Student Spotlight – Raven Simmons Acts with Empathy
Junior theatre major Raven Simmons is always passionate about performing, whether dancing, working behind the scenes, or, especially, performing in front of an audience in a play.
She recently took the stage in “Jane Eyre” as Bertha, the insane, unknown wife of Mr. Rochester. Bertha is a complicated character, who is very different in nature from Simmons.
She credits forensics during her senior year of high school to leading her into theatre. After competing in humorous acting, she ...
Student Spotlight – Sabrina Fridley: Dancing Storyteller
Sabrina Fridley, a senior nursing major and the head of Ayo, Cedarville’s dance organization, has been dancing since she was three years old.
“My mom just put me in dance — a combination of tap, jazz, all that fun stuff — and I actually hated it my very first year,” Fridley said.
However, she said she tried again the next year, and has been dancing ever since, including spending time on a competitive team in junior high and some of high school. She said it was the support and ...
Naomi Harward Takes Snapshot of Missions on Trip to Nicaragua
Since she was 4 years old, Naomi Harward loved to document her life through photography. She said her mother sparked her love for cameras, when she gave Harward her first disposable Kodak.
“I was constantly taking pictures,” Harward said. “So much so, that my mom actually told me that I need to stop taking pictures because she was sick of buying film for my camera.”
Yet, her mother continued to purchase film and developed every single photo her daughter took, Harward said. So, ...
Student Spotlight – Christa Cape: Artist
Senior art major Christa Cape is one of four students who received the 2016 Yeck College Artist Fellowship from the Dayton Art Institute.
As part of this fellowship, Cape, along with three other college students, has spent the last nine weeks teaching and mentoring 14 high school art students.
“It has been really cool to watch the high school students’ progression for the last nine weeks,” Cape said. “It was fun getting the opportunity to teach, because that isn’t really ...
Student Spotlight – Ben Lucas: Photographer, Designer
Ben Lucas, a junior industrial and innovative design major, has done it all, from graphic design to photography and architecture.
Lucas said he has always been creative and expressed himself best through the arts.
“I’ve always been interested in art and design,” he said. “I started work with different mediums like clay, sculpting things, and working with ceramics even in elementary school.”
Though Lucas had always been drawn to the arts, he said watching his grandmother create ...
Student Spotlight – Macy McClain: Walking By Faith
Macy McClain, a sophomore worship major, faces all of the challenges college students go through daily. She has to balance a busy schedule, get to class on time, keep up with her workload and make time for friends. The only difference is that McClain has the added obstacle of being blind.
“I want to be the perfect blind person. I don’t want to need help,” McClain said. “I’m very stubborn, and I’m still learning the balance between accepting help from others and being independent....
Student Spotlight – Brendan Orchard: Lead Guitarist
Wendy Orchard’s picture of her sons in middle school seems to foreshadow the future. In the picture, her sons pose with fake instruments constructed out of cardboard, with youthful hope that one day they will be in a band.
Years later, the Orchard boys’ cardboard instruments have been traded for real instruments, and their dream of being in a band has become a reality.
Freshman Brendan Orchard, a music major from Xenia, Ohio, is the lead guitarist for the local rock ’n’ roll band, ...
Student Spotlight – Jessica Lorenzini: Stepping up to Ayo
Jessica Lorenzini, a senior early childhood education major, introduced Irish dancing to Ayo, Cedarville’s dance org, when she was a sophomore at Cedarville.
When choreographing an Irish dance, Lorenzini said she starts with the basics. She uses either skipping or sevens, which are the basic steps Irish dancers use to count their feet movements.
Choreographing for Ayo
These two basic steps are the foundation for the dances Lorenzini creates for Ayo showcases.
“Working with Ayo has ...
Student Spotlight – Paul Tucker: Dreams of the Big Screen
Screenwriter Paul Tucker, a senior broadcasting and digital media major, had the opportunity to share his film work with Hollywood producers earlier this semester.
While there, Tucker pitched two of his screenplays to production companies to get feedback or even an offer. Tucker also had the opportunity to attend writing workshops and learn from other screenwriters in Hollywood. Tucker said getting the chance to see Hollywood in this setting was truly an eye-opening experience. He said he ...
Student Spotlight – Johnathan Coraccio: Dancer, Comedian
Johnathan Coraccio, a senior computer science major, said he dances and makes people laugh for the glory of God.
As a Christian, Coraccio said he draws his inspiration from God, knowing that he performs for God.
“When I dance, in my mind, it is my way of worshiping God to show, ‘Hey, this is something that he has given me a passion for,’” Coraccio said, “so I just want to point this back to him.”
Coraccio is the president of Cedarville’s dance org, Ayo, where he seeks ...
