HU Magazine - Spring/Summer 2023

Make a Gift Today and Receive Income for Life

With fluctuations in the market, many people are searching for alternative ways to receive secure income for themselves and their families. A charitable gift annuity provides the opportunity to receive lifetime income while enjoying significant tax benefits. This tax-wise form of planning is also an investment in Huntington University students as they advance their education and seek to impact the world for Christ.

The benefits of a charitable gift annuity with HU include

• Guaranteed fixed income for life, part of which is tax free

• Income tax savings when itemizing deductions on tax return

• Capital gains tax benefits upon transfer of appreciated stock

How does a charitable gift annuity work?

In return for your gift of cash or appreciated stock, the University agrees to pay you and/or a loved one income for life. Fixed payments are partially tax free, and payout rates are based on age. After you receive income for life, the remaining funds are used to the benefit the University for the purpose you designate.

HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE

SPRING/SUMMER 2023 | VOL. 27 | NO. 2

Huntington University Magazine is published by Huntington University and mailed free to Huntington alumni, faculty, staff and other friends of the University.

PRESIDENT

Dr. Sherilyn Emberton

EDITOR

Lynette Fager ’10

Director of Communication

MAGAZINE STAFF

Laura Flores

Graphic Designer

Joanne (Miller) Green ’ 93, ’10

Sports Information Director

Nicole Manges '18

Content Developer

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

President Roger Cooley ’84

Vice President Debra Osberg ’78

Secretary Nancy Brown ’86

Member-at-Large Todd Biersack ’05

Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Huntington University. As a Christian university of the liberal arts, Huntington University is committed to equal opportunity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, national origin or physical handicap in programs or activities.

Huntington University

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Huntington, IN 46750

FEATURES

6 | UNIVERSITY CHRISTIAN OUTREACH: THE RIGELS’ INVESTMENT

Alumni serve in on-campus discipleship ministry

8 | MULTI-PLATFORM ARTISTS

New BFA encourages students to cross-train in performance disciplines

9 | IN DEVELOPMENT

New game development major taps into booming industry

11 | OTD IN ARIZONA EARNS MAXIMUM ACCREDITATION

15

NURSING ACCELERATES FORWARD

ABSN opens opportunities to equip more nurses

16 | IN HER OWN WORDS

Forester women are making a difference as advanced healthcare professionals

20 | CLASS OF 2023

25 | V IS FOR VICTORY (AND VARSITY)

HU Cheer competes nationally for the first time

14 | LEADING THE WAY IN ANIMAL HEALTH

Dual-degree program positioned to meet vet nursing needs of the future

SECTIONS

4 | A Word from the President

7 | Faculty Highlights

12

From the Desk of Jeff Berggren 24

Forester Athletics 28

Alumni Column 29

Class Notes

A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT

As we continue to thank God for our rich heritage at Huntington University, we are reminded of the ongoing commitment to uphold a legacy mission of Christ, scholarship and service. Scripture teaches us in Matthew 7:24, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.” For 125 years, students, faculty and staff have laid a foundation where Christ is center. Throughout the decades, this has manifested itself in new programs, new degrees, new mission fields, students attending from new places, and buildings and locations with new spaces.

When exploring new opportunities for growth or expansion for Huntington University, we have often asked three questions:

1. Is it within our mission to do this (Christ, scholarship and service)?

2. Can we afford to do this (time, talent and resources)?

3. Can we afford not to do it (opportunity, Holy Spirit leading)?

Programs and initiatives that are featured in this edition were birthed from hours of prayer, conversation and due diligence around missional fit and calling. From there, opportunities were presented and people stepped forward to make

them a reality. Watching these ideas come to life reminds us that the purpose of Christian higher education is to prepare and equip men and women to make an impact in the world for Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:11 reminds us of what must remain as the centering focus: “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Whether you are moved by the stories in this magazine of young graduates of our medical science programs or collaborations for new programs in ABSN, animal health and vet nursing or game development, pray for these initiatives as you would for new mission fields. Pray for God’s increase, as He would call others to join our legacy of service to Him.

We also ask you to join us as we praise God for his faithfulness. My verse for this season has been Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, President

UNIVERSITY CHRISTIAN OUTREACH: THE RIGELS’ INVESTMENT

Alumni serve in on-campus discipleship ministry

Story by Annie Seboe ’24

University Christian Outreach (UCO) is a ministry organization whose goal is to reach, call, form and send college students to become lifelong disciples for Christ. With a similar mission of honoring Christ through scholarship and service, Huntington University began partnering with UCO in 2016 after a group of students sought to bring revival to campus.

