In the interview, Lewis shares about his experience serving as the chief education officer for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and how that work has prepared him in unique ways to serve as the 6th President of 91Fans.
91Fans’s Alumni Christian Service Award is presented to those who have held to the ideals of the Christian faith and who have made a significant impact for the Lord through self-sacrifice to the Church, their communities, and/or their professions.
Self-sacrificing is a truly apt description for one of this year’s recipients. It’s a story that begins at Houghton Academy, barrels down the Houghton College football field, flourishes in Sierra Leone, and continues to impact the lives—and vision—of people from California to Mexico to Zambia and beyond.
James “Bud” Tysinger, a member of the Class of 1965, was a multi-sport athlete at Houghton during the Purple and Gold era, demonstrating abilities in football, basketball, and track and field. In October 1963, the Houghton STAR reported the following about Bud: “He has a way of holding a team together under any conditions.” This particular characteristic would no doubt play an important part in his life as a medical missionary, business owner, and founder of a charitable organization.
At Houghton, Bud didn’t just lead on the sports pitch. He served in student body leadership for all four of his years on campus, as class president in both his freshman and sophomore years, as study body chaplain his junior year, and as student body president in his senior year. Sometime between his roles in student government and his competition in the sports arena, Bud found time to complete a degree in zoology.
After completing medical school at the Medical College of South Carolina, Bud took a trip that became a turning point in his life. In 1970, Bud joined a medical missions team on a trip to Sierra Leone living nearly three years there with his family working as a doctor at the hospital founded by the Wesleyan Church in Kamakwie. On that trip, Bud worked alongside an ophthalmologist providing vision care. He developed a passion for serving people in developing countries and saw ophthalmology, particularly cataract surgery, as an ideal way to serve, while also maintaining a home and practice in the United States. He pursued eye training at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, and additional training at University of California, San Francisco.
For over 20 years, Bud embarked on medical missions trips to Sierra Lone as well as rural Mexico, providing vision care to those who otherwise would have no access to it. In 1994, civil unrest brought an end to his work in Sierra Leone, but that year, Bud partnered with fellow doctors to create the nonprofit International Vision Volunteers, which is dedicated to bringing sight and eye care to underserved communities.
Beginning in 1995, through International Vision Volunteers, Bud took his medical missions work to Zambia in south central Africa, opening an eye hospital—Zimba Mission Hospital—in 2001. Today, the hospital is staffed by five teams of care providers, each serving two weeks annually.
Bud’s son, James Tysinger III, Houghton Class of 1988, remarked, “I have no idea how many doctors, nurses, dentists, optometrists and other professionals have gone to serve in Mexico, Sierra Leone and Zambia that might never have done so had my dad not made the effort to invite them to serve.”
In the challenging conditions medical missionaries face in remote, rural and impoverished communities, Bud retained and employed the characteristics of that young fellow on the Houghton football field who could hold a team together under any circumstances.
Bud’s nephew, Dr. Jonathan Vogan, Houghton Class of 1985, was one of those professionals attracted to medical missionary work and had the opportunity to work alongside Bud in Sierra Leone. “God used conversations with my Uncle Bud about serving God in the medical profession. My uncle’s life in Christian service was powerfully used by God to direct my own service to God in the medical profession, including many medical mission trips.”
Today, some patients travel hundreds of miles to the Zambian clinic from neighboring Botswana and Zimbabwe. Hundreds of surgeries are performed annually, and thousands of patients receive care. The clinic also provides training for ophthalmology residents, clinical officers and nurses in eye care, some of whom go on to continue to serve with International Vision Volunteers.
Bud’s commitment to providing exceptional vision care isn’t limited to his international patients. In 1979, Bud founded a California Eye Clinic in Antioch, California, where he used his gifts and abilities to provide patient-centered care to his community. He provided vision care throughout his region until retiring in 2002. Today, California Eye Clinic has five locations with two ophthalmologists and five optometrists.
“His heart was to serve,” noted James, who is with us this evening to surprise his father. “He supported many missionaries and sponsored and supported students from Africa to get the education they needed to go back and serve others in their home countries. As his son, I was privy to many acts of service and sacrifice that were never public.”
As the son of a pastor and a teacher, with a family legacy of ministry, education and missionary work, Bud followed the examples set before him. When asked why he wanted to serve as a missionary, he replied “I just felt called to serve with the gifts I’ve been given.”
In recognition of nearly 50 years of service and sacrifice, for the thousands of lives impacted by vision care, and for his tireless dedication to Kingdom work in some of the world’s neediest places, it is my privilege to present James “Bud” Tysinger with 91Fans’s Alumni Christian Service Award.
Houghton, NY – During its Homecoming and Family Weekend (October 3-5, 2025), 91Fans honored four prestigious alumni with awards recognizing their outstanding contributions to their professions, their communities, their alma mater and the Church. The awards were presented during the annual Legacy Chapel on Friday, October 3 by 91Fans President Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. honored Mr. David Smith ’73, Ms. Joanna Sudlow ’15, Mr. Dean Liddick ’60 and Mr. Derrick Tennant ’93.
Mr. David Smith was named 91Fans Alumnus of the Year, which was presented posthumously to his wife Mrs. Cindy (Dunham ’73) Smith. Mr. Smith was recognized for his lifetime of service to IBM, a career which spanned nearly forty years, during which time he was recognized with numerous employee awards. After retirement, Mr. Smith served Houghton as Vice President for Finance and Planning under President Emerita Dr. Shirley A. Mullen ’76. Mr. Smith was noted for his dedication, his servant-leadership, and his commitment to excellence.
Ms. Joanna Sudlow was named Young Alumna of the Year, recognizing her work as Lead Animal Trainer with Sight and Sound Theatres in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Over the past decade, Ms. Sudlow has trained hundreds of animals for stage and film productions, including the theatre’s current sold-out show Noah, which features over 140 animals. Her work has been a vital part of Sight and Sound’s ability to carry out its mission to spread the truth of the Gospel through drama, reaching over 1.5 million audience members annually.
Mr. Dean Liddick, a long-time Houghton resident and former college employee, was presented with the 2025 Alumni Appreciation Award. In the twenty-five years since his retirement, Mr. Liddick has served in many unrecognized roles, as ghostwriter, advisor, consultant, and unofficial historian. The founder and long-time editor of Houghton’s alumni magazine, Mr. Liddick has been a vital source of information for four different published works of Houghton history, including most recently Dr. Jack Connell’s ’83 book Heartbreak and Hope: The Story of the Houghton Six.
