homecoming 2017 – Alumni Blog

October 5, 2017October 5, 2017

Homecoming 2017 Collection

By: Dezaray Barr

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It’s officially homecoming! Be sure to check out all of our homecoming 2017 stories!

Phill Tague is the lead pastor at The Ransom Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He and his wife, Stephani, planted the church in 2009, and the church has flourished since.

Pastor of the Week: Phil Tague

Each Fall, Indiana Wesleyan University awards one outstanding individual with the Distinguished Wesley Seminary Alumni Award. This award is granted to an alumnus or alumna of the Seminary who has exhibited excellence in serving his or her profession, community, church, or alma mater in the spirit of Jesus Christ.

This year, Phill Tague of The Ransom Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is the recipient of this award. Tague and his wife, Stephani, planted The Ransom Church in 2009, and since then, the church has grown abundantly.

Homecoming 2017: Phill Tague

Each year, Indiana Wesleyan University awards a Distinguished College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Award. This award is granted to an alumnus or alumna of the College who has exhibited excellence in serving his or her profession, community, church, or alma mater in the spirit of Jesus Christ. This year’s recipient is Phil Talbert.

Talbert is the CEO of Talbert Educational Consulting, LLC.

Homecoming 2017: Phil Talbert

Every year, Indiana Wesleyan University awards an individual the Distinguished DeVoe School of Business Alumni Award. This award is granted to an alumnus or alumna of the School who has exhibited excellence in serving his or her profession, community, church or alma mater in the spirit of Jesus Christ. This year, that award was given to Brian Harlow. Harlow graduated in 1998 with a Master’s in Management and received an honor doctorate degree from IWU in 2015 at the December Commencement.

Homecoming 2017: Brian Harlow

Every year, Indiana Wesleyan University gives the Distinguished College of Adult and Professional Studies Alumni Award to an alumnus or alumna of the College who has exhibited excellence in serving his or her profession, community, church, or alma mater in the spirit of Jesus Christ. This year, Chris Daughtry receives this honor.

Daughtry is the Superintendent at Elwood Community School Corporation located in the heart of Indiana.

Homecoming 2017: Chris Daughtry

Each year, Indiana Wesleyan University awards an outstanding individual with a Distinguished School of Nursing Alumni Award. This award would be granted to an alumnus or alumna of the School who has exhibited excellence in serving his or her profession, community, church, or alma mater in the spirit of Jesus Christ. This year, Brandon Lee was the recipient. Lee received his Master Degree in Nursing from the Indiana Wesleyan University’s online program in 2006 and is currently using his passion for nursing to help many.

Homecoming 2017: Brandon Lee

Each Fall, Indiana Wesleyan University awards an outstanding IWU graduate with the Distinguished Young Alumni Award. This award is granted to an alumnus or alumna who graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences within the past 10 years and has exhibited excellence in serving his or her profession, community, church, or alma mater in the spirit of Jesus Christ. This year, two distinguished alumni won this award – Aaron and Jathniel Shepherd.

Homecoming 2017: Aaron and Jathniel Shepherd

Garrett Howell is the Founder of Awaken Ministries. He graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministries and in 2016 with a graduate degree in Practical Theology.

Indiana Wesleyan University’s Homecoming schedule this year includes the Awaken Night of Worship on Thursday, October 5th. This event will be a worship service that gathers alumni and current students together to seek a fresh movement of God’s Spirit in our lives and in our community. Worship band Alanna Story will be leading worship. and Garrett Howell will be preaching. Doors open at 9 pm, and the service begins at 9:30 pm. We would love to see you there!

Pastor of the Week: Garrett Howell at Awaken Ministries

A new scholarship has been established at Indiana Wesleyan University for students who are a part of the Division of Pre-licensure Nursing. The Sloan-Harrison Scholarship will be available beginning in this upcoming 2017-2018 school year. This unique, endowed scholarship was set up by Indiana Wesleyan’s School of Nursing to honor Professor Brenda Sloan and Dr. Pamela Harrison, past educators who have both greatly impacted their students.

Sloan-Harrison Scholarship

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Written by Dezaray Barr, PR Specialist for the Alumni Office. Dezaray is a junior Strategic Communication and Honors Humanities double major at Indiana Wesleyan University in the John Wesley Honors College. At IWU, Dezaray runs both the JWHC Blog and her own blog. Visit Dez’s website at www.dezaraybarr.weebly.com.

