HARDI NG UNIVERSITY~ PETIT JEAN: VOLUME NINETY-THREE~
TABLE OF(QNl'ENTS
Student Life > 6 International > 32 Social Clubs > 48 Academics > 78 People > 106 Dedication > 184 Leadership > 186 Athletics > 216 Organizations > 248 Index > 300
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F O 11 E \~TO Fl I J By Kaleb Tinner From different homes. families and walks of life. students traveled to the foothills of the Ozarks. It is the indescribable spirit of Harding that brought people together. filled souls with life and uncovered one's true identity. When you long for that spirit again. you will return to this book that transcends time. open its cover and know this is where you found yourself - at our· beloved Harding.
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No one leaves Harding the same way they came. No matter where you come from or whether your time here was one year or five, Harding changes you. From the experiences you have, the classes you take, the people you meet - a.II of these things impact you. These things change your perspective and grow your sense of community. Somewhere between being timid freshmen and expe1ienced seniors, we grow into who we were ma.de to be. Byjorma Hopper
By Abigail Pratt ,llumn111 ]eHe f-l iuon. .w1ion T homas ll'illia 111 s and Aaron lou11g and alumnus .\ .ale Lowe perform an inlrofor the T.. \T, 7 ela Rho andji-ie11ds shou· 011 .\larch 25. 2016, in the George S. Benson A11dilori11111. The all-male quartet brought a 1111iq11e c()'11a111ic to the show, "Relro-b11lio11." I Photo b] hr1;:11 /.'11jirnwa Chi Sigma Alpha, Regina, Sigma Phi Mu and friends perform their Dr. Suess- themed produ ction. The sho w was called, "Things One and Twosical - The Musical" and f eatured a variety of chara cters fr om Dr. Su ess books. I Photo by hcu:.11 Fujisawa TNT, ,<.eta Rho and friends perform their show, "Ice, Ice Baby." The group won theJ ohn H Ryan Sweepstakes Award. I Photo b)' I{a;:u Fujisawa 08 ~ ~Tl IJF.\T I.IFL
In spring 2016, Harding hosted one of the most unique Spring Sing sho\\·s to date. For only the second time in its history, the musical department ca.-t four male students as the Spring Sing hosts: alumnijesse Hixson and ~ ate Lowe, and seniors Thomas \\'illiams and \aron Young. Traclitionall>·, with the exception of the 2010 sho,,·, Spring Sing was hosted by two men and two women. '·\\"hen I found out that the sho,,· was going to be hosted by all guys I just thought, "Alright, let's do this,"" LO\\"C aid. "I knew that th(' p1-c,·ious shmr with all male hosts wa. a really big hit, so I was excited to take mrnership of our show, and that we had the opportunity to make something really unique." The show's theme was "Retro-bution.'· It went back through the 70s and 80s, highlighting the e,·ents and emotions of the U.S. through the popular music of the clay. Young said the theme ,,·a wry close to hi5 heart. "J\fy parents [raised me] on 80s music," Young said. "~1y parents would pop in an ABBA CD and we'd go on a road trip. I have some really strong emotional ties to 70s and 80s music. For me, being able to sing some of the hits was awesome. l\Iy solo was 'l\Ian in the l\1irror· by l\Iichacljackson. lt was really all about bringing the mu ic to life.'' The songs were not the only pan of the Spring Sing process to dig into the hosts' emotions. Injanuary 2016, Blake Hunter, a Spring Sing choreographer and student at Harding passed a,rny. Hixson, a second-time former Spring Sing host, said he was ,-cry close to Hunter. ''Blake·s passing happened inJ anuary after we cam back from [C hristma5] break, which is the beginning of the whole pring Sing process;· Hixson said. "Blake was Spring Sing to a lot of people. I had never been a pan of [Spring Sing] \\·ithout Blake. It was definitely completely new territory for all of us. It wa. a challenge because it's hard to go through something like that - to have such a tragedy happen - and then to think about dancing and entertaining people. In a way, finishing Spring Sing and doing it \\'ell was honoring to him. I think we all got into that mindset. and we ended up putting out a performance that he would hm·e been really proud of." .For Hixson, Spring Sing was a way for the four hosts, ensemble and club hows to honor Hunter and all that he comributed to the university and the Department of Theatre. ~PHI\(, \ I\L <( ()<J
RETRO BUTION Spring Sing goes back to the future with the best of bell-bottoms. disco balls and sequins 10 ),, STl llL\T LIFF.