Mr. Derrick Tennant was presented with the FEARLESS Award, recognizing his lifetime dedication to overcoming challenges, and the work he does to inspire others to do the same. Mr. Tennant is a widely respected corporate speaker, stand-up comedian, and advocate for those with Down’s Syndrome and those with traumatic brain injuries. His speaking and comedy career has taken him around the world, spreading messages of hope and perseverance in the face of overwhelming circumstances.
What defines an alumnus of the year? A 91Fans Alumnus of the Year, beyond any other criteria, must have demonstrated a firm commitment to Christ and the advancement of His Kingdom. He must have made a significant contribution to his profession or vocation, and made a noteworthy service to society. At its core, to be recognized as the Alumnus of the Year, one must have lived out his calling as a scholar-servant. David Smith, a graduate of the 91Fans Class of 1973, most fittingly, was once described as “the epitome of a scholar-servant.”
A general science major at Houghton, David went on to a thirty-nine year career with IBM. Twenty of those years David dedicated to executive leadership, holding positions in operations, information technology, logistics and manufacturing. His experience and responsibilities ranged widely, including sales, finance, risk management, project management, business operations, customer relations management, management information systems and new product development.
David filled these roles with excellence, making a significant contribution at IBM, evidenced by recognition with awards such as the IBM Leadership Award, the IBM Market Driven Quality Award, and the IBM Award of Excellence. He completed IBM’s Advanced Management School and the IBM Manufacturing Business Development Program at Dartmouth University. David excelled in his vocational calling and IBM and his colleagues were the better for it.
Upon retirement in 2012, David didn’t rest upon his laurels. Instead, he elected to give back to his alma mater in the most useful way possible. David assumed the mantle of Houghton’s Vice President for Finance and Planning, a role he filled for three years under the leadership of President Emerita, Dr. Shirley Mullen. The Houghton community is full of people who worked alongside David and who were blessed by doing so. David was the consummate team player, an attribute he no doubt developed during his time as a dual sport student-athlete at Houghton, cultivating his skills on the baseball field and the basketball court.
David’s family remarked, “He loved the Lord and serving others… he was respected by all who worked with him.”
David was an active servant and leader in his church home at Webster Bible Church. He served as a deacon, a greeter, and in children’s ministry. David was a devoted family man, husband to Houghton alumna Cindy Dunham Smith of the Class of 1973 for over 50 years; father to Melissa, Aimee, Jordan and Tyler; and grandfather to seven grandchildren.
Beyond his church and family, David long understood the vision of 91Fans’s role in advancement of the Kingdom of God on earth. He was an active student mentor, a faithful supporter of student scholarships, and a member of the Houghton Athletics Advisory Board.
David Smith passed away in November of 2024, leaving behind the legacy of a true scholar-servant: a firm commitment to Christ and the advancement of His Kingdom, a noteworthy service to society and a significant contribution to his vocation. This morning it is a privilege to present to Cindy Dunham Smith, on behalf of her husband David Smith, 91Fans’s 2025 Alumnus of the Year Award.
We humans have many phrases about animals used to express our frustrations with the chaos of life. “It’s like herding cats,” we say. Or we take a step back and proclaim “Not my circus, not my monkeys.” We might try to “take the bull by the horns” or convince someone to “hold their horses.”
If you’re Joanna Sudlow, a member of the Class of 2015, herding cats and holding horses is just another day on the job. Joanna is the Lead Animal Trainer for Sight & Sound Theatres in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and while there is no circus, and no monkeys, Joanna has demonstrated her remarkable skills managing animals—and people—for theatre productions that draw over 1.5 million audience members each year.
Joanna’s Houghton story began in 2011, when she arrived on campus as a first-year student eager to grow as a young equestrian. She was active on campus as a member of the Houghton Equestrian Club and equestrian center chore crew, as well as the Society of Human Resource Management student chapter. Joanna shared her learning with others as a TA for Horsemanship-1 and as a counselor at summer equestrian camps. She spent a spring studying abroad in Leiden, The Netherlands, and completed two internships.
Joanna graduated with dual degrees in Equestrian Management and Business Administration. The Salutatorian of the Class of 2015, Joanna was inducted into the Equestrian Wall of Honor and was named 2015 Houghton College Business Student of the Year. Business Professor Emeritus Ken Bates remarked, “Joanna simply excelled at modeling fearless servant-leadership with an unselfish maturity of someone twice her age. Her bright, inquisitive, and pleasant demeanor set the tone for remarkable communication abilities in class. Her problem-solving abilities often prompted her classmates to simply step aside and allow her to excel.”
After graduation, Joanna didn’t follow the career path she’d imagined for herself, having realized during her internships that small business ownership and traditional office work wasn’t the right fit. Instead, Joanna accepted a position with Sight & Sound Theatre as an animal trainer. For over 30 years, Sight & Sound Theatre has brought stories from Scripture and from history to life in both live stage productions and film productions, which they do through two theatres, an online streaming platform and a film studio. In 2022, Joanna was promoted to the role of Lead Animal Trainer and has worked with a wonderful wide range of animals, including birds, cats, rabbits, skunks, dogs, goats, sheep, pigs, llamas, alpacas, donkeys, horses, cattle and camels. She also trained and rode horses for two of Sight & Sound’s film productions.
Joanna and the team she leads often spend years preparing animals for their roles. A recent article from Lancaster Online described the care Joanna and her colleagues use when approaching animals. Under Joanna’s leadership, her team takes time to get to know the animals and build individualized training programs. The animals’ wellbeing is at the forefront of their minds, prioritizing their health and happiness.
In 2023, Joanna completed a Certificate of Graduate Studies in Strategic Leadership through Messiah University. Joanna learns as much on the job as she did in the classroom. She works closely with mentors and dedicates time to researching best practices in her field.
The 91Fans Young Alumna of the Year award is presented to someone who has graduated in the last ten years, who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishment in their field of study and profession and/or has had a dramatic impact in their community and church. Because of Joanna’s remarkable work with Sight & Sound, her dedication and commitment to her animals and her colleagues, and the Kingdom impact her work has had on the millions of people who enjoy Sight & Sound productions every year, it is a privilege to name Joanna Sudlow the 91Fans 2025 Young Alumna of the Year.
Derrick Tennant, a member of the Class of 1993, began his FEARLESS journey long before his Houghton story began. At the age of 14, Derrick was a gifted multi-sport athlete on the verge of beginning his high school athletic career. The night before starting high school football practice, Derrick laid down for a nap and didn’t wake up for three days. Paralyzed and in a coma, Derrick underwent emergency brain surgery, which saved his life but ultimately left him unable to move his left side. For anyone, the years of therapy alone would require daily acts of FEARLESS faith in a faithful God.