Growing from a single staff member to a full team of six, UCO Chapter Director Eric Lynch and his team have worked directly with the Center for Spiritual Formation and Intercultural Enrichment to come alongside Foresters as they encounter Christ.

“God wants to resurrect the dry bones on campus and bring a new life to our University,” said Lynch. “We aren’t praying for a ‘flash in the pan’ revival, but a true revival of individuals coming together in community, being discipled, [and] growing in Christ.”

For the average college student, thoughts of revival and lifelong missions can seem impossibly overwhelming. Thankfully, this is where Ben (2020) and Maddie (2021) Rigel step in.

The Rigels serve as connection points to Foresters by meeting them wherever they are in their faith journeys. Both serve as mission leaders, which involves building relationships with students on campus, mentoring within small groups, and organizing UCO’s Spark worship nights.

“One of the most rewarding parts of being in this role is that I get to have a front row seat in witnessing God transform lives all over campus,” said Maddie.

Ben will soon be stepping into a new role as formation director. As such, he is taking on more responsibility for the discipleship of those who are involved in UCO through mentor groups and teaching at Spark worship nights.

“Walking with students through life as they navigate their faith [and] being a presence in their lives is so rewarding,” said Ben. “The opportunity to be a friend and mentor to those in such a pivotal time of their life is humbling and an incredible honor and privilege.”

From creating bonds with students to preparing them for a lifelong commitment to the Kingdom, Ben and Maddie truly have hearts for HU. This dedication comes from a deep sense of belonging, as the Rigels are part of the Forester Nation. As alums of HU, the couple has committed to faithfully invest in the alma mater where both of their relationships with Christ developed.

“I love that I get to pour into the school where I personally came to know the Lord myself,” said Maddie.

Knowing the culture and investing in the place that shaped them has been an incredibly humbling opportunity for Ben and Maddie, and they hope to continue intentionally pursuing the calling God has given them at HU: Bring revival to students so that the Forester Family can be transformed into the image of Christ.

Non-Western Studies Expert Publishes Article on

Ho Chi Minh

Faculty Highlights

Coach Is Lead Author for Sport Ministry Textbook

Dr. David Lewis, associate professor and head women’s soccer coach, is the lead author for a new textbook titled Sports Ministry. The textbook is one of the first on the subject of sports ministry and it is intended, according to the book description, to provide college and university instructors with a dedicated text for “educating students on the how-to process of developing viable sports ministry programs that share the Word and positively influence the world in which we live.”

Sports Ministry defines and provides a historical overview of sports ministry. With emphasis on evangelism and discipleship in athletics, this text is meant to be a definitive resource for building an effective sports ministry program, even including chapters devoted to topics such as finances, facilities and legal considerations.

The book description states that “when done right, sport is a powerful platform that God will use to transform lives for His eternal purposes. With Sports Ministry, students will gain the knowledge and tools to share their faith and offer hope to others through the universal language of sport.”

Lewis is well versed in the subject of sports ministry. He is in his fourth season as the Forester women’s soccer coach. He has over 30 years of coaching experience and is an ordained minister, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion/philosophy from The King’s College as well as Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Dr. Tim Smith, professor of non-Western history at Huntington University, has published a new article in Historical Yearbook focused on British officials’ clandestine meetings with Ho Chi Minh before the outbreak of the First Vietnam War. Minh was a Vietnamese revolutionary who served as prime minister of Vietnam from 1945 to 1955 and as president of Vietnam from 1945 until his death in 1969.

Smith’s peer-reviewed article, titled “Clandestine Meetings in Hanoi: British Liaisons with Ho Chi Minh, and Vo Nguyen Giap, in 1946,” considers the attempts by both the British Foreign Office and Secret Intelligence Service personnel (stationed in the French colony of Vietnam in 1946) to gain a better understanding of the political intentions of Ho Chi Minh and the Vietminh. In doing so, British personnel in Hanoi and Saigon conducted several meetings with Ho Chi Minh and other Vietnamese nationalist and communist leaders. This enabled Britain to gain a refined understanding of the relationship between Vietnamese nationalism and communism, and it permitted the British Government to develop a more practical approach in dealing with emergent Cold War creeds than its other Western counterparts.

