Megan Chapman figures she will be graduating next year with a bonus. Not only will she be leaving Anderson University with a hard-earned degree in education, she believes that when, as a teacher, she enters an elementary classroom she will be equipped to educate students from multiple environments and with a wide range of learning needs.

The Anderson University softball team was picked to finish fifth in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference pre-season coaches poll on Wednesday.

Defending champion Rose-Hulman was picked to finish first with 75 points and five first-place votes. Defiance (68) and Bluffton (66) were each had two first-place votes.

Transylvania (48) was fourthfollowed by Anderson (47), Mt. St. Joseph (45), Manchester (24), Franklin (18) and Hanover (14).

The Ravens open the season against Oberlin on Feb. 28, in Danville, Ky.

Classes and offices at Anderson University are closed all day., Wednesday, January 28, due to inclement weather. Stay tuned to WQME 98.7 FM or www.anderson.edu for further updates. Please check regional media outlets listed below for additional information.

WRTV, Channel 6 (ABC)
WISH, Channel 8 (CBS)
WTHR, Channel 12 (NBC)
WQME, 98.7 FM

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 Anderson University baseball team was picked to finish fifth in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference pre-season coaches poll on Tuesday.

Franklin was picked to finish first with 70 points and three first-place votes. Rose-Hulman (67), Transylvania (66) and Mt. St. Joseph (63) each received two first-place votes followed by Anderson (43), Manchester (39), Bluffton (24), Hanover (20) and Defiance (13).

AU finished 24-14 last year, including 14-8 in HCAC play – good for fifth place. The Ravens open the 2009 season at DePauw on Feb. 28 at noon.

Stephanie Strichter finished second in the shot put (36-7 1/2) and ninth in the weight throw (41-6 1/2) at the Indiana Wesleyan Invitational on Jan. 24, as a handful of Ravens competed in the indoor meet.

Other women competing in the meet were Michelle Roth (LJ, 15-7), Brett Sears (SP, 32-11 1/4; Weight, 43-7), Megan Prater (SP, 28-9 1/4; Weight, 29-10 1/4), Katie Malone (SP, 26-8 1/2).

“It was a great start for us,” said coach Scott Wilson. “We just wanted to see where we were at with some of our technical events after one week of practice. It will be fun to see how they progress.”

Additionally, Sarah Mescher ran the 60 meters (8.98) and the 200 meters (29.65) at Indiana Wesleyan on Jan. 31.

Leonard Wells finished fourth in the shot put with a distance of 47-9 on Jan. 24 at Indiana Wesleyan. He also threw the weight 40-7.

Tanner Johnson had a personal best of 1:25.32 in the 600 meters.

Other AU finishers were Adam Tindall (SP, 40-5), Antoine Brown (Weight, 28-9).

“It was good to see more of our people in action this weekend,” said AU coach Scott Wilson. “We had a little over half of our squad. With a good mixture of schools from all divisions we were exposed to a good level of competition.”

AU women finishers

200 – Michelle Rowlett (32.33), Sarah Mescher (29.65)

600 – Rena St. Clair (1:54.71), Ashley Casterline (1:58.46), Dani Rufenacht (1:47.85)

Mile – 2. Candice DeLong (5:42.65)

800 relay – 6. Anderson, 1:57.92

1,600 relay – 5. Anderson, 4:30.57

HJ – 8. Kate McCollum (4-9), 9. Julia Connor (4-7), Cristyn Wenn (4-7), Sarah Brown (4-7)

LJ – 4. Michelle Roth (15-11)

SP – Stephanie Stichter (37-7 3/4), Brett Sears (32-2), Megan Prater (30-7 1/2), Katie Malone (29-8)

Weight – Stephanie Stichter (36-4 1/4), Megan Prater (32-10 1/4), Brett Sears (44-6)

AU men finishers

60 – Brian Moon (7.58), Harrison Ruhl (7.68), Baba Fahnbulleh (7.28)

200 – Harrison Ruhl (24.65)

400 – Andrew Rodriguez (57.95)

600 – Tanner Johnson (1:25.32), Tony Pryor (1:28.76), Marc St. Amour (1:29.44), Dan Malloy (1:30.87)

60 H – Andrew Rodriguez (9.59)

800 relay – 4. Anderson, 1:38.84

1,600 relay – 6. Anderson, 3:37.51

PV – 16. Jed Foster (11-11 3/4)

SP – Adam Tindall (37-5), Leonard Wells (43-0 1/4)

Weight – Leonard Wells (41-4 1/4), Antoine Brown (32-0 3/4)

At 4:00 pm on Sunday, February 1, 2009 pianist Simone Dinnerstein comes to Anderson, Indiana to play a recital at Central Christian Church (923 Jackson Street) as part of the School of Music at Anderson University’s Concert Series. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students and can be purchased at the door the day of the concert or in advance by calling 765-641-4543, She will perform Schubert’s Four Impromptus, Op. 90; Bach’s French Suite No. 5 in G Major, BWV 816; American composer Philip Lasser’s Twelve Variations on a Chorale by J.S. Bach; and Beethoven’s Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111.

Anderson University will serve as a host site for College Goal Sunday, Feb. 15, at 2 p.m. in Hartung Hall, room 101 and 102.  College Goal Sunday is a statewide charitable program that provides free information and assistance to Indiana families applying for college financial aid. College Goal Sunday will take place at 36 sites throughout the state of Indiana. FAFSA forms, required by educational institutions nationwide, must be received by the federal processor by March 10, 2009 for Indiana residents. Complete information can be accessed at www.CollegeGoalSunday.org.

Anderson University will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day by connecting with a city-wide celebration on Monday, January 19, and conducting a special celebration during the university’s weekly chapel-convocation in Reardon Auditorium on Tuesday, January 20. The city of Anderson official MLK Jr. Celebration will be Monday, January 26 at noon at the Paramount Theatre.

Covenant Productions recently won both Platinum and Gold awards during the 2008 Ava Awards competition. Winning Platinum was “A Ripple of Hope” in the Documentary category and winning Gold was “Children of Promise: Journey of the Heart” in the Non-Profit category. The 2008 international awards competition recognizes outstanding achievement by creative professionals involved in the concept, writing, direction, shooting, and editing of audio-visual materials and programs. [Above photo from "Children of Promise: Journey of the Heart"]