Alumni Profiles
Nicholson book review
Alumni work with Habitat
Wells earns Dove Award
Henning finds second career
The times of his life
By Holly Miller
When 16-year-old Robert Nicholson BS ’44 boarded a train in St. Paul, Minn., for the trip south to Indiana in 1940, he expected the Anderson University experience to change his life forever. What he didn’t expect was that his four years on campus would stretch to 50. In the course of that time not only would the college change him, but he would change the college.
“Through it all, it continued to amaze me that the insecure, limited boy I was in my growing-up years was the recipient of such incredible experiences and opportunities,” writes Nicholson in his 200-page memoir, So I Said Yes, released this month by Anderson University Press. The title refers to Nicholson’s customary reply whenever he was asked to take on new responsibilities at his alma mater.
The book project began as informal jottings aimed at family members interested in Nicholson’s personal and professional journey. He had served the university as a member of the faculty, founder of the Anderson College Choir, chair of the music department, academic dean, and president (1983-1990). With the encouragement of President James Edwards, who previewed an early draft and found it so interesting that “I read the pages in one sitting,” Nicholson agreed to broaden the scope for a wider audience.
Two interesting features set the book apart from traditional autobiographies and memoirs. First, “we took advantage of technology and put together an audio disk of music and song bites from the past,” explains Nicholson. The CD, tucked into each copy of the book, contains performances by the 1957 Anderson College Choir, the Park Place Sanctuary Choir, and the Heritage Sing at the 2005 convention of the Church of God, all under the direction of Nicholson. Also recorded is a meditation that Nicholson delivered at the 1986 “Candles and Carols” Christmas program.
“The second unusual feature of the book is an attempt to incorporate voices of a different type,” says Nicholson. “I invited colleagues and friends to do some reflecting of their own and add their thoughts on some of the key times and events that I cover in the book.” The results are 12 personal essays — one per chapter — provided by AU Board President Ron Fowler, Professors Elbridge MacKenzie and Gibb Webber, President Emeritus Robert Reardon, President James Edwards, and others. The essays’ authors are not limited to persons who populated Nicholson’s professional world. Dorothy Nicholson recalls the couple’s honeymoon trip to Marion, Ind., in a borrowed car. The Nicholsons’ two sons, Paul and Gary, write about Sunday afternoons when their dad would unlock Lewis Gymnasium and let the neighborhood kids shoot baskets.
“Unlike family members who might work straight through the pages, other readers may prefer to skip and skim, looking for places where my memories intersect with theirs,” says Nicholson, who claims he is the chief beneficiary of the writing project. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed rummaging around in the past and discovering how one memory sparks another.”
To purchase the book, send $19.95 plus $3 for shipping and handling to Anderson University, University Relations, 1100 E. Fifth St., Anderson, IN 46012. For more information, call 765-641-4040.
Alums, faculty building homes
By Kim Walker
In the hit ABC reality show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, dilapidated homes are converted into fabulous retreats, or new ones are built entirely from scratch, seemingly overnight. It can happen in Hollywood, of course, where money and resources are unlimited. But have you ever wondered what it would take to build a home for someone in your community?
A group of current and former Anderson University faculty and grads have, and the answer, according to them, has more to do with possessing a commitment to serve others than it does with ability or money.
Roughly 12 current and former AU faculty and alums are volunteers for Habitat for Humanity (Anderson office), which was started in 1988. Dr. Don Dawson BA ’60, MDiv ’64, former AU Dean of Men (1969-1971), is the current president of the board of directors.
Habitat for Humanity is a not-for-profit organization that builds homes for families who meet stated guidelines. No down payment is required, and mortgages are interest free, paid directly to Habitat. In total, 30 homes have been built by Habitat for Humanity in Madison County since 1988.
Dawson says owning an interest-free home is a gift, but it exacts a few expectations from the family as well. Once selected, each adult in the family is required to put in 200 hours of “sweat equity” and attend educational classes on topics related to home maintenance and finance management. These requirements are what differentiate Habitat in its mission: Habitat volunteers don’t just build homes to provide families with outside shelter; they build homes to provide families with inner self-confidence and pride. Both are qualities long-time homeowners can take for granted, according to Habitat volunteer and AU alum Tom Abbey ’62.
“My real skill around here is mowing,” said Joe Womack, Habitat volunteer and former AU professor of sociology, as he finished his first chore at the newly refurbished Habitat home at 218 West 2nd Street in Anderson. “It’s probably what I do best, that and packing a little insulation.”
But Womack does more than that. His position as family advocate is just one example of how Habitat has structured its program to emphasize new homeowners’ self-confidence. Because a Habitat home often marks a first for home ownership, Womack, as family advocate, serves as a liaison between the family and Habitat by answering questions and working with families to develop home ownership skills.
AU Professor Dr. Doug Nelson, who is a member of the family selection committee, says that when new Habitat families improve upon their home ownerships skills, it often benefits an entire neighborhood.
“When people have the chance to care for their own homes, it can do wonders for the community. Often, once surrounding neighbors have seen that someone has taken a vested interested in a home, it spurs them to make improvements as well,” said Nelson.
Dawson encourages more of the AU and Madison County community to become active in Habitat for Humanity, no matter what one’s skill level. For more information about Habitat for Humanity and ways to get involved, contact the Habitat for Humanity Anderson office at 649-4260.
Wells' song touches many lives
By Amanda Steiner
Christa (Rogers) Wells BA ’95 wrote the song “Held” as a gift to three of her close friends. The song touched more than her circle of friends, however, it led Wells to recognition at the 37th Annual Gospel Music Association Dove Awards ceremony last spring.
