Harding University Petit Jean / Volume 101 Searcy, Arkansas 915 East Market Avenue 501-279-4000 www.harding.edu Enrollment: 4696 PATCHWORK 1
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3 Foreward For thousands of years, beds have been clothed with quilts stitched together by family members from a variety of materials. Quilts that are made from colorfully patterned fabrics, athletes jerseys, t-shirts and more. Quilts are a compilation of materials to create a patchwork design. Patchworks are unlikely materials that come together to create a beautiful mosaic. The assortment of passions, skills and traditions that Harding possesses are what make its design unique. The relationships built through Harding act as the threads that stitch the community and generations together. Colorful reminders of those who came before us are sewn into the past. They warm us like a blanket when we arrive and inspire us to add patches of our own to the pattern. Harding is an ongoing project. As each of us add our own patch during our time here, let us never let go of our experiences that have woven is together. As we depart, may we carry the warmth of the community, knowing the quilt of Harding is only growing. Randi Tubbs Editor-in-Chief foreward
4 Anessa Westbrook dedication recipient Dr. Anessa Wesbrook, Associate Professor of Bible and Ministry, was the recipient of the 2024-25 Petit Jean yearbook dedication. It was announced in chapel after the student body voted on the recipient through a survey. Westbrook was the first full-time female professor to teach textual Bible in Harding history. She also served in numerous leadership roles such as Honors Faculty Fellow, Leadership Faculty Council President, co-leader of College Church of Christ women’s ministry, chair of the Tabernacle Committee and co-director of the Bloom Conference. Westbrook came to Harding as a freshman in 1991 and graduated in 1995 with a degree in psychology. After working with missionaries in Hungary during her undergraduate years, Westbrook and her husband, Dr. Tim Westbrook, Professor of Bible and Ministry, felt that God was calling them back to the mission field. They moved to Hungary six weeks after graduation to serve in a church planting ministry. Due to their young age, they often worked in youth and college ministry. Westbrook had her first two children in Hungary as a missionary and her youngest child in Seacy after returning permanently in 2003. In 2005, she began her first job with Harding through the Student Association. The association was responsible for Harding’s relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, LA. While on the mission field, Westbrook earned her Master’s in Church Growth but found she wanted to aim her educational sights higher when she began to adjunct Bible classes for women and behavioral sciences part-time through Harding. She began to work on her MDiv (Master of Divinity) through the Harding School of Theology (HST) and studied women’s ministry at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. In 2011, Westbrook graduated from HST and went through Fuller Theological Seminary. In the spring of 2014, Westbrook underwent the interview process to be a full-time faculty member and began as the first fulltime female in the department of Bible and Ministry in the fall of 2014. She graduated with her doctorate in 2015. The first course Westbrook taught was called “Acts for Women.” Since, she has taught several courses, including New and Old Testament Surveys, Christian Families, Intro to Theological Research, Honors College Bible classes, and a number of online courses. Westbrook is also a published author and co-author of texts such as New Birth: Conversion and Baptism, with Michael Strickland. While ministry is Westbrook’s passion, working with women to help them find their gifts and own ministries has been her main goal. “I love that I have been able to go out and train different groups of women on spiritual gifting,” Westbrook said. “Anytime I can see when women are learning what their spiritual gifts are and also getting involved in church, that is a huge win.” Anessa Westbrook’s husband, Tim Westbrook, was elated to hear that Anessa would be recognized as the yearbook dedication recipient. Tim described Anessa as a “trailblazer” and emphasized that her reach goes beyond the limits of Harding. “What she has to offer is much larger than just one school and a handful of classes,” Tim Westbrook said. “Her influence is global already. I see her sing these gifts that God has given her with her educational background and experience at Harding to be able to do what she does at Harding in a very broad way. We anticipate to continue her broad reach through providing resources to churches and be a facilitator for female spiritual development.” Anessa Westbrook has spoken at multiple national and international events such as Aruba, Lithuania and Gander Brook Christian Camp. Dr. Monte Cox, Professor and Dean of the College of Bible and Ministry, taught Westbrook as a student and has worked alongside her since 2014. Cox spoke about the honor that it means for her faculty peers to elect her as the Leadership Faculty Council President and that it shows what she means to Harding leadership. In the position, she served on the cabinet under University President Mike Williams with the Vice Presidents and Deans. Cox also mentioned how gracefully Westbrook has taken on the minority of being a woman in the Bible department. “[Westbrook] has never carried the female banner with anger,” Cox said. “She’s been able to navigate a challenging first and do it well with grace and compassion.” The 2024-25 school year was Westbrook’s last year as a full-time faculty member at Harding. She hoped to continue writing texts such as an expansion of her early book Placing Your Stone and finish the Women’s Ministry textbook. She hopes her writing will inspire more women in their faith. “I would love to figure out how to get into the broader market with writing and try to produce some things that could be offered to help women grow and help people grow spiritually,” Westbrook said. Westbrook’s love for Harding and its students is eternal and unconditional. She left with hope and conviction that Harding has only begun the work that it will do in the world. “I hope that there are students that know how God has gifted them and will go out and serve in the kingdom,” Westbrook said. “I view Harding as a place with students with so much potential, and I know that we can change the world.” Written by Randi Tubbs
