The Department of History and Political Science at Huntington University is pleased to announce that Paul Socha is a winner of the fall semester 2022 Jack P. Barlow, Sr., History Book Prize. The Barlow Prizes are given to outstanding students in the department’s upper-level research- and writing-intensive courses.
Socha is from Wilmington, Ohio, and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree with a major in history education. He intends to graduate in December 2023.
Socha was recognized by Dr. Tim Smith, professor of history at Huntington University, for his performance in Art and Archeology of Ancient Angkor in the fall semester of 2022.
"Paul brought energy and focus into the class sessions and helped to create lively discussions,” Smith said. “The award is a testimonial to his growth, not only as a committed student but as an integral member of the learning community at HU."
The Jack P. Barlow, Sr., Book Prize honors the memory of Professor Barlow, who served for over three decades as professor of American history at Huntington University, and carries a prize of $250 in academic books. It is sponsored by the Ron Frank Fund, which rewards academic achievement and student participation at professional academic conferences. The fund was established in 1973 in honor of Ron Frank, a former student at Huntington University.
Six students have been named HU Ambassadors for Huntington University for the 2023-2024 academic year. Each year, faculty nominate their students for the opportunity to interview for the role of HU Ambassador. The purpose of the HU Ambassador program is to provide students with the opportunity to represent their University and to network with HU alumni and friends in meaningful ways.
The HU Ambassadors for the 2023-2024 academic year include the following:
“I’m consistently impressed by the caliber of our HU Ambassadors,” said Stephen Weingart, vice president for university advancement. “Not only do they exhibit all the traits of a Forester — chasing truth, defying complacency, remaining curious, caring completely, embracing interconnectedness, having grit, and exploring creativity — but they also are genuinely a joy to be around.”
Weingart encouraged those who attend Foundation Breakfasts, the Annual Foundation Dinner, and other such events to look for the students in attendance — typically HU Ambassadors — and engage them in conversation.
“You won’t be disappointed,” he stated.
The third annual HU Night Lights 5K is scheduled for Friday, August 25, with check-in beginning at 8:00 p.m. and the 5K beginning at dusk. Once again, participants in the 5K are encouraged to deck themselves out with glowsticks (provided), reflectors, and lights. In addition to the usual fun that this evening provides for Huntington University’s home campus and the Huntington community, this year the event will add a new element: the 2023 HU Night Lights 5K will be a chipped race.
Most 5K races are timed, but a chipped race is different. When a race is chipped, your official time does not begin until you actually cross the starting line and ends when you cross the finish line. Runners and walkers can know it is an actual race with the time recorded automatically with accurate results.
“The nighttime race idea came from a local runner, Susan Zahn. She thought having a nighttime race would be different enough to attract runners from a wide area,” said Kay Schwob, senior director of development at Huntington University. “We’ve held the Night Lights 5K the past two years just timing it, and with good attendance, but we wanted to chip it this year to encourage additional runners to try a road/cross-country run.”
Schwob also pointed out the value that this 5K brings to the community as part of Forester Orientation at Huntington University, stating that this event is a way for students who are new to HU and the City of Huntington to see the community come together in celebration and support.
“We’ve worked hard to make this a 5K for everyone,” said Schwob. “It’s challenging for those who want to push themselves and it’s fun for those who just want to be a part of the experience. And whether you are there for a challenge or fun or somewhere in the middle, there are glowsticks for everyone!”
Registration for this event opens on June 1 and runs through August 4 to guarantee an official Night Lights 5K shirt. Otherwise, registration is available until 12:00 p.m. on the day of the race. Registration is $25, and registration is required to participate. Runners and walkers are welcome.
All proceeds go toward the Hometown Grant, which provides up to $2,500 annually to any aspiring Huntington University student from Huntington County.
Questions about the Night Lights 5K or the Hometown Grant can be directed to Kay Schwob at kschwob@huntington.edu or (260) 359-4382.
Six students are the recipients of Huntington University’s Horizon Leadership Program Scholarships. Annually the Horizon Leadership Program awards two full scholarships to students in the incoming class, as well as multiple $5,000 scholarships.
