President's Report 2022

President’s Report

OF CONTENTS

VOICES COME

HU

FORESTERS

Letter from the President

On the day Huntington University, then called Central College, was dedicated, Bishop Wright prayed a prayer of dedication: “From tower to foundation-stone…We dedicate all these to Thee, O Lord, to the cause of Christian education, in the name of the triune God, Amen.” Although Bishop Wright’s prayer refers to the foundation of the building we now call Becker Hall, everything that came after that day in September 1897 — every new student, graduate, employee, program, building, and location we added in the last 125 years — came out of that foundation. The decades have come and gone, but Huntington University’s rigorous academic programs and robust co-curricular activities continue to support a mission of Christ, scholarship, and service. We have humbly taken the talents bestowed upon us by God and made our best efforts to invest and multiply those talents many times over.

As we conclude the Step Forward Comprehensive Campaign, begin the first year of our new strategic plan, Forever Foresters, and look to our next 125 years, we praise God for the success of our students in the classroom, on the ball fields, in their clinicals and internships, and in missions opportunities. Our faculty continue to publish work that demonstrates academic excellence, lead in professional organizations, and serve in their local churches. As a University, we have established strategic partnerships with the City of Peoria, Arizona, the City of Huntington, UB Global,

Ambassador Enterprises, Holmes Coaching Group, and Parkview Health System and are in the process of cementing new partnerships with Indiana Tech, North Dakota State University, Purdue University, Arizona Christian University, and Lutheran Health.

This President’s Report includes numerous examples of the ways we are building on our 125-year foundation. Please join me in reviewing the work God has had us doing this past year, and don’t forget to sing your favorite version of “Happy Birthday” to Huntington University!

Sincerely, Dr. Sherilyn R. Emberton

Enrollment

Highest Enrollment in University History

Huntington University has much to celebrate in 2022, including another year of record enrollment. Official numbers for fall mark the highest enrollment in University history, with 1,428 students, up from 1,364 in 2021.

“

The University has grown 27% in the last decade,” said Dr. Sherilyn Emberton. “In fact, this year’s class is the largest number of incoming students on record. We are seeing encouraging growth at each of our locations, with particularly exciting growth in Arizona, which has grown by 77% since its opening in 2017.”

Welcoming 978 undergraduate students on HU’s home campus in Huntington, Indiana, and 154 undergraduate students at the HU Arizona location in Peoria, Arizona, the University continues to be encouraged by the student populations at both locations and in niche programs, including film, occupational therapy assistant (OTA) and

HU Arizona is thriving as well, with a 21% increase in enrollment in the digital media animation program and a 34% increase in the film production program.

The increase in enrollment correlates with an increase in the number of states represented among the student body. In fall 2021, students came from 31 states. Today, students represent 40 states, hailing from as far east as Connecticut and as far west as Alaska and Hawaii.

This year’s class also represents 67 of the 92 Indiana counties. Indiana continues to be the biggest pool for students, with Arizona, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois also being significant contributors to the record growth.

Degree-seeking students enrolled as first-time freshmen range from 17-61 years of age. Minority students make up 19% of the 2022-2023 student body, which is also an increase for the University.

University Embraces STEAM with Engineering Degree Option

HU offers a dual mathematics and electrical engineering degree with UND

In the United States alone, the number of electrical, electronics, and communications engineering bachelor’s degrees awarded each year increased almost 27% from the 2013-2014 academic year to the 2018-2019 academic year.1 Sadly, none of those degrees came from Huntington University.

“When we talk to students, engineering is one of the top areas that students are interested in,” said Dr. Jeff Lehman, associate dean of the sciences.2 “And for many years, we’ve not been able to offer engineering.”

Until now.

A parallel dual-degree program, the result of a cooperation between Huntington University and the University of North Dakota (UND), enables students to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics at Huntington University and a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from UND through the University of North Dakota’s College of Engineering and Mines online program.

The dual degree connects the strengths of the two schools and increases opportunities for students who want to attend Huntington University while earning a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.

