Beginning Piano Class for Elementary Age Students, grades K-6, offers first piano lessons in a small group setting to learn to read music and musical notation, find keyboard landmarks and play rhythms. Students will learn to play the piano in Wittenberg’s state-of-the-art piano lab. Classes will meet from 5-5:45 p.m. every Monday from June 18 through July 30 in room 301 Krieg Hall, with Tonya Reynolds providing instruction. Textbook for the class is Bastien Basic Piano Primer Book (pink – $6.95). The cost is $77 for six classes.

Start-Up Piano Class for Ages 12 through Adults offers two opportunities for students to learn to play piano, or to resume lessons after several years, with small group instruction on how to read music, musical notation and rhythms in Wittenberg’s state-of-the-art piano lab. Students have the choice of attending classes on Wednesdays or Fridays from 7-7:45 p.m. All classes meet in room 301 Krieg Hall. Wednesday sessions run from June 6 through Aug. 1, and the Friday classes run from June 8 through Aug. 3 with Jack McPeek providing instruction. Textbook for the class is The Older Beginner Piano Course WP 32, by James Bastien. The cost is $100 for eight classes.

Voice Class to work on vocal skills teaches students to warm up, use proper diction and breathing to perform songs chosen by the teacher and the student. Two identical classes are offered for different age groups in June and may continue by the month. School age children meet from 3:30-4:30 p.m. and high school students and adults meet from 6-7 p.m. on Tuesdays from June 5-26, in room 402 Krieg Hall with Nancy Davis providing instruction. The cost is $68 for four classes.

Songwriting or Singer/Songwriter Composition Classes teaches the way to apply the rules of music without depending on a formula to portray your ideas and addresses both music and lyrics. Each student needs a blank manuscript book. Two identical classes will be held for middle school students through adults. One class meets from 12-1 p.m. Tuesdays from June 5-26, and the second option is from 5-6 p.m. Thursdays from June 7-28. All classes will be held in room 303 Krieg all with Janet Ogg providing instruction. The cost is $68 for four weeks.

Snare Drum Class provides an introduction to reading basic notation and students will discover the importance of counting and experience the feeling of rhythm as they learn how to dismantle and re-assemble their drum with regard to proper tension and tuning. Students need to have their own instrument with stand and sticks. Two identical classes will be offered, the first from 1:15-2:15 p.m. Tuesdays, June 5-26, and the second from 6:10-7:10 p.m. Thursday, June 7-28. Classes will be held in room 303 Krieg Hall and continued monthly in the summer. Cost is $68 for four classes.

Beginning Guitar Class teaches students to learn how to play the guitar by the method of reading music. Students will listen to each other and learn to execute notes, rhythm and harmony. Each student needs to bring an instrument and a blank manuscript book to class. Two identical classes are offered with Janet Ogg instructing – one from 2:30-3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays from June 5-26 and one from 7:20-8:20 p.m. on Thursdays from .June 7-26 in room 303 Krieg Hall. The cost for four classes is $68, and classes will be continued monthly in the summer.

In addition, private lessons are available in piano, organ, strings (including guitar and lute), wind instruments, voice, computer composition, percussion, Suzuki violin and piano. For complete information go to www.wittenberg.edu/sce, click on Center for Musical Development.

For more information or to register for classes, call the CMD office at 937-327-7050 or contact CMD Coordinator Nancy Davis by email at ndavis@wittenberg.edu. Space is limited, so those interested are encouraged to pre-register.

Written By: Phyllis Eberts

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Jennifer Vanica '76

Springfield, Ohio — Encouraged to “make the world a better place to live,” members of Wittenberg University’s Class of 2012 celebrated their collegiate experience in front of a standing-room-only crowd on a picture-perfect afternoon in idyllic Commencement Hollow.

