Sterling College

On December 10th and 12th , 2008, kindergarten students at Sterling Academy, a public charter school located on the Sterling College campus, listened to stories about an alligator that learns sportsmanship, a little girl who is inspired by art to discover her creativity, a boy who wins a trip to Brazil and begins to respect the geography and culture of other countries, and a sister and brother who help the local baker frost a lemon cake and learn about his homeland Italy while they work.

It was no different from other story times—except that the books they listened to were read by their author-illustrators: Hillary Stucky, Jana Miller, Sarah Wolff, and Alysha Brintnall, Sterling College education students who wrote and illustrated their own picture books as part of their Reading and Writing in the Content Area course.

Ten SC students read to children on those two mornings, sharing their books with the age group for which they were best suited. Paul Kempf read his book Recess Rocket, about a boy so good at football he neglects his schoolwork—until he receives some advice from his hero Brett Favre—to a group of primary grade boys. Those same boys listened to another story with a moral lesson, Staci Curry’s book about lazy Molly, who thinks she is getting away with doing all her chores wrong—until her mother finds out. Then the boys learned about William Shakespeare through Ryan Felder’s book Henry the Hawk and the Theatrical Adventure, in which a young Will Shakespeare is encouraged in his writing and acting by a theatre-minded bird.

The upper elementary grade students learned about fractions through Ashley Zimmerman’s story of a little boy who makes apple pie with his grandma; the American Revolution through Kevin Laudermilk’s book about a little boy who falls asleep in history class and meets George Washington in his dreams; and banking and interest through Jared Eddy’s story of a son who finds a twenty dollar bill and asks his dad what he should do with it. The Academy students’ teacher, Erin Aurich, commented after the readings, “The content of the stories matched what we had been studying recently in class: banks, saving, and investing in a unit on economics, and using fractions in recipes. In fact, we had just made cookies the day before as part of our work with doubling fractions. The kids loved that they could relate not only to the stories but also to the content of these books.”

Following the book readings, Academy students ate cookies with the authors and asked questions about their books. The kindergarten students wanted to know which pages were the authors’ favorites, and then they were quick to share their own. Older students wanted to know how the authors got their ideas, and Kevin Laudermilk told how he picked his broad topic first and narrowed it from there.

When the Academy students went out to recess, the Sterling College prospective teachers listened as Diane Williford, kindergarten teacher at the Academy, shared with them the book she wrote and illustrated when she was a teacher-education student herself.   

Sterling College Professor Terri Gaeddert, who teaches the Reading and Writing in the Content Area class, says, “One of the major goals in this course is for prospective teachers to understand the writing process as it is taught in schools. Because I believe the best way to learn something is to experience it, as the students in this course write their children’s books, they implement the Six-Traits writing model that is used in the very schools where they will soon be teaching. As the students follow the writing process, from the idea phase to revision, to editing and then to the final step of publishing and sharing, they not only have a product they can be proud of, they have a strong grasp of the principles involved.”

The ten Sterling College students involved were Alysha Brintnall, a junior from Bettendorf, Kan.; Staci Curry, a junior from Arlington, Texas; Jared Eddy, a senior from Syracuse, Kan.; Ryan Felder, a senior from Waukomis, Okla.; Paul Kempf, a junior from Lawrence, Kan.; Kevin Laudermilk, a senior from Sterling, Kan.; Jana Miller, a senior from Alden, Kan.; Hillary Stucky, a senior from Haven, Kan.; Sarah Wolff, a junior from Kit Carson, Colo.; and Ashley Zimmerman, a junior from Sterling, Kan.

By Vance Janak
The Hutchinson News

The Warriors recorded their 12th-consecutive win by getting off to a fast start that made Benedictine play catch up the rest of the way.

The No. 8 ranked (NAIA Division II) Warriors (12-2) used solid defense and a quick transition game to come up with easy baskets to help Sterling take a 24-8 lead with 8:21 remaining in the first half. While the Ravens cut Sterling’s advantage to 37-28 at halftime, and closed to 41-36 early in the second half, the Warriors pulled away again in the final six minutes to get the victory.

“It is a big win for us to beat a team out of NAIA Division I,” Sterling coach Lonnie Kruse said about his 595th win on the Warrior bench. “We knew it would be a little bit of a championship character type basketball and it was. I thought we came through with pretty good colors. Defensively, I thought we played pretty well.”

