Sterling College

Recent Sterling graduate Rachel Dunham has been accepted to study medicine at the Medical School for International Health. The MSIH is a collaborative medical program of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Columbia University Medical Center. Dunham was also awarded the Tauber Family scholarship which covers half of her tuition costs based on her academic achievement, demonstrated commitment to international health and medicine and service to underserved communities.

Rachel Dunham’s commitment to global health began at an early age, while living in Nepal where her parents worked for a medical mission. Her passion to help others has earned her a scholarship to study international health and medicine in Israel.

“I want to go to medical school in order to best meet the needs of the community I’m in wherever that may be. There is nothing I would rather do than continue to serve people in a greater capacity as a physician.”

Thanks to a generous gift by the Tauber Family, MSIH has provided four-year scholarships to cover fifty percent of tuition costs for two first-year students each year since 2005.  Students are selected based on their academic achievement, demonstrated commitment to international health and medicine, and service to underserved communities.

Rachel earned her undergraduate degree in Chemistry with a minor in Language and Literature from Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas. She excelled in academics while balancing numerous extracurricular activities including being a Resident Assistant and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.  Rachel’s passion for healthcare and caring for those most in need has been evident through her work as an EMT in her hometown of Green River Utah and during school in Kansas. “Through all the opportunities I’ve had to participate in patient care, I have realized how much I love serving people when they are hurting—whether its physically, emotionally, or spiritually.”

The Medical School for International Health is a collaborative initiative to advance global health medical education. It is the only four-year American style medical school in the world that incorporates global health throughout all four years of medical study and culminates with a required international health clerkship in a lesser developed region of the world. The MSIH curriculum includes international health modules and training, through such courses as Nutrition in the Developing World, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, and Global Health and Environment.  Now in its eleventh year, the Medical School for International Health enrolls more than 170 students from around the world and has 200 graduates in residency, fellowship, private practice, and research in the US and Canada.  After completing residency training, alumni are expected to make significant contributions to global health through clinical work, policy development and medical education.

For more information about the MSIH and Columbia University’s partnership with Ben Gurion University of the Negev in the MSIH, contact the MSIH Admissions Office at (212) 305-9587 or email BGU-MD@columbia.edu.

LADY WARRIOR SOCCER PICKED FOURTH IN PRE-SEASON SOCCER POLL

After finishing the 2007 season with an overall record of 7-11-1 and a disappointing conference mark of 5-4, the Sterling College women’s soccer team hopes to rebound in 2008 and find their way to the top of the KCAC in 2008.

With only six starters returning the Lady Warriors know there is a lot of work to be done to be able to finish at the top of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. Kansas Wesleyan was picked to win it all after their 1^st trip to the NAIA National Tournament last season.

Sterling is going to have to do it without the help of graduating seniors Jaymi McAnally, Stefanie Randall, Erika Meza and Erica Nielsen from a year ago. Sterling will look upon three junior college transfers, a transfer from Oklahoma City University in Elaine Fontes and three freshman to help with the task.

“I am excited about the season,” said Sterling College Head Soccer Coach Justin Morris. “We have some strong players returning and I also think we have some newcomers that could make a difference. I think the conference will be very challenging and we will have to come together early if we want to make our way back into the top of the KCAC”.

Sterling opens the season on September 5^th, 2008, against Mid-America Christian in Sterling.

2008 PRESEASON POLLS

COACHES POLL

1. Kansas Wesleyan University
2. McPherson College
3. Ottawa University
4. Sterling College
5. Southwestern College
6. Bethany College
7. Friends University
8. University of Saint Mary
9. Bethel College
10. Tabor College

The Sterling College football team was picked third by the coaches and fourth by the media this past Friday at the KCAC Football Media day hosted by the Salina Country Club in Salina, Kansas.

"We believe our defense will play very well early in the season and that our offense will have to put some unknown pieces together early well" said Lambert. "Every Saturday is going to be a battle, we will have to play great football every week."

Friends University was picked at the top of each poll by the media and coaches. Sterling opens up the season on September 13^th against Friends University at home.

The Kansas Athletic Trainers’ Society has recognized four Sterling College students for their academic achievement in the Kansas Athletic Training Education Program.

