(260) 356-2312
Julie Goetz, coordinator of online education, has been named Huntington University’s 2010 Staff Member of the Year.
Goetz, who has been employed by the university for four years, was nominated by faculty and staff for the award and was selected by the university’s senior administrators. She was recognized for the award during the annual Celebration of Service banquet on May 10.
Huntington University students, faculty, and staff contributed more than 11,450 volunteer hours this year in the greater Huntington and Fort Wayne communities.
“It’s part of who we are as an institution. It’s a reflection of our Christ-centered values,” said Grace McBrayer, director of first year students and volunteer services at Huntington University.
Huntington University’s Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service tracks the hours that are volunteered by the campus at locations such as Youth for Christ, Huntington Kid’s Club, the Love Church in Fort Wayne, the Adopt a Grandparent program, Habitat for Humanity, and Volunteer 911, which is an on-campus ministry to provide assistance to the community by filling requests ranging from baby sitting to yard work and home maintenance. Students, faculty, and staff also volunteer each semester during the fall and spring work days. Spring break and fall break trips also contribute to this count.
The Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service is a student-directed organization that mobilizes the campus community for Christian service. It was founded in 1992 through a grant. Each year, more than 70 percent of resident students are involved in some form of volunteer service.
Bob Kaehr, director of library services at Huntington University, will retire May 31 after 34 years at the college.
Kaehr was instrumental in moving the library from the Loew Alumni Library (currently the Administrative Annex) to the RichLyn Library in 1986. He worked to keep the library up-to-date with the latest resources and technologies during his tenure. He also taught many of the classes for the library science minor, which is no longer offered on campus; nearly all of his students were placed into library positions after graduation.
In retirement, Kaehr plans to do some part-time lecturing and work in the university’s United Brethren Historical Center. But most of all, he plans to keep busy with meaningful activities, spend time with his wife, do volunteer work and, as he says, “enjoy life.”
Amos Rawley (left) and Dr. Tim Smith
Huntington University’s annual Forester Night recognizes students and professors for accomplishments during the school year. The 39th edition was held May 4.
Amos Rawley, son of Pastor David Rawley of Otterbein UB Church (Greencastle, Pa.), was named Male Forester of the Year. He is a Bible and religious studies major. Katie Aeschliman, a public relations major from Stryker, Ohio, was named the Female Forester of the Year. These two awards are voted on by the student body.
Twenty-one seniors were honored by their respective departments with the Outstanding Senior Awards, which are voted on by faculty. Amos Rawley received the award for Bible and Religious Studies. You can view that entire list online.
Dr. Tim Smith, assistant professor of history, was named the 2010 Professor of the Year. Smith joined the faculty in 2007, having previously taught at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom. He is the author of “Britain and the Origins of the Vietnam War 1943-50” (2007), and he has also published a number of articles in leading journals and for the BBC.
Huntington University will award 279 degrees to students during the May 15 Commencement exercises, scheduled for 3 p.m. in the Merillat Complex for Physical Education and Recreation. Those degrees include:
In addition, honorary doctorates will be awarded to two persons: commencement speaker Dr. Herma B. Williams, and Donald Duff.
Martha Smith, Huntington University associate dean of students, will present the baccalaureate sermon at 10:30 a.m. in the Field House of the Merillat Complex.
The commencement exercises and the baccalaureate sermon are open to the public, and no tickets are required.
Attaboy (l-r): Jeff, Amos, Chris.
Huntington University is cosponsoring the Rock Hop & Roll tour, headlined by Christian music group Attaboy.
The April 18 concert in Grand Rapids, Mich., brought in 750 pounds of food for the needy. All items were donated to Byron Community Ministries’ food and clothing pantry in Byron Center, Mich.
Attaboy was joined by special guests Highland Fall and Jared Mahone. Other consponsors of the event were Banner of Christ UB church in Byron Center, JQ99 Radio, and Cornerstone Church in Caledonia, Mich.
Byron Community Ministries is an outreach program of 22 local churches. Byron supplies food and clothing to 1000 adults and children each month.
Attaboy’s lead singer, Amos Caley, is the son of Rev. J. Michael Caley, pastor of Banner of Christ church. The other two group members are Jeff Edgel, who was a fellow student with Amos at Huntington University; and Huntington native Chris Brumbaugh. The group has been together for five years.
In September 2009, there were 15 students enrolled in the “Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages” (TESOL) program at Huntington University. At the beginning of the current semester, 22 were enrolled, 5 of them non-traditional students.
In addition, it is hoped that as many as 20 Chinese teachers each semester will be enrolled in the program if an agreement can be struck with a public school board in southern China.
The new 2D studio art center building.
The interior of the new studio art center building.
The Studio Art Center. The 3D facility is on the left, the new 2D building on the right.
The Huntington University art students now have a place to call their own, as the Studio Art Center was formally dedicated on April 22. The new building was fully funded through gifts to the university.
The Studio Art Center consists of two facilities for 2D and 3D art. A new 3,000-square-foot building completed this spring adjacent to the existing annex is used for ceramics, sculpture, and 3D design. It also houses the woodshop. The new building features a large studio space for drawing and painting, and a photography light studio.
Beginning in June, Dr. Michael Cook (right) will transition into his role as associate professor for Huntington University’s graduate counseling program. Cook currently serves as director of the graduate ministry program (the pastoral track), which will be phased out at the end of August.
Prior to coming to Huntington, Cook chaired the Christian ministries department at Taylor University Fort Wayne, where he worked for 12 years. He developed the Bachelor of Science degree in counseling program at TUFW and a number of new courses.
Cook is a licensed marriage and family therapist and internationally board certified professional Christian counselor. 
He served as the counseling pastor at First Missionary Church in Fort Wayne for four years, and has worked in other churches and counseling centers as a clinic director, staff counselor, research consultant, youth pastor, and associate pastor.
“Mike brings a wealth of theological and clinical training and experience to the program,” said Dr. Jerry Davis (right), director of the graduate counseling program. “In addition to teaching some core courses, Mike will head up our nine credit hours in spiritual formation and direction. We are excited to have him on board.”
Members of Aperture with some Japanese kids.
The Huntington University worship ensemble, Aperture, traveled to Japan March 6-21 for a spring break mission trip.
Advised by Marvin McNew Jr., Aperture consists of Jessica Bauman, synth and vocals, from Japan; Kris Burgess, electric guitar, from Williamsburg, Ohio; Josh Dirnberger, acoustic guitar and vocals, from Sioux Falls, S.D.; Zach Reuter, drums, from South Whitley, Ind.; Justin Siemens, bass guitar, from Brandon, S.D.; Tyler Skinner, electric guitar, from Rensselaer, Ind.; and Laura Stuckey, keyboard and vocals, from West Lafayette, Ohio.
The group led musical worship at various events, including youth events, churches and international schools in Tokyo, and at the Asian Access mission retreat in Karuizawa, Japan.
