Cedarville University

Cedarville University's Forensics Team won an important victory at the prestigious Pi Kappa Delta Honor Society tournament, held March 13-16 at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Cedarville's team won top honors competing against the nation's best, including teams from the University of Alabama, Ohio University, and Whitworth University. The team's performance not only showcased their skills but also cemented their place among the country's elite forensics programs. The tournament marked Cedarville's largest forensics competition to date, with students excelling in both debate and oratory. A standout achievement came in Reader's theatre, where Cedarville's team won the competition, outperforming seven other teams. Reader's theatre, a unique event, requires teams of three to seven members to develop and deliver a 25-minute performance centered on a specific theme.

Facing personal insecurities can lay the groundwork for building confidence and inspiring others. Luisa Guzman, a sophomore exercise science student at Cedarville University, transformed her insecurities into a thriving online personal training business designed to help women gain confidence, improve mental health and achieve fitness goals. After graduating from high school, Guzman, originally from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, attended the Word of Life Bible Institute in Hudson, Florida. From her experience in Florida, she felt called to complete her education at Cedarville University.

On select Saturdays, Cedarville University students set aside their packed schedules for something deeper - intentional conversations about faith, leadership and discipleship. Hosted by the Student Government Association (SGA), these monthly programs focus on relevant topics for young men and women and foster biblical wisdom, mentorship and community. With coffee in hand, young men gather at 10 a.m. to engage in discussions led by pastors, professors and community leaders. Later, at 7 p.m., female students come together for an evening of candid conversations and biblical encouragement led by a panel of women. Through shared experiences, thought-provoking topics and spiritual mentorship, these events impact students beyond the classroom.

While many people don't think human trafficking happens in their communities, the issue is prevalent across the state of Ohio. Educating the public and college students about human trafficking in the greater Dayton region is the focus of a special town hall on Monday, March 24, at Cedarville University. The event, "#4 In the Nation: Confronting Human Trafficking in Ohio," is sponsored by Cedarville's Title IX office and student International Justice Mission (IJM) chapter in partnership with Dear Dinah, a ministry in Dayton that creates safe spaces for survivors and raises awareness about human trafficking.

Saving its best performance for the National Christian College Forensic Association's national tournament secured a national championship for Cedarville University. The Cedarville forensics team garnered 45% of the available points to easily outdistance the competition claiming its national title. The tournament held March 7-9, at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, saw Cedarville's team win the top spot in in the speech division and second place in the debate division. The team also took home the prestigious Quality Award, given to the team that earns the highest percentage of points relative to the number of entries.

CEDARVILLE, OHIO - Moving earth for heaven's sake is the purpose of a team of Cedarville University engineering students. The students are going beyond the classroom to build a custom-made earth mover that will equip a hospital in Zimbabwe to keep its roads accessible and its doors open to those in need. Nearly two years ago, Cedarville's School of Engineering launched a senior design project to create an affordable, tractor-mounted earth mover for Karanda Mission Hospital. Now, a new team of students is bringing that vision to life, planning to complete and deliver the machine to the hospital by the end of May. Karanda Mission Hospital serves the physical and spiritual needs of Zimbabwe's northwest region. Due to the hospital's remote location away from heavily populated areas, reliable road access is critical. During Zimbabwe's rainy season, dirt roads leading to the hospital are often washed away, severely impacting Karanda's ability to provide care.

As the demand for cybersecurity professionals soars, Cedarville University is launching a new student-led initiative to equip future cyber experts with technical and leadership skills. The university's Center for the Advancement of Cybersecurity will introduce the Cyber Leadership Development Program (CLDP) in spring 2025. The two-year program, tailored for upperclassmen, focuses on enhancing communication and leadership abilities, equipping students to become multifaceted professionals in the rapidly growing cybersecurity field.

Cedarville University's theatre department will bring "Radium Girls," a powerful historical drama written by D.W. Gregory, to the stage February 13-23. The production explores the events of 1926, when young women working in a watch factory used radium-based paint to create a luminous glow - only to later face devastating health consequences. For tickets and show times, visit Purple Pass or the theatre page at www.cedarville.edu.

As a middle school student sitting in her first journalism class in Bartlett, Illinois, Isabella Agnello was captivated - not by breaking news or front-page headlines, but by the power of genuine storytelling. Years later, that passion led her to an internship with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, where she used social media to share faith-driven stories. Now, as a junior majoring in journalism at Cedarville University, Agnello serves as a production social media intern for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Society. In this role, she blends her love for storytelling with her deep-rooted faith.

An estimated 85 million Americans - about one in four people - struggle daily with a skin condition, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. After years of battling cystic acne and testing countless products with little success, Alex Simons, a junior marketing major at Cedarville University, took matters into her own hands. She created "Skin Safe," an innovative app that helps users navigate skincare by scanning product ingredients, pinpoint ingredients and recommending safe, personalized alternatives. Simons' groundbreaking idea earned the $1,000 first-place prize at "The Pitch," a business competition hosted by Cedarville University's Robert W. Plaster School of Business.

