Month: March 2017

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How To Get Involved on Campus

There is no shortage of clubs, organizations, and ministries to get involved with on Grove City College’s campus. Whether it is Greek life, sports, theater, or ministry, there are dozens of organizations to fill your time with. As a senior I have had the privilege of being involved with a variety of organizations on campus. They have all shaped my time at Grove City in different ways and have each given me memories that I will always hold dear. With so many things to get involved with, how are incoming freshmen suppose to choose just a few? It can be overwhelming narrowing down your options and figuring out what is the best fit for you. When deciding what you will get involved with, I believe it is helpful to ask yourself two questions. First, are you passionate about it? Second, are you willing to invest time in it? My sophomore year I got involved with an organization that I was not only extremely passionate about but that I was willing to invest time in. That organization was Young Life.

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Young Life is an national organization whose mission is to introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith. The organization recruits volunteer leaders to go to high school and middle schools to meet teenagers and to invest in their lives both in and outside the walls of the schools.

When deciding where you want to get involved on campus look for something that you are passionate about. When I went to an info meeting about Young Life my sophomore year and heard the ministry’s mission, I knew I was passionate about it. The mission was one that excited me and motivated me. It was a mission that aligned with my values and something that I could get behind. Young Life was fun and fulfilling because it was something that allowed me to use my abilities for God’s glory and to do so along other people that were just as passionate as I was.

IMG_7472If you love sports, play intramurals or try out for a varsity team. If you are passionate about music, find people that love music. If you are passionate about social justice, get involved with International Justice Mission. Find people who share your passions, motivations, and desires. Find people who will spur you on to bigger and greater things within your passions.

Another question to ask yourself when choosing where to get involved is, am I willing to invest my time?

Being a part of Young Life has required me to invest time. I spend time during the week meeting with my team to plan events and pray. I also spend hours each week hanging out with the middle schoolers that I know through the ministry. Because I am willing to invest time in this ministry I have built an amazing community of friends and have had an impact in the work that I am doing.

It can be easy to participate in clubs and organizations half-heartedly. As school gets busy and social engagements compete for your time, attending organization meetings and activities can lose priority. My suggestion is to make IMG_0413investment a priority. It sounds cliche, but you will only get out what you put in. Reserve time in your schedule for investing in the club or activity you’ve chosen to be a part of. When you invest, you show other members that you care about the success of the group. You also give yourself the chance to form a strong community and lifelong memories.

When you arrive at Grove City College, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the many ways you can get involved. It will be tempting to commit yourself to four or five organizations. However, you will quickly find that adding this much activity into a full course load and growing social life can be difficult, stressful, and even unhealthy. Perhaps choose one or two organizations to get involved with. Find something that your are passionate about and willing to invest time in. If you do this, then at the end of your four years, you will be able to look back at the impact you had, the lessons you learned, and the community you made.

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Student Profile: Graham Allen

Graham Allen is a junior Mechanical Engineering major who is known for encouraging and exhorting his peers to use their gifts with excellence in pursuit of Christ and his kingdom. He is a very genuine guy and a lot of fun to be around, and I appreciate his willingness to answer a few questions for those of you making decisions about college.

Why Grove City College?

In high school, Graham applied to four colleges and Grove City College was the only Christian one. He was primarily looking for a school where he could be academically challenged, run track, and continue studying Chinese.

So on a utilitarian level, Grove City College was a good choice because he could do all of those things. But Graham was really wrestling with whether to go to a secular or Christian college; he had been to a secular high school and had felt called to that then.

Graham attributes his decision to the Admissions team and to the peace he had about choosing Grove City. He was struck by their spirit of prayer for all applicants regardless of where they would be led and developed a good friendship with Zach Jew. When he visited the campus, he also sensed a vitality and spirit at Grove City when he visited that he hadn’t sensed at the other schools he had visited.

You had some expectations coming to Grove City College. How did those compare with reality?

Graham says his experience has been richer than he could have expected. Referencing Romans 12:1, a verse engraved on the outside of the Student Union, he says his mind has been renewed, especially in terms of priorities. He came to Grove City to focus on academics and run track, and while he has been able to excel in both, God has also reoriented his priorities and he has learned not to idolize school or vocation.

