MATTHEW TENNISON
A SAFER WAY TO CLEAN BRUSHES: VEG OIL VS. MINERAL SPIRITS At the beginning of the academic year, Finch and his colleagues in Climenhaga Fine Arts Center began cleaning their paint brushes with vegetable oil, an eco-friendly alternative to mineral spirits. Vegetable oil is odorless and leaves brushes clean and soft — unlike mineral spirits, which often dissolves nylon bristles. A chemical that has long been a staple for painters, mineral spirits — a flammable petroleum product like gasoline or kerosene — releases vapors harmful to the respiratory system. “And in a closed space like the studio, we all breathe that kind of stuff,” said Finch. Since vegetable oil is a better alternative, why have artists used mineral spirits for so many years? Old habits die hard, says Finch, but it’s time to question the way things have always been done. “We’re all re-evaluating our practices,” said Finch, “what we can do differently and still keep the best art curriculum and the best studio curriculum, how can we make what we’re doing more efficient, safer, better for not just the environment, but for us physically.” — My Nguyen ’17
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OF 3 Malaysia is home to the Methodist College Kuala Lumpur (MCKL), which partners with Messiah on a degree transfer program.
President Kim Phipps (right) announces the Moey-Phipps Scholarship.
PRESIDENT PHIPPS VISITS MALAYSIA TO PARTNER WITH METHODIST COLLEGE IN OCTOBER, PRESIDENT KIM PHIPPS VISITED KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, FOR THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE AMERICAN DEGREE TRANSFER PROGRAM (ADTP) WITH ONE OF MESSIAH COLLEGE’S PARTNER INSTITUTIONS, METHODIST COLLEGE KUALA LUMPUR (MCKL). Sarah Wade ’99, director of international and transfer admission at Messiah, accompanied Phipps on this historic trip. ADTP, launched by the Methodist College in the summer, is similar to a junior college program in that students can spend up to two years completing its courses. Students then transfer those credits to partner institutions. Since Messiah is MCKL’s first and primary ADTP partner institution, Phipps traveled to the country to meet with the school’s CEO, Moey Yoke Lai, for the launch.
“I had the privilege of speaking to students interested in applying to Messiah, and I presented a lecture, ‘The Distinctives of U.S. Higher Education,’ to Malaysian educational officials and Methodist College leaders,” said Phipps. “The other purpose of this trip was to connect with the parents and families of current Messiah College students, and I was very happy to have that opportunity.” Another goal of the trip was the announcement of a Messiah scholarship for ADTP students at MCKL. The Moey-Phipps Scholarship of Distinction
(MPSD) is an annual full-tuition scholarship offered by Messiah to one incoming student who is selected through a formalized review process. To qualify, the student must complete a minimum of two semesters at Methodist College’s ADTP, have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, submit a statement explaining a desire to pursue studies at Messiah College, provide two letters of recommendation from MCKL faculty and perform well in the personal interview. “The purpose of the scholarship is to give an academically gifted MCKL student, who may otherwise not be able to afford Messiah College, the opportunity to study with us,” explained Wade. “It is also to encourage the partnership between the two schools and solidify our connection.” President Phipps said the trip to Malaysia was a success. The MCKL partnership has developed, and she was able to spend time with parents of current Messiah students. “It was my privilege to meet them in their home country and express my gratitude for the gift that their sons and daughters are to the Messiah community,” said Phipps. “There was a lot of laughter, as well as happy, thankful tears.” — My Nguyen ’17
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