di d~~ uu or u petit jean 2010-2011 harding university searcy, ark. volume 87 editor in chief nicole sullenger assistant editor michelle makool copy editor sarah eason copy editor kelsey sherrod head photographer ashel parsons assistant photographer alex shelton assistant photographer abby kellett layout editor brooklyn sims layout editor kelly gemma adviser katie ramirez
.... . - ,
-.. • •
we often get stuck in a place that becomes too comfortable, too familiar. we live o shallow life on the surface. but there is more, and there always has been more. right now is our time to find something deeper. find in ourselves the motives behind our actions. what is our purpose7 why do we wont to succeed? who ore we living for? what ore our priorities? it is when we answer these questions, we get a glimpse of the big picture. we see that everything below the surface is what we hove been missing. we see the potential that cannot be ignored. the gifts God has given us. the influence we hove on those around us. and the power of our actions.
• Photo by Jon Yoder
we need to ...
Photo by jon Yoder
Without relationship, teaching is empty. 8 opening
At some pointinourliveswehaveallbeen influenced by that special teacher, whether it be at an early age or later in life. This year, the Petit Jean staft has dedicated the yearbook to one such person, professor of education Dr. Cheri Smith, for her unswerving dedication to teaching and her steadfast love for her students and for Christ. Editor in chief Nicole Sullenger had the opportunity to hear from Smith about her passions and experiences in her profession. N: Tell me a little bit about yourself. C: I grew up in afamily of teachers.My daddy was a preacher, my mother taught elementary music, my two older brothers are preachers and both of my older sisters are elementary school teachers.The church in which I grew up in Jacksonville, Ark., had a huge bus ministry. I taught on the bus and started teaching Bible classes when I was 12 years old. My family taught me to love learning and encouraged me to share that love with others. N: How did you start teaching at Harding? C: I graduated from Harding in 1984 with a degree in special education and elementary education. After graduation, I started teaching right away, and although the first years of teaching were challenging, I quickly realized that I had found my calling: teaching and encouraging children to reach their potential. After teaching seven years in public schools, I had my first child and decided to stay home for a while with him. I have never regretted that decision. Another son and a daughter followed. Many people said that I would never advance in a teaching career if I took time off for my family, but I believed that God would give me the Iife that He wanted me to have, and I am very thankful for the time I had with my children when they were young. Our family moved back to Searcy in 1995. I began my work with Harding by supervising student teachers part-time, which led to serving as an adjunct professor for the College of Education, which led to a full-time position in 2004. N: What is the best part of being a professor? C: The best part of being a professor is being able to develop strong relationships with my students. I truly care about them - their interests, their worries, their dreams. Without relationship, teaching is empty. N: Outside of teaching, what things are you involved with on campus? C: I am on the executive committee for Bisons for Christ. I love that day of service because I can really get to know the students who are working on the same project with me. It is a way to develop those deeper relationships that I value. N: In your job, where is the place you get to most influence your students and make a difference in their lives?? C: Sometimes Ithink I make the most difference when I am counseling and talking to students one-on-one in my office, talking about their goals, their struggles, their hopes. However, I hope that my teaching in the classroom helps my students to develop into teachers who will go out from here and bless the lives of others. As idealistic as it sounds, that is why I teach at the university level. Every August, when the school supply section is overflowing at Wai-Mart, I am drawn to those "first day of school" moments in local schools. I miss having my own elementary school classroom, children with new backpacks, lunch boxes and #2 pencils. I think the day that I stop missing that, though, is the day I should stop teaching here. How can I inspire my students to love teaching if I don't still believe in it as a profession, if I wouldn't want to go back into a public school classroom? So, every August, I still bel1eve I can make a difference for children around the world if I teach my students well. N: On the same note, how do the students you work with influence you and what do you learn from them? C: Itruly believe that I learn as much or more from my students as they learn from me. I am inspired every day by their desire to improve the lives of children. They teach me new ways to teach, especially with technology, and they broaden my views with their global perspectives. They become more than my students- they become my colleagues, as we all strive to be better teachers. N: What is the coolest thing you've been able to do in your lifetime? C: Some of the best times in my life were spent living in France. My sister and brother-in-law, Buddy and Maurine Jones, were missionaries 1n Nantes, France for 12 years, and I spent almost every summer during my college years living in France with them,serving the church in Nantes and learnmg from them.They have been a huge influence in my life. N: What is typically the best part of your day? C: I have always loved dusk, right before it gets dark.Typically, I am heading for home then, and most days, as I'm walking to my car and then driving home to be with my family, I am looking back on a day full of interactions with students and colleagues that I believe will affect the Iives of people for the better. What more could anyone ask for in a profession? That at the end of the day, you know you are where God wants you to be, serving Him while hopefully blessing the lives of others. N: What would you say your passion is? C: My passion is Jesus and Him crucified. Nothing else gives me the strength that knowing Jesus does.That passion is what moves me forward and gives me the passion to teach, to Iive.Without it, I would be lost and without hope. I would have nothing to give • Nicole Sophia Sullenger .. •• dedication 9
