Similar to the CowParade in Chicago and the Major League Baseball statues on parade in New York City, the Walking Man Project is a community display of 10-foot Walking Man statues with an emphasis on moving and thinking forward.

Walking Man statues are purchased by local businesses as blank prototypes and then sponsored by local artists who create unique designs on their Walking Man. The statues will be displayed around town for three months and then sold in an auction with the money going to local charities. The Walking Man Project allows citizens the opportunity to participate in a treasure hunt along with a photo contest. More than 30 statues are being designed.

[Photo: AU students Jason Quinn, Joy Kang, YeJin Ha, and Xavier Walton work on their interpretation of the Walking Man statue.]

AU became involved with this project through the motivation of Levi Rinker, creator of the Walking Man Project. “Anderson is my hometown,” said Rinker. “My parents attended Anderson College, which makes me a project of AU. I wanted to give back to the community and bring a sense of energy to the town. I came up with the idea while looking at a scrap pile of wood. I decided I could either build something of it or burn it, which I soon realized was a symbol of our economy. This project psychologically and metaphysically cleanses the town and creates an icon.”

Students in the Department of Art+Design created the design for AU’s Walking Man. Freshman visual communication design major Xavier Walton is excited about the design choice. “We wanted our Walking Man to have a purpose and reach out to the community,” said Walton. “Therefore, one side of our design will represent AU and the campus, and the other side will represent the faith and service that AU strives to carry out in the community.”

At the end of the auction, the money AU receives will go toward student financial aid. “I am happy the money will be going toward student aid. It feels good to know this project will help students with tuition costs and loans,” said Walton.

Chris Williams, director of university communications and community relations, believes this project will bring AU one step closer to the community. “This project is in line with what we strive to do at AU: educate for a life of service. One aspect of that is being a part of the community,” said Williams. “There is a lot of evidence of this partnership. AU has a deep rich history in the arts, which can be seen through the outdoor art on our campus such as Helios and the Eternal Flame. AU is always interested in partnering with organizations in the community because AU is here for the community just as the community is here for AU.”

AU hopes to work with more local organizations in the future. “Any time organizations come together to promote the community, it is better for all of us,” said Williams. “It is exciting to be able to partner with the community again. AU would not be here without the city of Anderson.”

For more information visit The Walking Man Project website.

— Kelli Oxley is a sophomore at Anderson University, majoring in communication arts. Oxley is an associate with Fifth Street Communications^™, writing on behalf of the Anderson University Office of University Communications.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. 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 Raven Golf Tournament is an opportunity for alumni and friends of the university to support the Ravens and help create a first-class, positive student-athlete experience. Funds raised through this outing underwrite some of the daily aspects of running a collegiate program and maintaining and upgrading athletic facilities.

On Saturday, July 14, The Edge Golf and Dining in Anderson will play host to this event. A noon shotgun start is scheduled; lunch will be provided preceding play, and a dinner following the tournament round.

The entry fee is $100 per golfer/$400 per foursome, which includes greens fee, lunch, dinner, door prizes, longest drive contest and closest to the pin prizes. Mulligans and gimme rope will also be available on the day of the outing.

Other tournament sponsorship opportunities are available as well by clicking on the Registration Form [PDF]. The registration deadline is July 7.

For more information, contact Athletic Director Marcie Taylor at 765-641-4495 or by email mjtaylor@anderson.edu

Two years ago, David Sebastian, dean of the School of Theology at Anderson University, reported five trends shaping the future of theological education in North America. They are: a widening chasm between Christian churches and seminaries; increasing numbers of seminary students who have not grown up in the church; a growing awareness that seminary education is inaccessible for many potential seminary students; an increased questioning of whether seminary is really worth the financial costs; and forthcoming population shifts that will affect the ability of seminaries to prepare culturally competent leaders for the 21st century.

Those trends, in addition to declining membership in some American churches, suggest that there is a need for theological schools to rethink their role in theological training in order to remain financially self-sustaining and to train leaders for an increasingly global church. Their problem is not that they need to retain their place in the academy, but rather that they need to justify their existence to Christian churches, which are becoming more ethnically diverse.

Read the full article by Katherine M. Douglass and Jason Bruner in The Chronicle of Higher Education. Image by Julie Delton for The Chronicle.

The Anderson University School of Theology is the seminary of the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana). Established in 1950, the seminary is fully accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The seminary offers a number of degree programs, including the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.), the Master of Divinity (M.Div.), the Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.), the Master of Arts in Intercultural Service (M.A.I.S.), and the Online Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (M.A.C.M.).

Tucker led the Ravens with a .342 average, 55 hits, 34 runs, 12 doubles, 13 home runs, 45 RBI and a .671 slugging percentage.

The senior set the career record for home runs (52), slugging percentage (.733) and times hit by a pitch (40) and ranked in the top 10 in 22 different categories.

Detty batted .325 with 52 hits, 33 runs, 13 doubles, a home run and 29 RBI this season. The shortstop ranks third on the career assists list (379) and his .460 batting average in 2010 ranks as the third best for a single season.

Vogt finished the season 8-4 with a 3.62 ERA  and three shutouts and posted a career record of 26-8 over his four seasons. He ranks fourth on the career list in innings pitched (288) and fifth in career starts (43) and shutouts (5) and 10th in wins (26).

Freshman Jacob Craft and junior Dan Schmitz were named to the All-HCAC 2nd Team. Craft batted .292 with 50 hits, 29 runs, seven doubles, four triples, 26 RBI and eight stolen bases.

Schmitz was 4-2 on the mound with a 3.09 ERA and a team-high 73 strikeouts in 63 innings pitched.

Sophomores Tyler Watson, Andrew Enderle, senior Kyle Beckman and freshmen Zach Garcia and Cole Heberling were all named All-HCAC Honorable Mention.

Watson was  2-2 with a 2.29 ERA in 35 innings while Enderle was 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA this season. Beckman batted .296 with 40 hits, 29 runs, eight doubles, three triples, a home run and 26 RBI.

Garcia batted .322 with 55 hits, 30 runs, six doubles and 22 RBI while Heberling was at .333 with 40 hits, 22 runs, three doubles, a home run and 17 RBI.

AU finished the season 28-17 overall ad 17-8 in the HCAC. They advanced to the championship game of the HCAC tournament.

Envisioning it as a simple procedure, I went to the cable provider’s website, logged in and brought up my account — a process that took less than one minute. I then spent over 10 minutes trying to figure out how to just add one premium channel to the current selection without agreeing to a Double-Decker/Triple-Player/Quarter-Pounder-with-Cheese bundle that contained items I had no desire for.

When I could not find it easily, I used the search feature at the top of the website page and the very first entry that it returned looked to be exactly what I was trying to do. I clicked on that link, and it took me to a landing page that required me to log in all over again; effectively logging me out of the session I had been working in for what now seemed twice as long as it really had been. Since I seemed to be on the right track this time, I went ahead and gave my account information once more and logged in. Up came a pop-up telling me that the deal I was seeking was no longer available in this area.

Deal I was seeking? I was seeking the pleasure of paying them more money each and every month and they were making it next to impossible for me to do so. I could go in with more detail, but by now you can probably guess who got perennials for Mothers’ Day.

All too often, websites get tossed online when the designers and developers are happy with them, and not when they are optimized for the customer. The illustration involving the cable company is but one example. In their mind, I have little doubt, they believe that they have streamlined the process by offering a limited number of choices that combine offerings that most people covet. In my mind, I would rather purchase what they offer ala carte and only get those items that I am interested in today. If I want something else tomorrow, I would rather come back for it then than have it foisted upon me before I sought it out.

As the example also illustrates, there is still a great deal of room for improvement with search technology — particularly that search which is limited to a single site. If customers cannot find what they are looking for, you can only expect them to be patient for so long before they give up and go elsewhere. The results returned need to be relevant — and recent — in order for them to have meaning.

As for the HBO saga … there is always an anniversary somewhere down the way when it may be worth trying again. As for now, we seem to be stuck with that endlessly looping sad music on Lifetime Network.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. 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 Falls School of Business is one of Anderson University’s largest academic departments offering eight undergraduate majors as well as MBA and DBA programs. The school is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and is a member of the Christian Business Faculty Association (CBFA).

Columns from Anderson University’s Falls School of Business are published Tuesdays in The Herald Bulletin. Tuesday’s columnist is Emmett Dulaney, who teaches marketing and entrepreneurship.

The Preaching Clinic will be held Saturday, June 23, in the Adam Miller chapel. Preregistration cost is $20, or $25 the day of the clinic. Registration includes a box lunch and booklet with preaching aids. Facilitators during the clinic will preach from the book of Jonah, then engage in a Q&A with participants on how they develop their preaching and work each week. Dr. Guy Brewer, associate professor of pastoral theology, will host the clinic.

Reservations for the clinic should be mailed to David Neidert, Anderson University School of Theology, 1100 E. 5th St., Anderson IN 46012. For more information, contact dlneidert@anderson.edu.