From HU, students will gain an in-person liberal arts and mathematics education built on a Christ-centered foundation. They will simultaneously benefit from UND’s more than 30 years of experience with a distance-based electrical engineering program. The UND electrical engineering program is ABET accredited.

Although their engineering professors will be off-site, students in this dual-degree program will have direct access to a local engineering advisory board. The engineers on the advisory board will serve as a network of support for students, providing mentorship and connecting them with local practical learning experiences such as internships. Max Garwood, JD, has joined HU as the engineering advisor, serving as an on-campus lab supervisor and helping students with projects.

Students will work as a cohort and will have access to an on-campus electronics lab set aside specifically for the program. They will purchase electronics kits complete with all the materials they need for the semester and will be able to work on coursework in the lab around all the additional supplies they could need to test and prototype.

Ultimately, students in the program will enjoy the community atmosphere that HU is famous for while studying the two academic areas — mathematics and electrical engineering — that will propel them into their chosen career.

To learn more about the electrical engineering dualdegree program, go to huntington.edu/Engineering

1National Center for Education Statistics, 2021 2Quote taken from “Huntington University Introduces Electrical Engineering Program,” Huntington University YouTube channel, 16 February 2022

$2M Gift for Huntington Athletic Expansion

Huntington University’s athletic complex (PLEX) is undergoing an $18.7 million expansion and redesign, and HU alum Ryan Thwaits (2004) is leading the charge with a gift pledge of $2 million.

“Athletics are vital in bringing a college campus and community together. Everyone wants to be part of a winning team,” said Thwaits.

He is quick to point out the leaps and bounds HU has already made in academic programs, faculty, and spaces.

“Huntington’s academic offerings have always been top notch, and the opportunities created by an HU degree are vast, but I want these dollars to be invested in athletics and the experience that extracurricular involvement can bring to a collegiate experience,” said Thwaits, who was inducted into the HU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016 for basketball.

With a third of HU’s student population involved in athletics, Thwaits’ investment in the PLEX will make a major impact.

“When it was built, the PLEX was state-of-the-art, but time has taken its toll,” said Dr. Sherilyn Emberton. “It’s time to make the most trafficked building on campus shine again.”

“People who came before me invested in Huntington so that I could have a fantastic college experience and athletics opportunities,” said Thwaits. “Now it’s my turn to do the same for the next generation of Foresters.”

Thwaits believes we are all called to “give back to make things better for the next generation. It’s our duty to invest in the future, and there is no better place to invest than Huntington University.”

To learn more about the PLEX project, visit huntington.edu/PLEX.

Natio N al Ru NN e R - u p

N iN augu R al Sea S o N

In its inaugural year, the HU Esports Overwatch team splashed onto the scene this spring to be deemed the Navigators Division: National Runner-Up at the NECC National Tournament. HU went 2-1 over the course of the three-day tourney, winning eight of 14 maps.

The Foresters’ road to the big stage included going 3-0 in the divisional playoffs, where HU won all but one of 11 maps to earn the title of Navigators Yellow: Grand Finals Champion.

Spring’s nine-week regular season saw the Forester squad go undefeated at 9-0, winning 27 of 32 maps. When all was said and done, HU had claimed a 14-1 record and logged more than 100 practice hours throughout the semester.

The National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) began sponsoring esports in the fall of 2020 and

currently sponsors both regular season competition and championships to over 100 colleges and universities throughout the country.

In addition to the Overwatch team, the Foresters have two teams that play Rocket League and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. These squads competed in the Great Lakes Esports Conference (GLEC) in the 2021-2022 academic year.

Huntington University’s 2021-2022 Overwatch team included

• Zachariah Lail (ProZach), Team Captain

• Tyler Brown (TBrain)

• David Dowling (XMychal)

• Josiah Gold (Jynjer)

• Derek Harper (TrashBoat)

• Ericka Whitman (Doxic)

• Joshua Thomas (MelodicCrow), Alternate

a bout o ve R watch ///

HU’s video game of choice is Overwatch, a 2016 team-based multiplayer first-person shooter game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. Teams of six select from a large roster of characters (“heroes”) with unique abilities and powers. The goal is to put together the right crew to accomplish the multiple objectives within a given map.

