Junior Jordan Langer has finally found her calling. After sitting through political science and global sustainability classes, Langer knew that she had to change her major—twice. She came to Central set on an art degree, but switched paths and landed on economics. And after her first semester of sophomore year, Langer decided that a political science major, as well as Spanish and global sustainability minors, was a better fit for her passion.

From Madison, Wis., Langer came to Central after attending her high school’s college fair—and her mom spotted Central’s admission counselor.

“The way I found out about Central is a funny story,” Langer says with a smile. “My mom thought the Central admission counselor was really cute, so she told me we had to go talk to him! And when I got to the table, I realized how much Central felt like the right choice for me. So, I came down to visit and something just clicked. There was an internal feeling of ‘I need to be here for the next four years of my life.’ I just feel blessed every day that I am here.”

As a part of a service-learning requirement, Langer volunteers at the Work of Our Hands, a fair trade store in Pella that sells products from artisans living in impoverished areas around the world. Langer’s mission is to make sure that everyone knows how fair trade can benefit every part of society.

“I love working for Work of Our Hands,” she says. “I would work there regardless if it was required or not because I love being involved with fair trade—I get to answer questions and inform others of the amazing work that the store does.”

When Langer isn’t off climbing the cliffs at Red Rock Park to watch the sunset or reading autobiographies (her recent favorite was of Wangari Maathai, a memoir of the woman who started the greenbelt movement in Kenya), she can be found indulging her love of painting or hanging out with friends.

In the fall, Langer is flying to London on Central College Abroad’s study abroad program, where she plans to have an internship with a human rights organization or an environmental development group. After that, she just wants to take advantage of everything life and Central has to offer.

“I can’t wait to explore the endless opportunities at Central and seeing where they will take me next,” Langer says. “I am looking forward to seeing how I can contribute to the Central community more—let’s see what I can do with the next two years. It’s going to be awesome!”

The A Cappella Choir performing in Sao Bento Monastery.

Sharing a love for art and music, the Central College A Cappella Choir recently returned from a successful tour in Brazil, where they sung in both English and Portuguese—proving that music truly is a universal language.

Seventy students traveled to Sao Paulo, Iguacu and Rio di Janeiro and sang in impressive venues, including the Cathedrals of Sao Paulo and Nossa Senhora da Paz in Rio di Janeiro. During their concert in Sao Paulo, Cardinal Odilo Scherer, Archbishop of Sao Paulo, sat in the audience as the choir performed and presented more than 300 pairs of shoes to the Northeast Rotary Club in Sao Paulo.

The choir in front of Sao Paulo Cathedral.

“The students were great ambassadors for Central College, and they discovered more fully the transformative collegiate choir experience,” Mark Babcock, director and associate professor of music, says. “Students in the A Cappella Choir pledge to commit to a shared mission: our respect for the choral art challenges us to learn diverse repertoire, work consistently for excellence, inspire others through varied performances and treasure the unique contributions of every choir member. This mission has new meaning for them following the tour.”

Rotary International has collected new and used shoes to distribute to people in need throughout Brazil for more than a decade—as a sign of goodwill, the choir collected shoes at concerts in Iowa and stuffed the donations into their suitcases. The club focuses on rural communities, as well as impoverished areas in Brazil’s largest cities. Through the end of 2012, there had been more than 50,000 pairs of shoes collected and distributed.

As the tour progressed, the group witnessed Brazil’s inspiring natural wonders. While visiting the lushly forested tourist area of Iguacu Falls, the choir marveled at the area’s waterfalls and the national park. While in Rio, the students soaked up the warm sun on the Copacabana beach and explored the local culture through street vendors and restaurants.

“Although we were clearly outsiders, the Brazilian people were welcoming and extremely gracious toward us, warming our hearts with gratitude as we warmed theirs with music,” says junior Mackenzie Uhlenhopp. “It was an unforgettable blessing to perform beloved Portuguese pieces for a sea of smiling, crying and, often, singing Brazilians. Not only did we fall in love with the Brazilians, we were all truly humbled by the tremendous stature and beauty of the venues in which we performed.”

The A Cappella Choir in front of the Christ the Redeemer Statue.

The choir toured the Christ the Redeemer Statue (the largest art deco statue in the world placed on a mountaintop looking down on Rio) and encountered a drum and Samba exchange with a local percussion group. Everywhere they went, they shared their love for music, including an impromptu performance at Iguacu Falls.

