PETIT JEAN HARDING UNIVERSITY 915 EAST MARKET AVENUE· SEARCY, ARKANSAS 501.279.4000 · WWW.HARDING.EDU 2012-2013 ENROLLMENT 6,815
8 32 54 82 112 • • • • • • • • • • Student Life International Social Clubs Academics People
190 218 268 298 • • • • • • • • Leadership Organizations Athletics Index
0 ver the past 89 years, Harding has created a distinctive legacy. This legacy began with individuals such as James A. Harding, J.N. Armstrong and GeorgeS. Benson, who made Harding their mission. These men are more than just the names of buildings around campus; they are our founding fathers. With the announcement that Dr. Bruce McClarty would become our fifth president, our founding fathers increased. Although Dr. Clifton Ganus and Dr. David Burks were not a part of the 1924 establishment, they have continued to build on the foundation established by their predecessors. These men have a combined 48 years of experience marked by the development, growth and expansion of the campus and its programs. Harding has 48 buildings on 350 acres in Searcy, as well as campuses in eight countries with students representing all 50 states and 53 foreign countries. Harding employs 332 instructional faculty members and offers 10 undergraduate degrees in more than 100 academic majors, 14 pre-professional programs, and 15 graduate and professional degrees. Despite the architectural and academic changes, our mission has remained, due to dedicated faculty, staff, administration and students, who hold fast to the belief that Harding is and will always be a place of faith, learning and living. What was once a dream, is
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10 I Student Life Playing the role of an ugly stepsister, senior Erica Tremaine sings in the "Twisted Sister" performance. The fairy tale-based show consisted of Chi Omega Pi, Delta Gamma Rho, Zeta Pi Zeta and friends. Ashe/ Parsons Spring Sing hosts senior Emily Helton and 2012 alumnus Matt Flynn perform a nerd skit to open the TNT, Zeta Rho and friends Comic-Con show. "I loved being with that awesome group of [hosts and hostesses] and getting to spend so much time doing what I love," Helton said. Ashe/ Parsons Sophomore Greg Chambers and juniors Chelsey Sullivan and Ahmad Scott strike a pose in their show "If At First You Don't Succeed, Tribe, Tribe, Tribe Again." Gamma Sigma Phi, Delta Nu, Iota Chi, Pi Theta Phi and friends placed third and donated their prize money to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Ashe/ Parsons
When "Comics and Star Trek and Sci-fi, Oh My!" took the stage during Spring Sing, many of the performers had a friend in mind who had initially been part of the show. Every component of their show, from their attire to their singing, was dedicated to freshman Ty Osman, who passed away during spring break. As much as the loss of Ty hurt, it pulled the members of the show closer together. "Sure, we had the motivation to win, but it was the motivation from Ty that got us that trophy," junior Dustyn Stokes said. For jersey night, the clubs did something that was unheard of in Spring Sing tradition: they did not wear their jerseys. Instead, each member of the show wore aT-shirt with "Proud T.O. be a Geek" on the front and "Osman" spray-painted blue on the back. Their show closed with the members pointing to Ty's name. "Jersey night was so special because we did something no one had ever done before, and it was really meaningful," sophomore Kinsey Beck said. Spectators from other clubs were touched by the gesture and welcomed the opportunity to honor Ty with TNT, Zeta Rho and Friends. "It made me tear up," sophomore Delta Nu member honoring Ty through performance Andrea DeCamp said. According to Beck, part of what pulled the show through the tough times was the directors from TNT and Zeta Rho. "Our directors put more work into our show than I've ever seen, and it really made the best show ever," Beck said. "We formed relationships that are unbreakable and will last a lifetime." The Comic-Con themed show won Spring Sing, earning $2,000 for Special Olympics, but for the students, the performance was forTy. AfterTy's passing, junior Tyler Gentry, a Sub T-16 member, took his place in the choreography. "I knew I didn't have the words to comfort," Gentry said. "It was just the fact that I wanted to help out, and I knew I could do so by my actions." Gentry offered to help with only three weeks of practice left before the shows began. Within a few practices, he had learned the entire show. Every aspect of the TNT, Zeta Rho and Friends show was a dedication to Ty Osman, from the T-shirts to the performance. The students missed Ty, but they welcomed the opportunity to remember him well and honor him together. Alexis Hosticka "Ty [Osman] showed us all how to be goofballs and crazy dancers, but he also showed us through his smile and attitude the spirit of Christ. The show was dedicated to him because his memory lives on in the hearts and minds of all of us. The TNT, Zeta Rho Spring Sing show of 2012 was one that none of us will ever forget," sophomore Marianna Woodruff said. Spring Sing Est. 1973 111
"Spring Sing was my first time ever choreographing. Even though it was a lot of work, I still managed to have one of the best experiences of my life through directing and coming closer with everyone in the show," senior Justin Stanley said. Senior host Benji Holder sings a duet with his father, Andy Holder. Andy returned to Harding to share the stage with his son by singing "Home," the song he sang as a Spring Sing host in 1982. Ashe/ Parsons Junior Hannah Stinnett, sophomore Hayley Smith and director senior Kelsey Sparks reach out to the audience in the Ko Jo Kai, Ju Go Ju and friends "Cirque Du Askew" show. The show girls placed fourth and donated their money to the Jarred Bryan Sparks Foundation, in honor of the late brother of Kelsey Sparks. Ashe/ Parsons 12 1 Student Life Ensemble members, dressed as a chorus, assist hostess 2012 alumna Caroline Snell in her solo performance of "Not Enough." There were three hosts and two hostesses for Slightly Askew, instead of the usual four. Ashe/ Parsons
Fireworks explode as hosts, hostesses, club and ensemble members perform the closing number, "Steal Your Rock 'N' Roll" for Slightly Askew. The entire show had more than 1 ,000 performers. Ashe/ Parsons Awakened from the dead, the zombies of Chi Sigma Alpha, OEGE, Regina and friends take the stage. "Haunted: Dead or Alive" received second place for their performance and donated their award money to Searcy Children's Home. Ashe/ Parsons Sophomore Ben Wagner holds a note in the Alpha Tau Epsilon, Chi Kappa Rho, GATA, Shantih, Omega Lambda Chi and friends "Ragtime, Ritz and a Little Bit of Glitz" show. The Roaring Twenties-themed show featured flappers, mobsters and old legends. Ashe/ Parsons Spring Sing 113
