Author: Otterbein Editorial Staff

Otterbein Donates Much-Needed Medical Supplies to OhioHealth

Two of Otterbein University’s healthcare programs put their values into action this week, focusing on the care of patients while also helping take care of their fellow professionals.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is desperately needed by healthcare providers during this unprecedented health crisis. Since Otterbein students are completing their courses online for the remainder of the semester, the Department of Nursing and the Athletic Training Program gathered surplus supplies from their respective clinical labs to donate to the OhioHealth Distribution Warehouse.

“At Otterbein University, we are committed to fostering a culture of social responsibility, civic engagement and meaningful service to our community,” said Jason Purvis, director of the Nursing Arts Lab. “As our community is going through these times of unchartered waters and our healthcare workers are in dire need of PPE supplies, we knew it was the right thing to do to give back to our community.”

Purvis worked with Assistant Athletic Trainer Danielle Kilboy on behalf of Otterbein because of their shared desire to help their fellow healthcare workers and the central Ohio community.

“We have a close working relationship with OhioHealth Sports Medicine and OhioHealth Physicians Group, so we were thrilled to provide our surplus Personal Protective Equipment to those healthcare providers who support us every day and are doing important work,” Kilboy said.

Thanks to their hard work, Otterbein donated the following supplies on March 24:

  • Isolation gowns – 466
  • Blue Plastic Isolation Gowns – 40
  • Face Mask with Shields – 34
  • Face Mask with Ties – 940
  • Face Mask with ear loops – 100
  • N95 masks – 93
  • Gloves – 2,500 gloves

Otterbein students have also volunteered to provide childcare for central Ohio first responders, and the Otterbein community is exploring a variety of other ways others during this time of great need.

See what Purvis and Kilboy have to say about the donation.

Otterbein Classes Move Online

Distance Learning

by Will Elkins

Click of a mouse, clack of a keyboard: these noises have now become synonymous with the 2020 Spring semester at Otterbein University as students moved their academic pursuits off-campus and into their homes.

With the growing spread of the COVID-19 virus, Otterbein made the tough decision to send all students on campus home and begin online distance-learning beginning with the official announcement March 17.

“We were really hoping, slim hope we realized, that we could be back together in person this semester, but it is increasing clear that this is not going to happen.”

That’s University President John Comerford addressing the campus community in a video update on his Twitter account, @otterbeinpres.

“We’ll be doing that unfortunately for the rest of the semester. So we will miss you but it seems unavoidable at this point that that’s how Spring 2020 is going to go.”

Students resumed their coursework from remote locations, many choosing to head back home with their parents to carve out a workspace among their family also working from home during the statewide response.

Junior nursing student Elise Schneller returned to her home in Radnor, Ohio, just northwest of Delaware.

“As you can tell, Ohio is currently under a lockdown, but that’s not stopping us from doing our work from home.”

In a video update on how students are adjusting to their new classrooms, Schneller gives a quick tour, a look inside her house, complete with mom working from a reclining chair, dad and brother taking refuge in the basement to complete their work and the family French bulldog offering moral support.

Schneller says despite the brief interruption of the semester she and her fellow students haven’t lost any ground.

“We’re doing great actually. We’re taking part in our online classes through Blackboard Collaborate, we’re catching up on our sleep, we’re doing any extra homework and exercising when we can. My dog also followed us down in case you couldn’t tell.”

The Ohio Athletic Conference, Otterbein’s conference for all Division III sports, decided to end the Spring season and canceled all post-season play on March 12, coinciding with other NCAA shutdowns.

Dressed in his 2020 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship t-shirt, senior distance runner and Actuarial Science Mathematics major, Jacob Thompson records a video update from his, according to him, own private and quiet home office.

“Yes, things are going well. It’s obviously an adjustment, but not just for us but our professors as well.”

Even with his season ending sooner than he expected, Thompson still has the student-athlete mentality that applies to these ever-changing situations.

“Work hard, be patient, be positive, keep your head-up. We’re going to get through this. Norman Vincent Peale said: “change your thoughts and you can change your world.” So stay on the grind and finish out the semester strong. Good luck.”

For everyone at Otterbein, the changes have been many, the outcomes uncertain and the timeframes have varied. But through all of this, as President Comerford said in an email to campus, “Through all of this, Otterbein faculty, staff and students are still looking for ways to help, and keep spirits high. Thank you. Those words don’t fully articulate what I want to say, but they’re the best I have.”