University President Mark H. Erickson led a celebration of the 410 members of the Class of 2012, paying tribute to a graduating class that included his own son, David. He also welcomed three distinguished guests in attendance, the 2012 Commencement speaker and leader in community change Jennifer Vanica, class of 1976, philanthropist Virginia Ellis Franta, class of 1936, and retired publshing industry leader Peggy Fox, class of 1967. Vanica and Fox both received an honorary doctor of humane letters, while Franta received the university’s highest non-academic award, the Wittenberg Medal of Honor.

Wittenberg’s Class of 2012 included 19 “non-traditional” students from Wittenberg’s School of Community Education, undergraduate students from 30 different states and seven countries outside of the United States. Undergraduate degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Science were awarded, in addition to five Master of Arts in Education degrees. A total of 30 different majors, spanning the alphabet from accounting to theatre and dance, were awarded.

Jenna Montali, Class President

Latin honors were distributed to 147 of the graduates in recognition of their exceptional academic pursuits. Fifty of them were designated cum laude (3.5-3.69 grade point average), 34 magna cum laude (3.7-3.79) and 63 summa cum laude (3.8-4.0).

Vanica, former president and CEO of the Jacobs Family Foundation and Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, has committed her life to building partnerships that advance innovative solutions for comprehensive, sustainable community change. Her experiences as a Wittenberg student played a significant role in her life decisions, and she implored the new graduates to follow their hearts as she did.

After noting that famed baseball player Babe Ruth struck out an astonishing 1,330 times while setting a longstanding home-run record during his major league career, Vanica said, “You’ve got to swing for the fences, but when you do that, you’re going to strike out sometimes. But you have to take those chances.”

She applied that advice during her professional career as she worked to rehabilitate blighted areas of San Diego, Calif. She told the graduates to strive for success without fear because “failure is not a destination, it is a moment in time.”

Vanica praised the liberal arts education she received at Wittenberg, noting that the skills acquired will allow the graduates to “step into a whole new place” as she once did. She went from being an English major afforded the opportunity to study at Wittenberg in large part thanks to a generous gift from a high school teacher to a community change agent in one of the poorest neighborhoods in California. Her education allowed her to “work across disciplines.”

Ethan Barr, class of 2012.

Prior to Vanica’s address, Senior Class President Jenna Montali shared memories of the class’ four years on campus as she discussed how the traditions at Wittenberg work into all facets of the college experience. Quoting classmate Rachel Lee, who was part of a special Class of 2012 video posted on the university website, Montali said, “there is no place like home, and Wittenberg is home.”

“We’ve made friendships that will last a lifetime,” Montali said. “Now we are a part of that tradition, connected by one common thread.”

Presiding over his seventh and final Commencement Exercises, Erickson encouraged the graduates to remember the university’s motto, ‘Having light we pass it on to others,’ and to “take time take today to ponder it and what it means in your life. Having light is all about finding your passion, your calling. I encourage you as I have throughout the last four years to find what you love and throw yourself into it. If you do that, work is not work. Do what you love, and the rest will follow.”

Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photos By: Erin Pence

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The stage is set for the next set of graduates to take their places in picturesque Commencement Hollow.

Springfield, Ohio — Wittenberg University’s 167th Commencement exercises will take place Saturday, May 12, in picturesque Commencement Hollow, where members of the university community will celebrate scholarship with 410 degree candidates slated to cross the stage.

The Myers Hall bell will toll at multiple times Saturday morning to notify the campus that the ceremony will be held in its intended outdoor location at the scheduled time of 11:30 a.m. If the bell does not ring, that will be a signal that the ceremony will take place in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) Center, with doors scheduled to open at 10 a.m. Guests should be seated at either venue no later than 11 a.m.

If the ceremony is moved to the HPER Center, doors to Pam Evans Smith Arena will close at 11:15 a.m. to allow for movement of the academic procession. No one will be permitted to enter the arena after the doors have closed. Guests without tickets are welcomed and encouraged to view the ceremony via a video broadcast transmitted to classrooms throughout Hollenbeck Hall.

