Category: Academics

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Forefront: In Faith We Create

18238922_1320117271411861_5427032072239208109_oRecently, creatively-minded Christians have produced art that, while not intentionally bad, speaks only to the redeemed. This movement has managed to appeal to Christians but has altogether remained unappealing to those who do not feel welcome to the church. This does not mean the art is bad; again, I think it has tremendous value to those already in the church. However, this type of art has only a certain market it can reach.

Two Grove City College alumni realized this, and in 2015 Nate Mancini ’13 and Johnny Sikma ’13 sought to reach out to the community of Christians in the arts. They created a festival geared toward faith-driven artists called the Forefront Festival. The end goal was to bring together Christ-followers who are passionately pursuing the arts and offer them an encouragement to strive for excellence while still being accessible to those outside of the faith community. The result of their efforts was an event that produced worthwhile art while not pandering to a faith-based market.

“We wanted Christians to return to the forefront of the arts — to be the kind of people who shape culture and start art movements — so Forefront Festival seemed an appropriate name,” says Mancini. You look at many of the art movements of yesteryear, and there is a distinguishable pattern of strong Christians striving towards a universally recognizable standard.

I had the privilege of attending the first festival, and I can attest to the caliber of excellence. Photographers, authors, painters, dancers, and critics alike came together to discuss the profound impact their faith had on their work, be it explicitly faith-based or not. Nate and 18209056_1320754578014797_2428433757382773533_oJohnny premiered a film that they co-wrote and produced, not about a Christian’s struggles, but about a human’s struggles. Despite the lack of “I am a Christian” message, it still spoke to the need of a greater fulfillment and purpose that Christians only truly find in their relationship with God and, as artists, in displaying his truths.

Not long after the first festival, Nate approached Rich Christman ’14, and the event began to form into a second incarnation. Johnny moved to Los Angeles, and Nate “asked [Rich] if [he] would like to come as his partner in Johnny’s place.” Rich said of course, and they quickly began to form a greater vision. They didn’t just want events to be the premier resource Forefront had to offer, but the people who would attend the events. They created an online platform for Christians in the arts to connect and collaborate.

Sadly I wasn’t able to attend Forefront ’17, but they upgraded the experience significantly. Not only was there a festival to exhibit artists, 18216787_1321083947981860_8383942365351858937_obut also a conference to host lecturers (primarily the featured artists) to discuss their craft, be it directly related to their faith or not. While Forefront ’15 feature Pittsburgh-based artists and favors from friends, Forefront ’17 featured “artists from six different states… as well as two different countries,” including a TED Fellow.

Forefront has grown significantly, with a drive not only to promote the creators, but rather the creatives. Who knows what the next Forefront may hold? Maybe you could be a part of it.

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5 Fantastic Writing Concentrations

When I was deciding where to attend college, a big influence was whether or not the school offered a degree in writing. Some schools had English Writing majors, some offered various writing minors, and a handful didn’t have much to offer on the writing front. When I was looking at colleges three years ago, Grove City was one of the schools that didn’t have a writing program. I was heavily considering majoring in English due to my passion for writing, but I found out that Grove City’s English major requirements are very heavily literature-based, and its only writing classes are offered as electives.

Luckily for me, during the fall semester of my freshman year (fall 2014), a new writing program was in the works. In addition to the initiation of the new required writing class for freshmen, five new writing concentrations also became available in 2015. The concentrations are available to students of all majors, and they allow students to expand whatever degree they have and gain invaluable resume-boosting writing skills. Additionally, while a minor generally requires between 18 and 24 credits, these writing concentrations range from 15 to 17 credits. Almost any major has room for a writing concentration, and this is made especially possible due to the fact that all five classes share a common denominator.

Technical and Professional Document Design is an online summer class that is required for any writing concentration. While the additional tuition cost can be off-putting, the course allows students to leave more time in their semester schedules for other classes that they need. It also acts as a great foundation for visual design skills, which is invaluable for students interested in gaining a basic understanding of design or going on to pursue a design minor. Class assignments include textbook readings, critiquing designs and websites, giving their classmates feedback in an online forum, and creating infographics, website homepages, info cards, newsletters, flyers, and brochures. One of my favorite parts of the class was that I got to focus on learning design basics, and we weren’t required to learn any specific design software; we could use whatever we were comfortable with.

Other than the foundational class, the five writing concentrations vary. Between the Professional, Business, Creative, Science, and Technical Writing Concentrations, anyone can find something to suit their interests or to complement their major.

