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Aida Opening Night Breaks Attendance Records

Ohio Christian University closed on its production of Aida on Saturday, April 1st and the cast, crew and production team would just like to say “thank you” to everyone who came out to support such an amazing show!With record-breaking attendance for an opening night performance, Aida was an immediate hit! Another huge shoutout to Dr. Dione Bennett for her role in the production as Vocal Director. She coached an array of amazing vocalists to the peak of their ability. The result was a perfectly showcased ensemble during both performances. Choreographer, Andrea Bradley also was in attendance opening night and we thank her for her dedication to ensure our ensemble was performance ready. Opening night also featured pyramid-themed cookies provided by Hallmark Management Services, Ohio Christian’s dining services provider. Another highlight was a surprise proposal for current student and cast member, Jennifer Brown, and her now fiancé, Christopher Hupp.Despite the challenges of high winds and power surges during Saturday’s matinee performance, the cast and crew continued through the performance with professionalism and high spirits and earned a powerful standing ovation at the close of the show.The Ohio Christian University Performing Arts Committee is proud of our students, alumni and community members who helped make Aida a success, and the committee is excited to announce the upcoming season in the next couple of months. We hope to see YOU at the next production!

OCU’s Registrar Named Fellow In Leadership Ohio Class of 2023

Ohio Christian University Registrar, Michelle Blanton, is one of 35 distinguished individuals chosen to serve and advise state leaders. Leadership Ohio shared the following regarding Blanton and the Class of 2023:For almost 15 years, Michelle Blanton has worked at Ohio Christian University. Blanton started working in the College of Adult and Graduate Studies upon graduating with her Bachelor of Arts in Business from Ohio Christian University in 2008. After working in Student Services for eight years, Blanton became the Director of Admissions of the same division. In 2016, Blanton moved to the University Registrar’s Office as Associate Registrar. In this position she worked with students conducting graduation audits and planning the annual graduation ceremonies. From 2019-2022, Blanton served as the Director of Alumni Relations cultivating and stewarding relationships with previous students. Blanton returned to the University Registrar’s Office in 2022 as the University Registrar.In addition to her involvement at the University, Blanton is very active in her community. She is a 2014 Pickaway Fellow and serves on a variety of local and statewide boards and committees. In 2017, Blanton was elected to Circleville City Council as an at-large member. She has been Chair of the Safety and Finance Committees. Blanton is a 2021 graduate of the JoAnn Davidson Ohio Leadership Institute and is running to be the next Mayor of Circleville in 2023. Blanton lives in Circleville with Travis, her husband, Elijah, her son, and dog, Roxy. Watching basketball, singing and reading are a few of her hobbies.Columbus, Ohio - Leadership Ohio, the state's premier leadership development program that connects diverse leaders from across Ohio to promote positive change, is pleased to announce the class of 2023. After receiving over 120 nominations, and through a competitive selection process, 35 individuals have been appointed Leadership Ohio Fellows. Over the next eight months, these leaders will engage in in-depth explorations of critical questions, challenges, and opportunities facing Ohio and its people. “This is a distinguished group of accomplished individuals from all across the state,” said James W. Murray, president of the board of trustees, Leadership Ohio. “Ohio needs effective and civil leadership in today’s polarized society, and we are excited to welcome this diverse cross-sector cohort to Leadership Ohio today.” The Class of 2023 participants come from a variety of industries, including business, healthcare, education, and government. Fellows hail from many corners of the state, and represent a spectrum of ideological viewpoints. This year's class includes leaders from organizations such as Taft Law, Ohio Department of Transportation, JPMorgan Chase, and Goodwill Ohio, and includes a record eight elected and appointed government officials.Fellows will engage in a series of intensive sessions that cover topics such as the state judiciary, small town resurgence, and civil discourse while being exposed to an influential network of decision makers. Fellows will also develop Ohio Impact Projects taking direct action on a pressing issue or opportunity to benefit Ohio. Importantly, they will build impactful relationships with other leaders from around the state with goals for lasting change. "We are excited to welcome the Class of 2023 to Leadership Ohio," said Dr. Lisa Duty, executive director of Leadership Ohio. "These distinguished individuals are part of a growing network of change-makers and innovators who are on the leading edge of solutions for a future-driven Ohio.”Upon graduation, Fellows are inducted into the Leadership Ohio alumni network comprised of accomplished, diverse, talented Ohioans. Leadership Ohio’s alumni reside in Ohio cities big and small, lead major companies and nonprofits, launch small businesses, and serve in government agencies, elected offices, commissions, and Ohio’s boardrooms.For more information about Leadership Ohio, visit www.leadershipohio.org. Nominations for the Class of 2024 open in Autumn 2023.