It's easy to get caught up in routine, letting this special · time in our lives pass us by. There is a way out of the monotonous college
Photo b A h I Y s e Parsons We con dig post the traditions, routines and homework onQ find something special each day. (Vive into our doily lives, overseas programs and even Spring Sing. We don't hove to keep living at surface level, but instead - go find meaning. - Katie Fittz, student" life editor
Playing a pretend game of Guitar Hero, the hosts entertain the crowd on April7, 2010. This performance introduced Gamma Sigma Phi, Pi Theta Phi, Iota Chi, Delta Nu and friends' winning show, "Rock and Roll All Night." Noah Darnell juniors Note White and Stephen McBride and seniors Cameron Frazier and Sam Barker serenade the audience April 3. They were the first all-mole group of Spring Sing hosts in the history of the show jeff Montgomery On April7, 2010 graduates Tori Dobbs and Mary Kyle Walker join the hosts as port of the ensemble in the performance between club shows. The hosts performed the song "Witch Docto{ jeff Montgomery 12 student life
When Spring Sing hostsfor2o1owere announced, eyebrows were raised, heads were scratched and excitement filled the air. The change was unprecedented: for the first time in the history of Spring Sing, four male hosts would lead the show instead of the typical two male and two female group. There was no question about the musical talent of the hosts. Juniors Stephen McBride and Nate White and seniors Cameron Frazier and Sam Barker had all pmven themselves capable. However, there was some concern regarding how the new setup would change the dynamics of the show. "I initially had some questions about how it would work logistically, but I was thoroughly excited from the start," McBride said. The news came as a surprise not only to the Harding community; the hosts themselves were astounded. "At first, I was a little shocked to see four guys on the list," Frazier said. "You don't prepare for a kind of surprise like that when you are just nervous about whether or not you1· name is on there. So, after being taken back a bit, I then was very excited to be a Spring Sing host for 201 0." Initially, the hosts missed the feminine touch to the show. "Having a female perspective is always fresh and insightful. We did have Mrs. Dottie Frye [director of Spring Sing] and the ensemble girls, who were amazing in helping us," White, who hosted the 2009 Spring Sing show as well, said. "Sometimes, the four hosts thought too much alike, and we would have to take a step back and realize perhaps we needed a greater variety of perspectives to achieve the most interesting result." Additionally,the hosts realized their performance might be under more scrutiny than in previous years, as the audience was evaluating the success of the change. Despite the skepticism, the hosts definitely had some advantages going into the production of the show. It helped that the four were good friends and had worked together before. According to Barker, they all felt comfodable with each other, and they helped push each other to do their best. They also had some benefits with the music arrangements. "Because there were four males, there were more voices to cover the male register, which meant that I got to be in a more comfortable register than the previous year," White said. "As a freshman, I had to sing a little out of my range, while this year, the music has been much easier to accomplish without harming my voice." Nevertheless, the show presented some challenges. Learning and perfecting new music in a short amount of time was challenging enough for any host. In addition, singing music that was not originally written for an all-male cast raised the bar for the four hosts. "Some of the music was,more difficult than others. Many of the songs we performed were nat originally sung by men, let alone four guys with different harmonies~McBride said. "At times, the music was more comfortable than at others." Not to mention, Barker joke~.,having four male leads caused the show to lose some of its aestheijc quality. "We're all guys, so we't·e not as pretty as girls," Baker said. Despite all the challenges and changes, in the end the audience, ensemble, directors, clubs and hosts all agreed that the show was spectacular and unquestionably one of the best in Harding's history. "People loved it," Frazier said. "Several people came up to us and told us it was the best Spring Sing they have been to." In the end, the four decided that there was nothing they would have done differently. "I wouldn't change a thing," McBride said. "It was a great experience, and I loved every minute of it." Lauren Bucher spring sing 13
14 student life
Sophomore Heather Gould illustrates the international side of Spring Sing in "The Show Must Go On." As port of Delta Gamma Rho, Chi Omega Pi and friends' "Bollywood" show, Gould was able to show the culture of Indio. jeff Montgomery The hosts, ensemble and members from each show donee together in the finale. In keeping with the theme, the lost song was ']ai Ho" from the 2008 movie "Siumdog Millionaire." jeff Montgomery Performing in the "Kids 'N' Kicks" show, sophomore Deanna Davenport, senior Kendall White and junior Laurel jenczyk get in touch with their inner child. The Regina, Oege, Chi Sigma Alpha and friends show took many students bock in time to their days at soccer practice. jeff Montgomery Junior Kelsey Koctor, senior Aleece Overturf. freshman Asia Pork and sophomore Meckoe-Lynn McColl perform their routine to benefit the Special Olympics. ""Rock and Roll All Night" was the winning oct. jeff Montgomery Sophomore Carson McGill leadsthe group in the "Do, Re, Mi" choreography after chapel on April?, 2010. This was the first year there was a pre-show, which mimicked the Aosh mob, or sudden donee routine, craze that first started in Manhattan. jeff Montgomery spring sing 15