The No. 8 Warriors were lead by senior guard Jacci Tinkel’s 17 points while senior forward Ashley Kraft added 15 points. Freshman forward Cathryn Wiebe had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Sterling made 24 of 38 free throw attempts, compared to just 6 of 10 for Benedictine. The Ravens made 11 of 23 3-point goals, while the Warriors hit 3 of 10. Thanks to 12 points from sophomore guard Jannica Schultze and seven points from freshman Megan Patrick, Sterling’s bench outscored Benedictine’s reserves, 22-14.

Nearly twenty members of the Sterling College faculty met in late November for the first monthly Faculty Lunchtime Worldview Discussion. Tom Bronleewe, professor in the Theology and Ministry Department, presented on the topic of worldviews in the American culture.

Chaplain Anne Smith organized this discussion group to continue the dialogue begun at the faculty retreat prior to the beginning of the academic year. Sterling College’s commitment to a Christ-centered education impacts the coursework of all academic departments. In the monthly Lunchtime Worldview Discussions, faculty members will listen to presentations regarding a Christian worldview and share the methods they use in their individual classrooms for its integration with their subject matter.

At this first meeting, Tom Bronleewe introduced his topic as the last few faculty members entered Chandler Boardroom bearing lunch trays. “I’m going to share with you some of what I teach the senior-level Philosophy of Faith and Life class.” He continued with Christian philosopher J.P. Moreland’s characteristics of an Empty Self and led the attending faculty in a discussion of how each of those characteristics is manifested in American society. Following this he presented a list of books about worldview for faculty members’ further reading on the subject.

Bronleewe then turned everyone’s attention to the video screen. “This is how my students begin to apply the concepts we discussed.” An Audi web commercial played on the screen. Following the commercial the faculty discussed the worldviews presented and how many of them fit with J.P. Moreland’s Empty Self characteristics. “I use commercials such as this one,” Bronleewe said, “to help students see how cultural worldviews actually affect an entire culture, and, ultimately, how the cultural worldviews affect each one of the students in particular. They grow in their ability to discern as the semester progresses. Ultimately I want students to see there is a difference between our culture’s worldviews and the worldviews we want to have as followers of Christ.”

Faculty members left the meeting still discussing the ideas presented, and Chaplain Anne Smith commented, “I have a desire to increase community among faculty members as well as a desire to increase dialogue among faculty about their disciplines and a Christian worldview. This was an excellent first step towards both those goals.”

By Vance Janak
The Hutchinson News

HILLSBORO, Kan. –  It wasn’t the prettiest of upsets, but the Sterling College men got it done. The Warriors held NAIA Division I No. 18 Central Methodist to 25.9 percent from the field and forced 23 turnovers to hand the Eagles a 56-48 loss, its first of the season, Saturday afternoon at the Tabor Classic.
           

“I thought our guys played a great basketball game today,” Sterling coach Dean Jaderston said. “Offensively, we weren’t always pretty, but defensively, it was probably one of the best games we’ve played all season. … We said we had to take away some of the stuff they do because they do it too well. Our guys really, really rose to the challenge.”

Rising to the challenge defensively meant limiting a Central Methodist (12-1) squad to just 3 of 21 from behind the 3-point line. The Eagles came into the game averaging 8.3 made 3-point goals per game. From the field, Central Methodist hit just 14 of 54 shots.

“The three ball is what stretches the defense. And if we could take that a way, and then just stay in our lanes and not gamble on stuff, we could make it tough on them,” Jaderston said. “I thought our guys did a great job of extending screens so they couldn’t catch and shoot.”

Sterling certainly didn’t light it up from the field as the Warriors hit 20 of 49 shots for 40.8 percent. Senior guard Mac Stephenson scored a game-high 17 points while senior forward Jonathan Woods added 12 points.

“We knew we had to shut down, but it’s really about what we do,” Stephenson said. “If we can come out and do the things we do, we know we can stop anybody.”

The Warriors (9-5) broke away from a 22-22 halftime tie by going on a 6-0 run in the first four minutes of the second half.

Sterling had a 42-29 advantage after Stephenson hit a 3-point goal to beat the shot clock with 6:55 remaining.

“A couple shots fell and it built confidence,” the Little River native said. “The team played off of that.”

