Congratulations to Honors Scholar and Humanities major, Kristen Vander-Plas, who was chosen to speak on behalf of the May 2013 Graduate class during the Spring Undergraduate Commencement ceremony.
Kristen is an active member of both the Honors community and the Lubbock community, and will be attending Texas Tech School of Law in the fall. We are so proud of Kristen and anxiously await her address.
The ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 4th at 10:00am in the Rip Griffin Center.
The LCU students “gavel in” with Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst
On Thursday, March 21st, seven individuals from LCU traveled to Austin to meet with fellow Texas College Republicans and attend a special breakfast with our Lieutenant Governor, David Dewhurst. The meeting was facilitated by Honors senior Kristen Vander-Plas, who was joined by fellow Honors students Alexis Farrell and Weston Wyly. We are thankful our Capitol gave the surrounding universities an opportunity to speak their minds and we are proud of our students for being active in the community. Read each of their responses below.
Alexis Farrell, Freshman:
“Having breakfast with the Lieutenant Governor was such a blessing and an enlightening experience. Not only did we have the opportunity to hear his beliefs and how he is trying to carry them out in legislation, but he asked us about our beliefs too. We were able to express our concerns about the government and feel confident that we were actually being heard. Because of this and the great relationships made with students and faculty, the time spent at the Texas Capitol was a truly unforgettable experience. I am so grateful that LCU encourages events like this for their students.”
Weston Wyly, Freshman:
“Our breakfast with Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst was an incredible experience. This meeting provided a unique opportunity to sit down with the man that presides over our state senate, to voice our concerns, and to discuss what he could do to strengthen the trust we have in our state’s future. There were students from the University of Texas, Texas State, and several other large scale universities. It was amazing to see Lubbock Christian University having more students at the breakfast than these powerhouse state institutions. The TEG (which greatly benefits many Lubbock Christian University students) was just one of the topics mentioned. Hearing the Lieutenant Governor personally promise its continuation was reassuring and exciting. This shows that the impact made by Lubbock Christian University and institutions like it are seen by many.”
Kristen Vander-Plas, Senior:
“I was proud to facilitate the meeting with Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst and equally glad that so many from LCU were able to attend (we represented 7 out of 28 total attendees). Gov. Dewhurst was so gracious with his time, answering all of our questions, encouraging us in our career fields, and overall making us proud to be Texans and Americans. I especially appreciated the time he spent telling us about his family and his father’s experience in France on D-Day. Then, he allowed us to “gavel in” the Texas Senate – even taking pictures with us up on the dais! His generosity in time was amazing.
Additionally, it was a real treat to spend time with each of our Lubbock representatives: Senator Robert Duncan, and Reps. Charles Perry and John Frullo. All three were very enthusiastic in their support of LCU and I was proud to be an LCU ambassador. Special thanks to our Executive Vice-President Brian Starr, who, despite an incredibly full schedule, dropped everything in order to accompany us when it became clear we needed a faculty sponsor.”
The Honors Program is split into two major components – The Curricular and the Co-Curricular. To fulfill the Co-Curricular requirements, students must attend two speaking and two cultural events each academic year, and write a report afterwards.
One of our most
popular cultural events is the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra’s concert series. The Honors Program offers a number of free tickets to students who are interested in attending. This year’s series, On Fire, has been particularly popular. The series includes five concerts, each with a special guest appearance.
Jared McDougal, one of our Honors Students, wrote in his January LSO concert report, “Conrad Tao, the teenage pianist, was by far the most impressive part of the evening. It was refreshing to see such a young and amazing performer who was comfortable enough in front of an auditorium of strangers to play to the best of his ability. Directly, this concert had nothing to do with my Exercise and Sports Science studies, but watching Conrad Tao play the piano was all the more impressive because of my knowledge of the body’s nervous system. That took great fine-motor skills, rhythm, and even coordination to produce such advanced piano music.”
Jared’s report eloquently explains the reason the Honors Program requires cultural and speaking reports – to expand students’ educational experience outside of the classroom and their major. These events lead many students to discover elements of their studies in other areas, creating well rounded and experienced adults.
The next concert in the series, Classical 4: Bowdacious, will star guest violinist Robert Chen and include pieces by Glinka, Mendelssohn, and Brahms. LSO will perform on March 1st. For more information or tickets, visit their website.
This year the Great Plains Honors Council Conference will take place at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, close enough that the LCU Honors Program can travel and sponsor several students to go. This conference is a great opportunity for students to practice upcoming presentations and senior projects in preparation for the upcoming Scholars Colloquium and finals in the spring. The Ambassador Hotel will serve as the central location and housing, with conference events divided between the hotel and the WTAMU campus in Canyon.
The Lighthouse at Palo Duro Canyon
A variety of events will take place during the conference, such as student poster and oral presentations, nuts and bolts Honors sessions, outstanding speakers, activities unique to the region, and many opportunities for students, faculty, and administrators to connect.
The conference will offer several afternoon activities for conference attendees on Saturday. The choices include Palo Duro Canyon, (the second largest canyon in the U.S.), Cadillac Ranch, and the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum. All activity fees are included in the registration cost, which is covered by the Honors Program for students presenting at the event.
If you are an interested student, or know of an Honors student who would greatly benefit from this experience, please encourage them to submit an abstract. The final deadline for submissions is March 1st. For more information about the conference, visit the website.
Holly and friend at Capitol Hill
What has been your favorite experience so far?