Spring break was always a welcome respite from the drudge of class, work and routine in general. While many students went home or on vacation to relax, a group of students traveled to Silver Springs, Md., to serve others as part of one of Harding's spring break campaigns. Initially, the group was not sure what they were getting themselves into. "We were a bit starry-eyed at just the idea of being near Washington, D.C.," senior Justin Vogl said. "We knew thel-e were so many opportunities to serve; we just didn't know the specifics." The mission team's host, JodyVenkatesan from the congregation in Silver Springs, suggested the team organize a food drive for the Bethesda Naval Hospital Red Cross, which hal-bored injured men and women from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. "I have a great respect fort he military, so we were very excited about the thought of helping those fighting for our freedom," Vogl said. "I felt honored to be serving those men and women who have served our country so honorably." The group began by handing out 250 flyers at the Metro station and 200 more door-to-door in neighborhoods. Later, they held a devotional at the Venkatesans' home with some local teens, at the end of which a collection for the food drive was passed around. In the process, the group raised over $1,000 for the recovering soldiers. "The generosity from everyone was overwhelming," Vogl said. "The church in Silver Springs also chipped in money to help us buy more supplies." The team filled four vans full of food and water and delivered them to Bethesda Naval after a few days of preparation. The Red Cross workers were grateful beyond words; the hospital's food supply had run out the day before, and the workers had been unsure where they were going to get additional supplies. "When Ifirst heard that they ran out of supplies the day before we delivered the food, I thought it was coincidence," sophomore Hector Felix said. "Then I started to think about it and realized that coincidences don't happen. It's all part of God's plan." The soldiers in the hospital we1-e most impressed that a group of college students from Arkansas had given up their spring break to serve strangers in Maryland. In the process of delivering the food, much of the group had opportunities for small talk with the soldiers, thanking them for their hard work and sharing their beliefs. "God used us that day to show His love for the soldiers as well as fulfill a bigger purpose," Vogl said. "On mission trips, you feel good about yourself because you are doing good but you don't always get to see the effect of your work.That day, we got to see the effects of our work." All of the students on the trip agreed that giving back to the men and women who had given so much for the U.S. was extremely rewarding. "It was an awesome feeling knowing that God is active in everything we do whether we think about it or not," Felix said. The biggest reward was knowing their services arrived just when Bethesda Naval needed them most. "Those men and women were in the hospital for their service, [but] they don't get to see the effect of their sacrifices," Vogl said. "We hoped and prayed to have shown what they meant to all of us." Nicole Cuillo 16 student life
2010 graduate Bobby Wilkinson and senior justin Vogl build benches and stools March 10, 2010 for a homeless shelter in Maryland The students on the campaign used their God-given talents through the building of these items from scratch. Courtesy of Bo Bailey At the homeless shelter, 2010 graduate Audrey Taylor and sophomore Callie Donaldson spend time with a family. Part of their campaign was spent donating their time and supplies to the shelter. Courtesy of Bo Bailey Sophomores Alyssa Farris and Caity Oliver, junior Kristen Powers and sophomore Brittoni Sarrett create a sign for free water. During the spring break trip to Silver Springs, Md., the group donated a large amount of water bottles to the Red Cross. Courtesy of Bo Bailey spring break campaigns 1 7
Senior Amanda Favazza and junior April Souza ploy basketball with some of the local Peruvians june 1. This was one of the first activities they did when they got to Peru, and was a great way for them to get to know each other. Courtesy ofjoseph Magness junior Whitney Lawson teaches a group of local kids a lesson about Zocheus in Spanish during the summer of 2010. "I was surprised by how fun and easy it was for me to teach these kids, and how much Iwas blessed by this experience," Lawson said. Courtesy of Whitney Lawson While in Peru, junior April Souza spends time with other team members at the zoo, known as the Porque de Los Leyendos. "Barney was at the zoo the day we were there," senior Molly Brooks said. "He was just taking pictures with people and dancing around." Courtesy of Molly Brooks 18 student life
I n t he m ids t of the beautiful scenery and exciting culture of Peru, a group of Harding students set aside the idea of a relaxing vacation for something much more important. "The purpose of our summer campaign to Peru was missions,'' Spanish professor Alyssa Hepburn said. "Although everyone who went was also a Spanish student and hoped to improve his or her proficiency in the language, the main purpose was to spread the gospel." The Church in Lima, PE)ru, asked the group to come down for four weeks during the summer of 2010 to encourage the current members and reach out to the surrounding areas, spreading the gospel to the non-Christian locals. The mission team, which consisted of 11 students and faculty, spent the previous semester writing Bible studies in Spanish and practicing their language skills daily in preparation for the summer. After their arrival in Peru, the team immediately began strengthening and building up the current members, simultaneously teaching them to evangelize and clarifying issues of biblical doctrine. "I don't think they were used to [evangelizing] or ready for that," senior Molly Brooks said. The team said they loved experiencing Peruvian culture and bonding with members of the church.They accompanied the youth of the congregation on a visit to Parque De La Reserva,or Park of the Fountains, home to the largest fountain in the world. "It was a great bonding experience with the kids, and the light show in the fountains was really beautiful,'' Hepburn said. In addition to sightseeing, the team visited one of the poorer districts of the city. "We loved worshipping with them and hearing them sing in Spanish," senior Amanda Favazza said. Brooks agreed that the experience was a moving one. "Seeing the joy on their faces and the fact they had such passion in a much less fortunate situation was inspiring," Brooks said. Of course, watching their new friends being baptized was definitely the most exciting experience forthe group, the team said. In addition to adding three converts, the team planted the seeds of Christ in the hearts of several other natives and changed the church's mind set toward evangelistic ministry, motivating them not to rely so dependently on visiting missionaries for outreach ministries. "We really learned a lot," Favazza said. "We got a better grasp of the languaw,.learned more about the practicalities of being foreign missionaries and learned to be more flexible and to have more pa.t,iS@ce." The team's const~t prayer was that Christ would use the seeds they had planted to change many hearts, just as the people of Peru had changed theirs. Nicole Guilla summer campaigns 1 9