“I am excited about this cohort of leaders joining Horizon this fall,” said Roberta Bailey, Interim Director of the Horizon Leadership Program. “Our current group is filled with empowered, intelligent, diverse students and I am excited to see what these six rising leaders bring to Horizon and the community of Huntington University.”
This year’s recipients include:
The Horizon Leadership Program brings together North American minority students who desire to be a part of a community that pushes them toward excellence and empowers them to become tomorrow’s best leaders. Since its inception over 15 years ago, dozens of students have been a part of HU’s Horizon Program.
The Horizon Leadership program is an institutional value,” said Bailey. “It was created to empower and support young minority student leaders to become tomorrow's best leaders.”
To learn more, visit www.huntington.edu/Horizon.
One faculty member and four graduate students from Huntington University’s Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy wrote an article that was published in the Journal of Occupational Therapy Education (JOTE). JOTE is a peer reviewed journal devoted to publishing research and other relevant information related to occupational therapy and occupational science education.
Dr. Patricia Henton, an associate professor in HU’s Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy, and the four students – Megan Butterweck, Jory Swider, Laura Cameron, and Kaylee Marihugh – along with Dr. Kathryn Close, assistant professor and program chair of psychology at the University of the Southwest in New Mexico, and Dr. Laura Gerig, a faculty member in the psychology department at Taylor University, authored “Stress, Mindfulness and Occupational Engagement: A Pilot Study of the HOME Protocol.”
“We are grateful for the collaboration of faculty and students from Huntington University's Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy for the creation of the ‘Huntington Occupational Mindfulness and Engagement (HOME) Protocol,’” said Henton.
According to Henton, the idea for the project came through occupational therapy students who identified a need for strategies for stress management during graduate school. The topic was first explored through a research study, “Perceptions of Stress, Mindfulness, and Occupational Engagement Among Graduate-level Occupational Therapy Students,” which was published in 2021.
“The HOME Protocol was originally developed through collaboration between occupational therapy and psychology faculty,” said Henton. “A pilot study of the HOME Protocol demonstrated its effectiveness for decreasing stress and promoting engagement in daily activities of occupational therapy students.”
The abstract states that stress and disengagement from meaningful occupations are barriers graduate students face daily and this study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the nine-minute Huntington Occupational Mindfulness and Engagement (HOME) protocol for occupational therapy (OT) graduate students to re-engage in meaningful occupations.
The article has also been presented at state and national conferences for occupational therapy. To access the full article, visit https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/vol7/iss2/4.
A group of students from Huntington University’s psychology, criminal justice, and social work programs participated in the Butler Undergraduate Research Conference in late April. This conference, which started back in 1988, took a hiatus from an in-person experience like many other conferences of its kind and this was its first year back in-person since 2019. The Butler Undergraduate Research Conference promotes excellence and encourages undergraduate students to showcase their research efforts. This year the conference welcomed 300 undergraduates from 13 institutions to Butler’s campus. HU was represented by students in Dr. Becky Benjamin’s applied research course and all four presentations focused on ChatGPT.
“Students took a theme for spring semester (ChatGPT) and ran with it, developing exciting research questions and testing them through both survey and experimental research involving both college and high school participants,” said Dr. Becky Benjamin, Associate Professor of Psychology. “They presented their studies to an audience of both students and faculty, representing their disciplines and HU well.”
Presentations and presenters included:
Attitudes Toward and Factors Influencing ChatGPT Use: Comparing High School and College Students Presenters: Bayleigh Double, Corynn Barton, Laney Marshall
ChatGPT vs Google Presenters: Melody Everett, Tayler Bedow, Breneah Hill, Jasmine Olivares
Ethical Attitudes Towards ChatGPT Among College Students Presenters: Sarah Smith, Jocelyn Patnaude, Amanda Lovejoy
College Students and ChatGPT: Factors Related to Willingness to Cheat Presenters: Kayli Iorio, Amber Elliot, Austin Rader
Each spring at its Celebration of Service, Huntington University honors employee milestones and names the Staff Member of the Year. This year, the event was held on May 2 and recognized the following individuals for reaching significant career milestones:
5 Years of Service
10 Years of Service
20 Years of Service
25 Years of Service
30 Years of Service
35 Years of Service
40 Years of Service
Additionally, the 2023 Staff Member of the Year Award was given to Roberta Bailey, assistant director of admissions and transfer relationships. This is a peer-nominated award that recognizes an employee for dedication to this University and her Foresters. But beyond that, it is a public acknowledgment that this individual represents what it means to be a Forester. A Forester chases truth, defies complacency, remains curious, cares completely, embraces interconnectedness, has grit and explores creativity, and a nomination for this award is a statement that says, “This person IS a Forester.”
Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering award-winning graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. Founded in Huntington, Indiana, in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington University has over a century of experience educating graduates who are ready to impact the world for Christ through scholarship and service. The nonprofit university operates at three academic locations, including the original home campus in Huntington, a doctoral program in occupational therapy location in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and an undergraduate and doctoral program location in Peoria, Arizona. Online programs are also available. Huntington University’s home campus offers 17 men’s and women’s athletic programs, and the university is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).
The 52nd annual Huntington University Forester Night celebrated the accomplishments of students from across campus and recognized the Male and Female Foresters of the Year and the 2023 Professor of the Year. The event was held April 18.
Micah McFadden, a film production major from Minooka, Illinois, was named Male Forester of the Year.
“To be named Forester of the Year is a huge honor and means the world that the student body would choose me,” said McFadden. “I have been very blessed by my friendships and relationships at Huntington and am beyond grateful for the award.”
After graduation, McFadden is headed to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to be a full-time commercial and film editor.
Callie McKeown, a film production major from Holly Hill, Florida, was named Female Forester of the Year.
“I moved over a thousand miles away from my home, support system, and warm climate to join the Forester Family. I was looking for a fresh start and a place to grow and discover who I could be on my own,” said McKeown. “Huntington has provided me with an incredibly nurturing environment to excel in the classroom, grow in my faith, and learn to love others in the way Jesus loves me. This community has shaped me in ways I never thought possible. I know how much Huntington has completely changed my life, which makes me so honored to be given this opportunity to represent the amazing women of the Class of 2023.”
The 2023 Professor of the Year award was given to Dr. Ann McPherren, professor of business and economics and assistant to the President for program development. McPherren returned to her alma mater in 1981 and has since served the University in various academic and administrative endeavors, including as department and division head, vice president for strategy, vice president for graduate and professional programs and interim university president. McPherren has been instrumental in the launch of several academic initiatives, including HU’s first doctoral program (occupational therapy) and its expansion to Peoria, Arizona.
“When you are a teacher, you are surrounded by hopes and dreams,” said McPherren. “That’s enough for me, but this recognition by students in my 42nd year is a real encouragement. It’s put a little more pep in my step.”
Huntington University was named Indiana’s Video School of the Year by the Indiana Association of School Broadcasters (IASB) at the IASB’s College Award Ceremony on March 25 in Indianapolis. In addition to this honor, students from HU’s animation, film, and television production majors earned a total of 15 awards (with 28 students represented in those 15 awards).
2023 IASB College Broadcasting Competition Awards for Huntington University:
Video Division
Video Spot Production Seth Lecheler, Kathryn Wray, Taylor Stickan
Music Video Joseph Soundara and Jonathan Young Shay Reyes and Elliot Martin
Non-News/Sports Program Alex Anderson and Grace Earl
Cinematography Elliot Martin
Short Film Hannah Johnson, Tyler Bradley, Jacob Klitz Jaycee Walden and Callie McKeown
Video School of the Year Huntington University
News Division
Video News Program Mia Splendore and Sam Delagrange
Video Package Megan Hostetler
Video In-Depth Ericka Whitman, Shay Reyes, Ella Nosek
Photojournalism Sam Delagrange Elliot Martin
Emerging Media Division
Animated Story Sydni Wolpert, Matthew Raman, Savannah Kern David Rozema, Nicholas Robinson, Joseph Landon
Motion Graphics Quinn Cormier, Scott Wood, Parker Holzinger
The IASB is an organization consisting of and supporting Indiana high schools and colleges to promote professional excellence and student recognition in the area of media education. Membership consists of secondary schools and post-secondary schools that offer academic, career technical education or extra-curricular programs related to electronic media.
