02 Jul HU Team Heading to China for Three Weeks

The 2012 China Team

Luke Fetters, a professor at Huntington University, talks with the team about this year’s trip.

On Thursday, July 5, a team from Huntington University leaves for China for a three-week program which includes a two-week English camp for primary and middle school students. The Institute for TESOL Studies at Huntington University has an agreement to train English teachers in a city in southeast China, across the border from Macau in China’s Guangdong Province. TESOL training and English Camp activities run concurrently to provide a valuable and rewarding experience for teachers and students. The team has a blog.

26 Jun HU Student Named Conference Athlete of the Year

Caleb Kennedy

Huntington University 6’6′ senior forward Caleb Kennedy was named the first-ever Male Athlete of the Year in the Mid Central Conference. The award recognizes athletic and academic excellence. Kennedy was chosen by the league’s athletic directors from among the 1600 male student-athletes in the MCC.

Kennedy, from Charlottesville, Ind., graduated this year with a business management degree. He averaged 20 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, and was the only member of the MCC to be named to the NAIA First Team All-America team. He was also named the MCC Player of the Year for this past season. Kennedy had a high of 43 points against Saint Xavier in December 2011, and ranks 21st on HU’s all-time scoring list.

The Mid Central Conference, in which Huntington competes, consists of these schools:

• Bethel College (Mishawaka, Ind.).
• Goshen College (Goshen, Ind.).
• Grace College (Winona Lake, Ind.).
• Indiana Wesleyan University (Marion, Ind.).
• Marian University (Indianapolis, Ind.).
• Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Mount Vernon, Ohio).
• Spring Arbor University (Spring Arbor, Mich.).
• Taylor University (Upland, Ind.).
• The University of Saint Francis (Fort Wayne, Ind.).

A volleyball player from Taylor University received the Female Athlete of the Year award.

19 Jun HU Prof Discovers Ancient Synagogues in Turkey

This synagogue in Kizkalesi is believed to date back to the Roman period based on adjoining architecture.

After discovering two previously unknown synagogues in Turkey, Huntington University Bible and Religion Professor Dr. Mark Fairchild (right) is sharing his findings in a noted academic journal.

Fairchild will lead a UB tour of biblical sites in Turkey in October 2012.

In an article published this month in the Biblical Archaeology Review, Fairchild begs the question, “Could the world’s earliest known synagogue be buried amid rubble?” The Biblical Archaeology Review is a prestigious publication that documents archaeological digs relating to Biblical findings around the world.

In 2007 while researching in Turkey, Fairchild discovered two synagogues in the areas of Kizkalesi (the ancient city of Korykos) and Çatiören. In the years since, he has returned to conduct surface surveys and to continue his research.

“We know almost nothing about the churches that existed in Cilicia in that time period,” he said of that region of Turkey. What he and other researchers suspect is that the Apostle Paul established the churches during the 10 years after his conversion to Christianity. There is documented evidence, however, that Paul travelled through those regions on his missionary journeys later in life, Fairchild said.

“That’s why these synagogues are particularly interesting to me,” he said. “There is a good chance that Paul shared the Gospel message in these synagogue cities.”

The synagogue in Kizkalesi, Fairchild suspects, dates back to the Roman period based on adjoining architecture. The Çatiören synagogue, however, more than likely dates back to the Hellenistic Period around the 1st or 2nd Century B.C. If this proves to be true, it would be the earliest synagogue ever discovered.

In the BAR article titled, “Turkey’s Unexcavated Synagogues,” Fairchild calls for the excavation of these regions, particularly the synagogues, to unearth more of the treasures that they may be hiding.

“On my recent trip this summer, I found four more tombs with menorahs,” he said of the inscriptions in the stones. “I know there are more. That’s an indication of how many Jews lived in that area.”

As a researcher, Fairchild conducts surface surveys of the regions and then documents his findings. Over the past 15 years, he has visited more than 200 sites and plans to continue his work in Turkey in future years. Last summer, he visited 30 sites dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries B.C. This summer, he continued his research of ancient sites around Turkey from Gaziantep, near the Syrian border, to the ancient city of Iconium where Konya stands today.

06 Jun Aug 10-11: Fandana Music Festival

Make plans to attend the Fandana Music Festival at Huntington University on August 10-11 (that’s a Friday and Saturday). Thousands of people attended the first Fandana in 2011. One of this year’s headliners is Chris Tomlin. Bring your youth group, or join the many adults sitting outside in front of the huge stage, as band after band perform for the crowd. It’s a neat atmosphere.

This is a very family-oriented event. Adults of all ages attended in 2011, along with plenty of teens

17 May HU Prepares to Launch Occupational Therapy Programs

Huntington University will launch a graduate program in occupational therapy in the fall of 2014. The university is currently searching for a director to create the master’s and doctoral level programs.

This will be the university’s first doctorate degree and its first graduate programs in allied health.

The graduate programs will be located within the new Life Science Education and Research Consortium of Northeast Indiana, which will open on the Parkview Randallia campus in Fort Wayne, Ind.

HU’s new programs will work with and build on the support of the other institutions in the consortium, including Trine University, which plans to launch a doctoral program in physical therapy program at the same location. The programs will also build on Huntington’s undergraduate degrees in exercise science, nursing, and recreation management. Fort Wayne Community Schools, Ivy Tech Community College-Northeast, and the University of Saint Francis will offer programs through the consortium, as well.

Along with the occupational therapy programs, Huntington will offer bachelor’s degree programs in human resource management, not-for-profit leadership, RN-BSN degree completion, and its Master of Counseling program.