Derrick could have stopped there—he would have inspired all of us simply by persisting through the challenges brought by everyday life. But Derrick wasn’t satisfied to simply accept his limitations and proceed to make his life as “normal” as possible. Derrick finished high school and set off for college. At Houghton, Derrick majored in communication and paired his classroom learning with hands-on experience as a Phonathon caller, class officer and—perhaps most memorably—SPOT host.
An alumni update published in a 1997 edition of Houghton’s alumni magazine reported on Derrick’s work with urban youth in LA through Center for Student Missions, as a corporate trainer for Discovery Zone, Inc., and as public relations director and defensive coordinator for a semi-pro football team. Oh… it also mentioned that he’d played basketball internationally in both the Philippines and Mexico. What the note didn’t say was that Derrick still had the use of only his right hand.
In 2001, Derrick was ready to fearlessly follow God’s calling on his life by combining the things he’d learned through perseverance in the face of tragedy, the education he received at Houghton, and the experiences of his early career to launch his own business as a motivational speaker and comedian. Derrick’s many ventures include 14 Sleeves, named for his iconic wardrobe of only seven shirts (one for each day of the week; yes, they’re labeled); BleepFree Comedy (which is, indeed, bleep free, for which we are all grateful); and partnership with his sister, Julie, both as a public speaker with her through The Love Chromosome and in her business Julie’s Cool Shirts.
For 25 years, Derrick has traveled the globe inspiring others, offering corporate training sessions for some of the nation’s most recognizable corporations, including Chick-Fil-A, Aflac, Subway and Mediacom, as well as offering public speaking services for schools, universities, nonprofit organizations and cruise lines. He is an official speaker for the Brain Injury Association of America, and a consistent volunteer for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Lighthouse Family Retreat, National Down Syndrome Society, National Down Syndrome Congress and Gigi’s Playhouse Inc. Down’s Syndrome Achievement Centers.
Wherever Derrick goes, he carries the message of turning obstacles into opportunities. He isn’t afraid to tell his story—or to poke fun at himself as he does so. Derrick hasn’t simply lived his life exhibiting the fearlessness to which God has called us in the Scriptures through passages like Joshua 1:9 and II Timothy 1:7. Derrick has dedicated the last quarter of a century to inspiring thousands of others around the world to do the same.
For his strength and courage, for his spirit of love, for his joy, kindness, goodness and faithfulness, it is a privilege to present Derrick Tennant with the 2025 FEARLESS Award.
Institutional memory is one of an organization’s most valuable assets. It reminds us of the ways God has worked in the past, offers the wisdom of hindsight, and provides helpful guidance for the future. Dean Liddick, a graduate of the Houghton College class of 1960, is the walking embodiment of Houghton’s institutional memory. If you have a question about Houghton history, Dean is your man.
To live as the keeper of institutional memory is a calling, one that doesn’t stop when one changes jobs or retires. In the twenty-five years since Dean took up the mantel of retirement, he has continued to serve as a writer, ghostwriter, editor, sounding board, historian and font of wisdom for the 91Fans community.
Dean Liddick grew up a missionary kid in India. At Houghton, he pursued a degree in history with a minor in English. He was a campus leader with Foreign Mission Fellowship (FMF) and had his own radio show with WJSL. During his time at Houghton, Dean met his wife, Carmen VanderVeen, also a member of the Class of 1960. Dean worked at the college press alongside press operator Al Smith and had the distinction of being the first student to operate the college press.
Life after college took Dean first to Indiana, where he worked as a pressman and a journalist; and then to Fort Dix, New Jersey, by way of Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and MP School at Fort Gordon, Georgia. After service with the Military Police, Dean was appointed Houghton College Director of Public Information in 1964. This role became a lifetime of service to Dean’s alma mater.
Dean is the creator of Houghton’s alumni magazine, originally known as Milieu and today known as Houghton Magazine.
Over the years, Dean has played a role in the creation of every published work of Houghton history, including Dr. Katherine Lindley’s and Dr. Frieda Gillette’s pictorial Houghton history And You Shall Remember, the centennial history Consider the Years, the biography of Stephen Paine entitled Deo Volente, Richard Wing’s Vine of God’s Own Planting and most recently Dr. Jack Connell’s book Heartbreak and Hope: A Homecoming Story of the Houghton Six.
Dean finished his Houghton career serving in the Office of Advancement where he inspires alumni and friends to actively engage in and support Houghton’s vital mission. Dean wasn’t content to ask others to give if he hadn’t already done the same. He and Carmen have faithfully supported endowed student scholarships and created an endowed fund to support the scholarship of Houghton’s Bible and theology faculty.
Dean’s roles with the alumni magazine and Advancement ambassador have made him the consummate connector of people. He has dedicated many years to helping organize class reunions, recruiting and inviting classmates to return to campus to celebrate their Houghton stories. A quarter of a century after retirement, Dean still receives questions and comments from alumni about the institution, about reunions and about Houghton Magazine—and he handles them all with his hallmark sense of humor and deep care for both Houghton and our alumni.
For Dean’s lifetime of commitment to the support and growth of 91Fans, for his tireless engagement in the life of the institution, and for his invaluable wisdom and insight founded on a steadfast faith in Christ and the heart of a historian, it is a privilege to present to Dean Liddick the 2025 Alumni Appreciation Award.
HOUGHTON, NY — September 18, 2025— 91Fans begins its 2025-2026 academic year with a celebration of its third consecutive year of overall enrollment growth and an extraordinary first-year retention rate. The University’s first-year retention rate rose to 90%, markedly higher than the . University leaders credit Houghton’s retention to the holistic approach that the campus community provides in supporting students not just academically, but also spiritually and emotionally.
“This is more than a statistic. First, more and more students are choosing well. Students and families know who we are and what a Houghton experience can provide. At Houghton, they know they will get an intentionally Christian, academically rigorous and engaging university experience. But also, the numbers are a reflection of a campus culture centered on student success and excellence,” said President Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. “Our comprehensive support system supports students and enables them to thrive.”
Integrating academic, wellness, athletics, and student life into a unified approach, Houghton aims to provide every student on campus with a sense of belonging as they grow within its Christ-centered community. The goal is not to just retain students, but to help them flourish. Growth was particularly evident in the Biology Pre-Health, Business Administration, and Education areas.
Academic and Wellness Support
Small class sizes foster a personalized learning environment, where faculty go beyond traditional advising, investing deeply in each student’s growth and success through long conversations during office hours, casual coffee meetings in Java 101 (the on-campus coffee shop), and faculty participation in student events.