Huntington University students dominated the American Advertising Federation (Ad Fed) Fort Wayne 2023 Annual Advertising Honors on March 25, taking home 20 of the 31 student awards offered. Of those 20 awards, 15 went students studying film, TV production or animation, and five went to students studying art and design. In addition to the student awards, Forester Film LLC took home the Judge’s Choice Award in the professional category.
Ad Fed 2023 honors for Huntington University include
Best In Show | Student
Non-Traditional Advertising Sydni Wolpert, Savannah Kern, Matthew Raman “The Dogs and Wolves Fear Each Other”
Judge’s Choice | Professional
Online Video – Self Promotion Forester Film “Wayfaring Stranger Promo Trailer”
Judge’s Choice | Student
Cinematography/Special Effects – Elements of Advertising Elliot Martin “Elliot Martin Cinematography Reel”
Silver Professional
Video – Internet Commercial Huntington University “Wayfaring Stranger: A Journey into Feature Filming”
Gold Student
Audio - Self Promotion Grace Earl “My Day”
Internet Commercial – Video Jacob Douglass and Colton Sprunger “Forester Honey”
Online Video – Self Promotion Nicholas Robinson, David Rozema, Joseph Landon “Space Ducks Teaser”
Online Video – Self Promotion Megan Hostetler, Elliot Martin, Matt Foutz “Arise: A Britt Nicole Documentary”
Broadcast Commercial – Video Micah McFadden, Justin Edwards “Century 21 Bradley Spot”
Photography – Elements of Advertising Rebekah Steffen “Galactic Warrior”
Silver Student
Audio/Online/Video - Nonprofit Elliot Martin “HU Summer Camps Teaser”
Product/Service Sales Presentation – Sales Promotion Joy Heisey “Conscience Interplanetary Book Cover”
Gaming – Video Nicholas Robinson, David Rozema “Space Ducks the Game”
Publication Design – Collateral Taylor Stickan “The Ghost Hunters Club Book Cover”
Photography – Elements of Advertising Reagan Cureton “Perfume Bottle”
Photography – Elements of Advertising Reagan Cureton “Environmental Portrait”
Photography – Elements of Advertising Reagan Cureton “Final”
Broadcast Commercial – Video Sam Delagrange, Erika Whitman “Yamato Spot”
Illustration – Elements of Advertising Solomon Rangel “Job”
Audio/Online/Video - Public service Tyler Bradley, Hannah Johnson “Bar Fight”
At the Alpha Chi National Convention from March 30 to April 1 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, two of Huntington University’s Alpha Chi National College Honor Society students received national scholarships. Huntington University’s Indiana Beta chapter also received recognition as a Star Chapter of Alpha Chi for the prior academic year, being one of only two out of the more than 300 Alpha Chi chapters to have received this award every year since the honor was launched in 1996.
Tessa Stutzman, a crop science and agronomy major from Kutztown, Pennsylvania, won a regional fellowship and a national fellowship for her paper “Diet Diversity in East Africa – Diets, Factors, and Solutions.” She hopes to use the fellowship funds in graduate school next year.
Jasmin Buffenn, a crop science and agronomy major from Waterloo, Indiana, won a regional scholarship and a national scholarship for her paper “Variation Analyses of Carotenoid Metabolites and Gene Expression Across Multiple Tomato Accessions,” competed as a collaborative research project at Cornell University over the summer.
Karis Scobey, an animation major from Lake Odessa, Michigan, was chosen as an alternate for a regional scholarship for her work “The Process and Complexities of 3D Modeling.”
Four additional students presented their scholarship at the national level. Mica Allen, a biology pre-med major from Spencerville, Indiana, presented “The Hidden Dilemma of Cryosleep”; Breanna Bildner, a marketing, business management, and economics and finance major from Hillsdale, Michigan, presented “The Difficulty of Recent Graduates to Find Satisfactory Employment”; Carrie Runyan, an animation major from Huntington, Indiana, presented “How Does an Animation Student Experience the Animation Pipeline?”; and Rachel Scobey, an animation major from Lake Odessa, Michigan, presented “3D Generalist: Specialize in Nothing.”
