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

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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.  

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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

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Passionate Pursuits: Craig Maslowsky “Building Provides a Meditative Outlet with Hands-on Learning Through Generations”

Passionate Pursuits: Craig Maslowsky “Building Provides a Meditative Outlet with Hands-on Learning Through Generations”

By Alicia Jacobs, Excelsior Life Staff --

The purpose of Excelsior Life’s Passionate Pursuits is to help shine a light on faculty and staff successfully balancing work, home and family – just like our students.

Learning can occur anywhere. Hands-on learning can be passed down from one generation to the next. Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing at Excelsior College, Craig Maslowsky feels education is important in your career and personal life. Growing up, he spent time with his father using tools in his workshop. Years later, Maslowsky learned the do-it-yourself skills he inherited from his dad had the ability to turn into a furniture building hobby with creative and meditative benefits.

Excelsior Life: Are building skills a family trait?
Maslowsky: My grandfather loved to build and had all sorts of woodworking tools from the 40’s, some of which I still have in my workshop today. My father was always working on projects around the house as well. I think seeing the satisfaction that goes along with building something for the family to enjoy was carried through the generations.

 

Excelsior Life: I understand you have built a variety of wood furniture items. How did you get started in building?
Maslowsky: It all started with building a vegetable planter for my wife (pictured above). I loved the fact that I could make it exactly the way I envisioned it (well almost). I added wheels, a special compartment for gardening tools, and stained it. As I tried new projects after that, I always included a new feature or technique to keep each piece unique and interesting. I especially enjoyed the satisfaction of giving the furniture to the person I made it for. I always use my own designs and think about the person I am making it for as I build it. It has really become a creative outlet and meditative process for me.

Excelsior Life: What is the most unique item you have built?
Maslowsky: An Ash coffee table. The plan evolved as I built it and I ended up using two stains to create a contrast that I think worked well.

Excelsior Life: Do you have a favorite piece of furniture you built?
Maslowsky: Besides the Ash coffee table, last year I built an Adirondack rocking chair for the son of one of my closest friends. He was born prematurely and it was a difficult time for the family. I was able to express my love and support for him and the family through building of the chair. I personalized it by carving his initials into the wood. A project like that one takes dozens of hours and gives you time to process the situation and the emotions surrounding it. It gives a special meaning to the end product that cannot be duplicated.

Excelsior Life: If someone was looking to pursue this hobby, what would you recommend to get started?
Maslowsky: Get a table saw and a drill. As far as wood, I started with pine because it is a soft wood and less expensive than hard woods. If you mess up, you can always start over and it won’t break the bank. Start with easy designs and keep your expectations realistic. There are a ton of resources on YouTube if you want to learn the basics or build upon your skills.
Most important for me is accepting that the plans change as they go. The outcome isn’t always what you expected it to be, but that is what makes each piece unique. Just have fun and watch those fingers!

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Fans follow the Phoenix through championship journey

Dozens of Elon fans came to Asheville to cheer on the men’s and women’s basketball teams as they advanced to the SoCon tournament semifinals.

Nancy Zarin (center)

***
The games had not started but the Elon fans who gathered at Scully’s in downtown Asheville, N.C., Saturday afternoon were already chanting.

“We are going to win,” said Wes Elingburg, chair of the Elon University Board of Trustees who together with wife, Cathy, made the trip to support the men’s basketball team as they took on the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. “It’s going to be a tough game tonight but I do think we’re going to prevail.”

He was not disappointed.

The Phoenix defeated the Spartans 68-61 in a close match at the U.S. Cellular Center while the women’s team defeated Samford 70-60 at Kimmel Arena in nearby UNC-Asheville campus.

Like the Elingburgs, dozens of Elon students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends made the trip to cheer on both teams as they make their way to the Southern Conference Tournament finals.

President Emeritus Earl Danieley

The Elon section at the men's game could not have been complete without President Emeritus J. Earl Danieley who, in true fashion, waved his towel as fans chanted his name during the second half.

Sitting nearby was Nancy Zarin, an adjunct instructor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, who said she didn’t follow sports before she came to Elon in 2009. But after getting guard Sebastian Koch and forward Autumn Carter in her classes, she has become a consummate Phoenix fan.

“We didn’t miss a single (home) game for the men” this season, she said with a smile. She couldn’t stay for the weekend but hopes to watch from home the Phoenix in the championship game Monday night.

While that may be getting a bit ahead, most fans feel this could be the year when the Phoenix get a chance to compete in the NCAA tournament.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Wes Elingburg said. “I really think we are on the verge of doing something special.”

Amy Hendrickson '69 (center)

Amy Hendrickson ’69, who considers herself to be one of the top 10 Elon fans, has followed the basketball program at Elon for years. She said the program is definitely moving in the right direction.

“It’s been a dream season,” she said. “Every game, I’ve seen the players get closer and play more like a team.”

