Torch, Spring 2004

Spring 2004 / TORCH 17 Cedarville Team Wins Awards at Dayton Model UN Conference C edarville University’s Model United Nations team excelled at the Feb. 12-14 Dayton Model United Nations Conference, earning three of the top six awards. In addition, half of the team members earned special recognition for superior preparation and negotiating excellence. The Cedarville team competed against 150 other delegates from 15 regional colleges and universities. Cedarville’s 12 delegates represented Russia, India, and South Africa on six different United Nations committees. Their task was to faithfully represent each country’s national interests and policies as they negotiated solutions to a wide variety of world problems. Three of the Model UN’s six Outstanding Delegate awards went to Cedarville team members: Courtney Butterfield, representing South Africa in the African Union committee; Ian Ellis (right) , representing Russia on the Security Council; and Karla Herdzik, representing South Africa in the General Assembly. Team captain Jason Charrette was named Distinguished Delegate, the second highest award, for his work representing Russia in the Security Council crisis simulation. Joelle Marquardt received an Honorable Mention for her effective representation of South Africa on the committee debating patents and related intellectual property rights. Stephanie O’Hara won one of six writing awards for her superior paper outlining India’s policies on intellectual property rights. Additional team members were Jonathan Dunkin, Melissa Fawcett, and Nathanael Dewhurst, who all represented Russia; Andrea McCarthy, who represented South Africa; and Josh Ehrich and Melissa Joubert, who represented India. Herdzik shared, “Model UN was an amazing opportunity to learn an incredible amount of information about the country of South Africa, as well as the UN in general. I also learned a lot about how diplomacy works — sticking to your guns, but knowing when to compromise when necessary, getting along with people, and public speaking. I finally understand the struggle it is to get such a large number of people to agree on one thing in order to actually make something happen.” O’Hara added, “The conference challenged us to think outside of our own frame of reference to better understand the countries we were assigned to represent.” The team is advised by Dr. Frank Jenista, who has 25 years of experience as an American diplomat and currently serves as professor of international studies at Cedarville. New Grants and Updated Scholarship Announced C edarville University’s board of trustees recently approved the addition of two new grants and an updated scholarship to be made available to new students in 2004. The grants are renewable, need-based grants which range from $500 to $2,000 for students with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. The Ministry Grant will be offered to students whose parents are involved in vocational ministries, while the Legacy Grant applies to those students whose parents or siblings are alumni or whose siblings are currently enrolled at Cedarville University. An update to the Faculty Scholarship allows for possible renewals in subsequent academic terms. The scholarship ranges from $1,000 to $2,200 each academic year. To renew the scholarship, a student must maintain a Cedarville GPA of 3.25. Director of Financial Aid Fred Merritt commented, “The Faculty Scholarship has been one of the foundational pillars of our academic scholarship program for years. In making this prestigious academic scholarship renewable, we have quadrupled its value.” For more information, contact the Cedarville University Admissions Office at 1-800-CEDARVILLE. C edarville University recently communicated with all General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC) pastors regarding the University’s expanded relationship with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). The brochure sent to the pastors, titled Cedarville University & the GARBC: Frequently Asked Questions , was designed to clarify the University’s relationship with both the GARBC and the SBC. A sample of the FAQs includes: Q: How does Cedarville expect the GARBC to react to its new relationships? A: We rejoice in the movement of God in many churches in reclaiming them from liberalism and giving them a commitment to inerrancy and a love for the doctrinal fidelity that has long been a hallmark of the GARBC and Cedarville University. We would hope that our friends who have prayed regularly and given sacrificially for Cedarville’s advancement would rejoice with us that so many more brethren now recognize the value of Christ-centered higher education and now recommend Cedarville because of our fidelity to the Scripture. We believe God is giving us an unparalleled opportunity to reach many more young people, and we intend to pursue vigorously all such opportunities with gratitude and joy. The complete FAQ brochure can be viewed at www.cedarville.edu/dept/er/garbc/garbcfaq.pdf or you may request that one be mailed to you by e-mailing pr@cedarville.edu . Photo courtesy of Dr. Frank Jenista