Special parking and seating have been arranged for physically disabled guests. For Commencement exercises held outdoors, physically disabled guests may enter campus before 10 a.m. through the drive on North Plum Street. A Wittenberg security officer will be at the driveway entrance to give instructions for parking and seating. In the event the exercises are held indoors, physically disabled guests may be dropped off in front of the HPER Center. Because of limited space in the HPER Center, seating is at a premium, so disabled guests may be seated with only one friend or family member.

Those scheduled for recognition during the Commencement ceremony include 19 “non-traditional” students from the School of Community Education and international students from China, Jamaica, Nepal, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania and Viet Nam. The Class of 2012 is comprised of 259 females and 151 males, with biology, business, communication, education, English, political science and psychology representing the most popular majors.

Thirty states and the aforementioned seven countries outside of the United States are represented within the graduating class. Undergraduate degrees to be awarded are Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Science, in addition to Master of Arts in Education. Three students in the class have earned two degrees during their collegiate career at Wittenberg.

A total of 147 graduates will earn Latin honors in recognition of their exceptional academic pursuits. Fifty of them will be designated cum laude (3.5-3.69 grade point average), 34 will graduate magna cum laude (3.7-3.79) and 63 will graduate summa cum laude (3.8-4.0), including a phenomenal six students who hold perfect 4.0 grade point averages:

• John Meszaros of Hartville, Ohio
• Melanie Muszelik of Reisterstown, Md.
• Nathan Peeters of Okemos, Mich.
• Kayla Potter of Chillicothe, Ohio
• Danielle Walerius of Loveland, Ohio
• Katherine Winters of University Heights, Ohio

The 2012 Commencement speaker is Jennifer Vanica, former president and CEO of the Jacobs Family Foundation and Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation and a 1976 Wittenberg alumna. Now a community change consultant, Vanica is a leader in bridging disciplines – from philanthropy to smart growth to social enterprise – and building partnerships that advance innovative solutions for comprehensive, sustainable community change.

Vanica is one of three individuals receiving honorary degrees during Wittenberg’s 2012 Commencement Exercises. She will be joined on the stage by philanthropist Virginia Ellis Franta, Wittenberg class of 1936, and Peggy Fox, Wittenberg class of 1967 who is a retired president and publisher of New Directions Publishing Corporation.

Franta has been described as the “angel of the chemistry department” in recognition of her annual support for student and faculty research. She has volunteered in several capacities with the Chi Omega Alumni Association, the Wilmington (Del.) Panhellenic Association and the Girl Scouts of America. She will receive the university’s highest non-academic recognition, the Wittenberg Medal of Honor.

During her career at New Directions, Fox brought experimental literature to new readers and new writers for more than two decades. Her work enhanced collective understanding as she helped to bring new ideas, globalism, compassion and humility to today’s literature. She will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters.

Written By: Ryan Maurer

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Virginia Franta

Springfield, Ohio — As anticipation grows for the 410 students set to graduate on Saturday, two other distinguished guests are now making their way to Wittenberg to be recognized along with the class of 2012. Philanthropist Virginia Ellis Franta, Wittenberg class of 1936, and Peggy Fox, Wittenberg class of 1967 and retired president and publisher of New Directions Publishing Corporation, will each be honored during the ceremony.

Described by chemistry faculty as the “angel of the chemistry department,” Franta has provided annual support for student and faculty research for decades. Believing that students deserve the best teaching and equipment to succeed, Franta has remained continually engaged with the program, including being regularly informed about the accomplishments and plans of graduating chemistry majors. During her own years on campus, Franta actively engaged in music, Greek life and student government. Upon graduation, she had the opportunity to study biochemistry at the University of Gottingen, Germany, from 1938-39, and a year later married her husband, William.

In keeping with Wittenberg’s motto, “Having light we pass it on to others,” Franta has passed on her light in service to others, including volunteering in several capacities with the Chi Omega Alumni Association, the Wilmington (Delaware) Panhellenic Association and the Girl Scouts of America. During Saturday’s ceremony, she will receive the university’s highest non-academic recognition, the Wittenberg Medal of Honor.

