Addie Fox, Author at

Posted on December 6, 2015 by Addie Fox — Leave a comment

Faith, Freedom, and Family

Faith and freedom are the founding principles that Grove City stands on, but after being on campus you’ll come to realize that it also stands for Family. Grove City seems to attract generations of students following in their parents’ or siblings’ footsteps. Why is that? What makes high school students want to come to the same college as their parents? I decided to talk with one of these legacy students to get some insight.

Clifford Hovis ’16, an entrepreneurship major, knew at a young age that Grove City was the place for him. His career at the college started a little earlier than most of his peers; he attended Pre-Kindergarten in Pew Fine Arts. He talked about coming to various college functions with his parents while growing up, whether it be football games or Homecoming. Grove City was a family affair to Clifford, with his parents, sister, 1 uncle, 3 aunts, and various distant relatives attending the school. He describes attending Grove City as an old family tradition.

With so many members of his family that had attended Grove City, he grew up hearing stories about professors, the campus, Greek life, and other traditions. His father, Cliff J. Hovis, graduated from Grove City with a degree in Marketing in 1989. While his mom, Lynn (Johnson) Hovis graduated with a degree in Business Administration in 1989. When the time came for Clifford to start looking at colleges, he knew exactly where he wanted to go. Much to his mother’s nervous dismay, GCC was the only school he visited and applied to! Luckily his parents’ nerves were calmed when he was accepted to Grove City in 2013.

What does Grove City College mean to you?

It is a place where I feel like home. Grove City has played such a major role in the lives of my family members; it gave them a solid foundation to start their lives with. They are all so thankful when they look back on their time at Grove City, because of the things they learned and people they met. For my family, Grove City is their legacy and I hope to continue that legacy.

Why do you think Grove City College attracts generations of students?

Grove City is a conservative Christian school that instills strong values into its students. These students leave GCC and pass them on to their peers and family. People care here, what other school can you go to where your professors actually care about you? Grove City is like a big family, I can’t imagine going anywhere else.

Posted on December 2, 2015December 2, 2015 by Addie Fox — Leave a comment

Transfers to the Grove: Jen Kerr

Jen Kerr ’16 is a Psychology major and is minoring in Social Work, and she transferred to Grove City in the fall of 2013.

What college did you transfer from and why?

I transferred from the Community College of Allegheny County. I wasn’t sure exactly where I wanted to go after graduation and the community college was a temporary situation.

How did you find Grove City?

I live outside of Pittsburgh and have known about Grove City for years. A lot of people from my church are associated with Grove City as well.

What made you eventually decide to transfer to Grove City?

I initially did not want to come to Grove City. I felt that it was too close to home and I knew a lot of people here and I wanted a different experience. I finally gave in and went on a tour around campus and fell in love with it. Throughout my freshman year at CCAC I would come up and stay with friends to get a true feel of the school.

4. What made you stay?

Everything. The academics were challenging enough for my attention, the Christian environment was refreshing, the professors are personable and of course my amazing, wonderful friends.

5. What ways did Grove City offer to help you get assimilated when you first came?

My connection group leaders through OB. They were the most helpful, useful and insightful people who gave us the true low down on Grove City and didn’t treat us like freshman, but also understood that we were still new to the school and didn’t know much about the school. OB was the most helpful but that was about it.

How will this experience influence your future after you graduate?

Grove City has prepared me for graduation. This school has instilled a strong work ethic and a strong Christian worldview. It helped me find my passion for social work and grew my passion for serving others.

Posted on December 1, 2015December 7, 2015 by Addie Fox — Leave a comment

From Grove City to “Sin City”

Cliff Hovis graduated from Grove City College in 1989 with a degree in Marketing. He met his wife Lynn (Johnson) Hovis ’89 while at Grove City College, and they have two children who are currently attending GCC.

Cliff J. Hovis, a 1989 graduate of Grove City College, knows that God, family, a good education, and a lot of hard work are the keys to success. He is president of the family owned business Hovis Auto & Truck Supply in Mercer, PA. Cliff is highly involved in not only his business but the automotive industry as a whole. He is on the AWDA (Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association) Education Committee, and a board member for the University of the Aftermarket Foundation. He has received the Mort Schwartz Excellence in Education Award, the Art Fisher Memorial Award, and the Federated Industry Advocacy Award. But his most recent accomplishment is his induction as chairman of the AWDA in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 1st. He also knows that training and education are important tools for his industry; he built a 10,000 square foot training facility to further educate his customers through hands on and classroom training.

With a smile on his face and his family by his side he arose from the audience, as the announcer declared Cliff chairman of the AWDA. His speech was titled “Exceeding the Curve through Hiring, Training, and Developing”, a topic he has been passionate about ever since his Grove City days. He is eager to share with his industry the lessons he learned from those times.

