Grace’s track and field teams took home a pair of titles at the highly competitive Little State Championships over the weekend.

Freshman Nathan Brown overcame strong winds to win the long jump at 21-feet-4.25, and the men’s 4×400-meter relay team finished first by 0.01 seconds.

Lance Taylor, Seth Booker and Zach Speckman got the Lancers off to a fine start in the 4×400, and Donovan Graham raced to the finish line to win by a hair.

“It’s great to win two Little State titles. It’s been a long time since the Grace men have won events at this meet, and both were hard fought wins,” said Grace head coach Jeff Raymond. “Nathan [Brown] battled swirling winds that some other jumpers weren’t able to handle. The relay team ran a very solid race. Lance [Taylor], Seth [Booker] and Zach [Speckman] put us in position, then Donny [Graham] ran his best split of the season to win at the wire.”

Speckman and Booker went on to finish third and fourth place respectively in the 400 hurdles, and Taylor placed third in the 400.

Booker was also eighth in the 110 hurdles, and Graham was fifth in a close 800 race. Other places included Collin Chupp (eighth) in the 3000 steeplechase, Ben Drew (seventh) in the 1500, and the 4×800 relay team (fourth).

On the women’s side, Kaitlyn Mikel and Erin McPherson picked up fourth and fifth place respectively in the hammer throw, and Sabrina Whitaker tied for fifth place in the high jump.

Kaitlyn Faulkner was seventh in the triple jump, and Elaynne Speckman finished eighth in the 400 hurdles.

“The conditions were pretty tough this weekend with the cold and wind. Overall we competed hard and produced some season-best performances,” Raymond continued. “We have a couple of weeks until the conference meet, so we will keep trying to improve.”

Brittney Picket, Enrollment Counselor

Grace College recently hired a new enrollment counselor for the Department of Online Education. Brittney Pickett, 2010 graduate of Franklin College, will be assisting in the growth of the department and serving as the go-to person for potential students interested in the online programs.

The Department of Online Education exists to equip each student with the competency and skills to excel in his or her chosen career field.  Pickett will be joining Tim Ziebarth, director, and Laura Laborde, service specialist, in the Department of Online Education, a comprehensive office that exists to serve and assist students from initial interest to graduation and everything in between.  They currently offer several online programs, including a degree completion B.S. in Management (GOAL), Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master of Arts in Ministry Studies, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Education. Starting fall 2014, two new programs will be offered, a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management and Master of Science in Higher Education.

Brittney has worked in highly relational roles in the past, from fundraiser and art director (now volunteering) at the Boys and Girls Club of Nappanee to rehabilitation coordinator at the Bowen Center in Warsaw. During college she traveled to Africa as part of a service learning trip and returned there after college to work with Invisible Children, Beads for Life, and Building Tomorrow. Brittney and her husband Tanner live in Goshen and attend Nappanee Missionary Church. Brittney enjoys spending time with her three dogs, hiking, and anything to do with being outside. She is excited about her new job and about joining the Grace community.

Dr. Rick Roberts, program director of Biology and Health Professions

This coming fall, Grace College will be offering two new majors, a Health Science major with added pre-professional tracks and a Mathematics and Computing major.

The new Health Science major is specifically designed for students who aspire to provide health care for people through a variety of avenues. The major will provide specific concentrations of study for future medical doctors, chiropractors, dentists, veterinarians, physician’s assistants, pharmacists, physical or occupational therapists, optometrists or podiatrists. All concentrations within this major can be completed in three years.

This new major and the companion concentrations have been designed foremost to ensure students meet the admissions requirements of their desired graduate health science program, including both the required courses and preparation for the relevant standardized admissions exam.

“I am excited about the opportunities this new major will present for our medically oriented students to really focus on preparing for the career path God is calling them to follow, especially when they individualize their program with a non-science minor,” explained Dr. Rick Roberts, program director of Biology and Health Professions.

Rick Koontz, program director of Management of Information Systems

The Mathematics and Computing major will combine content from mathematics and computer science to create a new blended major. The major will appeal to two groups of students — those who want to study math and have an interest in technology, and those who want to study technology but are more interested in mathematics than business.

