Category: Stories In Focus

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Stories In Focus

Gillette Hall Gives Thanks

Annual Hall-Wide Event Offers Food and Fellowship to Gillette Hall Residents and Alumni

Houghton College’s Gillette Hall has been through several transformations over the years. It began as East Hall, with only one third of its current structure, before undergoing additions to the building, a name change, and numerous small changes. Yet the largest dorm on Houghton’s campus has held on to two traditions, which Gillette Resident Director (RD) Laura Cunningham calls “the pillars of Gillette.” These are Gillette Thanksgiving and the Gillette banquet, which in Cunningham’s words, are “the two Gillette institutions you don’t mess with.” The month of November brings another Gillette Thanksgiving, a decades-long tradition, set to take place on November 19.

Photo courtesy of Sophia Ross
Photo courtesy of Sophia Ross

Gillette Thanksgiving, set in the spacious main lounge of the dorm, brings a Thanksgiving feast to 150 of Gillette’s residents through the combined efforts of the RD and Assistant Resident Director (ARD), Resident Assistants (RAs), and Sodexo. Traditionally, other guests have been invited as well, ARD Rebecca Firstbrook ’18 explained. “We get to invite Gillette alumni to it. We invite the other RDs and some faculty members who were Gillette or East Hall residents.” She noted college president, Shirley Mullen, and First Gentleman, Paul Mills, were also invited to the event, although they are unable to attend this year.

This year will be Firstbrook’s third year attending Gillette Thanksgiving, having attended as a resident her first year and as an RA her second year. As ARD, she will work with Cunningham to organize the logistics of the event, including contacting Sodexo for food and ingredients, while Gillette’s team of RAs will prepare the dishes to serve the residents.

“It’s an opportunity for RAs to make food that their moms would have made,” Cunningham said. She noted that many RAs provide recipes from home for their dishes, which is “a good conversation starter.” She herself experienced making cranberry sauce for the first time the first year she served as RD. “I actually liked it,” she said, explaining that since they had the canned jellied sauce at home, she had never liked it before. Cunningham has made it for Gillette Thanksgiving every year since.

Firstbrook appreciates Gillette Thanksgiving as a time of togetherness both in the preparation and the meal itself. “Each of us needs the other to make it happen,” she said of the team that prepares the event. Having experienced the event from the student, RA, and ARD perspectives, she noted the value for students, who “can receive,” and for RAs, “who can serve them.” The attendees are also able to contribute in their own ways, since they provide their own place settings. “It’s fun,” Cunningham said. “People bring their own mugs, and you find out what everyone’s favorite mug is.”

Rene Stempert, Lead Custodian of Gillette Hall, and a long-time presence at Houghton, noted the abiding presence of Gillette’s Thanksgiving tradition. “It was already a tradition when I came twenty years ago,” she said, and noted it has continued “because it involves food and fun and friends.” She echoed Cunningham, who described the event as a celebration with the “Gillette family,” and stated, “they’re family times.”

This event is especially valuable for students who are unable to go home for Thanksgiving Day. Houghton alumnus Carol Zimmerman ’62 remembered having only the day of Thanksgiving off, which made traveling home difficult. When you couldn’t go home “you went home with friends,” she said. The introduction of a feast for East Hall residents brought a family-like Thanksgiving meal for those who could not be with their families, and the tradition endures. Cunningham noted it as one of the “few times a good majority of Gillette residents are together.”

“A lot of students don’t think much of it when they go,” Firstbrook acknowledged. However, she hinted at the importance of the event, which has lasted through several decades, and added,  “it’s a nice benchmark to look back on.”

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Stories In Focus

United in Worship and Christ // Houghton Hosts Roberts for Night of Worship

Photo courtesy of Houghton SGA

Students from Roberts Wesleyan College came to campus to worship, united with Houghton students. The event, which took place in the recital hall on November 8 at 8 p.m. was run by the Student Government Association, and was intended as a way to unify the two colleges in their Christian worship. The night consisted of  worship songs, prayer, and refreshments, all in the pursuit of unity between the two student bodies.

