Homecoming – Page 2 – Alumni Blog

September 3, 2017

Homecoming 2017: Chris Daughtry

By: Dezaray Barr

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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. 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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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.

August 19, 2017August 23, 2017

Homecoming 2017: Aaron and Jathniel Shepherd

By: Emily Neideck

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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.

The Shepherd’s met at Indiana Wesleyan University and currently, live in Cincinnati, Ohio. Aaron is employed with Procter and Gamble. His position involves working with advertising, contracts and trademark law. Jathniel currently works part-time for their church as the financial administrator, and she also stays home with their three children.

Both Aaron and Jathniel believe that many friendships were formed for them during their time at IWU, and both worked for The Sojourn. Aaron stated, “Most the friendships that I made I have been able to keep, even though some of those friends are local.” Jathniel graduated from Indiana Wesleyan with a degree in Nursing, and Aaron was a double major with Political Science and Writing.

Indiana Wesleyan was Jathniel’s first Christian schooling experience. She stated, “I had always gone to public school before that. Going to a school that had a Christian background changed me. I really appreciate that.” She believes her time at IWU was formative to who she is now. Even though she is not practicing as a Nurse, she believes that the things she learned and the professors she encountered have impacted what she is currently doing.

For Aaron, the most beneficial part of his time at IWU was the professors. He said, “They were always challenging me, but also, always believing in me.” He believes this increased his confidence for graduate school and in his current workforce. His professors also encouraged him to trust in God’s plan for his life, leading him to be more confident in the tasks he was completing.

The Shepherds exemplify what it means to live out God’s calling in the present. Aaron stated about winning this award, “I think we are overall just humbled by it. We certainly know that we have not, from our view, done any grand or amazing thing in our lives. In many ways, we are just trying to live out the calling to serve Christ in our community, church and careers.”

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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 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

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.

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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May 10, 2017May 10, 2017

Homecoming 2017 – Class Reunions

I l church matching article ove seeing Facebook status updates that include IWU! As alumni visit campus or share college day memories with former classmates, it is always filled with experiences that are fun and memorable. Pictures of former college days with groups of friends are unique to those experiences.

Remember when you were a student? Although the campus may look different, the same Christ-centered education you were blessed with is continuing to touch student lives.

We want to help you relive those memories as you onc JWADMIN e again walk the campus (though you may need a campus tour today since the landscape has changes). The positive experiences you share are often the positive stories students share today; stories about residential living, life changing chapels, and faculty. The McConn for many is central to those experiences yet we all share the wonderful relationships we gained through our college years.

We also want to remind you during Homecoming 2017, that students today, like yourself, need financial assistance. Through the IWU Support Our Students (S.O.S.) Scholarship Fund, your gift will help a student overcome financial challenges and receive the blessing of an IWU education. Please visit indwes.edu/reunions to make your gift today. Our students are counting on you!

I look forward to seeing you on campus and watching you share your Homecoming campus visit on Facebook. If you have any questions about Homecoming 2017 or the Class Reunion Gift Project, please feel free to contact me at your Alumni Relations Office. Get involved in leading your class reunion event please contact Rick Carder right away – rick.carder@indwes.edu | We need you!

Here is a glimpse of the events being planned for you:

Friday, October 6 – Classes of ’52, ’57, ’62, ’67

Chapel – Alumni World Changers Recognition – 10:00 AM
Combined Luncheon (Complimentary) – 11:30 AM
Campus Tour
Homecoming Banquet (Complimentary) – 6:00 PM

Saturday, October 7 – Classes of ’52, ’57, ’62, ’67, (’76, ’77, ’78), ’87, ’97

Reception for all class reunion alumni (Teter Cafe’ – Complimentary) – 10:30 AM
Class Cluster Luncheon (’76, ’77, ’78 – $6 per person) – 11:30 AM
Campus Tours
Intercollegiate Athletics | Alumni Receptions (Divisions include: School of Nursing, Retiring Faculty Receptions, WIWU Radio (The Fortress); Wilbur Williams Reception, and much more…)

The 2017 Class Reunion Gift Project supports the IWU Fund S.O.S. – Support our Student Scholarship. This fund was established to help meet the unexpected financial challenges that prevent a student from continuing their studies at IWU.

