Private lessons in voice, piano, guitar, Suzuki violin, drawing and photography offered through Community School of Arts

Home  >  Featured News  >  Article: Private lessons in voice, piano, guitar, Suzuki violin, drawing and photography offered through Community School of Arts

Students in the Suzuki violin program from Evangel University's Community School of Arts play in the 2012 Christmas Concert.

Budding local artists of all ages have found a home at Evangel University’s Community School of Arts. Since 2008, the CSA has been offering classes in music, drama and art, uniting Evangel faculty and students with those in the surrounding community who share a passion for the fine arts.

Director Susan Sheets says the idea for CSA came during the 2007-2008 academic year when she and Dr. Michael Kolstad, chairman of the Music Department, shared a vision to offer classes and lessons in the fine arts to the surrounding community. The two met with Dr. Nathan Nelson, Humanities Department chairman, about including art and drama instruction along with the music. Together, they made the CSA a reality.

Opening to the community in 2008, the CSA initially offered classes and lessons in voice, piano, worship piano, guitar, Suzuki violin, drawing and photography. Since then, the CSA has decided to only offer private lessons. Instructors include Evangel faculty, graduate students and even qualified undergraduate students.

“It is a nice way for our EU music and art students to develop their teaching skills,” she says. “All of our student instructors are highly recommended to us by a EU professor.” 

Sheets says the instructors personally schedule, organize and promote their own lessons. While the instructors hold many lessons on campus, she says several instructors also teach in off-campus studios or from their homes. Recitals take place in Evangel’s Barnett Recital Hall.

Currently, the Community School of Arts offers lessons in drawing, digital photography, voice and several instruments. Sheets says the age range of students is 4 to 70.

“We are always adding new instructors and instruments options and are open to anyone who desires to teach private lessons in music, art and drama.” 

While the CSA does not currently offer any drama courses, Sheets says one of the plans for the future is to hold a community theatre production. Other goals include offering a public speaking class and music education classes to private preschools and schools that do not have music programs in their curriculum.  A community choir is also part of future planning.

Kolstad says the CSA serves as a valuable community outreach program for Evangel. He also says it allows fine arts students who may have never heard of Evangel to connect with the university.

“It is a wonderful recruiting tool,” he says. “For many participants this is their first exposure – and often only exposure – to the university.”

Anyone interested in beginning lessons can find the current lesson offerings on the Community School of Arts page. To get in touch with an instructor to set up lessons, email the CSA at CommunitySchoolofArts@evangel.edu for contact information.  

View the original article here

Read More

Passionate Pursuits: Mark Oppenneer, Ethnos Project

Passionate Pursuits: Mark Oppenneer, Ethnos Project

By Mike Lesczinski, Excelsior Life News Staff—

Mark Oppenneer is not your average web content systems administrator. Through the Ethnos Project, a research portal and resource database he founded in 2008 that explores the cultural impacts of information and communication technologies when used by Indigenous peoples, Oppenneer is working to affect social change, sustain and stimulated rapidly disappearing traditions and improve the quality of life for indigenous peoples on their own terms.

Oppenneer sat down with Excelsior Life to discuss the initiative, reaction from the Indigenous communities, and what the future holds.

For additional information on the Ethnos Project:
EthnosProject.org Homepage
Ethnos Project Resources Database
Find Ethnos Project on Twitter
Ethnos Project on Facebook

View the original article here

Read More

How do i sync iPod Touch 4th Gen with iTunes and PC?

Hi Recently my iPod Touch  (4th Gen) is not recognized by iTunes or ' My Computer' on my PC it was synced fine previously. I have tried to get an update via a Wi Fi network but this timed out... How can I get it recognized by cable?

Many thanks in advance...

Regards

Shane.

View the original article here

Read More

my wifes iphone3 will not sync games etc etc because it keeps refering to my iphone4s account.

View the original article here

Read More

How do i sync iPod Touch 4th Gen with iTunes and PC?

Hi Recently my iPod Touch  (4th Gen) is not recognized by iTunes or ' My Computer' on my PC it was synced fine previously. I have tried to get an update via a Wi Fi network but this timed out... How can I get it recognized by cable?

Many thanks in advance...

Regards

Shane.

View the original article here

Read More

National Volunteer Week: In Depth with Paula Gabris

Editor’s note: In times of need, who can you count on? Everyday heroes are around us with spontaneous acts of kindness. Following the recent Boston Marathon Bombing, the images of citizens selflessly rushing to the aid of others in the midst of chaos was seen all over the news.

With National Volunteer Week, April 21-27, compassion towards the needs of others is so important. The attributes can be used to describe Excelsior College’s faculty and staff who collectively help various causes throughout the year.  This week we will share stories about  individuals working in higher education who are making a difference in their community.

Volunteer: Paula Gabris, Administrative Assistant, School of Nursing
Volunteer organizations: Patriot Hills of New York, Autism Society and Alzheimer’s Foundation.

Excelsior Life: Why is volunteerism personally important to you?
Gabris: Volunteerism is important to me because it’s my way of “paying it forward”.
It’s difficult to put into words! Sometimes, I wonder, if it’s an additional gene I was given at birth.

I didn’t volunteer when I was young; I wasn’t told that it is the right thing to do, giving back that is. I really can’t explain it.

Volunteerism has enhanced my personal life in many ways from making new friends to catching up with old friends. It has helped to shape my professional life I have acquired new skills that I apply everyday at my job.

It has become an important part of my lifestyle. I have gained a greater appreciation for life and all it offers, by giving back. There is some self satisfaction and relaxation I get from it. Serving others is something I am good at, I have no expectations when I volunteer, I am there to help because there is a need.

I think Danny Thomas says it best: “Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It's what you do for others”. -- Danny Thomas

I have volunteered for many organizations over the years and I am still trying to find the one or two organizations that are the best fit for me, that one group that I can give my very best and all my energy to. A lot of times, my volunteerism has been driven by family situations or illness.

Excelsior Life: Does it have a special meaning to you?
Gabris: For the past several years I have put my heart and soul into helping our veterans and their families. I have been a volunteer for a non-for-profit called Patriot Hills of New York ™.

Our mission is to take care of those who have sacrificed so much to defend our freedom. Our goal is to build a facility in the Capital Region where we can provide a safe haven for our nation’s warriors and their loved ones, a place where they can reconnect. We want to provide access to needed services for our military personnel and their families. We believe they did their part now it is our turn to give back to them.

Recently I have decided to volunteer for the Autism Society - my youngest granddaughter Marisa, has been diagnosed with Autism. I am on a mission to learn everything there is about it so I can educate myself and others.

Lastly, I started to volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Foundation since my aunt was recently diagnosed with this very sad disease.

Excelsior Life: The volunteer events you are currently working on?
Gabris: At Excelsior College I am a member of the Community Service Committee and a returning member of the Wellness Committee; outside of work I volunteer for Patriot Hills of New York, the Center for Donation and Transplant and most currently the Autism Society.

‘I am a better person today because I am a Volunteer.”

“The highest reward for a person's work is not what they get for it, but what they become because of it”. -- John Ruskin

View the original article here

Read More

Student Loans Impact Higher Ed

By Alicia Jacobs, Excelsior Life Staff--

National news reports indicate student debt is now a trillion dollars. On average, school loan default rates are increasing, while educational costs continue to rise. Debts impact students. Conversely, student loans impact higher education.

Media focus is often placed on student debt, but a student's ability to repay their student loan does have consequences to an institution and default rates are monitored by the Department of Education (DOE).

On a national level, more students are borrowing more money than ever before to receive a degree,” said Christina Roarke, Excelsior College’s assistant director of financial aid. “Couple that with higher unemployment and other economic hardships and you get a record number of students having greater difficulty repaying their loans.”

The DOE uses the CDR (Cohort Default Rate) in one respect, as a measure of a schools capability and quality. At Excelsior College,  2011- 2 year draft Cohort Default Rate stands at 4.0 percent, well below the national average of approximately 13 percent. For institutions that have a consistently high CDR, there are ramifications.

A college can…

• Lose access to private loan funds.

• Be subject to sanctions if the schools 2yr default rate exceeds the federal cap of 15% or 3yr default rate exceeds the federal cap of 25%.

• Lose eligibility to provide federal financial aid to their students.

A higher cohort default rate for schools creates a domino effect for students and schools, and even impacts the economic health of our country.

“A school’s cohort default rate has far-reaching consequences, and the implications of a “bad” or high default rate can be devastating. Between the current economic environment and the changing federal student aid landscape, the government is looking more closely at the quality of a school’s education, the degrees a school offers, and whether or not they lead to gainful employment,” Roarke explains. “The government wants to be assured that higher education institutions are providing quality education in relevant areas of study, working hard to keep students on track to graduation, and making sure students understand their rights and responsibilities if they are borrowing to pay for this education.”

