24 Mar Summer Theatre Youth Camp at Huntington University

his summer, the Huntington University Department of Theatre Arts will host its fourth Huntington University Summer Theatre Youth Camp. From June 29-July 25, campers entering grades kindergarten through 12 in the fall will learn basic theatrical training from theatre professionals and perform a fully produced musical theatre production. This summer’s performance will be “Fiddler on the Roof Jr.,” and every camper will have a part.

The camp will run Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Huntington University Merillat Centre for the Arts with performances on July 25.

Cost is $175 per camper with a late registration fee of $25 after May 1. Space is limited to 50 campers. Brochures and registration forms were distributed to area elementary and middle schools and are available at the Merillat Centre for the Arts Box Office.

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17 Mar HU Student Creates Necklaces for Change

Huntington University freshman Ben Swartz is selling necklaces to raise money for orphanages overseas.

“I have known since I was 16 that God was calling me to care for the orphans,” said Swartz, a freshman nursing major from Botkins, Ohio.

Swartz said he had been praying for some time for a way to raise money for this cause. Then one day someone showed him how to make the necklaces he currently sells. He started wearing them, and when others expressed interest in the necklaces, he decided to sell them as a way to raise money for orphanages.

The funds raised from approximately 200 necklaces was given to CKS Ministries, an organization building an orphanage in Kenya, Africa, and started by C. Kevin and Cheri Singer, a couple who attend Swartz’s church.

“I’ve been able to converse, meet, and befriend so many awesome people who are feeding and caring for orphans and the least of society,” Swartz said. “I know that the money that we have given to the orphanage being built in Kenya will affect kids’ lives that we may never meet, and it is hard to grasp the affect that the money will have.

“I know that this has affected my life so much. Just to see the amount of people who believe in the dream that God has placed in my heart is incredible. Our next step is to create a non-profit, and it is cool to see how God provides now even before we are a non-profit.”

19 Feb HU’s Record-Setting Spring Enrollment

Huntington University‘s current spring semester enrollment is the largest in its history, with a total student body of 1,114. That compares to 1,080 in 2008. They include:

• 893 traditional undergraduate students.
• 125 EXCEL Adult Degree Programs students.
• 96 graduate students.

The Huntington University Board of Trustees approved a 4.9 percent increase for fulltime traditional undergraduate tuition and fees in 2009-2010.

“In light of the current economy, Huntington has worked diligently to moderate tuition and fees increases for 2009-2010 to make college more affordable for students and their families,” said Tom Ayers, vice president for business and finance. “We believe this effort, combined with Huntington’s continued commitment to providing scholarships and grants to students, will enable more students to pursue their college goals at HU.”

For the 2008-2009 academic year, the cost for a Huntington University education is $20,300 in tuition and fees, $4,843 less than the national average. According to College Board’s 2008-2009 Annual Survey of Colleges, four-year private institutions charge an average of $25,143 in tuition and fees, a 5.9 percent increase of $1,483 over 2007-2008.

In the fall of 2008, Huntington University was recognized by three institution-ranking organizations. U.S.News & World Report ranked Huntington No. 5 among the 2009 “Best Values in Baccalaureate Colleges” in the Midwest and No. 7 among the Midwest’s “Best Baccalaureate Colleges.” Huntington ranked in the same positions in both categories on the 2008 lists.

Approximately 90 percent of Huntington University students receive financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, loans or work-study assistance.

Huntington was also pleased to be included in a new U.S.News category called “Economic Diversity.” Essentially, it features schools that have students on campus from a variety of economic profiles who are, in the words of U.S.News, not colleges just for “rich kids.” At Huntington, 40 percent of the student come from households with total incomes of less that $50,000 per year.

In addition to institution-ranking organizations, Huntington University also receives high marks from its students. Each year, the university participates in the Student Satisfaction Inventory – a national survey of college students.

