18 Feb Dr. Dowden Receives Top Indiana Honor

Sen. Jim Banks (right) presenting the Sagamore of the Wabash award to Dr. G. Blair Dowden on January 25 during a special luncheon with the Huntington’s Board of Trustees.

Huntington University President G. Blair Dowden was recognized with one of Indiana’s top honors, the Sagamore of the Wabash. The award is the highest honor the Governor of Indiana can bestow, and is given to those who have rendered a distinguished service to the state or to the governor.

The term “sagamore” was used by the American Indian tribes of the northeastern United States to describe a lesser chief or a great man among the tribe to whom the true chief would look for wisdom and advice. The Sagamore of the Wabash award was created during the term of Gov. Ralph Gates, who served 1945-1949.

Former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels selected Dowden for the award because of his contributions to education over his 22 years as president of Huntington University. Dowden will retire at the end of the school year.

“Not only is Dr. Dowden’s contribution to HU substantial, but his impact on the State of Indiana over the past two decades in leading a great institution has made higher education in Indiana among the best in country,” said Indiana Sen. Jim Banks, who nominated Dowden for the award.

Banks presented Dowden with the award on Friday, January 25, during a special luncheon with Huntington’s Board of Trustees.

Dowden came to Huntington in 1991 as the university’s 12th president. Under his leadership, the university achieved a reputation for academic excellence, moving from the second tier to the Top 15 among the Midwest’s baccalaureate colleges ranked by U.S. News & World Report. Huntington was recognized five times on the magazine’s list of best values in the region. Huntington also earned recognition from The Princeton Review as a “Best Midwestern College.” Forbes includes Huntington on its elite list of “America’s Top Colleges.”

A recognized leader in Christ-centered higher education, Dowden has served as chairman of the Board of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and currently serves on the boards of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) and the American Council on Education (ACE).

16 Feb HU Digital Media Arts Students Win Over 20 Awards

Huntington University award winners in the Fort Wayne ADDY Awards on February 16, 2013.

Huntington University’s digital media arts students shined at the Fort Wayne ADDY Awards Saturday night, February 16, 2013, taking home 13 student golds and eight student silvers in the annual creative advertising contest. Senior Tyler Johnson also took home the People’s Choice Award for “Epic Adventures of a Heroic Man.” This is the largest representation by Huntington ever at this event.

This annual competition recognizes advertising creative excellence from students and local advertising and media professionals. Entries are judged on creativity, originality and creative strategy.

“We are so proud of our students who pour themselves into their films and animations. This is a terrific way to celebrate their art and accomplishments,” said Dr. Lance Clark, professor of digital media arts film and communication. “Our digital media arts program is really getting a reputation for excellence.”

The Student ADDY Awards Competition is a unique national awards program designed specifically for college students. Work entered at the local level can move up to the regional and national judging.

01 Feb New HU Financial Aid Director

Robert Sommers, formerly the head of financial aid at Indiana Wesleyan University, has been hired as Huntington University’s new director of financial aid.

Sommers most recently served as the technology coordinator for financial aid at Indiana Wesleyan (Marion, Ind.). Before that, he worked as the Midwest regional director for Edfinancial Services/EdAmerica for four years and director and then executive director of financial aid at Indiana Wesleyan for seven years.

“Robert brings a wonderful blend of professional experience and personal strengths to the director of financial aid role at Huntington. Not only does he have an extensive background of leadership in the financial aid field, but he brings a broad knowledge of the higher education loan industry and of core enrollment management techniques to the position, as well,” said Jeff Berggren, senior vice president for enrollment management and marketing.

Sommers graduated from Indiana Wesleyan with a degree in accounting and business administration in 1993 and later earned his MBA from the school in 1998.

31 Jan HU Freezes Tuition for 2013-2014 Year

Huntington University announced a tuition freeze for the 2013-14 academic year. It applies to all incoming and returning students, including traditional undergraduates, adults enrolled in professional programs, and graduate students.

Huntington University will also continue to safeguard its students’ financial success through its innovative Loan Repayment Program. The program reimburses all or part of a graduate’s loan payments if their employment income falls within certain thresholds.

Huntington previously adopted a tuition freeze for the 2004-2005 school year. Since that time, Huntington’s tuition increases have been low.

Across the United States, the average tuition at four-year private institutions this year is $29,056 and the total cost of attendance averages $43,289, according to The College Board. Currently, Huntington’s tuition ranks 23rd out of the 31 independent colleges and universities in Indiana and 56th out of the 109 members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

Huntington University’s undergraduate tuition will remain locked at $23,300 next year. Room, board and fees will rise slightly to bring the total sticker price to $32,200, or an overall increase of 1.6%. This figure includes a new technology fee which will underwrite a campus wireless and cloud printing initiative.