 

 

What Your Scholarship Support Means to Me…

In the Words of Otterbein Students

Each spring, Otterbein brings together our generous scholarship donors with the students they support. While safeguards required the cancellation of this year’s scholarship luncheon, Otterbein scholars were eager to share their gratitude in writing. We are sharing a selection of those letters here.

Otterbein celebrates those who give — and those whose lives are changed — now and for the future.

Da’Viona Fowler ’22
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Major: Public Relations and Health Communications
Scholarship: Kaitlin Steinour ’15 Communications Endowed Scholarship

When I was applying to go school, I was always afraid that I would not be able to go to college to pursue my career. Receiving this scholarship has helped me tremendously and I do not have to worry about how I am going to pay for school. I am in PRSSA and have visited places like L Brands and The Blue Jackets arena to see how public relations works behind the scenes. I have an internship in the Office of Marketing and Communications at Otterbein and they are helping me so much with getting real world experience. By doing this I can build up my resume, so I can reach my goal to work for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. I am very thankful for this scholarship and without it I probably wouldn’t be here at Otterbein University. Thank you so much for this scholarship!

Allison Caudill ’21
Hometown: New Albany, Ohio
Major: Nurse Anesthesia
Scholarship: David L. Davis Nurse Anesthetist Scholarship

When I got accepted into the nurse anesthesia program at Otterbein, I did what any good graduate student would do to prepare: I paid off all outstanding debts, made a budget and saved like crazy. Unfortunately, life can be full of curve balls that can make a joke of best laid plans. After getting accepted to the program, a family member fell ill which added extra responsibilities onto my plate. The emergency funds I had saved were spent in only a few months after moving my parent in with me and I wasn’t sure how we were going to make it work. Getting awarded your scholarship money came just in time and went so much further than just my tuition or school supplies, as it also gave me a little bit of stress relief in such a chaotic time. Thank you for setting up the scholarship fund and for helping me be a successful student, as well as a good daughter.

Fernanda de la Fuente ’22
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Major: Mathematics
Scholarship: Norris Scholarship Fund

I would like to thank you for your generosity in your donations. I am very honored to have this scholarship opportunity. I will be graduating early — this would not have been possible without you. You have made it affordable for my parents and me, and I can’t stress enough how thankful we are. This semester I was able to pay for college without the help of my parents which is important for me because they can focus on my sister’s tuition; she is in her first year at college and her expenses are higher than mine. The fact that I can relieve my parents of the stress of my own tuition makes me happy. I am motivated to do my best here at Otterbein and I hope to not disappoint my family and you, my donors.

Hannah Wright ’19
Hometown: Grove City, Ohio
Major: Public Relations and Health Communication
Scholarship: Kaitlin Steinour ’15 Communications Endowed Scholarship

I was one of the first recipients of the Kaitlin Steinour ’15 Communications Endowed Scholarship last year. Your scholarship impacted my journey in many different ways. I will start off by saying college probably wouldn’t have been possible for me without assistance, so I want to say that I am beyond thankful. This scholarship was part of my great Otterbein journey, a journey that made me who I am today: a professional marketer, with so much to look forward to. I graduated in spring 2019 and am a digital marketing specialist at a marketing and communication agency in Columbus. I am beyond passionate about healthcare and being able to make a difference for a patient or family. Thank you for making these dreams possible!

Kaeris Cicchino ’22
Hometown: Westerville, Ohio
Major: Business Administration
Scholarship: Michael-LeMay Scholarship

I am a business administration and management major with a French and marketing minor. This is my second year at Otterbein and it has been nothing short of amazing. After this semester I will have completed three internships, so I’ve gotten a lot of real-world experience. My goal while being here is getting the most out of every opportunity. I plan to study abroad in France in spring 2021, something I could never dream of if it wasn’t for Otterbein. I fell in love with Otterbein and all that it offered me when I visited as a high school junior, but I never thought I could afford it or get in. Because of generous people like you, I got a chance to show Otterbein why I was right for them. Thank you for giving me a chance to better my future as a woman in business, and the chance to get an education and make an impact on the world. Thank you for the contribution you’ve made on my life.

