Author: Abby Cunningham

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10 Insider Tips for Navigating the Dining Halls

Like every college campus, Grove City College has its own insider secrets, quirky trends, and unspoken rules.

When it comes to the dining halls, it’s a whole new ballgame. Dining halls in general can be a little overwhelming. There are so many food options, and it can be a task in and of itself just finding where the silverware is located. Here are a few helpful tips and some insider knowledge for when it comes to eating in the dining halls.

1. No trays. You’ll see trays available by the silverware but hardly any students use them. In fact, trays tend to be a dead giveaway that you’re new to campus.

2. Reserve your table with a wallet, phone, or ID. When you walk into either dining hall you’ll see wallets strewn across tables. This means that the table is taken. In other words, unless the wallet belongs to your friend you should keep walking. This is normal. At other schools, students may get their food first and then find a place to sit. Not at Grove City College. It’s an unspoken rule that you reserve your table by leaving a phone, wallet, jacket, or backpack and returning to your reserved spot once you have gotten your food. (Leave your belongings at your own risk, but we’ve never seen them get taken!)

3. Avoid going to meals on the hour. The dining halls are busiest at noon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and during dinner hours on Sunday. It can be a madhouse and sometimes it is impossible to find an open place to sit. My suggestion is to arrive to your meal 10 minutes before the hour. For example, if you’re meeting a friend for lunch on Wednesday at noon, if possible one of you should go in at 11:50 a.m. and grab a table. This works because many students are just getting out of class at 11:50 a.m. and will then make their way to lunch. Show up 10 minutes early and beat the rush!

4. Silverware in the gluten free section. When the dining halls get busy, it’s not uncommon for silverware to be in short supply. If you find yourself unable to find a fork or knife, try looking in the gluten free section. There is typically a full stash that has been untouched!

5. Avoid stir fry during one-on-one meals. Stir fry is awesome. You can pick your add-ins, the meat, and the kind of noodles. However, because this option is fresh and made-to-order, it typically takes a while. If there is a line for stir fry this option can take even longer. If you made plans to get a meal with one other friend, save stir fry for another time. If you’re eating with a group, that’s a different story. Avoid leaving your lone friend hanging at the table by themselves for 15 minutes while you get your stir fry fix.

6. Get creative. Don’t feel limited by what you see. If you can’t find something that interests your taste buds that day then get creative! Here are some ideas!

  • Get grilled chicken from the grill line and put it on a salad.
  • Use a bagel from the toaster section to make a sandwich on the panini press.
  • Make buffalo chicken dip. Get chicken from the grill line, cream cheese from the toaster section and the rest of the ingredients at the salad bar. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and pop it in the microwave. Voila!
  • Pour sweetened coffee over ice cubes and half-and-half for a creamy iced coffee.
  • Make a grilled pizza. Put some pepperoni and cheese between two pieces of french bread (from the bread section) and grill it on the panini press. Dip it in marinara sauce from the pasta section.
  • Steam your own veggies by grabbing some veggies from the salad bar and putting them in a bowl with a splash of water. Cover the bowl and microwave.

7. Get the chili. The dining halls are known for having pretty good chili. If you see it on the menu then get it!

8. Cookies. If you’re in the mood for a soft chewy cookie in a variety of flavors, head to MAP dining hall for lunch. They tend to have a great array of cookies baked to perfection.

9. MAP vs. Hicks: Students debate which dining hall is better. It is really a matter of preference. Both dining halls are catered by Bon Appetit. However, there are differences. Check out the great things about both!

  • MAP
    • Amazing cookies.
    • Normally there are wraps during lunch hours, and they always have subs during lunch
    • Homier atmosphere, not as loud as Hicks.
    • Sometimes they do Sushi.
    • Fun kinds of pizza (ex. Hawaiian, bacon ranch, buffalo chicken, etc.)
    • Shorter lines
  • Hicks
    • Better ice cream flavors
    • Grilled chicken and burger options at every meal.
    • Stir fry
    • Smoothies and milkshakes.
    • Breakfast for dinner on Friday nights.
    • Bigger salad bar.

10. Leave your backpack outside the dining hall. Most students will leave their backpacks outside the dining hall in a cubby, on a hook, or sitting in the entryway. It makes tables less crowded when you don’t have to figure out where to place your backpack!

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I’m Starving: 10 Foods to Keep in Your Dorm Room

It’s 10 a.m. on Saturday, you’ve just woken up and you realize you missed breakfast. It’s 9 p.m. on a weeknight and your stomach starts growling as you head into your late night studying. It’s 7:50 a.m. on Monday and if you don’t leave your dorm room now you are sure to be late to class.

Whatever the scenario we’ve all found ourselves in situations where we wish we had something to eat but couldn’t make it to the dining hall. It’s during those times that you will wish you had something quick, easy, and relatively cheap to eat from the comfort of your own dorm room. Check out this list of 10 foods you should keep on hand!