1. Hosts alumnus Jesse Hixson and senior Aaron Young entertain the audience. be.tween club performances on March 25, 2016, in the George S. Benson Auditorium. The four hosts became a tight-knit group during their time Jmparing for Spring Sing. I Photo by Ka;:.u Fujisawa 2. Phi Koppa Delta and friends perform their A;:.trc-themed show "Gold Hearted." Over 20 clubs and hundreds of students worked all semester to make the show o. success. I Photo by Kazu Fujisawa 3. Juniors Ronnie Clement> and .\·a1alie Smith take the ,J1ollighl in Delta .\ ·11·.1 >l11m· 011 .\larch 25, 20/G, in the r:eoi;tte S. Bnuon Auditorium. Their .1how, '·Delta .Vu i\10011," u·as 1•am/1ire-themed and rnpj)orted Court A.ppoi11ted Special Advornte1 of JU1ite C:01111~}'. I Photo~)' An::.u Fujisau a 4. Spring Sing hosts Hiuon and Lowe and w1iors Joung and Thomas Jl"illiam.1 perform their routine to introduce Delta .Vu'> 1•am/1ire-tlmned shom in addition to the hosts' peiformance dulie>. the)' were represen/nlil'fsfor !he uniz•eni(J' nnd 1 •ere required to a/lend a host re/real. I Photo by l,azu Fujisawa 5. Spring Sing hosts, ensemble and representatives from each club perform the final number "Heart of Rork 'N Roll." The theme, Retro-bution, was inspired by the 19 70s and 1980s, which was seen throughout the show from the costumes to the musical choices. I Photo b)' Aa::.u F1(ji1awa ',Pill\(; \ I\(, <ill( II
HCD MEGRO WN HELP By Brooklyn Billner For most students, spring break was a chance Lo get away from Searcy to enjoy a week skiing, swimming or serving with friends. However, for one group of students that was not the case. From February 28 to March 5, 2016, Harding held its first spring break campaign in Searcy. Senior Madie McGuire had the idea during her sophomore year al Harding in 2014. "It came to me when I was starting to get really close with people, and [I wanted] a week were we could all stay in the same place together," :\1cGuire said. "I had discovered that serving people is one of my favorite ways to hang out with others." M cGuire a5kedjw1ior Trey Davis to co-direct the campaign with her in May 2015, and they began planning during the following August. "I immediately liked the idea and thought it was great," Davis said. "Everyone thinks a mission trip means you have to go somewhere, but I really think there arc so many opponunities here in Searcy, and a lot of them we don't even know about as Harding students." According to sophomore Audra Shumaker, the group did not have any set plans until the week of the campaign. "Even days before [the campaign started], we didn't know where we were going to stay," Shumaker said. "But God worked through it all. Everything was basically given t.o us or done for us. He really took control of our worries." The group's biggest project was atjacob's Place, a nonprofit that provides housing to homeless families ,vith children in the White County area.Jacob's Place was a huge blessing for both the organization and the students, according to McGuire. "They were preparing for their remodel, but didn't actually have the man power to get anything done," Davis said. "We had someone there every single day of the trip. It was surprising how much we were able ro help them." The group also served with the Carmichael Center, College Church of Christ's Caring and Sharing and The Rock House Nlinistrics. "Serving with different groups of kids really opened my eyes," Shumaker said. "Some days I left at a loss for words, and some days [I left] full or joy." According to Shumaker, the group's final night was spent at Bee Rock, located at Camp Wyldewoocl in Searcy, reflecting on their week. "Each of us talked about how the week changed our hearts and how we view Searcy in a new way," Shumaker said. "I had zero expectations about changing that week, while staying in Searcy. However, God had stripped us down from what we were eA"j)ecting and gave us something completely different." Students who participated in the Searcy spring break campaign take a break from their work to capture a photo on March 4, 2016. Students helJied with mentoring. remolding, sorting supplies and other tasks to aid Local nonprofits. I Photo courtes)' of Sarah Roe ~ --
11 1 ), STl llL\T I.I FF. RUSllIN~RUSSIA By Lexi Ferguson Through the Global Outreach summer internship program, seniors Katie-Arlene O 'Brien and Hunter Yeats spent part of June andjuly in Tomsk, Russia. They took time out of their summers to tr,l\'el across the globe to participate in an internship with a missionary couple there. Yeats said the mini,try was focused on college-aged students and was relationship-based. "\ Ve had a Frisbee night once a week and I also hosted a game or mo\'ie night once a week at the apartment I was staying at," Yeats said. '"Throughout the week, when we weren't doing those things, Katie-Arlene and I ,vould walk with students just Lo get to know them in a smaller setting. \Ve'd go out to eat with them, ha\'e them show us their culture and appreciate their culLure, beliefs and backgrounds, so that they would be more receptive to hear ours.'· GaryJi.ckson, director of Harding's Global Outreach internship program, said it was the third year for the Tomsk internship ministry. "Tomsk is definitely a good site," Jackson said. "It has a lot of activities for finterns] to be itwoh·ed in ~- e,·erything, from meeting with people [who J speak English, to getting i1wolved with the local church. It has all of those features that arc really important for an internship host site.·, O'Brien said she stayed with the host missionary couplc,Jcnny and Emil Issabeko\', and their two children. She spent a lot of time with the family and helped them with hospitality. O'Brien was able Lo learn about what it meant to ha,·e a family while being a m1,s10na ry. "I learned a lot Ji\'ing with them as a family, because they are on the rnission field," O'Brien said. \ \.'hile in Russia, the Issabekovs celebrated the Fourth ofJuly v1·ith them, allowillg Yeats and O'Brien to feel more at home. ·'[Jenny] threw a Fourth of July pan y for Katie-Arlene and I, and we im·ited some of our closest friends,'' Yeats said. "That was a nice time to come to the realization that even though I was away from my family in America, I was with my family in Tomsk. It reminded me how global God and his kingdom is.'· Tim I ie.itbrook /eache, Hungarian children in J uly in S::.olnok, Hu1,ga1)'· a.1 /Jar/ nf a Global Outreach Campaign. 11 es/brook served as a missionmJ 111 Hungar_yfrom 1995 to 2003 along with his 1cife Annrn and helped establish !hf S;,_olnok church. I Pharo rotu/eaJ' of Anessa ll'estbronk :i'eniors H unier lea ls and b.'atie -A rlen e O B rien go for a bike ride outside Tom sk, Russia, in Ju(r 2 0 I6. T lze duo learn ed Russian culture Ji-om tho se thq ministered to. I P!ioto courles_J' of 1-/untrr leats :llumna Ofi.,ia ,HcDaniel pla_)'s an icebreaker game with members of the S::.olnok churr!t in }une in S,:olnok, 1-/ungm)'· .\lcDaniel 1cas one of nine studen/.1 u,lza parlicipa!ed in thefirst Global Outreach Cam/Jaign to 1-/unga,y. J Photo courleS)' of Anessa T,t·estbrook
"Tomsk is definitely a good site. It has a lot of activities for [interns] to be involved in - everything) from meeting with people [who) speak English) to getting involved with the local church. It has all of those features that are really important for an internship host site.)) - Gary Jackson) director of Global Outreach "il.\l\lF.H C\\IP.\IC\\ <ill( I')
Frrshmm.Jed Turpin. Al/1' Bale111a11, Erin Joung and T_)'!er S!el'enson /Jarlicipale in a soda-drinking conle.,/ led ~J' senior Ha_)'den 11 ·agner al !he 0/vm/Jic-lhemed dinnerjin lmjJac/ 011 Aug. 20. in !he Charles ll'/1ile Dining Hall. The dinner included lllOII)' 0(1•m/Jic-lhe111ed games. one of 11•/zir/z ga1·e !he 1/11denls the ofijJorluni{)' lo deck out in lhcirfm•orile coun/1)' ·, cu/ors. I Photo br 1i·a~u Fujisa1t·a l(i > ~Tl IJF.\l LI IT.