So what advice does she give the team this weekend?

“If you want it, go get it.”

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by Keren Rivas, Staff Last Updated - 3/9/2013

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Evangel Business Department scholarship fund grows through significant alumni contributions

Home  >  Featured News  >  Article: Evangel Business Department scholarship fund grows through significant alumni contributions

Daniel Coryell (left), of TLC Properties in Springfield, was one of the first to step up with a check in support of the Evangel University Business Department’s new endowed scholarship fund. Dan is a 2003 EU graduate. Receiving the check is Bernie Dana, chairman of Evangel’s Department of Business.

The Evangel University Department of Business has launched a campaign to build its endowment for scholarships, and response has been exceptional, according to Bernie Dana, chair of the department.

In August, Evangel’s Department of Business established a goal to raise $700,000 in pledges for endowed business scholarships, to be fully funded within five years.

“We have nearly reached that goal in the first few months,” says Dana. “We are thrilled with the response from the alumni and friends contacted so far.”

Named the “Legacy Fund,” the first phase of the campaign was to obtain commitments for 14 Legacy Partnership shares of $25,000 each. The $350,000 committed at this stage was to be leveraged as matching funds in a general campaign to obtain the rest of the goal throughout the next year.

Instead of 14 shares, however, Dana received commitments for 25 Legacy Partnership shares, totaling $625,000 from 17 individuals and one corporation. The corporation also pledged to cover up to $10,000 in general campaign cost. 

“As a result of our success in the first phase, we have expanded the campaign goal to $1 million,” says Dana.

The second phase (general campaign) was launched in mid-December with a mailing to alumni and friends of Evangel’s Department of Business.

“We are deeply grateful for the outstanding leadership that we have in all of our academic departments,” says Evangel’s President Robert H. Spence. “Bernie Dana is exemplifying the importance of fund raising being a campus-wide effort.

“The success of this effort can be attributed to the very positive relationship that his department enjoys with its alumni,” Spence added. “We believe that our other academic departments will be inspired by these results.”

Daniel Coryell, a 2003 Evangel graduate, was one of the first business alumni contacted.

“My faith-based business education at Evangel was excellent, and I’m excited about the new programs and direction of the department,” says Coryell.

Daniel Coryell, of TLC Properties in Springfield (seated left), was one of the first to step up in support of the Evangel University Business Department’s new endowed scholarship fund, and he brought the family business with him. Dan is a 2003 EU graduate, as is his twin brother David, standing behind him. Also shown are parents Carol and Sam Coryell (standing), President Robert H. Spence (seated center) and Bernie Dana, chair of Evangel’s Department of Business.

“I asked my family to join me in being Legacy Partners in this campaign to express our confidence in the future of Evangel’s business program,” he continued.

The Coryell’s are the owners and developers of TLC Properties in Springfield.

Started in 1988 by Sam and Carol Coryell, TLC Properties remains a family-owned and operated business, with 14 apartment communities and approximately 3,000 apartments.

Their sons, Sam M., Daniel and David have played vital roles in the development of the company. Daniel and David are both Evangel graduates.

TLC earned the Springfield Chamber of Commerce “Strube Small Business of the Year Award” in 2009. In addition, they were awarded the Springfield News-Leader “Best Property Management Company Award” in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Evangel’s Department of Business has comprehensive majors in Accounting, Business Education, Finance, Management and Marketing. The department added a Nonprofit Business & Social Enterprise major last fall.

“We also have seated and online degree-completion programs for working-adult students seeking to earn a Bachelor of Science in Management,” says Dana. “This degree can be completed while maintaining full-time employment.”

Evangel also offers a Master of Organizational Leadership program, which is an alternative MBA program with a focus on performance excellence. The MOL is offered in both a seated and a hybrid format.

For additional information, contact Bernie Dana at (417) 865-2815, ext. 8116.

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Passionate Pursuit: Win or Lose, Teaching Life Lessons through Lacrosse

By Mike Lesczinski, Excelsior Life News Staff—

Mark Michalisin, executive director for Business Development in the Center for Educational Measurement at Excelsior College, spends his days working to increase degree completion in the United States through credit by examination.

By night (and weekend) though, you’ll have a better chance finding the loving father of two on the field coaching youth lacrosse - working to not only make the youngsters better players today, but better men tomorrow.

Growing up Michalisin was a hockey and football player, so when his boys took up lacrosse it was a bit out of his comfort zone. But he did what most dedicated fathers would do – he took up the sport as well, volunteering as a coach and learning side by side with kids who looked up to him. Today, five years later, Michalisin continues to coach a recreational team while accepting the additional responsibility of directing the Boys Lacrosse Program for the Niskayuna (New York) Lacrosse Club.

Without playing lacrosse yourself growing up, what did you have to do to prepare to coach the sport?