Theologian Authors MultiAward-Winning Book

The Rev. Dr. Kent Eilers, professor of theology, published his fifth book in 2022. The book, titled Reading Theology Wisely: A Practical Introduction , has been named to Christianity Today’s 2023 Book Awards list in the popular theology category and has been awarded a Bronze distinction in the Academic/ Non-Trade category for the 2022 PubWest Book Design Awards.

This book was a multiyear project for Eilers and was the first that he dedicated specifically to his students. It was his hope with this book that he could “create something of worth and beauty.” Eilers considers it an “honor to be counted among the folks on that list,” pointing out that many of the scholars included on these lists are people he admires or friends and colleagues.

Multi-Platform Artists

Huntington University’s first-ever Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in performing arts, set to launch in fall 2023, brings together our existing strengths in theatre, music and digital media in a new degree that uniquely prepares students for the demands of a multi-discipline, multi-platform entertainment landscape.

The program represents a new way of approaching performance at HU, blending existing performance opportunities in theatre, film and radio/voiceover into one program. Additionally, the BFA will train students to work with a variety of performance mediums so that they are comfortable in front of an audience, in front of a camera and in front of a microphone.

This sort of resourcefulness will go a long way when it comes to landing jobs in the entertainment industry. The most successful individuals in today’s marketplace tend to move between performance areas of various types (film, television, voiceover, theatre, and more) with ease. Through the BFA, students won’t just become familiar with these mediums, they will have in-depth training in each of them, with the option of specializing in the areas that interest them the most. They will also be familiar with the

breadth of work that is available to performing artists and ready to take or create opportunities to thrive in their careers.

In fact, what will set Huntington University’s BFA apart from the competition is its cross-training approach. The typical BFA program requires students to choose one primary area of focus with little opportunity to gain experience in other areas. HU’s program, on the other hand, will encourage students to train in three to four distinct areas of performance.

“Few schools in the United States have a program quite like this, particularly among Christian liberal arts universities,” said Dr. Luke Fetters, vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty. “The schools that do are typically high-profile art schools. The portfolio that Huntington University students will develop in this program will set them apart.”

Building a well-developed portfolio will be integral to the BFA. This means that in addition to a degree, students will graduate with the hands-on experience and professional tools they need to start landing jobs — and to take full advantage of any possibilities their career will bring them.

New BFA encourages students to cross-train in performance disciplines

In Development

Gaming is big business. In December, the Federal Trade Commission estimated that the gaming industry’s global revenue would surpass $170 billion by the end of 2022. That’s five times greater than the film industry’s box office revenue — more than the film, animation, and music industry combined.

In an industry this significant, gaming companies of all sizes are in need of qualified college graduates with the knowhow to meet market demand. Huntington University grads are already bringing their considerable skills to the gaming industry. But soon, they will be able to do so with degrees specifically tailored for game development.

Our new Bachelor of Science degree in game development, set to open in fall 2023, is an answer to the increasing need for game designers and developers who have the skills to make great games and the Christ-centered perspective to make a difference.

The program is a collaboration between the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science and the Department of Digital Media Arts, specifically the animation program, and draws on both departments’ strengths.

Students will have the option of specializing their game development degree in either creative digital content creation or computer programming, depending on their professional goals. The creative digital content creation specialization will pull heavily from animation, while the computer programming specialization will pull heavily from computer science.

All students will take a core of classes focused on game development. From there, they will take additional courses in computer science or animation to specialize their degree. Doublemajoring in either computer science or animation is possible and would open up even more potential job opportunities for those who are interested.

In fact, collaboration is a hallmark of the game development program. Computer science students will be able to partner with game development students to tackle ambitious senior projects that cater to both majors’ strengths, and crossovers with other majors will almost certainly happen as the program progresses.

“This program is a direct response to the needs we are seeing in the market,” said Dr. Luke Fetters, vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty. “Good storytelling, design and development are already a part of our related programs. Game development is a natural extension of those strengths.”

Among the thousands of games released per year, the number of Forester names in the credits will continue to increase.

New game development major taps into booming industry

PEOPLE YOU MEET I N T H E F O R E S T

The Podcast of Huntington University

You never know who you’ll meet in the forest — HU graduates, employees, friends…

But one thing’s for sure: They all have a story to share. Join us each week as we hear stories from, for, and about Foresters.