Interviews with the information systems managers from Winona Lake businesses Silveus Insurance and Paragon Medical revealed a demand for technology workers who are problem solvers and self-learners who can communicate well. Technology students who select this program will strengthen their ability to solve problems through additional math courses. Math students that select this program will broaden their career options by bringing their problem-solving skills to a secondary discipline.

“One of the program’s strengths is the balance between math and computer programming, which creates a broader set of career options after graduation,” explained Rick Koontz, program director of Management of Information Systems.

Graduate student Trent Crofts presents “A Theological Discourse on Biblical Priesthood”

On Wednesday, March 20, Grace students and faculty assembled at the Orthopaedic Capital Center for Communitas, a symposium hosted by the Office of Faith, Learning and Scholarship. An estimated 100 Grace students attended this third annual symposium, a event designed to showcase student creativity and research, give students experience in presenting their work in a professional atmosphere, and provide opportunities to explore the integration of faith and learning. This year’s event included 26 presentations from a variety of disciplines and majors, an art showing in Mount Memorial Gallery, and a special presentation by Remnant, Grace’s traveling theater group.

“It was a great afternoon of celebrating student scholarship as well as academic interactions with other students and faculty outside the classroom,” said Nate Bosch, Director of the Environmental Science Program at Grace.  “Communitas provides a professional experience for students, and the variety of disciplines represented during the afternoon was refreshing.”

Students could choose from a variety of topics and attend sessions with several related presentations. Session topics included Critical Issues in Apologetics and Theology; Explorations in Social History; Studies in Water Quality and the Local Environment; Language, Culture, and Relational Dynamics; Beating the Odds: Mathematics and Gaming Strategies; Myth, Language, and Custom as Cultural Markers; Perspectives on the Intersection of Politics and Society; and Original Works of Fiction. Presentation titles included ‘The Exodus and the Myth of Ancient Israel’ by English major Joy Martin, ‘The Long-lasting Effects of Communism: Child Welfare in Post-Communist Romania’ by Special Education major Nina Ferry, and ‘Perceptions and Perspectives of Latin American Culture’ by Languages major Will Gross.

“The overall caliber of the presentations has steadily increased each year,” said Dr. Jared Burkholder, coordinator of the event.  “The fact that we could expand it to include the senior art exhibits and have Remnant perform was a bonus.”

“The number and variety of presentations given is amazing, and I am impressed at the level of scholarship present among the undergrad student body,” explained Connor Park, a student presenter. “This year, for instance, I heard two great papers on the mathematics of gameplay, something I wouldn’t even have thought about in my normal routine as an English student.”

To see the full program as well as learn more about student scholarship at Grace, visit the Office of Faith, Learning, and Scholarship’s Student Scholarship page.

During the weekend of Feb. 15-16, Grace College hosted 133 high school students for its presidential scholarship competition. The annual competition brings finalists to campus to compete for scholarships ranging for $1,000-$25,000 per year. This year’s winner, Hannah Scott, traveled from her hometown of Canyon Country, CA to attend the competition.

Hannah, the daughter of Pastor and Mrs. Peter Scott, is a young lady with a servant’s heart and a well defined sense of her relationship with Christ. She loves reading, serving others, learning the French language, and has ambitious dreams for her future at Grace College and beyond.

“Hannah definitely deserves to be the presidential scholarship winner,” said Arielle Walters, Hannah’s admissions counselor at Grace.  “Her hard work, discipline and wonderful spirit are very evident from the time you meet her. I am excited to see where the Lord takes her during her time here at Grace and post graduation!”

“We are so excited as a family about the opportunity that Grace and God have given Hannah,” said her father, Peter.  “Hannah’s biggest strengths are her interpersonal skills and her strong personal faith in Christ. This combination has made her respected by adults and someone her peers look to for advice and counsel.”

Hannah, a four-year high school French student, wishes to continue studying the language and hopes to graduate with a double major in either French or Political Science and English. She has many ideas for her future, such as attending law school to become a corporate lawyer or a university professor. She also hopes to work with international justice missions or international business for a company in need of someone fluent in English and French.

“My biggest hope is that her relationship with God will continue to solidify and that she will allow God to mold her into the woman that he wants her to be. I am excited to see how God will use Grace College in that process,” said her mother, Melody.

“I am living my dream and following my passion and love of photography by immersing myself in it each and every day of teaching.”

• Nicole Croy
• Instructor of Art, Photography at Grace College; Photography Teacher at Carroll High School

Read the interview by Doug LeDuc in the Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly here.