With this in mind, the DOE along with higher education institutions are working to create awareness of student loan repayment options. Helping students access the tools and resources to avoid the negative consequences of defaulting on student loans is a priority. For example, there is a plan referred to as Income-Based Repayment. It caps monthly student loan payments at 15 percent of their discretionary income.

“The DOE wants us to live up to our mission as an institution of higher education,” said Roarke. “They are beginning to create new and revised measures of program quality and effectiveness.” The result is tougher regulations and harsh consequences for a failure to serve students well.

It is important for an institution to provide students with all the tools they need to be successful in understanding the financial aid process, student loans, and options for repayment.  “At Excelsior College we support student success throughout the entire educational process, this not only translates into a low CDR but more importantly, qualified students graduating with affordable, quality degrees,” said Roarke.

Readers note: This is Part 2 of a feature story on student debt. To read Part 1, Excelsior College Students’ Median Debt is Substantially Less Than The National Average, click here.

View the original article here

Read More

Passionate Pursuits: Ruth Olmsted “Celebrating 25 Years of Raising Sheep”

Passionate Pursuits: Ruth Olmsted “Celebrating 25 Years of Raising Sheep”

By Alicia Jacobs, Excelsior Life News Staff –

Ruth Olmsted, Excelsior College’s associate executive director of the center for educational measurement, has a diversified background of lifelong learning. She is an enthusiast of traditional dance and music. She is also an owner of Shepherd’s Hey Farm in Saratoga County (NY). Excelsior Life sat down with Olmsted to learn about her passion for farming and how she balances her life outside of work.

Excelsior Life: Where did your interest in farming begin?
Olmsted: As a child, I certainly was exposed to farming through visiting my mother's relatives in Ohio during the summer. I didn't really get into farming myself until my husband-to-be, purchased a portion of UAlbany's old Mohawk Campus recreation center in 1986. We began exploring what to raise there and decided on sheep. We acquired the first ones in 1988. Later that year, Larry's job took him to the Adirondacks for extended periods. I began living at the farm to provide daily care for the sheep. The rest is, as they say, history.

Excelsior Life: I understand you raise American Sheep and Toulouse Geese. How did you learn to take care of them?
Olmsted: Actually, the sheep aren't "American," they're mixed-breed (mutt) sheep combining several classic Old World breeds to get good mothering characteristics and colored wool for spinning, as well as good meat. We both attended training sessions provided by Cornell before bringing the first sheep to the farm. We continue to learn from our fellow shepherds and from the sheep themselves. In addition to the geese, we also have two rescued guard llamas and a flock of assorted chickens acquired from kindergarten teachers.

Excelsior Life: Your farm sells natural/chemical free meat, wool, yarn and preserves. What motivated you to make sure eggs and lamb have no added hormones or antibiotics, and are pasture raised?
Olmsted: I guess I'd say we're both hippies at heart, so we like to keep things natural, and our friends and customers appreciate that. We haven't gone to the extra effort and expense of being certified organic, but the grain our sheep eat is human grade -- primarily spent grain from the Albany Pump Station and Druthers microbreweries, and we use portable electric fence to allow them to graze on pasture and brush.

Excelsior Life: Where did the name Shepherd’s Hey Farm come from?
Olmsted: Larry and I met through the Pokingbrook Morris Team (English dance performing group). Shepherd's Hey is the name of one of the dances, and we thought it would be a clever name for the farm.

Excelsior Life: What responsibilities do you have as a farmer? Do you find it difficult to balance farming with your day job?
Olmsted: Every morning before I come in to work, I spend about an hour feeding the animals. Sometimes, if it's muddy or snowy or someone has an emergency, it takes longer, so my day at work starts later than most and extends into the evening to make up for any late arrival.

The responsibilities of a farmer include making several trips a week to the breweries with our truck to pick up the grain. Then there are the “Olympic” events in March and April. The lambs are born, an activity that requires someone to be checking the barn for new arrivals every couple of hours, lots of moving sheep around as they go through the stages of mothering, extra feeding, and sometimes obstetrical emergencies.

Shearing takes place in the spring. It is a one-day event where Larry and I have to lure all the sheep into a tight space and move them one by one to the shearing floor, where their wool is shaved off and bagged, and then they are released back to the herd.

We also haul hay-wagons from a local farm to fill the barn with about 600 bales of hay to last us the winter. During the grazing months, moving the fences can also take significant time. In September, we host hundreds of visitors during the open house event known as Clifton Park Farm Fest. All these activities except the feeding, I share with my husband, which helps to make it possible.

Click here for more information about Shepherd’s Hey Farm.

View the original article here

Read More

The Challenges Working Women Face

The Challenges Working Women Face

By Alicia Jacobs, Excelsior Life Staff --

Just like men, working women balance careers, personal life, and raising a family. However, today’s working women also face the challenges of equal pay, work life balance (now called integration), and organizational advancement.

Did you know about half of all workers on U.S. payrolls are women? It may be a bigger surprise to realize women are not the only ones impacted by these challenges. The changing nature of our families impacts men and children too.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau women working full time only make 77 cents for every dollar men earn. This inequality, according to the National Women's Law Center, translates into $10,622 less per median-income woman every year.

Many years ago, the role of women was to raise a family. In recent decades, women have been pursuing careers without pay equity. It is a juggling act. Reports show two-thirds of the responsibility for household labor and caretaking is by women all over the world.

Approximately 67 percent of Excelsior College staff is composed of women so recently Excelsior College’s President’s Committee on Inclusion (PCI) hosted a panel discussion, to answer questions about the working challenges women face and address the subject of pay equity.

The panelists included Omoye Cooper, director of the division of equal employment opportunity and NYS Equal Opportunity Officer for the NYS Department of Labor, G. Bernett Marion, Sr., director of equal opportunity and diversity development for the NYS Office of Children and Family Services and Libby McGinn, MS, LMHC, clinical supervisor from Human Resources Associates. They each helped answer some tough questions.

Excelsior Life: What is the impact of pay inequity?
Even with advanced degrees, women are at a disadvantage. The good news is women are outpacing men in getting degrees and tend to live longer. Workplaces should examine policies and practices. Employees need to speak up when there are inequities, even if the first person doesn’t benefit, the last person usually does.

Recommendation: Tap into your inner strength. Don’t listen to stereotypes of being too pushy. Women need to be competitive, work hard, confident and assertive. Risk taking is part of advancement and failing is part of advancement.

Pay inequity starts with salary negotiations. Salary impacts the whole family and opportunities when you can’t afford things.

When it comes to inequity, do your homework. Find out what previous employees were paid. Come to job negotiations armed with facts.

Excelsior Life: What are some tips on work life balance/Integration?
Half of the US workforce is made up of women. This places a burden on women and their partners. Depending on the culture of where you work, it can be damaging to feel like you can’t “unplug”. Tip for bosses: A supportive supervising style makes staff want to work hard. Tip for employees: Management should understand there is life outside of work and people need to take care of things. Pay attention to company policies on flex time, childcare, and eldercare.

Excelsior Life: What are some suggestions for women on organizational advancement?
Go outside your inner circle. Talk to other people in company regardless of their role and their title. Everyone can teach you something. Find a good mentor who has the desire to help you succeed.

Keep in mind “PIE”…. performance, image, and exposure impact career mobility. Pay attention to chain of command and culture of workplace. Don’t worry about everyone liking you. It is more important to get along and respect people in the workplace. Women should be proactive in establishing relationships and find mentors.

View the original article here

Read More

Award-winning songwriter and author Michael Neale honed his craft at Evangel

Evangel grads Michael and Leah Neale celebrate his Dove Award for the 2012 Worship Song of the Year.

Most young musicians dream of being able to record their own songs, even if they are only enjoyed by family and friends. But being a national-award-winning recording artist takes life to a whole new level.

“When your art has impacted a lot of people, it’s a very uplifting experience,” says Dove Award winner Michael Neale, a 1994 graduate of Evangel University.

In 2012 Neale and co-writer Krissy Nordhoff won the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Award for Worship Song of the Year for their song “Your Great Name.”

Neale started writing songs at Evangel, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in music, with an emphasis in vocal performance and composition.

“Evangel is a fantastic environment to spread your wings,” Neale says. “I am grateful they allowed me to learn and solidify my calling.”

As a student, Neale joined Evangel’s highly acclaimed music ensemble, Frontline. The group toured the country performing in youth conferences, churches and other venues.

Upon graduation, he moved to Nashville with fellow Frontline member Devin Webb. They soon signed a recording contract with Liquid Disc Records, and one year later they debuted as Neale & Webb with their first CD, At the Cross. The pair traveled together for five years.

“Songwriters are storytellers,” says Neale. “I’m really excited to teach the next generation about creating art and culture.”

In September 2012, Thomas-Nelson published his first novel, The River, a CBA best-selling book about a man struggling with memories from the past and a future that will force him to face those same memories.