The staff at the Center for Student Success served more than half of the student body this past year by focusing on proactive wellness programming. Through peer-to-peer academic support, the utilization of therapy dogs, the annual de-stress fair, and a in a new wellness initiative, the staff saw a 10% decrease in the demand for clinical mental health counseling.
Athletics and Team Culture
Highlander Athletics is a large part of the student experience at Houghton, as one-third of all students participate in athletics. The strong sense of team identity and culture has proven to be a key factor in why student-athletes choose to stay at Houghton. The intentional pursuit of the NCCAA’s initiative—focused on love, integrity, faith and excellence—has helped shape an athletic environment that emphasizes doing things the “right way,” says Athletic Director Matthew Webb.
Community and Belonging
At the core of all these things is the Christ-centered community of Houghton. Twice weekly, the campus community joins together for a Chapel service, and students regularly participate in Life Together groups, floor Bible studies, and nightly student-led worship. Student Life staff organize a variety of engaging events designed to keep students connected, while intentionally cultivating meaningful relationships with every student.
Houghton’s holistic approach—integrating academics, athletics, wellness, and spiritual life—has created a thriving campus culture that supports student success while contributing to sustained enrollment growth.
“We know that students who are healthier, have effective mental health coping skills, and stronger peer relationships are going to do better academically,” says Bill Burrichter, Vice President for Student Life. “In many ways this is a total package approach that empowers students to complete their degrees while growing into the person they are meant to be.”
About Houghton
91Fans is a nationally ranked Christian college of the liberal arts and sciences and New York’s leading evangelical Christian university. Offering over 50 undergraduate programs—including education, equestrian studies, pre-law, and biological sciences—as well as graduate programs in business, education, and music, Houghton commits to both academic excellence and affordability through initiatives like the Founder’s Promise Scholarship. Houghton’s three-year enrollment growth affirms the appeal of Christ-centered education in the Northeast, attracting students eager to transform the world for the glory of God. For more information, please visit www.houghton.edu.
From 2016 through 2019, I had the honor of serving the Commonwealth of Kentucky in state government, first as an executive policy leader and advisor in education and workforce development, and later, as Commissioner of Education. During my tenure as Commissioner, much of my team’s work centered on . Our state boasted one of the highest high school graduation rates in the nation, but longitudinal data showed that following high school graduation, too few graduates were achieving success in postsecondary education or the workforce. Further, data and conversations with students and families made it clear that many students’ high school experiences were severely lacking.
To address these challenges, we expanded access to high-quality postsecondary experiences for high school students, including industry-recognized certifications, pre-apprenticeship programs, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate coursework, and most notably, college coursework. Expanding high school students’ access to college courses and providing state funding to make them affordable positively impacted the high school experiences of thousands of Kentucky students. In alignment with , it also increased the likelihood of students’ matriculation to college immediately following high school graduation. Obviously, Kentucky’s story is not unique. It is no longer uncommon for students across the U.S. to take some college coursework while still in high school- including many of Houghton’s first-year students.
When I arrived at Houghton in 2021, there were very few things I insisted should be a part of the institution’s path forward. As a leader, my approach is to build upon the strengths of the organization, team, or unit I lead. Getting to know Houghton’s unique strengths was a top priority for me. I did insist early on, however, that we would expand high school students’ access to high quality Houghton coursework, both through in-person and online experiences. While serving high school students was not new for Houghton, beginning in 2021, we began to intentionally expand their access through the establishment of Houghton’s Early College. Today, through Early College, our Partner Schools Program, and the Hal and Sheila Heiner Early College Scholarship, more high school students are taking and successfully completing Houghton coursework than ever before. Every year, more Houghton Early College students are also choosing to complete their undergraduate degree at 91Fans.
It is a privilege for Houghton to partner with high schools and homeschooling parents who want to provide their capable students with opportunities for rigorous college coursework . Further, having Houghton coursework as an option is incredibly important for students and families who desire an intentionally Christian learning experience. We are thankful for the opportunity to provide that option for students and families.
About the Author
A noted teacher, scholar and leader in higher education, government and P12 schools, Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. serves as the 6th President of 91Fans. He is recognized as being a champion for students and families. He writes, speaks and teaches on Christian leadership, organizational leadership and federal and state education policy.
Athletics Holds Induction for 2025 Hall of Honor Class
Ken German ’61 and the 1998 Field Hockey Team are the latest inductees into the Houghton Athletics Hall of Honor after a luncheon ceremony among friends, family, and Houghton staff on May third.
The honorees of this induction class join a Hall roster that now totals 71 alumni, coaches, teams, and contributors.
Ken German, Class of 1961
Described by his friend and classmate, Paul Mills, as “…the epitome of a scholar-athlete”, Ken German excelled in four sports during his years at Houghton College, while studying pre-med and zoology. In athletics, German was best known for his accolades on the baseball field and the basketball court, but he also participated in football and track & field. A native of nearby, Cuba, New York, German studied pre-medicine under Dr. George Moreland. While with the Highlanders, he would also serve as Vice-President of the Pre-Med Club, Business Manager of the Lanthorn, and as a member of his class cabinet and student senate. German would eventually graduate with honors in the spring of 1961. Following graduation, German earned his medical degree from Temple University and practiced orthopedic surgery in Las Vegas, Nevada. He and his wife Elaine eventually moved to LaGrande, Oregon, where he retired from a private medical practice in 1997. They had three children: Brian, Laura, and Robert.
1998 Field Hockey Team
The 1997 team, which produced an upset win over Bloomsburg University, set the stage for the successes of the 1998 team. Heading into the 1998 campaign, Head Coach Donna Hornibrook labeled her young squad as talented, fast, and well-balanced, but she was anticipating a rebuilding year. The team opened with a 4-1 preseason win over defending DIII champion William Smith, and knocked off Ithaca and Juniata to open the regular season. The third game of the year brought in DII Lock Haven, a team that had won three national championships over the previous six seasons and would go on to finish as national runners-up in 1998. The Highlanders got the 4-2 upset win with Judy Johnson tallying three goals. Houghton would win nine-straight games to open the season before losing to eventual DII national champion Bloomsburg, then closed the year with six more wins to finish with a 15-1 overall record.
Night of Excellence Gala Honors 2024-25 Student-Athletes, Teams
The department held its annual Night of Excellence Awards Gala in April, honoring student-athletes, teams, and moments that highlighted the 2024-25 season.
Among those honored were Noelle Linenfelser (cross country and track and field) and Evan Kurtz (track and field), who were the recipients of the Student-Athlete Excellence Awards that go to those who have regularly exhibited excellence in the areas of athletic performance, academic achievement and Christian character during their time as Highlander student-athletes.