“Due to generous institutional aid through scholarships and grants, the average student only pays about 60 percent of the full tuition amount before other sources of financial aid, such as state and federal grants and loans, are factored in,” said Jeff Berggren (right), senior vice president for enrollment management and marketing. He also noted that more than 90 percent of undergraduates receive financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, loans or work-study assistance. He added that all students should file the FAFSA and use tools such as online net tuition calculators to look beyond the sticker price.

Tuition for HU’s professional and graduate degree programs will remain at current levels for next year, between $348 and $466 per credit hour, depending on the program.

26 Jan HU Recognized for Its Online Programs

Huntington University has again been listed among the top colleges in the nation for its online bachelor’s degree programs.

U.S.News & World Report named Huntington University as the top private college in Indiana for online education. In its 2013 list of the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, Huntington ranked 55th of 213 schools nationally. Only six Indiana colleges and universities made the national ranking.

Schools are ranked based on student engagement, faculty credentials and training, and student services and technology.

“Being listed among the top online programs in the country is quite an honor,” said Shelly Francka, director of Huntington University’s professional programs. “At Huntington, we strive to offer a Christ-centered education to all students. Our professional programs cater to working adults who need the flexibility of an online education. Through these programs, our students are obtaining a high-quality education at an affordable price.”

Huntington offers five online bachelor’s degree programs for adults in the areas of business administration, not-for-profit leadership, human resource management, marketing and nursing. An associate degree in organizational management is also offered in an online format.

In addition, online undergraduate courses are offered to traditional undergraduate students during the summer months. Online hybrid graduate programs are also offered in youth ministry leadership and education.

For more information about Huntington’s online offerings, visit huntington.edu/online.

22 Jan Learning the Techniques of Stage Combat

Huntington University student Chloe-Ann Shaw practices her footwork in a stage combat class Thursday morning. (Photo By Ellie Bogue of The News-Sentinel)

Ellie Bogue of The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. Reprinted by permission.

Swordplay was the lesson of the day Thursday, January 17, at Huntington University.

Students are on their J-term semester, which lasts through January. Many of the classes count toward electives in their majors; they can pick from a variety of classes that aren’t available the rest of the year. For one group of students this meant stage combat class, where they learn how to create combat scenes. Their teacher for the session is John Lennox, who has a doctorate in theater arts.

Lennox said many of the students are theater arts majors, but a few took it because they thought it sounded interesting. Lennox, who lives in Jackson, Mich., travels the world, teaching the art of onstage combat.

He specializes in Western martial arts and has had weapons training in long sword, short sword, broadsword, hand-and-a-half sword, two-handed sword, foils, katanas, scimitars, and various other edged weapons. He also is trained with various types of handguns and automatic rifles, among other weapons.

On Thursday, Lennox was teaching how to use the side sword. Half the battle in swordplay appeared to be learning the footwork. Starting from a ballet first position – think heels together, toes out – one has to slide their lead foot forward, or sideways, depending on which direction you are going.

The stances involve a lot of lunges; it looks somewhat like yoga postures. In fact, Lennox had a yoga teacher in one of his former classes who described it as “just like yoga, with dangerous props.”

For a good hour the students were run through the footwork positions, each of which had a name.

“Forward lunge, pass back, reverse lunge, recover forward, recover back, volt, pass forward, t-stop,” Lennox called to the circle of students.

There was a lot of laughter and a few exclamations from the group.

“It burns!” said one young woman as they went into what looked like a deep lunge.

Chloe-Ann Shaw, a theater arts major, had a look of fierce concentration on her face as she moved back and forth across the stage. She admitted she took the class because it sounded like fun, but it has turned out to be some work, as well.

Melanie Lubs, one of two assistants helping out with the class, is a recent IPFW graduate in the Theater Art program. She took Lennox’s workshop a year ago and since then has gotten a basic certification in stage combat. She now teaches a semester-long stage combat class at IPFW.

Lennox said with the increase in movies that use these skills, like “Lord of the Rings,” there has been an increased interest in students wanting to learn the art.

17 Jan J-Term: Challenging Students Beyond the Usual

Students in the J-Term class on stage combat.

Hip hop, combat fighting, hobbits, and X-Files. It’s all in a day’s work for Huntington University students.

During January, Huntington students have the unique opportunity to take one concentrated class for credit. Some students spend “J-Term” on campus, while other travel abroad or are placed in internships. J-term runs this year from January 7-23.

In “The X-Files: Quest for Truth,” Dr. Lance Clark (right) is challenging his students to discover how the post-modern world yearns for the spiritual while exploring the supernatural aspects of “one of the greatest television series in the history of TV,” he said.

