Cedarville University

When McKenzie Barlow began working on her senior design project, some people thought she was "udderly"ridiculous, but others were "mooved" with interest. Barlow, a senior electrical engineering major from Fork, Maryland, is currently working with her group on a senior engineering project - a Chick-fil-A retrieving cow robot! Barlow is partnering with senior electrical engineering major Joshua Blackburn from Mount Gilead, Ohio, and senior computer engineering majors Joshua Mundell from North Ridgeville, Ohio, and Andrew Murphy from lower Burrell, Pennsylvania.

Students from the Cedarville University School of Engineering and Computer Science have designed automobiles, planes and boats for competitions. At the 2022 NASA Student Launch in April 2022, they will add rockets to the list. Chad Sanderson of North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, a senior mechanical engineering student, first learned of the NASA competition last year. He was looking for ideas for his senior design project, required for senior engineering students, when a high school friend who is attending Carnegie Mellon University told him that his university was competing. Sanderson recruited classmates at Cedarville to join him in the competition, and they began researching the NASA competition and rocket building. In addition to Sanderson, who is leading the team and designing the motor mount, Cedarville's team also consists of seniors Jacob Titus of Medford, New Jersey, who is leading work on the aerobrake system; Peter Duttweiler of Montgomery, Texas, and Nehemiah Branson of Kingston, Ohio, who are working on the rocket payload; Dawson Tso of Dublin, New Hampshire, who is leading work on rocket recovery and safety; Forrest Putnam of Glenwood, Washington, who is leading work on the nose cone and simulations; and Grant Dupler of Amanda, Ohio, who will be leading construction of the body and fin. The team also includes two juniors, with Grace Fearday of Kettering, Ohio, working on rocket avionics and Stuart Nowery of Lebanon, Ohio, testing and modeling the rocket. Sophomore Josh Lukawski of Wantage, New Jersey, will also work on rocket modeling. Finally, the team includes two freshmen, with Daniel Hogsed of Dayton, Ohio, leading work on the sub-scale rocket and Joseph Copeland of Hamilton, Ohio, working on rocket construction.

Throughout the 2021-22 school year, Cedarville University's School of Education will be offering free take-home enrichment bags to the students at Cedar Cliff Elementary School. The enrichment bags contain educational materials and activities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). They are designed to help students who need additional exposure to these academic disciplines. Under Brown's guidance, junior primary (P-5) education students Natalie Hepner, from Orlando, Florida, and Katelynn Garber, from Sidney, Ohio, have planned and distributed the first round of enrichment bags, with the next coming in November and the remaining three during the spring semester.

When the country went into lockdown because of COVID-19 in March 2020, Cedarville University joined the many universities pivoting unexpectedly to online learning. Students, like Grace Gregory, who rely on The Cove, Cedarville's academic enrichment center, were encouraged academically and personally by The Cove's commitment to caring for its students through online tutoring. The change was simple for The Cove's leaders: implement a feature of the new tutoring interface that they had adopted less than three months earlier.

Throughout the 2021-22 school year, Cedarville University's School of Education will be offering free take-home enrichment bags to the students of Cedar Cliff Elementary School. The enrichment bags contain educational materials and activities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). They are designed to help students who need additional exposure to these academic disciplines. In previous years, Cedarville has partnered with Cedar Cliff to host STEM enrichment events on the university campus. Students have attended five Saturday events throughout the school year planned and taught by Cedarville students. "Because of COVID, we didn't host our enrichment days last year, and with the uncertainty of COVID this year, we wanted to be as creative as possible to get students the resources they need," Dr. Megan Brown, program advisor and assistant professor of education, said. "These bags provide students with the extra push and support in those topics that may not receive as much attention in school." Under Brown's guidance, junior primary (P-5) education students Natalie Hepner, from Orlando, Florida, and Katelynn Garber, from Sidney, Ohio, have planned and distributed the first round of enrichment bags, with the next coming in November and the remaining three during the spring semester. "The first bag had an aviation theme," Brown explained. "Students received foam airplanes, materials for paper airplanes and suggestions for family field trips." To accommodate a variety of ages, each bag also contains a two-page guide to explain what materials and activities suit younger, K-2 students, and which ones are more appropriate for third to fifth-graders. Upcoming bag themes include weather, simple machines and explosions. Once packed, Brown, Hepner and Gardner deliver each round of 100 enrichment bags to Cedar Cliff Elementary. Cedar Cliff handles distribution. "This project has huge benefits for everyone involved," Brown explained. "The elementary students are receiving that extra push they need in these fields, and the Cedarville students planning them are gaining experience in connecting with families, helping students who need enrichment and STEM - all things that teachers need to know." Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,715 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio, recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, including the Bachelor of Arts in Primary (P-5) Education program, strong graduation, and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and high student engagement ranking. For more information about the University, visit cedarville.edu.