It was a powerful experience for the entire choir—the poverty in Brazil was evident, but a transformational experience came from sharing their art. Audiences cried and applauded; the students were moved, and they learned that the arts can break down any barrier.

“Above all, I learned that music is one of the best ways to reach out and communicate with others, especially other cultures,” says sophomore Lexie Waymire.

“As a result of our journey to Brazil, the members of the A Cappella Choir have grown as singers, performers, public servants, global citizens and community members,” Uhlenhopp adds. “It was an immensely rewarding experience that visibly impacted each and everyone involved and for which we are all extremely thankful.”

A student-made video of a fun afternoon at Igauacu Falls. By sophomore Brandon Mennenoh

During the synod, members will be building school kits with World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide. The school kits will include backpacks full of school supplies that will be given to children from low-income families. Approximately 500 packs will be donated to Aurora Heights Elementary School in Newton and 500 will go abroad that will also include a hygiene kit.

The synod will consist of 10 plenary sessions, along with a presentation and workshop with Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research, on “Engaging All God’s People in Mission.” Central previously hosted the synod in 2001, 2006 and 2007. For more information on the synod, visit https://www.rca.org/synod.

By Patsy Snead ’13

An excerpt of “Country…Iowa,” written this spring for the course Literary Journalism. The essay covers Patsy’s experience teaching ELL classes in Des Moines before graduating in May.

“What country are you from?” I asked.

De, a 34-year-old Burmese refugee, sat across from me in the middle school lobby. He was here to participate in the same English-language program that his children were enrolled in at school.

After my question, De nodded, blinked. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips, then stretched across his tan, freckled skin. His dark eyes shined. He had a youthful appearance and seemed excited to be there.

“What…country…are…you…from?” I repeated the question, tugging on each syllable, hoping it would somehow solve the language puzzle in his mind.

De nodded. He smiled again. It seemed to be a smile of understanding. Instead, he stammered, “…country? Country…Iowa.” His deep brown eyes and his smile seemed to radiate. He felt proud he could offer an answer.

I had been assigned by the site director to interview him and rate his ability to speak and understand English, but all he could communicate to me was his name and the names of his two children.

He is not alone in his struggle.

At 8:45 in the morning, I walked down the long, empty hallways of the school, heading towards my classroom. Signs in both Spanish and English lined the walls. My job was an aide—I volunteered each Saturday with an English Language Learning (ELL) class for adults.

On average, we had a mixture of about 15 or so Mexican, Nepalese or Burmese adults in our class. The majority of the students spoke Karen—a language representing an ethnic group by the same name in eastern Burma.

Patsy Snead with local children on a Campus Ministries service trip to Texas over winter break.

In 1948, Burma, now known as Myanmar, gained its independence from Great Britain. The Karen nation is located on the eastern edge of Burma, along the border of Thailand. After the Second World War, the Burmese government took control of the land by force. Any resistance was regarded as a threat, which then turned into ethnic cleansing as the government fought for control of the state. The civil war continues today.

Millions of the Karen people were forced to migrate. Camps have been established in Thailand for refugees of Burma. Many countries are sharing the burden placed on Thailand by accepting relocation deals with the government for taking in Burmese refugees. Des Moines, Iowa, is one of those places.

As I continued to volunteer, I began to develop a relationship with a young woman named Tar. She seemed eager to talk to me, and her shy smiles were encouraging while we worked together. I pointed to Kerr, the studious man who always sat near her at the front of the room. “Is he your family?”

“He my…father,” she said. I didn’t want to be intrusive, and at first, I felt awkward. I wasn’t sure what to say, so I turned back to her and started with the obvious.

“So you speak Karen?”

“Yes.” She smiled and leaned in, eager to talk. “No… No English.” She shook her head and a laugh stretched across her smooth, olive skin.

“How old are you?” I asked. I expected her to be around my age. She didn’t understand, so I tried again. “I’m 21,” I pointed to myself. “How… old…are…you?”

“I’m 27,” She stated, proud of her English. Her hands gripped her chair. “Are you marry?” She asked with curiosity.

I giggled. “No, I’m not married.”

I encouraged her English skills. She had been in Iowa for seven months with her husband and three children. She began taking an English class offered at a local community college two months after her arrival. Her father had been in Des Moines for four years. He worked until his family could join him.

All of her children were born in the refugee camp where Tar had lived for the past 12 years. Many of the other students in my class, like De, came from similar camps.

Many of these ELL students were either escaping violence or looking for a better life. My work with the ELL program opened up my eyes to the kinds of challenges that educators and displaced persons alike must face. The refugees left a country full of violence, lived for years in a camp lacking access to basic resources and now live in the middle of a brand new country and culture.