SERVING FRTi~ s TA RT R_r Brilla1~J' Simer.1 Incoming freshmen and transfer student were able LO in\'est some of their first-year excitement and energy in a sen·ice project geared toward lowering the recidivism rate in Arkansas. On 1\ug. 20. at Impact, studem joined Restore Hope, a nonprofit organization that assisted ex-co1\'icts in rcemering society, Lo help lower those numbers. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchison formed Restore Hope in 2015 to combat the gap between government facilities and ex-convicts. Restore Hope worked in a partnership with The Good Grid, an online en ·ice provider that connected ex-convicts with legal aid, education, cmploymenL, counseling, child welfare sen ·ices and job training. Dr. Andrew Baker, director of the Mir hell Center, and Dr. Heath Carpenter, assistant professor of English, served on a state-level committee for Re Lore Hope. Ace rding to Baker, the idea to incorporate Impact studems and Restore Hope in a service project formed after they learned the organization had a special need. "The help they needed was to make sure they vetted all the service providers," Baker said. "The role Impact students played was [toJ act like they ju t came out of prison and call [to] sec if' these people were really who they claimed LObe. Then we could validate them for the website or remove them." The list of ervice prm·iders on The Good Grid had not been updated for some time, which could have potemially discouraged ex-convicts in their search for normalcy after prison, according L Carpemer. "lt ,ms really a 30-second com·ersation happening, but \\'C were able to \\'eed through, so people who really needed to access that information weren't spinning their wheels, getting frustrated and giving up,'' Carpenter said. Junior 1\Iichalie Brown, imern for Restore Hope, said seeing the Impact student. ' efforts from the oraanization's perspective was an exciting process. ''Even though it wa · tedious work, they loved it becau c they knew it was actually going to make a di rTcrence," Brown said. "It's good LOknow someone getting out ofprison is going to call a number some Harding student verified." Baker said studems were able to gain an awareness of the magnitude of a real issue that existed outside of the Harding community and learn how to 11·ork toward a solution. "It ,rn something very measurable [that] Impact was able to do,'· Baker said. "If we're going to be a community of mission, we have to be that community of mission next door.'· Carpenter said the student ' willingness to go through service providers' information and call businesses one-by-one saved money and time on behalf of Restore Hope and The Good Grid. "The success of that was the students," Carpenter said. "They reconfirmed my faith in the Harding ethos ofa student wanting to scn·c and use his or her talent and brain power for good. They were the heroes of that moment." I\ IP\C I' -( rt
AROUND CAMPUS Fre1hman A)le Tlzrea/1 e11/erlai11s the crozl'd al the block par'->' 011 Oct. 28 in Lcgac_r Park. The block /Jar'-r 1ca.1 a par/ of Ho111uumi11g and Bison Dax, .ft 1til·itie1. I Photo~)' ha:;_u Fujiwwa Buff the 8ison rrou•dsurfl at the ·'Throwback Prom·· e1•e11t during Impact 011 .·lug. 19. in the Charles lt'lzite Dining Hall. Im/Jae/ u·as crealed(tn incoming fre.1h111e11 lo buildjiiendshiJJJ and become acquainted 1C'ith campu.1 b~fore cl11s,es .1/arlfdjur lhe.fall se111erler. I Photo~)' .\la() Pate Students /Jerfor111 during t/ze Ho111eco111ing 111usic11L. ··Cra.::,yfor Jou,,. in the (:eorge S. Brnrnn :luditorium 011 Oct. 28. The shoa· u·as rail a.1 '·the 111ostfun musieal th11l)'Oll ha1•e nerer heard of·· I Photo~)' .\!ac_r Pate Freshman D11ra .\ 'ie111i Jmform .1 al the ji rs/ OJ;en .\l ie .\ .ight of the semester m1 Se/JI. 6. in the St11rburks Com1111111i'-)' Room . Oprn .\lie .\ 'ight 1( •a1 !toiled b_y the Campus .lrlitities Board andjealured singers. comedians and spoke11-1£'ord J1oe/.1. I Photo ~l' .\fai:i· Pate Fresh111a11 Julia Hensle)' hugs the globe al the Intenzational Programs social er•en/ 011 the ju)/// /au·n on .~ug. 2.J. !11ter1111/iu11al Programs hosted the ei•enl lo lrnz,e peer-to-peer lestimo,~)' 011 the npniences of stud_ring abroad. I Photo ~)' .\lac)' P11te Freshman Sean Lewis and Buff the Bison strike an L:ncle Sam pose at the Im/wet theme dinner 011 .lug. 20. 111 the Charle, ll'hite Dining Hall. fnsJ1ired by the Slllmner O{_)'m/1ics, students represented countries around the u·orld al the lmJ;acl dinnn I P!tulo ~r f.'11:;_u F11ji.1azca 18 ), STrnF.\T I.I IT
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T H E RHODES T O DEDICATION By Tif.fany Metts Dcdjcation ceremonies for the renovations of Lhe Ganus Activities Complex (GAC), \Valier Recreation Center and the Rhodcs-Rea\'es F'icldhousc were held on Oct. 29--Homecoming weekend. The dedjcations were emceed by Vice President for Ad\'ancement Bryan Burks. The new adrnLions to tJ1e GAC included a new second-floor level to the gym, a t,,rn-sLOry exercise space with new carruo and weighL equipment. refurbished racquetball courts, a suspended track, a cycling room, a billiards room, new floors, basketball goals and more. The Rhodes-Rca\·cs Fieldhouse rcnorntion included an additional 2,000 square feet ar the entrance, a new practice facility, new basketball dressing rooms, expanded weight rooms and volleyball locker rooms, among otJ1er impro\·cments. 't\11 of the clccljcaLions st:r\·c to first glorify God, men to recognize the donors for their support, and [Lhcy also seiYe 1 as a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open thr facilities,'' Burks said. The clay started with President Dr. Bruce I\lcLarty welcoming the donors and guests to tJ1e e\-ent. The main donors for each project, the Rea\'es and\\'aller families, were born Harrnng aJumni. Roy Rea\'es and Suzanne \Valier both served on the Board of Trustees, and Roy Reaves was elected chairman in 2014. Roy Reaves said that clay meant a great clcaJ to him and that he was humbled by the exp Tience. "I\1y first feeling was one of excitement," Reaves said. ··I never imagined that I would receive such a high honoc Then I felt very humbled as I thought about the men and women whose names are on the other buildings on campus." Each person who donated was someone who went to Harding or was in\'olvcd with Harding in some way, and tJ1cir invok ement was highly appreciated, according to Burks. ·'It is our way of thanking and recognizing them,·' Burks said. 