Professional Writing

The professional writing concentration aims to give students the written and visual communication skills they need to effectively communicate in a professional setting. In addition to Technical and Professional Document Design, it requires four courses: Technical or Business Communication, Writing for the Media or Journalism, Public Relations, and Internet Content Marketing. These classes build a foundation for students that focuses on how to communicate through professional documents, writing for print, online, and on-screen media, working in a team on a PR campaign, and creating online content.

Business Writing

The business writing concentration is similar to the professional writing concentration, but it focuses less on media writing and more specifically on business and writing. It also gives students more freedom to choose which classes they can take to fulfill the concentration’s requirements. In addition to the foundational course, it only requires two others: Business Communication and Internet Content Marketing. Other than that, students can choose two classes out of a list of six: Cost Accounting, Principles of Marketing, Business, Ethics, and Society, Business Law or Law for Entrepreneurs, Digital Marketing, and Corporate Healthcare Innovation. I began pursuing a business writing concentration in the first semester of my junior year, and it will have taken me only two semesters (and two online classes) to complete. I chose Principles of Marketing and Digital Marketing to complete my concentration; one of its greatest perks of the business writing concentration is the autonomy that the student gets in choosing his or her classes. Additionally, when I paired my business writing concentration with my communication major, I had already completed every course required for the professional writing concentration, so I was easily able to add that to my transcript without having to add a single extra class.

Creative Writing

The creative writing concentration is sure to be one of the most popular writing concentrations at Grove City College, especially among English majors and creative minds. Requiring only Technical and Professional Document Design and Creative Writing, it also gives students the opportunity to make their concentration their own. Other than that, students choose three classes out of a list of six: Creative Nonfiction, Advanced Poetry Writing, Advanced Story Writing, Playwriting, and Screenwriting. This concentration could easily be customized for students whose passions lie in theater, cinema, poetry, and novel writing.

Science Writing and Reporting

The science writing concentration is a prime example of one of those times when having writing skills can prove beneficial for students in any field. Science writing and reporting students will discover how to translate scientific data into everyday language for the readers of science journals, PR and media for research and technology companies, science and technology documentaries, and of course, science fiction novels. The science writing concentration requires students to take Technical Communication, Technical and Professional Document Design, Writing for the Media and Journalism, and two classes from a line-up of biology, chemistry, psychics, engineering, and computer science courses. This concentration is the perfect mixture of humanities, science and technology, and writing for the logical but creative mind.

Technical Writing

The technical writing concentration is possibly Grove City College’s most academically diverse writing concentration. Pulling classes from areas such as design, computer science, and STEM, this concentration really is what you make it. The technical writing concentration requires the student to take four classes – Technical Communication, Technical and Professional Document Design, Introduction to Visual Communication Design, and Interactive Design and User Experience – and a final class from a list of several. This list includes astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, electrical engineering, and physics classes. This is the ideal concentration for a student interested in design and finding a way to visually communicate logical and technical information.

For more information on writing concentrations and the Writing Program, contact Dr. David Hogsette at dshogsette@gcc.edu

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Student Spotlight: Mechanical Engineering and Girl Power

230 (2)Junior Paige Foley might not fit the mold of your stereotypical engineer, but that’s ok. She can engineer her own.

As one of 13 girls out of 65 total Mechanical Engineers in her class, Paige has experienced first-hand the interesting challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field. I was fortunate enough to be able to sit down with her to discuss her experiences so far as a Mechanical Engineer major at Grove City College.

What is your major?

Mechanical Engineering with a Robotics minor. Robotics is a new minor that the college just added, and I’m really excited to be able to take those classes!

Did you have any experience or education about engineering before coming to college?

I took two engineering classes during my last two years of high school. One was a co-ed, basic engineering class with very few girls, and the other was called Women in Engineering. The school felt the need to offer a separate course for girls interested in engineering because of the different learning and project styles seen in girls in comparison to boys. They found that women tended to ask questions before starting a project, while boys asked questions after something went wrong. I always thought this was an interesting comparison.

What have been your favorite engineering classes at Grove City College?

I’ve taken a lot of great classes that I’ve enjoyed at GCC, but Design Manufacturing (MECE 208) and 3D Modeling (MECE 210) have been my favorite classes by far. Last summer, I had an internship where I was able to directly apply what I had learned from these two classes, which was very exciting. They taught me how to use the industry software for modeling and design.

Have there been any other classes that have greatly influenced you?