It was a sweet victory for Cedarville University's forensics team at the 2025 Ohio Forensics Association State Championship, held Feb. 14-15 at the University of Akron. In claiming the state championship, Cedarville's team took the top spot in the categories of both speech and debate. Cedarville's success was highlighted by five first-place finishes. Noah Hollenbach, a political science junior from Moseley, Virginia, claimed the debate competition while also earning the top debate speaker award. Laura Ball, a freshman majoring in special education from Harker Heights, Texas, won the after-dinner speaking category and was the runner-up in debate speaking and rhetorical criticism. Freshman economics major Zane Enos from Colorado Springs, Colorado, won in impromptu speaking, while Eliana Boerner, a freshman communication major from Cincinnati, Ohio, claimed the informative speaking championship. Boerner also secured a runner-up finish in persuasive speaking and, with that performance, qualified for the Interstate Oratorical Association national championship, held April 26-27 at Tennessee State University.

As a college sophomore, William Woods II has already achieved what many professionals are only beginning to pursue. He started his own podcast - Will Woods Exper!ence- in 2023. Last year, in December, he launched his own marketing business, Create to Inspire Strategy. Woods, who is majoring in marketing at Cedarville University, is focused on providing his clients with social media strategies, personal branding and content creation that will set their business apart from competitors. He caters his work toward small business professionals who want to create compelling marketing messaging that amplifies their core values.

The future is shaped by the past, and for Mary Madigan, a Cedarville University student, that couldn't be more true. Madigan, a history major from Plain City, Ohio, has her sights set on a career in archaeology, combining her passion for history and humanity. Her journey into archaeology began with a love for history and a pivotal anthropology class.

From childhood MiaRose Hess has always had an entrepreneurial mindset dreaming of the day she had a business of her own. She never imagined, however, that a simple love for baking would turn into something much bigger - until she arrived at Cedarville University. In September 2024, the freshman from Spencer, Indiana, opened The Bagel Girl, a homemade Greek yogurt bagel business. With this new business, she is using her education to exercise her entrepreneurial spirit. "I've always wanted to start a business. I've always loved baking," said Hess. "I don't know what's in store in the future, but I know this is something I want to do now and learn from while I'm still in college."

Stepping onto the tournament stage for the first time during the 2025 Spring semester, Cedarville University's forensics team wasted no time making an impact. The team earned 12 first place wins at the OU 1804 Tournament and Ohio Forensics Association Novice State Championship at Ohio University in Athens. "I am always thrilled when we receive competitive success. It's rewarding to have a visible acknowledgement of our hard work," said Eric Mishne, assistant professor of communication and the director of Cedarville's forensics team. "But it's not just about first places. Sometimes we count championships as the biggest competitive victories, but sometimes I am most proud of students who show improvement."

Cedarville University's mock trial team made history at the Fayette District Courthouse in Lexington, Kentucky, securing its first-ever tournament team award at the tournament hosted by Eastern Kentucky University from January 25-26. The team of Cedarville students competed against top-tier programs, including the University of Tennessee, Indiana University, the University of Dayton, and Xavier University. Cedarville's A team finished the competition with a 6-2 record, scoring their first tournament win since the formation of the Mock Trial program last year.

CEDARVILLE, OHIO - For most children, the news playing in the background is easy to ignore. But for young Payton Arbuthnot of Springfield, Colorado, it was a source of fascination - one that would eventually inspire her to pursue an internship with the State Department's Bureau of Overseas Buildings and Operations. "I would come home from school every day, and my mom would be listening to the news. I was fascinated," said Arbuthnot. "I thought it was the coolest thing to go to school and know what was happening in the world. That was the beginning of a passion."

Cedarville University's cyber operations program, the highest-ranked program in the nation according to Intelligent.com, proved its worth by winning Liberty University's Cyber Summit Capture the Flag competition in November and finishing third at the prestigious VIVID Coalition event in Augusta, Georgia. Cedarville claimed the $3,000 prize at the Liberty event on November 2. The team of Yellow Jackets outscored teams from Messiah University and Montreat College. On November 14, the cybersecurity team placed third in the VIVID competition that was held near the U.S. Army Cyber Command. The event is the highest-level competition for schools designated as National Centers of Academic Excellence by the National Security Agency (NSA).

Students at Cedarville University have been named to the Dean's Honor List for the Fall 2024 semester. This recognition requires the student to obtain a 3.75 GPA or higher for the semester and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours. Cedarville University, a Baptist institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 6,384 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by the Wall Street Journal as being among the nation's top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics, and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.

Students at Cedarville University have been named to the Dean's List for the Fall 2024 semester. This recognition requires the student to obtain a 3.50 GPA or higher for the semester and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours. Cedarville University, a Baptist institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 6,384 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by the Wall Street Journal as being among the nation's top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics, and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.