alaskan • surpr1se of a lifetime To go on a spring break mission campaign and to speak the truth of God's word, you must have love. To ask a woman to be your wife on that campaign, you must have love and a ring. While working on a spring break mission campaign in Ketchikan, Alaska, senior David Mosher knew it was time to ask senior Monica Russell to be his wife. Mosher and Russell knew each other in high school and decided to go to Harding, where they started their relationship their freshman year. This put the couple two years, six months and five days into their relationship upon engagement, according to Russell. With a ring ordered, Mosher thought it would be 12 weeks before he would get a chance to pop the question, but the ring came in just four weeks, giving Mosher the element of surprise and the opportunity of a beautiful proposal site. "I was trying to throw her off the scent a little bit," Mosher said. Though friends and family were supportive and helpful, there were still details to be ironed out once in Alaska. Mosher entrusted the ring to a friend during the flight to Alaska, ensuring its safety and guarding it from Russell's notice. In Alaska, Mosher had to find the perfect spot to ask the most important question. Mosher discussed possible sites with Gary Souza, the preacher of the church where they were volunteering for the week, and found little bits of time to sneak away and check things out. Mosher had packed a case of 32 floating candles hoping to find a spot next to a body of water in which to set the floating lights. Sadly, the week was rainy and snowy, and proposal venues were restricted to indoors. On the final night in Ketchikan, the group met for a devotional at Totem State Park ,in a cabin with a totem above the entrance. Mosher had surveyed the scene earlier in the day and knew it was right. After some distraction was devised for Russell to keep her out of the building, the candles were set in a heart shape in the middle of the room with rose petals making a cross in the middle and the rest of the group singing "I Want to Grow Old With You" from the Wedding Singer a cappella as Russell walked into the building. Russell gasped as she took in the scene and found Mosher standing among petals and candles, motioning her towards him. "The whole time I was thinking, 'Oh my goodness, this is really happening. This is really happening,"' Russell said. Russell said she did not expect a proposal on the trip, focusing instead on the people she was serving, but in the end it was everything she could have hoped for in that moment. Russell, who loved weddings and proposals, said that she had heard of great proposals, but her own surpassed them all. "I couldn't have imagined it any better," Russell said. "For me, it was perfect." After the excitement had quieted, Mosher addressed the group and made a statement about their new relationship. Mosher told the group he wanted their life together to be like a mission trip, God-focused and full of service to others, which made the time spent with the Alaskan community mean even more to the group. Chaney Mitchell "Everyone knew about the engagement except Monica. We had to keep it a secret from her almost the entire trip. Going to Alaska to share God's word and see two people share their love for each other was the experience of a lifetime," junior Victoria Tyer said. 14 I Student Life r.-!«•:•:-!• ~·---·-·· .. ·:· .... ... ~ ..
Laughing and playing, senior Hector Felix spends time with children during his spring break mission trip to City of Children, in Ensenada, Mexico. Felix was the leader of his trip along with junior Morgan Sorrell. Courtesy of Hector Felix Wearing a Buzz Lightyear costume, sophomore Isaac Pannell and senior Rob Hayes lead a group of vacation Bible school children in the song "I'm In The Lord's Army." While in Clarendon, Jamaica, the mission team ran a VBS and visited schools and hospitals. Courtesy ofAshley Harrington Alumnus Andy Weber is surrounded by kids at a local elementary school in Clarendon, Jamaica. Harding offered over ten different student led spring break mission trips within the states and overseas. Courtesy of' Ashley Harrington Spring Break Campaigns 115
16 1 Student Life Playing word games, sophomore Nathan Ellis laughs with a small group of Chinese students at the University of South China in Hengyang, Hunan province. Ellis taught a class to the students, incorporating his faith into the lessons. Courtesy of Steve Shaner Members of the Australian mission team paint a poster with children from Moree, an Aboriginal community. The students hosted a day camp which included sports, lunch and fun activities for the kids. Courtesy of Tom Ritchie Freshman Kathryn Phillips colors with a child at a church in Dunedin, South New Zealand. "Being with the people [in South New Zealand] and getting to know and worship with them was my favorite part of the trip," Phillips said. Courtesy of Amanda Witherspoon
Although most mission efforts consist of a large group of people, the team that traveled to Florian6polis, Brazil, for six weeks faced the challenges of a summer campaign with only three students. Sophomore Anne Marie Gomez and seniors Joanna Blake and Bradley Furlong were accompanied by Ken Graves, director of Global Outreach and Missions Experience, and his wife Terri to minister to the Brazilians by using conversational English lessons as the primary form of outreach. Ken and Terri had been missionaries in Brazil for 18 years, 12 of which had been in the Florian6polis area. They went with the students to encourage the church and to help the students get settled. Gomez said that when they first arrived, the members of the church did not speak directly to her, Blake or Furlong. Instead of practicing English by talking to the students, the church members spoke Portuguese to the Graves, who then translated it for students. When the Graves left, however, the members were forced to use English to communicate with the students. Despite the initial inability to communicate, the team members developed strong relationships with their Brazilian hosts. "The interactions with the church members were a blessing," Blake said. "They hosted us with such love and kindness. It did not take very long to feel such a close bond with the members." The team went into the trip with the intention of reinvigorating the congregation to move forward and of helping them reach out to the community despite the church's problems. The church in Florian6polis had no full-time workers, and there was talk of a needing to close the doors because of a drop in church attendance. "God used this team in a way that just helped [the congregation] turn a corner to decide, yes, we are going to be here and we're excelling with small numbers going to stick it out, we're going to keep fighting," Ken said. The campaign team helped reach out to the community by using the Let's Start Talking method of instruction. The students taught the Brazilians English using the Gospel of Luke. Most of the students from the