  1. Tortilla chips and shredded cheese. It’s hard to go wrong here. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on some tortilla chips, zap it in a microwave for 30 seconds and voila! Cheesy nachos. Perfect for a movie night or late night studying.
  2. Granola bars. We’ve all overslept. If you’re running late to class you probably won’t have time to stop in the dining hall to grab something to eat. Instead, keep granola bars handy as a grab-and-go option for rushed mornings.
  3. Popcorn. This is a given. Keep some popcorn on hand as something to munch on. Just be sure to keep an eye on it. The fire alarms are easily set off by burnt popcorn.
  4. Fresh fruit. Sometimes you’re in the mood for a healthier snack option. On your way out of the dining hall be sure to grab a piece of hand fruit to keep in your room for when you need something to eat later in the day.
  5. Peanut butter or Nutella. They each go well with everything. Cookies, popcorn (yes popcorn), rice cakes, bananas, apples. The options are endless.
  6. Ramen. This classic dorm room food and for good reason. It’s quick, easy to make, and dirt cheap. Whether you missed dinner or just need a late night snack, pop a packet of Ramen in the microwave for instant noodles!
  7. Instant Oatmeal. A bit more substantial than a granola bar, instant oatmeal can be a full meal. Heat some water and pour over the oats. It’s quick and you can find oatmeal packets in a variety of flavors.
  8. Trail mix. If you’re looking for an option to bring to the library that doesn’t draw attention due to smell or sound (i.e. crunchy popcorn), consider some trail mix. You can buy it in bulk. Keep some plastic bags in your room so that you can portion out a serving to take on-the-go. It’s the perfect combination of sweet and salty.
  9. Pop-tarts. If you need a taste of your childhood, keep a box of pop-tarts in your room. They’re a good “anytime” option.
  10. Cereal. Dry or with milk, cereal is a good option for a meal or a snack. You can dig in for a handful on the run or curl up with a bowl on your while watching TV.

These essentials should get you off to a great start! Don’t be caught with a growling stomach and no food to eat. Be sure to keep a food stash well stocked during the semester.

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How to Deal with Stress

Everybody experiences stress. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. Stress pushes us to stay on task, to make good use of our time, and to be productive. However, stress can easily become unhealthy when it causes sleepless nights, anxiety, worry, poor diet, and number of other side effects. It’s normal to experience stress in college. At some point during your four years of college you may have several exams in one week, a class that has been challenging you, a friendship that is experiencing some tension, and a schedule of activities that is piling up. All of these factors and more can lead to stress. Know that this stress is normal and to be expected. The best thing you can do to prepare for those weeks is to know how to handle stress. Here are nine ways to conquer those weeks that are a bit stressful.

  1. Break it down. Look at your week, your assignments, your activities, etc. and break it down into baby steps. Don’t try to tackle five different tasks at once. Take it one assignment or one task at a time. Create a list of manageable steps you can take.
  2. Put things in perspective. While trying your best on every assignment, remember that perfection is not expected. It’s okay to make mistakes and it’s okay if you don’t receive 100% on that paper, exam, or homework assignment.
  3. Take a break and breathe. Do this. Take a break and breathe. For three to five minutes stop what you’re doing and try not to think about the task before you. Relax for a few minutes.
  4. Cancel your plans with friends. It’s okay. Sometimes you will need to cancel plans with friends to make more time in your schedule. It is never ideal to cancel plans that you made but it is okay to do this every once in a while. Remember: you can reschedule plans with friends, but you can’t reschedule those due dates.
  5. Talk it out. Sometimes you just need to vent about how much you have on your plate. Find a trustworthy friend, a professor, a mentor, or a parent, to talk through your stress with. It’s a relief when you find out that others have been in your shoes before or can offer some insightful advice. Some students go to the counseling center to get tips for managing stress and developing better skills for studying and managing time.
  6. Do something fun. Sometimes you need to clear your head for a bit. Do something fun because often you are less productive when your mind in consumed with worry and concern. Take a walk around campus. Watch an episode of your favorite show. Grab a friend and head to the GeDunk to grab a milkshake.
  7. Get sleep! Whatever you do, get sleep! And by sleep, I don’t mean a two-hour nap. Try your best to get six to eight hours of sleep a night especially during your busiest weeks. In my experience, when I don’t get enough sleep I am tired, exhausted, distracted and unproductive, all of which cause me to be more stressed!
  8. Pray about it. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Remember that God cares about your schoolwork, your friendships, and your busy schedule. Make sure to seek him first in the midst of your stress. Pray about your stress and seek comfort knowing that he will guide you through it and give you strength!
  9. Look ahead and plan Stress can be avoided. At the beginning of the semester gather all of your syllabi. Get a calendar and an assignment book and write down the due dates for every assignment, exam, and paper. Throughout the semester look ahead at your due dates and work on assignments accordingly, leaving enough time to do your work well. Don’t procrastinate! Procrastination always leads to stress.