A map is the physical location where a match is held between the two teams. Each map has a different layout and ambiance and requires various strategies from both the offense and defense. Although the map changes, the objective of the game does not change.

FIRST FULBRIGHT STUDENT SCHOLAR IN UNIVERSITY HISTORY

HU senior and esports player Zachariah Lail spent summer 2022 in Canada through the Fulbright Scholar Program working on a research project that combined esports and psychology. These are a few of his thoughts on the experience.

Award: Fulbright Canada – Mitacs Globalink Internship Research Project: Examination of Gambling Participation Among Esports Athletes

Why did you apply?

I wanted to get some

on-the-ground experience in the field of psychology, and this was a perfect way to get myself in the ring. It is also really good experience to have on your resume, given the few number of people who have the opportunity to be a part of it.

What is your project about?

We are exploring whether trends of gambling behaviors are present in collegiate esports players, like we see in other collegiate athletics. We are using a survey design and will be surveying undergraduate students and collegiate esports players.

What did your time in Canada look like? Monday through Thursday I was in the lab, in person with my co-researchers. Fridays were online days. Aside from working, the rest of my time was spent having lunch with strangers and exploring Toronto with the friends I had met there.

What is the most meaningful thing you’re taking away from this experience?

There are so many things that I am taking away from this experience! However, I’d say that the most meaningful thing is that sometimes, to thrive in a new place, you just have to put yourself out there and be willing to share your genuine self with others. I met all kinds of incredible people in Toronto, and heard really cool stories. Being willing to embrace the unknown, especially in a new place where you don’t know anyone, can really be where the coolest, most meaningful experiences lie.

Step Forward Wrap-Up

Huntington University is pleased and humbled to announce that the Step Forward Comprehensive Campaign launched in the fall of 2014 has shattered all campaign goals and raised a total of $56,623,840. This is $22 million more than the original campaign goal, and it is the largest campaign in University history.

In 2014, the Huntington University Board of Trustees approved a comprehensive campaign of $34 million.

million

or more

Fast forward to today and the campaign results.

Since the fall of 2014, Huntington University has invested more than the projected $7.9 million in capital projects, including (but not limited to)

• New occupational therapy labs

• Renovations at HU Arizona to create space for an entire OTD program location

• The reconfiguration of the Nursing Lab in Dowden Science Hall

year donors became

through fiscal year 2020-2021

“For those of us in the room when that was decided, that was a large goal and, frankly, a pretty daunting one,” said Tom Clounie, Advancement Committee chair. “And it had a ticking clock on it. We knew this campaign was intended to wrap up in 2022 as part of the University’s 125th birthday year.”

• The Forest Glen renovations and new turf project

• The reimagination of the student center (known as the HUB)

Fund reached

the $4.2 million

That $34 million figure included six capital projects and nine new academic program launches in addition to growing the endowment and scholarship funds. Prior to taking the campaign public, the campaign had already funded the 2015 renovations to Forest Glen Park, the 2016 construction of the new Welcome Center, and the 2017 completion of the Ware Plant Science Production Facility, but that was only the beginning.

“Seeing the faithfulness of God in this campaign and the success of the campaign to date, in the fall of 2019, on the recommendation of the Board of Trustees, the Step Forward Campaign goal was increased to $40 million,” said Clounie.

• The construction of the Welcome Center as part of the Merillat Centre for the Arts

• The Ware Plant Science Production Facility addition to Dowden Science Hall

• The construction of the Don Strauss Animal Science Education Center

• The creation of the esports competition lab

• The updates to the sand volleyball court and construction of the pavilion

• The UB Launch renovation

tractors/trucks/

$4.3 million has been raised toward the Forester Fund, HU’s student scholarship fund, which provides financial assistance for over 90% of the University’s traditional undergraduate students;

single dollar raised for that Fund goes

$4.8 million

Overall enrollment has increased by 12.7%

396 Foresters

and

graduated from HU thanks

results of this campaign allow HU to move forward faster to accomplish the mission God has called us to do,” said Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University. “God’s faithfulness to the University through challenging times and a global pandemic is beyond evident in this campaign, not only in the capital projects completed and the dollars raised, but more importantly in the lives impacted. Nearly 400 additional graduates earned HU degrees as a direct result of this campaign. That’s a powerful statement to the steps of faith taken by so many since 2014.”