community were college-aged and had learned basic Englis'h in school, but they were never given the opportunity to practice speaking conversationally. The technique helped natives and students to learn and grow together. Gomez said each lesson consisted of reading part of Luke with her students, then facilitating discussion on the reading to engage in conversation. Most Brazilians considered themselves to be Catholic, so the students knew the general content of the reading material. The LST method was an effective approach to teach the Brazilians English, but the success of the trip went beyond learning another language. "We had about 25 regularly-attending readers who got much better at their English and learned a lot about the Bible through not just reading the books and talking but by our actions," Blake said. Gomez said she and her teammates spent a significant amount of time with the members of the church and their students. The Brazilian students invited the team members to go around town and introduced them to some Brazilian traditions and foods. In another country where these three students did not speak the language and did not know the customs or ways to dress, they were still part of a family. In Florian6polis, the campaign team came together with fellow Christians, taking a break from the world to unite in worship to God whose glory transcended the differences between nationalities. Savannah Lee "/ was very excited to be a part of the first mission trip to Florian6polis, Brazil. /loved teaching English using the 'Let's Start Talking' program because you really got to talk to the Brazilians and get to know them," sophomore Anne Marie Gomez said. Summer Campaigns 117
impacting freshmen through • serv1ce I mpact was a crucial time for introducing freshmen to Harding and showing them the heart of the university. The Impact theme was one of the many ways to set the tone for the upcoming year. "Reclaimed," the 2012 theme, was manifested in Harding's partnership with the Reclaimed organization, which repurposed items that seemed useless or outdated. Directors seniors Molly Shoaf and Aaron McGaughy, partnered with Sydney Clyde, a 2011 Harding alumna and founder of Reclaimed, to promote the organization and contribute to the cause. Monique Jacques, a 2011 alumna and promotional worker for Reclaimed, said that it was a business that instilled and recognized the value of people in the United States and abroad. The business took donated items and turned them into something marketable. Reclaimed provided struggling women the opportunity to work and to be empowered while they learned new skills. "What we hope to do is to create a symbol for freedom for valuing people," Jacques said. Shoaf said she got involved by sharing information about the organization, going through her own clothes and donating T-shirts. "Every T-shirt bought and every T-shirt collected affects a life," Shoaf said. Shoaf and McGaughy chose the theme to ensure the students knew they could make a new start and "reclaim" their lives regardless of their past. The theme also served as a reminder to always help and encourage others. "We come to college thinking, 'God understands I am busy, so I don't have to do much,' but that's not the case," Shoaf said. "Having 'Reclaimed' as our theme means no one is off the hook, and it also means a fresh start." Working with Reclaimed changed the way service projects were led at Impact. Instead of breaking into smaller groups for various projects in the community, everyone came together to sort and to box T-shirts for shipment to the Reclaimed warehouse in Nicaragua. Freshman Caroline Reed said she enjoyed sorting T-shirts and getting to meet new people while working for a common cause. "It was cool to be like 'these are my new classmates, and we're already doing a service project together,"' Reed said. Through the work of Student Impact, more than 14,000 T-shirts were collected, and a check for more than $2,000 was presented to Hope Cottage, a women's shelter in Searcy. Savannah Lee "Impact was great because it was the best time for students to make new relationships. All the freshmen still had the 'freshman glow' after Impact," CAB Director Logan Light said. 18 I Student Life
Hypnotist Dale K prepares to hypnotize students by making them follow simple commands. "The hypnotist was my favorite part of Impact because it was hilarious to see the different personalities on campus," freshman Dylan Sparks said. Ashe/ Parsons Sophomore Harrison Waldron lifts sophomore Morgan Smith in the air while a large crowd of freshmen watch at the '90s-themed dinner on Aug. 17. This was the 26th year of Impact, and 1,064 freshmen and 125 energy group leaders participated. Ashe/ Parsons Fun Police member junior Alley Robison and energy group leader sophomore Matt Erwin hold an umbrella as a Limbo bar while freshman Keven Halls attempts to clear it. "I liked the '90s-themed dinner at Impact because of the dancing and food," Halls said. Ashe/ Parsons Impact Est. 1986 119
20 I Student Life Sophomore Mariah Westfall runs for protection during a game of Battle Ball conducted by CAB during I Heart HU Week Oct. 24-29. Each day of the week represented a different reason why students loved Harding. Ashe/ Parsons Waiting to be crowned, senior Heather Gould smiles at Dr. Burks after she is announced Homecoming Queen. "I felt so honored to be following in the shoes of so many women that were the queen before me that I respect," Gould said. Ashe/ Parsons Junior Ahmad Scott runs the ball during the Homecoming football game Oct. 27. Harding defeated Arkansas Tech with a record-breaking store of 76-23. Ashe/ Parsons
The Homecoming tailgate was an important time in the Harding community for students, graduates and faculty to fellowship together in a fun environment. Social clubs, families and organizations all created their own tailgates and each had its own twist. The Office of Advancement hosted a tailgate specifically to reach out to recent Harding graduates. Jordan Smith, a 2012 alumna and the newly hired young alumni associate and creator of Generation HU, was in charge of building an event that would reconnect the young alumni to each other and to Harding. Smith got the word out via Facebook, Twitter and formal invitations, reaching alumni both near Searcy and in distant locations. The black-and-gold themed young alumni tailgate included the essentials: food, fun and prizes. Smith said that the new Generation HU program, or young alumni outreach program, had not yet been announced at the time of the tailgate, so the attendance of about 150 people was a pleasant surprise. 