Leaning over 7-year-old Victor Hamm, Eastside Elementary special education teacher Stacy Cook guided the young boy’s hands while he glued colorful beads onto a folder. “Good job,” she told her student. “You’ve done excellent.” Next, Cook picked up colorful foam cutouts shaped like feet. Squirting a dollop of white glue on the folder, she instructed Hamm to line them up. Taking his hand, Cook spread his fingers on top of the foam pieces and helped him push them down into the sticky circle to make them stay [photo: Brittany Crowder, from Killbuck Elementary, puts the last styrofoam dot on her project in the craft section at the PG Gray Festival Thursday morning. The Herald Bulletin].

“Excellent,” she said with encouragement in her voice. “It looks great.”

Victor turned to look at his teacher, his eyes were shining.

Victor is one of approximately 350 special education students from Anderson Community Schools who participated in the P.G. Gray/VSA arts of Indiana Festival held at the Kardatzke Wellness Center at Anderson University Thursday.

With everything from music and painting to dance and yoga, the festival is designed to introduce the students to the arts.

“The importance of today is to show the students they can express themselves through the arts,” said Pam Nicholas, director of VSA arts of Indiana, an organization that makes arts accessible to people with disabilities. “It’s a day of lessons on what is possible for the future.”

And the children loved it.

“We did it, woo-hoo!” exclaimed 7-year-old Brice Hickman jumping up after completing the “snake” in the yoga section of the festival. “I learned to do all kinds of stuff today. I’m having fun. I just like playing.”

Nine-year-old Brinna Waymire also said she was having the time of her life. “I did some music and then we did yoga,” she said. “It’s just a fun time!”

The festival was set up in approximately a dozen different stations ranging from learning to playing the harmonica to painting and drawing. With two sessions, a morning session and afternoon session, classes would rotate and be exposed to three different arts each.

Not only is the festival designed to offer fun, but the students took away so much more from the day [photo: Toriana Smoots, left, and Deeaisa White, right, play "The Big Piano" in the musical instrument section at the PG Gray Festival Thursday morning. The Festival was held at the Kardatzke Wellness Center on the Anderson University Campus. The Herald Bulletin].

“This gives them an outlet to do something they may not normally be exposed to,” said Peggy Carter, special education teacher at Killbuck Elementary. “It gives them a chance to be out and play with other children. Today is a day where they are not considered ‘special,’ not different, but just number one. Every child gains knowledge of experiences such as music, yoga and dance. Those experiences, those interactions are so important for these kids.”

The festival began approximately six years ago in this area and is named after the son of Paul Gray, coordinator for the festival, Anderson University professor of kinesiology and coordinator for the Special Olympics of Madison County. “My son was learning disabled and was in special education classes,” said Gray. “When we named the festival, he had recently passed away.”

Gray said the festival is open to any special education student age pre-school to high school.

“We only have ACS students here this year but if others are interested in the area, we welcome anyone,” he said. “It’s gone so well. Teachers and students look forward to this every year. With my involvement with the Special Olympics, I know the importance of physical activities for these kids but the arts are just as important. Art needs to be part of their lives. This is a perfect collaboration between both physical activities and arts activities because we have dance and movement as well as painting and pasting and drawing.”

—Lynelle Miller is a reporter for The Herald Bulletin in Anderson. Story and photos re-posted with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Gary Gerould [BA '62] giggled as he recalled the story, knowing darn well it was a bunch of bull. The episode starts with him getting word over a police scanner chaos had broken out along the heart of Highway 99’s run through Chico [California]. The primary news man for local KHSL radio at the time, Gerould immediately jumped into his cherry red Ford Falcon and arrived at the scene as the drama heightened. “There was a rodeo taking place at Silver Dollar Fairgrounds, and one of the rodeo bulls had gotten loose,” he said, retracing an event that pretty much defines the early stages of his career. “So there I am on 99, live on the air reporting back to the studio calling play-by-play on the car radio of this bull, and obviously we’re talking about a huge animal here, weaving through traffic.”

These days, of course, Gerould is more accustomed to portraying such spontaneous happenings to the public as they unfold.

Now in his 21st season as the flagship broadcaster for the Sacramento Kings, his voice is discernible to thousands throughout the north state. He also has remained an authority on the motor sports scene, currently covering nationally televised NHRA races after major network stints in Indy Car Racing that regularly placed him on pit road at the Indianapolis 500.