“Most, if not all, of the students in the class have never seen an episode of ‘The X-Files.’ They are discovering it for the first time and soon become huge fans,” he added. “We have great class discussions on metaphysics, transcendence, and the pursuit of truth in the Christian faith.”

In “Contemporary American Hip Hop and Biblical Prophecy,” Professors Dr. Del Doughty and Heath Pearson are examining the history of hip hop from its roots in the black church to its movement to mainstream.

In “The Heroic & the Ordinary,” students drill down and explore heroes and the meaning of “ordinary” via a wild range of films and other materials, such as novels and poetry, with Professor Mike Hertenstein.

In Drs. Tanner Babb and Paul Michelson’s class, students are taking a trip to Middle-earth and back again with a study of “The Hobbit” and its place in J. R. R. Tolkien’s creation of “The Lord of the Rings.”

In the theater, students are learning what it feels like to be a part of the movies by learning basic stage combat. Students work with John Lennox, who has taught stage combat and choreographing at workshops around the world. He has more than 20 years of experience in the craft.

08 Jan New Van for HU’s Volunteer Ministries

L-r: Pete Schownir, HU director of gift planning; Mindi Ahl, 2007 alum and business manager at Tom Ahl Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep in Lima, Ohio; Tom Ahl, owner of Tom Ahl dealership; and Grace McBrayer, director of volunteer service and outreach ministry. (With their “knock your socks off” deal)

After more than four years of fundraising, the Joe Mertz Center at Huntington University received an early Christmas present: a 2006 Chrysler Town & Country minivan.

The Joe Mertz Center raised $3100, and the rest was made up by the dealer, Tom Ahl Chrysler of Lima, Ohio (Tom Ahl is the father of 2007 alum Mindi Ahl).

For 20 years, since the JMC began, students have used a 1992 Ford Aerostar for transportation to service projects in the surrounding communities. Because of the wear and tear on the Aerostar, the JMC was only able to use the van for short trips to Fort Wayne and around the Huntington community. Four years ago, fundraising efforts began to replace the van with a more reliable vehicle.

“Receiving this newer van means we will be able to continue our ministry in the communities of Huntington, Fort Wayne and now beyond,” said Grace McBrayer, director of volunteer service and outreach ministry. “It allows us to transport supplies and tools for work days, help with food and clothing drives, and provide for other various needs. Without this van, hours of volunteer service every week would not be happening.”

The Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service is a student-directed organization that mobilizes the campus community for Christian service. Each year, students, faculty, and staff log more than 11,000 volunteer hours working with the Boys & Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity, the Girl Scouts, and numerous other community organizations. Throughout the year, students travel on mission trips with the university and host work days to help with needs in the community.

20 Dec Merry Christmas from Huntington University (and Norm)

Huntington University is saying, “Merry Christmas,” this year with its very only stop-motion animated tale. The 24-second video follows Huntington’s mascot, Norm the Forester, as he decorates the tree for Christmas.

Animators Curtis Wood and Chris Veil (2010 HU alums) created the video with the help of the digital media arts faculty and other friends from the department.

The process started with an idea and a storyboard. From there, the pattern for the Norm puppet was sculpted and the armature (the bone structure) was assembled. Once the mold was baked, the paint and the final touches were added.

The animation for the tree was made through replacement animation, which is done by creating multiple stages of an object moving or transforming rather than manually moving or transforming the object, Wood explained.

With the pieces complete, the animation began. Tests were conducted with lighting and camera placement before the final animation was finished.

“We ended up shooting the entire thing in a day, about 12 hours straight, with a few breaks,” Wood said.

You can read more about the video.

18 Dec HU Team Helping Girls Home in India

The 2012 Huntington University Team at Home of Love in Chennai, India.

The 70 girls at Home of Love, an all-girls orphanage in Chennai, India, currently sleep on mats on a concrete floor. But come January, thanks to a team from Huntington University, they will finally have a soft place to lay their heads.

Last year, 15 HU students worked at Home of Love for two weeks. The home is an orphanage for girls at risk of living on the streets or being sold into the sex trade. They couldn’t get India and the needs of the girls out of their minds. While still in India, the team decided to start a fundraising campaign to build a dormitory.

“We all felt that we didn’t want to leave that place and be done with it,” said junior Nate Sullivan, a member of the 2012 team.

Almost a year later, the Huntington University team reached and exceeded its fundraising goal of $20,000.

On January 4-21, 14 HU students will go back to finish the job. They will lead a Vacation Bible School program, with drama, games, music, dance and crafts, and begin the work of building a new dormitory.