2012 alumna and former player for the Lady Bisons volleyball team Jessica Heimrich was able to reconnect with both close friends, such as 2012 alumna Alexandria Smith, and other peers she had not seen in a long time. According to Heimrich, Smith was "a wonderful young alumni director" and successfully created a tailgate that reconnected alumni to current faculty, staff and students. "My favorite part of the tailgate was having the opportunity to be with my Harding family and that, although we are separated by so much distance, we can pick up right where we left off the last graduates connect through tailgating time we were together at Harding," Heimrich said. "I am already looking forward to the next young alumni Homecoming tailgate." According to Smith', the young alumni tailgate was part of a larger initiative called Generation HU, which had three purposes: networking, serving and giving. The Office of Advancement wanted to make a special effort to reassure recent graduates of their importance to Harding and to encourage them to give back to the school financially. "It's not so important how much they give but more about recognizing the blessing they received through the donations that other alumni and friends gave to make it possible for them to attend Harding," Mike Williams, vice president of advancement, said. "Our goals for Generation HU are geared around participation and engagement, not dollar amounts." To help improve financial and social involvement from young alumni, the young alumni associate position was added to the Office of Advancement in 2012, and the position was first held by Smith, who graduated with a degree in professional sales. The job entailed building a campaign from scratch to reach young alumni. After focus meetings and conversations with colleagues in the young alumni bracket, Smith created Generation HU. Smith was passionate about her job and used her creativity to create events such as the young alumni tailgate to achieve the goal of strengthening the entire Harding community. "I love my job," Smith said. "I get to travel all the time, see people, see my friends and be creative." Jordan Honeycutt!Mallory Pratt "The components of Generation HU are networking, serving and giving," Young Alumni Associate Jordan Smith said. "{The Homecoming Tailgate] was just another way for young alumni to get connected." Homecoming I 21
a musical with • mean1ng For Dr. David Burks' final year as president at Harding, Chair of the Department of Theatre and musical director Robin Miller and Producer ofTheatre Cindee Stockstill wanted to put on a show that would hold a special place in the president's heart. They decided to direct Burks' favorite musical, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." The play was based on the biblical account of Joseph whose brothers, out of jealousy, sold him into slavery. Joseph was taken to Egypt and, through many ups and downs, led the Egyptians to prosperity while climbing the political ranks. He eventually reunited with his family, proving God's faithfulness. Senior Benji Holder, who played Joseph's brother Zebulun, believed "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream coat" was the perfect choice for the Homecoming musical. "I think 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' was a good choice for several reasons," Holder said. "For one, it is a very high-energy, upbeat show, which made for a very entertaining time for all in the audience. Secondly, it is a show about a story from the Bible, which made us as performers able to share a good message of God's providence with the public." According to members of the cast, one of the best parts of the process of putting on the musical was the relationships formed during practices and rehearsals. Holder said the 12 brother ensemble formed particularly close relationships during the production process, which sharpened their onstage performance. Junior Victoria Wisely, who played the narrator, agreed that the experience was a special time to get to know other people passionate about communicating through the medium of theater. "Working with the cast [was my favorite part]," Wisely said. "We had such a talented group of people. We spent a lot of rehearsal time with Joseph'~ brothers. Those guys are hilarious, and it was hard to keep a straight face most of the time." Senior Nate White, who played Joseph, said he appreciated the increased biblical knowledge he gained while participating in the musical. "[I enjoyed] the personal growth I experienced as a musician and as a performer," White said. "The production team really motivated us to work hard on an individual basis to better understand our characters, both who they were in the Bible and how we could portray them in the show. Thus, through the process I was able to grow exponentially as a performer." This musical had many positive aspects ranging from the relationships built during practices to the colorful performance that entertained and instructed the audience, but the most important aspect of the musical, according to Wisely, was how the cast and crew honored God by their performance. "From this production sprang incredible, lasting relationships, which then produced conversations that have been so salty and full of grace," Wisely said. "We were able to s~:lt Christian examples for the children cast that worked with us, and I think we all got to see Christ at work in the message of the show." Corey Stumne "My favorite part of playing Joseph was finding the human flaws and growth of an iconic biblical character," senior Nate White said. "Having Dr. Burks in the musical was a memorable moment for the audience, and it was special because this was his last year. It added a little piece of Harding to a classic account." 22 I Student Life
Senior Nate White takes center stage in his lead role as Joseph in the Homecoming Musical, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." This was the third musical White acted in. Ashe/ Parsons Beatboxing, the brothers of Joseph perform a number after they sold him into slavery to Potiphar, who was played by junior David Goble. This was the second time Joseph was conducted at Harding, the first being in 2001. Ashe/ Parsons From Egypt to Elvis, senior Keith Johnson plays Pharaoh while singing rock 'n' roll songs. The musical featured a narrator who told the story of Joseph to a group of school children. Ashe/ Parsons Homecoming Musical 1 23
24 I Student Life Serenading the crowd with his sweet melodies, singer and songwriter Ben Rector performs in the Administration Auditorium Oct. 11. This was the second time Rector sang at Harding; in February 2012 he opened for NEEDTOBREATHE. Ashe/ Parsons Surrounded by a sea of football players, freshmen Jimmy Pounders and Ben Liddle give high-fives as they make their way through the tunnel of athletes before the football pep rally Sept. 27. "The pep rally really pumped us up for our game against East Central," senior running back Ty Finley said. "The crowd was loud, and the energy and support the students gave us was awesome." Ashe/ Parsons Performing a stunt, freshman Tory Mote smiles at the crowd during the cheerleaders' performance at Midnight Madness in the Rhodes Fieldhouse Oct. 15. "The crowd at Midnight Madness was so intense," cheerleader sophomore Bailey Clements said. "You could feel the energy and love that the students have towards the athletes." Ashe/ Parsons