Additional activities sponsored by the School of Theology during the North American Convention include the following:

Monday June 25

• 8:30 – 10 a.m. — “Dealing Redemptively with Conflict in the Church” with Dr. John Aukerman, professor of Christian education. There is often conflict in the local congregation. Yet how do we deal with this in constructive ways? This seminar will explore conflict and how to deal redemptively with it from a biblical perspective.
• 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. — Alumni and Friends Luncheon and Seminary Awards provides an opportunity for those connected to the seminary to celebrate and share together. Hosted by the seminary dean’s office, this event is open to SOT alumni, their families, and friends of the SOT. Reservations are required and payment in advance is necessary. Contact the Office of Seminary Dean for reservations at (765) 641-4033. The buffet opens at 11:30 a.m. in the Olt Student Center Market Place.
• 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. — The Doctrinal Dialogue has become an important offering hosted by the School of Theology. This year the topic is “Biblical Reconciliation as ‘God’s One-Item Agenda’: Broad Reflections on the Doctrine and Practice.” Dr. Curtiss Paul DeYoung, professor of reconciliation studies at Bethel University, will be presenting, and Dr. James Lewis will moderate the event. The presentation will be located in the Adam Miller Chapel.
• 9 – 10 p.m. — The Doctor of Ministry Studies Program will host a “Meet and Greet” in the exhibit area of the convention. Dr. James Lewis, director of Doctor of Ministry Studies Program, will be available for questions and conversation.

Tuesday, June 26

• 1:30 – 3 p.m. — David Neidert, leadership facilitator, author, and director of seminary student development will share on the topic: “Leadership: A Church of God Perspective.”

Other Opportunities

• Museum tours — The Gustav Jeeninga Museum of Bible and Near Eastern Studies will be open for self-guided exploration from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Location: School of Theology, lower level.

The Anderson University School of Theology is the seminary of the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana). Established in 1950, the seminary is fully accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The seminary offers a number of degree programs, including the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.), the Master of Divinity (M.Div.), the Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.), the Master of Arts in Intercultural Service (M.A.I.S.), and the Online Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (M.A.C.M.).

In the first game, Drew Brantley led the Raven offense with three hits and Aaron Rogers added two hits. Kyle Beckman chipped in with the only RBI as AU scored both runs in the fourth inning.

Jake Eaton earned the victory on the mound, allowing eight hits and one run in 6.1 innings while striking out three. Andrew Enderle earned the save, tossing the final 2.2 innings and allowing just one hit.

In the second game, Brett Detty, Michael Tucker, Jacob Craft and Brantley each had a hit for the Ravens.

Tyler Watson tossed 5.2 innings of relief, allowing just four hits and no earned runs while striking out five.

AU finishes the season 28-17 overall.

Against St. Norbert, the Ravens won despite failing to get a hit in the game. They scored the only run of the game on a walk by Lauren Smith, a bunt by Stephanie Atkins and a sacrifice fly by Megan Ream.

Ream also saved the game with a diving catch in the first inning to save a run and robbed the Knights of a home run in the sixth inning.

Monica Crowe improved to 20-2 overall with the victory, tying Sara Rychener’s single season record for wins in a season. Crowe allowed seven hits and no runs while walking four and striking out two.

Lauren Smith pitched the final 1.2 innings to earn the save, allowing no hits while striking out one.

Against Carthage, Katie Lee, Amy Wuestefeld and Yardley Collett led the offense with two hits each and Lauren Smith had an RBI single.

Devin Moorman took the loss despite not allowing an earned run in 2.2 innings. Smith tossed the final 4.1 innings, allowing two hits and one run.

AU finishes the season with a 32-12 overall record, which is the second most wins in school history. Their fourth place finish at the regional was the second best in school history behind the 2007 team, which finished third.

The Ravens (27-16) will play Manchester College at noon and need to beat the Spartans twice to win the championship.

Against Rose-Hulman, Jacob Craft led the Raven offense with three hits and Michael Tucker added two hits, including a double.

Zach Garcia, Cole Heberling and Aaron Rogers each had two hits and Kyle Beckman chipped in a hit and three RBI.

Greg Vogt earned the victory on the mound, allowing nine hits and one earned run while striking out one.

Against Franklin, Beckman led the offense with two hits and two runs and Tucker added two hits and an RBI.

Garcia and Brett Detty chipped in with a hit and an RBI each.

Nolan Schaefer earned the victory on the mound, allowing four hits and one run while striking out five.

Tyler Watson tossed the final 1.2 innings of work to collect the save, allowing no hits while striking out four.

The Wildcats (40-5) got six runs in the first inning and added two more in the second frame before the Ravens were able to shut down the leading offense in the nation and hold them scoreless in the final three innings.

Yardley Collett, Natalie Moorhouse and Kerri Doutlick had the Ravens’ three hits in the contest.

Lauren Smith tossed the final 4.2 innings on the mound, allowing seven hits and three runs while striking out three.

AU (31-11) plays No. 8 seed St. Norbert on Saturday at noon in Bloomington, Ill.

Tony Johnson led the Ravens with a second-place finish in the 100 meters in a time of 10.96. That time was tied for his best this season.

Other AU men’s finishers were Max Kittle in the 110 hurdles (16th, 15.43) and 400 hurdles (30th, 58.10), Brad McNeil in the 110 hurdles (29th, 16.16) and 400 hurdles (23rd, 56.92), Matt St. Amour in the 800 meters (63rd, 1:58) and Eric Linn in the 1,500 meters (39th, 4:07).

Candace DeLong led the women with an eighth finish in the 3,000 steeplechase in 11:22. That is the second best time in school history.

Other AU women finishers were Sarah Bromagem in the 800 meters (18th, 2:16), Emily Radke in the discus (18th, 108-2) and Shantol McMahon in the discus (23rd, 79-4).

The Ravens finished with 14 hits and three home runs in the contest, increasing their school-record total to 41 long balls. That ranks third in the NCAA in Div. III.

Megan Ream led the offense with two home runs and five RBI, including a two-run shot in the second inning to give the Ravens the early lead.

Amy Wuestefeld and Samantha Steele each had three hits and a run scored and Natalie Moorhouse added two hits, two runs and three RBI, including her 10th home run and a double.

Stephanie Atkins chipped in with two hits and two runs scored.

Monica Crowe improved to 19-2 on the season, allowing two hits and no runs in five innings while striking out four. Devin Moorman tossed the final two innings.

AU (31-10) will play defending national champion Linfield (39-5) in the second round on Friday at 4 p.m.

Zach Garcia, Aaron Rogers and Drew Brantley each had a hit for the Ravens as they were out-hit 6-3 in the game.

Dan Schmitz took the loss on the mound, allowing six hits and two earned runs while walking five and striking out two.

AU (25-16) will play Rose-Hulman on Friday in Terre Haute at 3:30 p.m.

AU will play today at 2 p.m. CDT at Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington, Ill., as it tests the NCAA Division III tournament waters in this double-elimination event. [Follow the game live on Stretch Internet (video) or Live Stats.]

Coincidentally, both teams have hit 38 home runs on the season.

The Reds are paced by senior first baseman Alyssa Schrader, who had 13 home runs in 42 games with 40 RBIs and a .344 batting average.

But while the Ravens had nine players with two or more home runs, Carthage has only five.

[Photo: AU’s Natalie Moorhouse, the HCAC MVP, leads the Ravens’ offense with nine home runs and 43 RBIs.]

Carthage also is hitting .294 as a team, which isn’t nearly as impressive as Anderson’s mark of .351.

[Related article: Ravens deserve attention]

Responsible for keeping the Reds’ bats in check will be senior pitcher Monica Crowe and junior Devin Moorman. Crowe has a 1.99 ERA with 120 strikeouts in 126 innings. She gives up a home run about every 18 innings. Moorman has a 3.06 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 87 innings. She allows a home run approximately every 22 innings.

The Ravens are paced in the power department by shortstop Natalie Moorhouse, who has hit nine homers with 43 RBIs in 40 contests with a .356 average. Katie Lee tops Anderson in hitting with a .479 average. She has 13 steals in 18 attempts.

Attempting to keep AU from going yard will be junior pitcher Krystina Leazer. She has a 2.06 ERA in 190 innings with 170 strikeouts. She gives up the long ball once in every 18 innings. She has a 25-5 record and has pitched well over half of her team’s innings.

Carthage is coached by Amy Gillmore. She is a former player for Carthage and has coached the team for 15 years. She has a record of 347-216.

If the Ravens win today, they will play again at 4 p.m. on Friday against the winner of today’s game between Linfield (38-5) and Benedictine (33-9). If they lose, they will play at 10 a.m. against the loser of that game.

Tournament play runs through Sunday and possibly Monday if a second championship game is needed.

The Ravens departed by bus for the tournament site on Tuesday afternoon.

— Rick Teverbaugh is sports editor for The Herald Bulletin. Reposted with permission. Photo credit: Don Knight/The Herald Bulletin.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. 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.

But for whatever reason, I suspect there is some extent to which the monumental accomplishments of the Anderson University softball team have gone underappreciated by area sports fans in general.

The Ravens were the first Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference team to go 16-0 in league play. If that wasn’t enough, that team went unbeaten through the HCAC tournament last weekend, with the seniors giving up the opportunity to walk through the graduation ceremony in order to win said tournament.

Now they are playing in the NCAA Division III tournament in Bloomington, Ill.

