Campus News

Briefs by Elizabeth Murray

An outstanding place to work One of the pillars of AU’s strategic plan is to ensure Anderson University is an outstanding place to work. The university has taken action on this pillar of the plan by making Health Services available to faculty and staff. Starting in January, the on-campus resource became part of the university’s health benefits, enabling more members of the campus community to receive services.

Health Services offers immediate care, health counseling, referrals, and wellness education in partnership with Community Hospital Anderson, and all Health Services staff members are trained specialists from the Community Health Network.

Community School for Performing Arts

The School of Music, Theatre, and Dance embarked on a new community outreach project beginning in January. Students of all ages can register and pay online for private lessons and will soon be able to participate in a variety of offerings. Learn more at anderson.edu/music-school.

Partnership offers Computer Science Opportunities

Ontario Systems opened ‘The Cube’ on the Anderson University campus, Jan. 23. ‘The Cube,’ short for Talent Incubator, is a tech incubator that will provide computer science majors with hands-on software engineering training — both in paid internships and partor-full-time jobs.

“Our students tell us that the exposure to new technology, challenges, and team lessons are critical to them both during their time with us and as they transition into their professional life after graduation,” said Dr. Jennifer Coy, Chair, Department of Computer Science; Professor of Computer Science & Physics. The Cube is poised to meet this need.

A faster path to graduation

In the fall, our faculty worked to develop three-year plans for more than 30 majors. These options will be especially useful for students who are cost-conscious in their pursuit of an education or who are planning to attend graduate school and looking at a long path to their goals.

AU Student Honored For Service To Homeless

By Caitlynn Elkins

Anderson University junior Darrius Mitchell truly embodies servant leadership and was recently honored for his community contributions. Beginning at a young age, Mitchell recognized the homelessness issue in the Indianapolis area. He felt a call to action. He used his own money to buy water bottles, non-perishable food items, and personal hygiene kits to hand out to those in need.

Mitchell said the idea came to him one day while he was mowing his yard in the scorching summer temperatures. He couldn’t imagine being hungry or thirsty in these conditions. At first, his mother, Nicole Henderson, was confused when water bottles filled their home, but she soon realized it was his servant heart that was guiding his efforts.

WISH-TV set out to surprise Mitchell during a time he least expected. On Nov. 9, Mitchell thought he was doing an interview with the Office of Marketing and Communication. In the midst of his sentence, a group of cameras and bright

lights filled Mocha Joe’s. WISH-TV’s Brooke Martin greeted him with a big smile and an even bigger surprise. She complimented Mitchell for his humility as they walked out to the parking lot of the student center. A swarm of his cheering classmates followed closely behind him.

Mitchell was smiling from ear-to-ear as a Coca-Cola truck pulled into the parking lot. Morris Howard of Coca-Cola Consolidated

and Kroger gifted Mitchell with hundreds of water bottles and hygiene kits to give out to the homeless. An overwhelmed Mitchell fought back tears, but little did he know, there was more! He also received a T. Y. Hilton jersey, four tickets, and field passes to a Colts game, and $5,000!

Provost Marie Morris was present for the celebration, saying, “Our values are excellence, integrity, and servant leadership, along with responsibility, and generosity. You’re all that!” His pastor, Reginald Fletcher, gave him praise as well, “You are a light to the young people to let us know there is hope in this society.”

AU Students Take On Disney

By Caitlynn Elkins

College students are no strangers to applying for internships. These opportunities help students grow both professionally and personally and are often incorporated into the curriculum of each major. AU has students all over the country actively involved in internships, but for current students Gabby Clemente and Ellyana Blue, their office is located in the happiest place on earth.

The Disney College Program (DCP) is a national internship program operated by The Walt Disney Company. The students in this program have the opportunity to work in Disney parks and resorts, engage in valuable course work, and live with people from all over the world.

