Campus News

By Spirit Staff

April 28, 2008

SWAU OFFERS SUMMER WORKSHOPS IN FILMMAKING, AUDIO

Southwestern Adventist University will host three distinctive workshops this summer, presented by Stew Hardy from Faith For Today in collaboration with Randy Yates, professor of communication, and the Studios @ Southwestern.  Each workshop will offer a certificate of completion.

The first of these will last one week, beginning May 11, and is designed to give churches and laypeople a practical understanding of live audio and video production and broadcast. “It will help them to see the needs of the church and build their department,” says Yates.

The second workshop, scheduled to begin the first week of June, will be a four-week immersion into digital filmmaking.  All participants will act as crewmembers and produce a full-length movie over the course of the class.  “This workshop is for those who want to direct or be part of creating a production from the ground up,” says Yates. “They will get experience in all aspects of the production.”
The final offering will be a three-week documentary course. Final details are still being worked out with the Brazilian government, but the plan is to film aboard a mission boat in the Amazon.  A local story of interest will also be filmed.

Hardy’s work with the award-winning Adventist media production Faith For Today brought him to the Metroplex where he contacted the chairman of SWAU communication department, Robert Mendenhall, and offered his services.  “I am always interested in getting involved with students,” says Hardy.
Hardy has 25 years’ experience in video production and 10 years of post-production experience in Hollywood.  According to Mendenhall, Hardy’s resume is very impressive. He was involved in the production of many well-known movies.

Hardy and Yates have been collaborating for a year, designing the workshops.  “If this summer’s workshops are successful, we expect them to become a regular offering,” says Mendenhall.
Anyone interested in attending one or all of the workshops should contact Randy Yates at (817) 202-6257.

STUDENTS LEARN EMERGENCY RESPONSE DURING SWAU BRAIN GAMES

Cars burned and firetrucks rolled. Bodies lay strewn across the campus lawn. Firefighters used hydraulic cutters to pull victims from a smashed car. Nurses did triage and emergency treatment on victims. Helicopters flew in and transported trauma victims to the hospital.

And academy students who attended Southwestern Adventist University’s fifth annual Brain Games March 27-30 got a chance to be a part of it all. Designed to gather the brightest science and math minds from academies in the Southwest for a weekend of learning and friendly competition, Brain Games saw more than 60 student participants this year. Academies sent representatives from all over the Southwestern Union, as well as a team from Campion Academy in Colorado.  

Students arrived Thursday for orientation and CPR training. On Friday morning, the Keene Fire Department set a car ablaze in the middle of campus to simulate a car bomb disaster. A second vehicle had two “victims” pinned inside, which required firefighters to use hydraulic “jaws of life” to peel the top of the car back and extract them.

SWAU used lifelike manikins to play the roles of victims in the cars, and participants, with the help of volunteer nurses and SWAU nursing students, got the opportunity to treat them for such things as amputations, serious burns, early childbirth, and respiratory distress. In addition, about 20 university students volunteered to play the role of disaster victims.

After immediate treatment, students watched a manikins being transported by helicopter to Huguley Memorial Medical Center. A cameraman flew along, and recorded in-flight care and treatment at Huguley’s ER, which student participants reviewed later.

Saturday night featured a math competition among the 10 academies represented. Campion Academy won first place, and their team was awarded $1,000, to be used to enhance the math and science departments at their academy.

SOUTHWESTERN RECEIVES $100,000 GIFT

A Keene resident, Mrs. Alice Capps, has given Southwestern Adventist University a gift of $100,000, according to Eric Anderson, University president.  “Mrs. Capps wants us to do a better job of appealing to talented students,” says Anderson, “and she is encouraging us to use this gift creatively.”

The Capps donation will be used to raise academic standards at the University, reports Anderson.  The University is designing several initiatives, including a plan to create “academic awards to persuade high-achieving local students, especially graduates of Chisholm Trail Academy to attend Southwestern.”  In addition, the University will offer stipends to students who qualify for the University honors program.

“This generous gift will also help us communicate the University’s strengths to students around the country,” comments Steve Stafford, vice president for enrollment.  “Southwestern has been a well-kept secret for too long.”

Anderson adds, “We’re known as a friendly campus and as a school with relatively low tuition.  But I want to get the word out that Southwestern offers outstanding teaching in a climate of Christian commitment.”  He is confident that “Mrs. Capps’ gift is a big step in the right direction.”

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