Some of the biggest names in Christian music, including For King and Country, Lecrae, Crowder and Danny Gokey, have been captured by the lens of Matthew Black, a junior broadcasting, digital media and journalism major at Cedarville University. Black's journey as a performance photographer began in 2023 with a last-minute opportunity to photograph Winter Jam in Tampa, Florida, near his Spring Hill home. Black continues to balance his studies with a blossoming freelance career, fueled by his dedication to capturing the perfect shot. With his many concert experiences, Black has seen his work featured by artists on major social media platforms and in marketing campaigns.

Most students choose a college based on academic quality and affordability. Avonlea Brown, meanwhile, a senior broadcasting, digital media and journalism major at Cedarville University, was driven by a different question: What university would help her see the world? Having grown up in Southwest Harbor, Maine, a tiny community just outside Acadia National Park, Brown did not discover her love for travel until her junior year in high school. Brown's first international excursion, a mission trip, took her to Namibia in Africa.

Overcoming the cultural divide for international college students is the focus of a social media campaign run by a group of students at Cedarville University. Through Instagram, five students have created a space that allows international students at Cedarville to share their voices and foster a deeper sense of community while they are thousands of miles away from their home and families. Nationally, nearly six percent of college students in the United States come from international cities, according to a report from Forbes. These international students face the struggle of navigating a new culture in addition to managing classwork and making new friends.

A baby shower for a birthing manikin is a unique event, but the Cedarville University School of Nursing used this creative opportunity to support New Path Pregnancy Resource Center. The event celebrated Cedarville's new birthing simulator, Victoria. The manikin was added to Cedarville's family of simulators in the spring to provide more real-life experience for nursing students. "We don't often get a new simulator, so it's fun to celebrate," said Nate Kincaid, assistant professor of nursing and the initiator of the event. "This is a great opportunity to celebrate our new manikin and also honor our community."

As Cedarville University forensics teams excel in competitions across the country, their dedication to speech and debate transcends winning - it exemplifies their commitment to positively impacting others. Last month, Cedarville's forensics team won its competition at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. The team triumphed over schools like Ohio University, the University of Akron, Marshall University and Grove City College. Ellia Torlone, a junior communication major from Delaware, Ohio, won first in prose interpretation. Eliana Boerner, a freshman communication major from Cincinnati, Ohio, took top honors in persuasive speaking and earned second place in informative speaking. Spicer Wadman, a junior physics major from Hillsboro, Virginia, won first in poetry interpretation. And Laura Ball, a freshman special education major from Salado, Texas, was number one in rhetorical criticism.

Whether on the gridiron or on the pitch, it was a summer of football for the Master of Athletic Training (MAT) students at Cedarville University. Six aspiring athletic trainers were in the facilities of NCAA Division I schools or on the sidelines with major league teams. Two of these future trainers, Lauren Barnes and Jacob Bonville, share their summer stories on the latest Cedarville Stories Podcast. Lauren had the thrill of working with the nationally ranked Penn State football team, while Jacob gained experience with Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew.

Cedarville's main street comes alive on the first Saturday of every month as residents and the college community gather for Sidewalk Saturday. Each event features a fun assortment of activities, including line dancing, food trucks and local vendors. In booths lining the sidewalks, students from the Cedarville University Entrepreneurs (CUE) student organization market their products and gain hands-on experience as business owners. In August of 2024, Dr. Kary Oberbrunner, assistant professor at Cedarville University and Berry Chair of entrepreneurship, and William Woods II, a sophomore marketing student from Seward, Pennsylvania, and the president of CUE, contacted Revitalize Cedarville, a local organization dedicated to fostering community engagement. Both groups agreed that the student businesses would add value to the Sidewalk Saturday events.

The editing and publishing industry is highly competitive, especially for recent college graduates. To secure a position in this industry often requires experience and connections with other professionals in the industry. For two Cedarville University alumni, securing editing and publishing positions shortly after their graduation in 2024 was a testament to their hard work, dedication and the impact of Cedarville's revised editing and publishing minor. Emily Vest and Brianna De Man were among the first graduating class to have completed the revised editing and publishing minor. These revisions provided the students with a broader education for entry into the editing and publishing industry.

CEDARVILLE, OHIO - Time marches on, but important moments in history permanently mark the landscape where they occur. For 30 Cedarville University students who traveled in the Deep South on the Civil Rights Tour from October 16-20, they felt the emotional echos of the past as they visited the sites of America's battle for civil rights. Led by Dr. Patrick Oliver, associate professor of criminal justice, and Dr. Robert Clark, assistant professor of history, this trip immersed students in American history as they walked across Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, the same bridge where civil rights marchers endured the beatings of Bloody Sunday in 1965.

CEDARVILLE, OHIO - A shoebox at Christmas brings heartfelt joy to the young children who receive a box from Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child. Each year, hundreds of thousands of shoeboxes are packed through this international campaign that brings joy through gifts to those who receive a box. Cedarville University's student-athletes believe strongly in this mission.