Stress is inevitable, but treatable. Follow these nine steps to keep stress at bay.

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What I Would Tell My Freshman Self: Advice From Seniors

On May 20th the Grove City College Class of 2017 will put on their cap and gowns, cross the commencement stage, and celebrate four years of hard work. It is times like this that students often find themselves looking back on the memories they made and the friendships they formed. Your four years at Grove City College will be over in the blink of an eye. No one knows GCC better than the seniors that are wrapping up their time here. We reached out to some seniors and asked them, “What advice would you give your freshman self?” As you approach your first year at GCC, take a moment to learn from those who have gone before and heed their wise words.

Claire W: College has been such a time of learning, growth, and transformation for me. My advice would be to always keep an open mind, ready to genuinely listen to and learn from others — especially those who are different from you!

Tim W: These four years are a rich experience in and of themselves rather than just a means to an end. Make the time to invest in friendships and look for opportunities for new experiences.

Melanie B: Recognize that you are at college to love God and to love others. The college years will not always be easy or fun, but they are good. God is using this time to transform you into the person He made you to be, so be encouraged and seek Him even when it’s hard!

Jamieson W: Plan out your four years now! I studied abroad and spent my junior year taking fun electives, so now I’m currently taking three classes that are hard and I have senioritis. Be proactive!

Alexis M: Don’t take everything too seriously in college – take a course, join a club, participate in an activity that you want to do solely because you think it’ll be fun. Don’t worry about it building your future or resume, but do something for yourself to make your college experience more enjoyable!

Lindsey R: Be open to new things, whether that is going to an event you wouldn’t normally go to, signing up for a class outside your major, or being open to new relationships. You never know where it will lead you and you may really enjoy something you would not have expected! This college has so much to offer and there are plenty of new things to try!

Jake G: Don’t make decisions based on what will be easiest but on what will provide you the most opportunities in the future.

Nich L: My advice would be to make the most of your college experience. Do this by getting involved on campus, taking interesting classes (such as Life of Christ), and not worshiping your GPA. Develop a healthy balance of academics and social life.

Ryan B: I strongly recommend that throughout your four years of college, you constantly seek out those who are smarter and wiser than you. Ask questions, seek wisdom, and soak up as much knowledge as you can from them.

You’ll learn your own lessons along the way, but hopefully these pieces of advice from seniors are valuable as you approach this new phase of life.

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Tackle Your Sweet Tooth: 10 Places to Find Dessert

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, then you’ll definitely need some help satisfying those cravings during your time at GCC. Whether it’s a late night study snack, a finals week stress relief, or a spontaneous outing with friends, you’ll never have trouble finding ways to satisfies even the most intense cravings. Here are 10 places to go if you need something sweet.

1. Katie’s Korner: Katie’s Korner has long been a favorite of Grove City College students. Located about 2.5 miles from campus, the small business offers an extensive list of homemade ice cream flavors along with generous portion sizes. Whatever you fancy, you’ll find a flavor you can’t wait to have again. My personal recommendation is dark chocolate peanut butter: Dark chocolate ice cream with thick swirls of creamy peanut butter.

2. Sweet Jeanie’s: No car? No Problem. Located just a short walk from campus is Sweet Jeanie’s. The ice cream shop has been open for only a few years, but has quickly become a local favorite. Offering a variety of flavors made in-house, the shop sells sundaes, cones, and milkshakes, as well as lunch and dinner foods that can be eaten at a booth, table, or the old fashioned soda fountain bar. Stop in and try my personal favorite, Giraffe Tracks: caramel ice cream with graham cracker swirls and chocolate chips.

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3. Rachel’s Roadhouse: Not in the mood for ice cream? Go to Rachel’s Roadhouse. The restaurant, with a diverse lunch and dinner menu, is located about 20 minutes from campus. Your mouth is sure to start watering at the sight of the dessert tray. From berry pie to carrot cake to cookie sundaes, it’s impossible to go wrong. Don’t you dare graduate from GCC without trying Rachel’s famous peanut butter pie: Chilled creamy peanut butter filling, piled onto a chocolate crust and topped with whipped cream, chocolate drizzle and peanut butter cookie crumbs.

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4. Elephant and Castle: Teamwork makes the dream work. You’ll need some friends to tackle this dessert. Elephant Castle is a restaurant located right by the outlet mall. Their dessert menu is small but mighty. If you’re looking to dream of chocolate for the next week, try their Big Ben Brownie (appropriately named): Large scoops of vanilla ice cream, drizzled with chocolate fudge and caramel sauce, sandwiched between two rich decadent brownies.
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5. Student Union, GeDunk: Don’t worry about leaving campus to get something sweet! The Student Union’s GeDunk offers several crowd pleasers. For a few bucks you can get a stack of three large fluffy chocolate chip pancakes. These chocolate chip pancakes are known as one of the best deals on campus and have often accompanied late night study sessions. If you’re not feeling pancakes, go for a made-to-order milkshake or grab a pint of Ben and Jerry’s from the freezer!

