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The Echo
Taylor University, Upland, IN
Friday, April 25, 2025
The Echo

Features

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Bekah Hynson: planting the seeds of sustainable development

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Growing up in PeachTree City, Georgia, senior Bekah Hynson and her six siblings often visited their grandma’s house to help out with yard work and gardening. Through these visits, she learned a lot about the process of caring for nature. It was in these moments that her initial love for the outdoors sprouted.


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Grabowski promotes love for the Earth

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Committing his life to the pursuit of sustainability, Phil Grabowski is an assistant professor of sustainable development at Taylor University.  From a young age, Grabowski was drawn to the outdoors and grew to love all aspects of nature. 



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Jeff Cramer: reflections and renewal

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“The older you get, the more you start to realize that your life only makes sense looking backwards,” Jeff Cramer said. Yet as the man of many hats prepares to take on a new role in life, he’s found there’s also a sense of anticipation and renewal that comes from this season of transition.


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Women in STEM: Seniors share math, science experience

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Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is an area of learning that is known for its difficulty and rigor — making those pursuing a degree in such fields examples of true dedication.  In the throes of Women's History Month, two senior women share their experiences as STEM-related majors at Taylor University. 



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Spanish Club presents opportunity for culture, conversation

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There’s something life-giving about sharing cultures through conversation. The warmth of a meal. The richness of a language. The context of an idiom that is otherwise lost on a non-native speaker. There’s beauty in it all, and it has a practicality that has brought new meaning to an old hobby for junior Janie Lee Allen. 




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Rhona Murungi: Uganda to America

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From Uganda to America, Rhona Murungi's (‘10) life is marked by God's provision.  "Looking back for me, I see God's hand at work,” Murungi said. “God connecting so many dots to the point where if you took one dot out the whole thing would collapse."


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Charlie Brainer inspires a love of culture

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“When you make a friendship in another culture, you really begin to value that culture and in a much deeper and meaningful way,” Charlie Brainer said. As the dean of international programs, higher education adjunct faculty and director of Spencer Centre for Global Engagement, Brainer has had the opportunity to share his passion for global engagement with students, faculty and others.



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J-term: teaching English in Indonesia

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This J-term, many students had the opportunity to visit various locations across the globe. From Belize to Ireland to Greece to Kenya (and other locations), Taylor students and faculty gained unique cultural experiences filled with learning and excitement.




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Brennan embodies pursuit of excellence, persistence

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Fort Wayne, Indiana native and fifth-year senior Abbey Brennan put an exclamation mark on her career as a part of Taylor women’s cross country and track and field. The 10-time All-American quietly went about her business and now leaves a legacy full of achievement matched with unwavering humility.



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Hannah Marella: life in Qatar

Thirteen years in Qatar changes you. Sophomore Hannah Marella has lived most of her life in the Middle East, experiencing an intersection between Arab, Indian and Jordanian cultures.


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Student Senate works to improve campus

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“Not a lot of students notice it.” Siwon Heo, a Chair member of the Taylor Student Senate, wasn’t exaggerating as she sat down at her desk, a list of committee members on the computer screen in front of her. 


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Alumna describes story behind nonprofit, The Boaz Project

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Formerly an English education major at Taylor, April Jurgensen (‘91) had no desire or idea that she would later start a missions organization. After the university sent out a letter announcing their new writing major, an idea sparked in Jurgensen’s mind.