They aren’t just statistics. The teachers in the ELL program provide support as the students try to break through the language barriers to reach a more hopeful future. Tar and Kerr, and thousands like them, continually have challenges to face, but they also have a desire to learn, a desire to prosper and to provide for their families.

Read Patsy’s full essay.

Melinda Vermeer Papadeas, Nancy Vermeer, Michael Vermeer and Luann Vermeer De Haan stand with their mother Bernice ’50 at the dedication ceremony.

Over the years, the banquet hall in Graham Conference Center has hosted countless speakers, conferences, dinners, musical performances and weddings. It has been a center for the community of both Central College and Pella. It is a gathering space for people and culture that Harry and Bernice Vermeer and family have appreciated.

On May 12, the room was officially dedicated as the Harry and Bernice Vermeer Banquet Hall. Although Harry passed away in 2006, his wife Bernice ’50 attended the ceremony surrounded by her family. Bernice was honored by the naming of the hall, especially since she knows the people of the Pella area and Central College will enjoy the many events that can now be hosted in a beautifully updated facility.

Harry and Bernice Vermeer contributed a significant gift to Central College toward the recent renovation of the banquet hall. No strangers to charitable giving, the couple has been serving the community physically and financially their whole lives.

Bernice Vermeer ’50 with Mark Putnam, Central College president, during the dedication ceremony.

Harry and Bernice, born in 1929 and 1930 respectively, both grew up in Pella, Iowa. Bernice attended Calvin College for one year before coming to Central to finish her two-year teaching degree. She taught for two years and then joined her husband at his military base in Alabama. Harry served in the Army for two years during the Korean War, then returned to Pella to join his brother Gary at Vermeer Manufacturing, which Gary founded in 1948. Harry was part-owner of the internationally successful company until he died, and he worked there for 25 years, establishing Vermeer dealerships all over the U.S. and the world.

In 1976, Harry left Vermeer to own and operate the Marion County State Bank, which he led until health problems forced him to retire in 2000. Harry and Bernice raised four children, traveled the globe and served the community of Pella. Harry served as president of the boards of the Pella Community Hospital and the Pella Historical Society. He served on the Pella City Council and led fundraising efforts for the Pella Christian Schools and the hospital. Bernice is a Lifetime Member of the Auxiliary of the Hospital and continues to be an active volunteer around town.

Both Bernice and her daughter LuAnn De Haan describe Harry as a hard worker. Family, too, was central to his life. Bernice recalls that Saturdays were always set aside for the family. But after the kids went to bed, he would head back to the office. His work establishing Vermeer dealerships took the family on vacations around the country, and he and Bernice traveled all over the world for both Vermeer and various mission efforts. Harry and Bernice’s mission initiatives locally included inviting Central students to their home for Bible studies.

The plaques outside the banquet Hall honor Harry and Bernice Vermeer.

The Vermeer family believes that God’s blessings on Vermeer Corporation and Marion County State bank blessed Harry with many resources. “Harry was an inspirational giver,” says his son-in-law Ralph De Haan. “He understood that it was God’s resources. His thought was: “This isn’t mine. I’m only taking care of it.’”

Harry found many ways to give back to the community that had helped make Vermeer and the bank successful. “He had resources that could be invested in God’s kingdom and the community,” says Ralph. “He took on the big job of trying to figure out the best places to put those dollars.”

One such place was Central College, where Harry and Bernice spent many happy hours attending dinners, music and theatre performances and athletic events. Harry and Bernice were passionate about Pella continuing to grow, and that meant Central thriving, as well.

“Christian education was very important to him,” says LuAnn. “Dad’s gifts to Central College were his way of supporting higher education locally.”

Although Harry has been gone for seven years, Bernice continues to cherish her family, which consists of her four children and their spouses, her nine grandchildren and their spouses, and her six great-grandchildren. Bernice continues to enjoy taking in concerts and plays and other activities in the community, including some on the Central campus.

Now, every time she returns to Graham Conference Center and The Harry and Bernice Vermeer Banquet Hall for another event, Bernice will gratefully be reminded of her and Harry’s life of service and giving together.

Mark Putnam, Central College president, and Arthur Bosch ’51, professor emeritus of chemistry, at the 2013 Central College Commencement.

At the 2013 commencement ceremony, Central College announced the establishment of the Arthur J. Bosch Endowment for Student Research.