• What comes to mindwhenyouthink of Student Impact? Is it moving into the dorms? Energy groups? The hypnotist?Theme dinners? Or do you simply think about it as the start of school? Do you ever think about who planned it? Or how much work went into that one weekend? Well, I never did until I became Impact Co-Director with senior Justin Vogl. Vogl and I began planning in early spring 2010. Until then, I had never realized how many small details had to be thought out and planned for just one weekend. We worked all summer, but the really long days were the days leading up to Impact weekend. All of the work throughout the summer seemed to finally be coming together. Not only did we get to plan it all, but we also got to participate in it; for example, little did I know that I would end up hypnotized on the Benson stage in front of hundreds of students! While being hypnotized was a fun experience I will never forget, it was not the highlight of the weekend; there was so much more to Impact than just the entertainment. We had to think out every little detail beforehand, yet still be flexible enough to change plans at the last second and think on our feet. Problems could arise at any given moment, and we were the ones who had to resolve them. Being involved with such a big event made me realize I could not do it alone. It taught me that learning how to delegate is a good thing. One person cannot be everywhere at once. Our steering committee of about 30 students helped us out tremendously. They were in charge of different things that needed to be done throughout the weekend. Sometimes Ifound myself thinking about what Iwould have done without their help. They were there voluntarily; they did not get paid or receive much praise from anyone. Most of their work was behind the scenes. That group of people really encouraged me because they were there to help out of the goodness of their hearts. I thought that was the perfect example of what Christ calls us to do. We ended the weekend with a closing ceremony that included candles, singing, devotional and a painting of Jesus. I thought this was a great way to end the weekend because it really showed the students what Harding was about. We strove to be a Christ-centered university, so showing that to the newcomers was very important to me. Down the road, when I look back on Impact, Iwil l remember the excitement of the new students and how much joy it brought me to be a part of the whole experience. I will also remember the hard work that was put into this event and the lessons I learned from it. Even though the job was stressful at times, it was still worth all of the work. I do not think anyone realizes how much goes on behind the scenes until they are there themselves, but I cannot blame them because I never would have thought about it either. Impact made me appreciate those who do work and plan events. It also reminded me how much I really do love Harding and what it stands for. Ashe/ Parsons 2 0 student life
Freshman Weston Gentry repairs a fence Aug. 21. Gentry was port of on energy group that went to jacob's House for their service project. }on Yoder Sliding down the slip-n-slide Aug. 22, freshman Zachary Wimer spends his first Sunday at school interacting with other freshmen. Impact events were designed to allow incoming students to get to know and build relationships with one another. Alex Shelton Students spend their first days at Harding shoring God's love through service projects. Impact was on annual event that combined serving others. learning about the school and having fun. jon Yoder impact 21
Musical productions had been held since Harding's days in Morrilton, Ark. The first official "Homecoming Musical" was "Fiddler on the Roof" in 1971. This year, in fall 2010, the Benson hosted "Thoroughly Modern Millie," a show set in the roaring 20s in New York City. The story featured tap dancing secretaries, Chinese bellhops, flapper girls and a mobster of sorts. It was a largely successful show with the traditional standing ovation at the curtain call when all of the smiling actors, singers and dancers came out for their final bow. But what about the faces behind the curtains? New York's city streets, laundry carts, speakeasies and hotel hallways did not just appear on stage when the actors needed them. The show called for a large-scale crew and a semester of hard labor to get everything ready for the faces on the stage. "A lot more (people are involved] than people think," stage manager and senior Saoirse Dryden said. "There are the designers, of course, for costumes, set, lights and PR. There is the building crew who puts in an amazing amount of work to get everything done, the backstage crew who you can't do the show without, and, of course, there are the director and producer who also spend an ungodly amount of time working on the production." Some students volunteered simply because they wanted to be a part of something. Most students who worked on the crew, however, were theatre majors who had been involved in shows for years and were looking forward to a career in the theatrical arts.They had experienced everything from lead roles to pulling the curtains at the correct time. "I feel like [Harding] target[s] the concept of 'Jack of all trades, master of one,"' freshman Kris Monroe, a theatre major in charge of the downstage flies, said. "Helping with the process of developing the show is challenging and a new learning experience with every rehearsal and every production." The audience became well acquainted with the faces and voices of the actors and dancers on stage. The stage crew was never seen, however, though they worked just as hard. They were given the unique perspective of behind-the-scenes observers, getting to hear audience reactions to their handiwork. "It really doesn't bother me that we fade into the black," Sydney Clyde, a senior theatre major who came from a long line of performers, said. "After all, if you knew that the lady sitting next to you in the audience made that costume onstage, it kind of takes away a bit of the magic, doesn't it?" They were the faces behind the curtain, and they liked it that way. "As a techie, my goal is for the audience to see the show as a whole and not even know that I'm there," Dryden said. "If the show runs smoothly and the audience enjoys it, then my job is done and done well. Hearing an audience member remark on how well the show went is all the recognitions I need." Monique jacques 2 2 student life
