Inspire, Summer 1996

Sandra Welch Harner'64, associate professor of English, has been elected an Associate Fellow of the Society of Technical Communication (STC). Nominated by former student David Kimmel'93, she was one of 19 professionals named this year to this select group of less than 100 Associate Fellows. STC's membership numbers 20,000. In 1984,Sandi initiated the Professional Writing program, which later became a major in the Department of Language and Literature. Under Sandi's leadership, the Cedarville College student chapter of STC earned the Chapter Achievement Award in 1992,the Achievement Award for Chapter Newsletter in 1992, and the Pacesetter Award in 1995. Two former Cedarville College athletes will compete in the 1996 Olympic trials in Atlanta, Georgia, held June 14-23. Cedarville College Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Jane Romig Brooker'86 will race to earn a berth in the 800 meter run.She participated in the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Trials. Jane enters the event with a personal best of 2:01.1. 1996 graduate Chad Eder is ranked among the top 15 racewalkers in the United States. At the prestigious Penn Relays on April 27, he placed second in the 10K Racewalk with a time only 20 seconds off the American record and the third fastest in U.S. history. Chad will compete in the 20K Racewalk at the Olympic Trials. Over 500 visitors came to campus for Parents Weekend May 3-4, including Joel Peterson's parents from Ashville, New York. Activities included Honors Day Chapel;the popular POPS concert featuring college ensembles; the spring drama production, Tartuffe: The Imposter, Broadway Tonight!in the historic Cedarville Opera House; music professors Jim Colman and Charles Clevenger in a dazzling piano concert;and many other activities! In March 1996, Bethany House Publishers introduced a new series of children's books by 1980 graduate Stacy Towle Morgan. Filled with action-packed adventures and lasting spiritual values,"The Ruby Slippers School" series for seven to ten year olds will be sold in Christian bookstores nationwide.The books, Adventure in the Caribbean and The Belgium Book Mystery, are about a home-educated girl named Hope Brown and her adventures around the world. Stacy and her husband, Michael, reside in Fishers, Indiana, where Stacy home-educates their four children, Ellen (10), Reid (9), Leslie (7), and Grace (6). 4SUMMER'96 Leadership Through Service D evon Berry '95 appreciates his years as a Cedarville College student."I learned so much at Cedarville—about academics, relationships, and most importantly,about God," he stated. Devon,an honor graduate of Cedarville's department of nursing,is currently studying to be a nurse practitioner at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. His goal: to use his nursing skills in missions. Devon,originally from Fort Wayne,Indiana,shares that each year at Cedarville held different lessons for him."My freshman year was a social lesson, one that found its roots in biblical love. I learned this: you'll make ten times as many friends in two months by taking an interest in others rather than waiting for them to take an interest in you."As a sophomore,he learned about the importance ofa Christ- centered life. Devon states,"I learned in chapel that there will be more reflection of Jesus when there is more reflection on Him." Devon'sjunior year, often cited as the busiest for nursing majors, brought with it a greater realization ofa Christian's need to fully trust God for everything in life. Between classwork, nursing clinicals, and ministry,Devon deepened his walk with the Lord and reliance on Him. Devon's senior year as a resident assistant(RA)was the most valuable in terms ofgrowth.As an RA and senior, Devon could look back over his early years at Cedarville and see the Lord was teaching him that true leadership is serving others. He states,"IfI heard it once I heard it a million times: 'Leadership is service.' I saw it through godly example,heard it in chapel and class,and now had the opportunity to live it as an RA." Devon continued,"The year was amazing. I found that setting aside my own desires and making the guys in the hall and their needs a priority resulted in great blessing...and it was all the Lord's work.I was amazed at the soundness of the 'leadership is service' principle." Presently,Devon leads a singles class in a Cleveland church. He states,"I know that the Lord will give me future leadership opportunities within the church, academia, missions(my ultimate goal), community,etc. My 'style' will be different as I endeavor to serve those I lead. But that is what the Lord taught me while at Cedarville: true leadership is service. And I am very thankful for that lesson." Public MoralityIn History }I s aformer student and professor of political science,Dr. Rex Rogers'74 spent years challenging young people to apply their faith and exercise their voice in the public arena. Now,as the president of Cornerstone College in Grand Rapids, Michigan,Rogers has taken his challenge directly to the statehouse steps with a publication entitled, Toward a Public Morality. His article first appeared in The Messenger,a Cornerstone publication, in the fall of 1995. Response to the commentary was enthusiastic and included an offer from one reader to fund the printing of the article in a pamphlet format. The sponsor desired to deliver the message to Michigan's governor,state legislators, and congressional representatives. Toward a Public Morality recounts the history of moral devolution in our culture. Once accepted as the standard for morality, Judeo-Christian values are now challenged and "increasingly jettisoned from public life." As a result,"we have been plunged into an era of moral relativism." The article goes on to call for the reapplication of the old Judeo-Christian values with the purpose of rebuilding a "biblically-informed public morality." It further challenges Christians to"oppose moral ambiguity,amorality,and efforts aimed at creating a secular, anti-religious, or anti-Christian state and society." In addition to containing a challenging message,Dr. Rogers believes that the article helps to position Cornerstone College as"an academic institution concerned with the application of biblical Christianity in the marketplace." Dr. Rogers is also pleased that"the article has also been an excellent testimony to the unsaved. It demonstrates that we are thinking people interested in tackling contemporary issues." For a free copy of Toward a Public Morality, write to: President's Office, Cornerstone College, 1001 East Beltline Avenue NE,Grand Rapids,MI,49505-5897. A Faithful Friend In Cedarvalle's History B , orn in 1917,Eleanor Cooley Finney'37 has been a faithful friend to Cedarville College 'for more than 60 years. In the fall of 1935,she enrolled in Cedarville College for a two-year teaching certificate. Dr.W.R. McChesney was president of the College; the faculty numbered 16;and the student body had grown to 140. Upon her graduation in 1937,Eleanorjoined the staff at Casstown Elementary School near Troy,Ohio, where she taught fifth grade.Always encouraging and promoting a positive outlook,she devoted three years to her teaching career, which was brought to a close by her marriage to Emile Finney in 1940.At that time, it was forbidden for women teachers to be married! After a Sunday morning wedding,Eleanor and Emile chose to spend their honeymoon at a youth worker's conference. The end of her teaching career launched a lifetime of service to family,church,community,and Cedarville College. She and her husband strived to make their 220-acre farm in Clifton, Ohio a godly,loving home for their two daughters. For many years,she actively served as a youth worker and Sunday school teacher at Cedarville United Presbyterian Church,influencing young lives for Christ.An active member in the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution(DAR),as well as other community clubs, Eleanor was known for her enthusiasm and hard work.She rarely misses an activity of the Heritage Alumni, joining friends and former classmates foil baseball outings at Riverfront Stadium, the annual Cedar Dayl luncheon,and Homecoming reunions. Eleanor's reliable memory has been invaluable in updating alumni records and reviewin Cedarville history. At the age of78, Eleanor has settled at Friendship Village in Yellow Spring,Ohio A committed Christian and loyal friend to Cedarville College,she continue to remember faculty, staff, and students in her prayers. In 1986, Eleanor Cooley Finney '37 was recognized as Alumna ofthe Year