The fund will support students in academic research, intentionally linking students with faculty and alumni partners in collaborative research. The fund will also help place students in real-time research opportunities during their undergraduate experience.

Arthur Bosch, a 1951 alumnus of Central and professor emeritus of chemistry, had a 50-year career and modeled the principle of intellectual and social engagement and advanced best practices for professional collaboration with colleagues and students. Bosch was at the commencement ceremony to commemorate the fund named in his honor.

“One of the most important things we can do is create opportunities for faculty and students to collaborate on significant research projects,” said Mark Putnam, Central College president. “The establishment of the Arthur J. Bosch Endowment for Student Research allows more of these opportunities to occur and at a higher level. We are appreciative of our donors who have supported this initiative and strengthened the relationship between our faculty and students.”

Bosch Scholars will receive a stipend and housing support during the summer to engage in professional research opportunities, have the opportunity to prepare for graduate school or chosen careers while learning research methodology and professional social interaction among peers and develop an initial network of professionals who can serve as lifelong mentors and colleagues.

The endowment will allow Central College students to be more competitive for graduate fellowships and job opportunities in the national and global research and health care fields. The first Bosch Scholars will likely explore science-based research, but as the fund develops students will be chosen from any field.

“There was a sense that Central was missing an arrow from its quiver,” said Don Morrison, director of development and planned giving. “After conversations with alumni, we realized that our students could be landing outstanding research opportunities and internships. The Bosch Endowment will be a great umbrella for student research.”

The Bosch Endowment has more than $333,000 raised, more than half of the $500,000 goal. The funds will be made available to students beginning in the summer of 2014. Donor support of the endowment provides a launch point for other research initiatives and provides a permanent source of funding. To donate to the Arthur J. Bosch Endowment for Student Research, visit https://www.central.edu/alumni/ways-to-give/.

Four years at Central College can seem like a lifetime, when you consider how much students grow. But it can also be a blur, especially when it comes to students who never quit moving, like recent graduate Morgan Remick ’13.

As a member of the A Cappella Choir and the Chamber Singers and an SOS orientation leader, Remick always had her hands full at Central. She also helped out during Iowa Private College Week on campus, was secretary of the Health Professions Club, co-treasurer of Psi Chi and a member of the theatre department.

The Hillsboro native is no stranger to a busy schedule, and now that she is out in the “real world,” things aren’t about to change anytime soon. Remick, an exercise science major and psychology minor, has been accepted to Washington University in St. Louis, where she plans to study occupational therapy. And Remick is eager for new adventures, including her summer marriage to fellow Central grad Ben Fry ‘13.

“This final semester has definitely been weird,” she says. “I have been ready for a change and the uncertainty has definitely been a little nerve-wracking, but all the changes are really exciting.”

Remick is undeniably prepared for grad school—during her final semester at Central, she was able to do a senior thesis project that implemented a fall-prevention program with older individuals at the Vriendschap Village retirement community and the long-term care unit at Pella Regional Hospital. The goal for the project was to increase balance and strength in the lower extremities to prevent falls. Remick also introduced a social functioning component to her project, which analyzed how the individuals interacted with one another as they participated in the program.

“I think doing this research and spending time with these older people is going to be valuable for me whether I do occupational therapy or wherever I end up in the health care field,” Remick says. “I think it has been a good experience, no matter the results.”

This wasn’t Remick’s first time working in a medical center. Last summer, she interned at the Henry County Health Center in Mt. Pleasant, where she job shadowed an occupational therapist, as well as a physical therapist and speech therapist. The experience opened her eyes and exposed Remick to her dream job.

“It was great to see how much the therapists could do for others,” says Remick. “I really think I would love to work in a hospital setting as an occupational therapist. These experiences solidified what I wanted to do because I could see the impact I could make on other people.”

Looking back on her four years at Central, Remick knows that all of her classes, professors and classmates have helped shape her into the person she is today.

“It has been really great getting help from my advisors and other professors,” she says. “The Central community gives you so much support—they provided the support that I needed to be successful through my last four years and in my future endeavors.”

This year, 11 students completed theses—two in the fall and nine in the spring. Here are three examples of the compelling work typical of these honors students.

Melony McDermott, exercise science

“Stress, Coping and Injury in Basketball Players”

Advisors: Cody Huisman, visiting clinical instructor of exercise science; David Pavlat, associate professor of exercise science; Leslie Duinink, associate professor of exercise science and class dean

As an exercise science major Melony McDermott knew she wanted to research athletes and their injuries, but she didn’t know what angle to take. That was until she ran into a 1995 study published by San Jose State University that found no relationship between life-event stress, coping and injury. With an interest in psychology as well as athletics, Melony found the results and decided to do her own version of the research.