Graduate student Elizabeth Horrell as Millie and the ensemble girls top donee to "Forget About the Boy" in "Thoroughly Modern Millie" on Nov S. lt hod been 14 years since there was a top donee routine during® Harding musical. jeff Montgomery After bei~crowned Homecoming Queen on Nov. 6, senior Dio Gibson of Delta Gamma Rho accepts flowers fro~/~resident David Burks. The other two finalists were seniors Sarah Antczak of ju Go ju and Vanessa Rubey of Zeta Rho. Ashe/ Parsons Cheering on the football team Nov. 6, Buff the Bison pumps up the crowd "He'sreally funny and odds spirit to the crowd." senior athletic trainer Amanda Dorsey said Ashe/ Parsons homecoming 2 3
2 4 student life Sophomores Aaron Gillaspie and james Feher tackle players from Arkansas Tech during the Nov. 6 Homecoming game. The Bisons won with a score of 4 2 to 7. Ashe/ Parsons Mrs. Meers, played by senior Mary McBride, and Bun Foo. played by sophomore joshua Little. argue about selling girls into white slavery during the Nov. 5 performance of "Thoroughly Modern Millie." Mrs. Meers forced Bun Foo to be a slave trader in exchange for her bringing their mother over to America. Ashe/ Parsons Reading a letter from home, sophomore Koelyn Tovernifs character Ethel Peas finds out that her lost living relative has died. In "Millie," single girls living at the Hotel Priscilla tha~ were "'all alone in the world" were sold into slavery. jeff Mo!]tgomery Handing Miss Dorothy a rose in "Millie" Nov. 5. sophomore Bloke t-IUI'Iter acts out the first scene in a love story with so~homore Amanda Lone. Hunter'scharacter was supposed to hand Miss Dorothy a poisoned apple but instead gave her a rose. jeff Montgomery Singing "Only in New York." graduate student Alycio Haynes performs her first solo of the night. Haynes played Muzzy Von Hossmere. a wealthy singer and performer jeff Montgomery
homecoming 2 5
• It all began withonequestion:"Didyouhear who's coming to Harding?" The question buzzed across campus through text messages, Facebook feeds, Twitter updates and old-fashioned face-to-face conversations. Weeks later, posters went up in the student center. The excitement began to mount. The night of the concert arrived, and masses of fans squealed the same line with intense anticipation: "Jason Mraz is coming to Harding." On Sept. 25, Jason Mraz performed Iive on the Benson stage. Famous for his musical style that blended pop, folk and rock, Mraz was a big name in pop culture. His song "I'm Yours" reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100, and he received two Grammys for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance with his song "Make it Mine" and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals with pop singer Colbie Caillat on the song "Lucky." With his awards and fame, Mraz was not merely a celebrity; he was an outright sensation. Luckily enough, he was able to show off his talent on Harding's campus. Since 2007, Corey McEntyre had been the head director of Campus Activities Board. During those years, McEntyre brought several celebrity recording artists to campus, such asTaylor Swift, Sarah Bareilles, John Mcl aughlin, Owl City and OneRepublic. But how did he get such big name stars every year? "We go through a business called Event Resources Presents, which helps us with everything," McEntyre said. "They contact the artist's managers for us, they do the consulting and they help out with contracts." McEntyre also explained how CAB selected the artists to perform. "I do not base the venues on what music I like; the reason varies from artist to artist," McEntyre said. "Jason Mraz happened to be on a college tour with cheaper tickets. His tour was also a blend of old songs from his previous albums and new songs from his upcoming album." CAB's hard work paid off, and it was obvious the students loved every minute of the concert. Mraz brought the nearly sold out crowd to their feet- and kept them there forthe entire two-hour set. Mraz not only performed songs from all three of his albums, but he introduced quite a few new ones as well. Whether it was with his witty lyrics about Arkansas or when he pulled a fan on stage with him for his new song, "San Disco Reggaefornia," Mraz kept the crowd constant ly engaged.After ending the show with the Beatles classic, "All You Need Is Love," Mraz spent time at the edge of the stage signing COs and talking to the fans who all agreed that the concert was wonderful. "I thought Jason Mraz was a true performer. He made my ears explode," junior Kevin Newton said. "Seriously, the concert was awesome." According to McEntyre, helping students make memories was what the concert was all about. "When you are having that rough semester with the tough classes, a concert can give you an escape with a huge crowd of people all screaming and singing for the same reason," McEntyre said. All of their efforts culminated in the most talked-about concert of the semester. "Jason Mraz was a great performer," senior Lauren Hackney said. "His concert was probably the best I've been to at Harding." john Mark Adkison 2 6 student life
jason Mroz performs his well-known hits along with several new songs on the Benson stage Sept. 25. This was the major concert of the fall semester, and students were excited to hove a big nome on campus. Noah Darnell Students ~on truck tailgatesand on the ground at the drive-in.mcyie, Remember the Tirans, Sept. 11. This event was ~ted as port of Celebrate Kingdom to raise money for the Sunshine School. Ashe/ Parsons Sophomore Sam Featherstone and junior Lauren Tonkersley listen to the Belles and Beaux and UFO Reel concert on the front lawn Aug. 27. The Bock to School Bosh was created for students to meet new faces and reconnect with old friends after the first week of school. Alex Shelton campus activities 2 7
Seniors Chaeli Nelson and Paola Eusse ride bikes Dec. 8. Many students enjoyed riding their bikes through campus for fun and as everyday transportaton. Ashe/ Parsons Gathered around the television, juniors Christina Hatler. Lauro Green, Elizabeth Burke, Mogen Clayton, Britney Cothren, Kara Beaty and Amy Roznos watch "The Office" Dec. 2. The group got together every Thursday night to watch their favorite show Ashe/ Parsons Sophomore Christian Yoder greets senior Richard Parsons Dec. 3. Yoder hod just completed a concert for the Midnight Oil Porch Series the night before and was a well-known musician around campus. Ashe/ Parsons 2 8 student life
