Category: Features

Two UIndy students recently competed in a national real estate development case competition hosted by the Urban Land Institute.

Bryan Conn ‘20 and Anthony Heygood ‘20, who are enrolled in the Masters in Real Estate Development program, were tasked with creating a plan for reuse of land along the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Each team had 14 days to complete the project, which included architect drawings, infrastructure plans, renderings, a financial narrative, and graphic design elements.  

Although the Greyhound team didn’t make it to the final round of the competition, Conn and Heywood said they were extremely appreciative of this opportunity and of their mentors at UIndy.

“Eric Harvey was paramount in keeping me confident that I could do what was tasked of me and providing resources to complete the project,” said Conn. “Without Eric, I don’t believe I could have produced a sensible solution to the complex problem I was faced with.”  

Conn added that this competition has helped him gain a deeper understanding of mixed-use development programs and how development programswork.

“I learned that development is truly only completed working as a team,” added Heywood. “There are so many pieces that go into building one building for a city, let alone an entire five-year phased development. You have to be open to everyone’s ideas and criticisms.” 

Congratulations to the students of The Reflector (both print and online), who won a total of 25 Indiana Collegiate Press Association state-level journalism awards in March 2019.  Judges were out-of-state media professionals, and the awards were announced at the ICPA annual convention in Indianapolis.

Eight students and Prof. Jeanne Criswell attended the ICPA convention. Prof. Criswell is a member of the ICPA board of directors and served as program chair for the state convention.

The following students won awards:

Abby Land, Best Non-Deadline News Story, First Place, “Future Greyhound Victim of Florida School Shooting”
Abby Land, Best Feature Page, Third Place, Faith Spread
Maia Gibson, Best Entertainment Story, Second Place, “Center for Aging and Community Program Inspires Other Facilities”
Shayla Cabalan, Best Entertainment Column, First Place, “Marvel Comics Legend Stan Lee Championed a Diverse and Compelling Cast of Superheroes”
Shayla Cabalan, Best Opinion Column, First Place, “LGBT Media: Vital to Youth”
Ethan Gerling, Best Editorial Cartoon, Third Place, “Police Need New Glasses”
Zoë Berg, Best Sports Feature Story, Second Place, “Alumnus Signs to Play Professional Baseball”
Erik Cliburn, Best Sports Feature Story, Third Place, “From Backyard Hoops to Pro Player: Coach Gouard’s Lifetime of Basketball”
Zoë Berg, Best Sports Page, Third Place, “Fall Senior Athlete Highlights”
Cassandra Reverman, Best Sports Photo, First Place, “Women’s Lacrosse”
Ki Tally, Best Feature Photo, Third Place, “Student Engagement Series”
Zoë Berg, Best News Photo, Third Place, “Bench in Flooded Park”
Jayden Kennett and Kyle McGinnis, Best Photo Essay/Picture Story, Third Place, “UIndy Drag Show”
Zoë Berg, Best Informational Graphic, Second Place, “Roche Academy Pathway to a Career”
Zoë Berg, Best Front Page, Third Place, Welcome Week Front Page
Staff of The Reflector, Best Overall Design, Third Place
Staff of The Reflector, Best Single Issue, First Place, November 20 Issue
Staff of The Reflector, Newspaper of the Year, Third Place
Noah Crenshaw, Best Animation/Interactive Graphic, First Place, “The Cost of Tuition at UIndy”
Noah Crenshaw, Best Use of Twitter, Third Place
Staff of The Reflector, Best Overall Website, Third Place
Tate Jones, Best Full Color Display Ad, First Place, College Crossing Fall Ad
Tate Jones, Best Full Color Display Ad, Second Place, College Crossing Summer Ad
Johana Rosendo, Best Electronic House Ad, Third Place, Reflector Electronic House Ad
Staff of The Reflector, Advertising Publication of the Year, Third Place

Photo: [from left, back row in the photo:]  Prof. Jeanne Criswell, adviser; Zoë Berg, editor-in-chief; Tate Jones, business manager; Ethan Gerling, art director; Abby Land, entertainment editor; Noah Crenshaw, online editor; [from left, front row] Shayla Cabalan, opinion editor; Maia Gibson, previous managing editor; Jayden Kennett, current managing editor.)

