Jenzabar University

Huntington University is celebrating another record enrollment for fall 2023. Official numbers mark the highest enrollment in University history with over 1,504 students, up from 1,428 in 2022.

“The fact that more than 1,500 students are participating in our residential, online and graduate programs is a significant milestone for Huntington University,” said Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president. “We are encouraged to see the growth that is happening in historic areas and through some of our most recent initiatives and new programs.”

Welcoming 994 undergraduate students on HU’s home campus in Huntington, Indiana, and 242 undergraduate students at the HU Arizona location in Peoria, Arizona, the University continues to be encouraged by the student populations at both locations, the Parkview-Randallia OTD program and in new programs, including two new partnerships: an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) degree program in partnership with Indiana Tech and Parkview Health and an animal health and veterinary nursing dual-degree program in partnership with Purdue University’s School of Veterinary Medicine.  Other academic majors with a strong or record enrollment include animation, business, film, MBA, nursing, OTA and agriculture programs.

“Through these strategic partnerships and innovative delivery models, we are offering programs that meet workforce needs.” said Emberton. “These majors, in collaboration with our public and private sector partners, provide new opportunities for our students and the communities we serve. We are excited to see the work for Christ that students will accomplish with these opportunities.”

Students across the University hail from 65 of the 92 counties in Indiana, 41 states (including Alaska and Hawaii), and 38 countries. They represent all four corners of the United States, from Washington to Florida and California to Maine.  

Minority students make up 23% of the 2023-2024 student body, which is an increase for the University. Indiana continues to be the biggest pool for students, with Arizona, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois also being significant contributors to the record growth.  With the continued renovation of the University’s health and wellness complex and new athletic programming, over 341 student athletes will participate on 18 different NAIA athletic teams.

Huntington University and the HU Alumni Board are pleased to announce that the recipients of the 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award are Mark and Charlene Canada. The Distinguished Alumnus Award is designed to recognize distinguished service or achievement over a longer period of time. The Canadas are members of the Class of 1980 and have devoted their lives to the betterment of others.

One nominator described the Canadas as “committed to international missions” and said that “they have demonstrated long and noteworthy service in The Great Commission, fidelity to the church and family, professional excellence, and boldness to break new ground in overseas missions’ support.”

But a life in the mission field wasn’t always the Canadas’ focus. In fact, Mark was a partner at a successful law firm for years before the couple packed up their life to answer the call that God had placed on their heart. They spent more than a decade in the mission field. In addition to their work on the front lines of ministry, the Canadas created Marketplace & Development Enterprises (MDE). MDE’s mission is “to provide mature believers with opportunities and resources that encourage and empower them to utilize their vocational or business skills and experience in the marketplaces of unreached communities for the purpose of disciple-making and church planting.”

The Canadas reside in the Indianapolis area and they have two adult children and three grandchildren.

The Canadas will receive this award during Huntington University’s 2023 Homecoming festivities. For more information, visit huntington.edu/Homecoming.

The Huntington University Foundation is pleased to announce that Al and Rita McCabe are the recipients of the 2023 Distinguished Service Award. The McCabes will receive the award at the Foundation’s annual dinner on Thursday, September 28.

The Huntington University Foundation established the Distinguished Service Award in 2002 to recognize individuals or organizations that embody the principles associated with the mission of the University. Recipients are chosen because they give substance and credence to the University's beliefs, make significant contributions to Huntington County and serve as effective role models for students.

The McCabes have been fixtures of Huntington University athletics for more than two decades. Before either Huntington University or Huntington North High School had official volleyball line judges, Al volunteered as a line judge. Before there was a dedicated concession stand at HU, he built a custom popcorn cart and candy displays. Together, the McCabes have managed the concession stands at Huntington University season after season, overseeing the volunteers and the successful operation of concession sales in Platt Arena and Forest Glen Park.

In Huntington County, the McCabes also have a long history of involvement. Rita has held leadership roles with the Union Thrifty and Paper Artisans clubs and the Huntington County Extension Homemakers, including five terms as Homemakers council president. She has also been on the Northeast Indiana Homemakers Camp committee multiple times, serving Homemakers in more than 10 Northern Indiana counties, and on the Open Class committee for the Huntington County 4-H Fair. She received the district Enthusiasm Award from the Indiana Extension Homeowners Association. 

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. To learn more about the Foundation’s history and ways to support its goals, visit huntington.edu/Foundation.