August 9, 2016August 9, 2016

Homecoming Parade

Homecoming festivities are right around the corner. With the many festivities of Homecoming, the Indiana Wesleyan Staff is working hard to finalize details. The Homecoming weekend will host a number of events including a the Gaither Vocal Band concert, class reunions, athletic events, along with a parade, including a kazoo band.

Largest Kazoo Band of it's kind in 1975 — Largest Kazoo Band of it’s kind in 1977

The original parade dates back over 70 years and expanded off campus and into downtown Marion. However, this year’s parade will mainly stay around campus. Members of the parade will include those from the community and campus. Examples are campus police, ROTC, President Wright and his wife, Homecoming Court including king and queen, a few residence halls, and various groups around the community.

Phil Talbert, a member of the IWU class of ‘74, plans to attend the parade and drive his corvette in it. Talbert bought the corvette himself the year of his college graduation, and it still remains in its original pieces. In 1973, weeks after placing an order for the car, the members of General Motors went on strike. “I wrote a letter to the District Manager of GM here in Indianapolis and told him that I was graduating from college, I had always wanted a corvette, and I wanted to see the USA from my Chevrolet. That was the saying back then,” Talbert said.

The parade will also have a kazoo band. Rev. Rick Carder stated, “Traditions are exciting. We hope that students will engage in this opportunity to bring as many people to the parade as possible including students and alumni. We will have a kazoo band “Grand Marshall” Paul Simpson to participate, who originated this in tradition in 1977 & 1978.” To learn more about the history of the Kazoo Band, read here.

The parade is scheduled to take place Saturday, October 8 at 1:00 PM. Participants should arrive at at Philippe Auditorium by noon to line-up. Participants can be from either the community or IWU. To submit an entry for the parade, visit . Prize categories include Most Unique, Most Wildcat Spirit, Best Walking Entry, Best Community Entry, and Best Student Entry. Winners are awarded $100.00.

Written by Emily Lehner, a writer for the Alumni Center and a sophomore 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.

October 8, 2015

Homecoming E-Z-Go Get-You-There Golf Cart Transportation

This past Homecoming, Joe and Phyllis Russell led an enthusiastic staff of drivers shuttled alumni, staff, and students to homecoming events through the IWU golf cart shuttling service. For over thirty years, the Russell’s have been an intricate part of volunteering at IWU projects and events, striving to create a pleasant visit experience for all guests at Indiana Wesleyan University events. “The vision of adding a golf cart shuttle service was theirs (Joe and Phyllis),” says Rick Carder, Director of Alumni and Church Engagement. “As we were having lunch they mentioned how large the campus has grown since they were students in the 1950’s” offers Carder.

Annually, IWU alumni had been travelling to the school for the Scholarship Luncheon honoring the donors of private academic scholarships. Many of the donors honored at this luncheon were between seventy and ninety years old, however, and walking from the limited parking to the student center proved a challenge for them. Noticing this need, Russell proposed the golf cart taxi service, a free means of transportation for elderly and disabled visitors to IWU.

In the past few years, the golf carts have ferried people for homecoming, grandparents’ day, and many IWU athletic events. This program is entirely staffed by volunteers; however Russell mentioned that finding drivers is never a problem. “We’ve been blessed, really, in having the volunteers we need,” Russell commented. “Once they start driving for us, they’re hooked on it.”

Due to rain, the shuttle service was a little less in demand this past weekend for homecoming, but the staff worked hard to service anyone who might need a ride, even taking trips from the town houses to the student center ferrying students. “Everyone really seemed to enjoy the experience, and although our numbers were less, the experience was still high quality,” stated Russell.

The alumni office helps with some of the administrative support for the golf cart ministry. Carder says that, “I have the joy of working with our volunteer leadership. Each year we make small adjustments to the schedule but mostly I just coordinate their needs.” The golf cart shuttle service stared in 2007. That year the team assembled for Homecoming as well as Grandparents Day and the Track and Field NAIA Nationals. “It was several big events with long hours, generally starting before 6 AM and finishing sometime after 9 PM” says Carder. This year the team expanded to include Brent Miller, an alum and local pastor of Southside Wesleyan Church. Brent took over much of the recruitment and managing of the team. “Brent has been a real asset to our team” Carder adds. Brent brought new drivers and coordinated his new role with the Russell’s as he helped lead this ministry.