But the team’s remarkable season didn’t go unnoticed by the people who vote on the postseason conference awards. Just as the Ravens swept every game in league play, they swept the awards as well. AU took the Most Valuable Player, Pitcher of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year honors.

Natalie Moorhouse and Devin Moorman were named MVP and Pitcher of the Year, respectively.

Moorhouse, a junior shortstop, hit .511 with a conference-best six home runs and 22 RBIs in league play. Moorhouse added 14 runs scored, five doubles, and two stolen bases, with a slugging percentage of 1.000.

Moorman, a junior, posted an 8-0 record against conference foes. She had a 0.86 earned run average, allowing just six earned runs in 49 innings.

Moorman struck out 26 opponents and completed eight games.

The Freshman of the Year was Shenandoah graduate Yardley Collett. She hit .512 during conference play, scoring 12 runs. She drove in 14 runs and added two doubles and five home runs.

Anderson head coach Tony Holloway was named Coach of the Year. Holloway, in his fourth season as head coach at Anderson, led the Ravens to a 30-10 record. This award is the second straight Coach of the Year honor for Holloway while in charge at AU.

Amy Wuestefeld, Katie Lee, Monica Crowe, Moorhouse, Moorman, and Collett were named First Team All-Conference. Stephanie Atkins, Lauren Smith and Samantha Steele were placed on the second team, while Megan Ream was Honorable Mention. Wuestefeld also earned a spot on the All Sportsmanship Team.

I believe it would also be remiss not to honor the Ravens as having the best assistant coaches in the conference. Justin Bates, who also doubles as sports information director for Anderson University, and Mike Lee provide excellent instruction to the players.

Without them, this display of excellence would have been more difficult, if not impossible.

So the Ravens begin this journey on the diamond at 2 p.m. today against Carthage College from Kenosha, Wis. I am sure that many would love to be in Illinois to follow this team. I am one.

But for those of us unable to make the trip, this link will offer an alternative: www.iwusports.com/sports/2012/5/2/SB_0502125431.aspx will provide live coverage of the games. Good luck, Ravens.

— Rick Teverbaugh is sports editor for The Herald Bulletin. Reposted with permission.

Accounting majors may choose a concentration in forensic accounting. This emerging discipline in accounting will be one of the first programs of its type in Indiana and among the Council for Christian College and Universities.

Another growing opportunity for graduates is that of event planning. Anderson University’s close proximity to Indianapolis and its presence in the Flagship Enterprise Center in Anderson offer unique opportunities for students interested in event and project planning. This new concentration will give marketing and management students valuable experience while learning the field of study.

Marketing majors with an interest in sports may choose the new concentration in sport marketing. Experts in sport marketing suggest that the best way to get into the world of sport is to become effective in sport marketing sales. This new program will focus on sport marketing sales and will connect students with opportunities in professional and amateur sports.

“These concentrations build off of strong majors giving students expanded opportunities to serve in exciting and fulfilling careers,” said Dr. Michael Wiese, professor of marketing and director of undergraduate studies. “The Anderson University Falls School of Business continues to grow in size and reputation as a leader in Christ-centered business education.”

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. 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 Falls School of Business is one of Anderson University’s largest academic departments offering eight undergraduate majors as well as MBA and DBA programs. The school is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and is a member of the Christian Business Faculty Association (CBFA).

Within the IT realm, the vendor-neutral organization CompTIA has such a framework for troubleshooting computer-related problems that can be modified to fit the business world as well. Stripping it of all technology-specific topics, the seven-step framework becomes:

• Identify the problem. The first step is always to establish exactly what the problem is. This stage of the process is all about information gathering, identifying symptoms, questioning those involved (customers, employees, vendors, suppliers, and so on), and determining if anything has changed. To get this information, you need knowledge of operations, good communication skills, and patience.
• Establish a theory of probable cause. A single problem (like a lost customer) can have many different causes, but with appropriate information gathering, you can eliminate many of them. When you look for probable cause, it is often best to look at the easiest solution first, and then work from there.
• Test the theory to determine cause. After questioning the obvious, you need to establish a theory. After you formation a theory, you should attempt to confirm it. When the theory is confirmed, determine the next steps to resolve the problem. If the theory is not confirmed, re-establish a new theory or escalate it to a higher level (call in an expert, seek guidance, etc.).
• Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and identify potential effects. After identifying a cause, but before implementing a solution, you should establish a plan for the solution. This is particularly a concern with other facets of the business could be affected. After identifying the cause of a problem, it is absolutely necessary to plan for the solution. The plan must include the details of what will be affected, what support is in place, and who will be involved in correcting the problem(s). You should attempt only one solution at a time. Trying several solutions at once can make it unclear which one corrected the problem.
• Implement the solution. After the corrective action has been make, test the results (never assume). This is when you find out if you were right and the remedy you applied actually worked. Don’t forget that first impressions can deceive and a fix that seems to work on first inspection might not actually have corrected the problem.
• Verify that the problem is solved and — if applicable — implement preventive measures. A fix to one problem may cause another — such consequences can be hard to predict. It is, therefore, imperative that you verify full satisfaction with the solution before considering it in the past. Ascertain, as well, if any preventive measures need to be implemented to keep a similar problem from occurring again.
• Document the findings, the actions, and the outcomes. Documentation is one of the most important components of the troubleshooting steps. Keep a record of everything done, and not just the solution. That documentation needs to include: when the solution was implemented, why it was done, what was affected, who was involved, and the results that appeared.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. 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 Falls School of Business is one of Anderson University’s largest academic departments offering eight undergraduate majors as well as MBA and DBA programs. The school is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and is a member of the Christian Business Faculty Association (CBFA).

Columns from Anderson University’s Falls School of Business are published Tuesdays in The Herald Bulletin. Tuesday’s columnist is Emmett Dulaney, who teaches marketing and entrepreneurship.

Yardley Collett was named the HCAC Freshman of the Year and Tony Holloway was named the HCAC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.

In addition, the Ravens had six players named to the 13-member All-HCAC 1st Team, three on the 2nd Team and one Honorable Mention selection, matching their record of 10 players selected for the teams in 2011.

Moorhouse, Moorman, Collett, Katie Lee, Monica Crowe and Amy Wuestefeld were named to the 1st Team; Lauren Smith, Samantha Steele and Stephanie Atkins were 2nd Team picks and Megan Ream was Honorable Mention.

Moorhouse batted .356 with 10 doubles, nine home runs and 43 RBI and led the HCAC in home runs, RBI and slugging percentage (1.000).

Moorman was 8-0 with a 0.84 ERA in conference play and has a 15-1 mark over the last two seasons in HCAC play. Overall, she is 10-4 with a 3.06 ERA and has won 10 straight decisions on the mound.

Collett is batting .391 with four doubles, seven home runs and 27 RBI while Lee leads he HCAC in hitting with a .479 average and a team-high 37 runs, 12 doubles, two home runs, 17 RBI and 13 stolen bases.

Monica Crowe is currently 18-2 overall on the season and went 8-0 in the HCAC. She has a 1.99 ERA and 120 strikeouts on the season. Wuestefeld is batting .382 with four doubles and a team-best 17 stolen bases.

Steele is batting .450 with a double and 13 stolen bases; Smith is at .363 with seven doubles, two home runs, 20 RBI and Atkins is hitting .275 with five doubles, five home runs and 24 RBI.

Ream is hitting .314 with five doubles, seven home runs, 14 RBI and nine stolen bases.

Anderson went 30-10 overall during the regular season, including 16-0 in the HCAC. They won three straight to take the HCAC Tournament Championship and are currently in Bloomington, Ill., for the NCAA national tournament. They will play Carthage in the first round on Thursday at 2 p.m. (CST).

The Ravens have won nine consecutive games and 23 of their last 25 contests.

Pi Sigma Alpha began in 1920 to encourage interest in the area of political science for college students and to promote honesty and integrity in the field. AU is now the 738th chapter.

Dr. Daniel Allen, assistant professor of political science and member of Pi Sigma Alpha, and Dr. Michael Frank, associate professor of political science, established the chapter.

“Dr. Frank got the whole process started. It took just under a year from start to finish,” said Allen. “Provost Marie Morris and President James Edwards helped us out extensively, along with many other faculty and staff members. Dr. Frank and I have added several course offerings to the major in the past couple years and decided to add this chapter as the next step in building our program.”

On Tuesday, March 22, five AU students were inducted into the new chapter.

[Photo: Anderson University recently inducted five students into Pi Sigma Alpha, the newest honor society on campus. Pictured from left: Mackenzie Scholte, Erin Ladd, Brittany Stafford, and Ben Herrick. Not pictured: Ryan Daugherty. Photo credit: Lauren Freitas]

“Dr. Allen spoke to us about honor and how it is not something easily achieved, but it is desirable,” said Erin Ladd, junior political science and history major. “He also reminded us of the high standards the honor society holds and that we should be proud of ourselves for attaining those. It not only shows that we put forth effort in our political science classes, but all of our classes at AU.”

AU administrators were supportive throughout the process. “I was fully confident AU would be supportive,” said Allen. “I knew that the administration would feel as we do, that it’s a great thing to recognize the academic accomplishments of our political science students.”

As a member himself, Allen saw the benefit that Pi Sigma Alpha will bring to the political science students. Allen joined as a graduate student, where he experienced the profession of political science and attended his first academic conference.