National Voices Come to HU

Among the many guests to HU this year were four nationally known individuals

The year 2022 brought a variety of familiar faces to Huntington University classes, lectures, and projects. Thanks to the 125th Celebration and first Forester feature film, four nationally recognized figures came to home campus to share their expertise and craft with us: Dr. Tony Evans, whose program opened our 125th festivities, Stephen Baldwin and Bethany Lind, two actors who brought their acting talents to Wayfaring Stranger, and Jim “The Rookie” Morris, who spoke at Homecoming.

Dr. Tony Evans

Pastor, best-selling author, and renowned speaker Dr. Tony Evans came to home campus on March 31. The event officially kicked off our 125th Celebration festivities and was open to the community for free thanks to underwriting from HU.

“This community has been so good to us,” said President Emberton, “this is one way that we can give a gift back to Huntington. We are so proud of the heritage of Christian

higher education in Huntington, Indiana, and we will continue to do our part to foster growth and innovation in this region.”

Dr. Evans is a pastor, a frequent speaker at Bible conferences and seminars, a best-selling author of over 100 books, booklets, and Bible studies, and the president of The Urban Alternative, a national ministry that seeks to restore hope and transform lives through the Word of God. His daily radio broadcast, The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans, is available through nearly 1,000 radio outlets in the United States and in more than 130 countries.

Baldwin and Lind

Stephen Baldwin and Bethany Lind joined the cast of Huntington University’s first feature film, Wayfaring Stranger.

Baldwin, perhaps most known for his portrayal of McManus in The Usual Suspects, plays Kenneth Strickler,

a local factory owner and philanthropist who, after meeting Bev Frank (played by Lind) at the country club where she waits tables, wants to show others that her integrity and hard work are worth honoring. Lind brought the character of Grace Young to life in Ozark before bringing Bev Frank to life in Wayfaring Stranger

“Baldwin and Lind bring star power to Wayfaring Stranger,” said Dr. Lance Clark, producer of Wayfaring Stranger, dean of the arts, and professor of digital media arts. “We already had a dynamite cast with industry pros — some of whom are HU grads! — but to add folks who are in film and on TV regularly, that just adds another level of professionalism to our program.”

Wayfaring Stranger is one of the first feature films of its kind produced by a private college as part of a May Term capstone experience for film production majors. To learn more, visit huntington.edu/Wayfaring-Stranger. To learn more about Wayfaring Stranger, visit huntington.edu/Wayfaring-Stranger.

Jim “The Rookie” Morris

Jim “The Rookie” Morris was at Homecoming 2022 as a special speaker on Friday, October 7. Morris was a high school science teacher and coach in West Texas who miraculously made it the Major Leagues at age 35. His life story made cinematic history with the heartwarming and unforgettable Disney movie The Rookie, starring Dennis Quaid.

“As a baseball fan, Jim Morris’ story is pretty near and dear to my heart,” said Stephen Weingart, vice president for university advancement. “But you don’t have to be a baseball fan to appreciate what he has to share. His story is one of perseverance, joy, hard work, faith, and more.”

Morris pitched two seasons for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, reaching speeds up to 102 mph, and chose to retire to raise his children. Since 2000, Jim has been a highly sought-after motivational speaker, traveling the world inspiring audiences to follow their dreams and never give up.

Stephen Baldwin Jim “The Rookie” Morris

HU at a Glance

Doctoral Grads Named to Fellowships

Huntington University graduates Nicole K. Thompson, OTD, and Hanna Tekola, OTD, OTR/L, Class of 2022, were named to fellowships in 2022.

