McCracken listened to New-Spangler, the first recipient of the Jeeninga Fellowship of Archeology, relate her experience to her Christian walk and biblical understanding. “That was when I started thinking about applying for the fellowship,” McCracken said. Once her archeology class visited the Oriental Museum in Chicago, she knew for sure. [Photo to left: McCracken explores a Syrian bunker discovered by the team she worked with. It was used between 1967 and 1973 and is on the edge of the Bethsaida property.]

McCracken studied Christian ministries at Anderson University. “I knew I wanted to do overseas ministry,” she explained. She thought the trip would help her discover more about her faith and be more relevant overseas. McCracken also explained, “I wanted to go on the fellowship to have a better understanding of the history and culture surrounding the biblical text.”

Along with the educational, spiritual and cultural experience, McCracken was most looking forward to inviting her father on the second half of her trip. She and her father always shared a love of history, so exploring ancient lands with him was a once in a lifetime experience.

McCracken was only hesitant about one thing, her mother was very sick with cancer. “I prayed that God would make this an easy decision for me,” McCracken said. “Either my mom would be fine and I could go, or she would be gone.” When she called her mother to tell her about the trip, her mother was excited for her and encouraged her to apply.

“When I opened the letter, it said ‘Congratulations, you have been selected to go to Bethsaida, Israel, as the 2009 Jeeninga Fellowship of Archeology recipient,’” McCracken remembered. “At first I was ecstatic, but then my heart sank. I knew my mom would be gone soon.” Her friends and family encouraged her to be happy and enjoy the opportunity. However, she approached the faculty members who selected her for the fellowship about her situation. She let them know she might have to drop out at the last minute, depending on her mom’s condition. They reassured her that the fellowship was hers whenever she wanted to take it.

In April McCracken’s mother passed away. “Everyone at home was wonderful to my family, but one part of Israel I looked forward to was the joy of not being known,” said McCracken. “No one would ask how I was or make me think or talk about my mom because they did not know my story.” [Photo to right: McCracken explored a 17th century Druze fortress built into a cave along the side of Mount Arbel.]

In the beginning of June, McCracken arrived in Bethsaida, Israel, where disciples Peter, Andrew and Philip were born. It is thought to be the place where Jesus fed thousands by multiplying fish and bread and also where He healed the blind man.

The first two weeks of her trip McCracken worked on the dig. All day the group dug, discovered, photographed, excavated, photographed again and cleaned artifacts only to repeat the process. Mostly McCracken found dirt, rocks and pottery shards. “You might think pottery is boring, and I did too,” she said. “Then I touched a piece and realized no one had touched it in over 2,000 years. Maybe a woman made dinner for her family with it, or a child carried water in it. Either way it was cool.”

One night McCracken and another girl in the group sat by the Dead Sea. “We went down there to lay and read, but as usual we spent the entire time talking and never even cracked open our books,” McCracken said. “As we talked about our lives, eventually my family came up in conversation. I told her about how my mom died five weeks earlier through tears streaming down my face.” McCracken’s new friend was moved by the story and encouraged her to share it with the rest of the group. Eventually she did and found what she called, “the joy of being known.”

The second part of her trip started with an adventure to Jerusalem. “A group had gone without a guide the weekend before, so I took a taxi to the bus station, got on a bus and thought I would be fine. I got off the bus and everyone dispersed… I soon realized I was lost in Jerusalem,” she remembered. McCracken quickly found another cab and asked for a ride to her hotel.

Finally, her father came and spent two weeks sightseeing with her. “Each morning we got up and read the scriptures that pertained to where we were going that day. It really brought the scripture to life and made me read the Bible completely differently,” McCracken explained. “Being able to have my dad there with me meant the world.”

McCracken said her journey to Jerusalem taught her a lot about our place in the world. At the end of her presentation she displayed a picture of herself in Israel on the screen. As the picture of McCracken faded into a picture of the world, she stood at the front of the room and explained, “There is so much more than this and so much more than us.” [Photo below: McCracken had the opportunity to see historic sites she had only imagined. Here, the Sea of Galilee is visible from the McCracken’s perch on the top of Mount Arbel.]

— Elizabeth Vincent is a junior from Greenfield, Ind., majoring in communication arts and minoring in political science. Vincent is an associate with Fifth Street Communications, writing on behalf of Anderson University Communications.