The students were accompanied to the Convention by Dr. Ruth Nalliah, professor of chemistry and Alpha Chi faculty sponsor. Additional Alpha Chi faculty sponsors who helped mentor the student attendees were Dr. Tanner Babb, associate professor of psychology and associate academic dean, and Dr. Ann McPherren, professor of business and economics.
“It was a joy to be able to accompany seven Huntington University student scholars to the Convention, and to see their academic work presented, acknowledged, and rewarded on the national level,” said Dr. Nalliah. “Huntington University students do very well in garnering both regional and national awards for their academic work.”
Election to Alpha Chi is the highest academic honor at Huntington University.
Huntington University is pleased to announce the promotion of two faculty members: Dr. Tanner Babb and Professor Christian Washington.
Babb has been promoted from associate professor to professor of psychology. Washington has been promoted from assistant professor to associate professor of animation.
Before Babb worked at Huntington University, he was a child and adolescent case manager for three years at the Bowen Center in Huntington, Indiana, and a marriage and family therapist. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Huntington University and his Master of Science degree in education with a concentration in marriage and family therapy from Indiana University. At the University of Toledo, he earned his PhD in counselor education and supervision.
"I was honored and humbled to be promoted to Full Professor,” said Babb. “My passion is teaching, and I have devoted many years of my life to that pursuit at Huntington. I love working at Huntington, where I am surrounded by great colleagues, wonderful friends, and amazing students. I am thrilled to be promoted to Full Professor, and I appreciate all the support from my friends and colleagues that have helped throughout this process."
Washington earned his Bachelor of Science degree in animation from Huntington University and his Master of Fine Arts degree in animation from Ball State University. His graduate thesis film, Brotherhood, was very successful. It was an official selection at 12 film festivals and won an award for Best Animated Feature. Before he returned to his alma mater as a professor, he worked as an admissions counselor and an animation instructor. He has also taught animation at the Art Institute of Indianapolis.
Along with these promotions, Huntington University is pleased to announce that Rev. Dr. Kent Eilers and Dr. Fred Miller will each be taking a sabbatical during the spring semester of 2024.
Eilers earned his undergraduate degree at Calvin College, his Master of Divinity degree at Denver Seminary, and his PhD in systematic theology at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. He’s been the author of a plethora of books, articles, essays, encyclopedias, book reviews, and presentations at professional conferences.
Miller teaches in and is the chair of the Department of Kinesiology. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science from Huntington University, his Master of Science degree in sports science from Eastern New Mexico University, and his PhD in kinesiology from the University of Houston.
Huntington University will host the premiere for its first feature film, Wayfaring Stranger, on April 20 in the Merillat Centre for the Arts on the University’s home campus. Wayfaring Stranger was written, directed, and produced by Huntington University and Forester Films LLC. HU is the first private university in Indiana to produce a feature-length film, and there are only a small handful of public universities that do this kind of work.
Filming began May 16, 2022, and ran through June 10, 2022. More than 30 Huntington University film students and 15 professional crew members worked side by side with over 50 extras and a dozen SAG actors during the film shoot, including Stephen Baldwin (The Usual Suspects) and Bethany Lind (Ozark).
The film is based on the true story of the Clark family. Set in 1970s rural America, a 12-year-old pastor’s son and his family befriend a middle-aged, broken-down country singer who helps the boy embrace his musical calling and the pastor build a new church. Former country singer Glenn Frank becomes a part of the Clark family by secretly teaching young Lance to play the guitar and working side-by-side with Pastor Doyle, all while wrestling his demons of alcohol abuse. His untimely death brings the community together to finish the project and unite a new church family.
Check out the trailer!
Premiere Date & Location April 20, 2023, at 7:30 p.m., doors open at 7:00 p.m. Huntington University Merillat Centre for the Arts, Zurcher Auditorium 2303 College Avenue Huntington, Indiana 46750 Tickets are free but required and are available at huntington.edu/BoxOffice.
The feature film premiere follows a special dinner event sponsored by Ambassador Enterprises. The event, Our Roots Run Deep: 125 Years of Christ, Scholarship, and Service, is an invitation-only event that will feature entertainment by modern a cappella music group Luminos and a silent auction courtesy of local and regional sponsors and supporters.
