March 2001   

Huntington College Friends and Family,

With the promise of spring just around the corner, Huntington College students are getting ready to take a break from the routine of classes and enjoy time away with family and friends.  The Spring Break holiday finds many of our students traveling in the United States and abroad for mission and service trips.  This year, students and their faculty/staff advisors will be going to Honduras, Jamaica, Florida, and Philadelphia. 

Another group of students who travel over Spring Break include our Forester athletes.  The baseball team will be playing several games during their spring training in the Daytona Beach, Florida area and our softball team will be in Orlando playing in the Walt Disney Attractions, Inc. – Disney Spring Training 2001.  Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams also will be in Florida where they are scheduled to play in three matches.  Tusculum College in Greenville, Tennessee and Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia will be the spring training homes of the golf team and track team respectively.    

I invite you to pray for all of these students and their faculty/staff leaders and coaches as they travel, serve, condition and play competitively.

We continue to be encouraged by the numbers and quality of the students applying to Huntington College for the fall 2001.  Several weeks ago we completed the selection process for the Presidential Scholars.  The pool of candidates was extremely impressive.   Regardless of how many eventually attend, the fact that these students are considering Huntington College is an encouragement to the campus community. 

Nine of the students that interviewed were selected for top awards from an overall pool of sixty-one candidates.  Fifty-one of these students interviewed on campus.  Students received five Presidential Scholarships and four Dean’s Scholarships.  The Presidential Scholars will receive $7500 per year, the Dean's Scholars will receive $5,000 per year and the Trustee Scholars (which included all of the remaining candidates) will receive $4,000 per year.  For more information on this impressive group of students, see the Admissions section of this Update.

Our Lord is good.  We continue to find His blessings new every morning.  Great is His faithfulness.

Sincerely,
G. Blair Dowden
President

Admissions

Outlook Positive

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

Academic

  Art

  The Huntington College Visual Art Methods class is offering three "Saturday Art" classes for school aged children (1st - 7th grades) over the next few months.   The two remaining classes are scheduled on April 21st and May 5th in the Lowe Building Methods classroom.  The cost is $5.00 per class for materials needed for the creative/take home projects the HC students will be presenting.

Communications

Dr. Chris Leland participated in an extensive interview with reporter Nancy Noll of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel for a story about Mayor Graham Richard’s State of the City address.  The article was published in the February 2 edition and now appears online at http://home.fortwayne.com/ns/news/metro/news9i.htm.

Christian Ministries

Dr. Dave Rahn wrote the lead article published in the latest edition of Youthworker, (January/February, 2001).  In addition, Dr. Rahn was one of three general editors for the book Starting Right: Thinking Theologically About Youth Ministry (Zondervan/Youth Specialties Academic, 2001).  He contributed each of the following chapters, in addition to editing the final section of the book: 1) "Focusing youth ministry through student leadership;" 2) "Seeing clearly: Organizational context;"  3) “Assessing honestly: Continuous improvement;" and 4) "Thinking theologically as a right start."

Dr Karen Jones wrote the chapter, "Acting wisely: Retreats, trips, and events" in

Starting Right: Thinking Theologically About Youth Ministry (Zondervan/Youth Specialties Academic, 2001). 

Dr. Tom Bergler presented a paper, "Christ and Culture in the Trenches: Patterns of Cultural Engagement in American Youth Ministry," at a meeting of the International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry held at Mansfield College (Oxford, England) in January. He also conducted two workshops:  1) "Building for Keeps: Fostering Commitment in Our Groups" at the University and Youth Workers Conference sponsored by the Sword of the Spirit Communities (Adrian, Michigan) and 2) "Inviting Others to the Feast: Motivation for Evangelism" at the Winter retreat of University Christian Outreach (Pine Hills Camp, Brighton, MI).

Forester Lecture Series

Dr. Janice Shaw Crouse, Senior Fellow of the Beverly LeHaye Institute’s Center for Studies in Women’s Issues, presented “Gaining Ground: a Profile of American Women in the Twentieth Century” as part of HC’s Forester Lecture Series on Monday, February 26.  Dr. Crouse, a former White House and political speechwriter, public relations and communication expert and current advocate for the role of women in our society, unveiled the findings of a newly published report that is the result of a decade-long study of the role of women in our culture sponsored by the Beverly LeHaye Institute in Washington.  