University Arizona is thrilled to celebrate the graduation of its inaugural Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy (OTD program) cohort. The program’s pioneering class, now doctors of occupational therapy, were hooded, marking a significant milestone in their academic and professional journey.

Under the guidance of distinguished faculty members and with support from the University, these trailblazing graduates completed a rigorous curriculum that equipped them with the knowledge, skills and expertise to excel in the dynamic field of occupational therapy. Throughout their educational journey, they demonstrated academic prowess and a deep passion for improving the lives of individuals and communities.

“The Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy at HU Arizona is proud to graduate the inaugural class of 2023,” said Dr. Jamie Sanfilippo, dean of HU Arizona. “These students are ready to go out and serve Arizonians from all walks of life such as children with disabilities in clinics and schools, adults with upper extremity injuries or neurological diseases, as well as the aging population. All with the mission of enabling people to engage in their precious everyday activities at home, in school and at work. Congratulations HU AZ OTD Class of 2023!”

The graduation ceremony took place on Thursday, August 10, at New Life Community Church. Distinguished guests, faculty, family members and friends gathered to celebrate this remarkable achievement and honor the graduates’ dedication to their studies and future contributions to the field.

To learn more about HU Arizona's OTD program, visit huntington.edu/OTD/AZ.

Huntington University has received $50,000 from Bippus State Bank that will go directly toward the creating of HU’s second feature film, Patterns.

“It’s our pleasure to present this check to the Huntington University Film Department,” said Eric D. Fawcett, president and CEO of Bippus State Bank. “We were able to visit the set and see firsthand how HU Film is providing students with hands-on experience in all aspects of film production. It’s obvious Huntington University’s Film Program prepares graduates to bring their visions to life on the big screen. We are proud to support HU Film and contribute to the production of this film.” 

The production of Patterns comes on the coattails of the successful premiere of HU’s first feature film, Wayfaring Stranger.

“We are the only private college in Indiana that is consistently making Independent SAG feature films,” said Dr. Lance Clark, dean of the arts, professor of digital media arts/film, and producer of Patterns. “To have the financial support of our community and especially businesses like Bippus State Bank means so much to every one of us who is attempting to do big things for the industry and for our students. My goal is to bring feature filmmaking to Indiana, and we are now one step closer.”

Huntington University and Forester Films LLC are at it again. Coming off of the success of the Wayfaring Stranger premiere early this summer, the University launched right into the filming of its second feature film, Patterns.

Written by HU alumna Rachel Hart, directed by HU alumna Dawn Davis and produced by HU faculty and alumni Dr. Lance Clark and Matt Webb, Patterns is the story of three estranged siblings who return to their family home after their mother’s death. Over their weekend together, they navigate the challenges of a family that has drifted apart, the memories that haunt the house and their father who suffers from dementia.

According to Webb, Patterns was chosen “because it deals with issues that so many of us are dealing with in real life. Most people we know have gone through the process of grieving the loss of a family member and/or we know someone struggling with dementia. These characters are much like us: struggling to know how to communicate with one another, wrestling with all of the complexities of our relationships and learning how to cope with grief, forgive one another and find hope for the future.”

As with the University’s first feature film, Patterns is a creation born out of a film capstone, meaning that it is a teaching tool and training opportunity for current students. There are 24 students and five alumni involved in the creation of Patterns.

“Huntington is the place where I was able to explore my creativity and start my journey as a director,” said Davis about her return to HU to direct Patterns. “Coming back here to work with the Capstone students has felt like a full-circle moment.”

Hart also appreciated the return to her alma mater and the collaborative experience.

“As a first-time feature length scriptwriter, to have Matt as a mentor through the writing process was an invaluable opportunity,” said Hart. “I had so much fun delving deeper into the outlining and rewriting phases [than] I would have imagined. Over the course of a year and a half to two years, I pushed myself to consider every piece of feedback and hopefully create unique and relatable characters for the audience to get to know. More than anything, I wanted to write a film that someone would walk away from and say, ‘Yes, that was genuine.’ No matter what, I couldn't have asked for a better experience in writing the script.”

When asked what they learned from creating their first feature film and how that knowledge would impact the creation of Patterns, the producers were quick to say that they “learned to be patient and wait for the right people to come along to join us in the right positions, whether that’s actors, crew members, students or community members. It takes so many people from all across the community to make these films happen, and we’ve learned to reach out early, to spread the net wide and to lean into the help that so many people have been willing to offer.”