What have you been involved with on campus?

Graham served on SGA last year. He is currently one of the captains of the track team, a member of AEX (a housing group), and a researcher in Dr. Anderson’s lab. Lately he has also been involved in planning a missions conference.

Can you tell me more about the missions conference?

Last year, a large group of Grove City students went to the Urbana Conference. Graham was particularly struck by the largeness of God and the fact that the American church is only one small facet of the Church. We need to find our place and not see ourselves as the top.

Graham talked to Dr. Keehlwetter, who has been hoping and praying for years for an organic missions focus at Grove City. Graham is excited about the interest on campus and hopes that the conference (March 20-24) will help give us a larger view of God and understand our context as a Christian college.

What are your future plans?

Like most of us, Graham has had a number of ideas about vocation. Coming in, he thought engineering might be preparation for seminary. Having learned more about the Reformed doctrine of vocation, he’s still praying about seminary and international ministry but would currently like to work for a Christian engineering firm when he graduates.

What thoughts do you have for prospective students?

First and foremost, dedicate the process to prayer and expect God to answer, even if it’s at the last minute.

Second, when looking at a college, consider that it will be the place you live. Think of it as a home where you will experience all the normal things in life – joy and sadness, ups and downs, triumphs and difficulties. Will this particular college be a place where you will be supported and challenged? Do you want to be like those around you? There is more to college than the credentials you get at the end.

* * *

This is part of a series of interviews I am conducting with current students who embody what I most appreciate about the College: Amazing peers who challenge me with their example, reminding me of the words of Paul to Timothy: “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers tan example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12, ESV)

Thank you for reading, and to Graham for taking the time to talk!

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Student Artist Survey: From the Hollow

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From the Hollow, a singer-songwriter duo, began at Grove City College when Christie Goodwin was asked to perform at Bridgefest – a concert on campus featuring student musicians.

Goodwin is a senior majoring in English Secondary Education from Farmington Hills, Mich. and has been dabbling in art and music for many years. She did not start to sing and write music seriously, however, until her sophomore year in college.

Originally, Goodwin planned to perform at Bridgefest alone, but as the performance day approached, she faced a dilemma. “I realized that I was not going to make it by myself,” says Goodwin. “My music needed to be filled out, and I needed someone more confident than me, so I emailed Corey because we performed together at AEX Live.”

Corey Kerstetter, a sophomore Marketing Management major with a minor in Biology, hails from Lancaster, Pa. He played piano since second grade, bass and guitar since high school, and is currently teaching himself banjo.

Goodwin continues, “We played together at Bridgefest, and after that people responded really well to our music. So we kept playing.”

Together, they formed From the Hollow.

On Feb. 1, 2017 they released their first EP called American Strife.

One of the most powerful songs in the EP is also called American Strife with lyrics as follows:

Baby cries, no one hears
And you regret the last six years
And move away from here
Throw out your line but nothing bites
Maybe that’s a woman’s right
This is our American
American Strife

Goodwin wrote this song at 1 am. “The phrases really fit together for me,” she says, “There’s a sense of hope and also disappointment.”

While they are both songwriters, the songs on their first EP were all written by Goodwin. Kerstetter has written a few songs recently as well.

“Her lyrics convey her message very clearly and powerfully.” Kerstetter reflects, “When we played at Bridgefest, I actually started crying in the middle of it.”

The music these student artists created is hauntingly beautiful and full of meaning. Concerning music itself, Goodwin says, “I want to write music that has a meaningful story. For other people, it becomes a fame thing. To me, music is storytelling. Music should tell a story.”

Both Goodwin and Kerstetter agree that the Grove City College community has supported and encouraged their music. They appreciate the natural music culture on campus, especially highlighting Stonebridge – a student organization which does a lot to bring music on campus and feature student musicians.

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Minor in Robotics

There is something undeniably exciting about robots. Christians in particular have good reasons to be excited, as well as a unique perspective. Instead of seeing robots as a replacement for the human race, or supposing that the ultimate “upgrade” is electronics hardware and artificial intelligence instead of a new heart1 (Ezekiel 36:26), we believe that the human race is crowned with honor, though we may not know why (Psalm 8), and we seek to use technology and robotics to empower humans.

As one example of how Grove City students are doing that, Logan MacKenzie (Computer Engineering ’18) spent last summer at the Milwaukee School of Engineering developing a low-cost, fluid-powered robotic arm for wheelchairs.

Grove City is further equipping students to serve in the robotics field with a new minor. The following new courses are coming for the 2017-18 academic year:

  • ROBO 301: Introduction to Robotics.
  • ROBO 302: Mobile Robots.
  • ENGR 301: Ethics in Engineering and Robotics.

Quanser RobotAlong with the new courses come new robots. Dr. Allison showed me a robotic arm Grove City purchased from Quanser last fall. The arm can be controlled via MATLAB for some interesting labs. For instance, how do you move joints simultaneously so that a hand moves in a straight path? Grove City is also looking to purchase a LR Mate robot soon.

This year, some senior mechanical engineers are building a dart-throwing robot for their senior design project. It uses a heavy-duty DC servo motor to throw the darts and is equipped with computer vision which can be used as feedback for the control system. Through their project, the seniors are also creating a hardware and software framework for future robots designed by underclassmen of both engineering disciplines.

Finally, Dr. Mohr, Mr. Jaillet, and Joel Bodine (Mechanical Engineering ’18) are designing a mobile robot for the ROBO 302 class. It should enable some fun labs and outdoor projects. A post with more information on the robot will follow.

Best of all (no pun intended), electrical engineering majors can graduate with a minor in robotics without any extra coursework since the robotics classes count toward requirements for the major!

1. Thanks to Dr. Dudt in biology for this helpful contrast. (Dr. Dudt teaches a section of Studies in Science, Faith, and Technology.)

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Father – Daughter Part ll

After attending Grove City College as a student, receiving his diploma, and then coming back a ‘second time’ around after completing graduate school, Dr. Michael Coulter now teaches political science and humanities for his alma mater. Although Dr. Coulter enjoys the Christian environment of the college, what he really cherishes is the ability he has to be active in the college life of his daughter, Caroline Coulter. Caroline, a sophomore majoring in marketing with a minor in theater, walks the same halls and eats the same food in Hicks as her father, because they share the privilege of teaching and studying at the same college.

Caroline is very active on campus with theater, where she is in the College’s spring play, as well as an active dance member in Orchesis and Spring Dance. Her free time outside of classes is filled with practices, homework, and Greek life, while Dr. Coulter is busy grading exams, preparing for lectures, and providing for a family of nine (7 KIDS & 2 PARENTS). It is quite clear that the Coulters stay busy both on and off campus. Father and daughter agree that they do not see each other on campus frequently unless they make an effort to get together. Caroline shares, “I see him in passing in the hallways, or I’ll see him in his office, but that’s about it!”

Even though the Coulters may not see one another regularly, both agree that when they do see each other, it is a pleasant surprise. Both concur that attending the same college has allowed their relationship to grow and deepen through the bonding and connections they experience on campus. It is easy for them to understand what the other is talking about and the traditions that are rooted in Grove City College.

As most would guess, there are also challenges that come with having a family member on campus, and some are more difficult than others. Dr. Coulter shares that he is constantly double checking his pockets for his car keys because of sharing the family van with Caroline and the sometimes “foggy” lines of communication that result in a misunderstanding from time to time Moreover, Caroline shares that being a professor’s daughter brings with it a higher expectation and standards. Some professors know Caroline on a deeper and personal level, which makes her an easy target to call on in class, perhaps more than they would other students. “Sometimes I feel as though I have standards to live up to as a professor’s daughter,” Caroline shares.

Despite the challenges, both Coulters agree that they would not change their decision to choose Grove City College, and thoroughly enjoy the growth in their relationship. The unique opportunity is not taken for granted in their eyes and they hope that Caroline’s younger siblings will seize the same opportunity and consider GCC to further their education. As the second oldest of seven children, Caroline is pretty confident that another Coulter or two will probably follow in her footsteps.