'They love Harding so much, so this is just a way to recognize them. \Ve want to ay thank you and recognize your name so that others beyond you will remember your name and thank you. They bclie\·e in tJ1e mission of H arding and they gi,-c Lo us.'' Sophomore Zoe H ardjn was one of the many athletes who were directJy impacLcd by the renovations made on campus. Hardin played as a middJe blocker in the Lady Bison·s volleyball team, and explained that tJ1c higgest change was the addition of the practice court and the automatic \'OilcyhaJl net, whjch came dovvn from the ceiling. "I am \'cry thankful for the rcno\'ations of the Rhodes, as well as my teammates," Hardin said. "Before adding a practice gym, it was difficult for three teams to schedule daily practices times in one, so this has been super helpful in that ,,vay." According to Roy Reaves, dedication day was an exciting clay that brought in a lot of guest , Reaves said. ·The day of dedication was like a fantasy," Roy Reaves said. "There were pictures taken, many nice compliments and comments from family and friends who were so supportive and encouraging. That made us feel like celebrities.·' Presidwt Dr. Bruce M clarty talks to the crowd gathered f or the Rhodes-Reaves Field House dedication ceremony on Oct. 29. Three generations of Harding presidents spoke, includi11g Chancellor Emeritus Dr. Clifton L. Ganus Jr. and Chancellor Dr. Dauid Burks. I Photo courtesy of Jeff Afonlgomery Senior kaJ·len .Hartin, represen/111g wo111en·s social club Sigma Phi ,\Ju as Harding's 2016 Homeco111i11g queen. pujes i,·ith herfather, Scot/ ,\Jar/in. 2ul .5 Homecoming queen and graduate Jtudent :-l(yssa J.-ee, President Dr. Bruce Jfcl ar{r and atlendants Hannah Hou·el!, Emm)' Howell and.Jack Han•ell al First Securi(J' Stadium 011 Oct. 29, before the Homecomingjootball game. The Bisons won againrt So uthwestern Oklrlhoma Stale C 11i1·ersi£J', ./2 -2 7. I Photo tY 1,-a::.u Fujisawa 110\WCO\II\(; <ill( J.I
CRAZY FOR HOMEC0~1 ING For many friend and families of the Harding community, Homecoming was more than simply a fall gathering. It was a time to come to campus and celebrate what made Harding a home a\\'ay from home for past and future generations. Through the decades, emphasis was placed on different activities surrounding Homecoming at Harding. Some of the activities became Homecoming traditions, ewn through years of change and transition. According to Chancellor Dr. Da,·id Burks, as a senior in 1965, Homecoming rc,·oh-ed around the annual musical performed by the theatre and music departments. ·'I remember the big one back when I \\'as a senior was ·The King and I,' and I just thought it ,ms spectacular," Burks said. "The difference then was that the students would all go. and they all dressed up. Female students ,rnuld ha,-c formal dresses on, and guys would ha,·e on a really nice suit or tux. It was a big dress-up occa ion." \lore casual e\'ents such as tailgating at football games "ith social clubs also helped define Homecoming over recent years, according to Sarah Bobo, young alumni associate and Harding alumna. "I remember the guy that started tailgating with clubs~ he was in [Gamma Sigma Phi]," Bobo said. "I think it was that fall of 201 3 when [tailgating] got a lot bigger. That's when people started tailgating at Homecoming and e,·cry other game." l\[ore interest used to be placed on who would ,,·in Homecoming queen rather than who would win the Homecoming game, according to Burks. By Raneisha Stassin ·'\\'e had a queen selected, and it was a big deal in the Petitjean," Burks said. ·'It seems like hack then the queen was selected by the football team. whereas today it's ,·oted on by the entire student body. The football game \\'asn't as big then because (the program) had just started back up and was really brand ne\\', so it didn't haw that same feel to it that it docs today." According to Dr. Rich Brmrn, marketing department chairman and a Harding alumnus, Homecoming took on a slightly diffcrC'nt meaning in his mind as a faculty member than it had ,,·hen he was a student. ··r enjoy seeing people when they come back," Brown said. ''I think it's more important for the people who are not still at Harding, because they can come back and it brings back a lot of happy memories for them.·· Homecoming ,ms meant to presel'\·e the closeknit community at Harding, according to Bobo. "\ \'c want people to keep coming back,'. Bobo said. "Harding isn'tjust here for the students. [IL is] htrc for the alumni and anyone that's eYer touched Harding in any ,,·ay. \\'e're all family." Despite the societal changes that occurred around Homecoming through Harding's history. the O\'erall purpose remained the same, according to Burks. 'The one thing that's constam,,ith Homecoming that I think is constant with Harding is the fact that Harding has always been about building relationships," Burks said. "As years go by, and you ha,·e Homecoming and other acti\·ities, it's a chance to renew those relarionships. That ,,·as true then, and thaL's true novv." Bobby Child, played by senior Thomas Williams, and Polly Baker, played by senior Renee Maynard, twirl around while singing "Embraceable You," on Oct. 2 7, in the George S. Benson Auditorium. Maynard and Williams were active participants in H arding 's theatre program and were also Spring Sing ho sts. I Photo by Macy Pate Follies girls, played by freshman Sarah Arbuckle, sophomores Shelbi Bridges and Sara Berglund, freshman Robbi Selvidge and junior Sydney Mann, perform a kick line. The musical required three student choreographers due to having 14 musical numbers. I Photo by Macy Pate C:01cbO)'S, pla)'ed by sophomore J ustice Laws. ji-es/zman Jason Lightfoot, senior Duncan .\lichael and junior C:rant .\!alone. sing ·'Bidin' .\ly Time.··. The show's calchline was "/he 111ostfun musical thal)'Oll have 11e1•er heard of" I Photo by Macy Pate )) > ':>Tl'llF.\T LI FF.