Students and local fans filled the sold out seats of the Administration Auditorium Oct. 23, anticipating the coming performance by the pop a cappella group, Pentatonix. As fans filled the last of the empty seats, familiar faces from campus appeared on stage when In aCHORDance, Pentatonix's opening group for the night composed entirely of Harding students, stepped up to begin the evening's concert. In aCHORDance won Harding's Sing-Off after competing Oct. 17 against Tuned In and Vocal Fusion, two other student musical groups. The three groups were talented, so the choice was a difficult one. Assistant Professor of Music and competition judge Chuck Hicks said his ratings for the groups "were so stinking close, it was ridiculous." When CAB scheduled Pentatonix to perform on campus, CAB members looked for a way to incorporate students' talent into the concert. Director of CAB Logan Light had the idea to host Harding's own version of The Sing-Off to determine who would open for Pentatonix. "[Logan Light] loves unique and genuine musical talents and the fact that a bunch of people can put on a jaw-dropping performance merely by using sounds from their mouth and their voices," CAB administrative assistant senior Stacy Hall said. "I think he took into consideration the amount of talented students we have here and wanted to give them the opportunity of a lifetime." The Sing-Off represented CAB's desire to begin creating events that were not only for students, but also necessitated student involvement. CAB members knew students had widethe sing-off of a lifetime ranging talents, and they wanted to encourage those talents by providing outlets for students to share them with the student body: The Sing-Off was a step in that direction. "I think CAB is trying to incorporate the students mor•e in our events," Hall said. "Granted, all of our events are for the students, but usually it's just like 'Hey, come see this concert. Hey, show up here and have fun,' but we are doing things like The Sing-Off and the Burksys, which really thrive on student participation." The addition of a student component to the concert incorporated the audience into the event more than ever before. Students came to see Pentatonix, but they had the added pleasure of seeing their friends perform. "I think The Sing-Off added to the Pentatonix show simply because it made the show more personal to our student body,'' junior Reid Belew said. "It's a neat thing to be able to look on stage and see your friends or people you go to school with on stage. It's an exciting moment for the performers as well as their friends in the crowd." By creating Harding's Sing-Off, CAB demonstrated that it was a student-oriented organization that wanted to include students in events and to help students to develop their own talents. All the performers, whether members of In aCHORDance or the other groups, were able to showcase their talent, giving them "the rare opportunity to perform their a cappella songs in front of an audience and improve their performance on a stage-ready level," according to CAB co-director sophomore Holly B;ohnett. Matt Ryan "It was such a blessing to be able to sing with those wonderful people," sophomore Savannah Morris said. "We had so much fun and the fact that we got to open for Pentatonix was incredible! God is so good, and we were very excited to be able to perform together." CABI 25
"My favorite part of Midnight Madness was being out on the court in front of all the students and fans and being able to put on a show to get everyone ready for basketball season," sophomore Blake McNair said. Pentatonix, Winner of the third season of NBC's "The Sing-Off," performs in the Administration Auditorium Oct. 23. "Pentatonix's blend was perfect," sophomore Selena Warren said. "Their music didn't even sound a capella." Ashe/ Parsons Senior Molly Shoaf watches as senior LeAndra Grant makes her next move in Jenga at the tailgaiting before the Homecoming game Oct. 27. The students played Jenga, Frisbee and the bean bag toss on the GAC front lawn before football games began. Ashe/ Parsons 26 I Student Life Junior Alyssa Short laughs as she is embraced by Buff the Bison after winning a layup contest at Midnight Madness Oct. 15. "Midnight Madness was awesome," Short said. "I was so glad that I had the opportunity to participate, and, though the contest made me look silly, it was a lot of fun." Ashe/ Parsons
Men's basketball head coach Jeff Morgan pumps up the crowd at Midnight Madness Oct. 15. The annual event featured games, prizes, a dunking contest and a video made for the men's and women's basketball teams. Ashe/ Parsons Artist Andrew Ripp, the opening act for Ben Rector, covers a song by Eminem Oct. 11 . "His voice had such diversity and range," sophomore Astrid Pineda said. "Even though I had never heard of him, I immediately became a fan." Ashe/ Parsons Encouraging the audience to sing along, Eric Hutchinson and his band perform Nov. 30 in the Administration Auditorium. This was Hutchinson's first time to perform at Harding. Hillary Miller CAB127
28 I Student Life All or nothing, junior Hunter Wamack falls into the soaked grass after a dive to catch the Frisbee. Students enjoyed the University's front lawn by playing sports, games and relaxing with friends. Ashe/ Parsons Getting into position, junior Anna Bangs leads an exercise in the Reynolds mirror room Oct. 10. Bangs held group workout sessions focusing on abs and cardio up to three times a week on the track and in the mirror room, sometimes having up to eight girls at each session. Chaney Mitchell Raising their hands in triumph, juniors Kelly Donaldson and Darya Woosley celebrate after completing the Color Run in Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 13. "The Color Run really was the happiest 5K on the planet," Donaldson said. "I was able to run it with four of my best friends, and we just had a blast." Mackenzie Lee