Dr. Jonathan Wells, Senior Fellow of the Discovery Institute will present “Let’s Teach The Truth About Evolution” in the MCA Auditorium on Thursday March 15^th.  Dr. Wells has received two Ph.D.s, one in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California at Berkeley, and one in Religious Studies from Yale University.  He has done postdoctoral research at the University of California at Berkeley, and has taught biology at California State University in Hayward.  Dr. Wells has published articles in both scientific and religious journals including Development, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, BioSystems, American Presbyterians, and Patristic and Byzantine Review.  He is also author of the book Charles Hodge's Critique of Darwinism (Edwin Mellen Press, 1988).  Recently he published Icons of Evolution, a critical assessment of the most commonly cited evidence for the naturalistic paradigm to explain the origin and diversity of life.  Dr. Wells' work in developmental biology poses a serious challenge to the neo-Darwinian idea that random mutations can create new body plans and organisms.

History

Mr. Chuck Backus, Executive Director of Historic Forks of the Wabash in Huntington, presented findings from his study on the origin and implications of the Carnegie free library program at the History Seminar.  Carnegie libraries across Indiana are celebrating or are soon to celebrate centennials. 

Advancement

  Mr. Ned Kiser, vice president for advancement, presented a live demonstration of HC’s online giving system at the CCCU National Forum on Christian Higher Education.  Donors may make secure, real-time gifts through the HC web site at www.huntington.edu/advancement.  Since its inception in July 1999, donor gifts through the online system have exceeded $13,500.

Through the end of February, the Capital Campaign received total gifts and pledges exceeding $35.6 million.  Approximately $1.9 million is still needed for The Fund for Science and Technology.

The annual Phonathon for Student Scholarships raised $20,437.  Student callers made 1,324 calls and received 323 pledges.   Meanwhile, the more extensive Campaign Phonathon is entering its second phase.  To date, more than $208,000 has been pledged through this initiative.  Approximately 1,200 people have made pledges. Calls will continue to be made into early summer. 

Regional campaigns will be held on March 19 and 20 in Adrian/Blissfield (MI) area and Fort Wayne (IN).  The Chambersburg (central Pennsylvania) campaign will begin in early May.

Business & Finance

  New Science Building

Work continues on the new science building with much of the third floor concrete work now complete.  Structural steel has also started to be erected for the roof area on the west end of the building.  The huge pieces of air handling equipment for the attic of the new building have arrived.  In all, things are going very well with the project.  See live photos of the construction at www.huntington.edu/tour/webcam.

Student Development

  In The News

  Mr. Ron Coffey, associate dean of students, was interviewed by the Journal-Gazette for an extensive story on choosing a roommate. The story appeared on February 19.

Career Development

Career Development hosted more than 40 camping organizations in February as part of Camp Days 2001.  All of these organizations were seeking to hire college students for summer work and ministry.

Diversity Programs

Hardy Hall presented a chapel program on unity.

The multicultural task force planned a chapel program on the diversity of culture that exists at Huntington College.  The chapel included music from different cultures and a skit that highlighted some of the more humorous questions that international students have been asked.

Dr. Akosua Perbi, Fulbright Scholar in Residence at Manchester College, addressed the students at convocation on March 2, 2001.  Dr. Perbi's address was entitled "Slavery in Pre-Colonial Africa." 

Student Activities

Hardy Hall sponsored a self-defense course for women.  Ten students and three staff members participated in the class.

Student Senate

Student Senate recently hosted an open forum in the Dining Commons during the dinner hour.  Based on the input they received from students at the forum, Student Senate has decided to work with campus administrators to review existing policies on visitation within the residence halls and on-campus parking.  They also will recommend that Huntington College consider adding the Monday following Easter to the weekend break schedule.  Other recommendations include adding a change machine in the HUB and a card swipe to the laundry machines, extending the hours of the After Hours Study Lounge, placing a TV in the aerobics/exercise room, and synchronizing the clocks on campus.

Athletics

  Men’s and Women’s Basketball

  The regular season for basketball (men and women’s) is completed.  Both teams finished in 6th place in the MCC standings and were seeded 6th in the MCC Tournament.  The women’s team lost in the first round of tournament play and our men’s team lost by one point in the title game of their tournament.

In the All Conference Team for women’s basketball Chrissy Collins, who led the MCC in scoring and rebounding, was recognized on the 2^nd Team, and Sarah Gordon on the 3^rd team.     

Three-time MCC Player of the Week David Porter was named MCC Player of the Year.  Along with this honor, Porter was selected 1st Team All Conference.  Porter led Huntington College to a 6-7 conference record, 14-16 overall record.  Porter led the conference in scoring (24.8) and rebounding (9.3).  He also led the Foresters in blocked shots (41) and steals (35) this season.

Three other Foresters received honorable mention in the voting for All-Conference.  Paul Wright was third in scoring for HC (11.9) in all games, and led the Foresters in assists with 94 on the season.  Wright was also third in steals for HC, with 33 on the season.  Brett Snodgrass was second in scoring for HC (13.2) in all games, and led the team in three-point baskets made, with 72 on the season.  Wade Leer was fourth in scoring for HC (8.6) in all games, first in free-throw percentage (70-84 for .833), and tied for second in blocked shots (7).