When UIndy Master of Public Health (MPH) student Rebekah Mathew graduated earlier this month, she did so with more than just her master’s degree. Mathew was also named the MPH Major of the Year and earned UIndy’s American Kinesiology Association Scholar Award nomination.

Looking back on her graduate education at UIndy, Mathew counted off several experiences that gave her the opportunity to grow and learn as a student and prepared her for advancement in her career. 

“I completed a study of my own by analyzing real data through statistical software and drawing conclusions based on the results of different statistical tests,” she said. “I reinforced my passion to work with global populations through my intensive examination of disease spread in nations around the world; I was catapulted out of my comfort zone and landed in a very rewarding place through the planning and implementation of an anti-bullying program for children at the Intercollegiate YMCA; and I submitted an op-ed to a local newspaper about my visit to a hazardous waste site that shares the grounds of nearby families and homes.”

Dr. Heidi Hancher-Rauch, director of the public health program at UIndy, acknowledged that Mathew’s experience in the MPH program is what the faculty hopes for every MPH student. 

“We challenge all of our students to not only learn the concepts and theories of public health, but to also put that education into action through research, advocacy, and involvement,” Rauch said.

Learn more about the public health program at the University of Indianapolis

Senior Week 2019 begins Monday, April 29, with several inaugural celebrations, culminating with two Commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4. In addition to schools and colleges hosting events for graduating seniors throughout the week, the following University-wide events will also be observed:

At 7 p.m. Monday in UIndy Hall C, Schwitzer Student Center, the inaugural Lavender Graduation Celebration will be held for self-identified LGBTQ+ seniors. The event was organized by Jeffrey Barnes, director of University events, and Alex Kemery, assistant professor of nursing.

“Jeffrey and I are excited to celebrate the first Lavender Graduation at UIndy. This ceremony will allow us the opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of our LGBTQ+ students as they finish their degrees, and hopefully will become a new tradition on campus,” Kemery said.

The annual midnight breakfast and pre-party will get started at 8 p.m. Monday in the Shreve Atrium in Schwitzer Student Center. Seniors will be busy decorating their graduation caps. This event also features a pancake artist, latte artist, make-and-take novelties and more.

On Tuesday, President Robert L. Manuel hosts Picnic with the President in Schwitzer Park from 5 to 7 p.m.

Wednesday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. is Senior Week Trivia Night on the fourth-floor lounge of the Health Pavilion. Win a UIndy graduation basket, a professional clothing shopping spree, or dinner for two at St. Elmo’s. Register here.

Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. in McCleary Chapel, the Black Student Association observes the Celebration of Success, a pre-commencement celebration to honor African and African-American students, who through unyielding determination have successfully completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from the University of Indianapolis.

Also on Thursday evening, the Student Organization of Latinos will host the inaugural SOL Latino Graduation event in the Health Pavilion atrium. SOL’s vice president of communications, Alondra Romero ’22 (business administration and management), explained, “We are very excited to start this new tradition of congratulating Latino seniors for their accomplishments! This will be the first time SOL has organized a graduation ceremony and SOL wanted to show that we are very proud of them and thank them for their time here at UIndy.”

On Friday, the Center for Global Engagement will host an inaugural brunch and awards ceremony for international students who are graduating.

For the first time, the University of Indianapolis will hold separate ceremonies for graduate and undergraduate students. The Graduate Commencement Ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. Friday in Nicoson. The Class of 2019 Reception will be held at the Skyline Club in downtown Indianapolis from 8 to 10:30 p.m. The Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony takes place at 11 a.m. Saturday at Key Stadium.

See all Senior Week events.