“The first major benefit for me was it allowed me to learn more about the research and teaching that political scientists actually engage in,” said Allen “The second major benefit is being around people who value hard work and academic excellence. When you surround yourself with strong students, your appreciation for giving your best effort grows and you are more likely to excel at whatever you set out to do.”

Ben Herrick, a junior political science major, is looking into the possibility of publishing one of his journals to the Pi Sigma Alpha database. “I’ve been working on a paper regarding the death penalty for over a year now. I started writing it for Dr. Frank for the political science research methods class,” said Herrick. “Dr. Allen has been encouraging me to submit it to the Pi Sigma Alpha undergraduate academic journals. I am really excited to see what this opportunity could lead to.”

Ladd is also taking advantage of the significant benefits of Pi Sigma Alpha. “There are academic journals that members have access to and ways to connect with members who are now professionals. I am excited that AU has given us this opportunity to have a chapter in this honor society. It might even help me get a job someday,” said Ladd.

Pi Sigma Alpha has stimulated a lot of excitement for both students and faculty. “Overall, I think this honor society will open a lot of doors for all of us,” said Herrick. “I’m so excited about the relationships I will build through Pi Sigma Alpha with students, professors, and members in other chapters. I’m also excited about the opportunities that may arise. I feel so honored to be a part of a group that values honesty, integrity, and good character.”

— Kelli Oxley is a sophomore from Muncie, Ind., majoring in communication arts. Oxley is an associate with Fifth Street Communications^™, writing on behalf of the Anderson University Office of University Communications.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. 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.

Juniors Brock Bell and Adam Millikan were named All-HCAC Honorable Mention and Lovern was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team.

AU finished the season 4-8 overall and 4-4 in the HCAC.

“With a combined total of 123 years of service, these individuals have invested their lives in Anderson University and its students,” said Dr. Blake Janutolo, dean of the College of Science and Humanities. “Each one has served as an exemplary faculty member, and each will be missed as they begin a new chapter in their lives.”

[Photo: Anderson University recently honored retiring faculty (pictured from left) Prof. Paul Gray, Dr. Linda Swindell, Prof. Zola Noble, and Dr. Ken Turner.]

Paul Gray, professor of kinesiology, joined the AU faculty in 1978 and has served the university for 34 years. He received his B.A. from Anderson University, his M.A. from Ball State University, and is currently finishing his doctorate at Ball State.

At AU, Gray coached football, wrestling, and golf. He is an expert in adaptive physical education and is known within his department for his expertise in using technology in the classroom. He has also been a long-time advocate for Special Olympics.

“As director of the Madison County Chapter of Special Olympics, Paul took a struggling program and, with the help of others in the community and university, turned it into a model of what a local chapter of Special Olympics should be,” said Janutolo. “In the process, he introduced hundreds of AU students to Special Olympians and by doing so changed their perception of what it means to work with persons who have special needs.”

Zola Noble, associate professor English, joined the AU faculty in 1993, but taught as a full-time adjunct for five years prior to this. In all, she has served the university for 24 years. Noble received her B.S. from Anderson University, M.S. from St. Francis College, and MFA from Spaulding University.

Noble is an accomplished author, with articles appearing in several journals and magazines. Some of her articles include “Back Roads Attractions,” published in The New Southerner, “An Ordinary Woman: Sarah McIntyre of Saltville, Virginia,” published in The Smithfield Review, and “Sitting in Church,” published in 94 Creations.

“Zola has put in many hours grading papers and helping our students become better writers,” said Janutolo. “She has made a difference in the lives of so many of our students.”

Dr. Linda Swindell, professor of psychology, joined the AU faculty in 1993 and has served the university for 19 years. She received her B.A. from the University of Hawaii, and her M.A. and Ph.D. from Arizona State University.

Swindell came to AU after teaching at the University of Mississippi. At AU, she served as director of the Liberal Arts Seminar Program from 2000-2006 and as chair of the Psychology Department since 2009.

“Dr. Swindell is recognized by her students and peers and a master teacher,” said Janutolo. “She cares deeply about her students and has invested large amounts of time in preparing them for graduate school or careers in psychology. Loved and respected by her students, Linda is a role model for what it means to be a professor.”

Dr. Ken Turner, professor of mathematics, director of statistics, and chair of the Math Department, joined the AU faculty in 1966 and has served the university for 46 years. He received his B.A. from Anderson University, M.A. from Ball State University, and Ph.D. from Purdue University.

During his time at AU, Turner developed a strong statistics program and authored or coauthored three major statistics textbooks. His Fundamental Concepts in Design of Experiments has been adopted at schools including Cornell University and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and is often used a reference text by those in industry.

“Over the years I have greatly appreciated Ken’s insight into the workings of the university,” said Janutolo. “In his own gentle way, he has always been willing to point out our flaws and inconsistencies with constructive suggestions for improvement, and at the same time congratulating us on our strengths and accomplishments.”

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. 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 NFL franchise ended months of speculation Monday by announcing it will hold camp at Anderson University this summer for the third straight year. Players are scheduled to report July 28, and the first practice will take place July 29.

Concern about the camp’s location began in February when first-year head coach Chuck Pagano said the team wasn’t locked in at AU during a press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine.

That talk began to subside after Pagano, new general manager Ryan Grigson, and other Colts officials visited campus in March.

The group came away impressed, and Grigson said the team is looking forward to another successful camp.

“Our staff made several visits to the Anderson campus, and we were extremely pleased with its amenities and layout,” Grigson said in a team press release. “The university staff is tremendous, and we trust their experience having conducted past camps. We feel Anderson is in a great location to connect with Colts fans around the state of Indiana, which is one of our biggest priorities.”

AU hosted the Colts’ first training camp after the team moved to Indianapolis in 1984 and continued to host through 1998. Camp moved to Terre Haute’s Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology for 11 years beginning in 1999 and returned to AU in the summer of 2010.

This is the first year of a five-year agreement signed last summer by the club and the university, but the Colts reportedly have an option to escape the deal after each season.

[Photo: Colts defensive tackle Antonio Johnson signs autographs for a large crowd after a practice during Colts training camp at Anderson University.]

For now, AU officials simply are ecstatic to welcome the team back for another year.

“Anderson University is thrilled to once again host the Indianapolis Colts during their summer training camp,” university spokesman Chris Williams said. “The past two years have been great not only for the university but also for the city, and we look forward to hosting again.”

An estimated 80,000 fans attended training camp in 2010, and a little more than 73,000 watched last summer’s practices.

The Colts have undergone a major offseason overhaul — firing vice chairman Bill Polian, general manager Chris Polian, and head coach Jim Caldwell and releasing a host of popular veteran players including quarterback Peyton Manning.

Grigson and Pagano were hired to lead the team’s new direction, and Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in last month’s NFL draft.

“The Indianapolis Colts have had a lot of change this year not only with leadership but also with the players,” Williams said. “We’re excited for the fans to come out and to see some of the new players that will be on the field this fall.”

—George Bremer is a reporter for The Herald Bulletin. Reposted with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. 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 61-team field was announced on Monday morning with the Ravens drawing No. 20 Carthage (34-8) in the first round of the Illinois Wesleyan Regional at 2 p.m. (CST). Anderson (30-10) will be the No. 6 seed after clinching the automatic bid on Saturday by winning the HCAC post-season tournament championship.

“We’re excited to be a part of the NCAA national tournament for the second consecutive season,” said AU coach Tony Holloway. “We have a lot of players who played in the regional last year and we hope that experience will help us in this year’s tournament.”

Illinois Wesleyan (36-6) will be the top seed in the region and is joined by No. 7 Benedictine (33-9), No. 8 St. Norbert (17-18), No. 5 Fontbonne (27-10), No. 4 Wisc.-Eau Claire (32-12) and defending national champion No. 2 Linfield (38-5).

This will be the fifth NCAA regional appearance for the Ravens, who also advanced to the national tournament in 1999, 2000, 2007 and 2011. The Ravens lost to Wesleyan during the 2012 season 5-4, and played both Linfield and Fontbonne in the 2011 Pella, Iowa, region.

The Ravens erased a 2-1 deficit with a five-run explosion on their way to a 6-3 championship game triumph over Manchester on Saturday afternoon. AU will find out Monday where they will play in the NCAA Division III tournament next weekend.

“We’ve always been good at fighting back,” said AU junior center fielder Katie Lee. “Our offense has come through all year.”

AU struck first again, though for the first time in the tournament, it wasn’t in the first inning.

In the second, Megan Ream walked with two out. Katy Ogden slapped a single toward the right-field line. Ream hit second base at full tilt on her way to third. Spartans’ right fielder Shannon Stephan bobbled the ball trying to transfer it from her glove to her hand. She threw the ball to second to keep Ogden at first.

But Ream never slowed down and scored without a play for a 1-0 AU lead.

Ream played a part in the top of the third for Manchester when the Spartans took the lead.

With two outs and nobody on base, Amy Hommema drew a walk from AU starting hurler Monica Crowe. Emily Williams doubled to right-center on a ball that just eluded a diving Lee. That tied the game at 1-1.

Kayla Yates was up next, and she drove a ball to deep left field. Ream quickly found the fence, leaped and prevented the ball from leaving the yard. But the ball didn’t stay in her glove. Yates stopped at second, and the Spartans were up 2-1.

“I was mostly just disappointed I didn’t catch it,” said Ream. “Some people have said that it was going over the fence. Maybe it was.”

When Yates was stranded at second by Crowe striking out Danielle Howell, it was obvious that Ream had saved a run.

“Megan changed the game with her play,” said AU coach Tony Holloway. “If they score that run and take a two-run lead, it can make a big difference in the way the game is played.”

In the bottom of the fourth, the Ravens took command.

[Photo: AU pitcher Monica Crowe delivers to the plate on Saturday, May 5 during the HCAC title game.]

Lauren Smith, one of five Ravens voted to the All-HCAC Tournament Team, opened with a single and moved to second on a sac bunt by Stephanie Atkins. Ream and Ogden walked to load the bases for freshman Tori Price.

“We moved Tori into the No. 9 slot today because we wanted to get more balls to the outfield,” said Holloway. “We knew it was a lot of pressure for a freshman.”

Price delivered with a long fly to deep left-center. It was easily deep enough to score Smith, but Kendall Jeffries dropped the ball. The score was tied at 2-2, and the Ravens still had the bases loaded with one out.

Lee cracked a two-run single up the middle, and Amy Wuestefeld followed with another two-run single to center. It was 6-2, and AU was done scoring. The Spartans weren’t.

Manchester got a run in the fifth on a leadoff home run by Kylie Planck.

In the top of the seventh, the Spartans threatened on singles by Holly Morris and by Jeffries. Holloway removed Crowe and brought in Devin Moorman. The two pitchers hugged at the third-base line as the change was made.

“I didn’t mind going out at all,” said Crowe. “The team is always the most important. I have full confidence in Devin.”

But there was a bit more excitement to be had.

Hommema lined the ball into center.

“I didn’t read the ball very well,” said Lee, who initially came in a bit on the ball. “I thought it was going over my head. I just hoped it wasn’t going over the fence.”

She leaped and brought the ball and the tournament title down with her.

“We’ve played that way pretty much all year,” said Holloway. “We pretty much don’t worry about whether we are up or down. Now we’ll just sit back and wait to see where the committee sends us.”

Joining Smith on the all-tournament team were Yardley Collett, Ream, Lee, and Crowe.

— Rick Teverbaugh is sports editor for The Herald Bulletin. Reposted with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. 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.

“I was just amazed to hear the news,” the now-award-winning photographer said. “What an honor.”

During Saturday’s graduation service, Settlemeyer was one of four to receive an honorary degree, along with Charles Dickmann, Frank Campbell, and Johnny Wilson.

Settlemeyer earned a bachelor’s from AU in 1966 and a Master of Ministry from AU’s School of Theology in 1978. She worked for Dow Chemical Company for 31 years and retired as a development scientist.

“This day is about you,” Settlemeyer said to the graduates, after thanking family and friends who’d come in from several states to celebrate the honor. “I would say, as young people, go out carrying the joy you received at Anderson University into your community.”

Wilson said the doctor of humane letters is the “highest honor” he’s ever received. While at Anderson High School and then AU in the 1940s he was known as “Jumpin’ Johnny” for his leaping ability. He played for the Harlem Globetrotters and returned to AU in 1970 to finish his bachelor’s degree in education. He has coached at the high school and college levels.

[Photo: John E. Wilson receives an honorary degree during Anderson University's commencement on Saturday, May 5.]

“This feels very good,” Wilson said moments before graduation. “What an honor. It means a lot knowing the university thinks enough of me to give me this degree.”

Karen Williams, dean of AU’s School of Nursing, presented Campbell with his degree. She pointed out his humility and said he’s devoted his life to the healing arts and has been a great servant leader for the community.

“If I told all my blessings, we’d be here too long,” Campbell said after receiving the degree.

He said he was grateful for the attention the honor would bring to the Madison County Community Health Centers, where he is the medical director. He received his medical degree from Indiana University’s School of Medicine and worked in private practice for 30 years. For part of that time, Campbell was the chief of staff at Community Hospital Anderson.

Charles Dickmann, long-time Anderson attorney, said he was grateful for the honor. He thanked his family, saying the doctor of humane letters would go along nicely with his week of celebrations for his 93rd birthday, which is Monday.

[Photo: Charles Dickmann gives a "thumbs up" after receiving an honorary degree during Anderson University's commencement on Saturday, May 5.]

Dennis D. Carroll, an AU Trustee, said Dickmann has lived a life of excellence and exemplified servant leadership.

Dickmann served the community for 62 years with his law firm and continues to provide counsel for the firm. He received both a bachelor’s and law degree from IU. He also served in the military during World War II, leaving as a captain.

Dickmann, a noted philanthropist, has been deeply involved in the community, Carroll said, on boards including the United Way, YMCA, Chamber of Commerce, and others.

— Abbey Doyle is a reporter for The Herald Bulletin. Reposted with permission. Photo credit: Don Knight.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. 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.

It had been a lot of hard work, but the Mishawaka women said there was much fun mixed in with that dedication and they would miss their experiences from college.

They were just two of 645 who graduated from AU on Saturday afternoon at the Kardatzke Wellness Center.

“It’s scary but awesome,” Elizabeth Barwick said of her feelings about graduation. “I don’t want to leave everyone, but I’m excited about all the opportunities ahead of me.”

Both graduated with bachelor’s degrees while majoring in mathematics education. Elizabeth wants to move back closer to the Mishawaka area, while Katherine plans to look for a teaching job in the Anderson area.

[Photo: Carl Erskine addresses graduates during commencement on Saturday, May 5.]

“We got a really, really good education,” Katherine Barwick said. “I’m grateful for that. I know people are looking for AU graduates for education jobs.”

Bracken Henry of Mount Gilead, Ohio, and David Herron of St. Louis were both graduating with master’s degrees in business administration. Henry had graduated with his undergraduate degree from AU, while Herron, 38, came through the program as a nontraditional student.

“I took my time to get this, and I’m very satisfied to be here today,” Herron said. “I was impressed with the program and staff. Everything was outstanding.”

Henry said he “loved” the program. His advice to future students would be to be ready to work hard.

“It is not easy, and it’s a lot of hard work,” he said.

Herron’s advice, he said, may seem silly but is sincere.

“Take advantage of as many experiences as you can so you can get the most out of the program as you possibly can,” he said.

The graduates weren’t the only ones who were having a hard time hiding their glee. Friends and family of the students packed the Wellness Center, many lining up outside, camera in hand, waiting for the graduates to march past.

Michael and Dawn Anderson — AU grads themselves — came from Akron, Ohio, to see a former co-worker and friend graduate with her doctorate.

“She has worked so hard to get here,” Michael Anderson said. “We wanted to show our support for all of that hard work.”

Dawn Anderson said she did a lot of pushing and supporting of her friend, especially in the beginning.

“I strongly believe in education, and I knew it was something that was important for her to do,” she said. “I really just helped her know she could do it. And she did, yea!”

Terry and Ruth Canfield, of Akron, came to see their son Nate Canfield graduate with a bachelor’s. He majored in business management with a concentration on nonprofits.

“We love the school and are so glad they chose Anderson,” Ruth Canfield said.

Terry Canfield, a Church of God pastor, said having both sons graduate from AU was an “answered” prayer.

“I’m so proud and excited,” he said. “We are just thrilled.”

Commencement speaker Carl Erskine — former Major League Baseball player and sports legend of Anderson — focused on taking leaps. In this Leap Year, the graduating class is about to take the biggest leap of their lives, he said.

Erskine talked at length about the leaps taken by his team, the Brooklyn Dodgers, in recruiting Jackie Robinson — the MLB’s first black player. Erskine related many of the benefits of that risk. Later, Erskine recalled how friends and family took a leap of faith when it came to the birth of Betty and his son Jimmy, born with Down Syndrome.

“The world was no more ready for Jimmy than it was for Jackie (Robinson),” Erskine said. But quickly he noticed a change and said he continues to see the change today.

At the end of his address, Erskine showed his World Series ring and a gold medal Jimmy had won swimming in the Special Olympics, an organization he continues to champion.

Erskine asked the graduates which one meant more. Are you getting the most out of what you’ve been given, he asked.

“As you leap into your next life class,” Erskine said, “you will find something — others may not remember what you said, others may not remember what you did, but everybody will remember how you made them feel.”

AU President James Edwards reminded students that graduation was a time to count your blessings but also a time to count your debts. And while his statement was followed with laughter, Edwards was quick to say he wasn’t just talking about student loans.

— Abbey Doyle is a reporter for The Herald Bulletin. Reposted with permission. Photo credit: Don Knight.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. 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.

During Christmas break, the brothers came up with the idea and began to plan, but soon realized that a weeklong trip could be quite costly. Staying in hotels would be far too expensive, but camping at campgrounds would also cost money and would require the brothers to carry the necessary camping supplies on their backs. Their father, who had biked across the country at age 20, suggested that they ask the AU Alumni Office for help.