Nicholas Hassinger ’20
Hometown: Wadsworth, Ohio
Major: Accounting
Scholarship: Michael-LeMay Scholarship

Thank you so much for the opportunity you have provided for me. Otterbein was my dream school as soon as I was on the campus. I plan to return next year to finish my MBA and complete my CPA exams. I started the Wealth Management Club on campus to help teach students personal finance and network with people in the business field. I was also treasurer of Alpha Sigma Phi. During the summer and winter breaks, I have interned in the tax department of multiple companies. Without the help of the Michael and LeMay families, I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish all of this. I wanted you to know I appreciate your support and have made sure it has gone to good use.

Highlighting the Helpers 

During difficult times, Cardinals step up to help others.

Cardinals shine in difficult times — through their compassion, their generosity and their resolve to make a positive impact on the world. During the coronavirus pandemic, many people are experiencing times of need. These people are there to help.

 

Lana Troyer ’22

In March, Otterbein made the difficult decision to take classes online and send students home to protect the campus community from the coronavirus. In the middle of adjusting to this new reality, some Otterbein students stepped up to serve the central Ohio community by offering childcare for the families of overwhelmed first responders, with the help of the Columbus Firefighters’ Union, Columbus City Council member Elizabeth Brown, and Senior Instructor Dan Steinberg in the Department of Communication.

Communication major Lana Troyer was one of the students who stepped up. “My whole motto through this was help those who help others. If there was anything big or small that I could do to ensure our first responders and their families were being taken care of, that was my priority,” she said. “Volunteering hasn’t begun yet, but I have been in contact with a firefighter and we’re making the proper arrangements.”

 

The Promise House Team

Otterbein’s Promise House is a student-led resource center and food pantry committed to helping peers overcome socioeconomic barriers to student success. While many students left campus, the needs of the 63 students who stayed on campus and those who live near campus remained great. To continue to address these needs, the Promise House moved to a pre-packaged pick-up protocol to protect both shoppers and volunteers, and even provides recipes for students using the shelf-stable food. The protocol mirrors those being used by many Ohio pantries. Currently, the team is growing fresh produce in the hoop house at the Otterbein Community Garden and readying the landscape for the summer growing season to provide food for both Otterbein students and neighbors.

“Otterbein has a long-standing commitment of caring for its community. It’s who we are. It’s what we do,” said Melissa Gilbert, Otterbein’s associate dean of experiential learning and director of the Center for Community Engagement. “Students rely on the Promise House. As businesses close temporarily due to the state mandated health precautions, students are losing their jobs. They’re worried. Supporting one another is why students created the Promise House and why we’re stepping up our efforts now.”

 

Winston Spiker ’20

The disappointment of missing out on the celebrations and camaraderie that mark the end of a student’s senior year could get some students down, but not Winston Spiker, a psychology major and offensive lineman for the Cardinals’ football team. Instead, he made the most of the situation by serving his community. When his service-learning course was moved online, Spiker moved his service from Westerville to his hometown and joined his mother, who is the head cook at Adamsville (OH) Elementary School, and other volunteers to help food-insecure children.

“We are providing weekly care packages of food for the students that go to Adamsville Elementary, which is where I went to elementary school,” Spiker said. “Adamsville is a very tight-knit community of only 114 people, so when people are in need the town bands together and jumps in to help. The power of community during times like these is inspiring. I feel fortunate that Otterbein really instills those values in us even more.”

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A Different Viewpoint

While the pandemic is a shared experience, these students’ stories are unique.

A pandemic is a shared experience, but many people have unique stories within that experience. Classes moved online, being separated from family and friends, losing the chance to compete at the national level. These students each have a unique view on what it means to be a Cardinal during the coronavirus.

 

Tom Greensall ’20, MBA

An MBA student from the United Kingdom (which is only second to the U.S. in number of cases), Tom Greensall is balancing adjusting to online learning, being an ocean away from his family, and missing the opportunity to walk across the stage at commencement on May 2.

Still, in the midst of this international health crisis, he chose to volunteer to deliver for Meals on Wheels and is looking forward to completing his capstone class this summer. “When our new reality hit, I wanted to help out in any way I could. I did some research and saw that Meals on Wheels was being inundated with requests from people who needed their services — at times over 100 new applications a day. The work with my internship had been put on pause, so I decided to use this time to volunteer and do my part to help.”