It's no secret that college life could be extremely busy, hectic and stressful for any student. But for juniors Elizabeth Burke, Amy Roznos and Magen Clayton, the perfect stress reliever came on Thursday nights in the form of laugh-out-loud "TV Watch Parties." "The Office" was an award-winning American comedy television show that aired on NBC and had been successful since its premiere in 2005. In 2010, many students were as dedicated to the show as ever. According to Roznos, "The Office" was "lighthearted, and of course hilarious," filled with over-the-top characters, laughter and just the right amount of drama. "We've been watching "The Office" for as long as I can remember us being friends," Clayton said. It all began in Burke's room in Sears dorm during the girls' freshman year in fall2008. They came together as a casual group of friends who shared a common interest in the show. They soon developed a strong friendship and a strong devotion to keeping up with the fictional paper company Dunder Mifflin and the characters' lives in Scranton, Penn. According to Burke, the girls decided to make it an official tradition to meet and watch the show together when they realized how important it was in bringing them together. "'The Office'was part of my schedule even before I came to Harding, so it was easy to transfer that habit over," Roznos said. Over time, the girls became even busier, and their schedules were sometimes difficult to line up on Thursday nights, so they relied on the website Hulu to catch what was missed as soon as they possibly could. Burke even described one instance when they got up early enough to watch the episode they had missed before chapel. "That's dedication," Burke said. Each episode of "The Office" was only about 20 minutes long, giving the girls plenty of opportunities to catch up on other things such as homework, socializing and just relaxing. "When Iam watching 'The Office,' Itry to let all my cares from the week go- at least for half an hour," Roznos said. Thursday nights quickly became the girls' favorite part of the week. Of course, since the seasons were released on DVD, the girls were able to have impromptu "Office Parties" whenever they needed a laugh or a study break. So why "The Office"? , - "Because I hope to wor~ in a place just like that some day,'' Burke said. After all, "The office is a place where dreams come true," according to Michael ~~tt, regional manager of Dunder Mifflin Paper Compar1f in Scranton. Cobr!elle Pruitt · doily life 2 9
Many students considered an eighthour drive a long way from home, but for some students, a long way from home was a 20-hour plane ride halfway across the globe. With students from 49 countries around the world, Harding's international student population was not small, to say the least. Tina Liu, a sophomore from Beijing, China, had a very positive experience in coming to the United States. When Liu decided as a senior in high school to come to the U.S. as a foreign exchange student, she was placed with a family in Atlanta, Ga., who happened to be members of the church. After only being in the U.S. for one year, and with the encouragement of her host family, Liu began looking at Harding as a potential college option. "My high school took a field trip to Harding for Bison Daze, so I got a chance to see what Harding looked like and to meet the people there," Liu said. "After that, I decided to come to Harding because I loved the people, and the small classes gave me more of a chance to ask questions and talk to the professors." Even with her newfound friendships with professors and students, Liu felt the effects of culture shock upon her arrival at school. "I would have to say that the language is the first thing that destroyed 'my dream,'" Liu said. "Before I came to the U.S., I went to an international school in Beijing, which offers a lot of English classes, such as reading, writing, listening and speaking. I was a straight A student, which made me feel proud. But Iforgot one thing: here in the U.S., everyone speaks better English than I do." After coming to that realization, Liu decided to start from scratch and re-learn English. Slowly but surely, and with the help of her friends, Liu improved. Her ultimate goal was to use her opportunities to become even more multicultural than she already was. By the time of her arrival at Harding, she had already visited Singapore and Thailand, but an important factor in Liu's coming to the U.S. was her choice of occupation. "I want to become an actuary, and America has the best schools to study in actuarial science," Liu said. During her freshman year, Liu formed unique bonds with her professors, including mass communication professor Steven Shaner. "I metTina during her first semester at Harding," Shaner said. "I teach a speech class called ComO 101/ESL, meaning 'English as a Second Language,' for Chinese students. I spoke very little Chinese and I needed some help, so I recruited Tina as my assistant. Later Ifound out that Iwould have the opportunity to teach in China over the summer of 2010. Tina was going home fort he summer, and she jumped right on that." During Shaner's summer trip to China, Liu spent four days with Shaner and his wife, serving as hostess, tour guide and translator. She accompanied them to legendary places such as the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall of China. "It was amazing to have somebody like Tina with native skills, home for the summer and willing to give us four days," Shaner said. "Tina and my wife are shopping buddies now." Liu expressed how much she had changed and grown since coming to Harding. "I have become more independent and confident because I can compete with people who are coming from different countries," Liu said. "I can do much better than Ithought, like overcoming difficulties and doing better on my tests." "The best thing about Tina is her fun, friendly personality,'' Shaner said. "A lot of foreign students are shy here, afraid of saying the wrong thing, looking un-American, but that has never stopped Tina. She is one of the most open, outgoing people you will ever meet." Liu's roommate sophomore Jesslyn Willis agreed. "Tina is such a people person no matter what nationality you are,'' Willis said. "She is constantly with people and friends and would do anything for them if they needed her. She is truly an extraordinary person." Caitlin Caldwell/Sarah Eason 30 student life