[Photo: Brothers Jeremiah (left) and Adam Stichter hope to promote Anderson University and enjoy alumni connections during their 800-mile bicycle trip to Florida this summer. Credit: Lauren Freitas]

“Jeremiah came to me with the idea of contacting alumni along the route they will be traveling,” said Ben Davis, director of alumni relations. Davis contacted alumni, asking if they would be willing to house the brothers. “We have a couple already, and we are still working on gaining more,” said Davis.

Adam and Jeremiah plan to leave on Friday, May 11, and should arrive in Panama City on May 18 or 19. “When you are biking, it’s easier to take stops because it’s so flexible,” said Adam. “And you have to take stops since you are powering yourself.” The trip will be about 800 miles, so they will average about 115 miles each day.

The brothers have high hopes for the trip, both personally and for the university. “It is going to be interesting to see how AU will be able to help us out, and in return how we can help AU by getting their name out,” said Jeremiah. The Alumni Office plans to make T-shirts for the brothers that will advertise the university as they bike.

Jeremiah also hopes to achieve a personal goal, “a good tan.” Both Jeremiah and Adam also hope to grow closer and bond during the trip, as well as accomplish a few other personal goals. “I am going to have the pride of completing the trip,” said Adam. “It’s no small feat to accomplish, and it definitely has an adventure aspect to it.”

According to Davis, a trip like this has never been attempted at AU, especially with the large number of alumni who will be reached throughout the brothers’ route. However, many students and recent graduates do contact the Alumni Office to reach out to others in areas where they may be moving or taking an internship. “Almost always we are able to connect them with some sort of ‘warm lead,’” said Davis. “We try to keep people connected so that they network with each other, have fellowship, and share memories.”

Jeremiah and Adam are encouraging everyone to follow their travels as they share details from the trip and their time with alumni. “We have an idea of taking an AU water bottle and filling it with water from the Helios fountain, taking pictures with it along the way, and then dumping it into the Gulf of Mexico,” said Jeremiah. Their travels can be followed on Facebook and Twitter; Jeremiah’s Twitter username is @ja_reemstichter and Adam’s is @ajstichter, and they hope to popularize the hashtags #IN2Florida and #AUBikeTrip.

— Marissa Phillips is a junior from Brookville, Ohio, majoring in communication arts. Phillips is an associate with Fifth Street Communications^™, writing on behalf of the Anderson University Office of University Communications.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. 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 third-seeded Ravens (25-15, 17-8 HCAC) will open the HCAC post-season tournament against No. 2 seed Franklin on Thursday in the first semifinal game at top-seeded Rose-Hulman.

Against Franklin, Cole Heberling led the Raven offense with three hits and two runs and Kyle Beckman added two hits and four RBI, including a triple.

Zach Garcia had two hits and two RBI and Jeremy Shelmadine chipped in with a pair of hits.

AU trailed 7-3 through five innings, but tied the game with four runs in the top of the sixth frame. The Ravens took the lead with a run in the top of the 10th, but the Grizzlies responded with two in the bottom of the inning to end the contest.

Daniel Elliott led the Ravens with a 76-77-83-76 312 and was 15th individually.

Other AU finishers were Paul O’Bold (82-85-77-86 330), Neal Hamilton (83-84-84-82 333), and Nathan Cooper (86-84-84-86 340).

Jeremy Redman (80-87 167) played the first two rounds at Transylvania and Nathan Newcomer (81-95 176) the final two rounds at Manchester.

Transylvania leads the tournament with a 1,164, followed by Mt. St. Joseph (1,206), Franklin (1,228), Hanover (1,228), Defiance (1,287), Manchester (1,294), Anderson (1,306) and Rose-Hulman (1,324).

For complete individual results go to the 2012 Schedule page on the AU athletic web site

The victory secures the NCAA automatic bid into the national tournament for the second consecutive season for the Ravens.

“I’m so proud of our team and this accomplishment for our players,” said AU coach Tony Holloway. “We have worked hard this season to get to this point and today we accomplished another one of our season goals.”

The top-seeded Ravens finished the regular season a perfect 16-0 and had won their first two conference tournament games on Friday. They improved to 30-10 overall, marking just the second time in school history they have reached 30 regular season wins.

Against Manchester, Monica Crowe improved to 18-2 overall on the mound, allowing six hits and three runs while striking out five in 6.2 innings. Devin Moorman retired the final batter of the game to earn the save in relief.

Katie Lee led the offense with three hits and two RBI in the game, including the game-winning hit in the Ravens’ five-run fourth inning to take control of the game.

Lauren Smith had two hits and Amy Wuestefeld added a two-RBI single. Tori Prine also had an RBI in the game and Megan Ream scored two runs and robbed Manchester of a home run in the third inning.

Lee, Smith, Ream, Crowe, Moorman and Yardley Collett, who had the game-winning two-run homer against Bluffton on Friday, were all named to the 12-player All-Tournament Team.

The NCAA will announce the pairing and regional field on Monday at 10 a.m. The Ravens will play at one of eight regional sites, starting on Thursday.

In the first game, Zach Garcia, Brett Detty and Michael Tucker each had a hit to lead the Ravens.

In the second game, Dan Schmitz took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, but took the loss. The junior allowed one hit and two earned runs in 7.1 innings while striking out eight and walking six.

The Ravens outhit the Grizzlies 10-1 in the game, led by Garcia’s four hits and a run scored.

Jacob Craft added two hits and two RBI and Kyle Beckman and Jeremy Shelmadine each chipped in with a double.

AU (25-14, 17-7 HCAC) will finish the regular season on Sunday against Franklin at noon.

The No. 1 doubles team of Drew Lovern and Brock Bell lost in a tiebreaker 9-8 (9-7) and the No. 2 team of Federico Boscaini and Adam Millikan fell short by a count of 9-7.

AU finishes the season 4-7 overall and 4-4 in the HCAC.

ROSE-HULMAN 5, ANDERSON 0

Singles – 5. Stephan Lemmer (RHIT) def. Hendrickson, Logan (AU) 6-2, 6-1; 6. Ray Montgomery (RHIT) def. Hillman, Ethan (AU) 6-2, 6-0.

Doubles – 1. Ben Paras/Devon Fritz (RHIT) def. Lovern, Drew/Bell, Brock (AU) 9-8 (9-7); 2. Ian Stevenson/Stephan Lemmer (RHIT) def. Boscaini, Federico/Millikan, Adam (AU) 9-7; 3. Randy Billingsley/Nathan Moore (RHIT) def. Hendrickson, Logan/Hillman, Ethan (AU) 8-1.

Note: The singles matches 1-4 were unfinished when the match was called.

Emily Radke was seventh in the shot put (39-10 3/4) and 17th in the discus (125-7).

Shantol McMahon also competed at the meet in the shot put (12th, 33-8), discus (20th, 110-5) and the hammer throw (20th, 114-5).

The top-seeded Ravens will play either Manchester or Bluffton (11 a.m., Saturday) in the championship game at 1 p.m. All games in the tournament will be carried on Stretch Internet and Live Stats from Anderson. Complete tournament results and schedule are at the bottom of story.

“It was a good start, but our only goal is to win the tournament championship and advance to the national tournament,” said AU coach Tony Holloway. “We still need one more victory and both Bluffton and Manchester are good teams that have played us tough this season. It won’t be an easy game and we will have to play well to win.”

Against Manchester, Monica Crowe tossed a one-hitter to improve to 17-2 overall on the season. The senior didn’t allow a run while striking out seven with two walks.

Natalie Moorhouse led the Raven offense with a grand slam and Yardley Collett and Lauren Smith added RBI singles.

Against Bluffton, Collett had two hits and all four of the Raven RBI in the game, including a two-run, game-winning home run in the fifth inning.

“Yardley has been swinging the bat extremely well the last several games,” said Holloway of Collett, who has seven home runs this season. “Anytime she is at the plate, she has the potential to hit the ball out of the park.”

Devin Moorman won her 10th straight game, allowing six hits and two earned runs while striking out eight with three walks.

“Devin hasn’t lost a game in her last 11 starts and her ERA is under 2.00 since we got back from Florida,” said Holloway. “Both of our pitchers threw well today and have been very consistent all season in keeping us in every game.”

Tournament Schedule

Friday, May 4

Game 1 – No. 2 Bluffton 3, No. 3 Transylvania 2

Game 2 – No. 1 Anderson 8, No. 4 Manchester 0

Game 3 – Manchester 7, Transylvania 0

Game 4 – Anderson 4, Bluffton 3

Saturday, May 5

Game 5 – Manchester vs. Bluffton, 11 a.m.

Game 6 – Anderson vs. Game 5 winner, 1 p.m.

Game 7 – If Necessary Game, 3 p.m.

The John A. Morrison Awards recognize faculty and staff who go beyond excellence in performance and have demonstrated a commitment to something larger than self. Each year, one staff and one faculty member are selected from nominations by their colleagues and announced at the annual recognition luncheon. Nominees for the Morrison Award should demonstrate a commitment to the university’s mission and core values. Dr. John A. Morrison was Anderson University’s first president, serving in that role from 1925-1958.

The MOSAIC Team at Anderson University established the MOSAIC award in 2012 to recognize individuals within the university who embody the ideal of “modeling and promoting a work-learning environment in which all persons feel welcomed and affirmed on the journey toward intercultural competence.”