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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

“We are grateful to Community Hospital Anderson for this generous support in providing a state-of-the-art piece of equipment that will greatly enhance our development of skilled nurses,” says Dr. James L. Edwards, president of Anderson University. “Community Anderson is a valued partner in our shared commitment to bring the very best of health care to this region, which must begin with the best of education of professionals in this vitally needed field of service.”

At the dedication event, Edwards added Community Hospital and the AU School of Nursing collaboration and partnership is important for the nursing program to continue to grow given the vast need of nurses.

The Pyxis® MedStation® System is the leading automated dispensing system supporting decentralized medication management. Barcode scanning to help ensure accurate medication dispensing, features to prevent loading of the wrong medication and active alerts to provide an added safety precaution for high risk medications are just a few of the ways the Pyxis® MedStation® system supports safe and efficient medication management.

“We are thrilled to partner with Anderson University to provide this system,” says Bill VanNess, M.D., president and CEO of Community Hospital Anderson. “Investing in the education of our future nurses benefits the entire health care community, and ultimately, our patients, as we send more prepared nurses into the workforce.”

The Pyxis® MedStation® System is the leading solution for decentralized medication management. Pyxis® MedStation® System technology offers the tools nurses and pharmacists rely on to help improve safety, security and efficiency. The Pyxis® MedStation® System provides profile-based medication dispensing and includes the Pyxis® BioID, a fingerprint verification function. The product also features electronic tracking and documentation.

“The medication management process is complex,” says Dr. Karen Williams, dean of the Anderson University School of Nursing. “Pyxis® technology is committed to breaking the harmful cycle of medication errors and simplifying medication management to bring safety and nursing practice together in measurable ways. Our students will now have the opportunity to utilize this important technology prior to entering the patient care environment, which is consistent with the Anderson University School of Nursing mission of, ‘educating individuals committed to competence and compassion in the nursing profession, serving God and society.’”

The addition of the Pyxis® MedStation® System fortifies an already strong nursing program at Anderson University. The School of Nursing at Anderson University is unique from other nursing programs because it integrates a Christian perspective into its programs and the relationships among students, faculty, and staff. During the dedication event, Williams commented Pyxis® MedStation® System will be an important component in preparing nursing students to improve the quality of patient care by being knowledgeable in this technology.

“We are grateful to our friends at Community Hospital and the Community Hospital Foundation for providing our School of Nursing with this important learning device,” said Karen Roller, executive director of Development at Anderson University. “Their intentions from the onset were to provide the best possible preparation opportunities for our nursing students. When we asked them to consider funding the Pyxis machine, they immediately saw the potential positives for not only our students, but for future patients. Their concern was always to promote the well-being of patients through promoting excellent preparation of nursing students. They partnered with us to find a state-of-the-art device and we’re grateful for their gift, encouragement and guidance in this process.”

The mission of Community Hospital Anderson is to serve the medical, health and human service needs of the people in Anderson, Madison County and contiguous counties with compassion, dignity, respect and excellence. Service, although focused on injury, illness and disease will also embrace prevention, education and alternative systems of health care delivery.

Growing up with two aunts and a mother in the nursing profession, VanNess knows how critical nurses are to the medical field. Given AU’s past history working with the community and the hospital, VanNess continues to see quality nurses who have the capability to succeed in the nursing field.

The Community Anderson Foundation was established to receive, hold and distribute financial support for the benefit of the hospital and throughout the years has participated in numerous campaigns to benefit the community.

“While we typically focus much of our attention on the hospital, we also support the health care needs of the community,” says Keith Trent, vice president and chief foundation officer with Community Anderson. “We are pleased to partner with the hospital in providing this state-of-the-art equipment to the AU School of Nursing.”

The addition of the Pyxis® MedStation® System is a part of Dreams. Discovery. Direction., a $110 million campaign launched by Anderson University on October 6, 2006. The campaign is the largest fundraising effort in the university’s history. To date, the campaign has raised $93 million. Major components of the campaign include $51 million for capital projects, $34 million for endowment and $25 million for operational support.

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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Dr. Kevin Radaker, chair of the English department at Anderson University, will take his dramatic portrayal of Henry David Thoreau to three Massachusetts cities on Oct. 30, Nov. 2, and Nov. 3. The program commemorates Thoreau’s passionate defense of John Brown’s attack on a federal arsenal in 1859.