Huntington University is pleased to announce that the April 12 Foundation Breakfast speaker is Jonathan Sackett, vice president of marketing and communications for the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership.
At NEI Reginal Partnership, Sackett oversees internal and external communications. His expertise is in creating and rebranding platforms for entrepreneurs and executives so that they have a place to publish their creativity. Sackett’s numerous awards include the Drum Award, the Cannes Lions Award, the DigiDay Media Award, and a Webby Award.
Sackett has worked with some of the world’s largest ad agencies, like DDB, Ogilvy, and The Martin Agency, and led advertising campaigns for some of the world’s largest brands, including Coke, GEICO, Mars, and McDonald’s.
To RSVP for the breakfast, visit huntington.edu/FoundationRSVP.
The Foundation Breakfast series is held on the second Wednesday of each month, October-December and January-April, and is open to the public. Each breakfast begins at 7:45 a.m. and concludes by 9:00 a.m. Breakfasts take place in the upper level of Habecker Dining Commons on Huntington University’s home campus.
The cost to attend each breakfast is $12, a portion of which will help support area students attending HU through the Hometown Grant. First-time attendees enjoy a complimentary breakfast courtesy of The Purviance House Bed and Breakfast, Barb and Brooks Fetters, proprietors.
Founded in 1938, the Huntington University Foundation exists to support the mission of the University by promoting education and fostering a synergistic relationship between the University and the Huntington County community and surrounding area. Learn more about the Foundation’s history and ways to support its goals at huntington.edu/Foundation.
Dr. Becky Benjamin, Department of Psychology chair and associate professor of psychology, and Andrew Cauldwell, psychology graduate from the Class of 2021, have published a research article in the Psi Chi undergraduate journal, Alethia.
The paper is titled “Face masks and frustration: The effects of a facial covering on human emotional perception,” and it focuses on the ubiquity of masks in the current climate. According to the abstract, the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine periods demonstrated the need for research on emotional satisfaction for individuals interacting with face coverings. Understanding how humans interpret emotions was the foundation for the previous research conducted on this subject. In this study, Benjamin and Cauldwell and a team of researchers analyzed the research on human emotional perception and whether face coverings negatively affected it.
Their study included participants from two different universities. Participants viewed specific stimuli and then responded to them. The stimuli were two middle-aged individuals either wearing or not wearing masks, and they displayed the six universal emotions plus two additional expressions. Participants tended to misinterpret emotions when viewing masked stimuli, an observation further evidenced through statistical analyses.
In-person research would be critical for replications of their research. Given this, Benjamin and Caldwell anticipate that further research needs to be conducted on cultural differences that could impact a participant’s ability to interpret emotion correctly.
“This was a study that Andrew developed and headed up,” said Benjamin of her former student. “He and I worked together over the course of the 2020-2021 academic year as he led a small team of students in conducting the study, and I mentored him through the process or developing the study, running it, and writing up the report.”
Huntington University congratulates Keirsh Cochran on being named to Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2023!
"It's an amazing honor to be selected as a 40 Under 40 recipient,” said Cochran, assistant professor of criminal justice and chief of campus police and security. “To be able to represent Huntington University among Northeast Indiana's leading professionals was a privilege I will not soon forget. However, this is a team win. The student life team and the officers of HUPD make my job easy and rewarding.”
As the chief of campus police and security at Huntington University, Cochran is responsible for the safety of those on campus, working with administration to solve safety-related issues and overseeing the officers who work for the Huntington University Police Department (HUPD). He is also responsible for building positive relationships between the HUPD and the campus community.
Cochran is an HU alumnus with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast media; he also holds a Master of Public Administration degree. Before returning to his alma mater, he worked for the Fort Wayne TinCaps and NBC33 and spent four years as a patrolman for the Fort Wayne Police Department on the south side of Fort Wayne. The Fort Wayne Police Department awarded him a meritorious service citation in 2017, and Huntington University awarded him the 2019 Young Alumnus Award.
Originally from Franklin, Indiana, Cochran is a third-generation police officer, with his father currently serving as a police chief in Franklin.