Tom Bruce has served Anderson University for 35 years. “Called” to service at AU in 1977 by then-President Robert H. Reardon, Bruce has served with three of the university’s four presidents, and has filled many roles, including assistant director of development, director of information services, director of university relations, executive director of university relations and alumni affairs, and currently as executive director of university advancement. In his current role, Bruce manages a wide range of programs in the areas of public relations; electronic, print, and mass media; church relations; development; and alumni relations.

[Photo: Tom Bruce (left) with his wife, Marlyne, and AU President Dr. James L. Edwards.]

In addition to his service at Anderson University, Bruce has served on many local community boards and committees, including the Madison County Leadership Academy, Anderson Fine Arts Center, Boy Scouts of America, Wilson’s Boys and Girls Club, Saint John’s Hospice Program, Junior Achievement, Madison County Management Club, the Mayor’s Human Needs Commission, Anderson Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, Anderson YMCA, United Way drives, WIPB-TV, and Visiting Nurse Health Care.

Bruce earned a degree in business administration from Anderson University in 1971, a Master of Science in mass communications in 1977, and a master’s degree in business administration in 1987.

In nominating Bruce for the award, his colleagues shared that “his years of quality service to Anderson University, the community, the church, and individuals has been a unique form of ministry. Tom Bruce, with a ‘blessed quietness,’ has managed to infuse his many campus activities with a contagious spirit of warmth and sensitivity that lingers in one’s memory.” Another colleague stated that Bruce “serves fully and without reservation wherever needed. He is a man who engenders trust and respect. His very life and personality embody what Anderson University values most — faith, service, generosity, excellence, and humility.”

Dr. Linda Swindell, professor of psychology, has served Anderson University for 19 years and recently announced her retirement this spring. Over the years, Swindell has demonstrated a commitment to research and scholarship, and a deep caring for the long-term good of Anderson University. She has provided leadership of the Liberal Arts Seminar and Honors Program, and founded and developed an honor society on campus.

[Photo: Dr. Linda Swindell (center) with Provost Dr. Marie Morris and President Edwards.]

Swindell has served as an example to her colleagues of perseverance and courage through great personal trials, intellectual rigor combined with a strong Christian faith, modeling and encouragement of professional development, generosity of time and resources in helping colleagues and students grow intellectually, helping to create a sense of community on the AU campus, and diligent committee work that has contributed to a revitalized mission of the university.

Embodying the institution’s core values of excellence, integrity, servant leadership, responsibility, and generosity, Swindell daily strives to seek truth, live faithfully, and to be useful as a servant of God.

Swindell holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Hawaii, and a Master of Arts and Ph.D. from Arizona State University.

Dr. Donald Boggs, professor of communication and general manager of Covenant Productions^®, came to Anderson University in 1978. During his tenure he has traveled to more than 40 countries, providing consultation in the area of communications. Boggs directed the award-winning documentary, A Ripple of Hope, which tells the powerful story of race relations, leadership, and the nonviolent impact in Indianapolis of boldly acknowledging the tragedy of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. His most recent trip was to Haiti to expose the weaknesses in Haiti’s infrastructure and to work with the Haitian people in improving communications through a nine-station network.

[Photo: Dr. Donald Boggs with Dr. Marie Morris and President Edwards.]

Over the years, Boggs has impacted the lives of countless members of the community and his own students in following the truth in a story wherever it may lead and always respecting the people group with whom he is working. In this process of storytelling, Boggs actively enlists his students, giving them “real world” professional experience.

Chris Witt, a 2003 AU graduate and award-winning film editor, traveled to Honduras and Brazil with Boggs on a documentary project. Witt said, “I was able to work on my storytelling and I gained perspective on cultures outside of AU.” Darcy Noonan, a 2009 AU graduate, traveled to the Philippines in 2008 to produce a documentary for Children of Promise. Noonan said, “When you tell someone’s story, it changes how you look at where you are and what you’re doing.”

Boggs holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from the University of Akron, and a Ph.D. from Kent State University.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. 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 students benefit from the university's unique position as an institution where academic inquiry is fully embraced in harmony with a Christian faith perspective.]

The following are a few questions and answers about the PayScale.com list:
http://www.payscale.com/college-education-value

• What is the source of the salary data from which they derive the ROI?

Salaries are self-reported via an online questionnaire on the PayScale website that is designed to determine “what the individual should be paid.” In other words, this data is not randomly compiled from official income sources (e.g., tax records), but rather comes from individuals who are completing the survey because they believe they are either under-paid or under-valued. View the methodology stated by PayScale.com at the following link: http://www.payscale.com/education/compare-college-costs-and-ROI

• How many individuals completed the survey?

There is no way to know if just a few Anderson University alumni responded to the questionnaire or if the list represents a broader cross-section. As stated above, any individual who completed education beyond their Anderson University degree, worked outside the U.S., or is self employed were excluded from the results.

• Is the PayScale list current?

No it is not. Despite calling this a 2012 survey, PayScale calculated ROI using 2008-09 financial aid data.

• How does the questionnaire account for institutional change?

PayScale acknowledges that “if the character of a school’s graduates has changed substantially in the last 30 years” their measure of wage inflation may be inaccurate. Anderson University’s academic programs have changed significantly during the past 30 years.

• Can Anderson University graduates get good jobs?

Yes. Anderson University has positive placement results: Anderson University’s 2011 class had a 96% placement rate (employment and grad school) within 6 months of graduation. This compares to an 85.6% national placement rate as reported by the National Association of Colleges & Employers. Among alumni who pursue graduate studies, 31% pursue graduate arts and sciences, 29% pursue graduate business, 20% pursue medicine, 14% pursue graduate theological/seminary, and 6% pursue education.

The values that Anderson University delivers through more than 65 majors and five graduate programs are well worth the investment. Each year, we graduate servant leaders who are individuals of excellence, integrity, generosity, and responsibility. A truer measure of ROI would take into account not only the financial payoff of a college degree, but the satisfaction one gains from a meaningful life of faith and service. In short, we don’t believe that how much money our graduates earn is an accurate indicator of how they impact the world and make it a better place.

Your turn to respond

If you would like to share a response from your own experience, we invite you visit www.ouraustory.com. A topic has been opened for this very purpose. How does your AU education impact your life today? Was it worth the investment? Please respond here: www.ouraustory.com/how-do-you-measure-success/.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. 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.

But instead of entering this weekend’s Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference softball tournament overconfident, the Anderson University Ravens recognize that there is still more work to do.

“It puts a target on our back,” said senior pitcher Monica Crowe of AU’s 16-0 HCAC record. “But we don’t have any cockiness. We know that any team can be beat.”

Crowe has a 16-2 record with a 2.01 earned run average and 108 strikeouts in 114.2 innings.

“We’ve had a target on our backs all year,” said AU assistant coach Justin Bates. “This isn’t new. We’ve taken everybody’s best shot all season. There is big pressure in being 16-0.”

[Photo: Stephanie Atkins rounds the bases after hitting a home run against Franklin earlier this season.]

As conference champs, the Ravens will be the host school for the tournament, which is scheduled to be contested over Friday and Saturday this week.

Friday at 10 a.m., Bluffton (11-5 in the HCAC) will tangle with Transylvania (10-6).

Following that game, Anderson will face Manchester (8-8).

“We’ve beaten those other three teams,” said Bates. “But of those six games, only one was a (10-run rule) game. The other five were decided by three runs or less.”

Despite impressive numbers like a 2.66 ERA and a .355 batting average (15th in NCAA Division III), the one figure that really jumps off the stat sheet is the 36 home runs AU has hit in 37 games.

That .97 home runs per game average is fifth in Division III. Nine Ravens have hit two or more home runs.

Junior shortstop Natalie Moorehouse has a team-high eight homers with a .511 batting average. Junior Megan Ream is next with seven. Freshman Yardley Collett follows with six, and Stephanie Atkins has five.

“You look at our team and we have a lot of little players who look like they would bunt and slap,” said Atkins, the team’s senior catcher. “But they have a lot of strength. We work all the time on being line drive hitters. But sometimes those line drives go over the fence.”

“We had our top 15 players back from a year ago,” said Bates. “We thought this team would have a good chance to break the school record (39) in home runs.”

Collett, from Shenandoah, was a bit surprised to find herself batting in the cleanup spot in the order.

“I knew it meant I had to produce,” she said. “It meant a lot to me that the coach had that confidence in me.”

Highland graduate Katie Lee, despite her two home runs, is the leadoff hitter who is expected to get on base and help make sure many of those home runs aren’t solo shots.

“Me and Amy (Wuestefeld) are supposed to get on base,” said Lee, who is hitting .477 (29th best in Division III). “It’s pretty lethal when we get on base.”

The Ravens are quite comfortable playing at their home diamond.

“We’ve won 19 out of our last 20 games at home,” said Bates. “Our team is tailored to our diamond. Our fences are 190 to 195 feet.”

The coziness of Raven Field doesn’t seem to adversely affect the AU pitchers.

Crowe and Devin Moorman have pitched all but 49 of the team’s innings.

“The drop ball is my out pitch,” said Moorman, who has a 3.16 ERA. “So I need to have confidence in my defense. I don’t pitch for strikeouts (44 in 79.2 innings). I don’t have those stats. My teammates have played well behind me all year.”