Peggy Fox

For decades, Fox has brought experimental literature to new readers and new writers. Founded in 1936 by a 22-year-old Harvard sophomore named James Laughlin, New Directions became Fox’s home for more than 20 years. Advancing from associate editor to the top post at the company, Fox believed firmly in New Directions’ vision of being “a place where experimentalists could test their inventions by publication.” For Fox, her work enhanced collective understanding as she helped to bring new ideas, globalism, compassion and humility to today’s literature. Fox will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters at today’s ceremony.

Also receiving a honorary doctor of humane letters will be community change advocate Jennifer Vanica, Wittenberg class of 1976, and Commencement keynote speaker. Vanica, former president and CEO of the Jacobs Family Foundation and Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, has transformed the national conversation about community development while raising millions of dollars to change people’s lives.

Written By: Karen Gerboth

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Springfield, Ohio – As more than 400 Wittenberg University students cross the stage in picturesque Commencement Hollow during the 167th annual Commencement exercises on May 12, 2012, some of the loudest cheers will come from family and friends of “non-traditional” students who earn their degrees through the School of Community Education (SCE).

SCE students often juggle family commitments, jobs and other life challenges as they work toward graduation, and their stories are frequently moving examples of perseverance and dedication. In 2012, this includes several veterans who studied at Wittenberg after returning from their military service to complete their degrees, including Dustin Krouse, who is following a family tradition by completing his degree in education, Derek Thompson, who will earn a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry/molecular biology, and Joseph Panstingel, who will compete his degree in English after writing about his life in the Navy and even blessing the campus community with his musings in the student-run newspaper The Torch with a column titled “Cuppa Joe.”

Many SCE students transfer to Wittenberg from one or more schools, and some endure lengthy commutes to attend classes. Despite the obstacles, 14 of the 19 SCE graduates in 2012 have also gained membership in Wittenberg’s Eta Sigma chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda (ASL), the national adult honorary.

Among them is Deb Stooksberry, a longtime employee in Wittenberg’s Office of the Registrar, who has shown tremendous persistence en route to her degree in geography, an odyssey that began in 2005 and included numerous lunch hours spent in classes only offered during the day. Similarly, Chrissy Phelps will achieve a lifelong dream when she completes her degree in sociology. Her experience has even inspired her sister to enroll in the SCE program.

Each year, numerous SCE graduates earn Latin honors cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude, which signify students with grade point averages of 3.5 or higher while studying in a wide range of majors. Their stories are often similar to that of Joseph Fugate, who transferred from Clark State Community College in 2010.

As a child growing up in Springfield, Joe never thought he would be able to attend Wittenberg. But after completing and then going to work in an unfulfilling job, Fugate had a revelation.

“I never want to have to drag myself out of bed in the morning to go to work in a factory again,” he said. “I do not want to mindlessly go through my day because there is nothing to challenge me mentally, and I do not ever want to feel like my brain is slowly dying from ignorance.”

He decided to attend Wittenberg and major in geology. Fugate hasn’t simply attended classes – he has excelled academically, attaining a 3.97 grade point with just one semester completed with less than a perfect 4.0. He was inducted into membership in Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest and most prestigious of the national honorary societies, which is an unusual honor for “non-traditional” students, and his next goal is to complete graduate school and eventually be called “Dr. Fugate.”

Commencement is the final day of an academic journey for SCE graduates, the culmination of years of determination, diligence and dedication. And for that, much applause is warranted.

Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photo By: Erin Pence

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Springfield, Ohio –

Choir Director Adam Con chose to tour Germany in 2012 to coincide with the Luther 2017, 500 Years of Reformation, 2012 Year of Music, part of a 10-year celebration of the 500^th anniversary of Martin Luther’s 95 theses and the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Luther, a German monk, priest and professor of theology, is credited with sparking the Protestant Reformation after he posted the 95 Theses, a document that objected to indulgences in the Roman Catholic Church, on the door of All Saints Church in Wittenberg, Germany, on Oct. 31, 1517.