One of the classes that stuck with me that related to my major was a required class called Science, Faith and Technology (SSFT 212). It was taught by one of my engineering professors, and we discussed how faith and science can coexist. It was really beneficial to talk about the ethics behind science, and how we as Christian are called to learn to be good stewards of the Earth, which involves understanding and learning about how it works. It helped me in terms of my major to understand that my future profession is important to Christian and worldly society because I am utilizing my skill set for the glory of God.

What do people say/think when you tell them that you are a Mechanical Engineering major?

Sometimes when I say I’m an engineer, people usually seem surprised because they think that it doesn’t seem to fit me, and question whether I’m qualified. I think that people react this way because engineering in general has a reputation for being very difficult, and there aren’t a lot of girls that decide to pursue it as their career. I’m proud of my major and the hard work that I’ve put into it, so I don’t mind talking about it to other people who have questions. I’m putting in the work now so that I can prove to everyone later that I have what it takes.

Given the minority of women to men in engineering, how would you describe your experiences with equality within your major?

Grove City had done a really great job at keeping the academics equal among genders. All the professors are great, and they are fair, helpful and qualified. Unfortunately, there is some social barriers that get in the way at times, but it never interferes with my education. And because girls are such a minority in the Engineering Department, we all have really bonded. We all have similar schedules and spend a lot of time together, studying and working on homework. Some of the girls have even created sorority-like letters that they wear to represent our small group of engineering women.

Have you had an internship? How has that enhanced your education?

This past summer, I was fortunate to have had an amazing internship experience at a railroad company called A. Stucki. As a mechanical engineering intern, I used 3D modeling software to make shafts, fit pieces, and model things like cast iron skillet. I was even able to reverse engineer using scanning arms and other tools and instruments in order to create certain pieces. I loved learning and applying what I’ve been learning in classes in a real world setting. What was really cool and encouraging was that I learned that the company that I interned for had just hired two GCC grads, and that the Vice President of Engineering was a GCC grad as well. It was great to see people outside of the college who knew that GCC comes with a great education. Even as a sophomore, I was prepared to apply what I learned in a real-world setting.

What advice would you like to share to someone interested in pursuing Engineering at Grove City College?

My advice to anyone looking to pursue Engineering at Grove City is to not be deterred from pursuing it because of the challenging classes and schedule, and the stereotype of the lack of a social life. People may feel like you may not be able to have a social life, but I can assure you it is possible. It all depends on how diligent you are with your time. You can be involved and have a social life. Also I would love for people to know that just because I’m an engineer, that doesn’t mean that I want to build a car. Engineering is so much more broad and diverse than designing and building motors and vehicles. I have had a great experience with the Grove City College Engineering Department and encourage those interested to look into it, talk to professors and students, and even sit in on a class if possible.

 

Listed below are some Grove City College resources to help you learn more about the Mechanical Engineering Department:

http://www.gcc.edu/academics/SEM/mechanicalengineering/Pages/B.S.-in-Mechanical-Engineering-.aspx

http://www.gcc.edu/academics/SEM/Pages/Hopeman%20School%20of%20Science,%20Engineering%20and%20Mathematics.aspx

http://www.gcc.edu/academics/SEM/mechanicalengineering/Pages/Department%20of%20Mechanical%20Engineering.aspx

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Student Spotlight: Ryan Brothers, Computer Science and the Humanities

As of May 2015, Ryan Brothers joined the same housing group as 14212074_10210027004769686_237257880145741396_nI did. We had talked maybe twice from when he joined to May 2016. On a whim, we decided to be roommates for our senior year. Now, I can call him one of my best friends.

“I applied to bigger schools, but at the same time, they couldn’t offer me what Grove City does. The humanities core offered here has made me far more well-rounded than any other school I applied to could have.”

Ryan is an Electrical Engineer with a concentration in Computer Science, one of five in the senior class. Ryan’s passion for Computer Science brought him to Grove City, but he wanted to major in something different with the hope of giving himself a challenge.

“Computer Science was something I always got. Once I learned about the EE with CompSci, I knew it was the program for me. Get it? Program?”

Currently, Ryan is working with a professor on an independent study that end goal is to convert images into vectors. The program will be used at a local forge in imprinting steel.

“It sounds a little confusing, but it’s applications are incredibly practical. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Grove City offers these type of opportunities in a variety of its departments. It’s been neat to see how Ryan’s been taking advantage of it.