Blue is a 2018 graduate who majored in marketing with a concentration in branding and promotion and recently started the MBA program at AU. She recalls sitting in Dunn Hall with friends while doing homework during her freshman year when she applied to the DCP for the first time, but unfortunately, she didn’t make it.

In the meantime, Blue got involved at AU. She was a ball runner and team manager for the men’s soccer team, a front desk staff member at Kardatzke, and an athletics office assistant. She explained that all of these extracurricular activities made her more detail-oriented and gave her impeccable people skills. As Blue’s last semester as a senior crept up, she thought to herself “one last try,” so she applied to the DCP one more time and got in!

She reflects on her experiences in college, saying “AU shaped me, of course, with my faith, but I think it was also a place that allowed me to be more confident. By the time I graduated, I felt like I had lifelong skills that helped me go out and find jobs and market myself and be resourceful.” Blue’s job during the fall 2018 semester was a bus greeter at Epcot. She tracked bus times and entertained park-goers on the radio. She notes that this job may not sound “glamorous” but says, “We get to help create some magic in our own way.”

Gabby Clemente is a senior marketing major who was accepted as the marketing strategy intern with Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons for the spring 2019 semester. She too has a deep admiration for Disney, saying, “I have always loved Disney; my family and I have gone every year since I was one. We even bought into the Disney Vacation Club so we can go more regularly.” As a part of Disney Fairy Tale Weddings, she will be frequently writing for the “Ever After” blog and posting to their social media.

Clemente credits AU for her overall growth in the last four years, “First and foremost, AU has taught me to put Christ in the middle of everything. Even though Disney is not a Christian-based company, it’s what is going to drive me throughout this experience and influence my decisions.” AU has also had additional alumni covering the Disney map, most recently including Anna Canova BA ‘17, Kelsey Leis BA ’14 MBA ’15, Noel Marquis BA ’18, Cameron Mason BA ‘16, and more!

Volleyball Team travels to Belize for Service Trip

By Kylie Osborne

Nearly one year ago, Head Coach Tami Miller and the Anderson University volleyball team began planning their Tri-S trip for 2019. They decided on a destination of Belize; a country on the eastern coast of Central America. Coach Miller, Coach Beach, and six players started their trip on Jan. 2. Over the course of 12 days, the girls began construction on a mission house, put on a volleyball clinic for coaches, got involved with a local church, and explored the beauty of the country.

The mission house on which the team began construction is intended to house future visiting pastors and missionary groups. They started from the ground up and built exterior and interior walls from just a cement slab. Abby White, a sophomore player, noted that it was five days of very tough, but rewarding work: “We helped mix cement and mortar, cut rebar, and lay cement blocks for the walls.”

Two Belizean gentlemen who were experienced skilled laborers helped the team throughout the construction process. Miller said, “It was very cool to learn how to do construction from scratch. Although it was very challenging and hard labor that the team was not used to, they picked up on it quickly and did a great job.” It is thanks to groups like the AU volleyball team, that this once bare piece of land will finally be utilized for missions work after nearly 30 years of sitting empty.

During two of their days in Belize, the team spent time at Sacred Heart School in St. Ignacio, hosting a clinic for local volleyball coaches. They went over the fundamentals of volleyball and drills to incorporate into practice. On two other nights, they spent time with the youth of the local church playing pickup games. “It was nice to be able to use our volleyball skills to connect with others while we were there,” said Miller.

Although this trip was full of service, the team was also able to take some time to explore the beauty of Belize. On Sunday, Jan. 6, between morning and evening church services, they visited Big Rock Waterfall where they spent hours hiking and swimming. “After spending time in church we got to go see and appreciate God’s beauty,” said Miller. “It was an amazing experience.” Another one of their adventures was to Caye Caulker, an island off the coast of Belize City, where they swam with sharks and stingrays and snorkeled around the reef.

After 12 days of service, spiritual growth, and exploration, the volleyball team safely returned to the US on Jan. 13 with an experience they will never forget.