“Since this is a huge year in the celebration of Martin Luther, the Reformation and the music of Luther, it seemed like the perfect fit for connecting to the historical roots of our university,” said Con, Wittenberg’s director of choral activities and coordinator of music education. “It was 50 years ago that the Wittenberg Choir took its first trip to Europe, as well.

“The Wittenberg Choir has not traveled beyond the borders of the United States for many years, and international travel and singing abroad is an important component to a strong choral program at any university.”

Thirty-three members of the Wittenberg Choir are participating in the tour, which begins with a flight to Berlin on Sunday, May 13, and concludes with a flight home from Frankfurt on Tuesday, May 22. In between, the group will tour numerous historic, cultural and educational sites, including the new Holocaust Memorial Museum in Berlin and the Buchenwald Concentration Work Camp. As part of the Martin Luther focus, the choir will visit homes, churches and places of sanctuary where Luther lived and worked.

The choir’s eight choral performances will include concerts at the Kaiser-Wilhem-Gedachtnis-Kircke in Berlin, the Scholsskirche in Wittenberg where Luther posted his 95 Theses, the church of Johann Sebastian Bach, the Thomaskirche and the Reformierte Protestantische Kirches in Leipzig, Agustinerkirche in Erfurt, and St. Stephan Church in Mainz. In Merseberg, the choir will stay overnight with families and then sing at the Himmelfahrt (Ascension) Festival in the Neumartkirche/St. Thomae Kirche during the celebration worship service.

The Wittenberg Choir will open each concert with songs by a trio of Lutheran composers. The first song is Luther’s A Mighty Fortress in a new arrangement by Con, followed by Bach’s Komm Susser Tod and Richte Mich Gott by Felix Mendelssohn. The rest of the concert will contain a wide variety of sacred choral music by leading American composers, including three African American spirituals.

“As a young child I was told that if you could say one prayer, that ‘Thank you!’ would be all you need,” Con said. “There is so much for which to be grateful. I want to say thank you to the many donors and congregations who made this trip financially possible and to the Wittenberg administration, board of directors, advancement team, finance staff and greater university community. It really does take a village to make something of this magnitude a reality.”

Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photos By: Erin Pence

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A new day is dawning for members of the Class of 2012, beginning with the annual Baccalaureate service on May 11 in Weaver Chapel.

Springfield, Ohio – As Wittenberg University makes final preparations for its 167th Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 12, the graduating Class of 2012 will observe its Baccalaureate service at 2:15 p.m. Friday, May 11, in Weaver Chapel, with pre-service music starting at 2 p.m.

Planned in the Christian tradition, Matevia Endowed University Pastor Rachel Tune has coordinated the service with volunteers from the senior class, who have written prayers, selected scriptures, and will share music and reflections.

In planning the event, organizers reflected upon the tremendous amount of change over the last four years – in their own lives, at Wittenberg, and globally, including such landmark events as the first African American president, the Arab Spring and Wall Street protests. Not only does God go with the new graduates in their time of change and transition, but so too does Wittenberg, which has prepared them well and provided a foundation of learning and personal growth.

Speakers during the 2012 Baccalaureate service will stress the importance of relationships. Wittenberg is a place that develops the whole person, not only as individuals but also as compassionate and engaged members of a larger community.

Sam Bays, Vincent Harshaw, Sarah Watson, Hanna Franck-Larrson and Katharine Johnson will offer spiritual reflections on what Wittenberg has meant to them and God’s guidance at this stage in their lives.

An annual tradition includes lighting a memorial candle, in honor of loved ones who cannot be at graduation and in memory of loved ones who have died.  It will be introduced by Andrew Dolvin, and the psalm will be read by Jaclynn Garry. Adam Paine will offer a brief memorial to former Wittenberg Choir Director and University Organist Donald Busarow, who passed away in October.

The planning committee also selects the beneficiaries of the offering at the Baccalaureate service, introduced by Melanie Muszelik. Half of the offering will go to Wittenberg scholarships and the other half will be given evenly to local and global organizations in which students have been significantly involved, including Clark County Habitat for Humanity, Springfield Promise Neighborhood, BLOOM Africa and Church World Service, an international and interdenominational development agency.