Central Methodist closed to 47-43 with 3:05 remaining, but Woods answered with a layup on Sterling’s next possession as the Warriors played solid in the final three minutes to close out the win.

Although Stephenson said he and his teammates are happy with the win, he said playing well in the KCAC is what matters most.

“It feels good to get a good win, but, when it comes down to it, it doesn’t mean anything,” Stephenson said. “We start conference up again next week and that’s when we’ve got to lock it down.”

Five members of the Sterling College football team were recently named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes for the 2008 season.

Seniors Tyler Degenhardt and Craig Mans along with juniors Nolan Cox, Justin Hejny and Stephen Wilson were named to the Daktronics NAIA elite squad.

“We are very excited to have these student-athletes recognized as Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes,” said Sterling College Head football coach Andy Lambert. “All of these young men have demonstrated excellence on the field and in the classroom.”

Recipients of the Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete award must have a minimum grade point average of 3.50 on a 4.00 scale, be a junior or above in academic standings, and been in attendance at the nominating institution a minimum of one full school year.

Three members of the Sterling College women’s cross country team have been recognized as NAIA Scholar-Athletes for 2008.

Seniors Kelli Larosh of Osborne, KS; Kysha Nichols from Winona, KS; and junior Sarah Wolff of Kit Carson, CO were honored by the NAIA. Nichols and Larosh have been named to the list twice in their career.

A total of 251 student-athletes representing 108 institutions appear on the list. The group includes juniors and seniors, who maintain a minimum 3.50 cumulative grade point average.

Sterling College Athletic Director Andy Lambert announced today the hiring of Jenny Ellis as Head Volleyball Coach for the Lady Warriors.

“We are pleased to announce the hiring of Jenny as the head coach of our volleyball program,” Lambert said. “Jenny brings some great strengths to our volleyball program and will be a great person to have in our department. Her and her family are also going to be great additions to our community.”

Ellis comes to Sterling College from Catawba Valley Community College    in Hickory, NC, where she has led the Buccaneers for two seasons and compiled a 32-6 record. Under her leadership they have won the Conference Championship, Region Championship and District Title in each of the past two seasons. Prior to becoming the head coach at CVCC they had never won a conference championship. This past season CVCC finished 8th at the NJCAA Div. III Tournament.

As a player Ellis competed at Mississippi College for Women a NCAA Division II program in Columbus, MS.

"I am thankful for the door the Lord has opened for me to come and be a part of the Sterling program, said Ellis. My goal is to develop a championship program that plays hard, plays smart, and honors the Lord on and off the court."
Ellis takes over the Lady Warriors who finished the 2008 season with an 8-25 overall record. Ellis plans to be on campus sometime in the next couple months and has already started recruiting for the 2009-2010 squad.

Sterling College is a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC), a group of ten independent institutions all located within the state of Kansas. The KCAC is a member conference of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

For more information please contact the SC Sports Information Office at 620-278-4324

For more information contact Justin Morris, Sports Information Director, Sterling College at (620) 278-4324.

Sometime during December, Sterling College will receive a check for $50.42—it sounds like the donation of someone counting pennies this Christmas season, doesn’t it? The truth is far from that. The $50.42 is the revenue generated by the search engine, GoodSearch.com, and the online shopping mall, GoodShop.com, and the donation didn’t cost supporters of Sterling College a single penny.

GoodSearch.com was created in 2005 to enable internet users to support their charity of choice through doing what they normally do, through surfing the web. Supporters of Sterling College can visit the GoodSearch.com website, type “Sterling College” under the question, “Who do you goodsearch for?” and begin searching the internet just as usual. Each search earns Sterling College about a penny in revenue. And that can add up. Through GoodSearch, the ASPCA (the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) has earned over $10,000 this year alone.

Sterling College supporters can also use GoodShop.com, which was added to GoodSearch in 2007. This online shopping mall connects users to online stores that contribute a percentage of a user’s purchases simply for connecting through GoodShop.com.

This year’s check of $50.42 may not put lights on the Warrior soccer field or endow a chair for the biology department, but Director of Alumni David Earle, who set up the College's account with GoodSearch, is excited about the possibilities. “If all the people who care about Sterling—students, faculty/staff members, alumni, and friends—put notes on their computers to remind them to use GoodSearch.com for their internet searches and GoodShop.com for their online purchases, we could be generating $50 a day. The end-of-the-year check would be such a great picture of all of our giving put together—one penny at a time.”