Melissa MacLean ‘17, Executive Officer of Spiritual Life, began this event last year. She said, “It all started as a dream of mine freshman year to bring the two opposing schools under one roof as worshippers of the same God.” At the time, she said, “…I didn’t have the resources to make it happen, so I left it as a dream and prayer for God to fulfill one day.” That dream, according to MacLean, was able to become a reality two years later when she “was elected into the position of Chaplain.”

Last year, the event included worship and prayer together, led by teams of students from both colleges. Ian DeHaas ’17 has been involved in the worship portion of the night both years. He said, “There’s something unique about a night of worship. Even more than the obligation of Sunday morning, the people who come out to worship together are really invested because they chose to be there. We sing together, we pray together and we remember who we are.”

This year’s event had the same format as last year’s: two colleges coming together to worship. Emily Barry ’17, another Houghton student involved in the leadership of UNITED, said, “The goal of the event is for us to come together as one body of Christ in a clear and tangible way, by worshipping and praying alongside one another. It was a beautiful and powerful testimony to see students coming together like that.”

That Friday, the leaders of UNITED were happy to see the recital hall filled again for a second year as Houghton welcomed a group of Roberts students to campus. DeHaas stated, “Once again, it was good to see the recital hall filled. We had time to pray for one another and time to connect afterward with some of the folks from Roberts. All around, it was a blessing and encouragement to see the two student bodies come together as Christ’s body.”

Now that the second year of UNITED at Houghton has taken place, the organizers are looking to the future of the event. Melissa MacLean said, “I hope to make it an annual event for the two schools, as we otherwise don’t have much contact other than sports.”

Despite the rivalry between Houghton and Roberts Wesleyan, events like the UNITED Night of Worship continue to remind students that both of these Christian colleges exist for the same reason, to bring glory to God.

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Stories In Focus

Leading and Learning: ROTC Program Trains Houghton Students for Military Careers

When planning course loads each semester, not many of us anticipate learning land navigation or combat skills as possible syllabus expectations. However, for the Houghton students participating in the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), that’s exactly the type of schedule they can expect.

Photo courtesy of houghton.edu
Photo courtesy of houghton.edu

ROTC is a program designed for people interested in attaining a four year degree and serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Cadet Elizabeth Groff ‘19 said of her choice to participate in ROTC, “I thought it was really cool that while you’re learning your [academic], you can also earn your military degree.” Groff went on to discuss the important skills students develop, such as leadership training and self-discipline, while simultaneously building their resumes and looking forward to the possibility of a scholarship. Speaking of the physical portion of the program, she also commented, “I’m learning the limits I can push myself to.”

There is no need to be a contracted military member; the classes are open to students of any discipline and there is no long-term commitment, although a military career is one possible outcome. For those continuing on with the military, they will graduate college and enter either the reserves or active duty as a second lieutenant.

Cadet Victoria Krisher ‘19, a contracted cadet who is interested in becoming an Army dentist, said her interest in ROTC began with her family history of military service. She said of her family heritage, “They always told me how their experiences [in the military] have shaped their lives, and a lot of their experiences were sort of instilled in how I was raised.” She continued, “I didn’t want a normal job. I wanted to make a difference, make an impact.”

According to Houghton’s website, Houghton is part of the Seneca Battalion, which is hosted by St. Bonaventure University. Cadets travel to Bonaventure once a week for the lab component of their coursework, in which they do everything from battle drills to eight-mile rucks. Both Krisher and Groff described labs as an extremely valuable and portion of the program. Krisher stated that “in labs, we get to apply everything that we’ve learned.”

For anyone interested in joining ROTC, Groff assured that it is not too late and encourages students to talk to any of the cadets or to ROTC faculty advisor and psychology professor, John Van Wicklin. She said, “There’s really no applying [to ROTC]. I think what a lot of people don’t realize is that it’s an actual class… just tell your advisor you’d like to add it to your schedule.” It is possible to begin taking courses as late as junior year, so the timeframe for adding ROTC courses is quite broad. Groff  also emphasized that there is no pressure to continue on with a ROTC or a military career if it is not a good fit for the individual. Personal growth and the development of leadership skills, however, are lifelong benefits of participating in ROTC.