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I CAB HOSTS FIRST LAWN A PALO OZA By Jantzen Teague Campus Activities Board (CAB) hosted its first Lawn-a-Palooza on April 9, 2016. The all-day event offered entertainment, food, activities and fun for both Harding students and the Searcy community. Ylodeled after popular music festiYals gracing major parks and event spaces across the nation, Lawn-a-Palooza was held on Harding's front lawn. According to CAB's social media and marketing director senior Will Humphrey, CAB took the divide-and-conquer method to put on this event, splitting up into groups to organize food, games. talent and advertising. Humphrey said the day was a success, and those who were able to showcase a talent or craft were equally enthusiastic. Senior Ashley Collins was one of those who surprised the crowd with her talents. "I had a really good time grtting to show my friends, and some people who maybe didn't know I sang, different songs that I've written," Collins said. "Everyone was super supportive. People I didn't know \rnulcl come up and say, 'Good job.' It just show how loving Harding is." According to Collins, a wide variety of performers hit the stage at Lawna-Palooza. Solo artists, small groups, a professional band and e,·en a bluegrass group were each given a 25-minute block of time on stage. Admission was free. and each attendee was given four tickets LO redeem at food trucks. Slader\ Alaskan Dumpling Co., Kibo 11idnight Oil Coffeehouse, Sno Island and The Cookie Basket were a few ofthe local businesses invoked. At additional cost, people could buy more food, as \Yell as purchase items from the many local and student \"enclors set up across the front lavvn. ~lost \-cnclors, including junior Casi Caton, sold handmade creations. As a fine arts major, Caton heard about Lawn-a-Palooza through signs around the art building and \\"aS encouraged by teachers to get involved. Caton teamed up with her roommme and sold watercolor printouts of encouraging sayings. ·'Like most H arding ewnts, it's just fun to be out on the lawn. but with this one, thcre·s !in· music and not just work from local businesses, but [also] work from the students," Caton said. "There was jewelry, art pieces [and] prints. It's really unique because you never know what you're going to find there. It was a really awesome atmosphere." Long hours and hard work paid off for CAB's Lawn-a-Palooza, which created hopes for a similar e\·ent to take place during spring 2017, according to Humphrey. '·Our idea was that ifpeople around Searcy had seen [the e,·ent] publicized on social media, they would fhaYe] come,'" Humphrey said. "And they certainly did. It showcased local and Harding talent - it vvas a good intermingling that way." Senior Hay den Rickett posts for a caricature drawn by senior Mitchell Brooks on thefront lawn on April 9, 2 016. Lawn-a-Palooza was afestival with music, craft sales and local food vendors. I Photo b)' Aa::.u Fujisawa Kevin Olusola performs a versatile set in the Administration Auditorium on Oct. 5, which included beatboxing while playing the cello. Olusola was part of the a capella group, Pentatonix, in addition to being an accomplished saxophone and cello player. I Photo ~l' ,\lat)' Pale Juni or k eslee Dww1,i11. senior ll"ill Humphre_y, CAB direcclor Logan Light, sen ior Caroline 1i-00 11ce, and junior PreJ/~r .\ 'i1on lcolc /eJI cookies at la wn-a- Palo oz_a 011 lh efro nl la 11•11 011,lpril JO, 2016. The Campus rlctfritieJ Board hosted the event w/zirhfeatured local musical artists, alumni and J/uden/:, pla_ring live m111icfrom 10 a. m. lo IO p. m. I Photo b) f,azu hu'isawa )'• ),, sn nr\T 1.11T.
NEW FACES The new pictures in the David B. Burks American Heritage Building portrayed Harding's community a nd student life, according to J eff l\Iontgomcry, director of photo services for University Communication and ?\Iarkcting. He said Harding wanted to incorporate photos from all areas of campus to show a fun and in\'iting environmenl. "These pictures [arc meaningful] to people," Montgomery said. "The chosen pictures hold memories for the students in them." Rachel Bean, junior interior design major, said her picture in the Heritage was a great conversation sta rter to talk about one of her favorite Harding momems. "It's cool because [when] people see it, I get to tell them about the art trip to Europe," Bean said. "It's a cool way to share my experiences. That day, when we took that picture, was one ofmy favorite days in Italy. It's just a good memory." Bean said haYing her picture on the wall next to so many people she looked up to was humbling. Both current students and alumni looked at the new picture and reminisced about the moments captured and displayed in the Heritage, according to l\Iontgomcry. He said when he saw people looking at the SAME PLACES By Sara Denney pictures, he enjoyed asking them if they were in the picture or if they knew sqmconc in the picture. "I do love people interacting with [the pictures]," Montgomery said. "It's cool to sec people looking back and remembering." Katie Peoples, sophomore interior design major, was also featured in one of the new photographs and said she made new friends through the picture. "A lot of people [ask me] ifl know that I have a picture hanging in the Heritage," Peoples said. "People think I look familiar and then ,viii piece it together." According to Montgomery, President Dr. Bruce McLarty helped decide on the pictures and their layout on the walls. He said they pulled pictures, printed proofs and laid them out on McLarty's conference table. "'It was a fun thing to be sitting in a meeting and see [McLarty] look at pictures and rotate them around," ?\fontgomery said. l\1cLarty's in\'olvement did not stop once the pictures were chosen. He posted an Instagram series showcasing the pictures in the Heritage with the students posed in front of their pictures. McLarty said the new pictures will rcAect the di\·ersity and current student life at Harding. Sophomores Justice Laws, Hannah Foust and Hannah Hall pose with their picture in the David B. Burks American Heritage Building on Sept. 14. President Dr. Bruce McLarty took pictures of students pointing to their pictures on the wall of the Heritage for an added personal touch to his lnstagram posts. I Photo courtesy of Bruce JlcLarty SojJhomores fi'a tie People; and fi'el[l' Horne. and junior Rachel Bean J;oinl to their picture in the David B. Burks American Heritage Building on Sept. 11. from their international /Hogram u:ilh the ar/ and design department the pre1•iou1 summer. The /Hogram included stud_ring EuroJ;ea11 arl. design and arclzileclure in ]ta()'. pain. France and England. I Photo courleJ)' of Bruce .\lcLarlJ• Seniors A1elita Sutherland, Anna-Grace Kirkman and Hannah Wilhelm show off their picture in the David B. Burks American Heritage Building on Sept. 9. Picture:, were chosen to highlight the diversi()' of students a11d Jnograms that Harding had lo offn I Photo courles)' of Brnce ,\lcLar£)'