“I thought about reading to schoolchildren for my senior seminar project, or working with athletic camps or serving at the food bank, but my heart just wasn’t in any of those things.” Lazerrick Young, senior psychology major, shared this with his fellow students during Sterling College’s chapel on December 3, 2008. “Instead I had this desire to help a family in Sterling, a family in need, by providing them with food, clothes, and toys.”

But Young faced a major problem: he didn’t know of any families in need in Sterling, he just knew that was what he wanted to do. So Young went to Jerrod Adair, his mentor and one of Sterling College’s chaplains. Adair connected him with Brennan Riffle, principal at Sterling Grade School. Riffle connected him with Kandee Eidson, a mother of two who lost both her husband and father in the past year. Did Eidson need encouragement and some help? Definitely yes.

Now that Young knew what he was doing for his senior seminar project, he pursued it as a calling. He didn’t want Eidson to feel as if she were receiving charity. He simply wanted her to know God loved her, especially through the very difficult times she was experiencing. He spoke with Kandee Eidson about this. Then Young got to work, letting the Sterling College campus know he was accepting donations and the kinds of items he was looking for. He set dates for collection at each of the residence halls on campus.

When he visited Evans, a women’s dorm, on their collection date, the residents were decorating their halls for Christmas. “I showed up,” Young shared, “and most of the girls got up and went into their rooms.” He joked, “I didn’t see how it could have been me. I’d put on cologne, even dressed up.” But the women immediately returned, their hands filled with donations. “That touched me,” Young said.

It was the same in each dorm he visited. Students in Kilbourn put down video game controllers to donate; others Young barely knew approached him in the cafeteria, the library, all over campus, giving him money and items for the Eidsons.

As Young finished telling this story to the assembled students on December 3, he said, “The success of my project was contingent on the hearts of the students at Sterling College—and it was a success.”

Then he asked Kandee Eidson and her two daughters to come onto the stage. From the rear of the auditorium a line of Sterling College students began filing down the aisle. As the line crossed in front of the stage, each student placed a wrapped package on its edge. The line of students continued up the opposite aisle, back into the auditorium lobby and then around again with another series of presents. This went on for several minutes, until the front of the stage was filled with food, clothes, and toys, specifically chosen for the Eidson family. The Sterling College student body clapped and cheered.

Young had already challenged his fellow students to dig into their pockets, but as he spoke in chapel, he also challenged them to dig into their hearts. “I grew up on the west side of Chicago,” Young told them. “It was rough. As a little kid, I was taught what to do if someone attacked me, how to defend myself.” He stopped a moment before continuing. “So you’d better know that if anyone ever pulled a weapon on me, I’d be pulling my own, shooting bullets back.” He paused again. “But you need to know what those bullets are. Because I know Jesus, my bullets are His truths.”

“Here’s one of my bullets,” Young said, “Mark 10:45, ’The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ If Jesus came to serve, then shouldn’t I do the same? Here at Sterling people like Dr. Froese are always inspiring us to be servant leaders. But without Jesus, you can’t be.”

Kandee Eidson commented later about Young's dedication to servant leadership. "When Lazerrick contacted me about this project, I was amazed that a college student would even think of doing something like this. What has amazed me even more is that Lazerrick has kept in touch even after the project has been finished. He calls me to see how we are doing."

Young's example of servant leadership has not only affected Kandee Eidson, it has also impacted his fellow students. As Young finished speaking to his quiet, attentive audience on December 3rd, he reminded them once again of the ultimate source of servant leadership: “If you don’t know Jesus, you need to.”

Despite full class loads and “loads” of other responsibilities, the faculty of Sterling College manage to publish articles, speak at conventions, display art, and be involved in their communities. While these endeavors take time and energy, they greatly enhance professors’ professional connections, academic growth, and, ultimately, their teaching.

Dr Beth Kilday, Chair of Sterling’s Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics Department, presented a 90-minute, hands-on workshop at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics regional conference, held in Oklahoma City, earlier this fall. She spoke to high school teachers on “How to Examine Temperature, pH, Dissolved Oxygen, and Nitrate Levels in Water and Soil.” Dr. Kilday has also been selected to speak at the Annual National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference in Washington, D.C., in April of 2009, a conference expected to involve nearly 20,000 participants.
 