Tennis

HC has been ranked 25^th in the NAIA preseason rankings for men’s tennis.

Track and Field

HC track and field athletes, men’s and women’s, captured 1^st place finishes in the annual HC Frozen Forest Invitational.  The women’s team collected a team score of 87 points, followed by Goshen (41), St. Mary’s (36), and Marian (12).  The men’s team collected 79 points, followed by Goshen (56), Marian (40), Tri-State (20), and St. Francis (12). 

In women’s indoor track, senior Danielle Vohs captured third place in the 1,000 meter run at the NAIA Indoor Track National event.  Vohs scorched the course with a time of 2:58.71. 

Baseball

The baseball team opened their season with a double-header loss to IUSE.  The score in game 1 was 2-1, with Jerry Kaufman scoring the only run for the Foresters.  In game 2, our Foresters fell by the final score of 4-1, with Jerry Kaufman again collecting the lone run for HC.  Heath Luther and Kyle Daugherty each collected one RBI.  Our Foresters are 0-2 on the season.

Other

President’s Office

  President G. Blair Dowden has been named to the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.  He will also chair the Committee on Board Development.

Ms. Sharon Givler, executive assistant to the president, recently served as a consultant to Greenville College (IL), providing assistance to their FIPSE Grant Steering Committee that oversees a campus-wide approach to student success and retention with a focus on affirming students' strengths.

Live Radio Broadcast

Christian radio station WBCL broadcasted live from HC on Thursday, March 8.  Char Brinkley and Lynne Ford interviewed Dr. Keith Phillips, President of World Impact, who was also the chapel speaker that day.

Web Site

Huntington College’s Virtual Campus Tour (www.huntington.edu/tour) was chosen by ComputerUser.com as one of the Links of the Week.  During the week of February 19, Huntington College’s virtual tour web site was featured at www.computeruser.com/resources/links/linkweek.html.  It will be permanently archived on the site as an example of excellence in web design and innovation.

Huntington College’s web site also has been listed on AmericasBest.com, a moderated directory of individually reviewed sites.  AmericasBest.com “strives to maintain a family friendly site with quality website links and information.”  For details, see www.americasbest.com/schoolwebs.

Council for Christian Colleges and Universities

The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities held its National Forum on Christian Higher Education, February 7-9 in Orlando, Florida.  HC’s delegation included Mr. Tom Ayers, Dr. Chaney Bergdall, Mr. Jeff Berggren, Dr. Blair Dowden, Dr. Norris Friesen, Ms. Sharon Givler, Mr. Phil Howard (PACE), Mr. Ned Kiser, Mr. Larry Lance (Trustee), Dr. Cindy Steury, Mrs. Connie Updike, and Dr. Ron Webb.

Sodexho-Marriott

Huntington College’s outstanding food service provided by Sodexho-Marriott was featured in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper. You can read the full story at

http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/national/pot243.shtml

Youth for Christ

Huntington College has received a plaque from Huntington County Youth For Christ expressing “heartfelt appreciation for your generous contribution to our vital work with the teens of our community. Your underwriting enables all proceeds of our fundraising events to go directly to our programs which are positively impacting the lives of countless young people.”

Merillat Centre Events

March 3-31. 11th Annual Student Art Exhibit.  Juried exhibit of work created by Huntington College students during the current school year. 

April 2 - May 19. Spring Senior Art Exhibit featuring work by talented graduating seniors in the Robert E. Wilson Gallery.

April 9 - April 13, 12:15 p.m.  Holy Week Services. 30-minute devotional services will be held daily, featuring music, drama, oral interpretation, visual art, and scripture meditations.  Lunch is available both before and after each service at modest cost in the Habecker Dining Commons.

Tuesday, April 17, 8 p.m.  Spring Longaker Recital presented by the Department of Music.  Admission: $10, Students/Seniors $5.

Friday, April 27, 8 p.m. First Annual Concerto Concert, featuring the winners of the Huntington concerto competition. The concert will showcase talented instrumentalists and vocalists from Huntington College as well as an extraordinarily gifted area high school student.  Admission: $10, Students/Seniors $5.

Tuesday, May 1, 8 p.m. HC Jazz Explosion!  Admission: $10, Students/Seniors $5.

May 2-5, 8 p.m. One-Act Play Festival in the Studio Theatre, featuring the directing debuts of HC seniors.

Monday, May 7, 8 p.m.  Guest Artist Concert. Avant-garde cellist Madeleine Shapiro of New York presents a special concert in Longaker Recital Hall. Admission: $10, Students/Seniors $5.

Note: Tickets for Merillat Centre events may be purchased by calling the box office at 260-359-4261.