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Stories In Focus

Houghton RETHINKs Marketing // YOU WILL Campaign Speaks to Prospectives

Houghton’s most recent marketing campaign YOU WILL speaks to prospective students directly about the transformative experience of being a student at Houghton College both in and out of the classroom. It promises the following: “At Houghton, you’ll get a tailor-made, one-of-a-kind Christian educational experience that supports your individual interests, dreams, and goals. We not only prepare you for a job after you graduate — we lay the groundwork for an amazing rest-of-your life.”

Photo courtesy of houghton.edu
Photo courtesy of houghton.edu

Previously, the marketing & communication office promoted Houghton through it’s previous campaign, the RETHINK campaign. In RETHINK, the focus was primarily on leading with what Houghton had to offer prospective students. With YOU WILL, the focus is led by the student’s story and matching Houghton to it, making it more personal for each prospective student.

Jeff Babbitt, Director of Marketing and Communications, gave insight into this distinctly different marketing approach. “Right from the outset, this campaign is talking about the student. Instead of presenting why Houghton is so great, we put the focus on the student asking, ‘What do you want out of your college experience?’ YOU WILL is referencing the student’s story and then telling how Houghton can fit in with that.” Although the foundational truths about Houghton have not been altered in this new campaign, YOU WILL gives a fresh glimpse into the Houghton experience.

Babbitt and the rest of his team conducted extensive research before launching the new campaign. “We did a ton of research before we came up with this idea. Last spring, we sent out surveys to the student body, recent alumni, and parents of current students.” The purpose of these surveys was to get to the core of the question: “What is so great about Houghton?” so as to put forward an authentic vision of Houghton to prospective students.

After reading through hundreds of responses, the team pulled out themes that were repeated over and over throughout the surveys. Babbitt said, “We did all this research, we came up with key themes, and then developed as a staff three very different marketing concepts, YOU WILL being one of them. We took those and developed them further.” With five focus groups of high school students, current students, and faculty and staff, each group discussed each theme, and then voted on their favorite. Each focus group preferred the same theme: YOU WILL.

As a member of one of the focus groups, Carolyn Case ’19 agreed with the preferred theme. She said, “Out of all the campaigns that we saw, this one had the most optimistic attitude and we thought it was also the most encouraging message for high school students looking at colleges.”

Autumn Stone ’18 was also member of one of the focus groups, and said, “Of the three different ideas, YOU WILL felt the most empowering and motivational. This campaign is unique because Houghton is unique.”

Babbitt thinks YOU WILL is a unique campaign because it has a “distinct personality.” He added, “We used actual handwriting and hand-painted textures throughout the material to make it feel more personal. Houghton is known for the personal touch.”

Houghton’s marketing and communication team is currently working on a series of YOU WILL videos to put on the college website, as well as other parts of the campaign that will be launched throughout the year.

As prospective students become current students, who become transformed students, YOU WILL promises an authentic picture of the kind of experience Houghton provides. Stone is one of them. She said, “The YOU WILL campaign accurately describes my time at Houghton. The opportunities that God has given me here will benefit me for years to come. I’ve grown in every aspect of my life, and that’s something to expect from a college like Houghton.”

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Stories In Focus

Dancing Through Houghton: Campus Club Gives Students the Ability to Swing

Houghton Swing via facebook.com

The Houghton College Swing Dance Club has been a popular club on campus for years. Current Swing Dance leader, Hannah Banks ‘17, is optimistic about the club, whose meetings take place twice a week in the Nielsen Center auxiliary gym. A typical night involves the leaders teaching a new move, followed by an open dance where partners are rotated. However, one can attend with a partner and dance with them exclusively if that is what one is comfortable with, but Banks encouraged students to come as singles so as to make friends with their dance partners.