William Herrmann, Ellen Lundie, Katherine Touzinsky and Matthew Smith will offer prayers. Readers include Asley Zkaib, Ben Johnson, Rachel Lee, Michael Cooper and Laura Aylward. Tune will deliver the homily.

Special music during the service will include Wittenberg’s a cappella musical groups Just Eve and Wittmen Crew, in addition to two selections by senior members of the Wittenberg Choir and Wittenberg Singers. Pre-service music will feature a guitar solo by Tyler Hall, a cello solo by Olivia Guetle, and a flute duet by Julia Smith and Kathryn McNeal. Trumpeters Kali Lawrence, Lauren Cengel and Allison Conklin will accompany Professor of Music Emerita and University Organist Trudy Faber for the hymns.

Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photo By: Erin Pence

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Springfield, Ohio

A participant in Wittenberg’s Community Engagement Scholarship Program, Bickel immediately embraced service opportunities in Springfield, beginning in 2008 with service at On-the-Rise, an after-school program aimed at educating youth about healthy habits and developing professional skills. She became a student coordinator in Wittenberg’s Community Service program as a sophomore, which led her to Project Jericho, a program that introduces incarcerated youth to the performing and visual arts.

For two years she served as a volunteer, before becoming an intern for the nationally recognized Clark County program.

“I began working a few hours a week in the juvenile detention center, writing poetry, playing music and doing art projects with incarcerated youth,” Bickel said. “Working with teens that are part of the court system was something completely new to me and quite a bit out of my comfort zone. Quickly, however, the youth proved to be caring, creative, yet still struggling individuals that always put meaning into my week.”

Project Jericho had just received funding for a “Drug Court Library” program to supply reading materials to the incarcerated youths. Drug Court is a specialized docket intended to help young people with drug and alcohol addictions get the help they need while they are on court probation.

“I was asked to run the Drug Court Library as part of my internship,” Bickel said. “This again, was something with which I wasn’t very comfortable. Having family members who have struggled with addiction, I wasn’t sure if this would be a good fit for me. I decided to give it a try, and to my surprise found a strong passion for these youth and their hardships.

“Every week, I plan writing activities or art projects and help the youth read the books and write book reports. I then give the reports to the probation officers and report to the judge on the youth’s progress in detention. I often see youth attaining sobriety and finally succeeding in school.  This really sparked my interest: if this program is changing the lives of so many teens, why aren’t all counties using it?”

Bickel learned from a judge that courts are still doing research to prove that it works. She decided to use her senior thesis opportunity to do her own research on this drug court program.

“I spent many hours collecting information for more than 50 drug court participants and running statistical tests to see if this program really does help youth, she said. “My results showed statistical significance. More than 90 percent of the youth who participate in the program have zero substance charges after their exit of the program.

“Understanding how this program works and how it doesn’t will hopefully help the program cater to the needs of the youth and hopefully show other counties that it is worth implementing for their teens.”

Bickel impressed everyone she worked with through Project Jericho.

“Ali’s inner beauty, strength of character and sensitivity to the world around her is rare,” said Beth Dixon, the Project Jericho coordinator at the Clark County Court. “She is humble, yet determined. She is an inspiring young woman, and I feel so fortunate to have met and worked alongside her.”

The Charles J. Ping Award was designed to recognize and honor undergraduate students’ outstanding leadership and contributions to community service on their campus and within their community. It recognizes the student’s effort to create an organization to lead and to involve others. Candidates must be nominated by their college or university president and show evidence of exemplary community service during each student’s undergraduate years.

Although outstanding community service of any kind will qualify, Ohio Campus Compact is especially interested in efforts that have connected service with academic study or designed programs with long-term community support.

“Through my experience with Project Jericho, I have grown more than I thought possible,” Bickel said. “I found a passion for adolescents and learned skills needed to work with them. I saw, first- hand, an organization touch the lives of so many wonderful individuals. I hope to one-day work for, if not start, a program just as great as Project Jericho.”