On Friday, April 19, Rachel Cruze, daughter of well-known financial advisor and author Dave Ramsey, will be visiting campus to speak during chapel at Grace College. The event will be held at 10:30am in the Orthopaedic Capital Center, and the public is welcome to attend. Her visit will conclude Financial Freedom Week at Grace, a week focused on different aspects of finances such as generosity and stewardship .

Growing up as Dave Ramsey’s daughter, Cruze has mastered the principles of smart money management, and is currently investing her time into sharing that knowledge with others. She travels the country speaking to young people about using money wisely.

“Rachel Cruze will be sharing from her experience as Dave’s daughter, but also as someone who has had to figure out how to live in financial freedom,” explained Carlos Tellez, Dean of Undergraduate Chapel and Global Initiatives.

Rachel has a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of Tennessee and lives with her husband, Winston, in Franklin, Tennessee.

For more information about the event, visit http://www.grace.edu/campus-life/chapel . To read more about Rachel, visit http://www.daveramsey.com/speakers/Rachel-Cruze/.

This coming fall, a new communication professor will join the Department of Languages, Literature, and Communication at Grace College.  Dr. Patrick Loebs, who received his Ph.D. in March from the University of Memphis, will become an Assistant Professor of Communication, teaching classes such as Public Relations and Mass Communication.

“We are excited to have Dr. Patrick Loebs join the Grace College faculty this coming school year,” said Dr. Paulette Sauders, Chair of the Department of Languages, Literature, and Communication. “He has demonstrated to us his scholarship and his teaching abilities, so we’re sure that students in the Communication major will benefit from his up-to-date knowledge and research in those areas.”

The Communication Department at the University of Memphis where Loebs received his degree is one of the top departments in its field in the nation.  He will fill an important role in a growing department at Grace, focusing on strengthening the areas it needs.

“We are thrilled to have Patrick Loebs join the faculty of the School of Arts and Sciences this coming fall,” said Dr. Mark Norris, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. “He comes to us with a love of teaching students and a desire to mentor them in real world applications and has a deep commitment to Jesus Christ.”

Dr. E. Michael “Mike” Grill of Winona Lake, Indiana entered heaven on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at 6:15 p.m. after battling leukemia at Lutheran Hospital of Fort Wayne, Indiana at the age of 67.

He was born on November 29, 1945 in Dayton, Ohio to the late Adam Edward “Ed” Grill and Kittie (Myers) Grill, who survives in Winona Lake, Indiana. On August 12, 1967 he married Rebecca Jo Flick, who also survives in Winona Lake, Indiana.

He will be lovingly remembered by his son, Josh (wife Amy) Grill of Winona Lake; one granddaughter Anna, grandson Ethan; and his brother Steve (wife Susan) Grill of Winona Lake. He was preceded in death by his father.

Mike was a long time resident of Winona Lake, Indiana where he lived since his graduation from Grace College in 1967. He earned his master’s degree as well as his doctorate from Ball State University. He served Grace College for 35 years where he was a professor, Dean of The School of Behavioral Science and was an award winning tennis coach. He was presented the Grace College “Alva J. McClain Award for Excellence in Teaching” in 1980.

He was an Elder in the Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church where he was a member for 43 years and he served 16 years on both the Winona Lake Plan Commission and the Winona Lake Board of Zoning Appeals. He was honored with the “Bill Reneker Memorial Community Service Award” in 2006.

Mike was passionate about his relationship with Jesus Christ and about the power of prayer through the Holy Spirit. He loved his family and found great joy in his grandchildren. He was an athlete, and a teacher/mentor to thousands of Christian college students by whom he was truly beloved.

The Lord worked miracles in his life for many years as he faced leukemia, and his life was filled with prayer. He will be remembered for the profound influence he had on his community and in his college as he boldly shared his faith. He was greatly loved, and will be sorely missed, but is happy now with his Savior.

A private service for the immediate family will be held on Friday, March 29, 2013 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana and officiated by Dr. Roger Peugh. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw.

At 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2013 the public is invited to a “Celebration of the Life of Mike Grill” at the Orthopaedic Capital Center, 610 Wooster Road, Winona Lake, IN 46590

Memorial contributions in Mike’s name may be directed to the World Compassion Network, P.O. Box 1152, Warsaw, Indiana 46581-1152…..with which he joyfully shared the gospel of Jesus on numerous international mission trips.