Long beforehand, however, he was an up-and-comer in Chico, feeling his way through the business at KHSL. The stint was the first full-time gig for Gerould, who was barely over 20 and yet did everything at the station, from producing the news he gathered to reporting it firsthand all the way down to playing the music that ran while he was in the middle of performing the two tasks.

Chasing bulls through an open highway was never part of the job description, though he never wavered when similar situations arose.

“That’s the best training I could have asked for,” Gerould said. “To improvise, ad-lib and be forced to concisely convey these types of things for listeners to get the most specific account possible at a second’s notice, that’s really the beast of (the broadcasting profession).”

Gerould honed those skills by calling Chico High and Chico State sporting events about as well as local listeners could have expected in a smaller radio market.

“He was so articulate; he used the English language so well,” said George Rogers, one of Gerould’s KHSL colleagues who shared the microphone with him during sports broadcasts. “I was the color guy and Gary always handled the play-by-play. He made it look effortless. Every once in a while we’d switch it up and about three minutes into the game, I’d struggle and give him back the reins. His command was just outstanding.”

Gerould was considerably young, but he arrived in town with plenty of experience. Growing up in Midland, Michigan, he was deprived of a traditional family setting to fall back on as a child — his father had passed away not long after his mother grew gravely ill when he was only 11.

Virtually independent, he hung out at a nearby radio station during his time away from junior high school, observed the professionals at work and became fascinated with the idea of his voice being heard over the air.

“I had a paper route back then, and I can still recall making up basketball games in my head as I walked through the snow and doing the broadcasts as they progressed,” Gerould said.

He began building his resume at Anderson University in Indiana, where he worked on campus doing various forms of media, even emceeing school events in the process. And it wasn’t long before his fate in California would be sealed.

Adopting Marlene Chesterman, a Chico High grad, as his college sweetheart, Gerould knew he had found his bride to be, only needing to find permanent work in radio after graduation to cement their future.

The young couple struggled to make ends meet for months in the Midwest until Chesterman’s father, Von, a minister at Chico’s First Church of God, stumbled upon an opening at KHSL.

“He was recording the evening sign-off prayer in studio,” Marlene said. “Don Borota, the programming director, came storming in and said, ‘Preacher, I’ve had it with these people! Can you find me another news director?’”

Von Chesterman did so by arranging for Borota to get hold of Gerould’s work up to that point. The hire went through, sending the couple on a drive out west with their 3-month-old daughter, Beth, to be married and begin setting up a permanent family.

Gerould hit the ground running in the new environment. His traditional shift called for working afternoons late into the evening, but the job soon became a 24-hour endeavor.

He kept a radio plectron capable of picking up voiced police and fire department signals in his bedroom. Often parked outside his house was the red Falcon, fondly known around town then as KHSL’s “News Cruiser.” This all led to several late-night, early-morning forays to the scenes of automobile accidents and structure fires as far out as Gridley.

The practice became so normal that even young Beth wanted in on the act.

“(Medically), her hearing was off the charts, and she could pick up a siren before Gary could,” Marlene Gerould said. “Nothing made her more excited than to be able to tell him something was happening.”

Among peers, Gerould became renowned for his work ethic, namely the preparation he put forth for any given assignment, and the passion he showed for the job.

“Whenever I think of Gary, I think of that News Cruiser,” said Art Spaulding, longtime track photographer and historian for Silver Dollar Speedway. “I still have a picture of him smiling, standing in front of it. He loved that thing.”

Added Rogers: “He was just one of those guys. You knew he wasn’t going to be around long because it was only a matter of time before he was scooped up onto a bigger market.”

The promotion came in 1963, with Gerould joining a long list of KSHL alumni to make the jump to KRCA-TV in Sacramento. Ultimately, his success during a 12-year stay there as a sportscaster launched his illustrious career that has spanned the radio, television and public relations fields.

At several junctures along the way, Gerould found himself back in Chico. Starting in the 1970s, he had been working as a track announcer for West Capital Speedway owner John Padjen, who included Gerould once he initially began putting on weekly sprint-car shows at Silver Dollar. Gerould’s only son, Robbie, remains involved in the industry with Padjen.

Gary’s strongest connection with the local area remains laced in the fact that he will always know it is where he began steering a near-lifelong journey — one that pretty much started right on the heels of that raucous bull.