6. McDonald’s:  Need a taste of your childhood? Who doesn’t love a McDonald’s McFlurry? Up the street from the College you’ll find America’s favorite fast food restaurant, McDonald’s. Their menu requires no explanation. If you have a hankering for something familiar, there’s never a bad time to grab a warm apple pie or Oreo McFlurry.

7. Peace Love and Little Donuts: The unique chain made it’s way to Grove City. Head to the outlets to find the doughnut “shack” and grab yourself some doughnuts! Specializing in mini cake donuts, the shop makes the treats on site. Every flavor has the same vanilla cake base, but the donuts vary by icing and topping.  From cookies and cream to fruity pebbles, it’s hard to choose just one kind! Be adventurous and try the maple bacon doughnut: vanilla cake doughnut topped with maple icing and bacon bits.

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8. Craig’s Country Comfort Bakery: If you’d rather have a more traditional doughnut experience take a ride out to the countryside and visit Craig’s Country Kitchen. Located about 20 minutes from campus, is a little farmhouse with a quaint bakery that produces bread, dinner rolls, cakes, danishes, cookies, and best of all- donuts! Better than Krispy Kreme, these donuts are large and fluffy, and come glazed or iced with sprinkles or nuts. And you can’t beat the price! Try a chocolate iced doughnut. You won’t regret it!

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9. George J Howe Candy Company: Dating back to 1917, the George J Howe Candy Company, is a candy, nut, and coffee producer located along Main St. in Grove City, just down the street from the college. Find their coffee in the dining halls and their candy being sold at the GeDunk. You can also visit the candy factory and purchase products from their front store! Your inner child will melt when you see a spread of their candy. Try their chocolate covered pretzels for a sweet and salty combo or their peach rings for something tart! The chocolate raspberry coffee is a personal favorite.

10. Camelot’s: The budget of a college student doesn’t allow for extravagant spending. But don’t worry. For just $1.35 you can purchase a warm, gooey cinnamon roll that is bigger than your face. Camelot Restaurant is a tiny diner located just seven miles from Grove City College. Grab some friends and devour a cinnamon roll smothered in melted icing for breakfast! Just be sure you make it back in time for your 8 a.m.

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How to Find Your Freshman Roommate

So you’ve decided to come to Grove City College. The process is over, you’ve announced your decision to friends and family, and you just submitted your deposit. You can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Almost.

It’s time to start considering the details of your freshman year at Grove City College, one of which is determining who will be your first roommate(s).  It can seem like a daunting and slightly overwhelming task. I mean, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to choosing which total stranger will be your roommate for your first year away from home.

But you need not fret. Here are several tips and considerations for finding a roommate.

How to find a roommate:

  1. Use Schools App. Schools App is an app you can use to connect with other students who have been admitted to the GCC class of 2021. It resembles the Facebook platform. You can find information about it in your acceptance folder! Log on to the app to see who your peers will be during your time at GCC. Take time to post and meet potential roommates!
  2. Try out the Roommate Finder. Over the summer you’ll receive information about the Roommate Finder. It’s an online service provided by the College that allows you to take a survey about your living habits (i.e. when you go to bed, if you sleep with the lights on, etc.). Your survey answers are then compared with that of other individuals and the program develops a list of people that you might consider rooming with. This is a helpful place to start your roommate choosing process.
  3. Go random. If you don’t have an interest in choosing a roommate, the college will pick one for you. Some people love the surprise. Some people end up meeting their best friend because they chose to go random. Of course there’s some level of risk involved, but it could end up being the best decision you make!

Things to consider when choosing a roommate:

  1. Do you have similar interests? You don’t have to be best friends with your roommate but if you’re completely opposite people, you might find it hard to connect, talk, or hang out while you’re living together. Find a common point of interest (i.e. sports, music taste, major, etc.).
  2. Who’s the extrovert and who’s the introvert? Figure out each other’s social style. If you’re a social butterfly, you may have a hard time motivating your introverted roommate to hang out in groups outside of the room. If you’re a major introvert, you may be bothered when your extroverted roommate wants to host a game night in your room. Extroverts and introverts can certainly room together but it’s helpful to know some about your potential roommate’s personality before agreeing to room together.
  3. Do you prefer a clean or messy room? This may sound cliche but for ages, cleanliness (or lack thereof) has been the source of roommate conflict. Find out if your potential roommate is clean or messy. Be honest about which you yourself are. If you classify yourself as a “clean freak” you probably won’t appreciate a pile of dirty laundry collecting at the foot of your roommate’s bed or the left over pizza sitting out from last week’s movie night. If you know you tend to be a messier person or “less neat”, you probably won’t appreciate when your roommate asks you to take out the trash, vacuum the floor, or fold the pile of laundry at the foot of your bed. Think about finding someone with a similar level of cleanliness.