Edit (03/28): Please note that the location has been changed to the Orthopaedic Capital Center.

President-elect Dr. Bill Katip (left), Chairman of the Board Dr. Jim Custer and President Dr. Ron Manahan

President of Grace College & Seminary Dr. Ron Manahan announced Commencement 2013 (May 11) will conclude his 20 years as president. Provost Dr. Bill Katip will accept the role of president for the institution following graduation on May 12, 2013.

Katip brings 39 years of higher education experience to the presidency and has been invaluable in guiding Grace Schools through many innovative changes since 2007. “We will continue to grow and adapt,” said Katip. “But as always, there will be no change in our mission, core beliefs and dedication to Scripture.” Katip earned his B.A. in Bible and Psychology from Grace College, M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Purdue University and Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Michigan State University. Katip is a member of the Breakfast Optimist Club, currently sits on the board of directors for the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO) and is a member of the Strategic Advisory Board to OrthoWorx in Warsaw, Ind.

Dr. Manahan began his service to Grace in 1977 and has served as president since 1994. His visionary leadership helped advance the institution through the development of new programs, the construction of new facilities, the expansion of global outreach and increased tuition affordability for students and families. Because of the efforts of Manahan and his leadership team, enrollment has more than doubled and is currently at its highest in history.

Manahan’s first position at Grace was as the chair of the division of religion and philosophy. In 1982, Manahan received the Grace College McClain Award for Excellence in Teaching and in 1985, became the assistant academic dean. Two years later he served the college as the vice president for academic affairs and in 1990 became Grace’s first provost.

Manahan’s vision was to involve Grace College & Seminary in the local communities, which resulted in the renovation of Westminster Hall in 1996 and the building of the Orthopaedic Capital Center in 2007. He was also a key initiator and facilitator in working with BioCrossroads on the grant from the Lilly Endowment resulting in OrthoWorx and the Orthopedic Capital Foundation. 

Additionally, Manahan oversaw the purchase of Mount Memorial Hall and the building of Kent Hall, Indiana Hall, Gamma Nu and the Gordon Student Recreation Center. During his tenure the Prison Education Program greatly expanded, and the Distance/Online Education Program and the Korean Studies Program began in 1996. The Water Quality Project (KLAS) launched in 2007 and the Degree Completion (GOAL) Program in 2009. More recently, Manahan helped implement the ORCA program (the Graduate Program for Orthopaedic and Regulatory Affairs) and the Henry and Frances Weber Schools (multiple locations). He also has helped engineer collaborations with CE National for Youth Ministries, Bethel College for Nursing, GBIM (Encompass World Partners) for a D. Min. in Central African Republic and Trine University for Engineering. He also formed collaborations with Ancilla College (GOAL Program) and the Christian University Global Network (online MA in ministry). During Manahan’s presidency, Grace received several professional accreditations in counseling, business, teacher education and theology.

Because of Manahan’s leadership, Grace College was one of the few public or private universities nationally to develop and offer a three-year degree program for all its majors. Grace’s program innovation attracted the attention of Congress, state legislators and national media. In 2011 Manahan represented Grace Schools nationally and championed higher education affordability and transparency to the Congressional Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training in Washington D.C.

Manahan has also served on the board of directors of Kosciusko County Chapter of the American Red Cross, Committee to Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Inc., Foundation Ministries Inc., Lakeland Christian Academy and Symphony of the Lakes. He currently serves on the board of directors of Kosciusko County Community Foundation, OrthoWorx and the Orthopedic Capital Foundation. Additionally, Manahan has served on the board of Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI), the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and on the Accountability Committee of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). He was awarded the Winona Lake Bill Reneker Memorial Community Service Award in 2000 and named the Warsaw/Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year for 2010.

Manahan will assume the role of senior advisor to the president this summer and serve during the academic year 2013-14. “Developing and advancing the mission of Grace College & Seminary has been my calling and my honor over the past two decades,” explained Manahan. “I am grateful to have served for so long at such a place as Grace. I am confident in the excellent leadership skills of Dr. Bill Katip as president. I know he will hold fast to the mission while continuing to adapt the methods as necessary to ensure we effectively educate future generations to answer God’s call.”