“Without Chico,” Gerould said, “Marlene and I would have never ended up in Sacramento. And we’ve been here ever since.”

—-Writer Patrick Kinmartin is a sports writer for the Enterprise-Record in Chico, California. Story and photo re-posted with permission.

—-Photo Credit: Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record. Story and photos re-posted with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Anderson University will welcome Dr. Ronald J. Sider to the campus April 16-17, 2007 to lecture on the topic of “Living Biblically in a Contemporary Culture.” Lectures will begin at 9 a.m. and will be conducted in Park Place Church of God.

Dr. Sider is one of the most respected and passionate advocates of holistic biblical faith in the Christian world. He grew up in rural southern Ontario, the child of a Canadian Brethren in Christ pastor. He attended the University of Waterloo, in Waterloo, Ontario, and received a BA in European history. It was there that Sider came in contact with the apologetic work of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and set his sights on a career in academia.

The Anderson University softball team’s game with Taylor on Thursday was postponed in the third inning due to rain with the Ravens leading the Trojans 4-1 in the third inning. The completion of the doubleheader will be on Tuesday in Upland at 4 p.m.

When Jason Hays was growing up, he wanted to be a pizza man. “Then I wanted to be an astronaut,” said the 21-year-old Anderson University junior from Avon. “In high school, I got interested in graphic design but that really never went anywhere. Then, my senior year of high school, I really got interested in law enforcement.” Recently awarded a coveted summer internship with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Hays is well on his way to landing his dream job.

Last November, after an extensive application process, Hays was chosen as one of two students in Indiana for the FBI Honors Internship.

With only 56 students chosen from across the nation, this is not an easy internship to land. Hays beat out between 70 to 80 other applicants including graduate and law students in Indiana.

“I was very excited,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to work at the federal level in law enforcement. I just never thought it would be so soon.”

According to Wendy Osborne, FBI special agent and media coordinator for the Indianapolis office, Hays’ application was “unbelievable.”

“I have not met him but you can tell he is well-rounded from his application,” she said. “He is a very impressive young man and the FBI looks forward to working with him.”

The paid internship will begin in June and run through August and Hays will actually be living in Washington, D.C.

“I haven’t really gone outside of Indiana except for a couple weeks,” said Hays. “So, I’m really looking forward to living in Washington, D.C.”

Although Hays does not know his assignment yet, Osborne said the FBI places the Honors Internship students according to their discipline. “Hays has three majors, (accounting, criminal justice and computer science) so he could really be placed in several areas. I don’t believe it’s been determined yet,” said Osborne.

The FBI Honors Internship is designed to place students in positions within their discipline and allow them to get an inside look at the career opportunities of the bureau. It also allows students the opportunity to work side-by-side with Special Agents and Professional Staff personnel on important cases and management issues, said Osborne.

Hays said he is very grateful for this opportunity and said he hopes to gain future employment opportunities from it.

“It’s a good opportunity for me to make sure I’m on the right career path,” he said. “It’s easy to say what you want to do but it’s better to really get a feel for it.”

Bruce MacMurray, professor of criminal justice and sociology who gave Hays a reference for the internship, said Hays is a hard-working and determined student.

“He’s intelligent,” said MacMurray. “He’s always shown he is goal-directed. This is a wonderful opportunity as far as experience for a career goes. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to network and get good references. Federal internships have become more rare since 9-11 which is not surprising to anybody. I think this is a significant accomplishment.”

–Lynelle Miller is a reporter for The Herald Bulletin in Anderson, Ind. Story re-published with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

The Teacher Education Preparation program at Anderson University has reported a 100 percent pass rate for candidates completing program certification requirements for Indiana teacher certification. Anderson University’s recent Title II report shows that AU students taking the Praxis II Teacher licensing exams scored higher than the statewide rate of 98 percent.

Anderson University recently announced that Dr. Cheryl Sanders, senior pastor of the Third Street Church of God in Washington, D.C., and Professor of Christian Ethics at Howard University School of Divinity, will address the graduating class of 2007 during commencement exercises, May 5. The 3 p.m. EDT program will be conducted in the Ward Fieldhouse of the Kardatzke Wellness Center. Speaking during Anderson University’s baccalaureate service will be Dr. Brent Hinkle, senior pastor of Red Fork Church of God in Tulsa, Okla. Baccalaureate will take place earlier that day in Reardon Auditorium at 10 a.m. All events are free and open to the public.