The club does more than just simply having nights of laid back dancing. Over October break, four members of the club went to a ballroom dance competition at Cornell University. Banks, along with three other current students, Katherine Stevick ‘19, Elizabeth Moore ‘20, and Jared Frey ‘18, attended the competition. Not to be confused with swing dance, ballroom dancing is a completely different style, more concerned with technique. The group participated in 12 subcategories of four main styles: Smooth, Standard, Latin, and Rhythm. In the Smooth style they participated in the waltz, tango and foxtrot in the Standard style, the waltz, tango, and quickstep; in the Latin style the jive, international rumba, and international cha-cha; and in the Rhythm style the East Coast swing, the American rumba, and the American cha-cha.

Banks was incredibly proud of her dancers, with herself and Stevick earning multiple callbacks after roughly a month’s worth of practice. They won a ribbon in the Fun Dance category, a separate category open to anyone without registration dancing the back-to-back tango, a dance literally executed with the dancers’ backs to each other. Stevick’s roommate, Anna Schilke ‘19, said, “I was proud of her accomplishment.”

After pulling off a successful swing dance social on campus that involved University of Buffalo (UB) instructors and swing dance club members interacting with around 30 to 40 Houghton College students, Banks looks forward to the future for Houghton Swing Dance. Herself and the club are planning at least one, hopefully two, trips to Buffalo to dance off-campus, including UB’s swing social on December 2. Banks hopes to forge a stronger relationship with UB’s swing dance club so that the two clubs can learn from and grow with each other. Claire Brower ‘18 expressed her enjoyment last year during a swing event in Buffalo, and encourages others to give it a try.

In closing, Banks said that “more people should come” to the club’s meetings. She added, “It’s a great place to pick up chicks.” The club meets Monday and Tuesday nights from 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. in the auxiliary gym.

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Stories In Focus

Houghton Welcomes New Electronic Resource Librarian

Two months ago, Houghton College welcomed new librarian, Doyin Adenuga, to campus. With a background in electronic resources and librarian studies, Adenuga’s experience made him more than qualified for the job here at Houghton.

Photo by: Nate Moore
Photo by: Nate Moore

According to Adenuga, he and his family have lived in the United States and Canada for 12 years. Before moving to the U.S. in 2004, Adenuga was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, formerly the capital city of Nigeria, where he met his now wife. He went on to study electronic technologies at Obafeni Awolowo University in Osun State, Nigeria. After marrying in Nigeria, Adenuga and his wife relocated to Wisconsin for four years at the University of Wisconsin. The transition from Nigeria to the U.S. was a cold one when the Adenuga’s arrived in the winter, but after some time, he adjusted from the 90-degree weather of home to the brutal winter temperatures in Wisconsin.

From there, Adenuga and his wife moved to Canada where he worked for a private company and earned his masters degree in library and informational studies. Before his most recent move, Adenuga and his family lived and worked in Missouri until he heard about a new position. After finding an open librarian position at Houghton College on a job search website, Doyin Adenuga applied, interviewed and accepted the position here as the electronic resources librarian.

“Doyin is a wonderful addition to our library family,” said Sharleen Holmes, Houghton Library Operations Manager. “Because of his vast experience with webpage design, one of the first tasks he was given was updating and making our library webpage more intuitive and user friendly.”

Adenuga has already made significant changes to the library technologies including the catalog, web page, and databases, according to David Stevick, Director of Libraries and Information Resources. He added that Adenuga has stepped up to the challenge of a new web page design by making a more functional, user-friendly and attractive library web page. He also maintains the electronic and E-book databases for the library and assists at the research desk.

Along with Adenuga’s skills and expertise, he has high respect for Houghton as a Christian institution. The connection between his faith and this librarian position is one of the reasons the job opening appealed to Adenuga. Holmes said, “He’s very kind, intelligent, and patient, especially with those of us who aren’t anywhere near as tech savvy as he is. His knowledge and talents round out the expertise of our librarians nicely and we feel fortunate to have him here in the library.”

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Review // PersonA Reveals New Persona for Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Photo courtesy of: Amazon.com

With the departure of one of their lead singers, Jade Castrinos, in 2014, the sound and image of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros dramatically changed. The band has always been perceived as a kind of hippie-folk outfit, half band and half travelling commune, but with the loss of one of their charismatic lead singers, they had to undergo a serious image-change.