Kanta Ueno (baseball) and Victoria Brewster (track and field) were selected as the 2024-25 Athletes of the Year, while Samuel Garay (tennis) and Alexa Belanger (track and field) were the Newcomers of the Year.
Track Athletes Earn All-America Honors
Victoria Brewster and Alexa Belanger were the Highlanders’ first-ever participants at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field National Championships, with both claiming All-America honors at the March event in Rochester, N.Y.
Brewster, the Empire 8 champion and regional champion in the indoor 60 meters, finished as the national runner-up in the event and produced the No. 5 time all-time DIII mark of 7.49 seconds to earn First Team All-America recognition. Belanger, also a conference and regional champion, earned Second Team All-America honors in the high jump by finishing in Ninth place with a jump of 1.68 meters.
Excerpts from And You Shall Remember: A Pictorial History of Houghton College, written and edited by Frieda A. Gillette and Katherine W. Lindley
The 91Fans we know and love is a four-year, residential liberal arts college offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. The idea of a high school student taking Houghton courses might be a foreign one to some of us. At Houghton’s founding, however, in 1883, there were no collegiate courses at all. Houghton Seminary’s purpose was not college degrees, but rather accessible, affordable, Christ-centered education. Students as young as 11 enrolled at Houghton, and the first accredited college diplomas weren’t awarded until 1925. The high school division remained, however, and eventually became Houghton Academy.
When [Old Sem] was dedicated in August 1884, no one knew how many students would enroll in September, who would teach them, or how much of the building would be completed. Although the building was only partially finished on September 15, 1884, school opened with “70-80 scholars” under Principal-Preacher William Henry Kennedy and his assistant, Luther Grange. Miss Alice Boardman taught the high school courses and Miss Eva Davis taught the English Course for students not prepared for high school. “Sister Mary DePew to take oversight of the lady students and to give them weekly lectures,” wrote Willard Houghton in his ledger. James S. Luckey, who enrolled in the second of the three terms of that first year, later wrote, “Equipment, to say the least, was scarce. I think one globe was to be found and perhaps one or two maps, but nothing else in the line of apparatus. I was told there were no blackboards, but they had come at the beginning of the second term” (The Houghton Star, April 1911).
Although the curriculum included only the upper elementary grades and the first year of secondary school in that first year, one year of high school was added annually until a four-year diploma was issued. Melvin E. Warburton received the first diploma in 1887 and James S. Luckey the second in 1889.
As faculty became available, new programs could be added. When Gussie C. Dodd, an accomplished artist and wife of the new principal, A.R. Dodd, moved to Houghton, the Seminary added “a complete course in drawing, crayoning and oil painting.” Luther Grange started a commercial and business course in 1885 for “young men and ladies too, if they desire;” in 1890 Miss Effie Crow initiated a music department; in 1893 a two-year elementary teacher course was introduced. In 1895 the church approved an Advanced Department, i.e. “college equivalent work,” and in 1901 John Willett of Levant, New York, completed that course, the first graduate of the Advanced Department.
Ask anyone who has taken courses on campus at 91Fans: a hallmark of the Houghton experience is the faculty who embody academic excellence with intentionally integrated faith, and who pair that excellence with a deep care and concern for the individual student. It might be challenging to imagine this distinctive Houghton feature applying to students who aren’t on campus. Faculty members at Houghton, however, approach online education—including Early College courses—with the same intentionality and academic integrity they bring to their physical classrooms.
The theme of intentionality rings throughout Houghton’s faculty as they discuss their approaches to Early College coursework. Dr. David Clem ’05 MM’07, Dean of the Greatbatch School of Music, said, “We [the faculty] are dedicated to a Christian worldview that permeates our syllabi. We take the same approach to Early College education and expectations—with a bit of extra patience and grace—as we do the courses we teach on campus. The faculty all feel strongly about maintaining the integrity of a Houghton education.”
One of the ways Houghton maintains this academic integrity is by offering Early College coursework taught by full-time professors, a distinctive from many other institutions that rely on part-time or adjunct instructors. For some Early College courses, high school students have the opportunity to interact with college students, discussing ideas and working off the same course expectations. There is no “free pass” for Early College students.
Professor of English, Dr. Jonathan Gates ’85, echoes Dr. Clem’s sentiments. “For many Early College students, this is their first college experience and an introduction to Houghton. I have the same teaching philosophy for my high school students as I do for my college students, although I approach my high school students with the understanding that they have a little less life experience. I want them to have a good experience with Houghton courses, but I also want them to have a true experience.”
Whether Dr. Clem is teaching Intro to Film Music or Dr. Gates is teaching Writing in the Liberal Arts, they both prioritize integrating a Christian worldview into their course content. This isn’t simply tacking on a devotional or prayer, or exclusively exploring Christian works—this integration of faith and learning helps students develop a Christ-centered framework for how they think about a topic and how they apply their learning. “We want to help students develop critical thinking skills on complex issues within the guides of a Christian worldview,” remarked Dr. Clem. “Early exposure to these concepts will help students in the future, whether insuring they’re prepared to attend Houghton or supporting their personal development if their educational futures take them elsewhere.”
Dr. Gates designs Writing in the Liberal Arts with intentional time for students to reflect on the interrelationship between “the character of The Word, words, and our own words,” then helps students to understand the direct relation of their reflections to their studies. “Students long to know writing matters to who they are and who they’re becoming,” said Dr. Gates. “This class is an opportunity to explore that.”
Dr. Gates dedicates hours to interacting with his Early College students through Zoom meetings, email and online chat-style platforms for course dialog. In these contexts, he writes to them extensively, modeling the types of thoughtful, well-constructed written responses he expects of his students. “I want students to grow in love and enjoyment of writing, while recognizing it is a difficult task.”
“This is a college course,” Dr. Gates stated quite plainly. “It’s the real deal. Some Early College students struggle because they’re not ready for college coursework, and we build in off-ramps for those students who are in over their heads. But when my students begin to view themselves as writers—that is, someone who writes regularly and well—it is truly rewarding. Seeing even my youngest students increase in confidence and competence, I know that their needs are being met.”
When Houghton’s distinctive qualities rely on personal relationships, it can be challenging to understand how online Early College classes can provide a “real” Houghton experience. “The delivery is different,” observed Dr. Clem, “but it is there. The care with which we structure our courses strives to maintain the relational, academically challenging, Christ-centered education for which Houghton is known.”