7-8 ), STL 111.\T LIFF. ARMSTRONG By Kaleb Turner Living in a freshman dorm was an exciLing and memorable experience for mosLstudents, buL for 15 freshmen in Armstrong Hall, they took that experience a step further. Armstrong Gang, an intramural sports team, was formed when freshman Collin Smith had the idea to take his freshman experience outside of the dorm. "We all met through doing a bunch of random stuff on third floor- having ·Super Smash Bros.· tournaments, hm1ng a 'fight night' and blaring music up and clown the halls," Smith said. "I created the team sjust so we could all have fun being bad at sports together." Freshman Grant Clemens said the idea was a nobrainer becau e of the fun experiences they had shared together in the dorm. "We just brought it up and everyone wanted to create [a team] ," Clemens said. '·\Ve wanted to have a team full of people [whom] we liked hanging out with.'' Freshman team member Rhett Shepard said since they formed the team before the social club process began, it made it easier to become closer and keep strong connections even alter they all joined different social clubs. "The best thing was having fun "·ith guys I had only known for a few weeks," Shepard said. "\,Ve had no preconceived notions towards anyone and no club affili ation, so we just went out there and had lots of fun. " ccording to Clemens, the team competed in softball. flag football and volleyball over the course of their freshman year. Smith said competiti\'eness on the court and on the field made their losses hard, but their friendship and experiences living together in Armstrong made it easier to mo\'e on. "Pla)'1ng ,,1th the guys we hare the dorm with has been great,'' Smith said. "Us all being friends beforehand made it a lot easier to relax and laugh it off when we [messed] up during the games." For Clemens, the experience of competing together and li\'ing together went beyond surface-b·el, and allowed him to make deep connections beyond the court. '·By playing and living together we share lots of things about each other's lives that creates a stronger bond," Clemens said. "I ha\'e greatly enjoyed creating an amazing bond with the men I get to see and share my lift> with e\'ery clay." Smith agreed and said the spirit of competitiveness fostered an e\·en stronger spirit of friendship in the dorm. "Playing and li\ing together creates a stronger bond for all of us," Smith said. ·'\\'e haw spent more time hanging out with each other and getting to know each other better, which always causes stronger connection to be made between everyone." Freshman Grant Clemens, member of intramural team Armstrong Gang, shows of his team shirt 011 Jan. 16. Armstrong Gang was comprised of 15 freshmen living in Armstrong Hall. I Photo h)' l,a;:,u Fujisau·n
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FOUNDATION IN FRIENDSHIP By Jantzen Teague "Live in the moment. Life is a moment," were the words freshmen first heard when arriving at Harding for the start or the 2016-20 17 school year. This was the theme for Impact, a program dedicated to kick-starting the school year for freshmen and tran fer students. Rather than meeting and hanging out with a group of strangers for the weekend before rushing head-first into the blur of a. emester, energy groups, the designated groups that Impact students were placed in, ,,·ere split up by Bible classes, meaning each Impact participant could count on knowing at least 15 ocher people on the first day of class. According to Dr. Kevin Kehl, dean or student succes., the peer guides in each freshman Bible cla.s were chosen to be energy group leaders at Impact. Dr. Ross Cochran, profcs or of Bible, said he wa. a big fan or the peer guide program, and wa. glad Impact decided to arrange ncrgy groups that way. Cochran said utilizing groups that were already organized created continuity between their first bv days on campus, their first day of class and their entire semester. ·'It' a win-win-win," Cochran said. "The student, win, the peer guides \\~n and the teacher wins. I think the whole premi. e of it where freshmen feel more connected if they know and are known by an upperclassman - [is] correct." SeniorJ enna Pyron jumped on board with the plan after seeing the effect those early interactions had on the relationships she formed throughout the semester. Pyron served as a peer guide for three years and said she ,iewed the role as a huge blessing and opportunity to mentor the freshmen. "The first few days at Harding fare] like summer camp," Pyron said. "It's the little things. If you show a lot of energy, they will come back for the second sessions. The more energetic I am, the more recepti,·e they are. The more time you get with them. the more they'll be receptive for the rest of the semester... Freshman Luke Humphrey said he loved the connections he made during Impact, because they made the transition to college life a lot easier. ··I met a group of friends through Impact, and a a result, we ha,·e a group mes age ;md hang out a lot,'' Humphrey said. ''Our peer guides gave us basically a guide to 'everything Harding,' which is just really great. I look forward to getting to know them outside of just seeing them in Bible class." \ Vith Impact and the First Year Experience program working hand in hand, faculty, staffand students \\·orkcd year-round to cmpha ize the community of mission in Harding·s body of Christ. . eniors Leigh Chickering and Emi(r Heinen guide their group acrOj\ the.front lawn on Aug. 20. E11e1gr group leader, u-ere in charge of helping freshmen adapt lo campus life during Impact by offering practical ad1•ice about subject., such as social cluh;, academics and cam/no life. I Photo b_r ,\laq Pate President Dr. Bruce McLarty speaks to students at the Freshman Retreat on Sept. 1 7, at Camp Wyldewood in Searcy. The retreat was part of the First Year Experience program, designed to make the transition to college easier for freshmen and transfer st udents. I Photo ~J' .\lar_J' Pate ·m), STl'llF.\T LIFF.