PersonA is the result of that image-change. It is a mix between their old freak-folk style, and a new, more together style which conjures images of The Beatles and the ‘60’s folk movement. It’s not necessarily a bad change, as frontman Alex Ebert said, that the guy-girl style that had characterized the band allowed them to be creatively lazy. With the change of image, came a change of personality, the persona of Edward Sharpe starting to merge more with the person of Alexander Ebert, hence the album name and the album artwork.

It seems that Ebert put a lot of work into the identity change, as the new album is a powerhouse. With folk melodies such as “Somewhere” and “No Love Like Yours,” it is likely to appeal both to long-time fans, and newcomers to the Edward Sharpe experience. Several songs seem to mark a time of change for the band, like the song “Free Stuff,” which mocks the folk music industry for overusing “hos and heys,” a musical addition which Ebert believes he was the first to use in folk music. The song represents his frustration with the music industry for “stealing his hos,” and also the band’s departure from that type of folk.

The song which stands out the most to many who review the album, and which Ebert says might be one of the best the band has ever written seems to be a bit overrated. “Wake Up the Sun” is a classic, anti-organized-religion song, in the vein of “Love is my Religion” by Ziggy Marley, and John Lennon’s “Imagine.” It doesn’t quite have the power that Ebert seems to think it does, as it proclaims “no religion, love, my religion is love.” A potentially powerful message lost perhaps in the overly-used falsetto vocals, and repetitive, unoriginal lyrics representing popular opinion in an attempt to be rebellious.

Besides this possibly overrated song, the album does have a powerful lineup. Ranging in genre from the traditional freak-folk the band is known for, to a bluesy kind of folk-rock, as characterized by the song “Uncomfortable.”

The song, which may well be the best song on the album, is the hippie-folk anthem “No Love Like Yours,” which conjures images of The Incredible String Band and The Beatles like no other song on the album. It represents the band’s ability to bridge old sounds with new folk movements, and to create a persona for themselves that may just be the best persona they have ever had.

From fans of their older music to folk-music junkies, this is an album that can appeal to just about anyone in the folk-music world. For anyone who doesn’t want to commit to a full listen, definitely check out “Somewhere” and “No Love Like Yours,” but for anyone who is in the mood for a musical experience, give it a listen all the way through. It will not disappoint.

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Stories In Focus

Internationally Bestselling Author Visits Houghton

The Center for the Arts (CFA) Recital Hall was silent for a moment after James Zoller, professor of writing and literature, asked the audience if they had any questions for visiting author Alexander McCall Smith. The pause continued for a few seconds before McCall Smith chimed in, “Well, if people are concerned with asking the first question, we could always start with the second.” The audience laughed, and several questions for the internationally-known author followed.

Photo courtesy of: Jonathan West
Photo courtesy of: Johnathan West

On Thursday, October 22, Houghton College hosted McCall Smith for an hour-long Question and Answer session in the CFA, followed by a luncheon with seven English and writing students in the Lennox Dining Hall. McCall Smith is best known for his book series The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, which follows the adventures of the fictional Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s only female detective. Though he is of Scottish descent and lives in the United Kingdom country now, McCall Smith was born in the country that is now Zimbabwe, and often writes about Africa. According to his official website, he has written and contributed to over 100 books, and many of his series have become worldwide bestsellers.

This visit was made possible through the same means as last year’s Q & A session with Joyce Carol Oates. Like with Oates’ visit, Nicolas Gunning ‘05, the library director for David A. Howe Public Library Director in Wellsville, New York, approached the English and writing department at Houghton to see if they would be willing to help pay for the author’s visit. With this arrangement, McCall Smith would speak at Houghton in addition to the Wellsville library on the same day. Last year, Linda Mills Woolsey, professor of English and former academic dean of the college, agreed to these terms, and used funds from the Dean’s office to sponsor the event. This year, those funds were not available, but the department was able to use funds from the Van Gordon Endowment, a grant that supplies money for projects in the English, writing, and communication departments. Aside from finances, many Houghton faculty and staff worked together to make the event possible, including Jane Miner, the academic departments coordinator for English, education, writing and communication, who set up a gift basket for McCall Smith and worked with Gunning to arrange the details of the visit. Mills Woolsey arranged transportation for McCall Smith, Zoller volunteered to moderate the Q & A session, and Susan Bruxvoort Lipscomb, associate professor of English and chair for the department, hosted the student luncheon.