5 Dedication
6 CONTENTS Student Life 8 52 92 32 Academics Social Clubs International
7 Contents Leadership Closing 118 180 206 244 274 People Athletics Organizations
8 Student Life
Student Life Section Divider 9
10 Student Life BREAKING NEWS On the set of HU-16, sophomores Haleigh Carter and Eli Dean stand ready to report. The duo provided the only live broadcast for White County elections. Photo by Jenna Gaessler TESTING, TESTING,, 1,2,3... Collaborating together, the behind-the-scenes crew for the election monitors the scene. HU16 offered communication students oppurtunities to be involved in election night. Photo by Jenna Gaessler YOUTH IN ACTION On Nov. 5, members of Pi Sigma Alpha gather to watch the election. The watch party took place in the Holland Waller commons. Photo by Jenna Gaessler
11 2024 Election Broadcasting Democracy Campus organizations observe the 2024 presidential elections. DEMOCRATIC DISCOURSE On election night, professors and students discuss the results pouring in. The event allowed for a wide range of people to experience the election. Photo by Jenna Gaessler Harding’s campus was no exception to the buzz surrounding the 2024 presidential election. Department of Communication’s student-produced broadcast, HU16, offered live election updates for White County and the nation. At the same time, the political science honors society, Pi Sigma Alpha, hosted a watch party in the Holland Waller Commons. Both organizations had one goal: to report the truth to the community and the University’s student body. Senior Evan Carter, president of Pi Sigma Alpha, began planning the watch party months in advance, as the election fell during a chaotic Club Week. Carter emphasized the importance of this event to his fellow political science peers. “It’s kind of like the Olympics for political science,” Carter said. “We were trying to come together and just have fun with the politics and the election.” While students watched the results come in, senior Emma McDaris was at a local White County polling station reporting on the numbers for HU16. “I was there looking at the boxes being loaded in and reporting what the stats were,” McDaris said. “We got to see the local candidates. Actually, they sat and watched. I got to interview one of the candidates there; that was fun.” McDaris served as the head producer for the election broadcast and began thinking in April about what election coverage would look like. After months of preparation, the HU16 team was ready to broadcast the election results to the Searcy community. Sophomore Eli Dean served as an anchor for the HU16 election coverage. “We were the only voice to this community in White County,” Dean said. “It was a big deal. Being more familiarized with what’s going on around you politically is really important, and I think we did a great job of that.” HU16 served as the only news broadcast in White County that provided live election results for issues on the ballot that directly impacted the community. Off the air, McDaris highlighted the importance of young people being involved and informed about the political process, especially those living on a college campus. “Democracy is how America survives,” McDaris said. “We have to start caring now and understanding the process.” During a time of divisive politics and eagerness to see the future of America, Harding students witnessed and participated in the election in real time. They reported in the newsroom and gathered with fellow students to watch the results, all with Christian love. Written by Abby Davidson
12 Student Life Harding community celebrates 100 years with food, front lawn fun, time capsules and more. Harding University honored its founders with several festivities that took place on campus to commemorate the end of the Centennial celebrations. These activities included the opening of the 1979 time capsule, a birthday party on the front lawn, a tailgate before the first football game of the year and a firework show to celebrate the team’s victory. These celebrations required the help of Archives and Special Collections librarian Hannah Wood. Her main focus was the time capsule, which was unearthed after being buried for 45 years. “I was terrified that [the time capsule] would be a huge mess,” Wood said. “Just the idea that it could all be dust or be moldy.” Wood was in charge of revealing the buried items live on stage during chapel on Sept. 5. The time capsule remained intact and preserved. Items in the time capsule included a lock of Dr. Jimmy Carr’s signature white hair and a bow tie belonging to Dr. Joseph Pryor, a trademark part of his wardrobe. The administration at the time published a list of the buried items in an issue of the Harding Bulletin, so Wood and others in charge of the project knew the contents of the capsule. However, one item that left the faculty and staff stumped was an empty envelope with no explanation. The published list mentioned this envelope but with no hint as to its contents. Could this have been a prank left from 1979, or was it left empty by accident? After the unveiling of the time capsule in chapel, many students attended the birthday celebration on the front lawn. A barbecue lunch was provided along with sponsorship from Yarnell’s Ice Cream and Coca-Cola. The Thundering Herd also performed live. “They asked us to play about 10 to 15 minutes of music, which is typically a pretty standard request when we go and perform at campus events,” senior drum major Kylie James said. “They did have a special request for us to play ‘Happy Birthday.’” The Thundering Herd had never played “Happy Birthday” before and had to find a new arrangement of the song. They started preparing for the event in early August during band camp. The Thundering Herd performed ONE SCOOP AT A TIME On Sept. 5, President Dr. Mike Williams and Vice President Jean-Noel Thompson shovel a ceremonial first scoop on the new time capsule. Students also helped bury Harding mementos in the same location as the 1979 capsule, near the Olen Hendrix building. Photo by Jenna Gaessler Founding Function the fight song and alma mater in addition to “Happy Birthday,” which ended with Buff the Bison popping out of a 15-foot wooden birthday cake. “While there was the band playing, I snuck inside the cake as they were distracting everyone,” Buff the Bison said. “They were keeping me posted through an earpiece because they knew it would be a complicated set up.” Buff stuffed the mascot costume inside the cake the night before to avoid unwanted attention during the festivities. While the crowd was distracted, he snuck in, climbed a ladder inside the cake and rose from the top at the end of the birthday song. He later made an appearance at the opening football game at First Security Stadium that night. The Harding football team beat Southern Nazarene 59-0 and ended the game with copious amounts of fireworks. The day was a success that both created new memories and reminisced about those from the past with current students and alumni alike. Written by Adele Duncan