Dr. Craig Smith, Chair of the Department of Theology and Ministry, has had several recent accomplishments. He was nominated for the Society of Biblical Literature Regional Scholar Award for his paper, “The Development of Style (5th Century BC to 2nd Century AD) and the Consequences for Understanding the Style of the New Testament,” and was awarded finalist status. Smith also presented a paper entitled “Loving Our Enemies in a Multi-Ethnic and Multi-Religious Society” at the International Institute of Christian Studies. His article “Richard Baxter, a Pioneer in Youth Ministry,” a study of the 17th century Puritan clergyman’s emphasis on spiritual instruction to youth and their families, was recently published in Anvil (an Evangelical Anglican journal). This fall Smith was invited to preach at Ashland Presbyterian Church in Ashland, Kansas, and he signed a contract with Sheffield Phoenix Publishers to write a commentary on II Timothy.

Blair Martin, Assistant Professor of Music, not only keeps busy teaching several classes and directing five instrumental ensembles, he has been contracted as a musician for the Hutchinson Symphony Orchestra, which features some of the finest musical talents in the area. He will play tuba in the ’08-’09 season, which runs from September through April. Martin’s artistic talents also extend to script-writing, and one of his scripts, “Samuel Gumsandal—Jerusalem P.I.,” a drama designed to convey the resurrection of Jesus in a non-traditional manner, was recently selected for publication by Randall House to be included in a collection of Easter scripts. Professor Martin also writes with his wife, Mary Martin, and three of their dramas were included in a recently-released collection of Christmas scripts, also published by Randall House.

Dr. Arnold Froese, chair of Sterling’s Behavioral Science Department for 34 years, is in his sixth year as the Kansas state representative to the Southwestern Psychological Association’s Executive Committee. He has been asked by the Association’s president, Lauren Scharff, to develop and chair a symposium for the Association’s April convention, held in San Antonio, Texas. Froese has recruited national speakers to discuss “Teaching Psychology for Civic Responsibility in a Global Context.” Dr. Froese will be speaking on “Psychology for General Education in a Global Environment: Visions and Roadblocks.” He will argue that “curricula should present psychology content selected for its foundational impact on understanding self as a participant in global interactions” and will discuss “roadblocks to implementing this vision presented by tradition and ideology.”
 
David Harmon, Associate Professor of Art at Sterling, has had two seascape paintings accepted for an exhibition at the Millrun Gallery in Rhode Island. These paintings were done in a combination of acrylic, gouache, or watercolor on 300# watercolor paper. The two paintings will be on exhibit through November. From now through December Harmon also has an exhibit at Augusta State University, Augusta, Georgia, based on 16 drawings involving his interest in pictographs and world petroglyphs, also known as carved rock or Indian writing. The drawings were done using charcoal and pastel on paper.

Gentry Sutton, Director of Institutional Assessment and the Writing Center Director, recently spoke at the TSA (Technology Students Association) Fall Leadership Conference in Hays, Kansas. Sutton presented on the topic “Teamwork Is a Way of Life,” which is also the subject of Sutton’s book, Team Church: Big-League Teamwork to Strengthen the Local Church, published in 2006. TSA is a student organization for junior and senior high students. 

Ken Troyer, Assistant Professor of Communications and coach of the Sterling College Debate and Forensics team, has spoken several times recently. He and Sterling debate/forensics student Jana Miller presented at the Kansas Speech Communication Association Annual Convention in Salina as part of the forum entitled Kansas Collegiate Forensics Showcase. At the same conference Troyer was invited to be part of a panel discussing the subject “What Works in a College Speech Class.” Troyer also presented at an educator in-service at USD #405 in Lyons, focusing on the ongoing changes in national expectations and guidelines regarding oral competency. On a regular basis Troyer speaks and facilitates at local Parents-as-Teacher meetings held through the Rice County Special Services Cooperative. Parents-as-Teachers is an international organization that began in Missouri in the 1970s to encourage parents to be active participants in their children’s lives and education. 

Dr. Troy Peters, Sterling College’s Vice President of Academic Affairs, believes that students benefit when Sterling professors use their gifts outside the College. "To have quality education you need quality educators. We are proud of each of these professors and their accomplishments. They are modeling academic, professional and personal excellence to their students. They bring that excellence into the classroom each day, and they incorporate it in their relationships with students. We are most proud of that.”