Inspire, Summer 1999

From The Director's Chair M y contact with the military has been limited...stories of my dad's time at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Dave Jones'84,a dear friend who went home to Glory during the Gulf War.The "Wall ofPrayer" in the James T. Jeremiah chapel.A student leaving school mid-year to go to Bosnia. I've never been closely associated with the military life. YetI still get misty-eyed each year when those who have served our country proudly make their way to the chapel platform during the Memorial Day service. I still well with pride when I see the brilliant colors of our flag against a bright blue sky. And I still greatly admire those who make it their life to protect mine. In this issue ofInspire it is indeed a privilege to recognize those who influence, serve, and give their all For God and Country. (A:(Ak )73 - Faith Linn'83 Director of Alumni Relations StudentLife Center On Track W ork continues to progress on the Student Life Center,located on the northwest side of Cedar Lake. Construction managers indicate that all is on schedule 120 days into the construction period,and the goal for the facility's completion is July 2000. The Student Life Center comprises 148,000 square feet(almost 30,000 square feet more than the Dixon Ministry Center)and is intended to enhance the social and programming environment of the College. Under its roof will be a dining facility, a theater, bookstore, post office, snack shop,game and lounge areas, student services support offices, studios for the student radio station (U99.5), offices for student government,and more.The dining facility will accommodate nearly 1,000 students and can expand to seat 1,200,compared to current facilities which seat about 600 students. The theater will include state- of-the-art support facilities, enhanced seating, and a hydraulic orchestra pit. Upon the Center's completion in July 2000, all operations can move into the facility and prepare for the students' return in September for the 2000-2001 school year. The official grand opening and dedication will take place Homecoming weekend, October 20-21,2000. The campaign to fund its $21 million cost also progresses well. Already almost $12.5 million is committed toward the project. The campaign will continue through 1999 and culminate December 31,2000; during that period, numerous opportunities will be available for alumni and friends to join those who have committed resources to this project. Multi-year commitments are encouraged,payable through 2002. To track progress of construction of the Student Life Center,visit the College's web site at www.cedarville.edu and link to the webcast ofthe construction site. The webcast will show changes in the construction every few minutes. 2SUMMER 1999 Career Out OfThe Box T o say "Career Corner"suggests a container,fence,or some restriction limiting the scope.The present career services staff, under the leadership of Director Lew Gibbs, has developed a sense of redefining the term "out of the box." In a little over two years,the career services office has raised the level of its services to students by marketing to a much larger constituency: alumni, par- ents,and professional organizations interested in providing networking opportu- nities for our students and alumni. Gibbs describes the metamorphic process as a sum of three ingredients. Nstly,a passion aboutthe wayGod haswined each individual with skills,interests,and abilitiesthatservetoarm each onefor advancingthe kingdom,being saltand lightin a place wherethere isn'tany,orhaving hisor herlife read asa living Gospel before men. Note that the emphasis is not on the major or profession, but on utilizing the fullest development of those talents in our mission as Christians in a world desperately in need of Christ. In that light,the office provides assessment tools that help students (and graduates) bring those talents to the forefront of the career and ministry decision process. Gibbs states,"We're excited about being able to implement the Larry Burkett Life Pathways assessment tool for 'skills, interests, personality,and values' to every incoming freshman and transfer student, starting in the fall of 1999." Plans are in motion to incorporate that tool into the college fabric of student interactions as they pertain to career services, counseling,and advising over the four-year academic process. Secondly,a process forreaching outto variousconstituencies, both locallyand nationally,to promotethe qualityand competencyof Cedarvilleand itsstudents.For that reason,staff are involved as advisors in SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) and KEA (a campus student business organi- zation). Each of these responsibilities facilitates networking with professional business and ministry organizations.The career services home page now has School-to-Work advice,suggested learning guides,and tools for use by our Christian school and home school constituencies to help prepare K-12 students to be competitive in either the global workplace or the college of their choice. Staff members are actively involved in leadership activities with associations in human resources,the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, and local chambers of commerce.The CareerNet contacts,consisting of interested alumni and parents, promote the interests of our students and graduates.CedarNet has grown into a very effective tool over the last two years. Andfinally,a program thatcomprehensivelyweavespassion and processinto an aggressive operation,emphasizingthe interests ofourstudentsand graduatesin networRing and placement uhi- matelyallowingforan effective witnessforChrist.Effective use of emerging technologies,such as Web-based resumes,video conferencing for job interviews,document imaging for student credentials and portfolios,and devel- oping a"walking-talking"CD-ROM-driven resume are key to providing breadth and depth to the career services offerings. Opportunities abound in the teaching,engineering,computer networking/programming,and pastoral disciplines.For those interested in plug- ging into the program,Gibbs suggests checking out the home page,e-mailing career@cedmville.edu,or calling the office at 1-888-562-4811. dwelww 171" Vol. 9 No.4 Inspire is a quarterly publication of the Cedarville College Alumni Association. Editor Faith Linn'83 Managing Editor Roger Overturf'75 Copy Editor Kara Steinman Proofreaders Martha Baldwin Wendy Miller Orchard '91 Graphic Designers Mike Bieniek Dan Clingan Contributing Writers Martha Baldwin Patty Belliveau Monica Bowen'92 Jeff Brock'84 Jim Clark'75 Lew Gibbs Faith Linn'83 Brian Nester Wendy Miller Orchard '91 David Ormsbee'78 Roger Overturf'75 Jon Purple Charity Rizer'98 Jane Adams Smith'84 Kara Steinman Photographers Scott Huck Alumni contributors Please direct all comments, correspondence,and news to: Alumni Office P.O.Box 601 Cedarville,OH 45314 or call 1-800-837-2566 alumni@cedarville.edu