SUPRISE Emerging from a fifteen-foot tall constructed birthday cake, Buff the Bison waves to students and faculty attending the celebration. A group photo was taken in the front of the cake. Photo by Abigail Calicoat 13 Founder’s Day
Hunting For Bison Students engage in a campus-wide game of Assassins during the spring semester. Beginning Jan. 16, 105 students participated in a large game of Assassins. Students were given the name of a student they were assigned to “assassinate” by spraying them with a water gun. To receive the point, each player recorded their kill and sent it to the Assassins Instagram account, @hardingassassins. The game cost $3 to play and was an annual tradition. There were two winners of each game: the player with the most kills and the person who survived the longest. Spectators appreciated the game by following the updates and supporting their friends. Seniors Katie Green and Halina Hunt were the Game Masters who led the game in spring 2025. “The main reason I wanted to be a Game Master is that I love the game and think it is so fun,” Hunt said. “I had so much fun playing. One of the best parts about the game are the challenges, and I knew I would enjoy planning those and watching players participate.” Throughout the game, the Game Masters would create different challenges and advantages such as immunity and ways to gain extra kills. “My favorite part of being Game Master has been to see behind-the-scenes drama that I haven’t seen in the past,” Green said. “We get some really funny DMs and all sorts of random things. I like being able to know who has who. It’s all randomized, but one time someone had their brother, and he was like, ‘Bruh, why do I have my brother?’” Students playing Assassins were encouraged to create strategies to play. Some joined alliances while others stalked other students solo. For sophomore Max Thweatt, this was his second year playing, and he hoped to win it all. He shared his favorite memory from the experience. “Getting back into the game by acquiring an advantage last year and then killing the person who killed me was pretty awesome,” Thweatt said. “[That was] closely followed by jumping over a fence to avoid Cam Traughber this year.” Students who played said that the game was one of their favorite memories during the spring semester. Friendships were built between people across disciplines. The Game Masters also emphasized that players were “liable for [their] own actions during the game,” in the handbook. Students who participated in the campus-wide game used skill and strategy to make it to the end. Written by Alyson Voigt 14 Student Life
ELIMINATED Acting out a scene, senior Halina Hunt pretends to eliminate her co-organizer senior Katie Green. This year marked the fourth year the game was held. Photo by Claire Davis DO IT FOR THE GRAM Juniors Ally Murphy, Lilly Bridges, Ava Boyle, Bridget McSpadden, and Kaylie Dyniewski kill or are killed on the Harding Assassins Instagram account. Photo courtesy of @hardingassassins Instagram WANTED Junior Caraline Rogers posted on the Harding Assassins Instagram as someone who must be found and shot with water. Photo courtesy of @hardingassassins Instagram 15 Harding Assassins
Student Life 16 Bison Herd Grows Changes made to freshmen orientation bring new life, fun and memories to campus BOOGIE NIGHTS At the silent disco event, junior Tamson Smith-Gardner and sophomore Asa Fowler dance on the front lawn. This event disco, along with a hypnotist performance from Dale K, served as nighttime entertainment for freshmen and upperclassmen alike. Photo by Abigail Callicoat HEADS OF THE HERD Posing on the front lawn, the Stampede first-year guides, juniors Tucker Allen and Macy Phillips and seniors Gray Lusk, James Stone and Susie Green smile for a picture. The increased number of upperclassmen guides compared to years past helped facilitate greater engagement among students. Photo by Abigail Callicoat
17 Stampede Harding University welcomed incoming students with the annual freshmen orientation, otherwise known as Stampede. For the 202425 school year, Stampede received an upgrade and offered more activities and information sessions to help benefit students. “When you have new people every year coming in and taking over, there’s a lot of reinventing the wheel that can happen,” Director of Student Life Jane Chandler said. This was Chandler’s first year to direct Stampede. She brought together a group of students to help her with the workload. Chandler intentionally chose students who represented different communities at Harding. “There’s no way to truly represent the entire student body,” Chandler said. “But it felt like a really good sample group.” Five students were chosen as first-year guides to assist incoming students. These students played a crucial role in Stampede but realized that the experience was different from the years that they attended. “It was way more organized than it was when I went through Stampede [in 2022],” junior Tamson Smith-Gardner said. “There was more free time, which I liked because it gave all the freshmen more downtime.” As a first-year guide, one of SmithGardner’s priorities was intentionally including the more introverted incoming students. “I tried really hard to reach out to those who maybe weren’t as extroverted,” SmithGardner said. “[I tried] to encourage the introverts to just do one thing because