Neale divides his time among leading worship in churches, writing, recording and being a featured teacher at conferences around the country.

In between his travels, he serves on the team of worship leaders at Christ Fellowship Church in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where he lives with his wife and their three children.

— By Kelsey Reinhard, a senior journalism major from Quincy, Illinois

View the original article here

Read More

Share music folder ONLY

Dear all, I am having the following issue I hope you can help with:

I am running itunes under windows 8. I have setup two users on the same desktop. Only me has iphone / ipad. Installing itunes it has put its libraries under my user account. However, I wish to share ONLY the music files with the other user i.e. for him to able and listen to the same music files directly from his account. I can obviously give him access rights to the folder but I don't really want to do that. The good option would be to place ONLY the music files under the PUBLIC user account - but I don't know how to do this!

I have found some articles / solutions talking about moving the itunes media folder under "public" account  - but this means that other items apart from music is transfered (not desirable). Any suggestions or directions?

Thank you in advance

View the original article here

Read More

EU Visit summer schedule announced, registration open

Summer vacation may be the perfect time to fit in a quick trip to Evangel University!

Get a tour of our beautiful campus, each lunch with faculty and staff members, visit the academic department of your choice, and attend admissions and Financial Aid Q&A sessions — then make time for some fun at the sundae social. It’s a great way to check out Evangel, find out if it’s a good fit for you, and get back on the road to your vacation destination before the afternoon is over.

Visiting a college campus is the best way for both students and parents to find out if a potential school is the right choice.

See Summer EU Visit schedule and register now.

Evangel Consolidation Update

Evangel University is pleased to anticipate its consolidation with the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and Central Bible College beginning with the fall 2013 semester, pending approval of accrediting bodies. For information on the consolidation progress, please visit http://ag.org/top/consolidation/

View the original article here

Read More

Using OER to Create Pathways to an Affordable Degree

Using OER to Create Pathways to an Affordable Degree

Presentation by Excelsior College's Mika Hoffman, executive director of the Center for Educational Measurement, and Lorrie Graham, open education resources exam coordinator, at Open Education Week (March 2013). 

View the original article here

Read More

Anne Spence receives surprise honor at Silver Shield award ceremony

Maria Bundrick presents Anne Spence with roses.

Faculty, staff and students gathered April 5, 2013, for the Council of Commendation Banquet, an event honoring students with Evangel University’s highest award for character and Christian service, the Silver Shield.

Each of the students honored had been nominated by a faculty or staff member who joined them for the dinner and awards ceremony.

While most in attendance thought the purpose of the night was only to pay tribute to the students, there was an additional — surprise — agenda item for the evening designed to honor a woman whose contributions to Evangel University have spanned decades and impacted thousands.

Following the introduction of the Silver Shield Award winners, Dr. David Bundrick, vice president for student development, made the unexpected announcement that Evangel’s board of directors had resolved to name a distinctive Meritorious Christian Character and Service award in honor of Mrs. Anne Spence, wife of Evangel University President Robert H. Spence.

President Robert H. Spence looks on as his wife, Anne Spence, addresses the crowd after being honored during the Council of Commendation Banquet.

A surprised Mrs. Spence received the news while grasping her husband’s hand.

Missouri Senator Bob Dixon was on hand to present a framed resolution from the state senate recognizing the evening’s events.

Two of the Spence’s children, Dr. Jon Spence and David Spence, attended to applaud their mother for her achievements in 39 years as the first lady of Evangel.

Dr. Jon Spence spoke to the crowd about the character and faithfulness displayed by his mother over the years and called her “one of the last of the southern belles.”

Mrs. Spence has been a driving force behind the Evangel Ladies Auxiliary for many years. She was instrumental in the group’s fundraising efforts for the purchase of the Chapel auditorium’s Schantz organ and founded an intercessory prayer ministry.

“Anne is the epitome of conscientiousness,” Dr. Robert H. Spence says. “Her life principle has been to serve God, her family and Evangel in ways that will glorify the Lord and bring honor and happiness to those around her.”

After receiving roses and a glass dish bearing the Evangel seal, Mrs. Spence stepped to the front and presented the first-ever Anne Spence Award for Meritorious Christian Character and Service to students.

Senior Jessica Rumfelt, a Recreation major, was the first recipient. She had been nominated by assistant basketball coach and assistant professor Dawn Neal.

The Bolivar, Missouri, native traveled to Guatemala with Neal for a women’s basketball team service trip in May 2012. Rumfelt worked in extreme heat to paint lines on an outdoor basketball court for local children and led them in basketball drills during a camp.

“Anne Spence is the most kind, genuine, loving person I’ve ever met” Rumfelt says. “It’s such an honor to receive an award in her name.” 

Seth Bailey, a senior from Harrisonville, Missouri, was the first male recipient after nomination by baseball head coach Lance Quessenberry. Bailey is an Exercise Science major who has been voted the player who “I would want my son to grow up to be like” among teammates for two consecutive years.

The other nominees, who received a Council of Commendation certificate  and a cord for graduation, included Shelby Davis, Mehleena Edmonds, Jocelyn Green, Barbara-Ruth Hickey, Lauren Owsley, Javier Rodriguez, Junior Ruckdeschell and Kyle Smith. 

“I was honored to be nominated for the Silver Shield Award,” Davis says. “I hope that one day I can serve just as much as she [Mrs. Spence] has and leave a legacy wherever God places me.”

For more, visit the 2013 Silver Shield Awards photo album on Facebook. 

2013 Silver Shield Award recipients (left to right): Shelby Davis, Javier Rodriguez, Lauren Owsley, Barbara Ruth-Hickey, Kyle Smith, Jocelyn Green, Seth Bailey, Junior Ruckdeschell, Jessica Rumfelt and Mehleena Edmonds.

View the original article here

Read More

Unlocking TV Shows to play on other devices

You cannot play a TV show or any other video or movie purchased from the iTunes Store on anything other than an Apple device or in Apple's software. If you wish to view the shows on your TV, you will have to connect your computer (or an iOS device) to the TV or buy an Apple TV.

As to a refund, that probably will not be possible since the terms of sale for the iTunes Store state that all sales are final. You can contact the iTunes Store, explain the reason for your request, and ask, though:

http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/contact.html

It's possible they'll make an exception for you.

Regards.

View the original article here

Read More

Evangel University to present spring drama production: “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”

Home  >  Featured News  >  Article: Evangel University to present spring drama production: “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”

Evangel University students will present the Broadway musical You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown this month in the Barnett Fine Arts Theatre.

Performances will take place at 7 p.m. April 4-6 and April 11-13. There will also be matinee performances at 2 p.m. on April 6 and April 13.

“EU Night” is scheduled for opening night, April 4. Tickets are $5 for everyone with an Evangel ID in attendance that evening.

For all other shows, tickets are $10 for general admission, $8 for group tickets (10 people or more), and $6 for students.

The production will be directed by David Smith, director of Evangel’s theatre program, and Lori Lawley, 1985 Evangel graduate.

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is adapted from the comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schultz, with book, music and lyrics by Clark Gesner.

In this musical Charlie Brown, as portrayed by Evangel senior Jordan Walker, searches for approval from friends Lucy, Patti, Schroeder, Linus and Snoopy.

“It excites me to have the opportunity to portray an American icon. The musical is full of humor, upset and trivial things, but in the end, it’s about finding out who you are,” says Walker. “This is what I like most about the musical — its relevancy to life today. It’s a look into how we grow through our triumphs and disappointments.”

Walker is playing the lead role after completing his senior voice recital earlier this spring as part of the certification requirements for performance majors. He plans to pursue a master’s degree in music education at Evangel after graduation.

“This is a show for the entire family. You won’t want to miss this delightful spin on the famous Peanuts comic strip,” Smith says. “Expect a lively play with wonderful music and staging.”

Tickets may be purchased at the door or by calling Lisa Kraus at (417) 865-2815, ext. 8640.

Evangel Humanities Department

View the original article here

Read More

Music Performance major Krystelle Arneson featured in concert tonight

Krystelle Arneson will be the featured pianist for the Evangel University Orchestra concert at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 16, 2013. The event is free and open to the public.

Krystelle Arneson’s mother is pretty wise. She has a piano studio in her home, and while teaching each of her seven children how to play, she also taught them how to teach.

“Mom said if we knew how to teach piano, we would always have a source of supplemental income,” says Krystelle, a junior Music Performance major at Evangel University.

“I started teaching when I was in junior high. I taught the younger siblings of mom’s students,” she says. “It was good experience, and it has paid off. I’ve been able to teach, and make some extra money, all through college.”

Krystelle is the youngest in her family, and she is the third to study music at Evangel.

“For most of my life, I have practiced at least three hours per day,” she says. “I am inclined toward music, but I would be nothing without the practice.”