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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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5 Signs You Belong in Communications

Choosing to be a Communications major was one of the best decisions that I have made in my life so far. Despite some wrong turns in the beginning of my college career, I was able to eventually come to find a career path that fits me, what I’m good at and what I want to do with my future. The Communications Department at Grove City College offers a close-knit, encouraging community of creative and hard-working individuals ready to make the world a better place. Many people find their way to Communications after struggling with other majors, just like I did, to find their rightful place among like-minded people. The possibilities are endless with Communications, and the skills that are acquired through its study can open many doors to help achieve all your goals and dreams. Not sure if Communications is the right path for you? Listed below is a short list of qualities that are common among Grove City College Communication majors:

1. You have a wide variety of interests and talents

Instead of just one thing that you are gifted in or find interesting, there are many! You are a well-rounded individual who likes the arts as well as politics, or reading and keeping up with sports. You find that you don’t “fit” perfectly into just one category. This can make it hard to pinpoint a good career path for you, but rest assured that Communications is broad enough to be able to highlight and provide opportunity for all your gifts and interests. After all, if you do what you love, you will surely love what you do.

2. You aren’t entirely sure what you want to do with your life

College is the best time to try new things to try and figure out what you like to do, and how you can turn that into a career. The best part about Communications for some people is that it offers so many different avenues of focus that the likelihood of finding something that fits you is very high. Grove City College has such a great Communications Department because they work hard to get to know you and your interests, and help you find compatible opportunities that help you figure out viable career options. Finding out what you’re meant to do is what your college journey is all about, but choosing Communication Studies is a great start in realizing your career potential.

3. You enjoy people and value relationships

Communication Studies is all about the why and how of interacting and connecting with people, which is essential to so many aspects of life. Communication majors understand the importance of studying and improving upon human connection in all its many forms, which is prevalent in the kinds of projects and works that they tend to be involved in. Collaborative work is valued. Relationships and the way people work together are interesting and deserve attention. In communication, there is a communicator, a message and a receiver. Within this simple model, there is so much to discover, create and study. If any of this is interesting to you, you may find that Communications is a study that could engage you and help you learn more about things that you find important.

4. You are interested in social media, current news and other kinds of entertainment

Social media and other platforms of entertainment have become staples of our society and one of the focuses of Communications is to study and master its features and capabilities. Finding the most effective means of creating valuable images, messages and other content is a priority. You recognize the importance of social media and its impact on commerce, news and media and want to be able to use those skills for a productive purpose. Grove City College does a great job at maintaining and innovating new ways to incorporate social media and other media-related experiences and opportunities to Communication majors that seek it. Students that are well-equipped with the skills and the passion for impacting the media with creative, influential and honest content are the type of people that can find a home within Communication Studies

5. You want a career that is creative, social and important

By this point, I hope to have convinced you that Communication Studies is a broad spectrum of talents and opportunities that can fit a wide range of people. Regardless of the direction that Communications takes you, you can be assured that it can offer you a viable and exciting career that seeks creativity and innovation, willingness to effective communicate and interact with others and the chance to make a difference with effective communicating. This is where your interests in art, photography, sports, theater, social media, writing, talking with people, or volunteering can transform into a meaningful and tangible career path. With Communications, you are giving yourself the platform to begin to make your dreams and goals a reality.

For more information about Communication Studies at Grove City, please check out the Communication Studies Department at Grove City College webpage.

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Engineering Semester Abroad in France

Every year, Grove City College sends a group of engineering students to Nantes, France to study abroad.

It’s an incredible and unique opportunity for the engineering majors on campus. With such a specialized courseload, very few colleges can offer a study abroad experience within the engineering department like Grove City College does.

Last semester Alex Watt had a chance to interview Dr. Bright, the chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering while he was in France. Dr. Bright shared his experience with the program and encourages students to be a part of it.

For more information about the Nantes, France Engineering program, check out the Study Abroad for Engineers page on the Grove City College website.

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Building a Mobile Robot

As part of the mobile robotics class being offered next spring, Grove City engineers are designing a new robot. The hardware looks amazing, with components like National Instruments’ myRio, Garmin’s LIDAR-Lite, an inertial measurement unit, and a GPS. The robot will be equipped to navigate the outdoor world, and it will be up to the students to program it.

What I also think is cool about the robot is the team working on it. Dr. Mohr is teaching the mobile robotics class and so is leading the project, but developing the robot spans both the Electrical Engineering (EE) and Mechanical Engineering (ME) departments. A senior ME, Joel Bodine, has been designing the chassis as part of an independent study with Dr. Archibald. And Mr. Jaillet, the EE lab technician, has been essential to the project’s success, helping with practical details from his years of experience with electronics and design.