“Occupational therapy is an in-demand field which is expected to continue to grow given recent medical developments with stroke survivors as well as people recovering from joint and hip replacements,” said Dr. Norris Friesen (right), senior vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty. “Given the interest in exercise science, our mission and the fact that there are no other similar programs in our area, this is a very unique opportunity for us to influence the next generate of occupational therapists with an accredited program that seeks to integrate God’s message of grace and love by helping people regain their strength and abilities to live full and fruitful lives.”

15 May 17 New Graduates from HU Nursing Program

2012 graduating nursing students.

Huntington University honored 17 graduating nursing students in a traditional pinning ceremony on Friday, May 11.

The Class of 2012 is the second graduating class from the Department of Nursing. The 2011 class had 10 students.

The history of the nursing pinning ceremony stems from the Crimean War when Florence Nightingale took 38 women to Turkey to nurse sick and wounded British soldiers. As she cared for her patients by the light of a lamp, Florence Nightingale became known as the “lady with the lamp.” As a tribute to Florence’s dedication, the lamp icon became symbolic of nursing. Today, the nursing pin is used to signify this same dedication: the end of formal education and the beginning of practice, a way of welcoming graduates into the nursing profession.

At the ceremony, students received the Huntington University Department of Nursing pin with the department emblem.

This year, Kortney Burton (right) received the senior leadership award for the Class of 2012 from Dr. Margaret Winter, Director of Nursing. She was nominated by her peers.

14 May HU Commencement Held May 12

2012 HU Graduates (click photo to enlarge)

Youth ministry graduates with Professor Dave Rahn (without cap).

On Saturday, May 12, during Commencement ceremonies, Huntington University awarded a total of 257 degrees.

• 16 Master of Arts degrees.
• 9 Master of Education degrees.
• 64 Bachelor of Arts degrees.
• 1 Bachelor of Music degree.
• 120 Bachelor of Science degrees.
• 17 Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees.
• 9 Bachelor of Social Work degrees.
• 3 Associate of Arts and 15 Associate of Science degrees.

In addition, 3 persons received honorary doctorates: (read more about them here).

• Commencement speaker Dan Wolgemuth, president and CEO of Youth for Christ USA.
• Rev. Luther Whitfield, senior director of Youth for Christ’s Primetime Community Center in Fort Wayne and senior pastor of New Covenant Worship Center.
• 1977 Huntington alum Charles Curie, for his national leadership in the field of public and mental health.

The afternoon commencement followed the morning baccalaureate service where Dr. Tim Smith, HU associate professor of history, gave a sermon titled “The Empire Strikes Back.” His sermon centered on Ecclesiastes 9:11.

10 May HU Student Awards for 2012

Five United Brethren students were among the many Huntington University students recognized on Forester Night, held May 1.

The 2012 Impact Initiative Scholarship was given to Jordan Vanengen, a sophomore from Banner of Christ UB church in Byron Center, Mich. The award is presented by the Student Senate to a student who has had an impact on the university and the greater community. The student receives a $1,000 scholarship for his or her junior and senior years.

Twenty seniors were honored by their respective departments with Outstanding Senior plaques. These UB students were among the recipients:

• Computer Science: Robert Hindy, a computer science major from Fowlerville, Mich. He is from Fowlerville UB church.
• Education: Ellen Wolf, an elementary education major from Huntington, Ind. Ellen is from Emmanuel Community Church in Fort Wayne, Ind.
• Psychology: Jennifer Cramer, a sociology and psychology major from Shippensburg, Pa. She is from Prince Street UB church in Shippensburg.
• Social Work: Suzanne Radosevich, a social work major from Huntington, Ind. Suzanne is from The Well in Huntington.

Other recipients of major awards on Forester Night:

• Jonathan Brenneman, a senior history and philosophy major from St. Marys, Ohio, was named the Male Forester of the Year.
• Katie Martin, a senior middle grades education and elementary education major from Eaton, Ohio, was named the Female Forester of the Year. Foresters of the Year are voted on by the Huntington University student body.
• Dr. Kent Eilers, assistant professor of theology, was named the 2012 Professor of the Year. Eilers has been at HU since 2009.

In addition, 10 Huntington University students-athletes were inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma honor society for 2012. This national college athlete honor society recognizes student-athletes who excel in athletics and academics. The recipients include two UB students:

• Michelle Hawthorne, a junior nursing major from Brooklyn, Mich., for soccer. Michelle is from Heart O the Lakes UB church in Brooklyn.
• Lance Wood, a senior entrepreneurial small business management and business management from Waterville, Ohio, for cross country and track. Lance is from NorthPoint Church in Toledo, Ohio.

07 May HU Recognizes Its Servant Leaders

Recipient Jessica Krause, left, with HU alum Taylor Zeman, who nominated her for the award.

Liz Smith (left) being recognized by Cindy Geders, Administrative Secretary to the President.

Two Huntington University students received the 2012 PACE Servant Leadership Award, which recognizes servant leadership in the college community.

• Liz Smith, a junior psychology and sociology major from Berne, Ind.
• Jessica Krause, a junior psychology major from Waseca, Minn.

Each year, Huntington University students donate thousands of hours in volunteer service to the community and college. Only juniors with a 2.5 GPA or above are eligible for the Servant Leadership Award. Smith and Krause each received a $1000 prize. Recipients are asked to designate $250 toward the charity of their choice, and to keep the rest.

26 Apr HU’s First Three Online Graduates

On May 12, Huntington University will graduate its first three online students through its adult-degree programs. The graduates (two from Indiana and one from Illinois) will receive degrees in non-for-profit leadership, business administration, and organizational management.

Huntington offers six online adult-degree programs and many other online summer courses for undergraduate students.

Huntington began offering online degree programs in 2008. Last year, 88 students took online courses through the adult education program.

Read more.