CLICK HERE FOR A CAMPUS MAP AND DIRECTIONS TO AU

Other events scheduled on Anderson University’s May 5 commencement day include the Falls School of Business hooding ceremony at 11:40 a.m. in Byrum Hall for candidates of both Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Business Administration degrees. In addition, the hooding ceremony for the School of Education will also be conducted at 12 noon on May 5 (as well as the certification ceremony for the Teach in Indiana Program–TIP) in Schield dining room of the Olt Student Center.

Earlier events associated with commencement weekend include the School of Theology Senior Recognition and Awards Chapel on Tuesday, April 24, at 11 a.m. EDT in Miller Chapel. In addition, a special pinning ceremony for the Anderson University School of Nursing will be conducted on Friday, May 4 at 6 p.m. in Byrum Hall.

Dr. Cheryl J. Sanders is Senior Pastor of the Third Street Church of God in Washington, D.C. since 1997, and Professor of Christian Ethics at the Howard University School of Divinity since 1984. She is the author of over 50 articles and several books, including Ministry at the Margins (InterVarsity Press, 1997); Saints in Exile: The Holiness-Pentecostal Experience in African American Religion and Culture (Oxford, 1996); Empowerment Ethics for a Liberated People (Fortress, 1995); and is the editor of Living the Intersection (Fortress, 1995).

Sanders is a graduate of the Sidwell Friends School, Swarthmore College (B.A. in Mathematics) and Harvard Divinity School (M.Div., cum laude and Th.D. in the field of Applied Theology). In 2002 she was awarded the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky.

Dr. Brent Hinkle is currently the Senior Pastor at Red Fork Church of God in Tulsa, OK where he has served for 11 years. Previously, he has held pastoral positions in Indiana and Connecticut. Hinkle also earned degrees from Yale University, Southern Connecticut State University, and Anderson University where he received both a Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degree. He and his wife Kathy have two children.

Persons receiving honorary degrees during Anderson University’s commencement event include the following:

MATILDA BARBER, ANDERSON COMMUNITY LEADER: DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS
Matilda Barber has had a distinguished career both as a professional and as a community volunteer leader. She served in the profession of nursing through St. John’s Health System. Barber was the first African-American to become director of nursing for St. John’s, and was later appointed to leadership responsibilities in community relations. She has served on numerous boards and commissions throughout the City of Anderson and has given her time to bridge relationships across the community.

RONALD V. DUNCAN, NATIONAL CHURCH LEADER: DOCTOR OF DIVINITY
Ronald Duncan holds the appointed position of General Director of Church of God Ministries, the chief executive officer for Church of God Ministries and the General Assembly of the Church of God. An alumnus of Anderson University, he has earned degrees at Christian Theological Seminary and Ashland University. Pastoral and staff ministry assignments include churches in Ohio, Indiana and Texas. He concluded service to the nation through the United States Army Reserve, where as chaplain, he attained the rank of Colonel. Dr. Duncan has led a process of strategic planning and bold leadership that is uniting the broad areas of church fellowship, making commitments to a future of growth, flexibility and leadership development. He is a strong supporter of higher education across the Church of God.

CHERYL J. SANDERS, CHURCH LEADER, THEOLOGICAL EDUCATOR: DOCTOR OF DIVINITY
Cheryl Sanders has emerged as one of the most noted and effective church leaders across denominations, centering in her role as Senior Pastor of the Third Street Church of God in Washington, D.C., and as Professor of Christian Ethics at Howard University School of Divinity. Educated at Swarthmore College (BA, Mathematics), and Harvard University Divinity School (M.Div.; Th.D.), her writings and lectures take her around the world. Author of more than 50 articles and numerous books, she regularly appears with comment in religious periodicals and is drawn into inter-faith circles of conversation on faith and the national life. She is a valued colleague in the work of challenging the next generation of leaders to commit to lives of service in the church and society.