Joel Bodine - New Robot
Joel presenting the latest design concept

All of the ME students become masters of Creo by senior year, and that was clear with Joel, as he used the software to model every aspect of the chassis and then knew how to present from the model. But Joel had also learned a lot about designing for production and was able to draw on that experience. For instance, Grove City owns two 3D printers, which Joel will use for creating the chassis, so along with functional evaluation of each chassis design comes a consideration of how feasible printing each design is.

I learned a few things from observing the meeting. For instance, if you’re designing a robot for the outdoors, you should make sure you have good ground clearance; no one likes it when their robot gets stuck going over a hump. There is also a lot more to designing a chassis than is apparent: You can’t forget details like how the charging cord will connect to the battery charging port or how the wires will go where they need to go. There is also a lot of room for creativity, as was obvious from the different concepts Joel had developed.

Over the summer, Dr. Mohr will be working out some of the details of class projects for the mobile robot, but expects students to use the robot for things like localization (finding where you are and mapping the environment) and an interactive game.

Dr. Mohr also showed me the circuit schematic he has been working on, which is impressive. It’s also a lot neater than the one I made recently for his PCB design class. (Side note to future EE’s: You should definitely take the PCB class. It’s offered occasionally as a one-credit special topic class. I am learning so much about designing everyday circuits that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise learned with my computer concentration, and PCB’s are really cool.)

Robot Schematic

And there you have it! Future engineers at Grove City will get to program this mobile robot which is currently being designed and produced. And future students who, like Joel, have an interest in independent research, will get to continue working on the cutting edge of Grove City’s engineering program.

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Student Spotlight: Studying Abroad with Sarah Kuhn

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Emerson, with this quote, thoroughly explains the intrigue, adventure and excitement that accompanies most students that decide to pursue a study abroad program. One such student is junior Accounting and Finance major and Spanish minor Sarah Kuhn. She currently studying abroad in Granada, Spain through the opportunities offered to each student and major through the Grove City College Office of International Education (OIE). I was fortunate enough to have a conversation with her in between her international adventures to ask her a few questions about her experiences so far, her international insights, as well as her advice to those looking to pursue a study abroad program.

How was the planning process of choosing and applying for a program? Do you have any advice after your successful planning experience?

“Planning to study abroad is not a difficult experience. As long as you have the required packets and paperwork and some organizational skills, you will be able to figure it out. If studying abroad is important to you, then that is enough motivation to be able to make it happen. Also, the OIE is more than willing to help you with any problems or questions. I would advise that those wanting to study abroad do some research about classes and credits both at Grove City and in their desired program to make sure that they will transfer. It also helps to take Humanities courses earlier rather than later, because those classes will not transfer from abroad. It may help to plan out your courses ahead of time so that you are prepared.”

How has studying abroad changed your perspective on things like life, education, etc.?

Junior Sarah Kuhn and I discussing her study abroad experience to Grenada, Spain over a lovely video call.
Junior Sarah Kuhn and I discussing her study abroad experience to Grenada, Spain over a lovely video call.

“It had really shown be how big the world is. It has been such an eye-opening experience to be surrounded by so many students who are not Christian and to observe how they approach the world, art, travel, education, and the beauty of Creation. It makes me think of my understanding and learning through classes like Speculative Mind and Civ Arts.”

What has been the best part about studying abroad so far?

“The best part overall has been the opportunity to see things in person that I never imagined really existed. It’s been so amazing to see vague and intangible things that I’ve only learned about becoming real, like Europe itself and works of art. I recently traveled to the beach and was able to experience the Mediterranean Sea for the first time, which was pretty special.”

What is your favorite thing about living in Spain?

“I’ve really enjoyed the opportunities to practice and learn more Spanish. That was really important to me, and a big part of why I decided to study abroad. I’ve loved being in Spanish classes, conversing with professors and asking questions that I was able to apply to my life directly outside of the classroom in a real-life setting. I’ve loved learning about the culture and the different dialects within Spain. The culture is so diverse and there’s so much I still don’t know, and I think that is really cool.”

What are the biggest differences that you have seen between Europe and America?

