HUNTINGTON, Ind. – The Crossroads League announced its 2019-2020 Female Athlete-of-the-Year honor earlier today, with two-sport standouts Hannah Stoffel of Huntington and Erin Oleksak of Marian sharing the prestigious award. It's the first time in league history that two athletes have shared this designation.It's also the first time in school history that a Huntington female has received this high praise.
HUNTINGTON, Ind. – Huntington University men's cross country coach Nick Johnson has announced his 2020 recruiting class. This fall will mark the HU skipper's third year at the helm of the Forester program.Johnson and crew are coming off the program's sixth trip to NAIA Nationals last fall where they finished 17th. The Foresters enter 2020 with their sights set on a return visit with even higher dividends.
HUNTINGTON, Ind. – The Huntington University women's cross country program has secured 12 commitments as announced by head coach Nick Johnson.After finishing tenth last fall as a team, the highest finish in program history, the Foresters are looking to build on that success with a solid core of returners which includes 2019 NAIA Cross Country National Champion Hannah Stoffel. With the addition of a talented incoming class, look for HU to repeat as one of the nation's best.
HUNTINGTON, Ind. – Huntington University men's basketball head coach Kory Alford has announced the hiring of Ryan Strohm as an assistant to his coaching staff."I am excited to announce the addition of Ryan to our staff," said Alford. "Ryan is an excellent coach whose experiences with recruiting and player development will be an asset to our program.
HUNTINGTON, Ind. – Each year an Academic Excellence Award is given to the HU athletic team with the highest team grade point average for the year. The women's cross country claimed the top spot for 2019-20 with a team GPA of 3.651. "I want to congratulate all of our student-athletes for their outstanding academic performance on the year," said HU athletic director Lori Culler.
HUNTINGTON, Ind. – The Huntington University women's soccer program has secured 13 commitments for this fall as announced by second year coach David Lewis.The Foresters graduate six players from last year's squad. With a plethora of rookies along with a core of solid returners, Lewis is excited to get started this season.
HUNTINGTON, Ind. – Huntington University athletic director Lori Culler has announced the hiring of Ignacio Poncio as the next men's tennis coach at HU.No stranger to campus, Poncio returns to his alma mater to head up a tennis program that has a rich tradition of success. The Argentinian native was a key cog in HU's success during his four years in Forester green and white.
HUNTINGTON, Ind. — Huntington University is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s alumni awards: William Smith-Hinds, Brian More and Sharon (Kershner) Metzger. The formal awards presentation will take place during Homecoming Weekend.
Smith-Hinds will claim the Distinguished Alumni Award, and More and Metzger will each receive the Alumnus of the Year distinction.
The Distinguished Alumni Citation is designed to recognize exceptional service or achievement over a longer period of time – a premise similar to a lifetime achievement award. Smith-Hinds, a graduate of the Class of 1968, was born in Honduras and became a naturalized United States citizen. While at Huntington then-College, Smith-Hinds worked as a janitor, but after graduation he went on to earn his Master of Arts degree from Temple University in 1971 and graduated with his PhD from Notre Dame in 1980. From there, he went on to teach at a variety of institutes of higher education as well as pastor churches, including the United Brethren Mission in Honduras.
Huntington University’s Alumnus of the Year award is designed to recognize an alumnus’ outstanding achievement or recognition. This year, the University will honor two deserving alumni: Brian More and Sharon (Kershner) Metzger.
More serves as the CFO for Micropulse Corporation, a medical device company with 400+ employees. He has shown himself to be a man of integrity and innovative leadership throughout his career, having shepherded start-up companies and championed corporate chaplains in the industry.
Metzger serves as the executive director of Place of Grace, an organization that envisions a Christ-centered community that empowers women to be responsible citizens with a future and a hope. She leads a small team of staff and volunteers in redemptive and relational ministry that requires incredible amounts of empathy. She has worked hard to establish a positive working relationship with the courts system, and she regularly collaborates with other organizations to provide all of the necessary services for her residents.
“I am thrilled to offer the 2020 Huntington University Alumni Awards to these deserving individuals,”
said Danielle Shafer, director of Alumni Relations and Engagement.
“While I’m not a voting member of the Board, I was so encouraged to see these three names rise to the top. They have each made and continue to make a significant impact in their communities.”
For more information about alumni awards or to nominate a Forester for one of next year’s awards, please visit huntington.edu/Alumni-Awards.
Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest, and Forbes.com has listed the university as one of America’s Best Colleges. Additionally, Princeton Review has named the institution a “Best Midwestern College.” Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington University is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in northeast Indiana. The non-profit university is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).
HUNTINGTON, Ind. —Dr. Jeff Webb, professor of history at Huntington University, has published a new lecture series, Benjamin Franklin: Made in America. The audiobook is now available on Apple Books.
“I’m passionate about this topic because Benjamin Franklin is perhaps the most ‘relatable’ figure from early American history,” said Webb.“ He started out in life as a modest tradesman and worked hard to achieve success.”
Webb has studied Franklin since graduate school and taught Franklin’s autobiography in U.S. history courses for 20 years. The Benjamin Franklin: Made in America series has been in development for six months, with the professional audio recording of the lectures over the course of a week in May.
Besides seeing Franklin as a relatable historical figure, Webb goes on to explain that Franklin was “also a pretty funny guy who liked to socialize and to travel. He didn’t finish school or go to college but he’s one of the smartest Americans who ever lived because he spent time reading and discussing the big ideas with his friends. When he came across a problem, he studied it intensely and tried to come up with workable solutions. He always tried to improve his community and to bring people together to make necessary changes. Finally, because he had such an active mind, he was willing to hear people out and change his thinking, most famously in the case of slavery and the rights of African Americans, but also on other issues as well.”
Benjamin Franklin: Made in America is published by Learn25 and is available through Apple Books at books.apple.com. The series is narrated by Dr. Jeff Webb and was released this month.
Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest, and Forbes.com has listed the university as one of America’s Best Colleges. Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington University is located on a contemporary lakeside campus in northeast Indiana. The nonprofit university is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).
HUNTINGTON, Ind. — Huntington University is pleased to congratulate Kristin Wineland Rentschler, Class of 1999, on being named the 2020 Hannah E. (Liz) MacGregor Senior Division Teacher of the Year Award Winner by the National History Day organization.
National History Day (NHD) is a “year-long academic program focused on historical research, interpretation and creative expression for 6th to 12th grade students. By participating in NHD, students become writers, filmmakers, web designers, playwrights and artists as they create unique contemporary expressions of history.” The experience concludes with a series of contests at the local and affiliate levels and an annual national competition in Washington, D.C. in June.
“For the benefit of her students’ future academic and professional careers,” said National History Day Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn, “Mrs. Rentschler understands the importance of teaching the fundamental skills of a historian. She also invigorates the process with innovative ideas and inspires her students to craft impressive projects. She is a beacon for both experienced and novice National History Day teachers, and I congratulate Mrs. Rentschler for winning this award.”
"Kristin Wineland Rentschler was an outstanding student at Huntington University, so it has not surprised me at all that she is a sterling teacher who leads and inspires her students to do amazing work in the National History Day competitions,” said Dr. Dwight Brautigam, professor of history and chair of the Department of History & Political Science. “I have had the privilege over the last several years to accept Kristin's gracious invitation to take some history education students and fellow faculty to her high school each fall and help her students work on some aspects of their NHD projects. She also recruited several of us to work as judges at the regional NHD competition in Fort Wayne this past February. On both occasions our HU students came away with great enthusiasm for Kristin as a role model for their own future teaching careers, proving that she not only is a fantastic teacher of high school students but an inspiration for future social studies teachers. This prestigious award simply recognizes what those of us who know Kristin already knew: she is the best!"
Rentschler is a social studies teacher and the department chair at Columbia City High School in Columbia City, Indiana. Rentschler has participated in the Albert H. Small: Normandy Sacrifice for Freedom Student and Teacher Institute, was recognized as the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year in Indiana in 2015 and received the Dekko Teach to Reach Award for Whitley County in 2003.
HUNTINGTON, Ind. — Huntington University graduate Bailey Funkhouser, Class of 2020, was part of the inaugural class of the first accredited occupational therapy assistant (OTA) bachelor’s degree program in the nation. Now, she is making history again as the first OTA bachelor’s degree graduate to pass her National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examinations.
Passing the NBCOT exams is required to practice OT, and you can only sit for the 200-question exam if you graduate from an accredited program.
“As a student, Bailey was conscientious, accountable, humble and undeniably a hard worker,” said Dr. Nicole Scheiman, OTA program director at Huntington University. “She put the time and effort in to do her very best, each and every time!”
The five-year accreditation for HU’s occupational therapy assistant program was granted by ACOTE, the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, earlier this year.