OTD in Arizona Earns Maximum Accreditation

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) has granted a Status of Accreditation for a period of seven years to Huntington University’s Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy (OTD program) in Arizona. Seven years is the maximum number of years a new program can be

ACOTE’s endorsement is vital because without accreditation students cannot take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Certification Examination. The NBCOT exam is the gateway for our graduates to obtain licensure within

We received the maximum seven-year ACOTE accreditation for our OTD program in Fort Wayne in 2016. The HU Arizona OTD location received accreditation candidacy status in fall 2020.

“Achieving accreditation by ACOTE is an important milestone in the founding of a graduate program in occupational therapy. We feel very thankful and blessed to have been granted full accreditation. This is the culmination of a long process of work involving me and the faculty,” said Evelyn Andersson, PhD, OTR/L,

HU Arizona’s OTD program is a three-year full-time degree program that accepted its first cohort of students in January 2021. Since then, the program has

“Our program is designed to prepare graduates to provide state-of-the-art occupational therapy services for people in the communities where they live,” said Andersson. “Our program aims to provide students with portfolios to be ready for future changing healthcare environments, marginalized populations and

“We aspire to develop future practitioners who are equipped with ethics and values of cultural humility, ready to serve diverse groups of people, enabling everyone to participate at their full capacity in their valued occupations, thereby contributing to their communities, especially in the state of Arizona.”

To learn more about HU Arizona’s OTD program, visit huntington.edu/OTD

From the Desk of Jeff Berggren

Catherine with The Chosen crew members at HU Arizona

Greetings from Peoria, Arizona, and the 30,000-square-foot creative space we call HU Arizona! A big change this spring for our area of the country was a return to full-blast spring training baseball. If you have not visited our Arizona location at some point over the past seven years, you might not be aware that the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners’ spring training facility is literally right across the street from HU Arizona. With COVID cancelling most of the 2020 and all of the 2021 spring training sessions and then the MLB strike dramatically shortening the 2022 sessions, the 2023 spring season was the first “normal” experience in four years. And the fans were ready, so we saw lots of activity around our building every day.

One neat spring training story is interwoven with the award-winning web series The Chosen. Only a loving and creative God could write this story. I’m blessed to be able to share it with you and hope you are encouraged.

We had the Seattle Mariners use our studios for a full week in early March to produce all their regular season video content with their entire roster of major league players. The Mariners brought in audio, lighting and video specialists from all over the country, including a grip/lighting truck and crew from Texas.

Six of our HU Arizona students got to work on the set with all of those pros, including a young lady named Catherine, who is a very strong Christian. Her dream is to work on the set of The Chosen. In fact, just two weeks before the Mariners shoot, Catherine had written a letter to The Chosen writer and producer Dallas Jenkins. She was a little

bummed because she had not heard anything in return, but she dove into the Mariners shoot with her usual level of enthusiasm, skill and pure spirit.

On the last day of the Mariners’ production, Catherine wore her The Chosen shirt, which simply says “Come and See,” the title phrase from the show. At the end of the day, Catherine, the other HU Arizona students and the professionals were all tearing down and loading out the equipment. That is physical work, so she took off her sweatshirt, and the pros she has been working with over the past three days saw her The Chosen t-shirt and asked Catherine, “Where did you get that?” She told them she was a big fan of series. They looked at each other and said to Catherine, “We’ve been the lighting crew on The Chosen for the past two seasons.” The Chosen shoots their show primarily in Texas!

The summary of this story is that because Catherine was diligent in her on-set work performance, she then got fast-tracked and connected by the Texas crew directly to a gentleman named Adam who hires all the crew members for The Chosen, including student interns. One week after the Mariners finished their production shoot, Catherine and four HU Arizona faculty and staff members all Zoomed with Adam. The outcome was that Catherine landed one of the two remaining spots out of twenty total spots in the summer intern program for The Chosen

Catherine was serving the Mariners in a highquality fashion and, unbeknownst to her, she was actually interviewing for her dream internship. The Lord answered her prayers and provided a way.

Leading the Way in Animal Health

Dual-degree program positioned to meet vet nursing needs of the future

When the Haupert Institute for Agricultural Studies launched in 2015, Huntington University was among few Christian colleges in the United States to offer a four-year agriculture program. For students who wanted a faith-based agriculture education in our region, the Haupert Institute filled an important need, and it has continued to lead with excellence.

Eight years later, agriculture at HU is again filling a need, this time in veterinary nursing. Thanks to an agreement between Purdue University and Huntington University, students can now earn both a Bachelor of Science degree in animal health from HU and an Associate of Applied Science degree in veterinary nursing from Purdue simultaneously.

The four-year concurrent dual-degree program allows interested students to fast track their career onsite at HU by combining Purdue’s strong Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning (VNDL) program with HU’s Christ-centered approach to agriculture and animal health. Students will take in-person classes on HU’s home campus and online classes through the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Students enrolling in the dual-degree program will be enrolled as full-time students at HU. The program is set up as a four-year program, with students enrolled year-round. During the summer term, students will

primarily be enrolled in mentorships, including time in area veterinary clinics or practices or on HU’s home campus through the Don Strauss Animal Science Education Center and Three Rivers Farm.

Aimee Graves, MS, RVT, has joined Huntington University as the animal health and veterinary nursing advisor for the Haupert Institute. As a local practitioner, she knows firsthand the need for qualified veterinary professionals.

“The dual-degree program in animal health and veterinary nursing is an amazing and forward-looking solution to the national shortage of veterinary professionals,” Graves said.

The HU and Purdue dual-degree program will launch officially in fall 2023.

“The graduates of this program will have a great deal of knowledge relating to animal health as well as valuable hands-on veterinary nursing skills,” said Graves. “The future of veterinary medicine and animal health is full of opportunities and possibilities. Huntington is leading the way in meeting the needs of the future.”

To learn more, visit huntington.edu/VetNursing .

Nursing Accelerates Forward

ABSN opens opportunities to equip more nurses

For more than a decade, feedback from Huntington University nursing alumni has revealed several themes about the HU nursing experience: how much alumni love their nursing professors, how excellent their training at HU was, and how valuable their healthcare connections were at graduation. The numbers — such as a 100% job placement rate for HU nursing graduates — support this alumni feedback.

Since the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program launched in 2007, the students who have earned nursing degrees from HU have for the most part followed a traditional four-year structure. For students who already hold a bachelor’s degree and are interested in nursing, however, a second traditional bachelor’s degree could be a hindrance to pursuing a nursing career. Meanwhile, the world is in need of qualified nurses.

Enter the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) degree program, available through a partnership between Huntington University and Indiana Tech. This full-time, in-person program spans just 13 months from start to completion, enabling students who already have one bachelor’s degree and prerequisite classes to start their nursing career faster.

Students will earn a Huntington University degree from HU’s excellent nursing faculty, and classes will take place in Fort Wayne on Indiana Tech’s campus in all-new, state-of-the-art facilities. The partnership between HU and Indiana Tech provides a dedicated space for ABSN classes with the same quality of Christ-centered nursing instruction that Foresters have come to expect.

But that’s not the only partnership that will benefit ABSN students. Thanks to the support of Parkview Health, students can have their tuition fully paid for over time and a job waiting for them upon graduation at one of the nation’s premier health systems.

Ultimately, the collaboration brings together a highquality degree program, outstanding facilities in a convenient location and a strong relationship with the leading regional healthcare provider to ensure graduates are well-positioned to enter the nursing field.

Classes for the first cohort will begin in August 2023, with a second cohort set to begin in January 2024. To learn more about the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program, go to huntington.edu/ABSN

In Her Own Words

Forester women are making a difference as advanced healthcare professionals

By Nicole Manges ’18

The fact that around 95% percent of Huntington University science students who apply to medical school are accepted is already impressive. What makes this statistic even more meaningful, however, are the people behind it and the unique paths that have led them to pursue a career in healthcare. In reality, Foresters are earning advanced degrees all over the healthcare spectrum. They are making a difference as medical doctors, certainly, but there are also Foresters who are dentists, physical therapists and physician assistants, among other things.

One magazine would not be enough to tell all of their stories, so we will start by introducing you to three of our graduates who have gone on to earn advanced degrees in healthcare.

The women featured on the following pages have three very different specialties — chiropractic care, pediatric nursing and occupational therapy. Yet they all share a similar sense of calling and a desire to meet patients where they are, even in the messiest parts of life.

All three women graduated with their undergraduate degrees less than a decade ago. Their journeys as healthcare professionals have included an international pandemic and plenty of hard work. In many ways, their careers are only just beginning, and we look forward to seeing how they continue to grow as professionals in the future.

If you know of a Forester woman doing amazing things in healthcare who should be included in this series, tell us about her at huntington.edu/ForesterFlashback.

Timeca Brown (2015) Doctor of Chiropractic

What are you proudest of when it comes to your career?