“According to survey data, Huntington students believe the tuition they pay is a better investment than students who participated in the Student Satisfaction Inventory at other public and private schools,” says Jeff Berggren, vice president for enrollment management and marketing.

02 Feb HU Lady Foresters Raise Over $2000

The Huntington University women’s basketball program raised $2,007 for breast cancer research through a Pink Out event held Saturday.

The team presented a check to Heidi Floyd, development ambassador for the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer, following its game against Grace College. Funds were raised through donations in lieu of a game-day admission charge as well as through T-shirt and pink popcorn sales.

All of the funds donated to the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer are directed toward breast cancer research.

Beth Goldsmith (top right), a breast cancer survivor and former assistant coach of the Huntington University women’s basketball team, spoke at halftime. Goldsmith’s sister passed away from the disease, and her mother is currently fighting it.

“I am grateful for this journey,” she told the crowd. “It hasn’t changed my life goals and purpose, but it has expanded them.” Goldsmith said she was pleased to come back and support “a coach, a program and an institution that I respect so much.”

Also at halftime, 35 breast cancer survivors were recognized and presented with a Pink Elephants Candle of Hope from the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer.

The Huntington University Foresters are currently ranked 12th by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

15 Dec Other Items About Huntington University

• Students bought nearly $500 in gift cards to help people at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif., in response to fires that devastated the Westmont campus.
• Students collected 52 boxes for Samaritan Purse’s Operation Christmas Child drive, mostly through group efforts by residence hall floors and athletic teams.
• This year’s unique January Term courses.

15 Dec Huntington University Board of Trustees elects new members

The Huntington University Board of Trustees elected four new board members during its fall meeting. Two of them are United Brethren ministers: 

• Daltons Jenkins, pastor of Bethel Temple of Praise in Yonkers, N. Y.
• Brooks Fetters, an ordained minister who now works for Myers Funeral Homes in Huntington, Ind.

The other two members chosen are Calvin Hawkins and Candace Curie.

15 Dec HU Students Present Research Papers

All 21 Huntington University students from Dr. Wayne Priest’s Applied Research Methods course have had their research projects published in the online Undergraduate Research Journal of the Human Sciences. The students, who worked in teams of three, have seven papers in the journal’s seventh volume.

“Having practical experience in research and presentation is essential for students seeking application to graduate school,” said Woods, a history major from Hillsdale, Mich.

The seven papers are:

• “Death and Social Life: How Death of a Loved One Impacts Social Style.”
• “Self-Esteem and Class Standing in Liberal Arts Undergraduate College Students.” 
• “The Relationship of Fear of Negative Evaluation and Perfectionism in College Students.”
• “Divorce, Its Implications on Children: The Onset of Sexual Relationships in Adolescents.” 
• “The Impact of Sleepiness Levels on Academic Achievement for College Students.” 
• “The Relationship Between Stress and Eating in College-Aged Students.”
• “The Relationship between Body Mass Index and Self-esteem in Female College Students.”

The students also presented their research projects at the 21st annual Michigan Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference on April 19 at Albion College in Albion, Mich.

17 Nov Huntington and Ivy Tech Sign Agreement

Huntington University and Ivy Tech Community College have signed an agreement that will streamline the process for students transferring from Ivy Tech’s Associate of Science in business administration program to Huntington’s Bachelor of Science in business administration program.

Students may transfer into any of the bachelor’s degree programs offered through Huntington’s EXCEL program, including business administration, accounting, human resource management and not-for-profit leadership. The agreement is in effect for courses taken beginning in the fall of 2008. More.

13 Nov Four Additions to HU Hall of Fame

According to a Huntington University press release, four HU athletes are being inducted into the HU Hall of Fame on November 14:

• Roger Buzzard, 1948-1952 (football, basketball, and baseball).
• Starlet (Yoder) Myers, 1991-1995 (track and cross country).
• John Ngure Ngigi, 1999-2003 (track and cross country).
• David Porter, 1998-2002 (basketball).