Finding a freshman roommate can be an overwhelming task, but I can assure you, you have nothing to fear. My freshman roommates ended up being some of my best friends. During this time, take the opportunity to search, connect and talk with your future peers.

And don’t forget to pray. Who you room with during your first year at GCC will drastically shape your experience. Pray that the Lord would direct you to the right person and that your relationship would be healthy, encouraging and uplifting.

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Beans on Broad

Every college student loves a good coffee shop. Lucky for you, nestled in the heart of downtown Grove City is a little coffee shop known as Beans on Broad. The local business has become a favorite for Grove City residents and GCC students alike. Serving coffee, tea, pastries, and other foods there’s something for everyone. With it’s friendly staff and cozy atmosphere the coffee shop has long been a  popular destination for GCC students to grab a coffee and hit the books. On any given Saturday the little shop is buzzing with activity.

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Patty Folkerts graduated from Grove City College in 2016. After getting married the summer following her graduation, she is now living in Grove City and working at Beans on Broad as her husband finishes up his degree. I interviewed Patty to get a look at Beans on Broad from the other side of the barista counter.

What was your perception of Beans as a student? Why and when would you come here?

I would come here mostly with friends. I would come a lot to study or to read a book. I liked how easy it was to come down here especially when the weather was nice. I liked having a place off campus to come that wasn’t expensive. I also knew some people that worked here so it was always fun getting to see them.

Why did you choose to work at Beans after graduation?

I got married the summer after graduation, but my husband still had some schooling to finish up. I tried to find a job within walking distance from our apartment and something that had a great environment. Beans on Broad fit both of those needs.

What’s best part of working here?

I really love the people I work with and the customers. I’ve worked with my coworkers under high stress and low stress situations so we know each other well and work well together. The customers are great too. Customers are usually happy to see us especially if we remember their drink. I love getting to make our customers smile and make them feel happy.

Describe your customers.

During early mornings on weekdays we get a lot of working people and older customers coming in. When lunch time hits a lot of people that work in the area stop in to grab something to eat. Later in the day we get a lot more college students coming in to hang out or do homework. Saturdays are by far our busiest days and we normally get a mix of people. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. is our busiest time of day each Saturday. We typically have more than two people working behind the counter during that time. We’ve recently been selling donuts on Saturday morning which is one reason why it gets so busy.

How do you perceive the coffee shop now that you’re on the other side of the business?

I guess in some ways it stayed the same. Even on my days off I come in to do work. I still see it as a fun comfortable place to hang out. But it’s even more comfortable now because I know everyone behind the counter.

The business was just sold, correct? Any new changes coming?

The business was just sold to Wendy and Shelly, two sisters. They took over in mid January. The previous owner stayed around to help them get adjusted. No crazy changes coming. Perhaps some menu additions and a few new pieces of furniture, but nothing drastic.

Why do you think that Beans is a popular hangout or study destination for students?

We make it a point to make it cozy and to be friendly. We also offer a variety of things whether food or drinks. Our focus is on the atmosphere we create, not so much on the events we host.

What’s your favorite drink on the menu?

Our chai is really good. Our iced dirty chai is my favorite. (Chai latte with a shot of espresso).  I normally make mine with almond milk.

Any insider tips for new customers?

In general we love having conversations with customers. That would be the main thing. It’s always fun to get to know our customers better and have conversations that go past their coffee order. Also, customers should know that our menu isn’t only what’s on the menu board. You can experiment and ask for suggestions. We have all sorts of ideas and fun things to try.

What would you like to say to incoming freshman?

Come on down and say hi!

So whether you’re looking to get off campus for a good cup of coffee, need to cram in some weekend study time or are looking to catch up with a friend over lunch, be sure to stop by Beans on Broad! See their site for a complete menu, special events, and other info. Don’t forget to check out their social media accounts as well!

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Create Conference

Not sure if you’re cut out for the corporate world after graduation? Me either, and that’s okay! Grove City College prepares students to enter into a variety of fields following graduation. Some students will go to grad school to pursue medicine, while others land jobs teaching. Some students will land jobs at large marketing firms, while some accept positions at corporate banks. But others will take a less traditional route. Some will start their own business or turn their hobby into a career. In recent years the College has been working to develop its fine arts program in an effort to educate and train students interested in skills pertaining to painting, drawing, screen printing, graphic design, pottery and more. As someone who loves art, design, and the ability to create, I started asking myself how GCC could play a role in helping students to see how they could use their creative abilities following graduation.

In September of 2016 I began working closely with the chair of the Communication and Visual Arts Department, Dr. Jennifer Mobley, to plan a one-day event that would inspire, educate, and connect students hoping to pursue a career in creative communications. We called the event the 2017 Create Conference. Soon after the planning process began, Alexis Marnejon (‘17) hopped on board to join our efforts in planning this event.