Our Hope for a Renewed Witness

Last week Ohio Christian University announced that athletic teams would be transitioning from participating in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in the 2023-2024 academic year and would begin competing in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) starting in fall of 2024. University president, Dr. Ron Smith, has prepared the following statement to clarify why such a move was made. As your president beginning my third month of office, I have wrestled with a prevailing question: What is Ohio Christian University meant to be? According to our roots, the answer is to offer our students the best “Wesleyan Christian experience in our world.”In athletics that means three essential components: Christian, Character, Competition. I have written to our NAIA Commissioner thanking them for the outstanding privilege ours has been to compete in their River States Conference. We are permitted to compete with their teams every season with all who will offer us the schedule. However, I am rejoining OCU in the NCCAA. At this juncture I deeply desire our athletes to participate in, and contribute to, the Christian world of athletics. It is time we leave a mark on our conference and in our nation as Christians. We will still compete with the teams we choose outside of our conference, but we have a witness we need to make in Christian competition. We need not only to compete, but to contribute to our distinct witness among Christian America by offering character-based athletes ready to compete and to serve the nation Christ has sought to raise. From that source we will let our light shine for the whole world. While we begin to raise the banner of winning immediately, we begin our NCCAA competition in the Fall Semester of 2024.Ronald E. Smith, PhDOhio Christian UniversityPresident The Athletics department has prepared a series of questions and answers (Q&A) that should cover most questions regarding this change. You can view that list here.

Olson Returns to Serve as Sports Chaplain/Sports Psych Coach

By Abigail Hintz, Assistant Sports Information DirectorCIRCLEVILLE, OH — Ohio Christian University is pleased to announce the hiring of Dr. Larry Olson as the Sports Chaplain/Sport Psychology Performance Coach.In this role, Dr. Olson will assist the athletic department in providing pastoral care and spiritual guidance to student-athletes, staff and coaches. This could include overseeing Bible studies or prayer groups, consulting with athletes, coaches and staff on sport psychology issues, working to refer athletes to specialists when necessary and assisting teams with performance readiness."First, I want to thank President Smith and AD Arroyo Jr. for bringing me on in this new post," Dr. Olson said. "Beyond that, I look forward to working with everyone in OCU Athletics as we continue in the quest for strong spiritual development and positive 'game-time' attitudes and winning performance."Dr. Olson has been with Ohio Christian University in a variety of capacities since 1984. He graduated from what was then Circleville Bible College in 1987 with a degree in Christian Ministries before getting his master's in Pastoral Counseling from Olivet Nazarene University in 1990. He went on to get his PhD in General Psychology from Capella University in 2008 during which time he had sport psychology training and was teaching classes at OCU.Dr. Olson was the athletic director at OCU from 1994-2002. He was also the head baseball coach for ten years, building the program from the ground up from 1996-2005. His current role with the university is psychology professor and professor emeritus."I am thrilled with the hiring of Dr. Larry Olson as we continue seeking ways to enhance the student athlete experience," Ohio Christian athletic director George Arroyo Jr. said. "Dr. Olson has a genuine passion for students and sports. With the newly created role, he will assist student athletes and teams in the areas of mental performance, character development and discipleship. This is another WIN for the Ohio Christian University Trailblazers."This article was used by permission and can also be found at www.ocutrailblazers.com.

Two Scholars Win Full-Ride Scholarship to University

Ohio Christian University’s Scholars Day competition for the first Commitment to Excellence full-ride scholarships has successfully concluded, and we are proud to announce that Mike Conway and Hannah Skaggs have been selected as the scholarship recipients.After three rounds of interviews, these two outstanding students received the highest marks and were personally awarded by Phil Hooks, the Vice President of Enrollment, with their scholarship certificate and an official scholarship award letter from President Smith. The Scholars Day panelists were thoroughly impressed by all of the candidates this year, and our two winners had strong competition during the interview process. However, we are confident that Mike and Hannah will be well-deserving of their Commitment to Excellence awards.Mike Conway is a graduating homeschool student from Louisville, OH who has already completed almost 70 hours of dual enrollment credit. He is an active member in his church and enjoys leading worship and volunteering as a student leader. Mike has also invested many years into Boy Scouts and earned the highest rank of an Eagle Scout. He now invests in Boy Scouts as an adult leader. Right now, Mike is interested in studying Sport Business Management at Ohio Christian University and potentially double majoring while also participating in worship leadership opportunities.Hannah Skaggs is graduating from Seneca High School in Louisville, KY, and she is heavily involved in her school, church and volleyball team. Hannah has incredible leadership qualities which she uses as a Seneca school ambassador, the President of Seneca High School’s National Honors Society, and a Fellowship of Christian Athletes character coach. She also serves as a captain for her volleyball team and hopes to continue her volleyball career at Ohio Christian University while pursuing her long-term goal of becoming a high school math educator.Ohio Christian University is very excited to add these two Commitment to Excellence recipients to our Trailblazer family, and we look forward to seeing them continue their academic and spiritual journey on campus this fall.