Huntington University held its annual Forester Night recognition program on May 2. Outstandng Senior awards are given to a person in each academic department. In addition, the student body votes on the following three awards:
Mary Ruthi

  • Dr. Mary Ruthi (right), professor of sociology, was chosen by the student body as Professor of the Year. Ruthi, who has taught at Huntington for over 24 years, is chair of the Division of History, Social Sciences and Education.
  • Jenna Rodgers, a senior educational ministries major from Franklin, Pa., was named Female Forester of the Year.
  • Andy Vaught, a senior history major from Roanoke, Ind., was named Male Forester of the Year. Vaught also received the Outstanding Senior recognition from the Department of Bible & Religion.

Megan Crawford, a sophomore broadcasting major at Huntington University, invited her grandmother to make the four-hour drive from Oakwood, Ill., to attend Huntington University’s first ever Grandparents Day, held April 25, 2006. Crawford, a native of Danville, Ill., says her grandmother, Diana “Granny” Jameson, is “a very curious person, and I knew she would like to have a different atmosphere for the day and see what I do here.”

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The old cliché “It’s not what you know, but who you know” is especially true in entertainment. That’s one reason why Huntington University senior Jonathan Herr decided to get a head start on breaking into the film industry by spending his last semester in Hollywood.

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wood_josh.jpgPlaying sports, watching movies and taking road trip adventures sounds more like summer vacation than an internship. But for Huntington University senior Josh Wood, it’s all part of the job.
Wood, a youth ministry major from Mishawaka, Ind., is currently serving at First Baptist Church in Naples, Fla., as a high school ministry intern. Wood is interning there for his PRIME experience, a seven-month immersion into ministry that all Huntington University ministry majors participate in during their senior year. 

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The Pleasent Hill Church just outside Muncie, Ind., is having a special service on Sunday, May 7 at 2:00 p.m. to honor the fireman and police departments that did so much to save most of the building during the fire last year, and also those contractors who did the work to rebuild the building that was distroyed by the fire.

Tom Brodbeck, superintendent of Central Conference, sent this report on two persons in the conference.

Barb Thornton. “Barb Thornton, the Treasurer for Central Conference, has had a heart attack and is a patient at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, Ind. Evidently, Barb’s symptoms were experienced several weeks ago (during the rush of tax season). She thought the pains she was experiencing in her arms and back were the result of her many hours seated at her computer working on the various tax returns she was working on for her clients. However, by the end of last week, things had not cleared up. She was scheduled to have a catherization done this morning (Monday).” Barb is from the Dillman UB church in Warren, Ind.
Randy Fennig,pastor of Prince of Peace UB church in Springfield, Ohio. “Randy is fully recovered from malaria, something he credits to the many prayers being offered on his behalf, and has been back in the pulpit for the past two Sundays.” Randy contracted malaria during his visit to Sierra Leone earlier this year. He had previously had bouts with malaria as a missionary in Mozambique.

The Park UB church in Bluffton, Ind., was able to purchase property directly across the street for a bargain price of $20,100. The property had previously served as the local school district administration building.
The school district had to advertise the building twice. The church won the first bid, but since the bid fell short of the required 90 percent of the building’s $60,000 assessed value, the dist4rict had to advertise it again. However, since the second round of advertising didn’t yield any more bids, the school board was legally able to accept the highest bid offered.
Pastor Larry Taylor doesn’t know yet how the church will use the building or property. They may tear down the building and use the land for much-needed parking.

Huntington University will award three honorary degrees at its 2006 Commencement Exercises on May 13, 2006.
Dr. Robert C. Andringa, president of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, will be honored with the Doctor of Humane Letters for his distinguished record of leadership and service in both public policy and higher education. He will also give the Commencement address.
Char BinkleyMrs. Charlotte (Char) Binkley, executive director of the WBCL Radio Network in Fort Wayne, Ind., will also receive the Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Her voice is familiar to Christian radio listeners throughout the area.
Bill EakinRev. Charles Billiam (Bill) Eakin will receive the Doctor of Divinity degree. He has served nearly 60 years with Youth for Christ, a term longer than any other staff member in the organization’s history. He continues serving as a Campus Life coach in Indianapolis. During the 1980s, he spoke at the United Brethren Youth Convention. He and his wife established 30 Youth for Christ clubs in Akron, Ohio. Later, as the international field director, he managed all overseas activities for Youth for Christ, a position that took him to 40 countries. In 1974, Eakin and his family moved to Indianapolis, where they have remained.
You can read more about these award recipients on the Huntington University site.

Robert AndringaDr. Robert C. Andringa (right), president of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), will give the Commencement address at Huntington University on Saturday, May 13. Dr. Norris Friesen, Huntington’s vice president and dean, will deliver the baccalaureate address to graduates and their parents at 10:30 a.m., in the Zurcher Auditorium of the Merillat Centre for the Arts. Commencement will be held on the campus front lawn at 3 p.m. You can read more about them on the Huntington University site.
The CCCU is an association of 105 member colleges and universities, plus 71 affiliated institutions of higher education located in 24 countries. Dr. Andringa will retire from the presidency of the CCCU this summer.
As vice president and dean, Dr. Friesen (right) is the chief academic officer of Huntington University. He supervises the faculty, assistant and associate deans, the RichLyn Library, academic registration, and adult and graduate education. He came to the university in 1985 as Dean of Student Services, was named Vice President for Student Development in 1993, and accepted his current role in 2002.
Read more about Dr. Andringa and Dr. Friesen.

Katherine Hoverman of First UB in Van Wert, Ohio, sent this report about their Holy Week activities: “First UB held a Maundy Thursday “Soup and Sandwich” supper at 6:00 pm in the church basement. It was followed by a Maundy Thursday Service by pastor Jody Harr in the sanctuary, which included Communion.
“An Easter Sunrise service was held at 7:30 a.m. in the sanctuary. Following this, breakfast was served in the basement. Some parents from our Team Kids program, which is on Wednesday nights, attended with their children. After breakfast, an Easter egg hunt was held outside for all the children.
“Pastor Jody Harr brought the Easter worship service mesasge. Altogether, 112 people attended, which was a record attendance for this year.”