September 26, 2017July 24, 2023

Homecoming 2017: Phil Talbert

By: Dezaray Barr

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Talbert is the CEO of Talbert Educational Consulting, LLC. From 1987 to current, he has been a member of the Greenfield Church of the Nazarene. He has been a Church Board Secretary for 27 years, a member of the New Church Building Committee, a Middle School/High School Sunday School Teacher, a Bible School Teacher/Activities Coordinator, an Adult Sunday School Teacher for five years, a Song Leader/Assistant Song Leader for seven years, a Usher and Weekly Counter for fifteen years, and a Community Day Coordinator/Church Car Show Coordinator.

Talbert has also been a Board Member of the Warren Arts and Education Foundation since 2005 and a Founding Member of the Warren Township Kiwanis Club since 2004.

He has received the following awards: Warren Township Service Award 1982, NFL Teacher of the Month 1996, Voyager Expanded Learning Founder’s Award 2009, Indiana Department of Education “Spotlight on Learning” Award in 2009, Indiana Department of Education Distinguished Principal Award in 2011, Warren Township Lasting Impact Award in 2015, City-County Council Proclamation of the City of Indianapolis “Key to the City” in 2016, and Hawthorne School Playground dedicated in honor of Phil Talbert in 2016.

“I went to the altar at sixteen years of age and asked the Lord what He wanted me to do with my life,” Talbert said. “I had planned to be an architect, which I had been preparing for in high school. While at the altar the Lord said to me. ‘Phil, do you want to build buildings or build people?’ I said, ‘What do you want me to do Lord?’ The Lord said. ‘I want you to build people.’ I said that if that is what He wanted me to do, I was willing to do it. This was part of God’s plan for my life. I would not be a Christian today, if I hadn’t attended Marion College (now IWU).”

Phil Talbert 2 — Phil and his wife with the Corvette

Phil Talbert 3 — Phil and the Corvette in his graduation yearbook

When Talbert was a student, he ordered a brand new custom Corvette, right off the assembly line, to arrive on graduation day. This is the same Corvette in its original condition and will be featured in the parade during homecoming.

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September 16, 2017October 10, 2017

Homecoming 2017: Brian Harlow

By: Dezaray Barr

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Harlow is currently the Head of North America Manufacturing for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, as well as the Global Head of Powertrain Manufacturing Engineering.

In the past, Harlow served at Rock Prairie Church in Tipton, Indiana as a Deacon for 30 years, as a Moderator for ten years, and as a church pianist and worship team member for over 40 years. He served for three years on the Kokomo Rescue Mission Board, 15 years as a youth sports Coach, and five years as a Moderator for the Northern Indiana Association of Separate Baptists. Currently, he is a Board Member at Woodside Vision Foundation and at United Way Southeast Michigan.

“I am both humbled, honored and particularly grateful to IWU for the opportunities that came my way as a result of the Master’s Degree I was enabled to earn,” Harlow said. “The true capstone of both my educational and career achievements was being given the opportunity to speak to the December 2015 IWU graduates and having President Dr. Wright confer me with an Honorary Doctorate.”

Check out his interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttMCVNg8l34.

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September 3, 2017

Homecoming 2017: Chris Daughtry

By: Dezaray Barr

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Daughtry is the Superintendent at Elwood Community School Corporation located in the heart of Indiana. He is currently a Member at Albion Wesleyan Church, but is transitioning to College Wesleyan Church in Marion.

Daughtry graduated from IWU in 2002 with a Master’s in Education and then in 2010 with a Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership.

He is currently an active member of the Optimist Club of Elwood and a Board Member of the St. Vincent Mercy Foundation. Daughtry is also the Acting President of the Indiana Small and Rural Schools Association. He has been honored with an Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and as 434^th Support Group Airman of the Quarter.

“My IWU education further cemented a sense of ‘service above self’ that was first taught to me by my parents and later reinforced by my service in the U.S. Air Force,” Daughtry said. “My professors at IWU encouraged me to become a true servant leader. It is that foundation of servant leadership that truly guides me in the empowerment of those that I lead and that I serve.”

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August 23, 2017October 10, 2017

Homecoming 2017: Brandon Lee

By: Emily Neideck

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59630_10152283007190008_446933607_n — Brandon Lee and his wife Photo contributed from Facebook

Lee decided to pursue IWU’s Graduate Nurse Practitioner program because of convenience and the spiritual aspect integrated into the classes. He attended courses at IWU’s Indianapolis North Campus. The program’s schedule allowed Lee to continue his career while still taking classes and pursuing higher education.

Currently, Lee is a Company Commander of the 215th area support medical company. He and 80 other personnel provide medical support for a large area within the Indiana National Guard. Lee has been a member of the National Guard for 16 years and with the Army for 22 years. He said, “I have had a lot of firsts for Nurse Practitioners within the Army.”