"As a police officer and Chief, I have devoted my life to public service. That means more than just being on duty and in uniform,” said Cochran. “To me, public service means always being a positive influence and example to help make HU, the City of Huntington, and Northeast Indiana a better and safer place to live, work, study and raise a family."
Cochran’s involvement in the community includes Jennifer’s Harbor Domestic Violence Prevention, the Knights of Columbus Council 1014, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, and the Republican State Convention.
The Huntington University Theatre Company and Department of Music are proud to present Meet Me in St. Louis. Set in the summer of 1903, Meet Me in St. Louis follows a year in the life of the Smith family. The musical includes seven of the best-loved songs from the film, plus ten additional Martin and Blane songs written specially for the stage. Memorable musical numbers include "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "The Boy Next Door," "The Trolley Song" and "Whenever I’m with You." Based on the heartwarming MGM film, Meet Me in St. Louis is a rare treasure in musical theatre: a wholesome and enchanting portrait of a turn-of-the-century American family.
But as Ryan Long, Department of Theatre Arts chair, assistant professor of theatre and director of Meet Me in St. Louis pointed out, though this show is full of music and humor and fun, it’s the family's mutual respect, tempered with good-natured humor, that helps them through romance, opportunity and heartbreaks and entertains the audience.
"One of the main themes of the production is that it isn't necessarily the physical things that are the most meaningful in life,” said Long. “It's the relationships."
Long went on to point out that "stories are immensely powerful things,” citing Matthew 13:34 (CEB), which says, "Jesus said all these things to the crowds in parables, and he spoke to them only in parables."
“Stories have a way of revealing things to us that we might not otherwise see or might not be willing to see," said Long.
The cast for the show includes the following:
And the crew for the show includes the following:
The show opens in Zurcher Auditorium in the Merillat Centre for the Arts on March 30 and runs through April 1. To get your tickets, visit huntington.edu/MeetMe.
For the past decade, Huntington University has hosted Feed a Farmer, now called the National Ag Week Celebration and Breakfast, as a way to celebrate, honor, and thank the farmers and supporters of agriculture in the region. This year the event took place on March 22 with keynote speaker Mike Pearson and was sponsored by Farm Credit Mid-America and Williamson Crop Insurance.
An Iowa native, Pearson has hosted “Market to Market” on Public Television and the Ag News Daily podcast. Currently, viewers can find him behind the anchor desk on “This Week In Agribusiness” with Max Armstrong and Orion Samuelson, which can be found on RFD TV or hundreds of local stations each weekend.
Pearson’s topic was “What’s Driving Agriculture?: The fed, markets, and policy,” and his expertise and insight took his audience from historical analysis to current climates to predictions of what’s next. With an acknowledgment that now is a “generally good time in farm country,” Pearson was quick to point out that 2022 was a “wild year.” Three major factors directly and indirectly impacted agriculture in the United States: inflation rates at 8.6%, one of the worst droughts in history, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The same three factors are already impacting 2023, but according to Pearson, there is reason to be optimistic.
“We are going to see increased corn acres this year. Beans still look okay. We still expect to see a drop in bean acres and 92-87 corn to beans, 90-90, that’s roughly where the trade is at right now as we start to put together our outlooks for the 2023 growing year,” he states. “Now the good news is, for you corn growers, the picture is still tight. The fundamental factors in the corn market are still, I don’t want to say largely bullish, but I do want to say largely favorable.”
Pearson’s advice for those in the ag industry were straightforward: Keep your head on a swivel and be aggressive and remain optimistic.
“A number of our students were able to meet Mike during his time on campus,” said Nate Perry, managing director for the Haupert Institute for Agricultural Studies. “I greatly appreciate his interest in our students and how he encouraged them as they prepare for their careers in agriculture. He was very impressed with these students and was excited about what the future holds for these students and how they will have a positive impact on agriculture.”
On February 17-18, Huntington University hosted its second Spirit of a Forester Scholarship Competition. The process for attendees included an onsite extemporaneous essay and faculty/staff interviews as well as opportunities for extra credit that aligned with the University’s Spirit of a Forester traits. The competition awarded scholarships ranging from full tuition to $16,000. The recipient of the full tuition scholarship is Gabriel Castro from Orland Park, Illinois.