[PHOTO: Dr. Kevin Radaker holds a portrait of Henry David Thoreau. Credit: Indianapolis Star/Steve Sanchez. Read the Indianapolis Star story about Radaker's performances.]

Radaker and distinguished scholars Bruce Ronda and David S. Reynolds were asked to speak at the commemorative occasion due to their expertise on Thoreau. Radaker adds a unique dimension to his lectures with entertaining methods of delivering the facts.

Radaker, a 1978 Anderson University graduate, has portrayed Thoreau more than 350 times since 1991. “When I was younger,” says Radaker, “I would grow my beard out long and then shave it just like Henry’s right before a show.” Radaker admits that now, he wears a wig and faux-beard during performances. He takes over an hour to prepare for a show, dressing in costume and full make-up. From the texts Radaker studied about Thoreau’s vocalizations, he has uncovered an accent similar to the one found in New England. “I drop the ‘r’ at the end of a word,” says Radaker. “For example, ‘admire’ sounds like ‘ad-my-ah’.”

“Thoreau has a three-fold self,” says Radaker. “And I use all three of those tones in my monologue.” Thoreau’s first personality as the biting social critic is a prevalent character seen sprinkled throughout his many works. Thoreau often shakes his finger at society for their enthusiasm over technologies such as the telegraph. “I admire Thoreau’s warning about this world becoming over-materialistic,” says Radaker.

Thoreau’s second personality as a persuasive activist of nonviolent resistance is timely. “This is the part where Henry and Kevin are not alike,” says Radaker. He finds it odd that Thoreau abandons his pacifist beliefs to defend the violent raid of John Brown. Nevertheless, the show must go on.

[PHOTO: Dr. Kevin Radaker in character as Henry David Thoreau.]

Radaker closes his show with the Thoreau that champions wild lands. Thoreau notes in his written works that he cannot be truly content unless he spends at least four hours each day walking in the woods. Radaker likes to think he shares a similar interest with Thoreau in the outdoors. He has been to almost all of the national parks and went on camping trips every couple of weeks in his 20s.

Radaker’s Thoreau monologue will last 50 minutes. Audience members are then invited to spend 20 minutes interacting with Thoreau and asking questions. During the last 15 minutes, the audience directs questions to Radaker the actor instead of to Radaker as Thoreau.

“This is such an honor for me,” says Radaker, who will perform in three different communities during the anniversary. The Oct. 30 performance in Concord, Mass., will take place in Thoreau’s hometown. A performance in Boston follows on Nov. 2, and on Nov. 3, Radaker will speak in Worcester at the very same podium Thoreau used 150 years prior.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

“The award acknowledges what we already know,” said Terry Truitt, dean of the Falls School of Business, “that Professor Peck is an exceptional educator. She goes beyond the classroom, engaging students in professional and community service.”

As an educator at Anderson University since 1988, Peck, CPA, has strived to serve her students and institution faithfully as a student advisor and MBA Admissions Committee member. She has gone above and beyond her traditional academic role by leading cultural and work camp student trips to London, Ireland, Costa Rica, and Peru. Peck is also the coordinator for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA).

“I feel honored to be recognized by my CPA peers,” said Peck. “There are many, many outstanding educators out there who do their duty to their students in wonderful ways that are not publicized. I feel fortunate to be one of them.”

With the Indiana CPA Society, she served as a former member of the board of directors (1999-2002), leadership cabinet, and education foundation. She served on the Indiana Board of Accountancy board for six years and recently completed her two-year term as chair of the BOA. In the community, she is a past board member of the United Way of Madison County and current member of the Hamilton Southeastern High School Academy of Finance Advisory Board.

“Professor Peck is highly respected by her peers and her students,” said Truitt. “She maintains high academic standards and yet works very hard to help students achieve their goals.”

Peck added that students energize her because of “their potential and the future that is in front of them.”

—Stefanie Leiter is the Web Content Manager for the Anderson University Office of University Communications.

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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Dr. Diana Ross, Dean of the SOE, says having education majors spend a full year in the classroom introduces them to what it takes to be a successful teacher.

“They see it all–from the office to the multiple levels of classrooms — all at the same school,” says Ross. “Graduates often report that their first year of teaching held few surprises after participating in the year-long internship.”