Our local high school coach and modified coach have been great supporters of the club, and I have learned the game from them as well as from my oldest son who plays for their modified team. I am also thankful for my assistant coach who was an All American lax player in high school and went on to play at LeMoyne College. Lacrosse is very similar to hockey, so I was able to pick it up fairly quickly, but my two boys constantly remind me what I need to do.

Has anything ever happened that perhaps you weren't expecting and were unsure how to deal with it?

This past season, I had a player who was being bullied by a teammate in school, and he was afraid to come to practice because of this boy. After speaking with the parents, I had a decision to make. I will not tolerate bullies and I think a bully is a coward. I talked to the high school coach about this to get his thoughts and I made the decision to suspend the bully for a week. It was the right call and I held a team meeting for both players and parents to discuss my policy towards bullying, and was overwhelmed by the support I received from the parents, including the offending child's parents. At the end of the season, the boy who was being bullied thanked me for helping him out and at that point, I knew coaching was what I wanted to keep doing.

What has been your biggest challenge?

Besides coaching my son, which is by far the most challenging because you can't show favoritism and he has to listen to me long after the game is over, I think the biggest challenge is the balance between winning and teaching the kids how to lose with dignity and that if you want to be the best, you need to work hard in practice. The other challenge is dealing with parents of both your kids’ and the opposing team's parents. Parents can be extremely hard on kids and even harsher to an opposing team’s kid during a game, and I find myself reminding everyone that this is a kid's game, and it is for fun.

As a youth coach what is your most important responsibility?

To not only make sure the kids have fun on the field but also to learn to play the game the right way with sportsmanship and respect.

Sports are a great way to teach children a variety of life lessons: the importance of commitment; overcoming obstacles to achieve something greater; to be gracious in defeat does. What do you think lacrosse in particular can teach a young person?

The importance of teamwork, the ability to work with others towards a common goal, and to respect your coaches, teammates, opponents. I also try to make sure they become better young men both on and off the field.

What have you learned about yourself in the process?

It is an honor and privilege that these parents allow me to coach their kids. It is the most rewarding time for me to be on the field teaching these kids the right way to play as well as preparing them to act accordingly on and off the field as well. I stress that the lessons learned on the field carry over to the classroom as well as home. To see a kid's face when they score their first goal is priceless. I learned that I enjoy teaching and coaching and win or lose, I feel I am making a difference in their lives and they in mine.

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Accreditation renewed through 2022

The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) has renewed Fitchburg State University’s accreditation through 2022, describing a forward-looking institution, committed to excellence and investing in its facilities and community under the leadership of President Robert V. Antonucci and a committed board of trustees.

In a letter informing President Antonucci of its decision, NEASC Chair Richard L. Pattenaude commended Fitchburg State for a “participatory evaluation process that resulted in a candid, well-written self-study. We note with approval that widespread discussions among the campus community became the basis for the university’s mission statement, vision statement, core values, and the goals and objectives” of the university’s strategic plan.

“With an experienced leadership team, dedicated faculty and staff, and a supportive Board of Trustees, the university is positioned for future success.”

–Robert L. Pattenaude, NEASC chairman

“We are gratified to learn that the leadership of the president and his team has led to a renewed pride in and excitement about the institution and that a committed and qualified board of trustees and alumni firmly and enthusiastically support the university,” Pattenaude continued. “We share the judgment of the team that (Fitchburg State) faculty and staff are devoted to students’ needs and success and committed to the vision of the institution as a university.”

Off-campus and distance education programs are also overseen effectively, according to NEASC, and the group congratulated the university on its capital projects including the $57 million science center now under construction.

“With an experienced leadership team, dedicated faculty and staff, and a supportive Board of Trustees, the university is positioned for future success,” Pattenaude wrote.

“The NEASC accreditation review was a thorough and demanding process, in which we incorporated all campus constituencies to take a long, hard look at ourselves, chronicling our strengths as well as areas for improvement,” President Antonucci said. “I am proud that NEASC has awarded us their longest term of accreditation. I also appreciate their recognition of all that we do well, even as the report will guide us as we look to create an even stronger institution.”

The university will submit a five-year interim report in 2017 and NEASC has scheduled Fitchburg State’s next comprehensive evaluation for spring 2022.

The university underwent a comprehensive evaluation visit in March by a team representing NEASC’s Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. The site visit followed a year and a half of exhaustive self-study by university faculty, administrators, staff and students. The visiting team gathered evidence that the self-study was thorough and accurate.

The Commission on Institutions of Higher Education is one of seven accrediting commissions in the United States that provide institutional accreditation on a regional basis.  Accreditation is voluntary and applies to the institution as a whole.  The Commission, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, accredits approximately 240 institutions in the six-state New England region.

Fitchburg State University has been accredited by the Commission since 1953 and was last reviewed in 2002.  Its accreditation by the New England Association encompasses the entire institution.

Pattenaude’s entire letter to President Antonucci can be viewed on the university’s NEASC web page.

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