For Cedarville University senior Arielle Wenig, running her first marathon this fall was more than a personal accomplishment. It was the completion of a father-daughter dream and the fulfillment of a race against time. On September 18, after years of anticipation and months of training, Arielle and her dad, Bryan, completed the 26.2-mile run to celebrate Bryan's 60th birthday. The accomplishment was particularly special because Bryan was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in May.

When senior Hannah Stuercke, a nursing major from Monterey, California, was assigned a project for her ceramics foundation course, her work took a surprising turn. Combining her love for nursing and anatomy with creative studio art, Stuercke fashioned ceramic organ sculptures. Her works of art are currently on display in the university's school of nursing. Though science and art may seem like an unlikely duo, that wasn't always the case. Great historic artists such as Leonardo-Da Vinci and Wolfgang-AmadeusMozart, were also scientists.

Ryan Wade, a junior molecular and cellular biology major from Ontario, New York, moved back to Cedarville in June to spend the second half of his summer working at nearby Kettering Transportation Services. Meanwhile, he completed department training at Cedarville Township Volunteer Fire Department and Cedarville University Emergency Medical Services (CU-EMS). At Kettering Transportation Services, Wade worked several 12-hour shifts each week. During an average shift, Wade and the emergency team would go on eight or nine calls. For Wade, devoting a significant part of his summer break from college was well worth the sacrifice. He found fulfillment in meeting the needs of others who found themselves in critical situations. Now back at Cedarville for the fall semester, he volunteers aboard CU-EMS's own ambulance, MEDIC-15. CU-EMS, a volunteer ambulance service run entirely by students, is designed to cover the emergency health needs of Cedarville's campus but also responds to calls from the surrounding community if needed.

While moving her daughter, Morgan, onto Cedarville University's campus in August, Melissa Rupp heard a familiar voice. One she hadn't heard in nearly 16 years. Melissa looked around and saw freshman student Rosemary Carman. Rosemary didn't recognize Melissa, but Melissa recognized Rosemary from pictures. Seconds later, Melissa was embracing Rosemary's mom, Angela. Now mothers of college students, they had met each other 18 years before as mothers of premature babies, or preemies, and they had last seen each other when their daughters were 2.

Cedarville Student Emma McCray of Centerville, OH, majoring in Primary (P-5) Education, was named to the Dean's Honor List for Spring 2021. This recognition requires the student to obtain a 3.75 GPA or higher for the semester and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Social work majors seek to bear others' emotional burdens, but for sophomore Hannah Abel, she has an added difficulty to navigate: her sight. Diagnosed with Stargardt's at the age of 9 and pronounced legally blind, Abel refused to let it stop her from pursuing her dreams. Stargardt's is a juvenile form of macular degeneration that causes the retina to deteriorate. "I can see better out of my peripheral vision, but it is still difficult to do all the normal things a person could," said Abel. "People think glasses fix it, but they just make things slightly less blurry." Growing up, Abel, from Cedarville, Ohio, pushed herself to excel along with her classmates. Her sweet disposition and can-do attitude propelled her to graduate from high school and pursue her bachelor's degree in social work at Cedarville University.

Jackson Bishop, a senior computer science major from Findlay, Ohio, has been developing a high-tech tour app that will be used at Cedarville University to help users explore what their reality at Cedarville might look like. Bishop has collaborated with Chad Jackson, director of creative services, over the past year to create the custom virtual reality (VR) app for the university. The app, which operates through Oculus VR technology, will debut in June at the annual Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

When sophomore Ellen Davis, an early education and special education double major from Lafayette, Indiana, was asked about her passions and hopes for the school of education, her childhood alongside a younger brother with Down syndrome inspired an advocacy event to encourage and exhort her peers. On Monday, March 22, Cedarville University's Student Education Association (SEA) hosted a disabilities forum to address how individuals can care for those with special needs. The event featured expert panelists and personal testimonials.

Four Cedarville University English majors want to help transfer students with the process of adjusting to campus life and hosted a game night Friday, April 16 from 7-9 p.m. The event was held in the Center for Biblical and Theological Studies, room 101. Kaylee Hunt, a senior from Wayne, New Jersey; Elly Watkins, a junior from Cedarville, Ohio; Katie Korwan, a junior from Westford, Massachusetts; and Ashley Gosman, a senior from Madison, Indiana came up with the event idea based on their own experiences. Hunt and Watkins transferred to Cedarville from other institutions, and Korwan and Gosman transferred to the English major from different departments.

Cedarville University's history and government department will host the first-ever Romans 14 Forum on April 10 at 6 p.m. in the Center for Biblical and Theological Studies, room 115, created by sophomore English major Brendan Rowland, from Westford, Massachusetts, and junior English major Evan Ellis from Broomfield, Colorado. The event will encourage unity and understanding through exploring different opinions on secondary issues in the Christian faith.