The team’s fielding percentage is .964, 36th best in Division III.

But if the team gives her a cushion, Moorman still pitches the same way.

“I’ve never been about personal stats,” she said. “I just want the team to win, and I always try to pitch the same way no matter what the score.”

Atkins appreciates the opportunity ahead.

“This is the first time in four years we’ve hosted this tournament,” she said. “We want to take advantage of it.”

The four seniors, Atkins, Crowe, Kelly Rusterholz, and Megan Kruse, will be unable to walk through AU’s graduation ceremonies Saturday due to the timing of the tournament.

“I am the only one in my family to graduate from college,” said Atkins. “But I have the support of my whole family. I think they are happy to see me play in this tournament, too.”

This is a double-elimination tournament.

The losing teams from the first two games Friday will play at 2 p.m. that same day with the loser being out of the tourney.

Friday’s first two game winners will play at 4 p.m.

Play continues Saturday with games slated for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and possibly 3 p.m.

— Rick Teverbaugh is sports editor for The Herald Bulletin. Story reposted with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. 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 Anderson University graduates had an active missionary program going in Paraguay, he with a radio ministry and she with Children of Promise. They had an active 6-year-old, Timmy, and had finalized the adoption of 1-year-old Anahi. And, it was told later, Julie was six weeks pregnant. They were preparing to return to the United States for a three-month furlough. Life was good.

Julie had just blogged that a hurdle in obtaining Anahi’s birth certificate and passport had been overcome. They planned an early-morning trip to the capital city of Asunción to pick up the documents.

“In one month, Lord willing, we’ll be on U.S. soil eating Wendy’s frosties, Mexican wet burritos and cherry cheesecake,” she wrote on the blog. “Keep the prayers coming, friends. We need them.”

It was 5:10 a.m. as Norberto drove down the road. Suddenly, according to online accounts, he perceived a slow-moving truck in front of him with no working taillights. He swerved to avoid it but rear-ended it on Julie’s side of the car.

Norberto and Anahi emerged virtually unscathed. Julie was killed instantly, and Timmy died at the hospital.

Traffic laws in Paraguay, such as they are, don’t restrict vehicles without working lights; if it’s drivable, it can be on the road.

Just like that, the Kurrle family was cut in half. Norberto, with a 1½-year-old daughter, is left to ponder the future without his mate. He and Anahi are still coming to the United States this month.

Norberto honed his broadcasting skills at Anderson’s WQME during college and seminary years. He has a background in South America, where his parents, Martin and Tabita (Meier) Kurrle, live and his grandparents served as missionaries. His mother; his aunt, Nilah Meier-Youngman; and his uncle and aunt, Paul and Charlene Meier, all are AU graduates. Nilah, Paul and Charlene live in Anderson.

The family’s fundamental belief, expressed in an email by Tabita, that Julie and Timmy are now rejoicing in heaven scarcely blunts the stark reality of how fragile life can be in a physical world. The what-ifs, such as no taillights on the truck or the timing of the trip before daylight, only reinforce the nagging reality that life isn’t always fair.

There are other realities as well. Life goes on, and Norberto and Anahi have a long road ahead of them. And life offers no guarantees. Don’t put off until tomorrow what can be done today.

Most of us have experienced some type of loss or trauma. How we handle these roadblocks can make us stronger in the long run. It isn’t always easy. But it’s part of the process that helps steel us against the things life will throw at us in the future.

Life is fragile. We can’t always avoid the pitfalls that sometimes lead to tragedy. But we can learn from them and become better for it.

— Jim Bailey (BA ’62) for The Herald Bulletin. Reposted with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. 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.

After I finished speaking at a nearby Chamber of Commerce the other day (not Anderson’s), the host stood up. She mentioned a local business in that town and asked that all in attendance — or as many who could — stop in to that business after the meeting and buy something. The idea was to overwhelm the merchant with sales and engage in what is now referred to as a “cash mob.” Inspired by flash mobs, where dancing breaks out at predetermined locations, the cash mob is intended to support local businesses and the community.

While I like the intent of the action, I am not sure I agree that it is the right way to go about it. To illustrate: imagine that 60 people heard the idea to cash mob the merchant and 40 (a high number) actually did. According to the rules for such activities, as posted on the ever helpful Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cash_mob), each participant is to spend $20. Forty participants at an average of $20 each gives the merchant an unexpected gross of $800 for that day and makes them feel good — but only for the day. I would have to put the odds of repeat business from this undertaking very low.

An alternative? What if the well-intentioned $800 went not into buying trinkets from the company, but instead toward promoting the business? $800 may not seem like a great deal, but it is larger than the promotional budget of many small firms. It can be stretched quite a distance with Google/Facebook ads, newspaper inserts, and other efforts that might catch the eye of advantageous customers. My definition of “advantageous” is any who have a likely possibility of becoming profitable repeat customers.

Promoting a business is but one possibility for helping and not every business will need help in that way. It may be that the $800 can be best used to help them bring in a consultant, to buy software to assist with a particular function or operation, to join an industry association, etc. The unexpected windfall can be used in a myriad of ways, but the important thing is that it be used to better the business.

There are any number of local businesses in this community that could benefit from support and encouragement. One of those worth spotlighting is the Shadeland Bicycle Collective (a part of the Shadeland Project) that was written about at the beginning of the year. Now in full operation, it strives to empower individuals by giving them transportation, a sense of responsibility and confidence. For an overview of what it offers, watch the short video. They are doing everything they can to support the village and could greatly benefit from some support in return.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. 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 Falls School of Business is one of Anderson University’s largest academic departments offering eight undergraduate majors as well as MBA and DBA programs. The school is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and is a member of the Christian Business Faculty Association (CBFA).

Columns from Anderson University’s Falls School of Business are published Tuesdays in The Herald Bulletin. Tuesday’s columnist is Emmett Dulaney, who teaches marketing and entrepreneurship.

After graduating from nursing school in 1980, Tharp (Anderson University AS ’80, MBA ’05) returned to Community where she has worked her way from third-shift nurse to vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer.

When she first started at Community, Tharp looked up to her nursing supervisor and decided that was her dream job. More than three decades ago she never expected she’d be named Nurse of the Year out of more than 900 nominees from across the state.

“I was thrilled,” she said of the award. “It is such an honor.”

Across the state, nurses are nominated to The Indianapolis Star’s Salute to Nurses award program. Once nominated, a selection committee names one nurse to five different categories — advancement of nursing, community outreach, inspiration, lifetime of compassion, and educator of the year.

One of the five picked in those categories is then named nurse of the year. Community never had a winner before Tharp.

“Those that have had the opportunity to work with Beth can see her talent and dedication in action over and over again, as well as the strong results that she achieves year after year,” said Leah Campbell, Community’s director of marketing and community relations. “She is an exemplar of nursing leadership, fully committed to providing the best care and experience for our patients and employees. The award is a fitting testimony to Beth.”

Tharp has held several positions during her tenure at Community including director of women and children’s services. She helped that program grow and then later assumed responsibility for medical/surgical and intensive care.

“From there I have grown so much,” Tharp said. “I’ve had added responsibility and have helped create some things like the Clinical Research Center, the Advanced Wound Healing Center and Cancer Center. I love my job; the sky’s the limit. It’s a wonderful thing to be able to see a need and help fulfill it.”

Tharp stressed that much of what she’s been given credit for, especially with this award, wouldn’t have been possible without support from the hospital and her support staff.

“All I did was clear the path and stay out of the way so they could do it,” she said. “We are a team here. Nothing happens without all of us working together. I consider everybody in this hospital to be an unbelievably wonderful family.”

Tharp said she has several fond and memorable moments from throughout her 32-year career. But most important is the impact she felt she’s been able to make, both with her patients and in creating programming like the wound and research centers.

She recalled a night she was working as a bedside nurse spending hours with a family overnight after their loved one passed away under her care.

“Years later I ran into one of the family members and they came up to me and hugged me,” Tharp said. “It was really special. It makes you stop and think about the impact you can have on peoples’ lives without even knowing it.”

Nursing, she said, isn’t a job or even a career, it’s a calling.

“The wonderful part of my job now is that I have the opportunity to look at the big picture and have an impact on an even larger level,” Tharp said. “There have been points in my career where I’ve thought, ‘I wish I could be taking care of patients,’ because I really loved doing that. But I can have an even greater impact now.”

Keith Trent, Community vice president and chief foundation officer, said Tharp has accomplished much at Community.

“She has the respect of her staff, really of all the hospital’s staff,” he said. “She is well-liked and knowledgeable. While she would quickly give credit to others, most understand she is the one responsible for starting the Clinical Research Center and Center for Advanced Wound Healing. I believe neither would be here today without Beth and her determination to make those things happen.”

Tharp was also given the Advancement of Nursing award, fitting for her, Trent said as she is supportive of the nurses at the hospital and has created several opportunities for them to advance, achieve and do things they might not have otherwise been able to do.

Also nominated from Community for nurse of the year was Debra Maddy, Licensed Practical Nurse.

— Abbey Doyle is a reporter for The Herald Bulletin. Story reposted with permission. Photo credit: John P. Cleary/The Herald Bulletin.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. 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.