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Alumni Stories: An Interview with Julia Allan ’04

Julia Allan is a kind-hearted lady who resides in the North Side of Pittsburgh and works at Children’s Community Pediatrics of Bellevue. In the following interview, you will see how her studies at Grove City College have allowed her to live our her passions every day!

Tell me a little bit about you, your hobbies, your family… etc?

I graduated in 2004 and I went straight to PA (Physician’s Assistant) school for two years following my graduation. I began practicing in February of 2007, so I have been practicing for 10 years. I married a graduate from Grove City College who is now a pastor. I live on the North Side with my husband and 3 children who are the ages 6, 4, and 2 and I am expecting now with twins! The oldest, Keely, is in Pittsburgh Public School and Jay (age 4) will be joining Keely there soon. I love Pittsburgh and I am very devoted to the neighborhood that I live in. I love to be a part of the community in my neighborhood and my children’s school. Dennis (my husband) and I are involved at Pittsburgh Project and are attune to the needs of our neighbors.

Where do you work and what is your specific title?

The practice I work at is located 10 minutes away from my house, which means I care for my neighbors! It is call Children’s Community Pediatrics of Belleview and my specific title is Physician Assistant.

What does your current job entail and what do you love about it?

I basically do what a Pediatrician does. I see children from 2-3 days old to age 21. I do yearly physicals, vaccinations, developmental check-ups, and basic sickness care. I work two nine-hour days in the office and do after-hour emergency phone calls two nights a week. I love that I can be involved in my community through this job and care for my neighbors’ children.

Some view pediatrics as being monotonous, but I feel there is a variety because of the age range of my patients. Something difficult about my job is the social dynamics. There is a fair amount of poverty in the North Side and many of the children I care for are involved in the foster system or have parents with substance abuse. Because of this, my patients have developmental issues, but I love practicing in this environment and doing what I can to help them. This can be as simple as teaching basic nutrition and health care. I love understanding the dynamics of my neighborhood and doing all I can to benefit my neighbors.

What club(s) were you involved in?

I did Orientation Board all four years and I was on OB exec my Junior and Senior year as co-chair of religious committee. I also did Orchesis where I was Junior Head Choreographer and Senior Head Choreographer my last two years. My freshman year I participated in an ICO mission trip to New York City. Lastly, through the pre-health program, I did two overseas medical trips. The first was during spring break of my junior year, and the second was during the summer before my senior year. During these trips, we cared for patients in a Haitian refugee program in the Dominican Republic.

How do you feel GCC prepared you and benefited your future career?

The pre-health program at Grove City College is excellent. It really kicked my butt and taught me to work hard after I breezed through high school as valedictorian. I learned that hard work is not something to complain and lament about, but it provides the opportunity to learn something valuable. This hard work also prepared my for an intense master’s program to get my PA degree.

The people I encountered at Grove City College were remarkable. They challenged and encouraged my faith, which is the foundation of everything I do. The ICO trip and mission trips that I took opened my eyes to a greater awareness of the realities people live in. This created a discontent to the injustice and a desire to work against the injustice. My perspective was vastly shifted. The more poverty I saw, the more I wanted to help and not ignore it.

How available are the professors after class time if you need additional help?

My professors were very available to help. I went to office hours and worked through problems with them regularly. The coursework kicked my butt, but the professors seemed to want to help us succeed and learn to do our best. They met me where I was and helped me through.

What does the school offer that you wished you had taken advantage of while at GCC?

If I had had more time, I would have loved to mentor at George Junior or participate in Young Life. I have been very involved in Youth Ministry and I would have loved to have that prior experience.

After graduation, were there any classes you wish you had taken to help with your degree? 

The Molecular Biology major had many required courses and there was not much room for electives. I did a Religion minor. I would have loved to do a Psychology minor, but they did not offer it when I was there. Seeing now how psychology affects my patients, I would have loved to have more experience in psychology.

What is your best advice to give an incoming freshmen at GCC?  What did you enjoy the most and find most beneficial at GCC?