In the Q & A session, Zoller asked the Scottish author several questions about McCall Smith’s transition from a professor of medical law to fiction writer, how he approaches the writing process, and his experiences with the publishing industry. Jordan Trautwein ‘19, who attended both the Q & A and the luncheon, said she thought McCall Smith was especially engaged in the conversation with Zoller, and even though it occasionally felt unfocused, she liked that he mostly answered the questions through stories.

“It was very appropriate for a storyteller,” she said. “It seemed like his life is just a series of stories. He got so excited about telling us stories from his life, other people’s lives, and what he’s observed.”

The stories McCall Smith told in the Q & A included the story of his first lunch with his New York publishers (“I thought lunch was illegal in New York since everyone is so busy”), his African upbringing (“Africa has a spiritual feel to it that has remained with me despite spending the rest of my life in Scotland”), and his driver from Philadelphia to Houghton the previous day (“He told me that he and his brother go to tattoo conventions, what an interesting thing to do”). He also discussed his influences, including poet W. H. Auden, who is the subject of McCall Smith’s 2013 nonfiction book What W. H. Auden Can Do For You.

“I heard him recite his work once,” McCall Smith said. “He was a shambolic figure, came in wearing carpet slippers and a grey suit. We could all see that his zip was undone, but the great man rose above that.”

After answering a few questions from students, McCall Smith joined Lipscomb, Gunning, and seven English and writing majors, including Trautwein and Emma Carpenter ‘18, for lunch in the Lennox Dining Hall.

“He seemed very warm,” said Carpenter of McCall Smith. “I really enjoyed talking with him, and even just listening to him. [The conversation] felt very natural, and his sense of humor really impressed me. I want to read his books now, because that absurdist sense of humor is something I’d like to see in my own writing.”

“It’s such a cool opportunity,” said Trautwein, when asked why she attended both sessions. “This is why I came to Houghton, because I could do things like this.”

Lipscomb, who attended the lunch with the students, affirmed the benefit for students, especially in the English and writing department, to attend events like this.

“Specifically for English and writing students, it’s a good chance to ask questions about the world of publishing, how they do their writerly craft, how to make time for that, and how they got started in writing,” said Lipscomb. “Our students are just starting out, and it’s good for them to be able to see what the end point looks like and what the steps are to getting there. In terms of the campus community, people who are fans get to see the person who created this thing that they love.”

Adding Allegany County to McCall Smith’s North American tour was no easy feat, but the collaboration between Houghton College and the Wellsville Library allowed for a once in a lifetime experience for many Houghton residents and students. In the future, the college and the Wellsville library would like to offer another such experience.

In the meantime, students and professors will have plenty to discuss after McCall Smith’s visit as they continue to follow in this particular great man’s footsteps and tell stories of their own.

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Stories In Focus

The Wizarding World Comes to Ithaca

Last year, businesses in Ithaca, New York banded together to create a magical, Harry Potter themed event called the “Wizarding Weekend.” Business owners re-imagined their shops, cafes, and restaurants into locations straight out of J.K. Rowling’s bestselling series. According to online news website The Ithaca Voice, event planners initially thought they would draw a crowd of about 200. However, by the end of the weekend over 8,000 people had attended.

facebook.com/wizardingweekend
facebook.com/wizardingweekend

Planners this year are better prepared for the onslaught of Potter fans. Increasing the schedule from one day to a four day celebration, Downtown Ithaca will be transformed into a haven of wizardly goods from October 27 through October 30. Several streets will be turned into iconic streets from the Harry Potter series, including Diagon Alley, Godric’s Hollow, and Knockturn Alley. Life’s So Sweet Chocolates on West Green Street will be creating confections inspired by Honeydukes, Tompkins Trust Company will become the wizard bank of Gringotts, and businesses throughout the town will be embracing the Harry Potter theme.