Basketball has one of the highest overall rates of injury in non-collision sports. To see if the prevalence of injury was affected by the stress in a player’s life and their overall coping abilities, McDermott recruited players from both Pella High School and Central College to complete surveys throughout the season. Each week, they submitted an injury log that cataloged any event that caused a missed or modified practice, as well as any stressful events during the week.

At the beginning, middle and end of the semester, McDermott asked the players to complete two surveys: one that measured the amount of stress in their lives and one that evaluated their ability to cope.

McDermott’s results were not what she expected, though they did correspond with the previous study from San Jose State. She found that there was no significant correlation between stress, coping skills and injuries among players. She did note, however, that 10 of the 11 players who were injured during the season indicated major stressors in their lives.

McDermott believes that stress is still an important topic for coaches and athletes to be aware of, despite her results. And she learned a lot about research from her thesis, knowledge that will be essential for research projects at the University of Iowa, where she will be attending graduate school for physical therapy.

Greg Ellingson, economics and political science

“The Labor Market in Context -The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act”

Advisor: Brian Peterson, professor of economics

Second reader: Andrew Green, associate professor of political science

No matter your politics, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has affected your life. In order to stimulate the economy after the 2008 downtown, President Obama signed the act into law in February 2009. It injected $787 billion into the economy in tax cuts; entitlement spending; and grants, contracts and loans. Setting aside politics and stepping into his economist shoes, senior Greg Ellingson analyzed just how effective the act was at lowering unemployment and jumpstarting the economy.

Ellingson developed two models for his thesis. The first showed the change in non-farm employment from July 2009-July 2011. The variables included home foreclosures, crude oil production, natural gas production, migration and state ideology. Ellingson’s second model, the labor market nonparticipation model, used the same variables.

Ellingson hypothesized that more funds going into a state would increase non-farm employment and decrease nonparticipation in the labor market (i.e. more people jumping back into the search for a job.)

His models provided several significant findings. For every $1 million injected into a state’s economy, about six jobs were created. For every four foreclosures in a state, there was one less job available. For every 100 barrels of crude oil produced, there was one more job. Finally, for every seven migrants entering a state, there was one more non-farm job. The findings for natural gas and ideology were not significant.

Using his second model, Ellingson found that every $1 million injected into a state’s economy resulted in nine more non-participants in the labor market. This was the opposite of his hypothesis. Confused by his findings, Ellingson added population to his model and his results switched— more funds did decrease the nonparticipation rate, as expected, but the finding was not statistically significant.

In general, Ellingson found that more stimulus funds increased non-farm employment (1.8-3.3 million jobs). That conclusion supported the short-term Keynesian economic theory that government spending can stimulate the economy. However, the numbers fell short of what the government predicted.

Combining both his economics and political science majors, Ellingson objectively evaluated the economic success of a new policy. Those skills will be essential for his career in graduate school.

Rhiley Huntington, biology

“Migration”

Advisor: Keith Ratzlaff, professor of English

Second reader: Russ Benedict, professor of biology

Relying on her writing minor for technique and creativity and her biology major for inspiration, senior Rhiley Huntington produced a collection of poems and non-fiction literary essays for her honors thesis. Titled “Migration,” the anthology was born from a sense of being in between—child and adult, student and employee, even daughter and wife, since she is getting married this summer.

The writing process allowed Huntington to work through ideas about landscape, self, other and nature. Tasked with producing 10 pages of writing a week, Huntington was forced to take on subjects she had normally rejected, such as love, and look deeper into her college experiences, like her semester abroad in Bangor, Wales.

Huntington’s poetic topics included: driving through the Iowa landscape, bird-watching, Welsh poetic forms, the things she could not write about and a circular poem of joy and thanksgiving. The collection also includes a prose piece about visiting St. Cwyfans Church-in-the-Sea in Wales, an experience that allowed her to explore both her faith and her childhood as a mini-biologist collecting rocks.

Huntington says that “Migration” is about movement, about continuing to new places. It is also about her passion for both fact (in her work as a biologist) and the nebulous and uncertain (in her work as a writer. “Science pushes writing to a place where not a lot of writers can go,” she says.

After graduation, Huntington is continuing to utilize both her scientific and creative sides as an iEarth Camp Educator and Overnight Leader at the Science Center of Iowa in Des Moines.