Russell and his crew will be in service for a second time; Grandparent’s Day is a special day where students invite their grandparents to come to campus for a visit day. We often have over 900 guests register to attend. “This weekend, all our guests are in that sixty to seventy-year-old range,” Russell mentioned, “We will really be popping.”

Russell and his team of volunteers strives to make visiting IWU a positive and enjoyable experience by serving alumni through attending to transportation needs and building relationships with passengers along the way. Joe has nick named the shuttle cart ministry as “E-Z Go get-you-there!”

Written by Katherine Arch, Story Teller for Alumni Relations. Katherine Arch is a Senior English major at Indiana Wesleyan, and a member of the Track and Cross Country teams. She is passionate about sharing people’s stories and celebrating their unique divine potential in written form.

October 2, 2015October 1, 2015

2015 Homecoming Chapel Speakers: Darren and Nancy Campbell

Darren and Nancy Campbell have built, and are still building, their lives on the promise of God laid out in Acts 5:38-39: If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God. The couple has been eagerly serving the Lord for 20 years. Although both had degrees in business and no Christian ministry background, they followed the Lord’s calling and pursued ministry. In 1995, the year Darren graduated, an Indiana pastor called to ask if he and his wife would serve as youth pastors at his church, and they took a leap of faith by accepting. Eleven years ago they planted a church, affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance, that now has two campuses. The church, located near an exit to Interstate 69, draws many of its members from nearby Taylor University as well as from IWU. Along with ministering through the church, the Campbells opened Tree of Life Bookstores in 1997. This business now operates 16 college bookstores – all at Christian colleges – and is negotiating with 12 others. The corporate headquarters for Tree of Life bookstores and distribution center is located in Marion, Indiana, along with their adjoining coffee shop. Their journey with Christ continues, and their vision is to plant more churches, fueled by their passion for college campuses. They also want to mentor and help young entrepreneurs start their own businesses – especially in small cities such as Marion.

May 12, 2015September 23, 2015

Homecoming 2015 Sneak Preview: New Parade Route

Although homecoming is still several months away, Lauren Shaw, Young Alumni and Assistant Director of Student Activities Council, as well as other members of the planning committee, are hard at work to create a homecoming experience that emphasizes the importance of community within IWU as well as in the surrounding community. Shaw, a ’14 alumni from IWU, recalls fondly her experiences with homecoming as a student.

“I loved the parade;” she stated, “There were always so many floats, and we would all travel downtown for a huge party that integrated the community of Marion with IWU so well.” This year, the homecoming planning committee is working to enhance that sense of community by re-routing the parade. Instead of ending the parade downtown, Shaw explained that the committee plans are to conclude the route at the soccer fields where the men’s and women’s teams have games that day. The parade will end at a large cookout as well as the Kid Zone; an area where people can mingle and have a chance to reconnect with friends. Shaw explains that the homecoming committee hopes this will help create a more family-friendly atmosphere and generate more support for that weekend’s athletic events. Additionally, she mentioned that they are working to encourage increased student participation in the parade.

Join the Homecoming 2015 Campus Parade beginning at 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 3! This year there are over twenty student and community organization entries. You may enjoy a re-creation of the 1977 and 1984 student and alumni KAZOO BAND. (Arrive at the Phillippe Performing Arts parking lot at 12:30 PM to participate!) There will be plenty of candy tossed out to spectators. Check out the parade route.

“We’re thinking about having every dorm create a float for the parade,” she stated, “each dorm has its own flair and unique identity. This way every student will have an outlet to participate in homecoming!”

Homecoming is October 2 & 3, 2015 – Don’t miss this exciting event as well as FNL Flashback, Class Reunions (1955, 1960, 1965, 1975, 1985, 1990 (’89-’91), 1995), McConn Staff Reunion, Young Alumni – Techniques for Enjoying McConn Coffee at Home, School of Nursing Celebrates 40 years!, and much, much more.

Homecoming 2014 album by IWUalumni on Flickr.

Written by Katherine Arch, Story Teller for Alumni Relations. Katherine Arch is a Junior English major at Indiana Wesleyan, and a member of the Track and Cross Country teams. She is passionate about sharing people’s stories and celebrating their divine potential in written form.