going to one Stampede event could lead to meeting your whole entire freshman friend group.” To aid the directive of fostering friendships and involving freshmen, the student leaders planned more events. The freshman class responded well to these events, one of which was a silent disco. “The silent disco was great because nobody was scared to talk to anyone,” SmithGardner said. “You just had to switch your headphones to the same color and just vibe.” After attending three days’ worth of events, the freshmen felt properly welcomed and found their spots in the Harding community. “I absolutely participated in the events,” freshman Chase Watterson said. “It was super fun because everybody bought into it . . . but that’s just part of the culture here at Harding.” The student leaders hoped to carry the energy of the previous centennial year into the next one hundred years of Harding’s history. Written by Aubrey Hudkins WELCOME HOME Stampede first-year guides present in front of the upcoming students on Aug. 15 in the Benson Auditorium. Photo by Abigail Callicoat MINIONS On Aug. 16, students pose for a group photo. The students are dressed up for a themed dinner during Stampede. Photo by Abigail Callicoat FRONT LAWN FUN On Aug. 16, students play cornhole on the front lawn during Stampede. Games and booths were set up for the freshman to explore. Photo by Abigail Callicoat
GIMME! GIMME! GIMME A SMILE! Taking a selfie, seniors Abigail Calicoat, Lael Seats, Adele Duncan, and Caton Adair pose in front of the ancient Ephesus library. The students enjoyed seeing the land of the Bible while abroad. Photo courtesy of Adele Duncan Mamma Mia Moment Jill Davis leads women’s group of students and mothers on summer trip to Greece. SUPER TROUPERS On Aug. 1, students and their mothers pose in front of the Acropolis in Athens. The group visited many sites, ranging from the southern tip of Sounion to the island of Santorini. Photo courtesy of Abigail Callicoat 18 Student Life
Harding assistant professor of mathematics Jill Davis led a weekly Bible study for college-aged women. In spring 2024, she presented the idea of going to Greece as a group for anyone interested. Davis extended an extra invitation to the mothers of the Bible study members, as well as some Harding graduates. In total, 23 women attended the trip. Davis planned a 10-day trip at the end of summer 2024, which included a three-night cruise to the Greek Islands and other various locations. The group visited places such as Athens, Ephesus, Corinth and Turkey. Senior Lael Seats attended the trip and spoke highly of the experience. “It was just crazy to see the Bible in real life because we got to go to the Bema, which is where Paul was on trial,” Seats said. “It was interesting to see where [the events of the Bible] actually occurred in real time, whereas, before that, all you have is your own vision of the Bible but then, you get to put it together in real life.” Senior Caton Adair also attended the trip. She looked forward to the regular opportunities for fellowship. Adair’s highlight of the trip was the variety of women who experienced Greece with her. “Honestly, my favorite part wasn’t all the places we got to see that were so cool, but just the group and being with so many different women of different ages,” Adair said. One of Davis’ goals with this trip was to allow students who couldn’t previously go abroad to experience a little taste without the semester-long absence. This intergenerational group of women ranged from college students to middle-aged women. Since the participants were limited, the women quickly grew closer. “The best part was definitely the group bonding and experiencing it all together,” Davis said. “I was so proud to be a part of Harding to get to offer that for them.” As Davis reflected on Harding’s help to make the experience a success, she looked forward to the possibility of another trip happening in the future. Written by Addie Echols 19 Jill Davis Greece Trip LAY ALL YOUR LOVE ON ME On Aug. 30, 2024, seniors Adele Duncan, Caton Adair, Lael Seats, Abigail Callicoat, Alyson Voigt, and Breanna Voigt scuba dive in Greece. The group explored Porto Rafti that day. Photo courtesy of Abigail Callicoat
HOMEBOUND Cramming into a truck bed, students ride to campus. Students who chose not to run volunteered to drive the runners on their way back. Photo courtesy of Jackson Moore SPECIAL GUEST Pulling up to the river, University President Mike Williams greets students as they finish the run. After being invited by event organizer, sophomore Fletcher Stobaugh, Williams agreed to cheer runners on during the final stretch. Photo courtesy of Ella Parmer 20 Student Life
21 Little Red River Run VICTORY LAP On Aug. 19, students pose at the Little Red River after running there. Some students chose to swim across to the other bank for an additional challenge. Photo courtesy of Scarlet Davis Students celebrate the start to the semester with race to the Little Red River. On Aug. 19, a group of students ran together to the Little Red River. The event took place on the first day of class, dictated by the standing tradition of hosting the run on the first day of each semester. Many students woke up early and ran 3.3 miles to the river–a perfect 5k. “There’s a group chat that’ll get active a few days before school starts, and it’ll notify everybody,” senior Barton Erwin said. Approximately 150 students participated, which was the largest turnout since the establishment of the tradition. “This year was probably the biggest turnout we’ve ever had,” Erwin said. “Even Mike Williams was there at the very end.” To start the run, the students met in front of Allen Hall. Everyone was allowed to participate–freshmen through seniors and both men and women. This run was one of the first events to happen on campus for all ages to participate in. It generated buzz and excitement to start the school year. “If you’re an incoming freshman and you just don’t know anyone or if you’re an upperclassman that wants to meet people, it’s the first social event that anyone can go to on campus,” sophomore Fletcher Stobaugh said. This tradition helped many students get involved with activities on campus, and they remained determined to continue the tradition for years to come. “It’s been going on for over five years now,” Erwin said. “I