Named to the 1st Team is Lindsey Ryan of Wichita, Kan. First team honorees must be at least a junior in academic standing and must have achieved a minimum of a 3.8 cumulative grade point average. The student must also have a clinical performance rating of at least a 4/5 by the nominating Program Director.

Ryan is the daughter of Warren and Karen Ryan.

Named to the 2nd Team is Jason Coles of Meade, Kan. Second team honorees must be at least a sophomore in academic standing and must have achieved a minimum of a 3.6 cumulative grade point average. The student must also have a clinical performance rating of at least a 4/5 by the nominating Program Director.

Coles is the son of Lyn and Lori Coles.

Named to the honorable mention team is Ester Epp of Sayre, Okla. and Edward Joe Streckfus of Lakin, Kan. Honorable mention team honorees must be at least a sophomore in academic standing and must have achieved a minimum of a 3.4 cumulative grade point average. The student must also have a clinical performance rating of at least a 4/5 by the nominating Program Director.

Epp is the daughter of David and Arlene Epp.  Streckfus is the son of Ed and Sandra Streckfus.

From Seattle to Pensacola, the Sterling College Forensics and Debate teams made their presence known as they competed nationwide during the 2007-2008 season. Following in the footsteps of the previous year’s successful season, the team faced the challenge of not only matching their previous success but maintaining excellence throughout the entire season.

Earning more than 150 individual trophies and eight team competition awards, the SC Forensics team dominated the Forensics realm. With various levels of success during the year, the season culminated at the American Forensics Association National Individual Events tournament held at the University of Texas – Austin. To be invited to this event, students must have placed in the top three competitors at least twice during the season. Students qualifying for the competition included Jana Miller, Lyons, Kan., Taylor Libby, Ellinwood, Kan., Andrew Hogan, Lyons, Kan., JD Smith, Lyons, Kan., and Lauren Rivard, Hutchinson, Kan. Kansas State University and Bethel College were the only other schools from Kansas that were invited. JD Smith placed in the top 40 in extemporaneous speaking out of 240 competitors.

On the novice level of forensics, Sterling’s team was able to capture the overall sweepstakes title for schools with small entries at the Pensacola, FL tournament held during spring break. Those making up the National Championship team included Taylor Libby, Charlisa Bailey, Cedar Hill, Tex., and Sarah Cibolski, Concordia, Kan. Libby was named the national champion in Impromptu Speaking. This is the second year a Sterling student has won this title. Libby also placed 3rd in Impromptu Sales and 4th in Persuasive Speaking.

“Out of the 75 first year forensicators in that event…it was really amazing to see that I could win against students from across the country,” Libby said.

In the Debate realm, the Sterling team was ranked in the top 30 in the all-inclusive nationwide ranking system for most of the year by advancing to elimination rounds at each of the tournaments that Sterling attended. Two students, Emily Graham and JD Smith, earned the honor to represent Sterling by traveling to the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Wash., where the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence, an exclusive competition that only includes the top 54 schools in the nation, was held.

“It was a shining moment to see SC invited to the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence. SC has never received such an honor and was the smallest school to be afforded the honor,” Ken Troyer, coach and director of debate and forensics, said.

Additionally, the Debate team was one of two Kansas schools that attended the NPDA national tournament at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. The duo team of Graham and Smith were again sent to represent Sterling.

This past month, Sterling College, along with Kansas Wesleyan University, hosted a high school debate camp where several members of the SC team served as lab leaders under the direction of Ken Troyer.

Dr. Craig A. Smith, professor of Biblical studies and chair of the religion and philosophy department at Sterling College, has published his third book titled, At the Cross, At the Crossroads: Loving our Enemies in the 21st Century.

“Basically it’s trying to take a holistic approach of loving our enemies,” Smith said, “looking at it in terms of getting a biblical, historical, theological and psychological perspective on it. The goal is to try to see how we’ve looked at our enemies in the past and see where we can make some [improvements].”

Smith uses the text from Matthew 5:43-48 where Jesus commands us to “Love our enemies and pray for those that persecute you” and juxtaposes it with the world’s current political and ethical issues.

Soon after 9-11, Smith was approached by the Avnvil Journal, of which he is a member, and asked for a new book topic. With the issue of loving our enemies being so pertinent today, Smith jumped at the opportunity to write the book and address issues such as how the church should relate to Muslims.