Adam Lutgring ’19

Adam Lutgring ’19 will graduate this May with a strong University of Indianapolis family legacy.

Lutgring is a criminal justice major with a concentration in law enforcement and a minor in business administration. He has served as a resident assistant for three years during his UIndy career, starting off in Warren Hall as a freshman and then becoming an RA in Warren his sophomore year. As a junior he was an RA in Central Hall and during his senior year, he was an RA in Roberts Hall.

Duane Lutgring ’85 (last row, third from right)

It’s fair to say Lutgring is following a family tradition. His father Duane Lutgring ’85 was an RA in Dailey Hall (later known as Buxton Hall). And Warren Hall holds a special significance for the Lutgrings as the place where Adam’s parents, Duane ’85 and Kelly Adams Lutgring ’84, met for the first time! 

Adam Lutgring reflected on the strong social and professional network he built while at UIndy.

Kelly Adams Lutgring ’84 (top row, second from left)

“I have cherished each and every moment of my time as a UIndy student,” he said. “I have met so many amazing people during these last four years and will continue those relationships throughout the rest of my life. I have made so many memories and am so grateful to have attended UIndy. I found my career path here with the help of my professors, and am excited to build off of the skills I have learned as a UIndy student.”

On a sunny day in May 2013, Corey Nelson walked across the stage in the middle of UIndy’s Key Stadium with a new degree in hand from the College of Health Sciences and a world of opportunity before him. A graduate from the Community Health Education program, now known as Public Health Education and Promotion, Nelson remembers how his four years at UIndy prepared him for a career in public health.

“While still in school, I was creating and designing health and wellness programs, reviewing current literature and corporate health guidelines, implementing programs rooted in behavior change theories, and evaluating the efficacy and impact on the engaged individuals and target populations,” Nelson said. “Without a doubt, what I did in the classroom is exactly what I did right out of school and still do to this day.”

A few years later, Nelson has progressed through the healthcare field. Following an internship with Community Health Network’s Employer Health division, Nelson gained experience at Community as a health coach, preventative care specialist and wellness coordinator before taking a job as a health promotion consultant/engagement consultant for Humana. Now he’s found a home as an account manager at Grand Rounds, a company focused on making healthcare more accessible and simpler for consumers, where he hopes to positively impact the healthcare system.

“Before committing to a future in healthcare, my only understanding of healthcare was at the most basic level, ‘If you are hurt or ill, go see a doctor,’” he said. “My time at UIndy introduced me to the impact individuals can have in healthcare when deciding to commit themselves to prevention and engagement and altering the course of how care is delivered, when care is delivered, and what makes and creates impact in healthcare.”

Nelson accredits his confidence and knowledge in the field to the in-depth education he received. “It goes without saying, that while in school, regardless of where, you receive the educational framework; the readings, lectures, papers, tests and quizzes. However, the differentiator at UIndy is the applied knowledge.”

Aside from the real-life experience in the program itself, Nelson said he will forever be grateful for the individual attention and mentorship he received on a personal level from the faculty at UIndy.

“My biggest role model at UIndy was and still is Dr. Rauch. Upon graduating from UIndy I would share the role she played with others not only as an educator and professor but often tossed out the title ‘Campus Mom.’ Dr. Rauch was there any time I needed her; whether it was academics, personal life, or anything in between, she was the one I went to first.”

“UIndy made a significant impact in my preparation for the health field by incorporating a vast array of hands-on experiences and projects and combining that with the opportunity to meet and hear from experts in the field. The networking I completed while still in school at UIndy helped launch my career, and still plays a vital role in my life today.”

But when asked what mattered most when Nelson looks back on his college days? Easy; human connection.

“What I value the most about my time at UIndy was the personal touch to my education and growth as a person. Class sizes were small, which led to hands-on experience and larger responsibility in the classroom. Professors know you as a person and not a number in the class.”

It’s this perspective he now brings into the healthcare field; lessons from campus now being played out in the community.

– Written by Olivia Horvath, OTD Class of 2020