would say, if it wasn’t a tradition now, it’s gotta be.” Getting more and more people involved in the making of a tradition known on campus helped to create a sense of community. I’m not a massive runner, but I know the running community is positive and holds others up,” Stobaugh said. Those who ran agreed that participating in growing tradition made it worthwhile to wake up early. “It is fun to see people that don’t really run and all struggle together,” Stobaugh said. “We always do it together.” Even though students enjoyed the run itself, the memories that stood out lasted well beyond the run. “[I will always remember] the car ride back, with all the seats filled,” sophomore Emma Gaskill said. “All the windows were down, and the sun was rising.” The regular runners of this biannual race were determined to maintain the tradition for up-and-coming students. “So now, pass it onto the next guy,” Erwin said. “Just keep it going for as long as it can possibly go.” Written by Aubrey Hudkins Little Run Red River
22 Student Life Fall Sports Intramural sports provided special opportunities for students to compete in various sports. These sports gave all students a chance to create or join a team and play against their friends in sports such as football, softball, volleyball, basketball and more. Pickleball and sand volleyball were the newest additions. Freshman students acclimated well to the intramural sports offered in the fall of 2024, and one team in particular took the Harding sports world by storm. The “Double Chunk Chocolate Cookies” (DCCC) gained a following as a freshman male intramural football team that approached the sport in a funny fashion. “Being on the Double Chunk Chocolate Cookies gave me and my friends a fun event to look forward to and to do together,” freshman Tate Jones said. “It allowed us to play a sport as a group and stay active.” Jones appreciated the diversity that intramural sports offered. “I had only played football up to that point, but I planned to play all the other ones,” Jones said. “I was looking forward to softball because it was a sport I had never played.” Sophomore Ashlyn McCulley spoke about her time playing intramural sports as a freshman. McCulley also served as a referee for some of the games. “Intramural sports could bring a lot of benefits to the freshman experience,” McCulley said. “They offered a great way to make new friends and build a sense of community when you were adjusting to a new environment.” McCulley also shared that intramural sports dramatically shaped her freshman experience. “Intramural sports enhanced my time at Harding,” Mculley said. “They helped create lasting memories and provided a fun break from things like studying.” Intramural matches were held primarily on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 5 to 10 p.m. Students registered for the events in the IMleagues app. Freshman Hilton Duncan played intramural football and managed an Instagram account promoting his team. “I did run the Instagram; it was great,” Duncan said. “I had loved managing Instagrams and stuff, and it had been fun because we were kind of hyping up the team like it was an NFL team. We had been getting a sense of fandom for the team. It was great and funny doing that. We had gameday posts, memes, highlights and other stuff.” Duncan also agreed that intramural sports were valuable for freshmen as they adjusted to life in college. “I thought intramural sports brought a sense of community to the freshman experience that gave me a chance to get connected to my freshman peers,” Duncan said. “Sometimes you were looking for something to do during the day, and intramural sports gave you that opportunity to have something to do at night.” Written by Max Thweat Frenzy Newcomers to campus acclimate by joining and promoting freshmen intramural teams.
VICTORY ROYALE Posing under the scoreboard, the “Double Chunk Chocolate Cookies” team celebrates their win. The team defeated the “HARMacists,” a squad comprised of pharmacy grad students, in a blowout on Sept. 2. Photo courtesy of Hilton Duncan DIZZYING DRIBBLING Racing downfield, sophomore Johnny Limburg fights a defender for the ball. During the fall semeseter, intramural soccer was a popular option following the football season. Photo by Abigail Calicoat BUMP SET SPIKE Setting up the ball, freshmen competed in a fun game on the sand volleyball courts together. Intramural sand volleyball was the only co-ed sport. Photo by Abigail Calicoat 23 Intramural Teams
24 Student Life Fast & Focused Local churches partner with Harding students for a 40-hour fast that may become tradition. In fall 2024, the Cloverdale Church of Christ, College Church of Christ and Downtown Church of Christ organized a 40-hour fast as a backto-school spiritual practice. The event was a group effort, invited members of the community to participate in fasting and prayer to mark the commencement of the school year. Over 80 students from different church groups took part in the fast. The college student ministers at Downtown, Cloverdale and College Church, respectively: Levi Huddleston, Phillip Baird and Grant Fitzhugh helped lead and participated in the fast. Fitzhugh spoke about his experience. “The 40-hour fast was a good opportunity for all of us to start the fall semester by making a statement—that God was going to come first, before anything else,” Fitzhugh said. “The fast definitely made me realize that people were hungry for God, and it challenged me to be hungrier for him. I thought it was a meaningful experience for everyone who participated, and we hoped this would become an annual event.” Sophomore Isaiah Braswell agreed that the event was an eye-opening practice. “It was a very sobering experience,” Braswell said. “It made me realize how much I relied on food for my attitude and my comfort,” He had never fasted before and spoke about the benefits of the experience. “I thought it was very hard but also very rewarding,” Braswell said. “There were moments of pain, but it showed me how weak I was. The fact that God could sustain you even when you were hungry was worth it.” Another participant was sophomore Ellie Kate Fitzhugh, Grant Fitzhugh’s sister. She offered insight on the fast and the additional spiritual practices that accompanied it. “There were three worship times at the different church buildings when the people who were fasting came together to fellowship,” Ellie Kate said. “It was a time that the students were encouraged to pray for revival and for the upcoming semester.” These churches planned to continue the 40-hour fast at the start of the next academic year, hoping to introduce more students to this spiritual practice. Written by Max Thweatt