ELIZABETH HARP YORK, DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA, PHILANTHROPIST: DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS
Elizabeth York grew up in a pastor’s home, was one of the few freshmen to be selected for Robert Nicholson’s College Choir, married a physician, completed a degree at Rutgers University, became an effective business partner and nimble investor for family resources, and has lead the way to significant philanthropic commitments through the Anderson University School of Theology, the broader university, and other Christian causes. She is an energetic and avid leader who is at home in the world of ideas, collects children’s books, rare theological publications, encourages creativity and literacy in many circles of her life of faith and service. Her interest in Anderson University began with an annual gift to help fund the Harp Lectures at the School of Theology and has broadened to support a visiting lectureship, the funding of York Seminary Housing, and other projects on the AU campus. Along with her husband, Dr. James York, she has made an enormous difference to strengthen opportunities for ministerial students, programs in the arts and the entire learning community.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Dr. Kevin Radaker, chair of Anderson University’s English department, will present his dramatic portrayal of Henry David Thoreau during a special appearance at the Taft Museum of Art in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 22. The performance is free for members of the museum and $10 for non-members. To make reservations, please contact the museum at (513) 684-4515.

Dani Shaw believes the key to combating AIDS in Africa is education. And she believes that education comes through technology — specifically affordable laptops for African children. “It may sound crazy, I know, but it’s possible,” said the 21-year-old Anderson University senior majoring in social work. This initiative — bringing technology to Africa — is what helped her recently capture the title of Miss AU 2007.

Miss AU 2007 is not your typical beauty pageant. Designed to raise awareness as well as funds for AU-East Africa, an outreach program that exists to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic in East Africa at Anderson University, the pageant focused on inner beauty and passion for service.

Yes, it included an evening gown segment and an interview question, but the 11 contestants were charged with creating a three- to five-minute presentation on what they thought could help in the fight.

With initiatives ranging from raising awareness through film, theater and art to obtaining affordable medications by small contributions from people in the United States, the young women provided ideas for programs providing true solutions that could make an impact if launched.

“It’s the alternative to beauty pageants,” said the Rev. Kimberly S. Majeski, campus pastor and coordinator for the event. “It’s designed to redefine beauty and empower women to live lives of service and compassion.”

The pageant was created by a student, Emily Wasonga, and she spoke Thursday about what inspired the idea. Hearing of a women in Africa who used her own life savings to open a clinic in the slums which is now in danger of closing, Wasonga said she knew she wanted to do something to help.

“She inspired me to think of different ways to start raising money for her clinic,” said Wasonga. “Back home, regardless of your size, everyone is beautiful. Every woman needs to wake up every morning and realize she is beautiful and share that with the world and do good.”

Thus, Miss AU 2007 was born.

To be a contestant, the young women had to be nominated and then receive sponsorship. “It was a $100 entry fee,” said Majeski. “They all found sponsorship which came from places such as campus organizations or dorms.”

The pageant consisted of several parts including an introduction, project presentation, evening gown and a questions and answer session.

The judges — which included well-know individuals such as Ben Utecht, tight-end for the Indianapolis Colts and his wife Karyn Utecht, Miss Minnesota 2005 — then chose a winner who not only received a crown and gift baskets but an all-expense paid trip to Kenya, Africa, to deliver the proceeds raised during the pageant.

The trip is what excited Shaw most about having the title. “I’ve wanted to go to Africa since I got to campus,” she said. “This is huge. This is my dream. It’s all so amazing.”

Shaw will also served as the spokeswoman for AU-East Africa and asked what she hopes to bring to the title, she did not hesitate, “I want AU students to have a personal connection with the children. I want to get students involved.”

Miss AU Contestants included:

Dani Shaw – Miss AU 2007
Corey Humphress – first runner up
Stefanie G. Asante-Mensah – second runner up
Eryn Bowser
Kelli Brighton
Donishia Duncan
Eun bi Kim
Krystal Marshall
Sara Peard
Sarah Walker
Heather Williams

–Lynelle Miller is a reporter for The Herald-Bulletin in Anderson, Ind. Story reprinted with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

An Anderson University student struggled to shake a thick paste-like mixture from a ladle into a cup. With four quick shakes of the ladle, a glob of yellow-green gruel plopped into a cup. It was one of the demonstrations at the Heritage Festival held Friday at the Kardatzke Wellness Center on the AU campus. “This is all the African children get to eat all day, is one bowl of this,” said Matt King, a senior at AU. Elementary students passed by to pick up a cup and taste it. “Scientists figured out a mixture of corn and soybeans and other ingredients to make a nutritious meal. If people can only eat one time a day, it has to be nutritious.”