“Held” is a heart-breaking piece about suffering, healing, and God’s faithfulness. “All three of [my friends] had experienced some pretty tragic losses,” explains Wells. “One of them had lost a baby at birth, and my other friend lost her infant who was just a few weeks old. Another friend of mine, a mentor, lost her husband in her 30’s.” After talking to them and hearing their testimonies, Wells hung on to every word they said about their experiences. “I was just in awe of them,” says Wells. “In spite of their horrible situations they were very strong and joyful women. Their testimonies of God’s faithfulness during those times were just amazing, and I had to do something with that.” Wells wrote and recorded “Held” for her friends who had experienced their worst fears — losing someone very dear to them. A few years later, Christa’s publisher heard the song and loved it. Natalie Grant agreed to sing “Held” and recorded it on her newest album Awaken.
“A lot of people wanted to change the lyrics to make it easier to hear,” says Wells. “It’s a very tragic song and it has some hard content, but that’s how I wanted it to be. It’s very unconventional in that way, and God did what he wanted with the song despite what everyone said.”
At the awards ceremony held at the Grand Old Opry in Nashville, Tenn., on April 5, Wells and Chris Tomlin were both nominated in the songwriter of the year and song of the year categories. While Wells won songwriter of the year with “Held,” Tomlin won song of the year with “How Great is Our God.” Natalie Grant, who sang “Held,” won female vocalist of the year.
“At the night of the awards I actually missed my category,” laughs Wells. “I wasn’t even there when they announced that I had won. We had some mixed information as far as how the night was supposed to go. We were at dinner during the pre-show and apparently they announced songwriter of the year at that time due to lack of television time. I didn’t even get to go up on stage to receive my award . . . which was actually fine with me because I probably would have embarrassed myself.”
Now that Wells has accomplished a goal that many artists strive for, she is looking for continued peace and happiness with her family. “I’ve already seen God give me fulfillment with music and opportunities to use my talents,” says Wells. “One goal of mine is to see my kids grow up well-balanced, happy, and healthy with a desire to serve God. Musically, I want to be able to respect myself and earn other people’s respect with my art.” Wells couldn’t care less about commercial success. “If I don’t have another hit song that’s fine. I don’t want to have 100 hit songs that are mediocre. As long as I feel like I’ve been true to the art and true to God, I feel happy with what I’ve done.”
Outside of writing occasionally, Wells is busy selling her latest album, leading songwriting workshops, and spending time with her family. Wells recently recorded an independent album with her sister, Mandy Rogers, called A Rogers-Wells Project: So Much to Tell You.
“It was fun to do that project with Mandy because we could write whatever we wanted to write and sing whatever we wanted to sing,” says Wells. “We were just trying to find some artistic satisfaction, and I’m really happy with it.” Wells also leads workshops for a non-profit organization called Masterpiece Ministries. Based out of Lebanon, Tenn., their mission statement is to encourage and equip young artists to use their art for the glory of God. As an artist and creator herself, Wells believes that we are designed to be creative people. “Something to remember is that God is the master artist and creator. This frees us up as Christians to be a little braver and really pay attention to the world around us.”
Henning finds second career in sculpture, pottery
By Randy Dillinger
A walk around the Henning house is like a walk through an art museum. Paintings adorn the walls. Sculptures rise from the floor. And every room and every shelf features a diverse collection of pottery — the vast majority of which was made by Jerry Henning BS ’65 himself.
His creations include large, bulbous pots, square-shaped pots, free-standing figurines, and many other creative designs, all glazed with attractive colors — some subtle, some bold. He has incorporated natural elements into many of his designs. One pot, for example, is ringed with fossil-like stalks of pampas grass that were pressed into the side of the clay. Each piece gives evidence to Henning’s careful attention to design and quality workmanship.
Henning’s experience with pottery began at Anderson University as a student under the instruction of Dr. Robert Youngman — but it was dormant throughout his professional life in architectural design, until in 1994 he signed up for a continuing education course in pottery at Ball State University. He enjoyed the experience so much he has repeated the course a number of times since then.
Henning inherited his creative talents from both parents. His mother, Marion, created ads for publication in newspapers in Logansport and Huntington, Ind. His father, Arthur B. Henning, was an architect whose company designed Park Place Church of God as well as a number of buildings at AU — Morrison Hall, Krannert Fine Arts Center, and Bennett Natatorium, to name just a few. “It seemed like I was almost born with a pencil in hand,” Henning says. “I was drawing or sketching something all the time.”
From an early age, Henning was inclined toward architecture. By the time he was 8 years old, he was accompanying his dad on the job. It was assumed that Henning would one day work for his father — an assumption that Henning discovered when applying to work for a local manufacturer. “I had filled out an application to go to work for Guide Lamp,” he recalls, “and my dad decided I was not going to be an assembly line worker and threw it in the trash. So that was the end of that.”
Henning had already gained a good measure of skill and experience in architecture when he began his college education in 1957. He spent his first year at Hanover College, then transferred to Ball State University before finally settling in at AU in 1960, where he pursued a double major in business and art.
“I majored in two conflicting areas,” he says. “But when you get into the field of architecture, you’re designing and you’re an insurance man and a lawyer and a business person. You do it all. So, for me, it was not particularly an unusual combination.”
After graduation, Henning and his wife, Joene, settled in Muncie, Ind., and Henning continued working in his father’s company until 1982, when he took a job with a manufacturing company in Muncie and worked there for 10 years. Jerry then worked in the facilities department at Ball State University, followed by six years at Smitty’s, a clothing store in the Village near Ball State. He retired in 2002.
This spring, Jerry had the opportunity to showcase his pottery at Gordy’s Art and Framing in downtown Muncie. Among those who attended that memorable event were lifelong friends Dr. Stanley Stephens BA ’65, Christie (Smith) Stephens BA ’65, Ronald Clark BA ’64, and Dr. Sandra Stephens Clark BS ’64
