“Radaker’s Thoreau is an intellectual treat of the first order,” said Dr. George Frein, Director of the National Chautauqua Tour. “Weaving together Thoreau’s best known lines with sentences from his journals and more obscure works, Kevin’s monologue is compelling, and his in-character answers to audience questions afterward are so authentic and aptly chosen that people are persuaded they are visiting and thinking along with Thoreau himself.”

Radaker has presented his portrayal of Thoreau at universities, colleges, libraries, museums and state and national parks over 300 times in 23 states since 1991. Additionally, his portrayal of Thoreau has been a part of summer Chautauqua tours in the Great Plains states (1991-1993), Missouri and Illinois (1997,1998), Massachusetts (1998), the Carolinas and New Hampshire (2001), Oklahoma (2003), and Maryland (2004).

In addition to his performances, Radaker has presented numerous papers on Thoreau at academic conferences, and he has published articles on Thoreau, Annie Dillard, and Wendell Berry in encyclopedias and academic journals.

Radaker teaches courses in American Literature, Modern Drama, Environmentalism in American Culture, American Literature and American Painting, and upper-division writing.

To learn more about Dr. Kevin Radaker’s dramatic portrayal of Thoreau, visit his Web site at www.thoreaulive.com.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Britt was one of 33 selected participants from an applicant pool of over 250 other Indiana collegiate women. Finalists were chosen for their communication skills, poise, academic performance and community and volunteer involvement.

Britt explained why she decided to take part in the program, which helps promote the Indy 500 race. “I grew up five miles from the track. The race has always been a part of my life, and I’ve always been interested in the tradition of the 500.”

Britt is involved in several campus and community service activities. This past year, she was a resident assistant in Martin Hall this year. She is a fellow in the Center for Public Service, and has volunteered with After School Fun. Additionally, has traveled to Honduras with Tri-S and Ghana with her church.

Through the program, Britt has taken part in various community outreach and service opportunities. She has read books to elementary school classes, helped with an opening day youth softball event, led tours of the track, helped with a mini-marathon and other events.

Britt is majoring in Biology and Teach Science major and minoring in Chemistry.

—David Hynds is the Web Content Specialist for Anderson University.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Known by the surname of Spaulding upon arriving at AU by way of rural Tri-Valley High School near Dresden, Ohio, in the fall of 1986, Packard exited in 1990 as the women’s basketball program’s career leader in points (1,275) and rebounds (723).

While at AU, she also ran track, was sports editor of the yearbook and served on the newspaper staff. Her crowning moment, literally, came in 1989, when she was named her school’s Homecoming queen.

Busy, busy.

Now 39, Packard has never shied away from a challenge or a heavy workload.

Earlier this week, she inherited both by being named the new women’s basketball coach at Ball State University, succeeding Tracy Roller, who resigned due to personal reasons in April after seven seasons at the helm.

It’s been a week since Packard received her career-altering telephone call from BSU athletics director Tom Collins. The memory, however, is fresh.

“You’re always hesitant to take that call, but obviously you take that call,” Packard remembered. “I was thrilled, but I was calm.”

Most recently a resident of Fort Collins, Colo., with her husband, Rich, an electrical engineer and a 1988 AU graduate, and sons Derek, 13, and Evan, 9, Packard embraces a return to the Midwest.

The Ball State program, she feels, has all the components necessary to continue blossoming into something special.

“Certainly, when you evaluate the process you dig into all of that,” said Packard, who’ll inherit a program returning five of its top six scorers from the 2007-08 season.

“It was a program that had some very, very good pieces already in it. Ball State has strong fan support, and it’s located where you can recruit Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Kentucky very well.”

The past two years, Packard had worked for Triple Crown Sports, which attempted to bring a WNBA expansion franchise to Colorado. Prior to that, she coached the Colorado Chill of the National Women’s Basketball League, which on Packard’s watch won the league title in 2005 and 2006.

Two stints as a Colorado State University women’s assistant coach in the 1990s enabled Packard to learn from two of the best in the business in current Arkansas coach Tom Collen and Greg Williams, now at Rice.

The 60-year-old Williams, in particular, seems to have had the greatest influence on Packard.

“I worked for him first, and he had an amazing ability to evaluate talent and assess character,” Packard said. “Greg is still coaching and has weathered a lot of situations.”

Packard weathered one Monday when she came face-to-face with the players she’ll be coaching at Ball State in 2008-09.

Talk about pregame jitters.