The Springfield community can judge for themselves tonight, when she will perform one of the toughest concerts of her life. The Evangel University Orchestra will present its spring concert — free and open to the public — at 7:30 p.m. in the University’s Chapel auditorium. The production will feature Krystelle, performing the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4.

“Performing with an orchestra brings a totally different dynamic,” she sats. “As a solo performer, I am used to occasionally having a second piano to play off of. But it is different with 50 other instruments on stage.”

Interestingly, Krystelle is the third person in her family to be honored with a solo performance with the Evangel Orchestra. In 2005, her older sister, Rakel, performed the Prokofiev Concerto in D-flat. Then in 2008, second oldest, Chanelle, performed Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the group.

Asked about other interests, she laughed and said, “I don’t have much of a life outside of music.” That explains why, in her spare time, she performs in a folk-pop-rock band, “The Willows,” with three friends from Evangel.

But that’s a story for another day.

View the original article here

Read More

i installed itunes 10.5 64bit on ma windows 7, the application opens normally but when i try to add any file or folder to the library, it experiences a problem and closes the app. do i need a specific apple id account to run the app.?

Read More

Evangel University senior Christine Temple wins national journalism award

Evangel University senior Christine Temple has been named the 2013 Arthur H. Barlow Student Journalist of the Year by the Society for Collegiate Journalists (SCJ).

The award committee cited “major competition” from finalists across the nation.

“She distinguished herself exceptionally on so many levels that she was the clear choice,” says Bill Ruehlmann, SCJ past president and member of the selection committee.

Temple, a Journalism major from Ozark, Missouri, is editor-in-chief of the The Lance, Evangel’s student newspaper. She will receive a plaque and a $500 stipend in recognition of her achievements.

Ruehlmann said the rigor of professionalism and intensity of spirit displayed throughout the wide field of nationwide competitors reflected their talent, training and discipline. The nominees “displayed superior devotion to the craft of journalism and its ethical practice,” Ruehlmann says.

Chapter adviser Melinda Booze, assistant professor of communication, nominated Temple.

“A notable characteristic that Christine demonstrates is that she does not hoard her knowledge, experience or expertise but invests it in younger students. She serves them, the student body and the legacy and future of The Lance with her consistent and generous mentoring,” Booze says.

The Arthur H. Barlow Student Journalist of the Year Award is named for a longtime SCJ executive director and journalism educator. Barlow, now retired, served on the selection committee along with Ruehlmann, also a former executive director who is now retired, and Mary Beth Earnheardt, current executive director and educator at Youngstown (Ohio) State University.

The Barlow Award allows SCJ chapter advisers an opportunity to bring national recognition to a student journalist who meets the highest standards of ethics, service, leadership and technical skills.

Temple credits her education and professors at Evangel for providing her with the training necessary to be qualified for such a prestigious award.

“Winning this award speaks to the training I received from my journalism professors and the dedication of The Lance staff members I have worked with,” Temple says. “It means so much to be recognized by veteran journalists. This is a great send-off to my time at Evangel.”

Temple has served as The Lance editor for five semesters and is currently president of Evangel’s SCJ chapter. She also interns as a reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. She will graduate in May and continue her internship through the summer and plans to stay in Springfield to pursue reporting opportunities for at least a year.

“Within a few years I hope to move out of Missouri and work at a daily paper in a large city,” she says. “I am prepared for various jobs within a newspaper: reporter, photographer, online team or videographer. I would be excited and grateful with any opportunity to practice my craft.”

View the original article here

Read More

Export library

When exporting library, does it save "Smart Playlist" as well as normal playlist?

Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.

View the original article here

Read More

Presidents’ Forum Meets to Discuss SARA Implementation

Presidents’ Forum Meets to Discuss SARA Implementation

By Mike Lesczinski, Excelsior Life News Staff and Raven Short, Excelsior Life News Staff Intern

Beginning today in Indianapolis, The President’s Forum and the Council of State Governments, will meet to discuss the steps to establish the State Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), announced on April 11 by the Commission on the Regulation of Postsecondary Distance Education led by former U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley.

Excelsior College, which founded the Presidents’ Forum, has worked with the Council of State Governments to develop SARA under a Lumina Foundation grant. Paul Shiffman, executive director of the Presidents’ Forum participated as a member of the Riley commission.

SARA intends to make state authorization more efficient, more uniform in regard to necessary and reasonable standards of practice that span states, and more effective in dealing with quality and integrity issues.

State team members comprised of policymakers and higher education leadership attending the symposium will explore, discuss and identify steps a state would need to take to participate in reciprocity, including anticipated state by state regulatory and statutory revisions that may be necessary to achieve the objectives of SARA.

The Presidents’ Forum, established in 2004, remains a leading advocate on issues of importance to online higher education. The Forum contends interstate reciprocity in recognition of institutional authorizations would broaden access to accredited online degree programs, ensure strong consumer protection and reduce barriers to student access and has pursued an agreement through a  grant from Lumina Foundation.

Within the past few years, the Forum met with state regulators on changes to the Title IV rules which would have sharply curbed access to high quality, accredited online college education.

View the original article here

Read More

The Practical Side of Educational Game Development with Jon Aleckson, Web Courseworks

The Practical Side of Educational Game Development with Jon Aleckson, Web Courseworks

Click Here to Subscribe to Excelsior Life podcast series via RSS (non-iTunes feed)

or

 

Listen to the full interview with Jon Aleckson:

Jon Aleckson, PhD, CEO of Web Courseworks, author, and educational technologist, joins Excelsior Life: Distance EDU on Demand, to discuss the business side of the educational game industry. Are educational games scalable? How do developers ensure quality control? Why should academics stop pretending to be coders? How close to real life do simulations have to be in order to be effective? Aleckson, a panelist at Excelsior’s upcoming gaming symposium on May 17, focuses on the practical aspects of game development.

Podcast Outline (Time: Topic)

2:57 Digital gaming vs gamification – purists on both sides

5:17 Quality control – focusing on systems, structure

6:32 The cost-benefit analysis

8:49 Recommendations to accelerate gaming in higher education

10:11 Academics are not coders

13:07 Scenario simulations – how close to real life do they need to be?

14:15 Courting Disaster

16:45 Practical, business approach towards game development

“Bringing together not just academics, but people in the private sector who build games, and getting them together in one room.” – John Aleckson, on the importance of symposium’s like Excelsior’s upcoming “Games and the Curriculum: Towards a New Educational Model."

View the original article here

Read More

itunes Blank

My itunes has gone completely blank, I know this has happened to a lot of people and it is really frustrating.

I tried restoring my computer back, but itunes still came up blank.

The files are there but if I import them again there are no music ratings or playlists.

I've been away from home for 6 months so haven’t backed up the computer in a while.

My iphone got stolen recently so was going to sync my new one to itunes really soon when I get it, however I can't do that now as itunes is blank.

Please help!

View the original article here

Read More

Stained Glass Story releases worship album “Turn Your Eyes”

Stained Glass Story released its second album in March.

Evangel University’s touring worship band, Stained Glass Story, released its second album on March 12, 2013.

Titled “Turn Your Eyes,” the album features modern arrangements of classic hymns such as “How Deep the Father’s Love” and “Jesus Paid it All,” as well as renditions of contemporary worship songs such as “Great I Am” and “Beautiful Things.”

Jason Salazar, assistant professor of music and director of Stained Glass Story, says the album was recorded during a live concert last November, and the group has been working on editing since then.

Salazar says while the songs were written by other artists, the band has made its own arrangements of each one.

“We try to always put our own spin on them,” he says. “I think the album we just recorded reflected that. There are a lot of songs that people are going to know, but we try to do them a little bit different.”

The members of Stained Glass Story at a national Assemblies of God youth event in February. From left: Caleb Hawkins, Michael Bremer, Nick Bearden, Joel Harrison, Heath Adamson (national youth director for the AG), Dylan Nieman, Jason Salazar (faculty director).

Salazar says the band, which formed three years ago, has two purposes, the first to promote Evangel University as it performs around the nation.

“We’re trying to hit the youth events,” he says. “We’re trying to play in front of potential Evangel kids.”

He says another important purpose of Stained Glass Story is to give the band members ministry experience.

“Most of the guys that are in the group now aspire to be worship leaders or musicians in those kind of venues,” Salazar says, “so it gives them great experience. “

The band has played at several events this year, including a nine-day tour of Colorado over Spring Break. Salazar says the band is lined up to play at this year’s National Fine Arts Festival in Orlando, Florida.

The group, which currently consists of five male members, holds auditions for open spots at the beginning of each school year.

Salazar says the experience working with the band members is different than the teacher-student relationship he has during the school day. “Whether it’s a recording or a practice or a tour or a concert, I feel like more of a mentor in that role where I try to take opportunities for teaching,” he says.

Along with touring, the band is already working on its next album, which will contain all original songs written by the band’s members. Salazar says while the CD is still in its infancy, the band hopes to have a few songs finished by the end of the semester and possibly release an EP.

