Cedars, December 2019

December 2019 19 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT James Leightenheimer: Helping Students Grow by Michael Cleverley P rofessor James Leightenheimer, well-known and loved by students in the Department of Commu- nication, has been used by God over the years to accomplish His will for the college and its students. Recently, it was announced that last year’s yearbook was dedicated to Leightenheimer. The yearbook’s dedica- tion is chosen by Cedarville students recommending a fac- ulty member they feel is deserving of the honor. Leightenheimer attended Cedarville, from 1976-80, where he was taught and influenced by Dr. Wes Baker. After almost three years of working at a radio station in Dayton, he contacted Baker to ask if he could continue to use him as a reference. Baker told him he could and mentioned to him that Cedarville was planning to expand its media program. In 1982, he returned as a broadcasting instructor. “My plan was always to teach, but I thought after I man- aged or maybe owned a station I’d come back in my 40s and do that. God, just as he often does, upended my plan with, what was to Him, a much better plan,” said Leightenheimer. Leightenheimer has taught at Cedarville for 38 years. During that time God has used him to positively impact the lives of his students and brought student radio to Cedarville. “The Lord gave me the opportunity to advocate with the administration the need for such a thing,” Leighten- heimer said. Resound Radio began as a feasibility study that he con- ducted as a senior project. When he returned as a faculty member, they tasked him with bringing student radio to the campus. The initial cost of installing the student radio sta- tion was $12,000. The students helped raise funds for Resound Ra- dio through Clean Greene, an event where students went through and cleaned Greene County and asked people for money pledges. They implemented the radio station with the help of the university maintenance department. It took most of the school year to finish installing it. They started in September 1989 and did not air until April 5. They started broadcasting through traditional radio but moved to online streaming as trends changed. Currently the staff is nine leaders and assistants with 35 volunteers. Leightenheimer also gets to know his stu- dents personally, be a mentor to them and prepare them for the future. “He very much has a servant’s heart and is willing to serve his students, and he pours into them and cares about them individually,” said Shannon Farmer. Recently he took some students to a conference at CMB University, in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a confer- ence for college students to help them network and stew- ard their gifts in radio broadcasting or music broadcast- ing. The professionals there wanted to be asked questions and there is enough time for each student to talk to every professional. “He is willing to do anything to care for people,” Farm- er said. Leightenheimer was willing to mentor her and is will- ing to talk any time. He’s more than happy to help his stu- dents with homework and life struggles they may be having. He also helps students make sure they are following God’s will for their life and not just pursuing that career because it is something cool. “He cares about the state of our souls, and our potential to further the kingdom, and he takes our dreams serious- ly and set us up with tools we need and on the path to get there,” Alexandrya Vissing said. Farmer originally desired to be in the film concentra- tion of communications. Later she went to a Resound Ra- dio staff meeting and afterward he told her that she had a gift and she should pray about whether God wanted her in radio. She is now in the radio broadcasting concentration and many others have had a similar experience of Leighten- heimer pointing them in the right direction. Leightenheimer is passionate for his students and what he does. His passion shows through his desire for his stu- dents to interact with the tools of the media to learn and not just watch. He also teaches from what he knows and does not just stick to class presentations he’s created. Leightenheimer desires his students be ready for what- ever they will have to face while following God’s will for their lives. That’s why he takes such an interactive learning approach and also why he personally pours so much time and effort into the lives of his students. Michael Cleverley is a freshman Journalism major. He spends most of his time studying in the library, but when he is not he is probably hanging out with friends. Photo by Carrie Bergan James Leightenheimer works with Cameron Clark as he records on air for Resound Radio.