Student Spotlight 44 results

Tytist Dean: A Rapper with A Humble Heart

By Zoe Ekeh Tytist Dean, a Cedarville grad student earning an MBA in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, grew up in a family that produces music. His father owns a record label, 1 Way Entertainment, with 6 artists signed to it. Dean is one of those artists and part of a group known as “Sis N LiL Bro.” This musical duo consists of Dean and his sister, Celena Lena. Dean is a studio engineer. “I kinda be behind the scenes, I never wanted to be an artist,” said Dean. Mentioning his ...

Student short film draws from real life

By Elizabeth Kanzeg For Paul Miller, a senior majoring in broadcasting, digital media and journalism, writing and directing a short film for his senior capstone project has been a passionate and personal experience.  Miller wrote his film, titled “SSHL,” in the summer of 2022, during a period of great loneliness in his life. It follows the story of Tim, a college student who experiences Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL). Tim struggles to navigate friendships and relatio...

Daniel Rothermel: A Musician With An Outlet

By Zoe Ekeh As a sound engineer, singer/songwriter, musician and music producer, Cedarville University student Daniel Rothermel devotes his life to creating music. His exposure to music from a young age began with violin and piano lessons at six years old.  Being a part of musicals since the age of 7 has garnered Rothermel vocal training, as well as being a part of a choir in high school, and singing in church. With learning instruments such as the violin, piano and organ as well ...

Isaiah Rubio: Putting passion to practice

By Avonlea Brown Isaiah Rubio is a sophomore Broadcasting, Digital Media, and Journalism (BDMJ) major specializing in Audio Production. While some students are signing up for internships and just beginning to plan their futures, Rubio has already begun his career as a music producer and performer. Currently, he is getting ready for his third concert showcasing his musical abilities.  Rubio knew as early as middle school that he wanted to be in the music industry and began uploading ...

Payton Burdette – A Comedic Talent That Influences Others

By Zoe Ekeh Payton Burdette is a sophomore majoring in Broadcast and Digital Media and specializing in video production. He is the president of the Cedarville University improv comedy organization LOL. LOL, which stands for Love To Laugh, was created 10 to 15 years ago and was originally known as DTR - Define The Relationship.  Hour-long shows are held once a month in the DMC’s recital hall. A host will introduce a show followed by different improv games that club members ...

Gail Lilite: Piano Accompanist for The Music Department

By Zoe Ekeh Abigail “Gail” Lilite grew up surrounded by music.  Her parents were both music majors with her mom working as a private piano teacher and her dad being a vocal professor.  Both of them play piano, and Gail began learning at the age of 5. After discovering a Cedarville University professor’s YouTube channel, Gail decided to apply to Cedarville because of its amazing music department.  She is from Oklahoma so prior to coming here she did not have any ...

Sam Acosta: A Passion for Theatre Being Studied and Put to Use

By Zoe Ekeh Sam Acosta’s interest in acting started when he was in eighth grade. In his homeschool co-op, he had to act in a play for speech class. This led to him starring as the lead in the play “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare. “It was a really weird experience,” Acosta said. “I hadn’t done much acting before, but I fell in love with it right away.” After this first play, Acosta asked his co-op if they could do a high school play and his request was ...

Playlists, Porches and Trees

Bergthold finds hope amid tornado wreckage by Abigail Hintz “For we are fallen like the trees, our peace Broken, and so we must Love where we cannot trust, Trust where we cannot know, And must await the wayward-coming grace." “A Gracious Sabbath Stood Here,” by Wendell Berry Trees are overlooked. They’re taken for granted. They’re mourned when they fall but not thanked while they stand. On Easter Sunday, Laini Bergthold learned the importance of trees. Early in the ...

Student Spotlight: Shelby Ahlborg Seeks to Impact Film and TV Industry for Christ

by Katie Milligan Throughout her Cedarville career, graphic design major Shelby Ahlborg has found her niche within the artistic community and aspires to work in the film and television industry. Ahlborg, a fifth-year senior, transferred to Cedarville after one year in a public community college near her hometown in Illinois. After completing her first two years as a Theatre major, she switched to Graphic Design with a minor in Motion Graphics. She values the faith-based community that ...

Brandon Slifer: Bringing it all together for worship, service in his local church

By Josh Stevens The words “triple major” are enough to stress out any student. But senior Brandon Slifer seems to have his full schedule down to an exact science without breaking a sweat. “It sounds impressive,” Slifer said. “But it overlaps really well.” Slifer is a Worship, Youth Ministry and Christian Education triple major. During his time at Cedarville, he has devoted himself to finding ways to serve God. Through this pursuit, Slifer has also found his passion. “It makes ...