Hard copies of “Turn Your Eyes” are available at Evangel through the Music Department (417) 865-2811 ext. 7212, or the album can be purchased digitally through iTunes and Amazon. Salazar says the songs are also available for streaming through Spotify and I-Heart Radio and will soon be on Pandora and Rhapsody.

— By Ian Richardson, a junior from Afton, Iowa

Evangel Consolidation Update

Evangel University is pleased to anticipate its consolidation with the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and Central Bible College beginning with the fall 2013 semester, pending approval of accrediting bodies. For information on the consolidation progress, please visit http://ag.org/top/consolidation/

View the original article here

Read More

Evangel honor society Alpha Chi receives exclusive “Star Chapter” recognition

The Evangel University Alpha Chi officers are pictured with EU President Robert H. Spence at the Fall 2012 induction ceremony. From left: Rintu Thomas, Kayla Jordan, Jonathan Mussetter, Lacey Mussetter, President Spence, Dr. Laynah Rogers, Dr. Dale Scheusner and Shari Hewes.

The  national college honor society, Alpha Chi, has recognized Evangel University’s Alpha Chi Missouri Rho chapter as a “Star Chapter,” a yearly award given to only 15 percent of the more than 300 chapters throughout the nation.

Alpha Chi is an honor society designed to promote scholarly activity and community service within its membership, which is open to the top 10 percent of juniors, seniors and graduate students.

Dr. Dale Scheusner, EU’s Alpha Chi co-sponsor, says the Star Chapter award recognizes Evangel as one of the top Alpha Chi chapters in the nation for student leadership and involvement. 

“It means the chapter is doing what it is supposed be doing,” he says. “The local Alpha Chi is serving as a model for other chapters in the national organization.  What a great way to be a Christian witness.”

This is the fourth time Evangel has received this recognition since 2010.

Scheusner says Evangel’s chapter leads on-campus academic events such as the Faculty Research Forum in the fall and the Student Research Forum in the spring. Student members also engage in a variety of service projects throughout the community, present research at the national Alpha Chi convention and serve as Alpha Chi representatives on the national level. Evangel’s chapter holds a ceremony to induct new members each semester.

“We truly enjoy working with [student] officers and watching them take leadership on campus,” Dr. Laynah Rogers, Alpha Chi chapter sponsor, says. Rogers has been Evangel’s chapter sponsor since 2000 and has also become involved on the national Alpha Chi leadership team.

Rachel Nordquist, Alpha Chi member and junior, says her involvement with Alpha Chi has given her the opportunity to learn from her peers and see the work of departments and majors beyond her own. She said she feels honored to be part of a chapter to receive this recognition.  

“It is inspiring to see the hard work that other students are putting into their education,” she says. “For me, this points to not just the excellence of Alpha Chi, but mainly to the excellence of Evangel as a whole.”

The Alpha Chi National Office will honor Evangel’s chapter with a certificate and proclamation at the Alpha Chi National Convention, which will be April 4 through 6 in Nashville, Tennessee. Rogers says Evangel’s chapter will also be the regional representative competing for the President’s Cup, a traveling trophy given to the best program in the nation. Rogers says Evangel took home this award in 2009. 

“All of us can take note of this achievement and extend congratulations to the members, Dr. Rogers, and those who work with Alpha Chi,” says Evangel University President Robert H. Spence.

View the original article here

Read More

Using Games to Solve Real Problems: Interview with Dr. Ben DeVane, Digital Worlds Institute

Editor’s Note: This is the first of a series of interviews with the panelists invited to the second annual Excelsior College gaming symposium, “Games and the Curriculum: Towards a New Educational Model” on May 17. Register here.

Listen to the full interview with Dr. DeVane below. Subscribe to Excelsior Life: Distance Education on Demand.

By Mike Lesczinski, Excelsior Life News Staff--

Although passionate about the idea of education, as a child Dr. Ben DeVane never liked school, in particular classes built around memorization. Instead he preferred exploring the worlds found in contemporary computer games like Oregon Trail and Civilization.

It wasn’t until he earned a degree in computer science and accepted a job with an afterschool program using games to teach history and other subjects did DeVane realize the potential of gaming as an educational tool.

“Games provided a new arena for kids to develop expertise,” said DeVane, reflecting on his time in the program. “They’re playful, they’re engaging, and they’re also very difficult. Kids aren’t mesmerizing fact; they are building a knowledge base and challenged to use that knowledge.”

Following the program, DeVane went back to school to study for his doctorate, eventually becoming assistant professor of digital arts and science at the Digital Worlds Institute at the University of Florida. Today, his research focuses on the design of ‘serious games’ and game-based learning environments and how they can be used to solve public health, environmental science and financial literacy problems.

Gaming Against Plagiarism, which is funded by National Science Foundation, is one such project. The game focuses on research ethics and plagiarism – a growing problem within the academic and science fields as the opportunity to cheat grows in parallel with technological advancement.

Institutions are now becoming mandated to offer ethics training, but the current learning process is flawed, says DeVane.

“This training often ends up not being very fun, it’s often not very challenging…” said the professor, noting that most are lecture-based power points.

Gaming Against Plagiarism, based on a board-game model similar to traditional games e.g. Shoots and Ladders, is divided into three individual sections each focusing on different aspects of academic research, plagiarism, and ethical conduct. As players work to secure a research grant, as they do in Cheats and Geeks, or act as an Ethics Detective in Murky Misconduct, they are presented with complex scenarios to test their knowledge and ethical problem solving and learn the extent to which plagiarism impacts not only them but their institution.

The games act to differentiate short-term and long-term outcomes too. For instance, as I played Cheats and Geeks I took a short-cut, in this case a single instance of data fabrication, and was still able to secure the research grant. However, my “win” was short-lived. The hammer soon came down in the form of a story in the local paper about my misconduct and the ensuring reputational damage to my institution.

“What we are trying to do,” said DeVane, “is give a safe space to learn about plagiarism and learn the consequences of plagiarism.”

The games themselves are homage to famous video games of the past. Frenetic Filing has the look of an 8-bit Atari game, while Murky Misconduct feels like Carmen San Diego. These aesthetics tap into emotions and help keep the player engaged.

While DeVane is focusing his time currently on ethics, there are many more problems to explore.

“We don’t make games to just make games. We want games that solve real problems and address them in a meaningful way.”

The gaming process is equally intriguing in itself. First, designers like DeVane identify a problem. Together, their teams develop rough models – prototypes of games based on certain principles – and pilot the environments to their intended audiences. The focus group will discuss the issues surrounding the games, evaluate the “fun” aspects, and provide feedback on the learning process. This information helps the design team adapt the game before the next focus group, and so on and so forth, until a final version is reached.

“Game layers in the classroom, or digital computer games, or even role-playing games, each has its place in the dialogue with education,” said DeVane. “The purpose is to engage (the student) on their level.”

To listen to the full thirty-minute interview with Excelsior Life, in which DeVane discusses a variety of topics, from the ability of games to foster essential skills such as computational thinking to the role games can play to recruiting and retaining more women to the STEM fields, listen below.

To watch the livestream of Excelsior’s upcoming May 17 symposium, “Games and the Curriculum: Towards a New Educational Model” visit our Excelsior Life events page.

View the original article here

Read More

Higher Learning Commission gives green light for consolidation of Evangel, CBC and AGTS

The consolidated Evangel University will open fall 2013.

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) has notified the presidents of the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Central Bible College, and Evangel University that their application to consolidate the three institutions has been approved.

“I am thrilled and thankful that the journey we began over two years ago has culminated in this moment,” states Dr. George O. Wood, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God and chairman of the Transitional Board of Trustees for the consolidation.

Dr. Carol Taylor is the president-elect of the newly approved Evangel University.

The consolidated Evangel University will open fall 2013.  The Transitional Board meeting last month unanimously elected Dr. Carol Taylor, currently president of Vanguard University, Costa Mesa, California, as president-elect of the University.  She will serve as chief executive officer and lead all consolidation efforts as plans move forward.  She begins her duties July 1, 2013.

In November 2010, the church’s executive presbytery began a process to consolidate the three institutions.  Early in January 2011, the boards of directors of the schools met and agreed to appoint a Task Force that would provide a mission statement, core values, structure, governance and bylaws for the consolidated university. 

The Task Force report in May was sent to the boards and subsequently, in separate actions, approved by each.  This report then went in August 2011 to the General Presbytery and on to the biennial business meeting of the Assemblies of God.  Both bodies voted overwhelmingly to move forward with the consolidation.

Once approval from Assemblies of God business meeting in session was received, more than 200 people from all three of the schools began working on various facets of the application to the HLC.  The 6,000-page report was submitted last June.

Wood expressed deep appreciation to Presidents Byron Klaus (AGTS); Gary Denbow (CBC); and Robert Spence (EU) who worked untiringly for this effort.  He also thanked the David Green family who donated $5 million to make the consolidation possible.