“I think they were nervous and cautious, and they had every right to be,” she said. “But it was a good time. The start of something I believe will be special.”

—By Mike Beas is a reporter for the Herald Bulletin in Anderson. Story republished with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Hiatt batted .388 with seven doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 38 RBI and 54 hits. He led the team in home runs, RBI and hits.

Young batted .341 with eight doubles, six triples, seven home runs, 33 runs scored, 34 RBI and nine stolen bases.

Lantz finished at .336 with eight doubles, two triples, six home runs, 33 RBI and 36 runs scored.

Eric Smith, Stephen Jones and Chris Jarrett were named to the Second Team. Smith batted .367 with seven doubles, two triples, three home runs, 22 RBI and a team-high 39 runs scored. On the mound, he was 6-3 with a 5.45 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 74 innings pitched.

Jones batted .368 with a team-best 12 doubles to go with three triples, three home runs and a team-high 38 RBI. Jarrett batted .333 with nine doubles, a team-high eight triples, three home runs, 26 RBI and a team-best 13 stolen bases.

Honorable mention selections were Brad Schnepp and Kyle Dillon. Schnepp hit a team-high .486 with two doubles, a triple, a home run and 10 RBI. On the mound, he was 3-3 with a 4.18 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 56 innings pitched. Dillon was 5-2 with a 4.80 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched.

AU finished the season 24-14 overall and 14-8 in the HCAC.

Kemple’s time of 35:57 was 22 seconds faster than the previous record, held by Monica Hostetler. Her previous best time was 36:36 earlier in the year and her current mark is one of the top eight times in the country and automatically qualifies her for the national meet.

The 1,600 relay team of Mark Price, Nic Huffman, Tony Pryor and Garrett Zick ran a season-best time of 3:18 at North Central, which is just two seconds off a national provisional qualifying time.

Other competitors for the Ravens were Kyle Carey in the 1,500 (4:01) and Jenny Loerop in the 3,000 steeplechase (12:20).

Summer school students also have the opportunity to select offerings such as reading courses of assigned textbooks, journals and research documents; flexible online study; tutorial courses which regularly meet with an arranged instructor; or special Tri-S courses that provide academic credit through study abroad.

“Summer school is an opportunity for students to get ahead or catch up on graduation requirements. The rate per credit hour is approximately 2/3 less traditional tuition during the regular school year,” said Aleza Beverly, Dean of the School of Adult Learning. “For students who are able to stay in the area during the summer, there are three- and four- week face-to-face classes in the day and evening with tutorial options. For those going home or a studying abroad, an online course or reading independent study course is a good option. These options make summer school attractive and affordable.”

Registration continues until the first day of each scheduled class. View the Schedule of Undergraduate Classes [PDF] for the summer of 2008. Tuition for summer school at AU in2008 is $310 per semester hour. All current AU students enrolled in the spring semester are automatically admitted for Summer School. New and former students wishing to enroll should contact the AU Admissions Department at 1-800-428-6414.

For further information and details about Summer School 2008, please contact Aleza Beverly, Dean of the School of Adult Learning and director of Summer School, at 765-641-4251.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

In high school, her older brother started a program to give meals to the homeless, so Allen helped with that and other social projects. Since she started at Anderson University, she has gone on several mission trips within the United States, and one to Nairobi, Kenya.

Today, Allen will be one of the 640 students to graduate from Anderson University.

But shortly after that, she will leave on her next adventure: an 11-month internship in Ethiopia.

“I think when I have some time to sit down and think about it, there will be some fears, especially with leaving everyone here, but right now, I’m very excited and I’m awaiting what will come,” the 22-year-old said.

Allen, who calls Lexington, Ky., home, said she had learned a lot of skills during her four years at AU that she could bring with her when she goes to Africa.

Allen will work for Remember the Poorest Community, a group started by an evangelical church in Ethiopia. As a project manager for RPC, Allen will write for the newsletter of the organization, as well as work on site with women and children on the street.

“Part of what I’ll be doing in Ethiopia is writing stories of women and children that the organization helps,” she said.

Before Allen goes off to Africa, she will spend two weeks in Costa Rica with a social organization at AU.

“We’ll be helping to do some painting work at a homeless shelter,” she said.

While Allen is excited to graduate, she said she would miss some aspects of college.

“There are parts of it I’ll miss a lot,” she said. “I’m glad to not have papers or tests, but I’ll miss the people. I’ll miss the community we’ve developed. I’ll miss the activities provided for us, all the things to do in the community and on campus.”