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TJ Mousetis – walk in love.

One amazing part of going to school on a small campus like Grove City is that students have the opportunity to work closely with their professors. While planning the Create Conference Alexis and I met weekly with Dr. Mobley  to update her on the planning process, brainstorm and seek her advice.

The Create Conference was held on March 18, 2017. We brought seven speakers to campus to host seminars, main stage talks, and workshops. Our speakers each own small business focused on some field within creative communications. These fields included clothing design, graphic design, photography, music production, cinematography, and painting. Topics covered throughout the day included social media use, how-to’s, dreaming big, and being a Christian business owner. Our speakers were the following individuals: Tim & Brooke Mousetis (walk in love.), Andrew Williams (Neighborhood Film Co.), Cynthia Stanchak (mixed media artist), Taylor Courtney (Bring on the Bash), HB Mertz (wilderness photographer), and Megan Smalley (Scarlet and Gold).

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HB Mertz – wilderness photographer

The event started at 10 a.m. and seminars concluded at 6 p.m. Following the day-time events, we hosted an evening concert in the Student Union where student performers played and audience members enjoyed coffee, brownies, and cookies.

The Create Conference was a success. The speakers were fun and brought a lot of knowledge, wisdom and creativity to share with students. Throughout the day we had about 75 students attending events. The feedback was positive. An event like this has never been done on campus so  students found the opportunity to engage and learn about the creative field exciting.

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Taylor Courtney – Bring on the Bash

Putting on an event like this was hard work but Alexis and I learned countless lessons. It took us about six months to plan the event, so you can bet we breathed a sigh of relief when we saw our hard work come to fruition on March 18. Although we worked closely with Dr. Mobley, Alexis and I handled a majority of the planning. We took care of emailing speakers to invite them to campus and to negotiate accommodations and day of details. In addition we took care of reaching out to various on-campus organizations to help us fund the event. We also connected with various departments and services on campus to help organize details for the day of the event. One of my favorite parts of planning the conference was meeting with a senior graphic design student to develop a promotional theme for the conference.

 

PWhen you’re at Grove City, dream big. There are numerous resources available on campus to help you accomplish your goals. Whether you want to carry out some form of research, plan an event, or complete a big project, connect with your advisor and professors to see how you can turn your plans and dreams into a reality.

My dream was to bring more attention to the creative communications. Use the college as a resource to do big things. The faculty will support you and push you to work hard and to execute your plans with excellence.

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Team Up India Part 2

Last summer GCC senior Lindsey Reichert traveled to India on a Red Box Missions scholarship. During her time overseas, Lindsey worked with the missions organization Harvest Bridge doing photojournalism and blogging. She had the opportunity to work in schools, serve local churches, and assist at medical clinics. To learn more about Lindsey’s time in India read the blog titled “Team Up India Part 1.”

Lindsey’s experience with India didn’t end when she stepped foot back on American soil. She allowed her time overseas and the lessons learned to drastically shape her senior year at Grove City in a unique way. Here’s how:

What impacted you most during your trip to India?

When people ask me what I loved most about India, it’s the people. A lot of my time was spent with the kids. My heart was broken for them when I saw that a lot of what was holding them back had to do with education.

When did you realize that this was a problem you could potentially fix?

Last fall I was taking a Social Entrepreneurship class and for one of our projects we had to participate in the elevator pitch competition on campus. This is when I realized I could integrate my experience over the summer with what I was learning in class. I knew I wanted to do something with India that addressed an aspect of their education.

What was your idea for the elevator pitch?

The pitch was basically for a sports program that would teach kids about good nutrition in India.

Why sports?

My very first idea was that I wanted to start a school. But there are already a lot of schools and successful Christian schools. So then I started to think about what the schools don’t have and what I can add to them. I was passionate about the education over there. I saw it as a great model for missions because the kids are there for 10 years and are hearing about the gospel. I was super passionate about the education system.

So then the question was, what can I add to the schools?

I thought back to Jaigaon (an area of India I spent time in) and the school we were in. When I was there, we asked the children what they love to do and all of the kids talked about sports. The original idea was to do a sports program for the school since they don’t have organized sports.

Why nutrition?

It goes back to the school. While we were at the schools in India, we were teaching about American culture, leading songs, and sometimes we would give a Bible message. One day we were asked to teach a health class. We gathered the girls in 7th to 10th grade and taught them a class on basic health and nutrition. A lot of these girls came from poor families and they didn’t  know anything about health and nutrition. The class was about an hour long. Our time teaching was eye opening. The girls were asking questions about things that we take for granted, such as how many fruits and vegetable to eat in a day.