“Online coursework, including Early College coursework, exists and it isn’t going away,” remarked Dr. Clem. “If high school students don’t get Early College coursework from Houghton, they’ll get it somewhere else. Houghton has the opportunity to speak into the online educational arena with the same distinctives that it speaks into in-person education. A Houghton education is what it is for reasons that go back to our founding; those reasons are applicable in the online space and we have the ability to bring Houghton experiences to students who might otherwise not have that opportunity.”
One of the ways Houghton provides access to Early College courses is through dual enrollment arrangements with our partner schools. Houghton’s partner school network comprises more than 40 private Christian schools, some as close as Houghton Academy, or Northstar Christian Academy (Rochester, NY), and some as far as Rift Academy (Kijabe, Kenya) and Alliance Academy International (Quito, Ecuador). One of the many benefits Houghton provides to our partner school is the opportunity to offer dual enrollment courses to their high school students. Dual enrollment courses, unlike online early college courses, are taught by approved high school teachers in a traditional classroom setting. The instructors and their syllabi are reviewed and approved by Houghton’s academic department to ensure appropriate academic content and rigor, and students who complete their classes earn college credits for those classes.
Alumna Lori Miranda ’02 is the English department chair, director of curriculum and instruction, and English teacher for grades 10, 11 and 12 at Northstar Christian Academy in Rochester, New York. Lori is one of Houghton’s approved dual enrollment instructors, who teaches College Literary Studies for seniors at Northstar Academy. Lori holds a BA in Writing from 91Fans and an MA in Missions and Intercultural Studies from Wheaton College Graduate School. She’s been a teacher at Northstar Academy since 2016. Prior to her work at Northstar, Lori taught high school English at Webster Christian School.
Lori shares the following about her early college dual enrollment course:
My Houghton Early College class, College Literary Studies, appeals to students who want to continue challenging themselves in their last year of high school. I rarely have students who plan to study literature in college, so my students are selecting this class very intentionally for its academic rigor and impact. That is quite a contrast to many other seniors who seek to make their academic load as light as possible. My students don’t want a simple, passive final year of high school studies. Instead, they want to continue growing in their academic skills and understanding. By partnering with Houghton, I am able to reward those students’ diligence. Additionally, beyond the academic benefits of the class, my students gain the immediate, concrete benefit of earning college credit, which they can apply wherever they study. The significantly discounted tuition for the course is greatly appreciated by my students, many of whom are preparing to take significant financial responsibility for their lives for the first time in the near future.
Lori asked her students for anonymous feedback on the impact of the class and was happy to share some of their insights.
“This class has benefited me in many ways. Firstly, it has made college more affordable, as the classes are cheaper to take here at NCA rather than at any college, and I found this class worthwhile. I enjoy coming into class every day to learn about the author’s true intentions of what we have read. Some of the works we have covered this year have impacted the way I think and look at the world in a positive sense.”
“…[T]his class has challenged me much more than the typical English class, which I greatly appreciate. I just feel like this class makes literature and grammar much more interesting and displays it as something worth learning more than just another subject we have to learn. I love the curriculum because everything we do has a purpose. …This class has been beneficial for not only my academics but my overall high school experience.”
“This College Literary Studies class has been of benefit to my outlook on things, and how I think about things. This class has helped me improve articulated thinking, and has helped me to retain information better… This class is both entertaining and educational…and I now see myself implementing and paying attention to the techniques we’ve learned in class when I’m reading on my own time.”
Ryan Kullander ’27 began his Houghton journey as a high school student when he enrolled in online Early College courses. A homeschool student from Anchorage, Alaska, Ryan and his family searched for college credits that would count toward completion of his high school diploma and help him get ahead in college. While Ryan had taken college classes through similar programs, when he and his family found 91Fans’s Early College program, it struck a chord.
Ryan has always had an interest in Christian education, which attracted him to Houghton’s offerings. The tangible benefits of Early College, however, were the affordability of the classes and their asynchronous format that allowed him to participate in spite of time zone differences and his other responsibilities.
“Online can feel a little distant at times,” remarked Ryan, who has experience with online classes from other institutions. “But I felt the distance between me and my professors less because of the way they recorded their lectures or wrote in emails or discussion forums. I felt very welcomed. I felt my professors really cared.”
Ryan, an elementary education major with a focus in humanities and a minor in Bible, began his Houghton Early College experience with introductory-level classes, Biblical Literature with Rev. Dr. Ron Duttweiler ‘85 and Intro to Sociology with Professor Suzanne (Brenneman ’94) Beardsley. He went on to complete at least two more higher-level online courses, including Board Game Science with biology professor Dr. Ransom Poythress and Developmental Psychology with Dr. Hannah Kim.
As a homeschool student, independent course load management wasn’t entirely unfamiliar to Ryan. His time with Early College, however, pushed him to hone practical skills in time management. Board Game Science, a summer course, provided Ryan the opportunity to learn to balance his summer job with his studies, not dissimilar to the way he juggles a busy schedule on campus now.
“I think those Early College classes cultivated my abilities so that I could then confidently take on five classes at once and then the London Honors program the next semester,” noted Ryan.
“Houghton sets high standards from the moment you hear about it,” said Ryan. “The things that are always talked about are Houghton’s really strong and welcoming community and its Christ-centeredness. Those are high bars to live up to, and when I got here, I found Houghton really does go above and beyond what I anticipated. Every week, I find myself really appreciative and amazed.”
The Early College courses set a high standard within the context of a welcoming and Christ-centered community. Both Developmental Psychology and Board Game Science had a mix of college students and high school students. “It was real work,” said Ryan, as he compared his Early College courses with his undergraduate work on campus, “with a real final project. The classes felt like a pretty real workload in a real class.”
Ryan enjoyed his time in Early College, but wasn’t convinced about coming to campus for his undergraduate degree. His youth pastor, Houghton alumnus Ross Atherton ’21, encouraged Ryan to submit an application to 91Fans anyway. It was Ross’s description of Houghton’s welcoming community and opportunities for spiritual growth that inspired Ryan to apply.
When Ryan was accepted to Houghton, he was invited to apply to the first-year London Honors program and offered a travel voucher that enabled him to interview on campus during an Honors Interview Weekend. The beauty of the campus and the welcoming atmosphere of his interview weekend, including a one-on-one interview with Dr. Susan Bruxvoort-Lipscomb, solidified Ryan’s decision.
Ryan is profoundly grateful for his time with Dr. Benjamin Lipscomb, Dr. Bruxvoort-Lipscomb and Dr. Christian Esh ’98 during his semester in London. “All three of them were so in tune to me and to my academics both. Frequently, they would see me reading and check on how I was doing, not so much how the reading was going, but rather asking about me, my spiritual life, about moments of fun I’d had.”