—Jessica Kerman is a reporter for the Herald Bulletin in Anderson. Story republished with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Thousands of people still hustled to find their seats in Ward Fieldhouse as the color guard presented the flags to begin the ceremony.

VIEW PHOTOS OF GRADUATION ON FLICKR

Friends and family members of all ages, dressed in all kinds of attire, sat among each other for the joyous day—to celebrate the graduation of the university’s class of 2008.

The ceremony hasn’t changed much over the years, said sisters Nicole Fischer, 26, and Kate Lintondo, 31.

The two women sat with their grandparents in the audience as their mother, Katrinna Fischer, 49, received her master’s degree in teaching.

Katrinna Fischer teaches at Eastside Elementary School in Anderson. Her family has sat through several commencement ceremonies at Anderson University as other family members have graduated: Nicole; Kate; Kate’s husband; and Katrinna.

“We just like education,” said Nicole, who is now in law school.

Katrinna Fischer earned her bachelor’s degree from Anderson University not too long before she started the graduate program. Next year, she’ll start at Ball State University to earn her doctorate.

“She’s excited,” Kate Lintondo said. “She’s looking forward to it.”

All of the graduates, and their teachers, seemed excited for the future.

Commencement speaker James T. Morris, who was given an honorary doctor of law degree, said he was told this group of students was the most prepared class for public service from the university.

“The world is eager for you to make your mark, to do what you can,” he said.

Morris, executive director for the United Nations World Food Programme, talked about Myanmar and the world’s efforts to help the country, which was recently hit with a disastrous cyclone. He also spoke about efforts to eradicate world hunger and help the children of the world.

“Spending time on a team of people, seeking a common cause for a common good, that is the most rewarding experience that a human being can have,” Morris said. “This is a Christian university. This is a university with global outreach. … The practical application of our faith, whether you’re Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist, brings us together in a common ground.”

Coming together is how the world will rid itself of hunger, Morris said.

“You never feel so good about yourself with someone else working for someone else,” he said. “Leadership and being an effective person is about seeing your calling in its biggest context.”

The joyous occasion ended as most do—some were laughing and some were crying, but all were ready to go on to another adventure.

—Jessica Kerman is a reporter for the Herald Bulletin in Anderson. Story republished with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

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Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology claimed the Commissioner’s Cup, as the Engineers amassed a total of 103 points. Anderson was second with a total of 93.5 points, followed by Franklin College with 91.5 points and Manchester College with 84.5 points.

Anderson won the 2006-07 Commissioner’s Cup trophy, edging Rose-Hulman by one-half point in the final standings.

“The overall success of our intercollegiate athletic program can be directly attributed to the commitment, dedication and hard work put forth on a daily basis by our coaches and student-athletes,” said Michael Zapolski, Anderson University’s Director of Athletics. “I am constantly amazed by the overall body of work registered by our programs, particularly when you consider the competitiveness of the recruiting environment. Anderson University is blessed to be represented by coaches and student-athletes who value the experience of participating in intercollegiate athletics.”

Franklin and Rose-Hulman shared the HCAC’s Men’s All-Sports trophy, as both schools accumulated 53.5 points. Anderson placed third with 46.5 points. Manchester earned the Women’s All-Sports award with 51 points. Rose-Hulman was second with 49.5 points while Anderson placed third with 47 points.

The men’s cross country program finished third at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional and advanced to the NCAA Championships as a team for the second time in the last three seasons.

In addition to the four conference championships, the men’s basketball and men’s track and field teams finished second in the league standings, while the men’s golf and women’s volleyball programs placed third.

The men’s basketball program showed the biggest improvement in 2007-08, posting a 10-6 mark in league play and finishing in a three-way tie for second place in the league standings after finishing last in 2006-07. After finishing fourth in the final conference standings in 2006-07, the women’s basketball team notched a 12-4 conference mark this year and shared the regular season league title with Manchester.

Marcie Taylor was tabbed the HCAC’s 2007-08 “Coach of the Year” for women’s basketball, while Scott Wilson earned similar recognition for men and women’s cross country and women’s track and field.

In the sports of men’s and women’s cross country, seniors Sean Hudson and Gwen Kemple earned “Most Outstanding Runner” honors at the conference championship, while Kemple and senior Amanda Nagy were tabbed the “Co-Most Valuable Track” performers at the recent HCAC Championships. Junior Kayla Martin was named the HCAC’s “Most Valuable Player” for women’s basketball, while senior Denny Kimmel was the league’s “Co-Special Teams Player of the Year” in football.