Thompson was named to Parkview’s AOTA Neurologic Occupational Therapy Fellowship. This is the first time Parkview has offered this fellowship, which will last for 13 months and end in fall 2023. Thompson will gain expertise in neurologic OT as she rotates through acute care, inpatient, and outpatient areas at Parkview. Additionally, she will have opportunities to share her knowledge with colleagues and present locally and nationally in schools and other facilities.

Tekola was named to the Assistive Technology fellowship at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center, a yearlong fellowship consisting of client care four days a week and didactic courses/independent study once a week. Tekola plans to take the exam for Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) certification, and the fellowship places her on the accelerated track for AOTA’s Advanced Board Certification in Physical Rehabilitation.

PLEX Project Underway

Work is underway on a $18.7 million expansion and redesign of Huntington University’s athletic complex (PLEX).

“The renovation and expansion of the PLEX is a transformative project for HU on many levels,” said Dr. Russ Degitz, chief operating officer at Huntington University. “This 90,000+ square foot facility will now afford more opportunities for our students and the community to engage and enjoy events and activities in a first-class venue. Featuring three large arena and gym spaces, substantially expanded weight and cardio areas, a large entry lobby, hospitality suites, a pro shop, a hall of fame, and larger classrooms, this project will be a true game changer for the University.”

First on the docket for updates was the Fieldhouse, with the east side of the PLEX following shortly after. Other updates will follow in stages so that the facility can remain open. To learn more about the PLEX project or to be a part of the PLEX campaign, visit huntington.edu/PLEX.

Nicole K. Thompson

Hanna Tekola

Forest Glen (Re)Dedicated With $1.3M in Upgrades

On April 21, Huntington University held a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for Forest Glen Park. The 65-yearold Forest Glen underwent its most recent renovation in the 2021-2022 academic year with several developments: new infield turf, new bullpens, and a laser- graded outfield. Collectively these upgrades totaled $1.3 million.

The renovations were made possible through the support of alumni and Forester baseball fans and the sweat equity of current baseball players, who helped transport the turf. Home games in the spring 2022 season took advantage of the new improvements, and the Foresters finished the season 27-23 after competing in the title game of the Crossroads League Tournament.

Forest Glen Park has long been an iconic space. Students were involved in the history of Forest Glen since the very beginning, helping to clear the ground during the 1957 student work day and suggesting and selecting the park’s name.

HU Arizona Takes Nine to Phoenix Film Festival

Nine projects from seven HU Arizona students were included in the Phoenix Film Festival’s Official Selections. The film festival is a nationally recognized event, the largest film festival in Arizona. It has been named one of “The 25 Coolest Film Festivals” and a “Top 50 Worth the Entry Fee” by MovieMaker Magazine

HU Arizona submitted to the “Arizona Shorts - Made in AZ” category, as each project features local Valley actors and locations ranging from North Phoenix to Old Town Peoria.

“To see nine of our students’ short films (from live action and animation to documentary) get into the festival speaks volumes. It sends a message to the current and incoming students that when they are given the opportunity to write/ direct a piece at HU Arizona, that piece will have a legitimate chance of getting into a major festival,” said Phil Wilson, Arizona digital media arts program director. “One student told me that getting into PhxFF had been a dream of theirs since high school — that student now has a short at this year’s festival and is still a sophomore in the program. I’m so happy for him — and all of our students whose work is being screened.”

HU Dominates at the 2022 Ad Fed Awards

Huntington University was well represented at the Fort Wayne chapter of the American Advertising Federation (Ad Fed) 2022 Advertising Honors on March 19, 2022. Projects from HU students and faculty received a total of 24 Student Awards — 18 awards for the Department of Digital Media Arts and 6 awards for the Department of Art & Design — and four Professional Awards.

“What an exciting night to see our students receiving so many awards,” said Dr. Lance Clark, professor of digital media arts and dean of the arts. “It just showcases what outstanding students and faculty that we in our graphic design, film and TV production, and animation programs at HU.”