25 40 Hour Fast GAME PLAN Talking to students, College Church minister Grant Fitzhugh explains the plan for the weekend. The fast brought students together at Downtown, College and Cloverdale Churches of Christ for prayer, communion, devotionals and games during the fast. Photo courtesy of Grant Fitzhugh PACKED IN Squeezing into a supply closet, students hide together in a game of sardines. Downtown Church of Christ hosted a game night on Aug. 23. Photo courtesy of Phillip Baird DEVOTION OVER DINNER Gathering in the halls of College Church of Christ, junior Jacob Craig joins others in a time of prayer. College was one of three churches who hosted those participating in the fast and was where organizers kicked off the event. Photo courtesy of Grant Fitzhugh
26 Student Life STUDY BUDDIES Freshman Faith Sanderson reads from Ephesians during a devotional hosted by students in Legacy housing. The group met weekly to study the letters of Paul. Photo by Abigail Callicoat FAITH JAM On the Midnight Oil stage, junior Abby Britt, senior Cerra Cathryn Anderson and sophomore Ezra Cope lead a night of worship for Sanctuary. While typically hosted at Fellowship Bible Church, Sancturay was periodically hosted outdoors as weather allowed. Photo courtesy of Abby Britt ROCK SOLID Similing for a picture unior Elizabeth Brown poses in front of the Rock House. College Church of Christ created this ministry to help students by offering devotionals, children’s service opportunities, mentorship and more. Photo courtesy of Ellie Fitzhugh
27 Ministry Work Leading By Faith Students take up leadership roles in local ministries. Harding students received opportunities to be involved in off-campus church ministries, and many took full advantage of this to serve God’s kingdom. Several churches welcomed Harding students to participate in various college, worship and service ministries. Junior Abby Britt was in charge of Sanctuary, a student-led worship service at Fellowship Bible Church on Monday nights. Britt set up the stage, created slides, built a team and directed praise team practice and worship each week. “I felt the presence of the Lord so greatly each week at Sanctuary,” Britt said. “Our worship team spent 15 minutes before worship in a room with all the lights out, praying together over the people entering, and then we returned to that room after worship to spend time in prayer thanking the Lord for the work he did and the time we had to spend worshiping him together.” Britt noted that roughly 200 college students gathered weekly during this time to sing praises to the Lord. “I was so greatly filled each week getting to hear so many college students praising our Father together and knowing I was part of a ministry that was doing something to further the Kingdom—to provide a space for people to intimately connect with the Lord—and that brought glory to God,” Britt said. Students also enjoyed participating in the College Church of Christ college ministry. Junior Elizabeth Brown was a second-year intern for the College Church ministry. She was involved in discipleship groups, adopt-a-college-student programs, Rock House mentoring, soup and serve, game nights and much more. “I saw the Lord create disciple-makers,” Brown said. “Our definition of a disciple was someone who followed Jesus, was changed by Jesus and was committed to the mission of Jesus.” Brown encouraged students to engage in and to seek out ministry opportunities. “To someone interested in plugging into a college ministry, I would recommend looking at their values and thinking about the person you wanted to be when you graduated,” Brown said. “Would this ministry help you get there? I would also say allow God in, and let him make every decision with you . . . College ministries were such blessings if you took the leap of faith and plugged in.” Sophomore Ethan Ashmore was also involved with the College Church ministry and participated in the adopt-acollege student program. He appreciated the opportunity for mentorship that the program offered him. “The adoption program was so wonderful for me and my friend [sophomore] Jackson Polk,” Ashmore said. “We were adopted by an Australian family who loved the Lord. It was such a blessing for us to hear about their experiences and perspectives on the world and Christianity because of all their experiences with Harding and just life. It was something I really needed that year, and it helped me so much having parents away from home.” Ashmore also spoke about the positive impact of the College Church ministry. “I saw the Lord work significantly through Grant [Fitzhugh, the college student minister,] and through so many of the students and how lively it was,” Ashmore said. “They did a great job ensuring every student got involved and felt the love of the church.” Written by Max Thweatt GAME ON At a Rock House game night juniors Elizabeth Brown and Griffin Meeker play Monopoly. College Church offered a variety of fun events throughout the year to generate interest in the ministry. Photo courtesy of Ellie Fitzhugh