Additional scholarship recipients include the following:
For more information about upcoming Spirit of a Forester Scholarship Competition events, visit huntington.edu/Admissions or email admissions@huntington.edu.
Results from the 2023 Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Festival of Media Arts are in, and Huntington University once again made a strong showing. With a total of 19 faculty and student awards, HU took home more animation and narrative film awards than any other school in the nation. Additionally, HU had more faculty awards than any other school in the nation.
"In a time where more videos and media are created daily than ever before, the one factor that has proved to help creators stand out is the quality of their visuals and storytelling,” said Christian Washington, assistant professor for Huntington University Arizona’s animation program. “With HU Arizona's record four animation wins at BEA this year, it serves as a great sign that people resonate with the stories being told here and that the work our students are making remains of excellent quality."
Huntington University’s award-winning Department of Digital Media Arts (DMA) opened its doors in Huntington, Indiana, in 2005. The department’s inaugural year drew 10 eager students. Today DMA is one of the University’s largest departments, boasting over 120 students across two locations. Since its inception in 2016, the Huntington University Center for Digital Media Arts has grown each year and has produced incredible talent in the Peoria, Arizona, region and beyond.
“While HU is a well-known and well-established brand in Indiana, we are still ‘the new kid on the block’ in the Phoenix Metro. I have always viewed national judging entities like BEA as a means to not just measure the quality of our work but to help us establish solid a reputation as a program in state of Arizona. To have four BEA Faculty Awards this year, and 14 in six years, continues the tradition of excellence that I want HU DMA to be known for in Arizona and beyond,” said Phil Wilson, Arizona digital media arts program director.
The list of winners includes the following:
Student Film & Video Competition
Animation/Experimental/Mixed Category
2nd Place: The White Rosebush; Laurel Zeiler, Huntington University
Awards of Excellence:
Heart Broke; Shanon Mcneil, Huntington University
Motel 7; Cameron Elliott, Huntington University
Chester & Lucille; Malia Dahlquist, Huntington University
Music Video Category
2nd Place: Goodby Forever; Shay Reyes & Elliot Martin, Huntington University
Narrative Category
2nd Place: Clown West; Corey Dunivan & Jonathan Willson, Huntington University
Pizza Pizza; Catherine Croteau, Huntington University
Thank You Five; Jaycee Walden & Callie McKeown, Huntington University
Blagodarnyy; Alex Kennedy, Huntington University
Milo; Micah McFadden & McKenna Parks, Huntington University
Spots Category
3rd Place: Storytime at the Zoo; Seth Lecheler, Taylor Stickan & Kathryn Wray, Huntington University
Live-to-Tape Multi-Camera Studio or Remote Production
Rescue Concert: A Night with Sanctus Real; Dylan Herring & Sam Delagrange, Huntington University
Student Scriptwriting Competition
Short Narrative Film Category
Milo; Micah McFadden & Jonathan Willson, Huntington University
Narrative Feature Category
Award of Excellence:
Night Owls; Onalivia Smith, Huntington University
Student Sports Competition
Audio/Video Sports Event: Play by Play Talent
Huntington University vs. Georgetown College Men's Basketball; Ryan Walker, Huntington University
Faculty Audio Competition
Sound Engineering and Design Category
Best of Competition:
Show Trailer: A Christmas Carol; Phil Wilson, Huntington University
Faculty Documentary Competition
Short-Form Documentary Category
Down the Rabbit Hole: the Arts, the Pandemic, & the Curiouser Immersive Project; Phil Wilson, Huntington University
Faculty Film & Video Competition
Commercial or PSA Category
Best of Competition (Tie):
Show Trailer: Matilda, the Musical; Phil Wilson, Huntington University
The Broadcast Education Association is the premier international academic media organization, driving insights, excellence in media production, and career advancement for educators, students and professionals. Over 2,500 professors, students and media professionals are currently individual members, and approximately 275 college and university departments and schools are institutional members. Each year, there are over 1,300 submissions from schools around the world, with only around 22% of entries receiving awards.
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 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).