That I’ve had people — patients — come and tell me that they have had many issues and seen many people, but this is the first time they’ve actually had hope and relief from their pain. Because, yes, [in] chiropractic we are about physical, but a lot of times it’s a lot of mental and emotional that go into it as well because you are touching people — you have to touch people in order to do your job. And sometimes that’s all somebody needs is a touch. Sometimes that’s all people need is someone to listen to them. Sometimes all they need is some kind of support outside of themselves who understands or at least tries to understand what they have come in your office with.

Libby Cross (2016) Doctor of Nursing Practice

After earning her doctoral degree and practicing for a time in the United States, Timeca Brown returned home to the Bahamas and has registered with the chiropractic health organization there.

Why did you choose your area of practice?

I did a shadowing of a chiropractor [while at HU]. I needed to know more about it because the only experience I had with it was when my mother was in an accident when I was younger. I never had any personal experience myself. But once I had the shadowing, I realized that this was something I could do and I feel confident in doing because I always wanted to work with my hands, and chiropractic literally means “done by hand.”

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned along the way?

Trusting your instincts as a chiropractor. Because you get so much information, and you have to sift through that. In chiropractic, the basis is that your body will tell you what you need and how much you need. Listening to your own instincts, listening to your own intuition, will definitely get you to the right place most of the time.

Beginning her career as a registered nurse and international board certified lactation consultant, Libby Cross now works as a pediatric nurse practitioner in Michigan — alongside her mother, who is a pediatrician.

Why did you choose your area of practice?

I knew nursing was an area that I wanted to focus on. I started as an RN in the emergency department and saw a lot of the worst of the worst and the best of the best. Health crises tend to bring out the best and the worst in people. During that time was definitely eye-opening

for me, and [I saw] the importance of preventative medicine. Pediatrics is an area where you really can make a difference in preventative health and promote health, so that’s really what drew me to pediatrics. Plus, kids are just a bunch of joy and fun! I left the ER and I started working as a pediatric nurse and in postpartum and became a lactation consultant — under that umbrella of preventative health.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned along the way?

The biggest thing is to listen to people, to take the time to listen to what their concern is. There’s a lot of reasons for that. You get to a point where you accept that you really have to listen to what they’re saying, especially when you’re working with parents. Parents tend to know their kid more than anybody else, and kids are hard to read. I’ve learned to listen to what parents are saying. For me personally, really trusting and leaning into the Holy Spirit to be able to give the dayto-day strength in working to do the day-to-day things that we do, that’s been big a big lesson as well.

What are you proudest of when it comes to your career?

I wouldn’t say it’s a pride in myself, necessarily. I’m just thankful for the opportunities to be given the tools to be able to help others in that way. I think that’s more of how I feel about it all.

Kay Martinez-Bennett (2018, 2021) Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Kay Martinez-Bennett holds two degrees from Huntington University: an undergraduate degree in exercise science and a doctoral degree in occupational therapy. She currently works in a hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as an inpatient occupational therapist in acute care.

Why did you choose your area of practice?

Occupational therapy stuck out to me specifically as a field that uses someone’s meaningful everyday life activities as the medium of therapy. I love that it is a job that helps people to physically recover from illness/ injury/disability in order to return to the activities that are meaningful to them by DOING those actual activities with them and then giving them varying levels of physical assistance along with helpful tools and knowledge of the body and movement to improve their function of performing those activities within the context of whatever illness, injury, or disability they experienced.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned along the way?

People may come in to the hospital for something that is out of their control, something that was preventable, or sometimes something entirely a product of their own actions. But regardless of why someone ends up in their current situation, as a healthcare professional you have to essentially have a heart of Jesus, in that you approach patients with empathy and grace and meet them where they are to help them move forward to a better quality of life.

What are you proudest of when it comes to your career?

I am extremely proud of the drive and work ethic it took to complete the journey to begin my career. I was offered and accepted a job at Lutheran Hospital, where I completed one of my fieldwork rotations and my [doctoral] capstone project, before I even graduated. I then studied for and took my board exam while searching for, purchasing, and moving into a new house, planning and throwing a wedding with the reception at our new house, and continuing to work part-time. All of the hard work and dedication it took to maintain and advance a life during my journey to obtaining and beginning my dream career is something I will always be proud of.

There are more stories to tell! Find additional profiles of Forester women in the healthcare field at huntington.edu/Blog .