Like other faculty members at Huntington University, Dr. Nicole Scheiman keeps her door open during her office hours. In one respect, however, her open door in Dowden Science Hall is quite different than a door leading to any other faculty office: Scheiman’s has a pet gate.  

Visit Scheiman’s office on the right day, and a black and white sheepadoodle sporting a stylish yet functional hair bow or two will greet you at the door. At less than a year old, she is still growing, but someday this young puppy could reach a mature weight of approximately 80 pounds. And someday, if all goes according to plan, she will be a certified therapy dog.  

Her name is Noodle.

Noodle the Doodle reported for her first day of work at Huntington University on January 13, 2023. Since then, she has acquired a celebrity status that only a dog can achieve.

“Usually if I don’t bring her,” Scheiman said, “I hear, “Oh, Noodle’s not here?’”

Coming to campus a few days a week is part of Noodle’s therapy dog training. Her current “job responsibilities” include attending Scheiman’s classes and meetings, where she is learning to sit quietly in the background (a tough job for an excited puppy, but she manages it well). She is also getting used to campus and the variety of new things she can experience there.

“The best way to train her is bringing her here,” said Scheiman, who is the director of HU’s occupational therapy assistant bachelor’s degree program. “Interacting with people. That’s the best training for them [therapy dogs], to absolutely immerse them in anything they may encounter.”

Scheiman is hoping that Noodle will be ready to take the certification test in 2024, at which point Noodle will be able to continue her work on campus as well as work in therapy settings. Until then, Noodle is still a student “studying” for her upcoming exam.

The certification test will require Noodle to demonstrate that she can remain calm even in the midst of stressful or chaotic settings. Although the specifics vary by test provider, it is common for dogs to test in a loud environment, with kids, in a busy crowd, and around crutches, wheelchairs, and walkers, equipment that they would encounter in a hospital setting. Through it all, they must demonstrate that they will “attend to” (pay attention to and obey) their handler. Noodle will need to attend to Scheiman.

She will be eligible to take the certification test after she is more than one year old. After that benchmark, when Noodle takes the test will be Scheiman’s choice.

“There’s a lot of training, a lot of time, a lot of patience,” said Scheiman.

Passing the certification test is the only official step required to become a certified therapy dog, but Noodle is undergoing training at an obedience school to make sure she is in top shape for the test. Her first formal training was in general obedience. Next, she will train in canine good behavior.

Scheiman is actively involved in the training. As Noodle’s handler, she wants Noodle to be used to working with her. Taking the time now to build trust will pay off later when they are working together in clinical and classroom settings.

“It takes time to build confidence and trust. She has to build confidence and trust in me, that I will always make sure her needs are met and she’s not put in a bad way.”

Noodle is also learning to connect with and trust the Huntington University students she encounters. Occupational therapy assistant students are learning firsthand about animal-assisted therapy, and Noodle serves as a stress reliever for those who need it, a comfort for those who are homesick, and a conversation starter for those who walk her.  

“If a shy student walks Noodle around campus, they’re going to meet other students,” said Scheiman. “No doubt about it. If I walk her across campus, I always allow extra time because there’s going to be students coming over. And that’s the point — that’s the goal. Then the students meet each other; she’s kind of a connector. I think therapy dogs connect people.”

Scheiman is careful to ensure that students are comfortable around Noodle. She always provides ways for students to let her know if they are uncomfortable with having Noodle in class.

“I’ve never had anyone not want to be around her. They enjoy her — it’s a break.”

Noodle’s breed could have something to do with her popularity. Her size and playfulness are well-suited for children in particular. She also enjoys giving hugs, has thick hair that doesn’t shed, and can even wear clothes. These traits make her ideal for children practicing skills of daily living such as brushing hair and getting dressed.  

“A child could learn to dress Noodle, learning those skills. If they’re having trouble with fine motor [skills], they could put a shirt on Noodle and button her shirt.”

Noodle’s weight will also be an advantage.

“With kids, we’ll often put weighted therapy vests on them to have that calming effect. It’s kind of like the weighted blankets you see now. Her sitting on a child’s lap would be calming to them.”

Even for visitors to Scheiman’s office who don’t consider themselves dog people, there is something fun about meeting Noodle in one of the last places you’d expect to find a dog. There’s also something comforting about sitting with her, a fellow living creature who is free from the burdens that humans carry. Dogs listen if you want to talk. If you don’t, they sit with you or play with you. No questions asked.