28 Student Life REACHING FOR TUCKS Portraying the protagonist Winnie Forrester, senior Aubrey Jones motions to the crowd. The show was her first main cast feature, though she frequently appeared in the ensemble in years past. Photo courtesy of Edgar Cardiel Theatre Everlasting Theatre Department hosts “Tuck Everlasting” as annual Homecoming musical. Harding University students performed in the annual Homecoming musical, “Tuck Everlasting,” for audiences on Oct. 27–29. Directed by assistant professor of theatre Ben Jones, the production not only showcased the cast and crew’s talent but also provided a rare opportunity for professional growth through a Zoom meeting with Jay Russell, director of the “Tuck Everlasting” film. Sophomore Anna Wright considered being part of the production to be an exciting experience. “‘Tuck Everlasting’ has been one of my favorite shows I’ve been a part of,” Wright said. “Ben Jones is a wonderful director, and the rest of the cast and production team made the process so much fun.” Reflecting on the Zoom session, Wright said Russell’s insights reshaped her understanding of the story. “He shared so much about the motives of the characters and emphasized storytelling,” Wright said. “The entire play spans just a few days, but it leaves a lifelong impact on the characters, and that really put everything into perspective for me.” Sophomore Josh Patterson, who portrayed Miles Tuck, found the role rewarding yet challenging. “Miles is such a complex character—the first of his kind that I’ve had the privilege to play,” Patterson said. “I think it broadened my versatility as an actor.” Patterson described his approach to portraying Miles as immersing himself in the character’s experiences. “You’d be cranky too if your wife ran away with your son, and you had eternity to mull it over,” Patterson said. “I had to associate Miles’ memories with my own emotions to bring him to life.” Junior Maggie Tackitt, a member of the technical crew, appreciated the advice Russell shared in their virtual meeting. “He emphasized the importance of taking chances, making connections, and asking questions because the worst someone can say is no,” Tackitt said. “That advice is relevant to life and particularly true in theatre, where collaboration and networking are vital.” Tackitt said the Theatre Department frequently went above and beyond for students. “We regularly hear from theatre professionals connected to our department and take trips to see Broadway touring shows,” Tackitt said. “But meeting Jay Russell, who directed another version of our production, was a special highlight.” Beyond the technical and emotional challenges, the production also brought lighthearted moments. Patterson recalled the nerve-racking chapel preview. “Performing for the entire student body at 9 a.m. was terrifying,” Patterson said. “Ironically, it was the most nervous I’ve been for a performance, but it’s a moment I’ll never forget.” The cast and crew’s dedication, paired with professional mentorship, made “Tuck Everlasting” an unforgettable experience. Wright summed up the experience perfectly: “It’s not just about the performance—it’s about working together to tell a story that impacts people.” Written by Aja Griffin ENCORE At the end of Act I, the maing cast poses on stage. Cast members grew closer through the countless rehearsals and inside jokes, like their prized prop toad, which made several social media appearances. Photo courtesy of Edgar Cardiel
29 Homecoming Musical UNDER MY UMBRELLA Holding her prop, senior Audra Graves joins the actors in singing. “Tuck Everlasting” was Grave’s fifth time as an ensemble member during her time at Harding. Photo courtesy of Edgar Cardiel VILLAIN VOCALS Playing the musical’s antagonist, The Man in The Yellow Suit, sophomore Weston Eades sings to the audience. This musical marked the Pied Piper’s third Harding Homecoming production. Photo courtesy of Edgar Cardiel
30 Student Life FAN FAVORITES During a performace, the trolls of “O chief, where art thou?” surround their captor. This show won the hearts of many in attendence and second overall. Photo courtesy of Jeff Montgomery GOLDEN GLORY Motioning to the auidience, the Spring Sing hosts and hostesses perform. For the 50th anniversary there were six hosts and hostesses instead of the usual four. Photo courtesy of Jeff Montgomery SHOW STOPPER Dancing in their show “Hooked on a reeling”, members of TNT and Zeta Rho perform their signature jump-claps. The show made waves for sweeping first place awards in every categroy. Photo courtesy of Jeff Montgomery AHOY Dressed as sailors, members of women’s social clubs Ju Go Ju and Ko Jo Kai and men’s social clubs Titans and Sub T-16 pay tribute to their history in “A Journey Home.” The show was based on the club’s first victory in the inagural 1974 Spring Sing. Photo courtesy of Jeff Montgomery
31 Spring Sing “I just loved getting to act again with such an amazing group of people,” Limburg said. “There was just so much enthusiasm, and the energy and the vibes being onstage with such an amazing group of people . . . I made so many different connections just through the show, and it was an incredible environment to get to be in.” Regardless of victory, participants at every level were honored to pay homage to their clubs’ roots and create new bonds between groups that would not have collaborated otherwise. Sophomore Bonnie Permenter’s favorite part of Spring Sing was growing close to her castmates in “Legend Has It,” a collaboration between members of women’s social clubs Delta Nu and Chi Omega Pi and men’s social club ROME, based on 1994 Sweepstakes winner “Take This Cork and Pop It.” “It’s a vulnerable thing to dance in front of people and to sing, so you have to get close to [your castmates],” Permenter said. “Getting to know those people on a really human level was really something I was so blessed with, and that led to . . . lifelong friendships and a love for the school and a love for the arts.” Permenter described the joys of Jersey Night, an annual dress rehearsal that allowed each group to watch their friends from other clubs perform in their club jerseys. “There’s no animosity towards anyone,” Permenter said. “There’s no cliques; there’s no hatefulness towards other clubs. You’re one big family performing; you’re all exhausted, and you’re all in it together, and it was so beautiful to see . . . how human it all was to be with those people.” This sense of community was what inspired Permenter to show an interest in representing Delta Nu as their Spring Sing 2025 director. “I wouldn’t be a director if I hadn’t enjoyed my time . . . seeing the heart that people put into it,” Permenter said. As a performer, she had a responsibility to be present for rehearsals and give her all to the song and dance of the show for one semester. As a director, Permenter didn’t anticipate the work that went into Spring Sing during the fall semester as well. “I have such a new respect for our directors from last year and all the directors in another club because of how much work really goes into it that I was not expecting,” Permenter said. At the end of the day, Spring Sing was never about the competition, the trophy or the prestige. Participants in