“Now our real work begins,” he said.  “As we consolidate the student bodies, there will need to be much thought and effort given to developing the structure of the university.” 

The Assemblies of God Theological Seminary will be embedded into the university and will have oversight of the School of Theology and Church Ministries within the university, including all classes both undergraduate and graduate.  This school will be the first to begin in fall 2013.  Other schools to be phased in as soon as possible are the Schools of Arts and Sciences; Behavioral Science; Business and Communications; and Fine Arts.

It is anticipated the full implementation of the consolidation will be completed by 2020.  During this time, the full structure of the university will be implemented and the vision for the school will be established in its most expanded form.

View the original article here

Read More

my wifes iphone3 will not sync games etc etc because it keeps refering to my iphone4s account.

There is no iPhone 3 or iPhone 4 account.

Do you have seperate Apple ID's?

Being signed into the iTunes store on iTunes on a computer has nothing to do with syncing.

Has this device ever been synced to the computer in question?

View the original article here

Read More

E&H Dedicates Alumni Plaza, Celebrates Excellence

Emory & Henry dedicated a memorial Saturday that reminds its students and its alumni of the part they play in the institution's exalted past and exceptional destiny (Photo Photo Album | Watch Video).

Approximately 200 people gathered near the newly constructed Emory & Henry Alumni Plaza to honor the College's alumni through the extraordinary examples of four graduates who made historic contributions to their country.

"My hope is that every alumnus who comes here will draw from the Plaza an increased measure of devotion to Emory & Henry and a deeper sense of pride in the traditions of 'Increase in Excellence' represented by these four graduates," said Tom McGlothlin, a member of the E&H Class of 1968 whose generosity made possible the construction of the Plaza.

"I wanted the Alumni Plaza to enhance the beauty of the College; to serve as an inspiring magnet for prospective students, as a dignified monument to show young people who might come here what the College could make possible in their lives," McGlothlin said. "I dreamed of an Alumni Plaza as an open forum, a favored gathering space in the center of campus."

Located on the walls of the Plaza are the images and biographies of four distinguished individuals. They include Dr. Robert Humphreys, who developed the method for distilling gasoline from oil; Bishop Walter Lambuth, a world leader in ecumenical causes; Frank Rowlett, who helped crack the enemy code during World War II, and Harley Staggers, an influential congressman whose landmark legislation made it possible for railroads to survive.

Tom Rowlett, the son of Frank Rowlett, and Harley Staggers Jr., the son of the late Congressman, were on hand for the dedication and to express their gratitude for the honors given to their fathers. "My father spoke all the time about this College, which had done so much for him," Staggers said. "And still it honors him."

The Plaza sits midway between Wiley Hall and Memorial Chapel, structures that symbolize the College’s namesakes Bishop John Emory and Gov. Patrick Henry. The Plaza thus symbolizes the ampersand that links the two great sacred and secular traditions of Emory & Henry.

Emory & Henry alumni are the living legacies of "a great and immortal institution, the products of an ancient and remarkable academy," said Dr. Charles Sydnor, a member of the E&H Class of 1965 and the 18th president of the College. "Until today, there was no dedicated ground and no physical structure where the College might symbolically honor and celebrate its alumni, and no one place where alumni might return to reflect upon the legacy we all share from Emory & Henry. Now the College and all of us have both."

Sydnor praised McGlothlin for his vision in creating the Alumni Plaza. McGlothlin ranks "among the most devoted sons and greatest benefactors in the history of Emory & Henry," Sydnor said. "The Alumni Plaza is his most recent major gift to the College – a unique gift – a benefaction that brings with it the special summons for us to create for the College a future truly worthy of her past."

Biographies of the Honored Alumni
DR. ROBERT E. HUMPHREYS (1868-1962) EMORY & HENRY COLLEGE, CLASS OF 1889

Born in West Virginia and raised on the campus of Emory & Henry College, Robert E. Humphreys' father was a carpenter who worked on building the Sam Small Gymnasium, Byars House, and the William Morrow Science Hall. Humphreys graduated from Emory & Henry with a major in chemistry and taught for several years before enrolling at Johns Hopkins University, where he received his Ph.D. in chemistry in 1900.

From Johns Hopkins, Dr. Humphreys joined the Standard Oil Company in Whiting, Indiana as a research chemist in what was then the newest oil refinery in the United States. By 1910, he was the Chief Chemist for Standard Oil, engaged in research to increase the yield of gasoline extracted from crude oil. In 1912, by a process of distillation, Dr. Humphreys perfected and patented the thermal method of cracking the molecules of crude oil to yield much larger, more cost effective quantities of gasoline.

By inventing the method to produce vast supplies of inexpensive gasoline, Dr. Humphreys’ helped pave the way for the mass production and sale of automobiles affordable to the public. His revolutionary discovery made possible the automotive age that distinguished 20th century America, and his success prompted companies throughout the petroleum industry to create corporate laboratories and invest heavily in research.

Dr. Humphreys' laboratory from the oil refinery in Whiting, Indiana is preserved as a permanent exhibit in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

WALTER RUSSELL LAMBUTH (1854-1921) EMORY & HENRY COLLEGE, CLASS OF 1875

Born in Shanghai, China as the eldest son of pioneering Methodist missionaries in Asia, Walter Russell Lambuth was raised by relatives in Tennessee and Mississippi. Lambuth graduated from Emory & Henry in 1875, and earned advanced degrees in both medicine and theology from Vanderbilt University in 1877. Ordained an elder in the Tennessee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, he returned to China with his wife Daisy Kelly as a medical missionary.

From 1877 until 1885, with only a brief period for further study in America, Lambuth worked as the most notable western medical figure in China, founding an opium treatment center in Shanghai, opening the Soochow Hospital, and establishing what became the Rockefeller Hospital in Beijing. In 1887, he and his parents founded the Methodist Episcopal Church, South mission in Japan, and Lambuth turned from practicing medicine to educational and evangelistic work.

From 1892 to 1910, Lambuth served as Secretary of the Board of Missions and became a world leader in ecumenical causes, leading the church to establish missions in Cuba and Korea. In 1910, Lambuth was elected Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South for Brazil and Africa. He opened Methodist missions in Latin America, the Belgian Congo and central and west Africa and carried the work of the Church into Siberia, Manchuria and Korea.

Bishop Lambuth, the greatest medical missionary in 19th century Methodism, was commemorated by the naming of Lambuth University in Jackson, Tennessee in his honor.

FRANK BYRON ROWLETT (1908-1998) EMORY & HENRY COLLEGE, CLASS OF 1929

Born at Rose Hill in Lee County, Virginia, Frank Rowlett graduated from Emory & Henry College in June 1929 with majors in mathematics and chemistry and the Byars Medal in Science. In April 1930, he became the first junior cryptanalyst in the U.S. Army Signal Intelligence Service in the War Department in Washington, D.C. Eventually, he led a War Department group in writing ciphers for the U.S. Army, and breaking foreign code systems—notably Japanese codes.

Rowlett's group solved the first Japanese system for encrypting diplomatic communications, which they called Red. In 1940, in a step ultimately critical to American and Allied victory in World War II, Rowlett's group solved the more complex and sophisticated Japanese code they named Purple. Unaware their code had been broken the Japanese used Purple throughout the War, enabling American and Allied leaders to know to know important Japanese and German secrets by reading all messages passed between Tokyo and Berlin.

Working with the U.S. Navy, Rowlett designed communications codes that German, Japanese, and Italian code breakers never solved. Rowlett's work saved the lives of thousands of American and Allied soldiers. Honored by President Johnson and by the U.S. Congress, Rowlett retired from federal service in 1966 as a founding father of the National Security Agency, which created a distinguished achievement award in his honor and named the Agency's academic center for training cryptanalysts Frank B. Rowlett Hall.

HARLEY ORIN STAGGERS (1907-1991) EMORY & HENRY COLLEGE, CLASS OF 1931

Born at Keyser in Mineral County, West Virginia, Harley Staggers became the patriarch of one of the most prominent political families in the Mountain State. Staggers graduated from Emory & Henry in 1931, pursued graduate studies at Duke University, and then taught and coached football in Virginia and West Virginia.

He served as Sheriff of Mineral County, West Virginia, and in 1942 became State Director of the Office of War Information Services. Following outstanding service from 1942-1946 in the U.S. Naval Air Corps, Harley Staggers was elected to represent West Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives in November 1948.

He was subsequently re-elected to the U.S. House fifteen times, retiring in 1981. During a distinguished career that spanned three decades of American history, Staggers served as Chairman of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. On October 14, 1980 President Carter signed into law The Staggers Rail Act to de-regulate the American railroads and replace the outdated structure that had governed pricing and rail shipping in America since passage of the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. This landmark legislation made it possible for American railroads to survive as private industries, and laid the foundation for the systems of domestic and international trade and shipping critical to the nation's economy.