 

John Posey ’20, Psychology

It wasn’t an ideal situation for philosophy major, John Posey, to remain on campus when residence halls were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but as a member of the National Guard, he was one of 63 students who received a special extension to stay through the end of the semester.

Despite the emptiness, Posey was sad to leave and valued the extra time he had on campus. Posey said the decision to postpone the in-person commencement ceremony was no surprise to him. Even though he wasn’t able to follow the senior tradition of walking across the stage during graduation ceremonies, Posey is reminded that this is still a time for celebration for all his Class of 2020 colleagues. “I acknowledge these are unpredictable times, but I will always feel that Otterbein has helped me to challenge myself beyond what I thought I could do, no matter where, when or how I was learning. Otterbein taught me so much in terms of human interaction and personal growth. I feel those lessons have made me a more well-rounded student, job candidate and individual.” This summer, Posey will begin Officers Candidate School.

 

Drew Kasper ’20, Exercise Science

Cardinals wrestler Drew Kasper did not get his final chance to win a NCAA Division III national title, but he hopes his story can help the next student athlete accomplish that.

Kasper delivered a college record of 108-13, including a 62-2 mark after moving up to heavyweight as a junior and an undefeated Ohio Athletic Conference record with two Central Regional titles. He was ranked No. 1 in the country almost his entire senior season, but because of the NCAA shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, his season was cut short. Kasper has battled depression, a learning disability and early career setbacks, but those things did not stop him — and this pandemic won’t stop him either. Kasper will have a WWE tryout through his brother Jacob later this summer in Orlando, FL. “I did everything I was supposed to do,” Kasper said, “ but I hope and know the future holds happiness.”

 

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Andrew Wendruff Discovers World’s Oldest Scorpion Fossil

When it comes to fossils, Andrew Wendruff, an adjunct professor in the Otterbein Department of Biology and Earth Science, is a rock star. Wendruff, as part of his doctoral research at The Ohio State University, uncovered the oldest-known scorpion species from a collection of fossils discovered 35 years ago. The scorpion, which lived 436.5 to 437.5 million years ago, had the capacity to breath in water and on land. Read about the discovery at this link.

Andrew Wendruff, adjunct professor, Biology and Earth Science

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Otterbein Offers Professional Courses to Re-skill and Up-skill Workers

Otterbein University is partnering with coaching and consulting firm ALLOY to offer three new professional development certifications that can be taken at the university: Non-Routine Leadership, Business Analytics and Strategic Brand Management. Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted attended the announcement of the partnership held on Jan. 15 at The Point. Otterbein’s partnership with ALLOY will help address Ohio’s workforce gap. Learn more at otterbein.edu/professional-development.

Kasich, Kerry and Schwarzenegger Discuss Climate Change

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry addresses the audience while (L-R) moderator Erika Alexander, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Governor John Kasich look on.

Former public servants Governor John Kasich, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger held a town hall to discuss climate change March 8 at Otterbein, moderated by actor/activist Erika Alexander.

The town hall, a collaboration with the Columbus Metropolitan Club, was the first public event of World War Zero, a new bipartisan initiative bringing together unlikely allies and people from all walks of life to help mobilize people across the country to tackle climate change and pollution.

L-R: Kasich, Kerry and Schwarzenegger sit for a live interview with CNN.

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Lecturer Discusses the Science of Selfies

Dr. Jim Tanaka takes a selfie with Otterbein students Morgan Mains, Katie Rosneck and Connor MacKenzie.

Dr. Jim Tanaka, a perceptual psychologist at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada, came to campus in February as part of the George W. and Mildred K. White Science Lecture Series. In his public lecture on Feb. 13, Tanaka shared his ground-breaking research in the field of cognitive and neurological processes underlying object and face recognition. Tanaka works with children with autism, utilizing special technology designed to help improve their facial recognition abilities.

Otterbein Student Voter Engagement Earns Otterbein National Recognition

Otterbein University received a gold seal from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for achieving a student voting rate between 40-49% in the 2018 Midterm Election. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge is a nonpartisan, national initiative recognizing and supporting campuses as they work to increase nonpartisan, democratic engagement and full student voter participation. The challenge encourages higher education institutions to help students form the habits of active and informed citizenship and make democratic participation a core value on their campuses.

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