On Monday, March 22, Cedarville University's Student Education Association (SEA) hosted a disabilities forum to address how individuals can care for those with special needs. The event featured expert panelists and personal testimonials. Brittney Oliver, SEA president and a senior early childhood education major from Fairborn, Ohio, played a part in planning this event.

In a normal year, junior primary education majors serve in local school districts, working with a mentor teacher to tutor first through third-grade students. Now, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, teacher candidates and teachers are forced to think outside the classroom to connect with students remotely.

Most married couples can recall stories of stress from the wedding-planning process, especially those who planned their big days while in college. But for the many recently engaged couples at Cedarville University, COVID has eclipsed the challenges of ongoing academic commitments.

Cedarville University recently released the fall 2020 Dean's Honor List. This recognition requires the student to obtain a 3.75 GPA or higher for the semester and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours.

From the classics, like Pac Man and Donkey Kong, to current favorites like Minecraft and Animal Crossing, video games have been capturing the attention of the world for decades. Inspired by this love for high-tech play, a group of Cedarville University students just made their own addition to the gaming legacy. Over the last weekend in January, 17 Cedarville students worked together to complete the Global Game Jam annual game-creation challenge. The challenge tasks students with creating an original high-tech video game in 48 hours, and Cedarville's team collaborated to make five games within the allotted time.

The junior year may have ended on a low note for Cedarville University class of 2021 music students, but they hope to end on a high note in their final semester with re-imagined senior recitals. David Kravets, a music ed major with a concentration in choral and voice from Bedford, PA, will preform Sunday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m in the Dixon Ministry Center Recital Hall.

Jordan Edwards, a Cedarville University sophomore electrical engineering student from Marysville, Ohio, has published his first book, "When I Awoke," which is available as an ebook or paperback on Amazon.

Most will remember 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic, but for Laini Bergthold, a junior communication major from Chattanooga, Tennessee, the year brought a different kind of trauma in the form of a tornado that destroyed her family's home.

During this Thanksgiving season, students at Cedarville University are thankful for a rather strange experience: quarantine and isolation due to COVID-19. While these experiences are extremely hard, Chantel Smithers, a junior Christian education and youth ministries major from Zanesfield, Ohio, looks back at this difficult season with gratitude.

Two Cedarville University students earned the People's Choice Award for their global information system (GIS) map showing Ohio wild animal-vehicle collision sites and hotspots. Lauren Pride, an environmental science major from Batavia, Ohio and Benjamin Dunning, an environmental science major from Beaufort, South Carolina, were recognized with the award during the recent Southwest Ohio GIS Users Group (SWOGIS) meeting.

Two Cedarville University students earned the People's Choice Award for their global information system (GIS) map showing Ohio wild animal-vehicle collision sites and hotspots. Benjamin Dunning, an environmental science major from Beaufort, South Carolina, and Lauren Pride, an environmental science major from Batavia, Ohio, were recognized with the award during the recent Southwest Ohio GIS Users Group (SWOGIS) meeting.

During this Thanksgiving season, students at Cedarville University are thankful for a rather strange experience: quarantine and isolation due to COVID-19. While these experiences are extremely hard, William Imfeld, a sophomore allied health major from Danville, Kentucky, looks back at this difficult season with gratitude. Imfeld tested positive for COVID on September 14 and spent 10 days in isolation. "I can't stress enough how weird it is not to be able to taste and smell even though I didn't have a stuffy nose," said Imfeld. "But it really made me grateful that God made the world in a way that allows us to enjoy it with our senses."

The relationship between faith and politics can be fraught with tension. Benjamin Mays and Jonny Gartner face the challenge head-on in their podcast "Cedar60." Gartner, sophomore political science major from Sunbury, Ohio, wanted to provide more opportunities on campus for students to openly discuss political topics. A weekly panel discussion with several peers in the department of history and government quickly evolved into the "Cedar60" podcast.

The relationship between faith and politics can be fraught with tension. Benjamin Mays and Jonny Gartner face the challenge head-on in their podcast "Cedar60." Mays, sophomore political science major from Middletown, Ohio, wanted to provide more opportunities on campus for students to openly discuss political topics. A weekly panel discussion with several peers in the department of history and government quickly evolved into the "Cedar60" podcast.

COVID-19 regulations have made it difficult for Cedarville education students to gain teaching experience this year. That's where Kidblog comes in. Kidblog was developed by Sherri Washburn, who has taught second grade for 22 years at Akron Elementary in Indianapolis. This program is fully online and provides a place for elementary students to write homework assignments on the computer and receive feedback from their teachers and from education majors. Dr. Kevin Jones, assistant professor and dean of education at Cedarville, reached out to Washburn and connected her with Cedarville education students who were willing to be writing buddies with her students including Andrew Reinhard, a junior math and science middle education student from Bellefontaine, Ohio.