The crowning achievement of his congressional career, the Staggers Rail Act honors Harley Orin Staggers as one of the great visionaries in 20th century American transportation.

View the original article here

Read More

I have backed up my music onto dvds. How do I import into Itunes on my new laptop?

View the original article here

Read More

Evangel University education builds solid foundation for entrepreneur Jonathan Butler

Read More

Evangel University Marching Band recruiting now for next season

The Evangel University Marching Band is now taking applications for students interested in becoming part of one of the University’s most visible and exciting traditions.

Since its historic debut in 2011, the marching band has grown to more than 100 members, many of whom have majors other than music. United by their love for music, these students are part of an organization that sets Evangel apart from many universities of its size.

Michael Kolstad, Music Department chairman, says Evangel is one of only two schools in its conference to have a marching band. “The marching band has been a very positive addition to the campus,” Kolstad says. “It has increased school spirit and visibility for the school.”

In addition to playing pep music and performing field routines during halftime at home football games, the marching band has marched in local parades, including a performance at Silver Dollar City last December that Kolstad says was attended by 25,000 people.

Christina Beatie, junior, says the best part about her joining Evangel’s marching band was the sense of community she felt when she arrived as a freshman.

“I immediately felt welcomed and made some of my best friends here at Evangel within that first week of band camp,” she says. “You are not an outsider when you come to campus.  You immediately belong somewhere, and people will notice if you are not there. Being in marching band as a freshman was the best decision I could have made.”

The Evangel University Marching Band, directed by Dr. Michael Kolstad, debuted at Silver Dollar City on December 1, 2012, before a crowd of 25,000. Photo by Paul K. Logsdon.

Jonathan Martz, senior, says the unity of the marching band is what sets it apart from other organizations on campus. He also says it is a good way to become involved in leadership.

“I would say that it is one of the best organizations you can be a part of,” he says. “You learn how to become an encourager, hard worker and more of a spiritual influence in others’ lives.”

Kolstad says the band plans to play at four home football games and two parades in the fall. He also says the Music Department is lining up a marching band trip for the fall, but the location has yet to be revealed. However, he did offer a hint: “It will likely be somewhere in the South – possibly near the ocean!”

Kolstad says students of any major are welcome in the band and there is no audition except for the percussion section. See the Evangel University Marching Band page for more information and to fill out an inquiry form.

— By Ian Richardson, a junior English major from Afton, Iowa.

Evangel Consolidation Update

Evangel University is pleased to anticipate its consolidation with the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and Central Bible College beginning with the fall 2013 semester, pending approval of accrediting bodies. For information on the consolidation progress, please visit http://ag.org/top/consolidation/

View the original article here

Read More

How to Demonstrate Your Skills to Civilian Employers

How to Demonstrate Your Skills to Civilian Employers

By Mike Lesczinski, Excelsior Life News Staff—

For many veterans, the transition from the military to the civilian workforce can be difficult. One of the challenges they encounter is how to effectively translate their previous skills and credentials when crafting a resume and preparing for a job interview. Many veterans are not aware of the valuable transferable skills they have developed during their military service -- and just how marketable these skills are to employers.

On March 19, the Center for Military Education at Excelsior College explored this topic and more during its “You’re Back - What’s Next?” quarterly webinar series. “How to Demonstrate Your Value to Civilian Employers” was presented by Maribeth Gunner, career services coordinator at Excelsior, and Judy Reed, director of veterans services and outreach.

View the original article here

Read More

How can I switch between stores, i.e. Germany and Ireland and download from both?

Sorry, but you can't. You can only use the iTunes Store of the country in which you are physically present and have your payment method. If you live in Ireland, you can only use the Irish iTunes Store; you cannot use the German iTunes Store nor any other.

Regards.

View the original article here

Read More

EU students touch the globe, expand cultural horizons through Spring Break service trips

One of the Spring Break service trip teams traveled to Turkey, where they toured historic biblical sites and taught English to local students.

Four continents. Nine countries. Fifteen teams.

From Springfield, Missouri to the other side of the world, more than 150 Evangel University students of a variety of majors participated in Spring Break service trips this month to spread the gospel and encounter other cultures.

Most of the trips were sponsored by Global Connections, the cross-cultural awareness program that is part of Evangel’s Frameworks curriculum. Spring Break trips are designed each year to help strengthen students’ spiritual formation as they experience global cultures, learn about other perspectives and worldviews, and actively participate in service and ministry projects. CROSSwalk, Evangel’s student ministries organization, helped organize and lead many of the trips.

“Spring Break trips enable students to live out Evangel’s mission of integrating faith and career,” says Alli Fontaine, Global Connections logistics coordinator. “We desire that the students develop lasting relationships with their team members and sponsors, gain a greater perspective of the world and differing cultures, as well as make an eternal impact on those they meet and serve while traveling.”

Senior Becca Clark, who served as the student leader on a trip to San Paulo, Brazil, said it was gaining a new perspective on how other cultures worship that made the trip a powerful experience for her. “It was encouraging to see that even though cultures are different, the message and the power of Christ is universal,” she says.

Becky Spain (center), director of retention, and freshman Briana English led a team of six to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where they participated in service projects and outreaches with a local church.

Clark’s  group of 11 Evangel students and faculty worked with a children’s street ministry in San Paulo.

She says the team found the passion the Brazilians have for prayer, worship and service to be powerful – though they sometimes express it in unique ways. “One thing that was different was that at church they greet one another with a hug and a kiss,” she said. “It wasn’t hard to adjust to because we could see the love of Christ shining through the people.”

For many of the students, like freshman Jami McConnell, this Spring Break service trip was their first experience traveling overseas.

McConnell, who traveled to Wales, says her trip was incredible and inspiring – the best first-time experience she could have asked for.

“Our encounter with the culture of Wales was very special because we were not just observing the way these people live from a distance,” McConnell says. “We were able to develop relationships with many people, which is the primary form of witness in Europe. You must develop relationships with people before you can really begin witnessing.”

Sarah Kempski, a junior, also left the country for the first time over Spring Break on a trip to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She and her team spent a few days in the homes of some Dominican students, which she says were small and had very few amenities compared to homes in the United States.

While Kempski says a few cultural changes, such as not using running water or being able to flush toilet paper, took some getting used to, she experienced some of the nicest people she had ever met.

“It’s one thing to learn about Dominican culture from articles and textbooks, but it is completely different to be immersed in it,” Kempski says. “Seeing what little some have is heartbreaking, but at the same time it’s amazing to see their happiness and joy despite their difficulties.”

Senior Jeremy Crabtree’s trip to Turkey was also his first time overseas. He had desired to get out of the country amd experience another culture for a long time, but never had the chance. “The most impactful part of the trip was connecting with other university students and building relationships with the locals.”

Other students, like Briana English, freshman, have had several cross-cultural experiences, but find that they learn something new every time. English was a student leader for the Dominican Republic trip. She says the entire team formed a valuable chemistry as they worked together and encouraged each other.

“None of us were friends prior to this trip, and now I cannot imagine not having them in my life,” she says.

English says one highlight was when the team held an altar call at the end of an assembly at a public school, and children responded. She said, “Just knowing that we were able to help expand the kingdom of God was reason enough to deem it a success.  God was able to use us, and that was the whole reason for the trip.”

Broadened perspectives, new relationships, changed lives – all over the world. That is what Spring Break service trips are all about.

See photo blogs of the Spring Break service trips at the Evangel Undergrad Facebook page.

– By Ian Richardson, a junior English major from Afton, Iowa

View the original article here

Read More

A sweet trip to Belgium: An international forensics tournament trip expands horizons in unexpected ways

Home  >  Featured News  >  Article: A sweet trip to Belgium: An international forensics tournament trip expands horizons in unexpected ways

There are three things I absolutely love: America, traveling and shoes.

Recently, my love for all three of these converged as I traveled with three other Evangel University students and two professors to Antwerp, Belgium, to participate in the 2013 International Forensics Association tournament.

Forensics, in this case, didn’t have anything to do with investigating and solving crimes. Although, as a Criminal Justice minor, I really wouldn’t have minded. This was a speech tournament that judged the competitors in events such as debate, dramatic interpretation and persuasive/informative speaking.

Throughout the 10-day trip, we were able to visit London, Antwerp and Brussels.

Each location had something special to offer — wonderful hospitality and West End theatre in London; Dutch/Flemish culture and rich historical background in Antwerp; and French elegance and tons of delicious chocolate in Brussels.

In the end, competing with students from all across the United States was definitely a learning experience.

However, while enjoying a hot Belgian waffle and wandering the streets of the Grote Markt district, I was struck with a realization. No single culture or educational system can provide all the knowledge in the world.

Extending our perspective beyond school, state, country or culture is an essential part of reaching our potential as scholars, patriots or community members in general.