Katie Scott [picture left with students], a recent graduate of the program and now a teacher, says she was pleased with the innovative program.

“Even though it was an exhausting year,” Scott notes, “I am glad I was allowed to participate in the full year’s student teaching program. It was a great experience, and I left feeling very prepared to teach.”

Rachel Chapman, now teaching in Alabama, agrees.

“Student teaching for a full year at Sunnyside Elementary in Indianapolis gave me valuable experience and honed my skills. Even though I was a student teacher, the school faculty and staff treated me as an equal.”

Drs. Linda Duncan and Janice Fulkerson, professors in the AU School of Education, serve as in-school supervisors for the interns.

“This is not to say the traditional program is inadequate,” says Duncan, “but those who do the internship come out more prepared to face the first year of teaching. They have confidence in their abilities. They pretty much have seen it all, and they are better equipped to handle the challenges teachers face.”

Fulkerson believes she, too, benefits from the experience.

“The program allows me to be in the schools for two full days a week to observe teachers as well as to participate with the students in their professional development opportunities. Consequently, I take back to my campus classes the real world of teaching.”

The program is designed so that participants can still graduate in four years. The SOE, however, has retained the traditional one semester student teaching experience for students who cannot financially afford to work for an entire year or cannot complete all their coursework in three years.

Scott admits that student teaching for two semesters was one of her hardest and most demanding experiences.

“I would not, however, trade the past year for anything!”

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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

This year’s program does not have a theme, but is choreographed by students who each choose which direction to take their work. “That’s what’s so exciting about Fall into Dance,” said Zelibor. “You’ll see pieces ranging from contemporary love stories to bumpin’ hip hop routines, which creates diversity of dance.” [Photo: Sophomore Callie Zelibor and senior Phillip Crawshaw prepare for the 2009 Fall into Dance program.]

Zelibor is an Elementary Education and Special Education major with minors in Spanish and dance, She is choreographing three dances with the help of a few dance peers. “It’s awesome to work with choreographers by playing a part in their vision,” said Zelibor.

She has been dancing since the age of three and is most excited about choosing the music, costumes and choreography. “I love the thought of creating a piece that might touch just one person sitting in the audience,” said Zelibor.

Zelibor’s goals include trying out for So You Think You Can Dance and touching the hearts of people around the country. But until then, she will stick to performing for AU’s dance department, touching the hearts of the AU community.

Besides Zelibor’s hectic class schedule, she is also involved in intramural football and soccer, Camarada, Lunch Buddies and has two jobs, one off campus and one on. Even though she has a lot going on Callie enjoys making time for dance. “It allows me to freely release my emotions and feelings,” said Zelibor.

Fall into Dance will be held in Reardon Auditorium on Friday, Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m.

— Melissa Powers is a student writer for 5th Street Communications at Anderson University.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

Lucas, through his leadership in CBFA, as a published scholar in his discipline of management, and as the director of the Doctor of Business Administration program at Anderson University has made a significant contribution to advance the biblical integration in the study and practice of business. He has excelled in “discovery, integration, application, and teaching” through his research, service, and teaching at the undergraduate, MBA, and DBA levels. For thousands of students over the years, he has been their example of what it means to be “salt and light” as a business professional.

Additionally, in the last eight years, his service has directly impacted the lives of more than 100 doctoral students and graduates currently serving in Christian institutions across the United States and Canada. These students and graduates consider Lucas to be their mentor and example for a life of biblical integration, Christian servanthood, and professional excellence. Through his work with the DBA students, he has contributed to a significant increase in the scholarly productivity of faculty from CBFA institutions in professional conferences, papers, and articles.

The Chewning Award was established by the Christian Business Faculty Association (CBFA) to perpetuate the passion and commitment of integrating personal faith and business as modeled by Dr. Richard C. Chewning, faculty emeritus at Baylor University.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

As part of the reaccreditation process, the social work faculty prepared a self-study report. This report includes how students are admitted to the program, how students are advised, the different practicums offered and past internships completed by students. It also includes details about the social work curriculum. This report must meet national standards in order to receive accreditation. Sharon Collins, professor and director of social work program, notes that their report passed “unconditionally.”

“Our program ensures advanced standing in graduate programs,” says Collins. This means students can complete all graduate work in one calendar year rather than two. “Students who graduate from an accredited program are also eligible for social work licensure in any state in the country,” says Collins.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

[PHOTO: Anderson University soccer 20th anniversary celebration.]

“I’ve been here for better, been here for worse,” Graham said. She should know — it was her 38th straight year at AU homecoming.

“It’s just a great time to reconnect,” said Graham, a retired elementary school teacher, who traveled to campus with her husband, Jerry, from their Midland, Mich. home.

“This is my adopted school,” said Jerry Graham, a Church of God youth pastor.
Long-standing ties to AU and to the Church of God led many to come to homecoming events that began Thursday and continued Saturday and Sunday. So did family and friends.

Sue (Zollweg) Keil, who attended Anderson from 1976 to 1979, and her husband, Mark, warmed themselves inside Decker Hall on Friday evening. They were waiting to see their son, AU junior Nathan Keil, on stage in “Cheap Thrills,” a sketch performance show and popular homecoming fixture.

“He never even considered Anderson,” Sue Keil said. But he visited, “liked the campus, liked the community,” and chose to attend AU. This homecoming, their daughter Emily is also visiting, weighing the possibility of going to AU.

Another highlight performance of homecoming Friday evening was the School of Music’s Homecoming Concert, which featured the AU Chorale, Women’s Chorus, Men’s Choir, and Chamber Orchestra. Becky Archibald, an Anderson native and 1983 AU graduate who is an award-winning concert pianist, received the Outstanding Music Alumni Award.

[PHOTO: Jeff Wight, dean of the AU School of Music, presents the 2009 Outstanding Music Alumni Award to Becky Archibald.]

At the School of Nursing, alums checked out an entirely remodeled second floor that also includes technology that puts the school at the forefront of education.

Visitors grouped around the hospital bed of SimMan 3G. He’s a remarkably lifelike mannequin with simulated vital signs and body functions. Instructors can program SimMan to have symptoms of particular ailments, giving students a feel for real-world situations without treating someone.

“This is the only one in the state of Indiana,” said Karen Williams, dean of the AU School of Nursing. “I think it says we have a great nursing program. We’re trying to really use technology to the students’ advantage.”

That was the impression made on 2006 alum Odessa Gray, now an obstetrical nurse in Connersville. “It’s so much more convenient to have all that assessment tool in one model,” she said, noting that she believed some nursing students would choose AU because of the available technology.

The nursing school is more spacious and organized than she remembered. “It’s just amazing to me,” Gray said. “It’s an awesome addition to this university.

[PHOTO (from left): Cindy Penhorwood, Pat Griffin, Holly Renz, and Karen Roller.]

Also Friday evening, the nursing school presented the following alumni awards:

• Distinguished alumna: Cindy Penhorwood of Heart to Honduras.
• Service to the community: Holly Renz of Community Hospital Anderson.
• Friend of nursing: Karen Roller, AU executive director of development.
• Lifetime achievement: Pat Griffin, former interim dean of the School of Nursing.

– Dave Stafford is a reporter for The Herald Bulletin. Story posted with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

An award-winning composer and pianist, Archibald creates music that is inviting, intense, and intimate. She is a master at weaving the improvisational style of jazz with classical piano. The L.A. Jazz Scene describes her music as “thoughtful, melodic, and passionate.” The Nashville Scene defines it as having “flashes of humor but with an introspective quality drawn from the wells of Chopin and Gershwin.” Selections from The Long Ride Home and The Light at the End of the Blues made the Grammy entry list (in years 2002 and 2004) for Best Instrumental Composition. Her arrangement of “Jingle Bells” from The Christmas One made the 2006 Grammy entry list in the Arranging category. Becky’s solo piano CDs, Searching, The Long Ride Home, The Light At the End of the Blues, and The Christmas One have been played on radio stations around the country and overseas, and are often heard on NPR’s “All Things Considered.”

Archibald will be performing some of her original compositions accompanied by School of Music students and faculty members. Performances by the Anderson University Wind Ensemble and the Anderson University Jazz Ensemble will also be a part of the evening’s concert.

“We are pleased to honor Becky with our 2009 Outstanding Music Alumni Award,” said Dr. Jeffrey Wright, dean of the College of the Arts. “Her artistry and musicianship are superb. She is a wonderful representative of the School of Music in the professional arena. This will be an evening of music you will not want to miss.”

The Homecoming Concert on Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Park Place Church of God is free and open to the public.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.