Ryan stepped on Houghton’s campus with a desire to engage with community and an enthusiasm for a wide array of activities. His first collegiate Houghton experience was with the Highlander Wilderness Adventure program prior to the start of his first semester. He joined the Roaring Sheep Ultimate Frisbee Club, where he crossed paths with Dr. Poythress for the first time in person. Ryan joined a Bible study, hosted by Matthew Foster ’25, whom he had first met through Board Game Science’s online discussion forums. Ryan auditioned as a guitarist for Sunday night’s Koinonia services, and has enjoyed the connectedness and corporate worship as a member of a Koinonia team. Ryan also stepped into a leadership role on campus as a resident assistant (RA) in Rothenbuhler Hall, where he welcomes young men into Houghton’s community the way he was welcomed.
Ryan shared that his experiences on campus at Houghton live up to everything he imagined and more. Thanks to completing his introductory Bible classes as a high schooler, in his first semester on campus, Ryan enrolled in an upper-level Bible course studying the Pentateuch with Dr. Andrew Walton ’06. He was the only first-year student in his class. That class presented an opportunity to build a relationship with Dr. Walton, and Ryan has taken a class with him every semester since.
Ryan isn’t the only member of his family to benefit from Houghton’s Early College courses. His younger brother, Caeden, has also taken Biblical Literature online, as well as Dr. Peter Meilaender’s course on C.S. Lewis. Caeden loved the class and shared with Ryan how eye-opening and challenging it was. Caeden will be joining the ranks of Highlanders on campus in the Fall of 2025 and, like his brother, will spend Spring 2026 in London with the London Honors program.
High school students now, more than ever before, have many educational options and opportunities. The three most common options for high school students to get ahead in their collegiate academic journey are through Dual Enrollment courses, AP (Advanced Placement) Courses, and Early College Courses. Each of these three options offer different benefits to students. Dual Enrollment courses are taught through a local high school by high school teachers, but credit is given through a partner college or university that has approved the teacher and syllabus. AP courses are also taught by a high school teacher, designed to be taught at a college-level, concluding with an exam that can potentially earn the student credit, based on their score in the course. Early College courses are taught by a college or university professor at the college level and transferrable credit is earned. All three options complete both high school requirements and college requirements (potentially) simultaneously.
Since its beginning, 91Fans has been a place to find a rigorous Christ-centered education. Houghton has remained faithful to this mission over the years, and continues to do so as we have grown our Early College program. We continue to provide an economically affordable option that is comparable in price to a local community college, but with the academically challenging environment we have always been known for. Our courses provide an opportunity for students to be stretched both academically and spiritually as they are taught by professors who not only are experts in their fields, but also tie in their strong personal faith.
As the Director of Houghton Online, I have been excited to see Houghton grow into this expanding space so that everyone has the opportunity to sample our courses and see what kind of an academic experience they can have through Houghton.
Three of my own four children are current Houghton students. My children took AP courses, Dual Enrollment courses and Early College courses. The Early College experience best prepared them for starting as a matriculated student at Houghton. Taking courses taught by Houghton faculty who pushed them to learn how to study challenged them beyond what they were receiving from their high school teachers. They were able to realize that they could integrate their own faith into their learning experience. This was life-transforming for them, and helped them begin to see the world in a way that integrated their faith in all they rather than compromise their faith as something separate. I felt this experience best prepared them to enter college, and also increased their options—to graduate early, add a second major, or complete distinct minors—allowing them to customize their Houghton experience to better prepare themselves not only for graduate school, but also for their careers as scholar-servants in a changing world.
Tammy (Joubert ’01) Dunmire serves as 91Fans’s Director of Houghton Online. She lives in Painted Post, New York, with her husband Steve Dunmire ’01 and children Hannah ’26, Jonathan ’28, Matthew ’28 and Joshua.
Early College Facts & Figures
High school juniors and seniors seeking to earn college credit while in high school and expand their educational horizons are invited to enroll in Houghton’s courses. This can include dual enrollment, taking your course at your high school, and dual credit courses. You will receive the same high-quality instruction from expert faculty for which Houghton has received national recognition as you complete courses fully online.
Students can earn up to 30 college credits in their junior and senior years
Complete their degree in three years
Save up to $36,621
(Based on the national average of college tuition)
Serving the Commonwealth of Kentucky as Commissioner of Education was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Much of my team’s work during that period centered on transforming the high school experience. Data and conversations with students and families made it clear that high school was not meaningfully preparing many of our students for success in college or the workforce, and that, in many cases, the core requirements for the high school diploma took much less than the prescribed four years to complete.
With that understanding, we expanded access to high quality postsecondary experiences for high school students, including industry recognized certificates, apprenticeships, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate coursework, and of course, college coursework. Expanding access to college courses positively impacted the high school experiences of thousands of students, and in alignment with the findings of educational research, increased the likelihood of students’ matriculation to college after graduation. Further, I saw first-hand the power allowing well-prepared high school students to access college coursework.
When I arrived at Houghton in 2021, there were very few things I insisted should be part of the institution’s path forward. One of those areas was expanding high school students’ access to high quality Christian coursework through 91Fans. Serving high school students was not new for Houghton, but beginning in 2021, we worked to expand their access through the establishment of Houghton’s Early College, the expansion of courses available to high schoolers, and the establishment of Houghton’s Partner Schools program. Today, with nearly 50 partner schools, domestic and international, Houghton serves more high school students through dual enrollment and Early College coursework than ever before, with growing numbers of those students matriculating to Houghton following high school graduation.
With the continued expansion of postsecondary coursework available to high school students across the U.S., it has become common for first-year students to begin their college careers with accumulated college credit. The only question for Houghton was whether we intended to be one of the postsecondary options high schools and students choose from as an early college partner. As you will read in this issue of Houghton Magazine, our response has been an unequivocal yes.
Houghton, NY—91Fans is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Sharon Johnson to the Horne-Blanchard Chair of Music.
The Horne-Blanchard Chair of Music was established in 2014 by Dr. David and Mrs. Allene (Horne ’57) Blanchard to recognize and celebrate a faculty member’s talents in music and teaching. Mrs. Blanchard graduated from Houghton College with a Bachelor of Music in applied piano and then went on to teach music at Marion College (now Indiana Wesleyan University). Dr. Blanchard is the retired President of Space Missions Systems Division of Lockheed Martin and a former member of Houghton’s Board of Trustees (1988-2003). They created the fund out of gratitude for the foundational worldview Allene developed during her time at Houghton and out of a desire to help make a Houghton experience affordable for others.