Lee also holds the position of Flight Surgeon and has completed the air medical training to be able to help keep our pilots in the air. He was one of the first 20 people in the Army to actually complete this training and the first Nurse Practitioner to hold command in the Indiana Guard. Lee is the first inpatient Nurse Practitioner to be hired for Thoracic and Vascular Surgery at Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis. He stated, “I have been fortunate in the sense that I am able to see patients on the inpatient side, assist in surgery and see post-operative patients, as well.”

Lee believes that Indiana Wesleyan’s faith-based education allowed him to excel in his many life endeavors. “The education that you get at Indiana Wesleyan prepares you to be a Nurse Practitioner in the real world. The students are better prepared than other programs,” Lee said.

Lee is VP of Capni (Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses of Indiana). The organization’s goal, found on their website, states, “CAPNI is dedicated to furthering the understanding and advancement of the APRN role at the local and state levels, and to protecting that role in the legislative, administrative, and clinical realms.”

On winning the Distinguished School of Nursing Alumni Award, Lee stated, “I am honored. I am humbled. It was a complete surprise.” On behalf of the Indiana Wesleyan Alumni Center, congratulations to Brandon Lee on winning this award and his many accomplishments.

Check out his interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_yHaTNdlGg.

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Written by Emily Neideck, writer for the Alumni Center and a junior Writing major at IWU. She is active on the cross country and track teams. She is passionate about using her writing skills to share the good news of Christ with others and writes often on her personal blog at www.emilylehner.wordpress.com.

August 15, 2017

Homecoming 2017 – Phillippe Performing Arts

Homecoming is just around the corner – October 5-7, 2017. Don’t miss the exciting events …. #IWUHomecoming2017 | Check out the event at the Phillippe Performing Arts |

Phillippe Presents, August, 2017 | From the Director’s Desk:

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said, “There is nothing permanent except change.” He couldn’t have been more right.

This summer has seen many changes for our team in the PPAC. We have said goodbye to colleagues who answered God’s call to new ministry opportunities. We have welcomed new colleagues whom God has prepared with the tools needed to help our team move forward. Our Box Office has experienced an amazing metamorphosis and looks nothing like the ticketing home we had occupied for the past twenty years (more about this in next month’s edition). And we now find ourselves changing our focus and attention from the very busy summer conference season to the upcoming academic year.

Change can be overwhelming, filled with anxiety over the uncertainty that change might initiate. But with God in control, we can look to the changes in our path with a feeling of excitement for the great works that He has for us to perform. We celebrate this change and ask that you join us this upcoming academic year to celebrate with us the exciting things taking place in the Phillippe Performing Arts Center. – Phil Huber, Director

You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown | Tickets Are On Sale Today!

August 10, 2017October 10, 2017

Homecoming 2017: Phill Tague

By: Emily Neideck

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Phill Tague, photo courtesy of Facebook via The Wesleyan Church — Phill Tague

Tague was called to ministry at church camp after his senior year of high school. He said, “I spent much of my freshman year of college studying ministry, while also talking myself out of my faith.” He believed that many Christians he had met were hypocritical, and eventually, Tague fell completely away from his faith.

However, one day, Tague felt the Holy Spirit nudge him, saying, “So, your answer for hypocrisy is hypocrisy?” Tague realized his fault and began to pursue Christ with his whole heart and mind.

Tague received his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Wesleyan University and went on to pursue his Master in Ministry at Wesley Seminary. He stated, “I was especially interested in Indiana Wesleyan’s graduate program because the degree was called, ‘Christian Ministries and Leadership.’”

Tague attended Wesley Seminary through the online program, but believes the online experience did not hinder his IWU experience in any way. He was the first of many online graduate cohorts, which allowed him to grow in relationship and wisdom.

Tague, his wife and another couple started The Ransom Church. Originally, the group met in a local movie theater. Now, with two campuses, 2,000 people, ministries in 6 nursing homes and a ministry at the local jail, Tague said, “The Ransom Church has truly grown into a thing that only God can get the credit for. It has been an incredible journey of church planting and growth.”

The Ransom Church focuses on authenticity and making the Gospel applicable to people’s everyday lives. Tague stated, “Church isn’t something you attend. It is something that you become.”

Wesley Seminary provided Tague with a hunger to sharpen himself and keep growing. He said, “I used to think of ministry in one category and leadership in another. What I started realizing is that there are tensions in ministry between being a shepherd, a leader, a pastor, etc. These are tensions that need to be managed. Wesley seminary helped me blur those lines in a good way.” Tague learned that being a good leader means leading others to understand growth and chasing what God has in store for them.

Tague said, “This award is super humbling. The list of people I can think of who deserve this award more than I do is long, and it is humbling to think that because of something God doing through you, you might get recognition.”

Check out his interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSWQqIuvhJQ.

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