“Mostly, I have noticed how much more secular Europe is in comparison to the United States. Many times over the months I’ve been here, I have been able to share and explain the gospel with people who really didn’t have any idea what Christianity is all about. I’ve noticed that Americans tend to have such a small scope of perspective, and that studying abroad highlights the range of that scope in different ways. People in Europe are much more culturally aware than Americans, and speak more language and have a better understanding of more cultures outside their own.”

Anything else you’d like to share?

“I am surprised how few people studied abroad from Grove City this semester, only 13! If you choose the right program and plan it right, studying abroad (flights included) can cost less than a semester at the College. Also, studying abroad has made me so thankful for Grove City College’s community, their strong Christian education, and formative classes. I am so lucky to have a Grove City College education as a base so that I can succeed wherever I am in the world, and to be able to use what I learn as well.”

Sarah Kuhn is forging her own path abroad, and surely Emerson would be proud. Her experiences and insights will add so much diversity and culture to Grove City College, as does every student that studies abroad. Choosing the path abroad can lead to a discovery of culture, faith, self and so much more, and the OIE helps make those dreams a reality for Grove City College students. So it has been said, and can be applied to those seeking an abroad adventure, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”

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Designing the Design Minor for 2017

In recent years, Grove City has been taking leaps and bounds in the Department of Communication. Not only are great new opportunities emerging within the writing program, but within the visual arts program as well. In the past five years, design professor Nate Mucha has been working hard to single-handedly build Grove City College’s Design courses from the ground up. In fact, a Design minor is set to be available starting in the fall 2017 semester. This week, I had the chance to sit down and get an inside look at Professor Mucha’s experience with the Design program here at Grove City.

Professor Mucha began teaching at Grove City College in the fall semester of 2012. At the time, the school offered one design class taught by visual arts professor Kathy Rhoades. During his first semester, professor Mucha brought his own new design course with him: Intro to Visual Communication Design. Intro to VCD hones students’ practical visual design skills through abstract and applied design principles, introducing students to the grid system and to Adobe InDesign. In the spring semester of that same year, Interactive Design and User Experience was born. This new course incorporated visually appealing design with a practical application for product and web interaction. In 2015, the rest of the current design classes were added to the curriculum: Visual Communication Design I and II, as well as online classes Design Software and Design History.

VCD I and II further incorporate the skills acquired in Intro to VCD and apply them to real-world creative projects such as magazine layout and package design. Design Software utilizes Lynda.com to provide students with a crash course in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop: the industry standard software for designers everywhere. Design History utilizes a more traditional teaching style to take students through the evolution of design from its origins through modern design trends. At the same time when these courses were introduced, professor Mucha gave the school’s original design class, Design Principles, a complete makeover, and a new name: Design Thinking. It is an introductory course with an objective to get students into a practical design mindset, taking students through everything from problem solving and being able to make mistakes to brainstorming and collaborating.

Professor Mucha said that if he had to choose his favorite class to teach, it would be the series of VCD I and VCD II. In the Introduction to VCD class, students are generally starting out in design and curious to learn more about it and discover whether or not it is for them, but the VCD I and II series typically only sees students with a true passion for design, who have completed the basic level design classes. These students aren’t afraid to settle down to get real design work done and create many valuable portfolio pieces throughout the year. As time goes, on, professor Mucha’s classes are attracting more and more students with an interest in design. When he taught his first Intro to VCD class here at GCC, it had 12 students who were curious about design and eager to know more about it. Nowadays his students often know about design coming into the classroom, but they want to experience design classes to expand and apply their skills and learn whether they want to pursue design as a career.

The potential Design minor has seen interest primarily from students within the Communication, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship disciplines. Professor Mucha has also spoken about a Design minor with a handful of Biology and Physics students, as well as Computer Science students who work diligently to make the time to add a minor to their hectic schedules. Some science students are able to incorporate design classes into their schedules by also pursuing a technical writing concentration, which requires a combination of general science, writing, and design classes.

In total, the Design minor has attracted about 10 students so far. It has been received with great enthusiasm, although some seniors graduating in 2017 are disappointed that it won’t be available in time for them to declare it. Even though it won’t be official until next year, a Design minor has actually been in the works for a number of years. As soon as professor Mucha returned to Grove City College to teach, he knew he wanted a Design minor to be made available. With a small Communications department at the time, he knew there was much room for expansion. Professors from all over the school, including the Business, Communication, Art, and Computer Science departments got behind the idea, seeing how the program would be able to elevate all areas of academic thought. Being a discipline that can enhances communication in all areas, design focuses not on itself, but on its message. It is a growing area of study with which we should all become familiar, because it can benefit everyone.