Features - The Echo

Living life in the sky: Carlos Olivares shares his story

By Karlee Johnson · Wednesday, March 13, 2024

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

By Samuel Jones · Wednesday, March 6, 2024

“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

By Marco Aguirre · Wednesday, March 6, 2024

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

By Marissa Muljat · Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024

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

By Kendall Beck · Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024

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

By Marco Aguirre · Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024

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

By Samuel Jones · Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024

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

By Marissa Muljat · Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023

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

By Henry Donahue · Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023

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

By Marco Aguirre · Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023

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

By Samuel Jones · Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023

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.

Semester overseas: Patience in Paris

By Marissa Muljat · Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023

This semester, senior Patience Sakeuh has traded the cornfields of Indiana for French pastries, museum tours and flea markets. That’s right. Sakeuh, a global studies major, has been studying abroad in Paris, France!

The face behind the business: Goodness Grace Design

By Kendall Beck · Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic was a trying time for small businesses across the globe.However, for freshman Grace Gillmar, it proved to be an unexpectedly fruitful season. This was when she experienced the birth and launch of her brand, Goodness Grace Design (GGD).

Otto experiences truth, training, two-week internship

By Kate Delaney · Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023

Conrad Otto, a senior majoring in multimedia journalism, found himself in the Great Plains at Sioux Center, Iowa, just a day and a half after his junior year ended. He was here to test his skills in journalism at Dordt University with a two-week internship at the World Journalism Institute.

Henson: on the court, behind the lens

By Marco Aguirre · Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023

Sometimes, the best shots at a sports event don’t go into a net or a hoop — they come from a camera.

Freshman Nathan 'Burns' the competition

By Alex Boothby · Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023

Nathan Burns is an exciting addition to the Taylor University men’s cross-country team, as he has exploded into stride taking the number one position on the team and breaking course records. As a talented runner who has dominated throughout high school, what led him to Taylor?

Watts releases fourth full-length album

By Kendall Beck · Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023

It is not typical of the average college student to end a long day of classes with long hours in the recording studio, but for junior music composition major Ethan Watts, this is second nature.

ROTC: discipline, friendship, service

By Samuel Jones · Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023

When freshman Ezra Holt entered ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) at Taylor University, he expected to find a strict and impersonal program. Instead, he found his expectations to be drastically incorrect.

TU soccer finds brothers on and off the field

By Dalton Keay · Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023

Junior goalkeeper Samuel Spiegel and junior centre back Collin Maris are roommates, but they’ve found themselves to be so much more than that.

Weikel points local youth to Christ

By Henry Donahue · Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023

Senior Jake Weikel, a Christian ministries major from Westfield, Indiana, is working with Eastbrook High School’s chapter of Decision Point (formerly known as National School Project). This organization focuses on equipping high school students for evangelism.