The book is a combined effort of several writers including Sterling’s pro-rata professor, Tom Bronleewe, who wrote a chapter titled, “Loving Our Enemies: Two Military Perspectives.” Smith wrote four of the articles in the book, but was ultimately responsible for the editing of the contributing authors work. Smith purposely let his fellow writers keep their unique thoughts to bring out different positions and explore more than one point of view.
“I think it’s an important topic,” Smith said. “At the end of the day, what I wrote for my dissertation probably isn’t going to change anyone’s life, but this one has immediate implications on our living…I’m not sure we like things that confront us at our core. We need to wake up.”

Smith was also a finalist for the Regional Scholar’s Award presented by the Society of Biblical Literature. His paper was titled “The Development of Style (from the fifth century BC to the second century AD) and the Consequences of Understanding the Style of the New Testament.” In this article he traced through extant rhetorical handbooks to show how writing style has developed. In contrast to many scholars, he was able to show that many part of the New Testament employ a sophisticated style in order to make its message more persuasive and dynamic for the reader.

Sterling College track coach Jack Dillard was recognized as the NAIA Region 4 track coach of the year.

This honor was voted on by the coaches of the region, and was given during the Hall of Fame luncheon at the NAIA national track meet in Edwardsville, Ill.

Dillard is in his fourth year as head coach of the Warriors. During that time he has built the roster from 10 athletes in 2004 to a team of 35 this past season.

He has coached 24 All-Conference performances in track, including five KCAC individual champions, as well as six NAIA national qualifiers and one NAIA All-American.

Dillard said he was surprised and honored by the award, and hopes to continue to build on the successes he has had thus far.

Senior Natalie Gordon finished her track career with a third place finish in the 400-meter hurdles at the NAIA National Track Championships held in Edwardsville, Ill.

Gordon entered the event ranked 13^th overall with a time of 63.85. She ran a personal best time of 62.77 in the quarterfinals and a 62.94 in semifinals. In the finals she set another school record and another personal best with a time of 62.08 good enough for a third place finish.

“ I was really surprised to finish so high,” said Gordon. "When I was getting into my blocks for the finals I just prayed God, I didn’t really expect to get this far, so I guess whatever we do from here is just bonus”.

Gordon finishes her chapter as one of the elite competitors in Sterling track history.

Sophomore Chris Morr also made the trip to nationals and came home with a 13^th place finish in the 110 High Hurdles.

Sterling College has released its Dean’s List for the Spring 2008 semester. Criteria for the Dean’s List include the completion of at least twelve graded credit hours and a cumulative and semester GPA of 3.5 or better. The following area students were named to the list.