The connection that humans feel with dogs is a reason why animal-assisted therapy is important to occupational therapy practitioners like Scheiman.

“This is another tool in our toolbox to achieve the goals we’re looking to achieve. Because people will do things for dogs that they won’t always do for therapy practitioners. They’re very motivating.”

Huntington University has received a $250,000 planning grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through phase one of its statewide initiative College and Community Collaboration. The purpose of this initiative is to support universities as they collaborate with other organizations to enhance the quality of life and place in the communities surrounding their campuses.

In partnership with the City and County of Huntington, the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership and other local and regional stakeholders, Huntington University will use these funds to propose a strategic community project(s) for future development opportunities. The purpose of these efforts identify clear next steps for community development and growth.

“This Lilly Endowment initiative provides a generational opportunity to strengthen existing partnerships and make a dramatic investment in the quality of life for all of us here in Huntington County — whether we’re here for four years as a student at Huntington University or forty years as a resident,” said Huntington Mayor Richard Strick (HU Class of 2005, MA 2011). “I look forward to engaging the opportunity alongside other community stakeholders that share our belief in Huntington’s bold future.”

The grant will fund the hiring of consultants with experience in architectural design, site assessments, project prioritization analysis and financial modeling. Per the grant proposal, this group of experts and a task force comprised of key stakeholders from the University, city, and other parts of the community “will identify two key conceptual projects that improve the quality of life and place in the community and then spur additional growth and collaboration for Huntington University and the community it serves.”

“Faith-based colleges serve as anchor institutions that add vibrancy and vitality to the communities they serve. Our platforms allow us to speak into key issues of human worth and dignity because our missions are centered on man as being created in God’s image,” said Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University. “Graduates of Christian colleges model an integrated life of mind, body and spirit. They demonstrate skills to speak, write and think critically through issues that impact their world.”

Learn more about Lilly Endowment Inc. online.

Congratulations from Huntington University and the Forester Nation to Cydney Bridges, Class of 2023, on being crowned Miss Indiana 2023. Her victory not only celebrates her individual accomplishments but also highlights her commitment to making a positive impact on her community and the world.

“Cydney’s hard work and determination paid off, as she was always a top performer in the classroom, but her greatest strength is her joyful spirit and ability to connect with people and interact with them on a personal level,” said Jodi Eckert, director of nursing and one of Bridges’ professors. “She values people and relationships, which will make her a fantastic nurse. Her positive attitude, drive to follow her dreams to work at Riley Children’s Hospital, and compassion will leave a lasting impression on those she serves. We are blessed to have the opportunity to witness the impact she will have on the profession of nursing and are so excited to watch her represent Indiana.”

Beyond her academic pursuits and pageant accomplishments, Bridges’ heart beats for service and helping others. Her desire to make a positive impact on the lives of others reflects her passion for nursing and her genuine care for people.

“The HU Department of Nursing was the place where I felt most supported on campus. Each and every one of my professors helped me realize that I could achieve anything I set my mind to with hard work and determination,” said Bridges.

Bridges is undoubtedly a queen who will reign not only in the hearts of Hoosiers but also in the hearts of those whose lives she touches with her kindness, passion, and dedication to service. She begins her professional career in July at Riley Children’s Hospital and will compete for Miss America in January. The future is indeed bright for Miss Indiana 2023, and we cannot wait to witness the positive change she will bring to the world. Congratulations, Cydney Bridges!

The Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) has awarded PALSave Textbook Creation Grants to fund eight open textbooks from faculty authors at its supported institutions, including Huntington University. 

Dr. Karen Jones, professor of Christian Thought and Practice, was selected to represent HU. 

“I am honored to receive this opportunity from PALNI. It is a gift to receive support for writing a textbook that will synthesize the presentations, resources, lectures, and assignments I have crafted throughout my teaching career. I am most encouraged by the opportunity this will provide for students across the globe with little to no access to academic resources. Providing a digital textbook free of charge is something I could not do without the support of the PALSave Textbook Creation Grant.”

The grants will allow these educators to develop open textbooks that are freely available online, making them part of a statewide effort to reduce the cost of course materials for college students. Financed with support from Lilly Endowment Inc., authors will receive up to $6,500 per project.