Experiences like meeting the Captain of the Guard at Windsor Castle, enjoying local cuisine, learning about the history of the printing press and exploring historic Antwerp City Hall were all part of an overarching learning experience that began the minute our plane touched down in England.

While the trip helped me gain an even deeper appreciation for the United States and the opportunities we are afforded here, I was also able to experience multiple cultures, languages and locations that will forever change the way I look at history.

And to top it all off, I managed to come back with some great new shoes.  

— By Anna Lester, a junior communication studies major from Broken Bow, Oklahoma

View the original article here

Read More

Steve Jenkins elected to Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame

Evangel University men’s basketball head coach Steve Jenkins will be inducted into the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in a ceremony on April 27, 2013.

Jenkins completed his 31st season as Evangel’s head coach last season. He is 13 wins shy of 600 career victories and, nine games into next season, will work his 1,000th game as head coach with the Crusaders.

Jenkins guided Evangel to the NAIA-II National Championship in 2002, and has won the Heart of America Conference championship six times.

His teams have appeared in 11 NAIA national tournaments including the last four. He was the NAIA-II National Coach of the Year in 2002 following his team’s 35-1 season and national championship.

In the past, Jenkins served as head coach of the baseball program. He leads all baseball coaches in career winning percentage.

He is also currently the head coach of the men’s golf program, which is the reigning conference champion. He has been named men’s golf coach of the year twice by the Heart of America Conference.

Jenkins is a 1974 graduate of Evangel University with degrees in Psychology and Physical Education. He earned a master’s degree from the University of South Florida in 1978.

In 2006, Jenkins was inducted into the Evangel Athletics Hall of Fame and entered the Springfield Area Sports Hall of Fame in its 2011 class.

The induction ceremony is scheduled during a banquet at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in Springfield.

Coach Jenkins led the men’s basketball team to their sixth Heart of America conference tournament championship this season

Evangel University Athletics

View the original article here

Read More

Joint Letter to Congress in Response to Suspension of Military Tuition Assistance

Joint Letter to Congress in Response to Suspension of Military Tuition Assistance

[Editor's Note: This is a copy of a joint letter that was sent to Capitol Hill this morning in response to the suspension of Military Tuition Assistance.]

---

As Presidents of some of our nation’s most innovative public and private not-for-profit colleges and universities, we write to bring to your attention the plight of thousands of college students on active military duty that have suddenly received news that their Military Tuition Assistance (MTA) benefits have been eliminated entirely. The MTA benefit has not been reduced by a percentage called for in the sequestration; instead, the program ends immediately and until further notice. We ask your assistance in helping the Department of Defense (DoD) find the necessary means to restore this vital program.

We understand that as a result of Sequestration, the DoD has had to make very difficult decisions. However, the MTA program is not only one of the finest recruiting tools available to the services, it is enormously important to enlisted personnel morale. It is also a critical element in the training necessary to carry out our nation’s most crucial missions. Collectively, our institutions have the privilege of educating a great many of the more than 325,000 active duty military students who enroll in over 800,000 classes each year, while defending our country. We have firsthand knowledge of the importance of this program to them and to their work.

Many recruits, just out of high school, enter the service with the understanding that the military will help provide them with a college education. Now, the services have eliminated that opportunity.

The best predictor of how well service members will fare in finding employment upon their return home is their level of education and professional training. The veteran unemployment rate already outpaces that of the general population. Eliminating the possibility of taking college classes or earning other academic credentials while in the military, condemns those who chose to serve their country to a rougher return to civilian life and the domestic job market. We believe that our servicemen and women deserve better.

We understand that some are trying to justify eliminating MTA by pointing out that active duty personnel can access their GI benefits as a substitute. That is not what they were promised upon entry to the military and the clock starts ticking on their limited GI benefits as soon as they are engaged. That means considerably fewer benefits will be available when service members return home. One is not a substitute for the other.

We also question the significance of the budget savings provided by eliminating the MTA. The long-term benefits of an educated military far out-weigh the short-term savings created by elimination.

We appreciate your leadership and support in working with the DoD to fix this misguided decision. We respectfully request your help in restoring the Military Tuition Assistance program to all the military services.

Sincerely,

Javier Miyares, President, University of Maryland University College
George A. Pruitt, President, Thomas Edison State College
Robert Mendenhall, President, Western Governors University
Ed Klonoski, President, Charter Oak State College
Meg Benke, Acting President, Empire State College
John Ebersole, President, Excelsior College
Jack Hawkins, Chancellor, Troy University

View the original article here

Read More

Kinesiology Department launches new Recreation and Sport Management major

Are you interested in a career managing the business side of collegiate or professional athletic programs, or the recreational sport industry? Evangel University has launched a major in Recreation and Sport Management for students interested in this growing field.

The new program, which will start in the fall of 2013, will be offered through the Kinesiology Department.

Donovan Nelson

“We have created a degree that will prepare our graduates for jobs in the recreation and sport industry,” says Donovan Nelson, assistant professor of kinesiology and coordinator for the new program. “We anticipate continued growth in our department because of the new major.”

The degree program will prepare students to work in the sport industry in areas such as marketing, sales, facility operations, travel/tourism, public relations, administration, campus recreation and adult/child recreation programs.

“We have an extensive network for placement in sport fields, including minor league baseball, DI athletic programs, parks and recreation departments, nonprofit recreation organizations and campus recreation agencies,” says Dr. Keith Hardy, kinesiology department chair.

“We created a sport management minor about five years ago,” Nelson says. “Rewriting our recreation major allowed us to expand the degree program to meet student demand.”

Courses include sport marketing, facility management, recreation & sport leadership, and organization & administration, among others. Two communication courses will include desktop publishing and a special topic sport communication class taught by Ed Beach, assistant athletic director.

View the original article here

Read More

Dr. Carol Taylor chosen to lead consolidated Evangel University

Dr. Carol Taylor is the president-elect of the newly approved Evangel University.

Dr. Carol Taylor, currently president of Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California, has been chosen president-elect and chief executive officer of the consolidated Evangel University, according to an announcement by Dr. George Wood, chairman of the Board of Trustees and general superintendent of the Assemblies of God.  The Higher Learning Commission recently approved the request to consolidate the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS), Central Bible College (CBC) and Evangel University (EU), all owned and operated by the General Council of the Assemblies of God.

“I am extremely pleased with the board’s selection of Dr. Taylor to lead this consolidated university,” states Wood.  “I believe she is exactly what is needed to continue the process of consolidation and lead Evangel University forward as a strong, Pentecostal institution of higher learning.” 

The vote on a secret ballot to elect Dr. Taylor was unanimous.

Dr. Taylor began serving as acting president of Vanguard in January 2009 and was named as its ninth president in July 2009.  Prior to that, she was provost/vice president of academic affairs at Vanguard since 2007.  Before joining Vanguard, Dr. Taylor served for seven years as the vice provost for undergraduate education at Biola University, 12 years in executive management at Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Princeton, New Jersey, and has taught at various higher educational institutions at both the undergraduate and graduate school levels.

“Vanguard is a different university today than it was when President Taylor stepped up to lead it,” says David Oddo, chair of the Board of Trustees at Vanguard.  “Under her direction, Vanguard University has been transformed from a school in financial crisis and declining enrollment into an institution poised to exit its state of financial exigency and with record enrollments.”

An alumna of both Evangel University and the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Dr. Taylor also took classes at Central Bible College.  She holds a doctorate from Florida State University and received the Orange County Business Journal Women in Business Award in 2011 and was recognized two years running as one of top 20 professional women to watch in Orange County.   She has also served as a reviewer with Vanguard’s regional accrediting association (WASC) and in various roles with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities for their study abroad programs and leadership development institutes.

She received the Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2012 from Evangel University.  She is an ordained Assemblies of God minister.

She will begin her tenure July 2013 as president-elect and chief executive officer of the school.  Dr. Robert Spence, who has served as president of Evangel has announced his intentions to take a sabbatical during the first semester of the 2013-2014 school year.  He will be the commencement speaker for 2014, completing 40 years of service as president.

“Dr. Spence leaves a rich legacy at Evangel University,” states Wood.  He has taken the campus from a group of scrappy government barracks to a beautiful campus of permanent buildings.  In addition, he has impacted thousands of students through his leadership and ministry.  His efforts the past two years as we’ve moved toward consolidation have been vital.  We couldn’t have done it without his help.”

Wood also expressed great appreciation to Presidents Byron Klaus (AGTS) and Gary Denbow (CBC) for their efforts.  “All of these men have a great passion for young people and for Christian higher education,” he said.

Evangel Consolidation Update

Evangel University is pleased to anticipate its consolidation with the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and Central Bible College beginning with the fall 2013 semester, pending approval of accrediting bodies. For information on the consolidation progress, please visit http://ag.org/top/consolidation/

View the original article here

Read More