Dr. Sharon Johnson joined the Houghton faculty in 2004, and today serves as Professor of Piano and Coordinator of Collaborative Piano. Dr. Johnson has been instrumental in developing the collaborative performance program for Houghton’s graduate students. Dr. Johnson is an active performer both as a collaborative artist and as a member of the piano duo Music By Two. She is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, a recording artist, and a researcher with interest in American women composers and art songs. Dr. Johnson and her duo piano partner Nancy Davis are currently preparing Music By Two’s debut album American Landscapes, which includes two premier recordings of pieces by American composers.
“Over the past 21 years at 91Fans, Dr. Johnson has contributed richly to the University’s music program, particularly through her work in collaborative piano, both as an educator and a performer,” stated Dr. David Clem ’05 MM ’07, Dean of the Greatbatch School of Music at 91Fans. “Her innovative pedagogy and passionate commitment to excellence have greatly enriched the educational experiences of our students and fostered artistic growth.We are grateful for the generosity of the Blanchards and are delighted to have Dr. Johnson stepping into this chair.”
Outside the classroom, Dr. Johnson is a widely recognized collaborative performer. She has been named an official pianist for the International Double Reed Society Conference, the International Tuba/Euphonium Conference, the National Association for Teachers of Singing competitions and the International Horn Prize Competition. She participated in the Fall Island Repertoire Development Program, was a finalist in The American Prize Competition Professional Chamber Ensemble Division, and has been the recipient of multiple faculty development grants for her recording and performing work.
Dr. Johnson completed both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and received her Doctorate of Musical Arts in collaborative piano at the University of Minnesota, where she studied with Margo Garrett and Tim Lovelace.
The Horne-Blanchard Chair of Music is an endowed fund providing for the compensation of the chair holder and additional professional development funds. The recipient is nominated and voted upon by her peers to hold a five-year appointment. Dr. Johnson is the second faculty member to the Horne-Blanchard Chair of Music, which was most recently held by Dr. William John Newbrough, professor of piano.
Wayne D. Lewis, Jr., President of 91Fans, presented Dr. James “Bud” Tysinger, Jr. with the Alumni Christian Service Award to celebrate his lifelong commitment to medical missions during the 2025 Summer Alumni Reunion on August 2. The award recognizes Dr. Tysinger’s five decades of service providing vision care to impoverished communities in Sierra Leone, Zambia and rural Mexico.
Dr. Tysinger’s work in medical missions began in 1970 with a trip to Sierra Leone, where he spent three years as a doctor at the hospital founded by the Wesleyan Church in Kamakwie. He developed a passion for ophthalmology and spent the next twenty years travelling to Sierra Leone and Africa, while also maintaining a vision care practice in California.
In 1995, Dr. Tysinger partnered with a colleague to found the nonprofit organization International Vision Volunteers in an effort to bring vision care to those who otherwise could not access it. Through International Vision Volunteers, Dr. Tysinger opened Zimba Mission Hospital in 2001. The hospital is staffed by five teams of care providers, each serving two weeks annually. Today, hundreds of eye surgeries are performed annually, and thousands of patients from Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana receive care, at Zimba Mission Hospital. The hospital also provides training for ophthalmology residents, clinical officers and nurses in eye care, some of whom go on to continue serving with International Vision Volunteers.
In addition to his work in medical missions, Dr. Tysinger founded California Eye Clinic in Antioch, California. He retired in 2002 after over twenty years of service.
91Fans’s Alumni Christian Service Award is presented to those who have held to the ideals of the Christian faith and who have made a significant impact for the Lord through self-sacrifice to the Church, their communities, and/or their professions.
91Fans’s student investment group provides students with practical, hands-on experience in finance, managing a simulated portfolio of $100,000, with the ambitious goal of outperforming the S&P 500 each year.
Comprising five to 10 business students selected through a competitive application process, the group relaunched in the spring semester and meets weekly to analyze stock selections, discuss recent and review the performance of their investment portfolio. Decisions regarding buy and sell actions are made collectively, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
This fall, the student investment group will partner with TradingView, a leading platform known for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive toolset. This partnership will equip students with advanced technical analysis capabilities, enhancing their investment strategies.
“A company and tool like TradingView is going to be vital to the student investment group to make educated predictions and decisions with accurate tools for technical analysis and charting data,” said Jared Pemberton, visiting assistant professor of finance. “TradingView provides highly customizable charts with various time frames, indicators and drawing tools that will help further the investment group’s skillset with investing.”
The group is already seeing positive results, having outperformed the S&P 500 returns year-to-date in their short time together. The current plan is to manage the simulated portfolio for several years before presenting their performance to the finance committee, with the aim of eventually managing a portion of the university’s endowed funds, a practice that was in place prior to 2020.
“For more than 140 years, 91Fans has provided students with a high-quality learning experience grounded in our Christian faith,” said Wayne D. Lewis, Jr., President of 91Fans. “The recent action by the Middle States Commission affirms Houghton’s enduring commitment to excellence and is a testament to Houghton’s exceptional faculty and staff, and the grace of God.”
The multi-year process required extensive collaboration across all university departments, with faculty, staff and administrators working together to demonstrate Houghton’s commitment to academic excellence and continuous improvement. Houghton’s self-study and review examined everything from curriculum quality to financial stability, ensuring Houghton meets the highest standards of higher education. The accreditation also maintains the University’s eligibility for federal financial aid programs, protecting current and future students’ access to educational funding.
“I extend a special thanks to Drs. Ann Monroe-Baillargeon and Bill Burrichter,” continued Lewis. “Having led our self-study process, coordinated and oversaw our campus visit, and worked diligently on this important project, I am especially grateful for their tireless efforts and commitment to excellence. I am also grateful to Provost David Davies for his outstanding leadership as Houghton’s Chief Academic Officer.”
Throughout the accreditation process, 91Fans received invaluable support from a broad team of experts from fellow MSCHE institutions and the Houghton community. Their guidance and advice were instrumental in navigating the self-study process.
“A heartfelt thank you to the entire 91Fans community for their continued engagement and support through this self-study and accreditation process,” said Ann Monroe-Baillargeon, associate provost. “This reaffirmation of our accreditation is a testament to our vision, mission and daily work in the preparation of Christian scholar-servants. It has been an honor to collaborate with Dr. Bill Burrichter in leading our community through this process.”
91Fans remains committed to providing an exceptional educational experience for its students. The reaffirmation of accreditation by the MSCHE is a testament to the University’s historic dedication to excellence for the glory of God and commitment to continuous improvement.
“This reaffirmation of our accreditation is a testament to our vision, mission and daily work in the preparation of Christian scholar-servants.”