September 28, students could finally get their morning shots of energy from a popular coffee shop that existed in almost every major city in the United States: Starbucks. However, Starbucks was not the only option for the student body; Midnight Oil was still open and operating adjacent to campus. Many people wondered if the introduction of Starbucks to Searcy would have an effect on Midnight Oil's business. Senior Leila Shelburne, a barista at Midnight Oil, said she had not noticed any changes in business since Starbucks opened its doors. "We haven't had any decrease yet, but it's hard to say at this point," Shelburne said. "We had a really good week last week, but there are also a lot of extra people around campus [for Bison Days and family weekend]. The next couple of weeks will tell if we can expect changes long term. It helps that we have more inside space and an atmosphere more conducive to hanging around with friends for a long time." Junior Kris Monroe was a barista at Starbucks and said the opening weekend was extremely busy, reflecting the campuswide enthusiasm for the well-known coffee shop. "It is exciting to have another place to study and hang out at," Monroe said. "Starbucks is a big name literally known around the world, so to have one on campus is incredible." The shops each offered students different things. Starbucks was spacious, students could spread out and do homework, while the intimate seting at Midnight Oil fostered conversation. The warmth and community of Midnight Oil inspired a loyalty a brew of friendly competition among customers and employees. Shelburne was loyal to her place of employment and said she preferred the quality of Midnight Oil's drinks. "Our drip coffee h<;~s more variety and is locally roasted," Shelburne said. "Also, because our espresso machine isn't automated, our lattes are more artfully crafted and are generally higher-quality. This also means they may take a little lon!~er, but I'm willing to wait on quality." Monroe said he respected each of the venues for the certain qualities they had. "Wherever I'm at, I'm a huge fan of anything local, but the consistency of a Starbucks is almost always dependable," Monroe said. "Because everything about the company is so detailed and laid out the same for each store, the drink is the same everywhere, but there's nothing like a solid local establishment." According to popular opinion, the volume of students wanting quality drinks and places to spend time would keep both shops full. Sophomore Jasmine Pierce said that she liked Starbucks better than Midnight Oil but she thought that both establishments would continue to have a steady flow of business. "I don't think Starbucks will affect Midnight Oil because there are a lot of loyal Oil customers, but Starbucks does have advantage because it's new, and we can use DCB," Pierce said. Coffee shops were integral to Harding social and academic life, and the addition of Starbucks to campus expanded the number of venues where students could relax and spend time together. Alexis Hosticka "Students loved coming here [Midnight Oil] because it had an aesthetic like no other place on or near campus, J'' senior Hannah Hensley said. "The Kibo group had a beautiful vision for providing redemptive business to the community and transporting that love overseas to their work in Africa." Daily Life I 29
faith, family and ducks November 27, Willie and Korie Robertson, the stars of A&E's reality TV show "Duck Dynasty," drew approximately 4,000 people to campus to hear them speak. The event, planned six months in advance, was free and open to the public, so the crowd included both students and members of the local community. Some drove from as far away as Maryland to attend the event. The crowd filled the Benson Auditorium as well as the Reynolds Recital Hall, where a screen was set up to stream the presentation. "People were lined up outside the Benson hours before the doors opened, and [there was] camo everywhere," sophomore Dallis Bailey said. "Everyone was so excited to be there, and you could hear 'Duck Dynasty' quotes all over the auditorium." The Louisiana-based Willie Robertson was the CEOs of Duck Commander, a duck call company that began as a modest, independent business but grew into a multi-million dollar enterprise that dominated the duck call industry. The 2012 show "Duck Dynasty" focused on Wille and his wife Korie's integration of faith, family and business. The Robertsons also attended Harding, which added to their popularity on campus. Korie graduated in 1995, but Willie finished his undergraduate degree at the University of Louisiana at Memphis in 1995. Dr. Bryan Burks, dean of the college of business administration, introduced the Robertsons by marvelling at the way they included their beliefs in their show. "They have a wonderful time, and at the end of each show, Willie always brings a moral to the story," Burks said. 'They talk about the importance of family, and, so many times, it's about Christian morals." From the beginning, the Robertsons focused their presentation on the importance 'of their faith. "I want you to give the applause to God Almighty because you and 4.4 million others said 'yes, you can pray on TV, have a positive show and family values,"' Willie said. The Robertsons delivered a personable presentation that encouraged the audience. They spoke about faith, family and ducks, which Korie said was the family motto. Though pop culture was not friendly toward Christianity, Willie and Korie agreed that they could not have a show about their family or their business without including their faith. Bailey and Roberts agreed the innocent humor and the Christian foundation accounted for the popularity of the show. 'They are so popular because it is a good, clean and hilarious show," Bailey said. "Their lifestyle seems so carefree and fun. They aren't afraid to truly be who they are. They're unique." After they finished speaking, Willie and Korie signed copies of their autobiography "The Duck Commander Family: How Faith, Family, and Ducks Built a Dynasty." Their presentation encouraged people to live out their faith in whatever situation they were in. "I walked away with an appreciation for how they integrate their faith into all aspects of their life and strive to constantly show Christ to those whom they come in contact with, whether that's in Hollywood or at Harding University," Roberts said. Mallory Pratt "I thought it was so cool to see that they really are the same people you see on TV on Wednesday nights, I enjoyed how down to earth and humble they were even though they are so famous. They give all of the glory to God," sophomore Hillary Farrer said. 30 I Student Life
Signing an Alpha Tau jersey for Alumni Relations Director Liz Howell, Willie Robertson talks with faculty before his feature presentation in the Benson Auditorium Nov. 27. Two hundred tickets were sold for $20 each to a private dinner in the Founders room before the event. Ashe/ Parsons At a special presentation for business and communication majors, the Robertsons focus on the business side of their company. The family's reality televison show, "Duck Dynasty," was the most watched television show A&E network produced in 2012. Ashe/ Parsons Duck Commander CEO Willie Robertson speaks in the Benson Auditorium Nov. 27 with his wife Korie by his side. The Benson doors opened at 6 p.m. and seats filled within minutes, leading to projection screens being placed in the Reynolds Recital Hall so more people could hear the Robertsons speak. Ashe/ Parsons Duck Dynasty I 31
32 !International
Division I 33