Written By: Phyllis Eberts
Photo By: Erin Pence

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Kristen Gibson (left) and Kristen Collier in the future collaborative workspace in the Thomas Library.

Springfield, Ohio – Wittenberg University’s Thomas Library recently received one of 17 Library Services and Technology Act minigrants awarded by the State Library of Ohio. The minigrants were made possible by a grant from the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Project Coordinator Kristen Gibson, reference librarian and assistant professor, submitted the grant proposal with support from the library staff and the staff of the Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Civic & Urban Engagement. The minigrant includes $15,672 in federal funding and a $5,224 local match for a total project amount of $20,896.

The money is earmarked for the development of a collaborative workspace in the library for use by both university students and the Springfield community. New flat-panel computer monitors will give users access to technology-enhanced workstations in order to view, design, research and develop collaborative projects using library resources. A Wittenberg user name and password will be needed to log in to the computers, but community groups can work with Wittenberg faculty or staff members to apply for temporary guest accounts.

Two work stations will be installed in existing study rooms on the third floor of Thomas Library and two will be installed on the main floor near the reference collection. The project, which is a collaborative effort between the library and the Hagen Center, also includes funding to replace two tables since attached lamps would interfere with the ability of multiple people to view the flat-panel monitors at the same time.

“I hope this project will facilitate knowledge sharing,” Gibson said. “We see a lot of small groups crowding around tiny laptop screens to view short videos and slideshows.

“The library’s research resources are gradually transitioning to include more digital resources. In order for our students to succeed in this new digital landscape, we need to provide collaborative spaces with the technology to facilitate sharing digital media. Furthermore, many of our students collaborate with community partners through service work or internships, and this project will create spaces to facilitate these partnerships between students and area professionals.”

The Thomas Library staff aims to have the project completed by the beginning of the fall 2012 semester so that evaluation of the project can take place during the 2012-2013 academic year. A final report will then be submitted to the State Library of Ohio.

Written By: Phyllis Eberts
Photo By: Erin Pence

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Un Mundo is located on the ground floor of Springfield's Heritage Center

Springfield, Ohio – Un Mundo Café, a ministry of t­he Children’s Rescue Center (CRC), presents its first-ever art gallery exhibition featuring the photography of Wittenberg University student Jessica Konczak, class of 2012 from Mansfield, Ohio, and alumna Kayla Snider, class of 2011. The show opens at 7 p.m. Friday, April 27, and will run for two months. Un Mundo Café is located in the Heritage Center, 117 S. Fountain Ave.

According to Meredith Berzins, class of 2011 and co-executive director of the CRC with Nikki Tighe, the evening is also the grand opening for the art gallery portion of Un Mundo. Exhibitions will change artists and media every two months, and some of the pieces shown will be available for purchase.

Konczak, a German/International Studies major, will graduate in May. During her sophomore year, she volunteered at the ARK through the CRC, and she plans to continue living in Springfield following graduation.

“I took an independent art study last semester in the area of photography,” Konczak said. “My goal was to capture the beauty of God’s creation throughout Wittenberg and Springfield from a new personal perspective – a perspective that attempts to look past the appearance of things and into the beautiful details of our Creator’s masterpiece.”

Snider, originally from Tennessee, graduated with a degree in art and has made her home in Springfield, where she works as a coordinator for Project Jericho. She will show a collection of photographs she made during her senior year.

“In my work, I strive to invite the viewer into my dream world via common dream themes,” Snider explained. “Because we all experience these themes (to an extent), when we strip them of overbearing context, we can more easily identify with each other’s dreams, and therefore, enhance our understanding of the core of our human nature that connects us all, and blurs the lines that divide us.”

Berzins recently enjoyed a star turn of her own. On Friday, April 20, she was one of seven Clark County “celebrities” who participated in the fourth annual Dancing with Clark County Celebrities fundraising event at the Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts and Conference Center in Springfield. The event raised nearly $20,000 for local charities, including the CRC.

Berzins was voted the winner of the event after she performed two dances with her partner.

Written By: Phyllis Eberts

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