Top Private DMA Program in Country for 6th Consecutive Year

According to BEA Rankings

HU emerged from the 2022 Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Festival of Media Arts as the top private digital media arts program in the country — for the sixth

year in a row. Earning 23 awards total (up four from 2021), the HU digital media arts program ranks third in the nation among both private and public universities. Huntington University also took home a Best of Fest award in the Animation/Experimental/Mixed category.

“Ranking in the top five colleges and universities in the nation now for the 6th year tells me we have something pretty special happening,” said Dr. Lance Clark, dean of the School of the Arts at Huntington University.

With half of HU’s awards coming from the University’s Indiana location and the other half coming from the Arizona location, it’s clear that HU’s animation, film, and television pedigree is strong.

“I tell the students that they will have made at least 100 projects by the time they graduate, and that’s not hyperbole,” said Phil Wilson, Arizona digital media arts program director. “With that level of productivity, growth happens, and recognition like this happens.”

AOTA Award for Excellence Awarded to HU Faculty

Nicole Scheiman, DrOT, MHS, OTR/L, department chair, associate professor and director of the occupational therapy assistant (OTA) program, was awarded the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Occupational Therapy. This award is given to those who exhibit extraordinary contributions to the occupational therapy field.

“Receiving the Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Occupational Therapy from the AOTA is such an amazing career honor, particularly because I was nominated by our very own occupational therapy assistant team,” said Scheiman. “It is incredible to be given an award for something you simply love doing.”

Scheiman leads and teaches in the OTA program, the first accredited baccalaureate occupational therapy assistant program in the nation.

“The work that Dr. Scheiman is doing deserves national recognition,” said Dr. Luke Fetters, vice president for

academic affairs and dean of faculty. “She is truly a thought leader in the approach to preparing the next generation of occupational therapy assistants. This award demonstrates, yet again, Huntington University’s place as a top-tier, innovative leader in occupational therapy education.”

Faculty Dedicates 5th Book to Students

The Rev. Dr. Kent Eilers, professor of theology at Huntington University, has published his fifth book, Reading Theology Wisely: A Practical Introduction.

“I wrote to make the activity of reading theology more human and more communal,” said Eilers, pointing out that students often experience reading as an individual activity, and the words on the page seem to drop from nowhere. But reading theology is actually something intensely personal yet impactful for entire communities.

The book was a multiyear project, including time spent collaborating with artist Chris Koelle. Koelle created an original work of visual art for each chapter that, according to Eilers, “enlivens the experience for the reader. Concepts and ideas spring off the page with the help of Chris’ art!”

Dr. Nicole Scheiman Rev. Dr. Kent Eilers

But perhaps most remarkable about this book is its dedication: “For my students.”

“Everything in the book I learned through the regular practice of reading theology in communities of hardworking students, many at Huntington,” said Eilers. “My students were integral to the development of this book, and everything in it springs from my experience teaching theology over many years.”

Faculty Collaborate on New Textbook

Drs. Nate Short and Joel Vilensky have published a functional anatomy book geared specifically toward entrylevel occupational therapy faculty and students.

Short and Vilensky began co-teaching anatomy and kinesiology in 2014 when HU launched its Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy. At that time, Short and Vilensky relied primarily on textbooks and resources from other disciplines. They realized there was a need for a comprehensive OT-specific resource.

“Our hope is that these complimentary resources, Functional Anatomy for Occupational Therapy and OT Guide to Goniometry and MMT (eTextbook), elevate the foundational knowledge-base of functional anatomy for future occupational therapists (OTs) and occupational therapy assistants (OTAs), thereby improving patient care,” said Short.

An additional author, Carlos Suarez-Quian, developed cadaver images, which are paired with illustrations to provide students with an in-depth understanding of underlying anatomy. For students, this offers a dual perspective, helping conceptualize the design and function of muscles and other body structures.

The photos and videos included with the eTextbook were recorded at a photo shoot in the musculoskeletal lab at Parkview Hospital Randallia, and voiceovers were completed in the DMA studio on Huntington University’s home campus.

Dr. Nate Short

Dr.

Joel Vilensky

Seven All-American Honors from NAIA Outdoor T&F Nationals

The Forester track and field program left the outdoor season with seven All-American badges from the 2022 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships.