Their diets are high in carbs. They eat a lot of chicken, everything has curry and there are a lot of vegetables. But what I observed first hand and what I have been finding in my own research is that the kids have poor eating habits. They are eating a lot of rice and noodles and their snacks in school consist of chips, cookies and juices. Even when their teachers would encourage them to bring in fruit and water, the kids would decide to do otherwise.

Aren’t many of their eating habits cultural?

We are focused not just on changing the food they eat but on teaching them the “why” behind it. Yes, it is a cultural thing, but the kids need to know why they should change their habits. This is where the sports come in. A sports program will show the kids  how what they eat affects their bodies. We’ll help them to see what they can add to their diet so they can get the nutrients that they are lacking.

How exactly will sports play into teaching them good nutrition?

We needed to find something that would get kids excited about eating healthy and motivate them to change. When it comes to sports, you have to eat better to perform better. That’s how I got interested in nutrition. For me, it started with sports. I wanted to perform better so I started eating healthy.

This program will give them the head knowledge and help them to see physical effects as well.

What did it look like getting into Venture Lab?

I competed in the elevator pitch competition and made it to the top 10.  I couldn’t go to the top 10 round because of a scheduling conflict but I kept wondering what would have happened if I had done it.

I emailed Dr. English and gave her my idea asking her where to go from there. She told me about the Venture Lab info meeting. I went to the meeting and talked to her about it afterward. She was excited.

The next step was the application for Venture Lab. I went to Dr. Mech and he suggested looking for other team members. Kelsey Patton knew about the project because we had talked about it as friends. She told me she was interested so we collaborated and sent in the application.

Over Christmas break we found out that we were accepted into Venture Lab.

What is Venture Lab and how will it help you make this a reality?

Venture Lab is an idea incubator that is run through the Center for Entrepreneurship. Teams come together and propose an idea for a business. The idea goes to a board of professors. They review the idea and decide who they will fund and invest money into. They pretty much tell you if this is a viable idea or not. If you’re accepted, it’s a semester long project that you can take for credit. At the beginning, you get assigned a professor who acts as your advisor for the project. You work with the advisor during the semester to see if this is a viable business option. You are basically testing assumptions and working toward a “green light.”

Venture Lab provides you with a variety of resources to help with your endeavor. This semester they are bringing in speakers every few weeks to talk about specific topics within the business plan process. One week it was about branding.

We are also in partnership with a design class. We are working with a student who will help us with branding, logo design, social media, etc.

Lastly, you are paired with an advisor (our advisor is Dr. Mech) who is able to connect you with other entrepreneurs, some of which are alumni.

What’s the name of your project?

Team Up India.

Where are you right now? What have you completed?

Right now we are fundraising.

We are working on an extensive grant proposal to a pharmaceutical company. Dr. Howley works very closely with them. They have locations in India and they sell healthcare products. Although we won’t be selling their products, we believe our mission can align with and support their mission. In addition, we have been approaching rotaries with grant proposal and seeking support from local churches.

We have also established support for our program in India. We are in contact with the principal of a school in West Bengal. He wants us to start the program in his school. There are four teachers there who want to see this project happen.

We are in the process of developing the program. We have been working with expert coaches and sports program professionals to develop a sports program. In addition, we have been working with a graduate student who is pursuing nutrition to develop a health class curriculum.

Our online presence has also been coming along. We recently started working with social media as well as a blog and website.

What is your timeline moving forward?

We are looking to be fully funded by the end of the semester. Our hope is to pilot the project for five weeks in India this summer. The results will allow us to create a turnkey system or a packaged product that we can turn over to other schools in the future. At this point, our hope is go over to India June 10 to July 15. We will be there at the start of their school year.

Our program would take place five days a week. It would be an hour of in-class learning. During this time we would teach about health and nutrition using presentations, power points, handouts and quizzes.

Then we would move outside, for a one-hour training session. The training session would start with a warm up and transition game, then the main focus for the day and end with a discussion about what the kids learned and how this connects with what they learned in the classroom.

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Any last words?

We’re very excited about it. This journey has definitely been about us following God. He keeps making it evident that he is opening doors that have allowed for opportunities. It’s about trusting Him. His hand is clearly on the project as we take it one step at a time.

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Team Up India Part 1

Each year Grove City College selects up to eight students to spend their summer in another country doing missions work. At the beginning of the fall semester, students apply to the Red Box Missions program. Students selected by the program are given money to fund their summer abroad on missions. The program is funded by alumni and generous donors.

This past summer Lindsey Reichert ’17 traveled to India. Continue reading to learn more about Lindsey’s summer abroad.

What got you interested in Red Box?

It goes back two summers ago. I was living in Washington, DC doing an internship and was planning on studying abroad the following year. I was looking into study abroad options and began the planning process. However, all of the study abroad planning became stressful and I felt like this wasn’t something I was supposed to do. I wanted to go abroad but I wanted to do it with purpose and to serve the Lord.

I started considering missions organizations in Europe which is why Red Box caught my attention. When I got an email about doing Red Box and heard it announced in chapel I decided to apply.