The best advice I can give is to embrace the reality you get to experience a very rich Christian Community and allow your college years to be a time when your faith really deepens. Challenge yourself to invest in activities that continue to expand your perspective and awareness of realities in the world that Christians should be involved in. Use these four years to understand how you can use your education to make things right where they are not right. Always acknowledge the great privilege it is to get an education from a Christian perspective.

Thank you, Julia! We do offer a psychology minor now, so that may be a good thing for any incoming pre-health students to look in to if they have passions like Julia!

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An Insider’s Perspective on SGA

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SGA stands for Student Government Association, and though this may be a well-kept secret, Grove City College’s SGA is one-of-a-kind.

Typically, when I hear the letters “SGA,” I think of a random collection of people who meet once a week and talk about “problems” around campus without really accomplishing anything. However, when I joined SGA for two years in a row, I discovered that it is nothing of the sort.

SGA plays a number of important roles on campus.

They represent the student body. First semester freshman year, I campaigned to become the Freshman Senator of Communications and Marketing. After winning the elections, I expected to design and hang posters around campus and sit in a weekly meeting – not much else.

Well, a lot of other things happen every day with SGA.

For example, every week or so the Student Affairs Committee gathers complaints from students all over campus and reports them to the College. This can be anything from a broken water fountain to a type of cereal to a garbage truck keeping students awake at two in the morning. SGA takes the wishes of the student body and make them a priority.

SGA also represents the student body by meeting regularly with staff, faculty, and even President McNulty himself. It is an incredible opportunity to network and to better understand the inner workings of the College.

They throw incredible events. Students easily overlook the number of events SGA is responsible for throwing. A few examples include: Food Feedback Forum, coffeehouses, Moonlight Breakfast, and the Gala. SGA is a fantastic place for students interested in event planning.

However, it is even easier to overlook the vast number of events SGA sponsors financially. This could be anything from a Lux Mea lecture to the Extravaganza (one of the coolest dances in the spring semester).

They are a catalyst of change. One student thought it would be incredible, if not impossible, to bring bubble soccer to campus. In the spring of 2015, SGA brought bubble soccer to the Freshman Hall Cup. Another student dreamed of throwing a Grove City version of Shark Tank, and soon she turned that idea into a reality with SGA. These are just a few examples of change implemented by Grove City College’s Student Government Association.

So, before making any assumptions concerning SGA, give them a chance. They’re an excellent group of individuals working hard behind the scenes to make the campus a better place.

And every fall semester, they are looking for five new freshmen to join their ranks.

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Student Life: Choosing Independence

Independence is an essential part of growing up and becoming an individual. There is value in having confidence to be able to accomplish something successfully on your own. Being independent is a highly desirable quality to possess. It’s a great key skill to add to your resume. So, it should be no surprise when I say that choosing to be an Independent at college can be a great thing too.

Being an Independent means that you have chosen not to be a part of a Greek or Housing Group on campus. At Grove City College, there is a large Greek presence, with many different groups to pursue. Greek life is always a valid option for those who seek that kind of group identity and friendships. However, one’s decision is not restricted to either rushing a Greek group or becoming an bored outcast. Choosing to be an Independent is just as much of an important decision as choosing Greek, and should be a valid option for those who are unsure of their extracurricular future.

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Independent Women have fun too!

Being an Independent among many Greek groups at Grove City College has proven to be an enriching and growing experience for me. As a freshman, I was worried that I would lack something important in my college experience because I didn’t feel like I fit into the Greek life. So I chose to be an Independent, and found that there was a whole different side of a college experience that was just as fulfilling. Some of my friends made the decision to go Greek, while some chose to be Independent. Despite some division between the two choices, my friends had to choose what was best for them and what they wanted out of their college experience. For me, I fit best among independently-minded people. I was lucky enough to have great friends around me who chose the same path, and we set off on the adventure that is Independent living.