Harding is not just Searcy, Arkansas. Harding is global. Through seven different international programs, students have the opportunity to experience the world firsthand. There are so many new experiences to be a part of, new places to see, new food to try, new people to meet and new things to do. Each new experience of a different culture can build onto who we are. Students who are part of programs abroad return home with a perspective that cannot be taught in a classroom. Byjorma Hoj1per
HULA HELPS The Harding Uni\'ersity in Latin America (H LA) program began on Feb. 23, 2016, in Patagonia, the southern tip or Chile. The trip then mo\·ed to Easter Island, the Atacama Desert and finished in Peru on May 31, 2016. However, for three students, the trip did not end there. Seniors Mackenzie Lancaster, Riley Phillips and Abigail Seagle stayed behind until June 20, 2016, for an extra month of missionary work in the Ch ilea region of Lima, Peru, along \\'ith other students who \\ere already there for the campaign, which wa organized by the pani h department. "\\'e did a lot of work with the local churches," Lancaster said. "Lima has around 11 million people, but there arc only four or he Churche of Christ." The Spanish department recruit d among Spanish majors and minors. They held meetings to tudy biblical material to be taught LO PeruYians and sludi d some local rncabulary, as well. "There were two churches we worked with," Seagle said. "The Chilca congregation we worked more heavily with. \Vhen we got there, [we] saw flies everywhere and kids without shoes. It was a real shock for me, because the rest of Lima was very clean [and] modern." Their studies were centered around individual connection with local about the Gospel. Peruvian made appointments B)' Erin Hanson through the churches from flyers the tudcnts po tcd around town. "It was really cool [to] sec the e people really have interest in what [we] were trying to say," Phillips said. "It's a good experience to get out of your comfort zone and use Spanish. I think a big reason for learning another language is to communicate with other people, and that' why I would recommend this trip." In total, there were seven students involved in the campaign , two men and five women, making it a vast difference from the 40 total students who went to HULA. "I wa~ really thankful there was a new group of people, because it was kind of [fun] getting to know them," Lancaster aid. ·'It was completely different than HULA, [which] was all adventure, [but] this was focused on the Bible and evangeli m." Seagle described saying goodbye to her H LA friends as a bitter weet moment, because, although she wa sad to part with the group, she was also excited for the next adventure to beain. "Thi was my first mission trip," Seagle aid. "It was hard to know that part of the trip ,vas over. \t the same time, it was really nice to know that I had more time, because I wasn't ready to go home yet."
Harding students and local church members gather for a photo during their campaign in Peru, directly following H CLA in June. tudents from HULA joined Harding campaigners and spent their time Leading Bible studies, worship services and classes. I Photo courtesy of } enni Parker
Hu EI THERE AND EVERYWHERE ----By]antzenTeague --- '5b > I\TF.H\.\ TIO\ .\L
Four student · from the fa ll 201 6 H arding ' ni,·crsity in England HCE) program had the opportunity to participate in an exclusi,·e tour of't\bbey Road Studios on O ct. l..J., 2016, tha nks to mO\·ie directorJ ay Russell, \\'ho was frirnds with Dr. Jack Shock, professor of communication. Scniorjulie Anne \\'bite and sophomores.Jasmine Binford, McKayla :\lills and Abbey \Vatson ,·ariecl in majors, from theatre to English to electronic media production, but they all quickly realized ,,hat a special opportunity they had a they walked up the steps to the studio. ··.\bbey Road is, \\'ithout question, the most famous recording studio in the world,'' Shock said. "\\'bile the llldio is a surprisingly normal and conwrnional bt1ilding, I felt almost a mystical ,·ibc when I walked through the door used by so many great artists." .\ ccord i11g to :\J ills, Abbey Road Studios wa: just one of' the many cl ite experiences that only students at HUE could experience. :\Iills said it also allc)\\-ed her to reAect a nd connect with the j obs that took place in the studio. "As is the case with much ofwhat l\·e learned at HU E, f\T really come to appreciate the work and detail that profes. ionals put into ,, hat they do.'· :\Jilb said. ·'Abbey Road Studios helped me rcaliLe that l might e,Tn be able to be one of th sc professionals one day.'' \ \'atson ,, as fascinated by the rich history, not only of the lit1ilding, but of ,,·hat happened inside it. She said she ,ms especially in 3\\'C of the fact that the Beatles recorded 190 of their 210 songs at Abbey Road Studios. ·'\ \'c e\'en got to see the sound board used to record their albums, which still works today," \\'atson said. '·Throughout the whole rour, I kept thinking that I was thr luckiest person int he world. I wanted to savor and rcmembrr e,·ery bit for as long as possible.'' The tour included C\'crything from Studio I , where a 110-picce orchestra fit comfortably, to Studio 2, where the Beatie ' still-functioning sound board resided, to the Penthouse recording studio and numcrou mixing rooms bet,,-een. " :\'othing much has changed since the 1960s,.. Shock said . '·\\'e looked at the same floors, walls and ceilings that 1,-crc in place when the Fab Four hit their first notes." \ \'hilc the building may not have cha nged much since its opening in 1931. the Hu£ students who \'isitcd r\bhcy Road Studios in fall 2016 experienced firsthand thr life-changing moment that happened ,-vithin its walls. ''The Beatie ha\'e made and continue to make an incredible and lasting impact for the music world,'' \\'atson said. "I can't imagine my life 1,·ithout coming to HlJE and experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity touring the most famous recording studio in the wo rld... \o,bhumor Abbe)' Watson, senior Ju lie Anne White, and soplwmores .\lcha)'!a ,\Ji/ls and Jasmine Binford recrwte thr ico1uc co1·er from a/hum ''.4bbey Road"' 011 Oct. 1-1. in London, Eng/wul. Hrmlzng University in England (HUE) Jtudents toured the studio where the Beatles u·orked on their mu.,ic tlzroughout the 1960s. / Phulos courtesy of Abbey Walson The d1,or opens lo Abbey Road Studios in Londofl, Er1g/and, where Hl E student.1 look a private tour on Ou. 11 .. Vnmed.for !ht strrel it u•a., built on, Abbey Road Studios was the pnmary ruordin.~ studiofor the Beatles in tht! 1960,. / Photo courtesy <!( Abbe_1 Hatson Studrnts visit Studio Bat Abbey Road Studios in London, England. on OCL. 14. The Beatles recorded 190 of tllfir 2 IO songs at Abbe_, Road Studios. I Photo courtesy of Abbe_r ~~at.,011 IIL L ,,( 'S'/