Sophomore Tina Liu tells the chapel audience a little about the Chinese Moon Festival in the Benson Sept. 24 The event was held in the cafeteria and Liu was the emcee for the evening. Ashe/ Parsons Posing with her host family Dec. 25, Liu shows the Christmas presents she bought them. ··1 wonted them to know Iappreciate them and thank them for all they hove done for me," Liu said. Courtesy of Tina Liu At the Chinese Moon Festival on Sept. 24, freshmen Vicky Zhong, Winnie Lin and Cecelia Wu sing to the crowd. The Moon Festival was a chance for the Chinese students to show the rest of the student body their culture. Ashe/ Parsons international students 31
I The National Broadcasting Society hosted the 5 Minute Film Festival for its second year in the fall, which encouraged students from all departments to step behind the camera and create. Whether the creations were masterpieces or mistakes was completely up to the audience, who also judged the competition. Taking on a format similar to that of a Hollywood film festival, the 5 Minute Film Festival featured short films produced by different groups on campus and gave out awards for first, second and third place, as well as awards for worst film, best club film and best film created in the 48 hours before the festival. The event was described as "a festival celebrating the best, worst and even the completely mediocre films made by Harding students. The only limits are that films must be less than 5 minutes in length and must be Harding appropriate; other than that anything goes." The festival was first created in the spring of 2010, based on the Honors College version of the event called the Exit 45 Film Festival in the fall of 2008. "Our sponsor encouraged us to create a fund raiser to generate revenue for our club," festival director Grant Dillion said. "One of the ideas we tossed around in the meeting was a film festival. I volunteered to take the project on and I have created, designed and sustained the project ever since." New to the festival this semester was the "48 Hour Film" category. "The idea of having a campus-wide 48 hour event started when Itried to register for the national event a couple weeks ago, but Harding's security block kept me from registering," senior LaRell Reynolds, creator and winner of the 48 Hour Film category, said. "Basically the idea is to make a film in 48 hours, and you are given four items: a genre, a prop, a line of dialogue and a character's name. You are supposed to use all items in your film." After all the films were shown, filmmakers took the stage for a question and answer session in which they talked about their films and took questions from the audience. Simultaneously, a group of volunteers furiously tallied the votes in preparation for the awards ceremony at the end of the evening. When all the votes were counted, the emcee announced the winners. First place went to "The Admin Avenger," directed by senior Collin Yearry. Second place wentto "The Delivery," directed by sophomores Tanner Anderson, Wade O'Dear and Kyle Williams, and third place went to "A Storm in a Glass," directed by senior Lucy Marchena.The award for Best Club Film went to "Evolution of Music," directed by junior Matt Fahey of Beta Omega Chi. The winner in the Worst Film category was senior Nathan Covington for "The Bison Hunter." Reynolds won the award forthe Best 48 Hour Film with "Be My Friend." Winners went home with trophies as well as a multitude of gifts and gift cards donated by local businesses. Dillion left with the satisfaction of knowing the event had been a success. "This festival isn't about prestigious art or serious intellectual discussion," Dillion said. "It's about coming together and having fun and sharing in the collective creativity of the student body." Heidi Tabor 3 2 student life I ~· td' ,1( . "' , ' ... '\' ~t) r. ;· .~ . ,, ,, ' .l ... .. .. I • :~ i •• .. ta IE .. -- • • ' r '· t I • ., J ·""" ... \; ., C) ' ~ I • '"'
Senior Trent Posey works as cameraman for the five minute film "Three Swings" Nov. 3. The film was based on a combination of the television show "The Bachelor" and the Harding "three swings and a ring" myth. Courtes.y of Cront Dillion Freshman Toyloi\Hooten and sophomores Ryonne Greene, Amoerly Smith and Corey Stumne roost marshmallows atre"bonfire Nov. S. The event marked the beginning oflJe Homecoming festivities and also included a performance by student bond "Foreign Tourists." Ashe/ Parsons Students make their wishes as a star drops in front of the Administration Building at 11:11 p.m on Dec 6. The Student Association held a "Celebrate: Spirit" night that included Christmas music, hot chocolate and a dorm room Christmas lighting contest. Ashe/ Parsons campus activities 3 3
The process of streamlining intramural sports began in earnest when assistant professor of kinesiology Tom Ritchie took over the position of women's intramurals and club sports director in fall2010. Ritchie moved to Searcy in August 2008 as a professor for the College of Science's kinesiology department. Three years later, Ritchie accepted the position of women's intramural director and prepared to make intramurals easier for students to participate in. According to Ritchie, his degrees in education and physical education helped prepare him for the task ahead. "I have a great deal of experience in sports and recreation, having coached over 50 seasons of high school sports," Ritchie said. Focusing on increasing communication rather than changing rules, Ritchie added a Google calendar for the team, as well as posts on the new Pipeline Whiteboard, for better intramural organization. "I think Mr. Ritchie is doing a wonderful job with women's club and intramural sports," senior Amanda Dorsey said. "He has been wonderful to work with, especially by scheduling games around some of our club functions. He also has been good about letting us know when games are and giving us plenty of time to let the girls know when they play." Along with the communication changes, Ritchie hoped to offer more activities for intramural athletes in addition to the club sports currently offered. "We are reaching out to our graduate programs, such as the College of Pharmacy, to provide opportunities for all our students," Ritchie said. Dorsey added that Ritchie's new program also hired referees instead of having club athletic directors find refs. "[Ritchie] helps a ton and keeps everyone's schedules a little less hectic," Dorsey said. Ryan Orr 3 4 student life