Connect H arding students excelled at forming bonds that transcended campus, social clubs and departments. They invested in relationships by spending time together beyond the school year, getting to know each other's backgrounds. For example, seniors Soyun Kim, Becca Godman, Bruce McMullen and Lewis Jackson spent July in South Korea teaching English in kindergartens and traveling the country. The four students became friends through their participation on the men's and women's golf teams. Kim, from Deajon, South Korea, invited the other three to visit her home and to teach English at the two kindergartens her mother owned in Deajon. Once Godman, McMullen and Jackson accepted the offer, Kim's mother booked all the tickets. The travelers flew separately and arrived a day apart. "We had no clue what we were getting into, what it looked like or where we were staying," McMullen said. "We just agreed to go." The four friends stayed at Kim's house with her family in Deajon. They worked at the kindergartens three days a week, mainly spending time loving the children and playing games with them. They also served as teachers' assistants during the English classes, reading books and singing with the 3 to ?-yearold kids. Time with the South Korean children was precious to the group. They showed love to the kids and, unexpectedly, received it in return. "Koreans do not have a 'B' sound in their language, so my name was hard for many of the kids to pronounce," Godman said. "Most of them called me 'Pecca,' and every time they came to class, they would say, 'Good morning, Pecca teacher. We love Junior Haoxuan Dou shows junior Elise Moore drawings at the Chinese Moon Festival Oct. 12. The festival, hosted by the Chinese Student Association, featured traditional Chinese food and games. Hillary Miller 34 !International Students travel home with international student Uni Kim you' and form a heart with their arms over their head. That is a memory I will always carry with me." The other four days of the week were field trip days, and Kim's parents took the four of them all over the country, hiking, touring some of South Korea's oldest towns and visiting the capital, Seoul. "Her family is very outdoorsy, so we were always going on these different little trails and mountains," McMullen said. "South Korea's terrain is pretty mountainous and hilly, so it was just awesome." Because the group had never spent so much time together, it took time to adjust to living together. However, they were soon cracking jokes with one another, even though they did not all speak the same lan~uage. Kim had to translate for the other three students because none of them could speak Korean. McMullen was from South Africa, Jackson from England, Godman from the United States and Kim from South Korea. McMullen said the group marveled at their diversity and at how quickly they became comfortable with one another. "All we had was each other in the middle of this place where no one else could speak the language," McMullen said. It was a good experience for the students because the trip challenged their perceptions of cultural diversity. The trip had such a significant impact on Jackson that he planned to move to South Korea after graduation. The group of friends learned from both the kindergarten children and the land of South Korea that there was beauty everywhere, and all children were God's children who needed to be loved. Savannah Lee Senior Lewis Jackson strikes a pose for children drawing him at an elementary school in Daejeon, South Korea. Jackson and two other Harding students traveled with junior Uni Kim to her home in Daejeon over the summer to teach in elementary schools and to learn about her culture. Courtesy of Uni Kim
While being interviewed by Korean students, seniors Lewis Jackson and Becca Godman listen as senior Bruce McMullen answers a question. The Americans were stopped on the streets of Daejeon, South Korea, by Korean students taking an English class. Courtesy of Uni Kim Junior Alicia Villafuerte serves homemade Latin American food to freshman Oscar Crespo and sophomore Lisi Padilla at Smiles Day, an event hosted by the Smiles for Christ organization Oct. 18. Smiles for Christ worked to raise money to help mentally challenged adults and children in Honduras. Ashe/ Parsons Junior Hector Mejia laughs while junior Kolton Thomas throws paint on him at the paint war during Smiles Day Oct. 18. Along with the paint war, the day's celebration included live music by Katie Morgan, Sammi J, TheAbigails and Jhe Grey Estate. Ashe/ Parsons International Students 135
36 !International Admiring the scenery, HULA director Tom Hook puts his camera down to view the beautifullncan city of Machu Picchu. Hook began directing the HULA program in 2002. Courtesy ofAllison Ritchie Preparing for a cookout, HUG director Mike James turns on music for the students to relax to before heading on a Greek Isle cruise the next day. This was James' third year as HUG director. Courtesy ofLaura Jo Sawyer HUF director Robbie Shackelford serves as tour guide for excited students at the Piazzale Michelangelo on their first day in Florence, Italy, Sept. 13. Shackelford had served as director since 1990, the longest a director had been with an international program. Grant Schol
Flexible H arding students had studied in Zambia to learn about mission work and nursing since 2007. The 3-month trips were a special experience, cherished by every student who attended. The students came to love the people, the babies, the landscape, the lessons and Associate Professor of Nursing Janice Bingham. Bingham was the nursing faculty member who assisted and traveled with the HIZ program since its inception. She also cochaired the nursing department with Associate Professor of Nursing Jerry Myhan and took a group of upper-level nursing students to Tanzania every summer. When she was not with a group overseas, she was planning a trip with a new group, preparing them for their mission work and teaching classes. She had no plans to slow down. "I hope to continue as long as the Lord gives me strength," Bingham said. Bingham's semester-long absences caused changes within the nursing department. She let Myhan take care of the chairman duties in her absence and teach Bingham's NURS 413 course, Health Care Missions, in the fall semester in addition to his regular course work. Other teachers within the department shared her fall workload, so no one person was responsible for all of the work, Myhan said. "We believe in the program so much and want her to be involved in it that we, all of the instructors in the College of Nursing, absorb the work that she normally would do in the fall," Myhan said. "We feel this is well worth anything that we might have to do." Bingham spent more than 10 years working in Nigeria, Zambia and Tanzania and had been on many short-term trips with students. Bingham said she believed she was chosen as the HIZ faculty advisor position due to her extensive medical missions experience in Africa, and she enjoyed the experience. "I love medical missions, and this gives me an opportunity