CLASS CONGRATULATIONS

OF 2023

MEN’S BASKETBALL

For the second straight season, the men’s basketball team made an appearance at the NAIA National Tournament. While the Foresters were picked off in the opening round by the University of Pikeville, 71-66, their season was one to celebrate, as they finished with an overall record of 24-8, including a 14-4 league record good for the third spot in the final CL regular season standings. Huntington was paced by All-American Zach Goodline, who averaged 20.9 points, 5.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds per night. The 6-1 point guard was voted the Crossroads League Player of the Year, while teammates Lane Sparks and Ben Humrichous were tabbed first and second team all-conference, respectively.

INDOOR TRACK & FIELD

Under first-year head coach Austin Roark, the Forester women’s indoor track and field squad brought home a national runner-up finish from the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships, having racked up 64 points over the course of the three-day meet. The eight female athletes representing HU on the big stage collected five national titles and 12 All-American honors. Freshman Addy Wiley was the talk of the meet, and rightly so, as she captured four individual titles and anchored HU’s winning DMR team and for her efforts was named the meet’s Most Valuable Performer, an award given to the athlete who scores the most points. Most impressive about Wiley’s performance was piling up her wins within a four-hour span. Her first win was

in the mile, followed by the 600 meters, where she set a new meet record. Her next national championship came in the 800 meters, after which she won the 3000 meters. Wiley wrapped things up by celebrating her DMR title with Emily Tedder, Destinee McGrady and Mackenzie Brewer. Junior Erica Xayarath was a twotime All-American, having finished second in high jump and fourth in long jump. Destiny Copeland rounded out HU’s All-American praises with a seventh-place finish in triple jump. On the men’s side, senior Dylan Felger wrapped up his indoor career with an All-American badge in the 600 meters by finishing second.

BOWLING

The Forester bowling program swept the Crossroads League Championships, a one-day tournament that featured 12 Baker games, with the top four scoring teams moving on to bracket-style best of three match play. The HU women topped Spring Arbor in the finals to win the title, while the Huntington men blanked Mount Vernon in the championship match to win it all. Several individual Foresters had standout seasons to be recognized as some of the league’s best. Senior Amber Elliott was deemed the Crossroads League Female Bowler of the Year, having averaged a 190.0 in league play. Teammate Haley Tucker posted the fourth highest average (186.4) in the CL to earn a spot on the First Team along with Elliott. Freshman Jacob Perry had a great run in conference play, averaging 207.5 to be tabbed the Newcomer of the Year and a First Team AllConference pick.

V is for Victory (and Varsity)

HU Cheer competes nationally for the first time

Story by Annie Seboe ’24

The Huntington University Cheer program generates excitement at sporting events, often rallying the Foresters to a win through catchy chants, captivating stunts and engagement with fans. But who can provide this same support when the cheer team has its own competition? In March, the Forester Family stepped up to the call and rooted for the HU Cheer team as they participated in the CCA Christian Cheer National Competition.

At Nationals, the program proved they were more than ready to be a competitive cheer team as they performed two floor routines, featuring their signature tumbling exercises and energetic spirits. With their combined scores reflecting near perfection, the team outshone many highly decorated NCAA Division Three squads within their division.

Reaching this level of competition alone was groundbreaking, as it was the first time in program history. However, earning second place in the All-Girl Limited Division was the achievement that secured the cheer team’s dream of becoming a varsity sport.

“My favorite memory was seeing them on that mat, giving their hearts out. I was so proud of how they performed,” said fourth-year Head Coach Shawnna Esque.

“By placing second, it gave the team the confidence that they could be a competitive team. After a hard season, this is what the team needed to build up confidence in themselves and their teammates.”

The varsity level of competition that the cheer team is entering includes more opportunities for scholarships, which will give the members of the team hard-earned recognition. “This cheer program has worked so hard to get us to where we are, [and] therefore we believe our team is ready for the next level,” said sisters and teammates Raegan and Payton Moore.

“Our goal for this first year is to start off strong. We are going to fight for first at Nationals. With NAIA competitions, we want to have a better score at each competition,” said Esque. “This is an exciting new experience for this program. We are excited to hit the ground running with new material!”

With all their achievements and dreams, the HU Cheer program has remained grounded in their core values. As described by the Moore sisters, the program has been, and will always be, successful because of its maintained standards.

“We love that no matter what happens, at the end of every practice and game we are reminded that God will always love us despite the outcome.”

With their Christ-centered foundation, unwavering confidence and national recognition, HU Cheer is sure to succeed as a varsity program.

