Features

Ilium captures an unprecedented year

A year like Taylor has experienced this 2023-2024 academic year will no doubt make its mark in the history books — but it’s not just historians who care about what’s been happening in the cornfields of Upland, Indiana.

Unity formed abroad brings unity home

The lady in the teal dress and little white heels turned and beckoned for them to come in. She found them seats and turned on a fan. The group was underdressed, crazy, sweaty and wet. They were standing out in the street, listening to music. It was Good Friday. A team of 14 from Olson Hall with two leaders was in the final days of their trip to the Dominican Republic (DR) in a city on the northern side of the island called Santiago.

Pursuing calling and creativity post-grad

Calling, career, creativity — these are not just ideas that senior Olivia Heinen encounters in her job as lead graphic designer for the Calling and Career Office (CCO) on campus, but also as she considers what she might want to pursue following graduation from Taylor this spring.

Verhagen embraces academia

From Upland to Massachusetts, from Ireland to Scotland — he didn’t know if his doctorate in theology and philosophy would lead him to a career in academia. Yet Koert Verhagen, assistant professor of philosophy and religion, took a leap of faith.

From the loop to the streets of Los Angeles

Over the Fall semester, a group of five Taylor students, including senior Aidan Merck, starred in their adventure abroad in the town of the silver screen. Merck is a film and media studies major who spent this past Fall studying abroad in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, to intern with two different documentary companies.

Beyond the jerseys: FCA unites athletes

During his undergraduate studies at Central Michigan University, Hodgson served in sports ministry. At Taylor, he is pursuing his master’s degree and is continuing to connect athletes across campus through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, also known as FCA.

Kids Hope mentors serve Upland youth

One-on-one relationships — the foundation of the national organization, Kids Hope USA. The organization partners churches across the country with local elementary and middle schools to offer positive, consistent mentorship for children. Kids Hope mentors meet for one hour each week to spend time with their designated mentee. Near Taylor, Upland Community Church (UCC) partners with Eastbrook South Elementary School. Kids Hope mentors in the area must either be members of UCC or students at Taylor.

NYFW: networking meets the runway

In anticipation of life after his final semester at Taylor, senior Deokjun Lee has been working to build his portfolio — and in no ordinary way. This past February, Lee spontaneously decided to book a flight to New York Fashion Week (NYFW), a semi-annual week of events in Manhattan similar to those held in Paris, London and Milan: a collaboration of designers, influencers, models and publicists in the fashion industry across the globe.

Ashton Boyer talks D&D experiences, highlights

Living life in the sky: Carlos Olivares shares his story

Olivares is the grandson of Stephen Damer, a fighter pilot of six years and a previous American Airlines pilot for about 30 years. As Olivares was growing up, Damer would take him and his siblings flying, looking to instill this same love for aviation in the younger generation.

Clementz: walking with God in trust

“It’s crazy what God had in store.” Emily Clementz made this comment after reflecting on a full day of teaching at Eastbrook High School to grab a bite of food, sushi, which slowly disappeared. Now, not even a full year after her college graduation, she is back in Bergwall, serving as the interim hall director. Clementz lived in Berg for her first two years at Taylor, so it's not unfamiliar ground.

Dykstra leads marathon class to finish

During the spring season, some people like to plant flowers, some like to hike in nature. Others aspire to run toward the finish line. Brandon Dykstra is the associate professor of kinesiology and the co-chair of the Kinesiology Department at Taylor University. He is also known for leading students in the famous marathon course each spring semester.

Elliott details marketing, Taylor career

With a versatile, extensive background in the marketing field, Taylor’s newest professor of marketing — Erica Elliott — has a genuine passion for teaching.

Football joins with Mission of Hope

There is power in God’s people joining him where he is. This is something that junior Dakohta Sonnichsen, a receiver on the Taylor football team, felt was impressed upon his heart this past J-term as he traveled alongside 51 fellow players and eight coaches to the Dominican Republic.

Manuel spends fall across Pacific Ocean

Taylor’s study abroad program can take one from the north of Indiana to the south of Korea. Junior global studies major Kenedy Manuel spent the past fall semester studying abroad in Pohang, a city of approximately 500,000 people residing in the southeast corner of South Korea.

Elizabeth Parker: the theology of story

Whether marveling in the poet Keats’ house in Rome or delighting in Dante’s Divine Comedy in the basement of Metcalf, Elizabeth Parker inhabits the junction of faith and literature.

Jaya Panicker: health, community and faith at TU

Through her major in human physiology and preventative medicine (HPPM), senior Jaya Panicker has grown in her understanding and appreciation of the health sciences and how she can utilize a Christian perspective in her career.

Where storytelling and art intersect

Everyone has a story, and every story deserves to be shared. One freshmen twin duo is using their talents to showcase the diversity of the kingdom of God by telling their stories and the stories of others.

Taylor legacy spotlight: Sisson family

Some students may be the first of their family to come to Taylor, while others may have had many come before them. However, Taylor has witnessed multiple generations of the Sisson family.

Olson 2023 theme draws from John 15

Selk was a discipleship assistant (DA) on her wing during her sophomore year. At that time, she felt that the Lord impressed upon her through prayer the vision she has for the leadership of Olson Hall’s team of DAs this year.