the show overwhelmingly emerged with new friendships, admiration for their classmates and a newfound appreciation for the rewarding toil of performing arts. “Golden” allowed students to experience this on a large scale. Written by Cassidy Tucker Harding’s 100th year was also marked by the 50th Spring Sing production, which lasted from March 28–30, 2024. This milestone was reflected in the year’s theme: “Golden.” Hosts, hostesses and ensemble members appeared in various dazzling black-and-gold costumes, which culminated in an energetic and golden finale performance. “Golden” also served as a tribute to previous winning Spring Sing shows. Senior Adele Duncan co-directed the winning number, men’s social club TNT’s and women’s social club Zeta Rho’s “Hooked on a Reeling,” which was based on their 2006 show “Rumble in the Jungle.” She faced unique challenges in preparing for the show as she was not appointed as a director until November when a previous director transferred from the University. “I kind of went into it a little blind of what my exact role would look like,” Duncan said. Her role was further complicated when she was asked to take charge of making the 207 fish and barracuda costumes used in the show. “It took a village,” Duncan said. “With sewing, nobody really knows how to sew with a sewing machine, and you’re limited to how many sewing machines [you have]. That was definitely the biggest deficit—the lack of sewing machines and knowing how to sew—and that’s where I had to step up.” These were not the only trials during the preparation. Duncan described the disappointment her group experienced when a prop wall, standing about 15 feet tall, had to be cut from the show. “You put in all this time and energy for something for it to get taken away, but I have absolutely no complaints about the people in the show and the attitudes they have,” Duncan said. “Everything about the people [was] phenomenal—and the other directors.” Duncan also organized “secret practices” for the freshmen during which they watched historic past Spring Sing performances. She called this “the game changer in the attitudes and the camaraderie” of their show. “They understood why we were doing this, and it wasn’t just to learn how to dance and learn how to sing,” Duncan said. “It was to be with one another and to celebrate that.” Sophomore Rachel Limburg participated in the collaboration between men’s social club Chi Sigma Alpha, women’s social clubs Iota Chi and Regina and friends based on their 1995 show “Don’t Rock the Boat, Oar Else.” Her experience as a large-part Viking was time-consuming yet rewarding. Golden Moments Spring Sing 2024 pays homage to 50 years of iconic performances.
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34 International Mission Possible Students participate in summer mission trips. Harding’s Global Outreach packed summer 2024 with mission trips spanning five continents. Teams consisting of students and faculty alike led missions to several nations, including Northern Ireland, Saint Lucia and Mongolia. One of these missions included eight students who traveled to Hungary with the wife-and-husband team of Drs. Anessa and Tim Westbrook, both associate professors in the College of Bible and Ministry. The crew participated in the fifth mission trip led to Hungary by the Westbrooks, who served as missionaries there themselves for eight years. Anessa Westbrook reflected on the summer’s events and shared her enthusiasm for being able to provide a place for Hungarian Christians who have felt isolated or marginalized in their faith. The mission team assisted a small camp that had been slowly growing since its inception in 1999. “I can watch and just see people’s lives changing,” Westbrook said. “And it’s because of their interaction with Harding students and how they’re ministering to them, showing them love, showing them acceptance and encouraging them.” In another region of the world, a mission team explored the culture in Tasmania and Brisbane while learning how best to connect with the Christian community present in Australia. The group spent 10 days in Tasmania and a week in Brisbane, which allowed them to build relationships with host families and local churches. Director of Academic Resources Darla Phillips and professor of exercise and sports science Dr. Bryan Phillips guided the mission team as they joined forces with youth groups to tackle big questions about the evolution of Christianity in different places. IT TAKES A VILLAGE In Thailand, students stand outside a church building. These students got together to serve in Thailand for the summer. Photo courtesy of Carley Gray “We had a lot of conversations about what Christianity and the Church of Christ, in particular, looks like in Australia,” junior Hayley Waller said. “I just learned so much about the way the Lord works in community.” Waller spoke of how the group remained flexible to any possibility of ministry. This openness, she asserted, positively affected the dynamic of the team and how they worked alongside the Holland Park Church of Christ. The enthusiasm for Harding missions carried over into Europe as well. A group of two current students and a few faculty members committed to bringing the joy of the Gospel to the French-speaking population in Europe. The team planned class sessions, distributed flyers for their concert and practiced their repertoire of Sunday-school songs. “My favorite experience during the trip was doing VBS with the younger kids,” junior Josiah Linderman said. “They were excited to see us every time and were just so fun to be around and get to know.” Linderman, who extended his stay in Europe to serve in the Global Outreach mission following his participation in the French Advanced Culture and Conversation Experience program, shared that the group dynamic made the hard work enjoyable. Teams experienced other similarly impactful summer missions in the Dominican Republic, Canada, Kenya, Thailand, Hawaii, Japan, South Africa and Albania. The Global Outreach program bolstered the University’s mission of empowering its students to share the Gospel in any situation, and the summer’s efforts proved to be meaningful for both the communities being ministered to and the teams themselves. Written by Jessica Leite
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