Freshman Elana Newell plays her first nag football game as a member of Zeta Pi Zeta Nov 10. "It was so much fun to watch all of the girls ploy after the stressful week that brought them all together," senior Alicia Miller said. Abby Kellett Freshman Chris Meyer blocks the boll Nov 10 os freshman Alex Bishop and senior Ty Shelton get ready to defend the ploy. "lntromurols hove been great because I hove mode friends with people I otherwise would not hove met," Shelton said. Alex Shelton Sophomores Nate White and Davis Weeks try to block sophomore Christian Yoder and junior Cameron Passmore. This Oct. 14 game gave Knights a victory against Beta Omega Chi. Alex Shelton intromurols 35
• It was fina II y Friday. Classes were done for the week, and students were looking for something interesting to do with their weekend. They searched their pockets for money and realized they were low on cash. Where to go? What to do? Ever considered Heber Springs? Heber Springs was a small town less than an hour drive from Searcy with a spectacular view of the "Natural State." People from all over central Arkansas came to enjoy the waters of Greers Ferry Lake and cliff diving, making it the seventh-most popular tourist location in Arkansas. Gibson said she enjoyed Heber Springs while a student at Harding. She always tried to go on weekends when the weather was warm and the sun was shining. "I think Heber is so popular because it's just far enough away that it's kind of an escape," Gibson said. "It's absolutely beautiful and really inexpensive." As the weather grew warmer, Heber trips became more frequent; almost any weekend when the weather was right, students could be found hanging out at the lake. "I like Heber because it's a beautiful, clean place to go get out of the heat and it's close, so lots of people from Harding go there," junior Callie McAllister said. "It's a good escape because you can just go there and be surrounded by God's glory." Greers Ferry Lake, created in 1963 and dedicated to the late President John F. Kennedy, became one of the most beautiful man-made lakes in the state, and out of all of Heber's attractions, the lake's cliffs were the most enticing. From beginner jumps all the way up to twenty-foot plummets, there was a height for almost anyone's comfort zone. "My favorite part about Heber is that you can do whatever you want as far as the water," sophomore Zach Decker said." "It's good for water skiing, jumping and more. I like to climb the bluff after jumping into the water. That has to be my favorite part." Besides the lake and the cliffs, there were other recreational events to enjoy around town. "It's a place where you can catch a movie with family at the infamous Rialto Theater," junior Danielle Bradshaw said. "Enjoying a great day at the lake makes a great time with family and friends also." No matter how many generations of students came through Harding, Heber remained one of the most popular weekend getaways. Students and their parents alike could look back on their memories at Greers Ferry Lake as one of the places that brought relief from studies and the simple pleasure of enjoying nature. Elumbo Eben]o 3 6 student life ------~ ~--------~
Sophomore Alex Warzecha cartwheels off a cliff at Heber Springs Sept. 25. Freshman Lauro Teochworth and sophomore Claire Allensworth along with some other frie~ids decided to spend their Saturday soaking up the suf\(arah Eason Students gather in the Rhodes Fieldhouse Oct. 14 for MiQbJQht Madness. This was the first year Midnight Mbdness hod strobe lights, fog machines and on extended curfew. Ashe/ Parsons Freshman Barret Swims plays in the Bottle of the Bonds night Oct. 14 in the cafeteria. The winner, sophomore Kolton Thomas, was entered into a national competition entitled "URock!" Ashe/ Parsons weekend life 3 7
Drinking Starbuckscoffee Dec. 3, senior Coleo Bakke enjoys her weekend in Nashville. Tenn. Bakke and her friends attended a Christian conference led by Christian speaker and author Graham Cooke. Alex Shelton Freshman Alex Ford roasts a marshmallow at a campsite in Heber Springs, Ark., Sept. 24. "My favorite port was sitting out by the lake in the middle of the night singing with my friends. as a couple of the guys played the guitar," freshman Taylor Correll said Courtesy of Taylor Carrell Reenacting a scene from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. seniors Moria Gleim and Courtney Boyd celebrate the book at a Harry Potter party Nov. 1. A number of students were fans of the books and movies and held theme parties before the Nov. 19 movie release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows. Port One. Courtesy of Elena Moore 38 student life
I "The Church iSnota physical building, but a group of believers; not a denomination, sect, or association, but a spiritual body. The Church is not an organization, but a communion, a fellowship of one body, and it includes all believers." - John MacArthur, The Church: The Body of Christ Highway Church of Christ embodied that message of service when its college minister came up with the idea to spend their Sunday serving and worshipping with the homeless of Little Rock for the first time on October 12, 2010. Sophomore Morgan Jones got to share this unique experience with other college students in helping and spending time with the homeless. "It gave us an opportunity to worship and share God's love with people from much different backgrounds than us," Jones said. The group not only got to serve the homeless, but also got to see firsthand how they worshipped. "My favorite memory was the man who talked before the Lord's Supper," Jones said. "His message was very emotional and really touched me. He talked about how material things really didn't matter and that God died for everyone." Junior John Mark Adkison said working with the children, most of whom attended without their parents, was his favorite part of the experience. "The kids were shy at first," Adkison said. "Then the preacher asked the kids to sit among all of us students, and within minutes the kids couldn't stop talking with us." Through the homeless ministry, students at Highway felt they were getting close to the kind of church Jesus would have participated in. "Highway is putting such an emphasis on service, and I think that's awesome," Adkison said. "In a sense, they are revolutionizing Sunday morning class." Sharing a meal with the children was real communion, according to Adkison. "It was awesome to see how excited the kids got when they saw r~at we fixed them food," Adkison said. "ThE!y were just so happy to see us there. Their faces-aU'-fit up." Caitlin Caldwell weekend life 3 9
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==