·s8 ),, I\TIH\.\TIO\.\I. FREED HARDEMAN FRIENDS B_r Brook(r11 Bi/Iner In fall 2016, the H arding -Cniversitv in Greece 1H uG) program experienced adventures like no group before them e\'er had. The Freed-Hardeman Uniw rsity in Belgium study abroad program joined six H arding students at HCG. According toJ eflcry Hopper, dean oflnternational Programs, Freed-Hardeman University's (FHU) board of trustees decided tbey would not permit their normal program in Belgium due to safety concerns. \\'hen FHU's International Programs DircctorJennyJ ohnson contacted Hopper about joining the trip to HUG, he gladly accepted their request. "l think it is always good to hang out with our brothers and sisters,'' H opper said. '·\\'e ha,·e a long, joyful history together, and it·s a new part of the world for Freed-Harcleman to explore." T he H UG students arrived on Aug. 31. and the FHU students joined them a fevv days later. Sophomore Alexj ackson said it was special to be a part of the joined group. ··It is also incredibly encouraging ro sec how God is working, not only in other countries, but also in other schools across the U.S.,"J ackson said. According to Audra Pleasant, International Programs office manager, H arding regularly rented out rooms to the public at the Artemis, the HUG residence. "\\'e 10\T to rent out rooms to \'isiting parents or alumni.'' Pkasam said. :\'ot only did the Artemis haw room for relati,·es or Harding graduates, but because ofha,·ing enough room to house 60 people, it abo became home to the FHU group as well. FHC joined Hl:G for chapel, church, several local outings and their trip to Korthem Greece. Howe,·er, the academics were kept separate, according to Hopper. ·'\ \'e have shared the \'ilia Lthe Harding University in Florence residence] with FHU for many years," Hopper said. "They are a great school to partner with." Junior Rachel Greer said she was \'ery excited to study abroad [in Greece] and enjoyed having a smaller group. because thev were able to grm1 closer to each other. "There will be lots orperks to it," Greer said. "For example we hm·e clri,·en to se1·eral places that, with a larger group, wouldn't have been possible. \\·c get to do several trips, ·including Corfu Island, Peloponnese, Israel and Egypt." This was the first HUG group to travel to Egypt in se,·eral semesters and one of the most anticipated experiences, according to J ac kson. "It feels like these H U Gers ha\'e been a part of my life for eve r," J ackson said. "I can't wait to sec what all Goel has in store for us and how he will use these relationships to strengthen our love for him."
Freed-Hardeman C11i1•er:,i{)' (FH C) student Ste/1hen Sholl and :,o/1ho111ore A le.\ Jack.ion /Jo.\f near the 11 rropoli.1 in A ihen.1, C:reece, in the background. Ff-f l 1 .1tude11/:, joined force s 16th /-l arding students for sightseeing arfrentures 11•hile abroad. I Photo courte.~)' of 11/n Jackson Harding students gat!terfor a picture while visiting Albania in September. Students had the o/Jtion ~/ visiting over a do;::.en counlries while overseas duringfree lrm•el. I Photo courtesy of Alex .Jackson H UG students celebrate '7ersey Friday" while oversea.1 in Athens, Greece, on Sept. 16. Students kepi a sense of home overseas b)' Skyj1ingfami(y members. keeping up with their fa vorite TV shows and following along u:ith life al Harding on sorial media. I Photo courtes_y of A le., Jackson
THE MEN OF H I Z B)' Rr11uislw Stassin Harding students took their camaraderie across borders in fall 2016 during the overseas program at Harding University in Zambia (HIZ). According to students who studied there in fall 2016, one group stood out above the rest: the men of HlZ. The group consisted of juniors Timothy Ronca! and Taylor Brown and sophomore Ben l\Iyatt. They were knovm by fellow students to be a source of encouragement for the entire group throughout the duration of their experience overseas. The men met one another prior to attending HIZ, but immediately became closer throughout the trip. According to Brown, only a sma!J number of men attended the trip, which allowed Ronca!, l\Iyatt and himself to become close. ·'" 1e li\·e together, eat together [and] go to class togethe1~" Brown said. ·'[\Ve J do everything together. \ Ve natmally know if one of us is feeling down or if [something is] bothering us.'· The men helped to encourage each other and the other students at various devotionals and events wh re students worshipped God or discussed their struggles. They participated in leading songs of worship in the local language, Tonga, as well as preaching and speaking for communion. \Vhile the men participated with the entire group in these activities, they also took time to process their experiences among one another, according to Ronca!. "The most rewarding part of encouraging others is knowing that they're comfortable enough to share their hardships with you in the first place," Ronca! said. "Having that kind of relationship shows that someone trusts you enough to attempt to help them in some meaningful fashion." According to Myatt, the men spent time listening to each othe1; which allowed them to be honest while also pointing each other toward Goel. "The most re,rnrcling part of encouraging others is seeing them give glory to Goel through their struggles and despite their burdem," Myatt said. The men spent time participating in church outreach and ministry and also spent time vvith local children within the community. One of their fa\·orite activities was worshipping with the locals. Ronca] said he especially enjoyed listening Lo the Zambian students sing in Tonga. He compared the sound to a waterfall and described it not as water but ·'sweet gravy from Heaven." Myatt agreed and said the singing was one of his fayorite Zambian experiences. "One of my favorite memories was when we visited choir practice with some of the students at George Benson College here in Zambia," Myatt said. "I loved the way they praised God and invited us in with so much hospitality." Junior Timothy R onca/, sophomore Ben Myatt and junior Taylor Brown spend the afternoon at the Namwianga Mission in Kalama, Zambia, on Nov. I. The three grew closer in their personal relationships and relationship with Gad while studying abroad in fa ll 20 l 6 at HI:(,. I Photo courtesy of Rachel Wiseman
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