Recognizing the powerful difference the arts can make in a community, in the classroom and in the lives of young people, Wittenberg University and The Springfield Museum of Art have entered into an agreement enabling Wittenberg to purchase the museum facility located at 107 Cliff Park Road.

For the fourth time in less than a decade, a Wittenberg student has been awarded a prestigious Fund for Theological Education (FTE) Undergraduate Fellowship. Natasha Elliott ’11 is the latest recipient of this competitive scholarship, which recognizes students who have gifts for leadership and who are exploring ministry as a vocation.

Rick Fairbanks, provost, vice president of academic affairs and dean of the college at Northland College in Ashland, Wis., has been named the new provost at Wittenberg. Fairbanks will begin his duties Aug. 1.

Recognized as one of America’s foremost landscape artists, Robert Kipniss ’52 started painting and drawing at age 3. By 16, he had enrolled in a class at the Art Students League, where the teacher recognized his artistic eye and allowed him to draw on his own in the facility’s back gallery. Four years later, Kipniss placed second in a New York competition, which resulted in a one-man show. From there, his journey began, one filled with challenge, enlightenment and determination, and one that members of the Wittenberg and Springfield communities had the opportunity to hear during his Witt Series sponsored Visual Artist Residency and gallery talk, this spring.

As part of a summer course studying the historical character of Sarajevo, its multi-cultural heritage and its varied history during the Ottoman Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire and Communist Yugoslavia, seven students joined Professor of Sociology Keith Doubt and Keil Professor of Psychology Josephine Wilson on a trip to Sarajevo, May 20-28, to learn more about how people in the city survived a vicious, sadistic siege from 1992-95.

Inf luenced by programs at Texas Christian and Southern Methodist universities, Wittenberg joined the national effort to establish the first Living Learning program on its campus from 1973-1981. Letters were mailed to all 1973-74 incoming freshmen inviting them to participate in the inaugural program. Seventy students accepted and were quickly divided into four sections with men housed in Myers and North Hall and women in South Hall. During fall term, freshman English classes, taught by professors Ron Cummings, Art Faber, Paul Miller and Bob Parker, were held in the residence halls.

Established in 2007 with 11 charter members, Wittenberg’s Rotaract Club has more than tripled in size in just three years while undertaking ambitious community service projects and rapidly expanding an innovative mentoring program that has successfully connected a wide variety of local professionals with Wittenberg students.

The Undergraduate College and University Section of the National Communication Association (NCA) has announced that Wittenberg’s Department of Communication not only will receive the organization’s top honor, the Rex Mix Program of Excellence Award, but it will also be the sole department recognized at the NCA Convention in San Francisco, Nov. 14-17.

With natural light entering on every level and top-notch technology throughout the restored facility, Blair Hall will provide a state-of-the-art experience for students in Wittenberg’s nationally accredited teacher-training program.

Joining the 419 members of the Class of 2010 in being recognized during Wittenberg’s 165th Commencement Exercises were international AIDS activist and keynote speaker Zackie Achmat; Professor Emeritus of English and General Secretary Emeritus of the University Richard Veler ’58;…