to & w~ ···ff Teacher travels between Zambia and Searcy continue to do what I love," Bingham said. "Also, I feel that I get to work with the best and the brightest students on Harding's campus. These are students who have servant hearts and are willing to get out of their comfort zones to serve the poor and less fortunate." Although Bingham was the constant nursing faculty member in Zambia, nursing graduate students assisted her, and this year Assistant Dean for the Pre-Professional Programs Dr. Debbie Duke helped her. Bingham said she would love for another nursing faculty member to join her on the trip, but she understood that it would be difficult for the department to lose two faculty members for one semester. Various organizations commended Bingham's work, and she received two awards in the 2011-12 school year: the Henry and Grace Farrar Service Award for service in medical missions from the International Healthcare Foundation in Searcy, and the Woman of Hope Award in February 2012 from Healing Hands International, also for medical missions. She also received the Distinguished Christian Service Award from Harding in 2009. To know Bingham and her impact on Harding, one only had to ask her students. The nursing students on campus had the same reaction to her name every time. They gave a contented sigh and smiled. "She's like the perfect role model because she's sweet, she's funny, she's got this spunk, and she is able to take the hard stuff because she is strong," junior nursing major Heather Brantley said. "God gets her through, and she will tell that he's what gets her through." Bingham had a significant impact on everyone around her. Whether leading a group in Zambia or teaching nursing classes in Searcy, Bingham encouraged others to serve as diligently and selflessly as she had. Chaney Mitchell Tom Hook, Dir. Harding University in Latin America Mike James, Dir. Harding University in Greece Lauren Knight, Dir. Harding University in Paris/ Harding University in England Pam Little, Dir. Harding University in Australia Roy Merritt, Coordinator Harding University in Zambia Robbie Shackelford, Dir. Harding University in Florence Overseas Directors 1 37
Engage HULA students develop meaningful relationships The students of the Harding University Latin America program experienced the adventure of a lifetime. They marveled at the mountains of Patagonia, explored ancient caves on Easter Island, sand boarded down dunes in the Atacama Desert, stumbled upon tarantulas in the Amazon Rainforest and gasped at the beauty of the lncan civilization at Machu Picchu. Though these events played a role in the semester, the students and the people they met along the way were the real foundation for adventure and wonder. Students from the group committed to step out of their comfort zones and to engage with the Latin American peoples. Despite the difficulty of speaking fluently in Spanish, they communicated the best they could, and their effort made in stories worth remembering. Junior Ash leigh Arthurs fondly remembered a 3-year-old boy named Domingo whom Arthurs met in San Pedro, Chile, in the Atacama Desert. Arthurs found Domingo in the back courtyard of a home that doubled as a store. Though initially shy, Arthurs soon had him laughing and showing off the features of his toy dump truck. "He had no idea who we were, but we still just laughed and played," Arthurs said. "It was just 15 minutes of one day of the whole semester, but he was precious and it was just so much fun." The students found it easiest to transcend the language barrier at the market, an open-air shopping center full of aisles of vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables. Students often went to the market after classes. They conversed with the locals over their purchases and learned a bit about the vendors in the process. On one of those market days, junior Emily Spencer met an older woman named Emperatriz, who insisted on offering cooking advice to Spencer, Arthurs and juniors Shelby Nicholson and Mackenzie Lee. A relationship formed over the weeks, and Emperatriz's face lit up each time she saw them coming. "A favorite time I remember with her was when we realized that she was a Christian, and we began sharing our faith with her," HULA Spring '12: Row 1: G. Marcellini, M. lee, A. Arthurs, K. Thomas, K. Reeves. Row 2: l. Burks, P. Hook, A. Hepburn, B. Midgley, H. Hague, T. Phillips, S. Nicholson, A. Ritchie, V. Sams, R. Shrull, K. Faulk, E. Spencer, E. Cook, C. Stockstill, B. lopez, l. Wilson, Z. Kelley, S. Thompson. Row 3: T. Hook, D. Burks, M. Hepburn, J. Sherrod, L. Keim, C. lowe, A. Niblett, A. Harrell, Z. Decker, T. White, D. Stockstill. 38 !International Spencer said. "We sang Christian songs with her in the middle of the market. It was just neat to see how our faith can bridge the barrier of the culture differences and the language differences." The things that mattered beyond the beautiful scenery were the smiling faces and hugs from the HULA students' friends in Chile. "I could see God in the beautiful things and places, but it wasn't until I started building a relationship I saw it change me and the impact it had on them that [HULA] became the trip that it was," Spencer said. "Then I felt like I was doing something that wasn't solely just for me and my enjoyment, but it was for a purpose and there was meaning behind it, much more than a few memories I'm going to have of just some pretty places that I went to." In order to preserve the richness of the semester in Latin America, a videographer team joined the HULA group on their travels. The team, Harding 2010 alumni Tyler Jones and Nick Michael and 2011 alumnus Mark Slagle, was asked by Dean of the Honors College, Dr. Jeffery Hopper, to continue their series of international program documentaries and to film the HULA 2012 group. Though the documentary beautifully depicted the group's travels in Latin America, the students' memories transcended what could be captured in film. "When I watched the documentary and showed it to my family and friends, they thought it was awesome and cool, but they still don't get it," Spencer said. Despite the difficulty in capturing those moments in a tangible form, junior Shelby Nicholson reflected that the memories were just as sweet and long-lasting. "I realize that the fa.ct I can't completely describe these encounters with the people of Latin America meant it was something complex and special," Nicholson said. 'These are faces and moments I will always hold in my heart, and I am so grateful to HULA for blessing me with the opportunity to meet them." Mackenzie Lee Juniors Karissa Faulk, Mackenzie lee and lauren Wilson relax on a sand dune in the Atacama Desert after a day of hiking. later that evening the group watched a beautiful sunset while indulging in gourmet appetizers provided by the tour guide. Courtesy of Mackenzie Lee
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