I learned that to be an Independent means you have the freedom to make choices and try new things. Just because you don’t wear Greek letters doesn’t mean that you do not have the same opportunities to have fun and experience all that Grove City College has to offer. By choosing Independence, a network of like-minded individuals is created. The environment you choose to be in becomes an empowering and exciting group to be apart of. The possibilities for each individual are endless, and each person brings their own interests and personality to the table.

Student Insight

Junior English major Bethany Wilson commented about her experiences as an Independent. “I enjoy having a variety of different kinds of friends, and the flexibility that being Independent allows. Choosing Independence has been a positive experience because I have formed a lot of close friendships without a sorority to bring us together. It has been great in forming bonds with people in many different directions instead of just in one place.”

Caitlin Washburn, a Junior Biology/Psychology major, also added to why she chose to be an Independent. “I like being able to choose with who and where I live, and I like that I don’t feel like my friends are confined to one group of people. I don’t have to meet a certain image or stereotype, and I like the freedom to be who I am instead of fitting a certain mold.”

The variety of choices and involvement only add to the diversity of people you find on campus. Whether Greek or Independent, your choice is valid and in no way impedes your abilities and experience at college. There is no right or wrong way to choose, as long as it is true to your goals and to yourself.

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Inside The Studio – Student Worker

One of the biggest questions I had before applying to Grove City College is what type of art does the school offer? Magic happens in the art studio located in Pew Fine Arts Center. Grove City College offers over 23 courses in the visual arts, from pottery to design to sculpture. I highly recommend everyone take at least one of those classes.  Not only you get to keep the art you created, but you will feel artistic and a sense of fulfillment.

In this last part of Inside The Studio, I explore the idea of working in something you enjoy doing. I interviewed Alexandria Ridderhott, who is an art student worker. Her job is to fire the clay, and having the last process completed.

This is a great opportunity for people who are interested in learning more in-depth on the process of biscuit ceramics.

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Springbreakers: Engineers and Missions

How can I, as an engineering student, further the work of Christian missions? This is a question I’ve been asking for a while. Last week gave me part of the answer.

Spring break began after classes on Friday, March 3, and since I live close to home I was able to visit with my family that evening and all day Saturday. On Sunday, I drove back to Grove City to meet two other students and to leave for Elkhart, Ind., home of SonSet Solutions, where we served for the remainder of the break.

SonSet has been helping ministries start Christian radio stations for years, and has developed an affordable solar-powered radio (called a “SonSet”) which can be programmed to tune to local Christian stations. These are used all over the world and are being actively developed (the team is working on the next generation model now). However, their partner ministries increasingly have needs beyond radio. For instance, wells installed in Africa need to be serviced if they stop working, but sometimes ministries cannot easily access the wells (e.g., no roads, guerrilla groups, etc.). So SonSet created a water monitoring system that sends data via satellite.

SonSet Spring Break 2017
The first 2017 spring break team at SonSet.

When we arrived in Elkhart, we met our host families and the next day at work met all of the other students who were also spending their break at SonSet. There were 10 in total: three from Grove City, six from Cedarville, and one from Northwestern. SonSet would be hosting other students in following weeks.

Two Grove City students were working on a power protection unit that shuts off electricity if the power input is dirty (e.g., voltage spikes). Logan MacKenzie ’17 worked on the electrical design and Joshua Kuipers ’18 worked on the assembly.

SonSet Service ProjectIn addition to our project work with our mentors, we had a few events throughout the week, like our service project at Faith Mission where we served dinner to walk-in’s and cleaned some warehouse floors.

My project was to make a touchscreen device that reads debug messages transmitted over I2C. The main features I implemented were:

  • Different display states/screens
  • Touch buttons to transition between states
  • A view with a scrolling list of the most recent messages
  • A view with the most recent debug information displayed visually (e.g., gauges for water monitor information)

I recorded a short video on Friday to show the basic functionality. The Arduino is sending messages to the system over I2C with fake water monitor data:

What was exciting for me was to realize how much I have learned from Grove City College. I was drawing largely on my experience from classes like Embedded Systems with Dr. Walker. Of course, basic math was helpful when computing the corner points for the triangles on the gauges. Engineering is so much fun, and it was exciting to do a project with a very practical application for missions!