As our fall semester kicks into high gear, it is easy to lay aside the finer things in life. The Creative Arts Festival is a refreshing way to relax and explore the culture of art, music, food, poetry, and film. These events will be held on November 12th-13th at 7:0
0pm in the Sub. Students and faculty will participate through performing arts, food submissions, visual art submissions, and by simply supporting with their attendance and appreciation. Monday the 12th will be the open mic night, facilitating most of our events. The performing artists will provide a delightful backdrop for attendees to enjoy while they sample the foods submitted as culinary art. Visual works of art will surround the stage upon which Dr. Matt Byars will share his poetry and serve as our host. On the 13th, we will be screening the beloved family favorite, Pixar’s Up. Tim Day will be there to guide the students through their exploration of the movie’s artistry, creative devices, and emotional captivity.
The Creative Arts Festival has occurred annually for 4 years, and it has shaped into a well-honored tradition. I am personally excited for the festival because I have been a part of it since its birth. My brother, Drew Brandon, initiated it when he held the office of President of SHAC, which is the office which I now hold. I remember when he first mentioned the event to me. He was dripping with enthusiasm and he couldn’t wait to get it off the ground. I designed the advertising posters for the very first Creative Arts “Week”, and it was a true joy. Every year, it has become more special. Come support it this year as we strive to make it the most successful Creative Arts Festival ever.
Peace and Blessings,
Jared Brandon
Dr. Stacy Patty, Dr. Robert Benne, Dr. Allison Garrett, President Tim Perrin, Dr. Doug Henry, and Dr. Richard Hughes
On September 26th, at 2:30 in the afternoon, the Baker Conference Center was full to the brim, extra seating required to fill the back rows as staff, faculty, and students poured in. The Honors Program hosted its first Honor’s Convocation, one of the capstone events during the Presidential Inauguration Week for LCU’s sixth president, L. Tim Perrin.
Asked to speak at the event was Dr. Robert D. Benne, who currently serves as the Director for the Center for Religion and Society at Roanoke University. His lecture, entitled “The Transformed Mind and the Christian University,” discussed the importance of Christian education with an emphasis on quality while maintaining Christian roots and heritage.
Dr. Benne boldly stated that as a Christian University, piety of any kind can never substitute for quality. As an educational facility, one must form thinking Christians, not compartmentalized education and morals. He then brought up culture – how do culture and religion play into education?
Three typical results for Christian Universities were presented: “Christ against Culture,” “Christ out of Culture,” and “Christ of Culture.” The first belief, “Christ against Culture,” means that a Christian cannot engage in the secular world. Study must only include religious text and nothing that would threaten the Christian vision. Secular claims aren’t given any importance. Next, “Christ out of Culture” means that Christianity is carried out in extra-curricular activities only, such as Christian organizations on campus or student led events – therefore Christianity is isolated in the bible department and is not allowed to permeate the university. Most American Universities fall into this category. The third, “Christ of Culture,” takes both Christianity and works of culture into account. However, the school may eventually “slide down the scale” into secularism, as so many Christian Heritage Universities have done. Creating and continue to maintain a Christian University with quality education that pays homage to its traditions and morals is a rare and difficult to do, but not impossible. The lecture ended on a positive note as Dr. Benne the audience with, “If our children have faith, our faith will have children.”
As Dr. Benne’s lecture concluded, the audience was given a twenty-minute break before the panel discussion began. Dr. Benne was joined by Dr. Allison Garret (Abilene Christian University), Dr. Doug Henry (Baylor University), and Dr. Richard Hughes (Messiah College) to discuss “The Enduring Idea of a Christian University.” Despite the time constraints, each panel member spoke eloquently on the importance of Christian education, a few drawing on the history of the relationship between Universities and the church. After each had spoken, the audience was allowed to submit questions to the panel, rousing an interesting debate. The diverse denominational background of the group added to the richness of the discussion provided the audience with several different points of view. It was clear that each selected representative was well-informed and knowledgeable in not only Christian education, but Christian heritage and the ongoing struggle between Christianity and culture.
All in all, the Honors Convocation was a wonderful success, enriching for staff and students alike. Not only was the topic applicable for each audience member, Benne and the panel members spoke with a conviction that stirred us to take a stand for education that is both Christian and quality.
On October 1st, Dr. Patty, Dr. Blackwood, Dr. Laughlin, Tracy Mack, David Pruett, Dr. Ken Jones, Jim Cardwell, John King, and the LCU Washington Interns attended The Washington Center Gala, a celebration and scholarship fundraiser. This year’s Gala honored Norman Y. Mineta the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award, given to “an individual committed to opportunity and youth leadership.”
This year’s Gala was unusually special because it marked 50,000 alumni, a staggering number of college students who have found internship placements in Washington D.C. through The Washington Center. We are so blessed to have the means to participate and send students to Washington, helping build the network of Christian leaders in our Nation’s Capitol.
Below are several pictures from the Gala and the TWC Gala video. In the video (at 2:04) you can see TWC alum and recent LCU graduate, Diana Eid!
Dr. Patty, Taylor Trice, Blaze Taylor, Jacob Parnell, Andrew Chilton, Eric Schaff, Tiffany Guerrero, Taylor Hyde, Jared McDougal, Jed Payne, and Luke Richardson
Dr. Ron Blackwood, Dr. Stacy Patty, Pat Pefley (LCU Advisory Board Member) and Jim Cardwell
The LCU Interns with Mr. Cardwell and Ken and Suzie Jones
David Pruett, Ken Jones, Stacy Patty, John King, Andy Laughlin, Tracy Mack, and Ron Blackwood
Tiffany Guerrero and John King
The Washington Center – 50,000 Alumni
Read more about the event here.