“Providing the occupational therapy degree at the bachelor’s level impacts the future of occupational therapy in that it gives students unique options,” said Scheiman. “Many of our students will continue on and practice as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, some are continuing on to our doctoral program and some are considering pairing their degree with degrees in speech and physical therapy to become a dual-credential/licensed healthcare practitioner.”
Huntington University Arizona is pleased to announce that Tiffany Glazier has joined the Forester Family as the administrative assistant for the Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy in Arizona.
A graduate of Arizona State University, Glazier holds a degree in human nutrition followed by over two decades working as a dietitian.
“I'm so excited to be a part of the HU Arizona team,” said Glazier. “I feel a Christ-centered education is so important and I can't wait to make a difference in students’ lives. Healthcare is my passion; I'm looking forward to assisting students in meeting their career goals.”
The HU Arizona and OT teams feel the same.
“Tiffany’s background makes her a solid fit for this position as we gear up to welcome our first cohort of OT students in Arizona,” said Jeff Berggren, director of Arizona operations.
Huntington University Arizona opened its doors in 2016, welcoming students seeking a degree in digital media arts. Since that time, students have created regionally and nationally awarded work, including ADDY awards, BEA Best of Fest awards, and Emmy Student Production Awards. The 30,000-square-foot building houses bachelor’s degree programs in animation, film production, broadcast media, and graphic design. The facility features film and TV studios, high-end computer classroom/labs, private editing suites, a state-of-the-art TV control room, a Foley pit, a host of EFP and cinema cameras, and lighting gear for student production work.
Huntington University Arizona is pleased to announce the hiring of Jeff Del Nero as assistant professor of visual art. Del Nero has taught as an adjunct faculty member at HU Arizona for several semesters and will take on a full-time role beginning in August 2020. With a focus on graphic design, Del Nero will bring a new level of expertise and professional connection to the HU Arizona team.
Del Nero earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in painting and drawing from California State University and his MFA in visual art from Azusa Pacific University. His background includes working as a senior graphic designer and an adjunct instructor at a variety of universities, but perhaps his longest work experience has been with Del Nero Artwork, LLC, where he offers art direction, design, and illustration services to his clients.
“We are excited to have a faculty member of Jeff’s caliber on our team,” said Jeff Berggren, director of Arizona operations. “Our current students already know and love him, and our future students are sure to do the same.”
Berggren may be on to something there. When asked what they thought of the new hire, HU Arizona students shared their thoughts proudly:
“I am very excited to see Jeff Del Nero here as a full-time graphic design professor. He remains one of my favorite professors I have taken a course from. He has been a great mentor to me, and I am excited to see the direction that he takes the program in.” - Koby Aldridge
“Jeff is amazing! He is not only the TALLEST Jeff at Huntington (or maybe ever) but he is also super talented in design as well as being an AWESOME instructor for graphic design. He really helps lead the students [to] be able to evolve and create themselves as professional designers. He definitely is #createdtocreate!” - Samantha Huffer
With a host of art exhibitions under his belt and his own art on display in private collections around the globe, Del Nero has much to share with HU Arizona students.
“Around here I feel a startup mentality, with each person pushing towards defining what will be next for this student body. I hope to contribute a new facet to this. It’s exciting to be participating in building something that changes lives, especially the types of lives I relate to – artist types,” said Del Nero.
HUNTINGTON, Ind. — Huntington University is pleased to announce that the 2020 Digital Media Arts High School Summer Academy will take place VIRTUALLY on June 21-25, 2020.
The DMA Academy is open to incoming high school freshmen through high school seniors who want a glimpse of what it would be like to pursue a degree in animation, broadcast media, or film. Students engage with a community of artists, receive instructions on programs and techniques in the media field and participate in hands-on workshops and projects which can serve as future portfolio pieces. The cost is $200 per attendee.
There are two versions of the Digital Media Arts VIRTUAL Summer Academy, one focused on animation, the other focused on a combination of film and broadcast media. The nature of these projects changes each year, so returning attendees are welcome.
In addition to learning from faculty, participants will gain hands-on experience through workshops and at-home projects applying key artistic principles. Virtual social events will also be available in the evenings for those who wish to participate. Please direct questions or inquiries to the Digital Media Arts assistant at hudma@huntington.edu and visit huntington.edu/DMAAcademy to register.
Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest, and Forbes.com has listed the university as one of America’s Best Colleges. Additionally, Princeton Review has named the institution a “Best Midwestern College.” Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington University is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in northeast Indiana. The non-profit university is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU)