fellowship or scholarship, and sponsor at least one on-campus program in promotion of scholarship. The Huntington College chapter is one of less than ten to be named a Star Chapter all seven years the award has been in existence. Dr. Paul Michelson has been the Indiana Beta Chapter sponsor of Alpha Chi since 1975.

The Indiana Beta Chapter of Alpha Chi National Scholarship Honor Society presented eight Huntington College students with the 2003 Sophomore Honor Award. Students Jill A. Clements, Brandon G. Curtis, Ryan Darr, Keith N. Elliott, Rebecca K. Laumbattus, Jodie Maller, Sarah Rowe and Rachel Tinon were recognized as the top students in their class at a reception held April 27, 2003, at the home of President and Mrs. G. Blair Dowden.

The Outstanding Alpha Chi Scholar Award was presented to Katie Smith, a music performance major from Oak Creek, Colorado, at Forester Night on May 6, 2003. Katie is a member of the choir, wind ensemble, chamber orchestra and pep band. Among numerous academic and musical honors, she also represented Huntington College at the Huntington County Rotary and has been involved with various theatre performances. Katie is a Dean’s List honoree and was presented the Outstanding Senior Award for the music department at Forester Night.

 

Forester Night

The 32nd annual Huntington College Forester Night was held Tuesday, May 6, 2003. Lindsey Hamer, an educational ministries major from Baldwin, Illinois, was named Female Forester of the Year. Matthew Loshe, an elementary education major from Monroe, Indiana, was named Male Forester of the Year. The Outstanding Senior Award was presented to the following individuals: Amanda Hamblin (art), Bret Bailey (Bible and Religion), Josh Garvey (business/economics), Kellie Anne Whiteman (chemistry), Jennifer Herring and Lauren Hines (communication), Ben Crill (computer science), Erika Helm (education), Lindsey Hamer (educational ministries), Lindsey Van Gelder (English), Dana Starks (exercise science), Erinn

 

Caley (history), Renee Rupp (mathematics), Katie Smith (music), Jami Halsey (physical education), Lauren Hines (psychology), Bethany Strom (recreation management), Katie Lloyd (sociology) and Jed Hutchison (theatre).

 

Gospel Choir

The Huntington College Gospel Choir hosted the choir from Greater Progressive Baptist Church in Fort Wayne on May 8, 2003, in the Merillat Centre for the Arts main auditorium.

 

Advancement

 

Lilly Initiative

 

 

As of April 22, 2003, the College has qualified for matching gifts from Lilly Endowment in the following categories:

Category               Goal                        Qualified for Match

Alumni                  $3,000,000              $1,535,516

Parents/Family/Students

$250,000 $244,143

Faculty/Staff         $250,000 $114,705

Total                       $3,500,000              $1,894,364

This matching gift initiative goes through the end of this calendar year. If you have questions regarding how you might be able to participate in this initiative, please contact Beth Lahr in the Advancement Office at extension 4046. 

 

Capital Campaign

Through the month of April, the capital campaign stands at $46,697,137.  Of this amount $36.2 million has been received in cash, $1.4 million is in outstanding pledges, and the balance of $9.1 million is in deferred giving arrangements.

 

Athletics

 

Chi Alpha Sigma

 

Fifteen student-athletes were inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, the athletic honor society, on April 27, 2003. Induction into Chi Alpha Sigma requires a student-athlete to achieve at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average, earn a varsity letter, be a junior or senior in academic standing and be of high moral character. This year’s inductees include Christopher Buehrer (cross country/track), Walter Burgin (track), Denis Dreni (soccer), Jeffery Edgel (soccer), Benjamin Eggleston (tennis), Rebecca Harness (tennis), Nicole Jacob (cross country/track), Aaron Klopfenstein (baseball), Brandon Schwartz (track), Dana Starks (tennis), Ryan Thwaits (basketball), Kathleen Turner (tennis), Lindsey Weber (tennis), Brooke Welch (cross country/track) and Derek Yoder (basketball).

 

Track and Field

The men and women’s track and field teams concluded their seasons at the Mid-Central Conference Championships at Taylor University. The women placed third overall while the men placed fifth. Erin Abbey won the long jump, 400 meters and 400 meter hurdles while Natalie Guenin won the 10,000 meter run. For the men, John Ngure finished first in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters while Dan Smith won the long jump. All-Conference selections for the teams were Abbey, Guenin, Melissa Bortner, Ngure and Smith. Six athletes in eight events will continue through the month of May to compete at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships from May 22-24, in Olathe, Kansas. For the women, Erin Abbey will compete in the long jump and 400 hurdles, Melissa Bortner will compete in the 100 hurdles, Brooke Welch will compete in the 3000 meter steeplechase and Natalie Guenin will compete in the 10,000 meter run. On the men’s side, John Ngure will compete in the 10,000 meter run and the marathon, and Jonathan Doyle will compete in the 400 hurdles.

 

Baseball

The baseball team ended yet another fine season, compiling a 25-15 overall record and finishing third in the MCC with a 20-8 conference record. Mark LeBeau, Josh Long and Greg Slee earned All-MCC honors.

 

Golf

The golf team, under second-year coach, Pete Schownir, finished the regular season in sixth place in the MCC, but a mere 11 strokes separated them from third. 

 

Softball

A very young softball squad that includes one junior, six sophomores, and seven freshmen posted a 6-28 overall record. The Foresters tied for sixth place in the MCC with a 3-11 record.

 

Tennis

The men’s tennis team, coached by Gary Turner, went 5-2 in their spring matches, including a 5-4 upset over NAIA #24 Walsh University in their final regular season match. The women’s team completed their spring season with a 2-5 record and finished the year with a 7-11 record.

 

Other

 

“Great Colleges for the Real World”

 

Huntington College has been named one of the Great Colleges for the Real World for the third consecutive year. Author Michael Viollt has compiled this book to help incoming freshmen make a college decision based on convenience, quality and cost. The 201 best colleges were selected from those that respond to current student demand and are known for graduating students that are prepared for the world of work.

 

MCA Events

May 2003

Robert E. Wilson Gallery Events

May 5 17.  Graduating Art Majors Exhibit.  Artist Reception: May 10, 6-8:00 PM.

 

 

 
   
   
 
   
   
   

 

 

 

[../../news/0001/header2000/footer.htm]