Melissa MacLean ‘17, who attended the event last year, that the best part of the weekend for her was “the feeling of being in an environment where everyone is geeking out at the same thing.” She described it as an atmosphere which fostered conversation and shared space between people who may otherwise walk very different paths in life. MacLean also commented on the food trucks and the “legendary butterbeer” which she assured is “community covenant approved.” When asked if she would attend the Wizarding Weekend again, she replied that she would, saying, “I wouldn’t want to let my Ravenclaws down!”

Although events are scheduled for each day of the Wizarding Weekend, the greatest number of activities will be available on October 29, the event’s “Festival Day.” According to the official website, some activities include a Horcrux Hunt, a “Dark Arts Coffee Crawl” through local coffee shops, several Quidditch matches, costume contests, live music, and a Tri-Wizard Ball. A number of local artisans will be selling their wares, including everything from jewelry to quills to handcrafted wands. Additionally, acceptance letters to Hogwarts will be handed out by characters from the series.

Some events require tickets or reservations, but many are free and open to the public. As of October 25th, the “Ithaca’s Wizarding Weekend” Facebook page reports over 3,500 people will be attending and some 11,000 are interested. For any of the ticketed activities, it is recommended that tickets be purchased soon as there are a limited number available for most events.

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Stories In Focus

Recent Alumni Start Building Careers at Houghton

Houghton College is dedicated to preparing their students for the workplace, and sometimes that workplace is the college itself. Recent graduates can apply for employment at the school after earning their degree to make an impressive addition to their resume. Zachary Palmer ‘16, Connor Vogan ‘15, and Jesse Carter ‘16 are three recent graduates who are now a part of the Houghton community in a different way, as an employee.

Photo by: Nate Moore
Photo by: Nate Moore

Vogan, a fourth generation Houghton alumni, originally came to Houghton because he was recruited for soccer. He always felt welcomed when he visited campus, and felt valued as a student. This was part of the reason he returned a year after graduating. Vogan graduated with a business degree, and decided to pursue his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Vogan worked a few different jobs, such as a startup company run by a friend, in addition to working in a coffee shop for t a year to save money to continue his academic pursuit Shortly before leaving for Rochester to start his schooling, Vogan received a message from Kim Pool asking if he would like a job at Houghton College. Pool thought the tasks of this particular title would be perfect for Vogan. Now the Enrollment Marketing Coordinator, Vogan is doing the work he always wanted, and is currently pursuing a MBA for.. According to Vogan, working at Houghton in the mornings has been ideal. He said, “I get what I want with a brand that I love and am invested in.” He feels poured into, spiritually, as an employee at Houghton.

Carter, a humanities major who graduated in May, originally came to Houghton as a student wanting to attend an academic-achieving Christian school. He had previously attended community college, transferring to Houghton in the Fall of 2014. Because Carter had less time at Houghton than most students, he wanted to stay for a longer period of time. He is now an admissions counselor for the upstate New York area. His favorite thing about the job is being able to go on high school visits and see the faces of students he speaks with over the phone. According to Carter, the most bizarre aspect of his new role is being able to call the professors he learned from just months ago by their first names.

Another Houghton graduate now employed at the school is Palmer. During his time at Houghton, Palmer was most appreciative of the professors would take time out of their day to “sit down for an hour and talk with you about life.” Palmer studied psychology while a student, and loved it. He and his wife are still looking for graduate schools, but have found that working at Houghton during their gap year was “the best choice since we have so many ties to the community.” Palmer enjoys working at Houghton, and said his college experience has prepared him to work diligently and have grace on himself.

To the current students looking towards graduation, Carter said, “Don’t worry as much as you are probably worrying now. There are people at this school who will help you. Don’t be afraid to take chances because you don’t know what opportunities will happen from the risks you take. Enjoy every moment with your senior class. This will be the last time you see all of your friends in this kind of setting, and that should not be taken for granted.”