The grants—awarded as part of the PALSave: PALNI Affordable Learning program—are given in overlapping two-year cohorts. Titles and authors most recently selected include:

• “Public Speaking and Democratic Participation: Speech, Deliberation, and Analysis in the Civic Realm, 2nd ed.” by Jennifer Abbott, Professor of Rhetoric at Wabash College, and co-authors Todd McDorman, Dean at Wabash College, and David Timmerman, Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Professor of Rhetoric at Carthage College

• “Curriculum Development for Christian Ministry,” by Karen Jones, Professor of Christian Thought and Practice at Huntington University

• “The Exciting Dynamics of State and Local Government,” by Laura Merrifield Wilson, Associate Professor of History and Political Science, and co-author Greg Schufeldt, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Indianapolis

• “Leveraging Data Visualization to Communicate Effectively,” by Jennie Mitchell, Professor Emerita at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, and co-author Trent Deckard, storytelling expert and lecturer at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business

• “An Introduction to Legal Philosophy,” by Peter Murphy, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Indianapolis

• “Cultures and Civilizations of the Hispanic Countries,” by Angela Pacheco-Gonzalez, Assistant Professor of Spanish at Taylor University

• “Concepts of Evidence-Based Practice and Nursing Research Methods,” by Cibele Webb, Associate Professor and co-authors Nicole Mentag and Lori Pajakowski, Assistant Professors, Department of Nursing Science, at Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame

• “Comparative Vertebrate and Human Anatomy: Ecology, Evolution, and Function,” by Vanessa Young, Assistant Professor of Biology at Saint Mary’s College, and co-authors Bill Ryerson, Associate Professor, Biological Sciences, at Saint Anselm College, and Lisa Whitenack, Associate Professor, Biology, at Allegheny College

“PALNI is excited to award these grants, as they recognize the unwavering commitment of faculty authors from our supported institutions toward enhancing the affordability and accessibility of education for students,” says Amanda Hurford, PALNI’s Scholarly Communications Director and PALSave project lead. “The authors’ dedication to making textbook affordability a reality makes a big impact—not just in Indiana, but across the globe—and we look forward to supporting them in the process.”

Grant recipients are already working to produce the open textbooks, which are set to be published in 2025. 

About PALSave Textbook Creation Grants

At the start of the program in 2019, PALSave’s initial goal was to publish five or more textbooks by late 2023. PALNI received added funding from Lilly Endowment in 2022 to support PALSave, which has allowed the program to award 10 additional textbook creation grants. Projects were selected for funding based on proposal quality, clearly defined goals, need within the current open access body of work, and adoption potential within PALNI schools and beyond.

PALNI coordinates peer review, copyediting, layout, and hosting services to assist grant recipients in their textbook creation. Each textbook is also supported by a local project manager to monitor progress and answer questions throughout development. The open textbooks are published on the PALNI Press-supported Pressbooks platform alongside other faculty-contributed works, and will ultimately be submitted to the Open Textbook Library and OER repositories. 

Several PALSave-funded titles are currently in production, with the program’s first open textbook, “The Bible and Music,” by Dr. James McGrath, Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language and Literature, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Butler University, published in January 2023.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family — J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Eli — through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. More information can be found at www.lillyendowment.org.

About the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana

The Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) is a non-profit organization that supports collaboration for library and information services for 24 colleges, universities and seminaries throughout the state. From its inception in 1992, the PALNI collaboration has been a key avenue for its supported institutions to contain costs while providing more effective library services. More recently, PALNI has adopted a model of deep collaboration that pools resources and people as a tool to expand services while keeping costs down. PALNI’s board of directors, composed of all 24 library deans and directors from the supported organizations, convened a Future Framing Task Force in 2019 to address ongoing demographic challenges in higher education. The board has escalated this work in the wake of COVID-19, as the consortium seeks to manage the increased need for online support while reducing costs. Simultaneously, PALNI is expanding collaboration within its institutions and with external library partners to address challenges and build cost-effective services. Visit the PALNI website for more information.

PALNI Supported Institutions 

Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary | Anderson University | Bethel University | Butler University | Concordia Theological Seminary | Christian Theological Seminary | DePauw University | Earlham College | Franklin College | Goshen College | Grace College | Hanover College | Huntington University | Manchester University | Marian University | Oakland City University | University of Saint Francis | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | Saint Mary’s College | Saint Meinrad’s Seminary and School of Theology | Taylor University | Trine University | University of Indianapolis | Wabash College