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Why did you choose India?

When you get accepted to Red Box they provide the funding and you find the missions organization. You get to plan what you want to do for the summer. I was thinking Europe so I started looking at organizations over there that I could work for. A lot of doors were being shut on those opportunities.  I did get an offer for an opportunity in Ireland but felt that it wasn’t the right place for me. I was out of options.

At one point Dr. Keehlwetter said that Dr. Mech runs a missions organization called Harvest Bridge. I decided to look into the possibility and went to his office to talk about my Red Box opportunity. I told Dr. Mech that I wanted to use this opportunity as a chance to do photojournalism and writing. Dr. Mech said that his organization needed that in India. The opportunity with Harvest Bridge about seemed like a fit.

Initially I didn’t want to go to India. It was out of my comfort zone. I started talking to people who worked for Harvest Bridge and prayed about the opportunity.

After praying about it one day I remembered that I had to read a book about a missionary as part of my Red Box requirement. I went to the library looking for a book that I had in mind. The lady at the desk didn’t have the one I wanted but got me a book about a missionary who goes to India. I knew this wasn’t a coincidence and that the Lord wanted me in India over the summer.

What is Harvest Bridge?

Harvest Bridge is a mission’s organization that supports missionaries in East Asia. They provide financial support, pastoral training, education, and support for women. Their main focus is to provide help for native missionaries.

How did you prepare to go overseas?

I did a lot of research. We had a project for Red Box where we had to research and answer questions about the culture. I had to read books. I dove right in.

I also prepared spiritually as I prayed a lot over my trip. I was nervous about some things and prayer grew my relationship with God

More practically speaking, I had to fill out a lot of paperwork for my visa and passport.

What were your first impressions of India in the first two weeks?

My first impression of India was the heat. It is overwhelmingly hot. You feel like you just walked into a wall. A cultural wall as well.

I was homesick the first night as I was accepting the reality of being thousands of miles from home. Those first few days we saw a lot of things. It was a lot of just trying to take everything in. I took thousands of pictures in the first few days.

What exactly did you do?

I spent the summer in four main locations alongside Blake Bear ’18 and Zach Pitcher ’17.

Chennai

In Chennai I helped Blake at the medical clinic in the Gypsy camps. I assisted in unpacking supplies and helping him organize.  I also did a lot of photojournalism work and interviews in Chennai. I spent time with Prahba, a woman who does work with a women’s ministry in the Gypsy camp. I would sit with her and some of the women. These women would talk about their lives and I would record their testimonies.

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Delhi

We were in Delhi for only two days. During this time I helped some more with the medical clinic.

Patna

In Patna one day, we helped with a children’s ministry. It was kind of like a youth group. We led worship and ran games. Blake gave a bible lesson. We had a full house of kids ages three to 14 years old.

We also continued running medical camps in Patna.

At the end of one of our weeks in Patna we ran a Bible school. Throughout the week we prepared for Bible school by prepping crafts, practicing songs and preparing Bible lessons. Between 100 to 200 kids came to the Bible school.

On night in Patna we helped out with a young adult ministry for college students. We sang songs and Zach gave the Bible lesson that night.

Jaigaon

In Jaigaon we taught in the school every day. Pastor John (a local pastor) started the Christian school that a number of non-Christian kids attend. A lot of nationalities and religions are represented because so many countries surround the border of the town where the school is located. It was neat because no matter the child, they were all taught about Christianity.

During our time there, we would lead the morning assembly, lead worship songs and act as guest speakers in their classrooms, talking about American culture, running games, or singing songs.

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How is Christianity received in India?

The government is not very open to the Gospel in India and Christians can be persecuted in different areas but there is a small and growing presence of Christianity. Because it’s growing people are more open to it.

What was the hardest part of your summer?

Some parts of the culture were very hard to understand.

I also struggled with figuring out why the Lord sent me to India. It wasn’t revealed over the summer but I had to trust that the Lord was doing things with a greater purpose.

What was the biggest lesson learned?

In India they say “India Time,” which means that time is flexible and will happen when it happens. I think in life this happens but we need to call it “God’s time.” We live in a culture that is very time sensitive. We want things to happen at certain times. But on God’s time, he is flexible and will act when he wants and how he wants.

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What piece of advice do you have for people considering Red Box?

If you think you might want to apply, you should apply. God puts desires on your heart for a reason.

What piece of advice do you have for people who are set on applying for Red Box?

Go into it with an open mind. Be open to wherever God will place you. You have to be flexible and willing to see how the Lord will change your plans.

What impacted you the most?

When people ask me what I loved most about India, it’s the people. A lot of my time was spent with the kids. My heart was broken for them when I saw that a lot of what was holding them back in life had to do with education.

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Look for Part 2 of this post to see how Lindsey is combining her passion for Entrepreneurship and love of India to make a difference in the lives of the people she met last summer.