“The

Nikolas (2024), Marketing and Psychology Major

Designed with undergraduates in mind, the Forester Fund provides scholarships that help students experience all that Huntington University has to offer.

$92,351

Raised for students through the Our Roots Run Deep Event

Sponsored by the Huntington University Foundation, the Hometown Grant provides annual funding to any aspiring HU student who resides in Huntington County, regardless of need or income.

Forester Fund has made it possible for me to receive a quality education every year and still manages to get me through each semester. Without it I may not have had the privilege of studying at HU, but thankfully God has blessed me and many other students with this generous foundation.”

“The Hometown Grant allows me to grow in my education [and] with Christ. It allows me to be a part of a university that provides the necessities to further my education. I am blessed to go to a university that helps me grow not only as a student but as a person too.”

Corynn (2024), Social Work Major

Thank you

to everyone who contributed to the Our Roots Run Deep: 125 Years of Christ, Scholarship, and Service Dinner & Silent Auction event. Your support of Huntington University has made a direct impact on our Foresters.

A special thank you to our premier event sponsor, Ambassador Enterprises.

FROM AN ALUM

By Susie Nafziger Director of Alumni Relations and Engagement

Once you become a Forester, you are a Forester for life. You may not think about the University every day, but the experiences you had here and the things you learned will stick with you and affect the way you view and interact with the world. You are a representative of our University, and you are impacting so many people in our world.

We want to celebrate that legacy with you!

No matter where life has taken you after graduation, Homecoming is the best time to be able to come home and reconnect with classmates, staff and faculty and meet the new generations of Foresters who are currently HU students. It’s the place to enjoy the sense of community that has always been a hallmark of the HU experience.

Homecoming 2023 is right around the corner, and preparations are being made for a weekend packed with fun, tradition and new memories. There will be soccer, alumni basketball and baseball, Frisbee golf, reunions, and lunch on the Quad. There will be the annual celebration of the 50-year class reunion, including a light dinner and reception. There will also be the tradition of having a Homecoming chapel, which will offer a time of worship and celebration and honor the Alumni of the Year.

In other words, the annual Homecoming event on October 6 and 7 will be a mix of familiar activities and newly added ones. Above all, our intention is that Homecoming will offer you events and activities to remind you how special it is to be a Forester and a part of the Forester Family.

I look forward to meeting new alumni and hearing their stories about Huntington University. I love hearing about what you are doing in your community and how you are impacting people around you, making a difference and leaving a mark through what our Lord has uniquely given you.

We are excited for Homecoming 2023 and hope to see you soon!

CLASS NOTES

1960s

Helen (Howery, 1960) Smith passed away on September 4, 2022. During her life, she taught in Indiana and in Michigan, married Theron Smith (1962), and was a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

2000s

Jill (Powley, 2006) Haskins accepted a position as the executive director of Streams of Hope Christian Academy in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Streams of Hope is a private Christian school for students grades 1-12 and specializes in individualized instruction with mixedgrade classrooms.

2010s

Andrew (2013) and Nikki Malloy were married on February 3, 2023.

Elisha (Frison, 2015) and Dylan Creger welcomed their son Julien John on January 10, 2023.

Bronwen (Fetters, 2016) and Alex Carlisle welcomed Clive Robert into their family on July 19, 2022.

2020s

SUBMIT CLASS NOTES BY EMAIL TO ALUMNI@HUNTINGTON.EDU OR ONLINE AT HUNTINGTON.EDU/CLASSNOTES DON’T FORGET TO INCLUDE PHOTOS!

ASK YOURSELF…

Have I plateaued in my career?

Am I ready to push myself forward?

Do I want to be the best leader for my team that I can be?

If you answered “Yes” to one or all of these questions, there’s a spot for you in our next cohort!

APPLY TODAY for Huntington University’s Executive Coaching and Leadership Certificate program. huntington.edu/Coaching

Lauren (Zimmerman, 2020) and Derek Klitzing were married on October 22, 2022.

Lauren (Parcell, 2021) Hickok and her sister, Emily Parcell, have been named 2023 Indiana Mrs. and Ms. Agriculture USA, respectively. They will compete in June 2023 in Ohio for their national titles.

HU SHOUTOUTS

August 25

Huntington University home campus

Timed run begins at dusk

Registration opens June 1

May 1 – June 16

June 19 – August 4 Faculty Workshop

August 22

First Day of Classes

August 28