Cliff highlighted some statistics about the automotive industry; it is the third largest employer in North America, providing 4.3 million jobs and contributing more than 2.3% of the U.S. GDP. But in order for youth to be successful in the automotive industry, they need to be adequately educated and trained. Cliff has two children currently attending Grove City College, Clifford ’16 and Grace ’19. After talking with their friends he knew that his industry needed to create an established program for today’s college students seeking jobs after graduation.

As a member of the AWDA Education Committee he recently established a scholarship program for college students majoring in programs that have a direct application to the auto care industry. These scholarships help ease the financial burden of temporary relocation for students who pursue internships more than 100 miles from their permanent address. He ended his speech by inspiring and encouraging everyone in the room to mentor today’s youth, because they are the future of the automotive industry. Cliff is thankful for the time he spent at Grove City and he continues to share the legacy of the principles he has learned with everyone he meets.

Posted on November 30, 2015November 30, 2015 by Addie Fox — Leave a comment

Transfers to the Grove: Heather Palmer

Heather Palmer ’16 is majoring in Psychology and Biology, and she transferred to Grove City in the fall of 2013.

1. What college did you transfer from and why?

I transferred to GCC from Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, NY. RWC didn’t meet my academic, social, or religious expectations, so I began looking for a school with high standards

2. How did you find Grove City?

I asked around and found that a few of my friends from high school were at GCC and loved it. I came to visit them and asked a lot of questions about Grove. They knew the kind of high academic standards with which we were accustomed, and they were able to compare it to our high school and answer my questions. They took me to Beans on Broad, showed me the labs in Rockwell (STEM was not yet open), and let me stay in a room in MAP North.

3. What made you eventually decide to transfer to Grove City?

The residence halls, the cafeterias, the beauty of the campus was unbelievable. I had been longing for a school with strong community where the students wanted to get the most out of their education and their years at this institution.

4. What made you stay?

At GCC, I smiled at the thought of going to class. I learned something every day; the professors are brilliant and insightful and care about the academic and personal lives of their students. I realized this was what I had been missing. I often stop and look around, and I have to thank God for bringing me to such a wonderful school.

5. What ways did Grove City offer to help you get assimilated when you first came?

Orientation Board helped a lot, I depended on my roommates a lot to fill me in (Laura and Bex weren’t transfers). The fall transfers of 2013 bonded rather well, likely because the males were housed on the same hall in Hicks. We made a family, and we still have dinner and celebrate holidays together. Many other students don’t understand the transfers’ common experiences. We have found that it takes a certain type of person to have the strength to change schools, and we have a lot in common.

6. How will this experience influence your future after you graduate?

My closest friends, the ones I know will remain in my life for years to come, transferred into Grove City College. We have a special bond, and I have a special place in my heart for those who took the road less traveled in order to get here.

Posted on October 12, 2015December 2, 2015 by Addie Fox — Leave a comment

Driving the McNultys

Homecoming at Grove City is a time of fun, hanging out with old friends, and networking with alumni. However I had an opportunity that put all of those on the backburner….I was asked to drive President McNulty and Mrs. McNulty in the homecoming parade! (Let me just begin by saying they are without a doubt the
sweetest, most humble couple!)

Having never met Grove City’s First Family, I was extremely nervous about the prospect: President McNulty was Deputy Attorney General of the United States and Mrs. McNulty is a style icon! If that isn’t intimidating enough, I was driving them in someone else’s 2014 Stingray Corvette…no pressure right? As time drew near for the parade, I began to think about what I would say to them; as a senior graduating in December, this may be my only chance to talk with the couple one-on-one. I began reminiscing about my time at Grove City, my professors, all the classes I had taken, but how do I begin to shed a light on how much I have grown since coming to this wonderful school? Grove City is more than a school, it is a community of people devoted to their values and the pursuit of education.

Driving the McNulty's

As I woke up on the morning of the Homecoming parade, I realized what I would say: nothing. Nothing I say could ever fully, adequately describe my experience at Grove City. Instead I would focus on actively listening; the amount of wisdom the McNulty’s have surpasses anything I as a 21 year old college student could ever comprehend. So as the day passed and we prepared for the parade, I listened. I listened as they spoke with former GCC President Dr. Charles S. MacKenzie, Marathon Executive Vice President Donald Templin ’84, and other Grove City legends. As I drove them down Broad Street past the crowd of cheering people, it all began to hit me. Grove City will always be with me. The information I have learned and the people I have met will stay with me throughout my path in life. President McNulty never imagined that his path would lead him back to Grove City one day, but to him it is home now. That is what Grove City will always be to us whether we move away to follow a career, choose to settle here, or simply return once a year for Homecoming: it’s home.