Carmen Trier had an incredible showing in the half marathon to earn HU’s first All-American honor of the three-day meet. Seeded 25th, he shocked the field of 27 competitors by claiming third in 1:27.08, which also proves a new school record.

Dylan Felger garnered two All-American praises on Friday, clocking in at 51.14 in the 400 meter hurdles to cross the line third. Earlier in the day, the senior speedster teamed up with Reece Gibson, Aaron Hendryx, and Elijah Chesterman to live up to their No. 6 seeding in the 4x800 meter relay by finishing in that spot in 7:37.04.

Chesterman brought home a second piece of All-American hardware with his eighth place finish in the 1500 meters at 3:54.04.

Noah Bise wrapped up his Huntington career by overachieving in both his jumps. As the 13th seed in long jump, the Edgewood High School product took 11th with his leap of 7.11 meters. Triple jump saw him finish 15th, four spots ahead of his seeding, with a mark of 14.57 meters.

Freshman Zachary Collins made his first debut on the big stage. As the 36th seed in the 100 meters, the rookie sprinter took 27th in 10.76. He followed up that performance with a 30th place finish in the 200 meters in 22.01.

Kent Yoder represented HU in the 10,000 meters, posting a 32:49.86 to claim 23rd place.

Two other Foresters on the women’s side had solid outings. Freshman Shelby Christman outran her seeding by ten spots in the 10,000 meters, crossing the line in 38:25.72 for 17th place. Another freshman, Abigail Mays, ran a 2:16.06 in the 800 meters to earn 16th, one spot better than predicted.

As a team, the Huntington men finished 32nd out of 77, while the HU women took 38th out of 70.

Men’s Basketball Team’s First Trip to Nationals Since 2014

The Huntington University men’s basketball team travelled to Montgomery, Alabama, to compete in the 2022 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship in March 2022. It was the ninth time the Foresters have advanced to an NAIA postseason tournament, but it was the first trip since 2014. Huntington received one of 25 at-large bids and entered the opening round as the 12th seed.

After an 80-69 win over 5th-seeded Georgetown in the opening round, the team suffered an 88-80 loss to 4thseeded Faulkner (26-6) in round two. The loss brought an end to their season.

“Reaching the national tournament was a goal of ours this season,” said Coach Kory Alford. “For us to accomplish that and advance to the round of 32 was a tremendous step in the right direction for our basketball program.”

The final battle began with both teams looking for any sort of leverage. Huntington got its lift from Lane Sparks, who dropped eight points in three minutes to give the visitors a 22-18 advantage by the midway point of the first period.

Unfortunately, the Foresters got stuck on 22 for nearly five minutes after that, which allowed the Eagles to reel off 12 straight points to turn HU’s four-point lead into a 30-22 Faulkner advantage with five minutes left in the half. The spurt proved significant, as Huntington never enjoyed a lead after that.

While the Foresters played catch up the rest of the way, they were never to be counted out. They made a furious comeback that pulled HU within two at 67-65 with just under six minutes to go. Two missed free throws shortly after that would have tied things up, but it was not to be.

Despite the Foresters knocking down four three-pointers in the final 60 seconds, it was too little too late; the game was already too far out of reach. Alford and crew finished with 15 triples on the night, the 14th time in the season they hit double-digit three pointers.

The Foresters finished the year with an overall record of 23-11.

3,760,716

2015 25,085,542 917 27,356

2016 25,374,579 875 29,000

2017 27,118,556 852 31,829

2018 28,491,710 845 33,718

29,782,222 840 35,455

2020 29,337,778 824 35,604

35,652,024 843 42,292

30,191,990 827 36,508

2015 715,132

2016 708,703

775,757

2018 1,094,104

2019 1,110,156

2020 1,112,068

2021 1,128,864

1,310,431

9,058,174 25.4%

8,821,197 24.0%

11,132,172 31.1%

10,696,569 31.2%

10,025,108 28.1%

9,343,903 25.4%

11,519,133 27.1%

10,694,151 26.1%