Tyler Ball, Great Bend, Kansas
Jeff Baker, Sparks, Nevada
Jean Bosch, Wichita, Kansas
Elizabeth Bowling, Vandelia, Ohio
Paul Brandes, Waukegan, Illinois
Paul Brecht, Manhattan, Kansas
Alysha Brintnall, Bettendorf, Iowa
Danielle Brocato, Stillwater, Oklahoma
Aubri Brock, Grand Prarie, Texas
Constance Bucher, Arkansas City, Kansas
Christina Calhoun, Leavenworth, Kansas
Maria Calhoun, Leavenworth, Kansas
Kyle Chamberlin, Arvada, Colorado
Sarah Cibolski, Concordia, Kansas
Mollie Cline, Pueblo, Colorado
Elizabeth Coombs, Wichita, Kansas
Jason Coles, Meade, Kansas
Jaclyn Coxwell, Orange Park, Florida
Nolan Cox, Weskan, Kansas
Dustin Crespin, Milliken
Edith Cress, Lyons, Kansas
Julie Cunday, Hutchinson, Kansas
Jennie Czuba, Longmont, Colorado
Abby Davidson, Sterling, Kansas
Carlos De Los Reyes, Dallas, Texas
Tyler Degenhardt, Holton, Kansas
Megan Derowitsch, Belleville, Kansas
Rachel Dunham, Green River, Utah
Ashley Earle, Sterling, Kansas
Nicole (Kasl) Edwards, Belleville, Kansas
Matt Ehresman, Wichita, Kansas
Bracey Fischer, Sharon Springs, Kansas
David Fuller, Miltonvale, Kansas
Whitney (Roach) Fuller, Sterling, Kansas
Amanda Fulmer, Newton, Kansas
Elisabeth Gafford, Ft. Worth, Texas
Susan Gates, Anthony, Kansas
Natalie Gordon, Arvada, Colorado
Allison Graham, Centennial, Colorado
Emily Graham, Hutchinson, Kansas
Amy Gray, Olathe, Kansas
Chloe Hall, Lawrence, Kansas
Justin Hejny, Olmitz, Kansas
Scott Helverson, Garland, Texas
Ryan Heughan, Houston, Texas
Christopher Hinshaw, Sterling, Kansas
Jessica Hounshell, Wickliffe, Ohio
Audrey Hoyt, Brewster, Kansas
Danielle Jones, Sharon Springs, Kansas
Jennifer Jones, Grand Island, NE
Sara Kanary, Pauls Valley, Oklahoma
Callen Kincaide, Alvin, Colorado
Ashley Kraft, Ransom, Kansas
Brent Kruger, Hutchinson, Kansas
Adam Langvardt, Hutchinson, Kansas
Kevin Laudermilk, Sterling, Kansas
Murri Lazaroff-Babin, Yankee Hill, California
Karin Lederle, Sterling, Kansas
Kalie Leiker, Lyons, Kansas
Taylor Libby, Great Bend, Kansas
Craig Mans, Osborne, Kansas
Brianna Mayes, Johnstown, Colorado
Lori McLeland, Ellinwood, Kansas
Samantha Meyer, Lawrence, Kansas
Jana Miller, Lyons, Kansas
Jordan Miller, Hutchinson, Kansas
Taren Morse, Sterling, Kansas
Marcus Mull, Great Bend, Kansas
Ernest Newton, Vega, Texas
Kysha Nichols, Winona, Kansas
Mandy Nichols, Lyons, Kansas
Ben Oberle, Chase, Kansas
Joel Orr, Wray, Colorado
Dustin Patee, Osborne, Kansas
Lauren Peck, Poteau, Oklahoma
Nate Prior, Norco, California
Seth Prochaska, Minneapolis, Kansas
Chelsea Rebman, Baldwin City
Israel Redwine, Converse, Texas
Samantha Regier, Halstead, Kansas
Alyssa Renfro, Macksville, Kansas
Kyla Renfro, Macksville, Kansas
Deric Roach, Hutchinson, Kansas
Jeffrey Ropp, Hutchinson, Kansas
Elisabeth Ruble, Barnard, Kansas
Lindsey Ryan, Wichita, Kansas
Shawnheen Sajjadi, Arlington, Texas
Keith Santos, Texas, City, Kansas
Amie Sarver, Sterling, Kansas
Anna Schnetzler, Spring Hill, Kansas
Tessa Schroeder, Olathe, Kansas
Ashlynn Slough, Topeka, Kansas
Brittany Small, Liberal, Kansas
Rebekah Splitter, Sterling, Kansas
Joe Streckfus, Lakin, Kansas
Jessica Stuart, Wichita, Kansas
Molly Sundquist, Hutchinson, Kansas
Rachael Svaty, Ellsworth, Nebraska
Adrienne Swihart, St. Francis, Kansas
Ben Swihart, St. Francis, Kansas
Erin Thiessen, Wichita, Kansas
Amberli Todd, Sterling, Kansas
Wesley Tom, Omaha, Kansas
Alex Underwood, Russell, Kansas
Terrance Volden, Liberal, Kansas
Andrew Wallace, Winchester, Kansas
Brett Westrup, Protectionm Kansas
Stephanie Whitmer, Haysville , Kansas
Katy Wild, Olathe, Kansas
Amy Wiley, Boone, Colorado
Kailyn Willse, Hutchinson, Kansas
Erin Wilson, Clyde, Colorado
Stephen Wilson, Broomfield, Colorado
Bonnie Windle, Luray, Kansas
Ashley Winters, Sterling, Kansas
Andrew Wolfenberger, Newton, California
Sarah Wolff, Kit Carson, Colorado
Zack Yarbrough, Apple Valley, Minnesota
Melissa Yarrow, Clay Center, Kansas
Cassandra Zanone, Norco, California