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Trailblazer Dual Enrollment Graduates Reception

OCU's Trailblazer Academy Celebrates Student Achievements!

Nine students received their Associate degrees through the Ohio Christian University’s Trailblazer Academy Dual Enrollment program at the end of the Spring 2024 semester. Four of these students were able to attend Spring Commencement and were treated to a reception held in their honor.AA Business Degree:Aaliyah AquinoGabriel ChiaravallotiAA Interdisciplinary Studies Degree:Tristan CairolaMackenzie HenryTrinity KravitzBrooklyn MosesJonas RisnerAna Laura Soques EscobarTallia WhyteGideon Robinette Memorial ScholarshipGideon Robinette was a Pickaway County, OH high school student attending the Trailblazer Academy Dual Enrollment program who was excited about continuing with OCU full time once his dual enrollment/high school career was completed. He intended to complete a degree that would allow him to engage in ministry and serve on the mission field. He was a young man who valued learning and working in ministry.In January of 2024, Gideon tragically lost his life in a fire that also claimed the lives of his father (Mark, a local pastor and missionary) and younger brother (Liam). Gideon blazed a trail towards full time Christian ministry as a high school student, and exemplified the values, the heart, and what we hope all our “Trailblazers” can be – and what we hope to support in the young lives in our program who are blazing trails of their own.The “Gideon Robinette Memorial Scholarship” is a $1,000 renewable scholarship that will be awarded to up to 2 Trailblazer Academy students per school year who plan to matriculate into the Circleville Main Campus program following high school graduation.Trailblazer Academy is honored to award the first scholarship to Mackenzie Henry. Mackenzie is a homeschool school senior from Chillicothe, OH who will be continuing in the Residential program with plans to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministries.Congratulations to all of our graduates!Trailblazer Academy offers middle school and high school students the opportunity to take college courses at the Circleville campus, online, and at high school partnerships.

Announcing this Year’s Theater Productions

OCU’s Drama Team and Performing Arts Committee are excited to announce the Fall 2024 play production of Alice in Wonderland and the Spring 2025 musical production of Anastasia.On Nov. 8th and 9th, fall into the magical realm of Alice in Wonderland. Student and families will enjoy seeing iconic characters like the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit, the Red Queen and other favorites while traversing the bewildering world of Wonderland and the adventures of growing up!On April 11th and 12th, enjoy the new musical adapted from the beloved animated film, Anastasia. Young Anya must begin her journey to the past by teaming up the crafty duo, Vladimir and Dmitri, in their search for the long-lost princess, Anastasia. Enjoy the haunting mystery and undying hopefulness surrounding this real-life princess and a young girl’s quest to find home, love and family.Auditions for both productions will be open to all current students of any cohort, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of OCU! Please note that casting decisions will initially be made in favor of current students but are still open to non-students, especially if the demands of the role require it. Please visit ohiochristian.edu/dramateam for more details!

School of Strategic Leadership for World Ministry, World Missions, World Evangelism

“A New Beginning” Seventy-five years ago, Ohio Christian University embarked on a mission to inspire, train, andsend forth young ministers to ignite global change. As we celebrate our 76th year, thiscommitment burns brighter than ever. Introducing the new School of Strategic Leadership forWorld Ministry, World Missions, and World Evangelism, our goal is to equip ministry majorswith vital biblical and theological understanding, along with relevant vocational skills toestablish depth in Christ and competence in a variety of ministry settings.Enroll today for Fall 2024 and witness the revival of OCU's founding principles and set toinspire a fresh wave of global influencers Featuring a world class team with over 280 years ofcombined ministry and more than 150 years of teaching, our professors have real worldexperience. Directed by Dr. Steven McGuire, Dr. Ron Adkins as Associate Dean and Professor, and featuring OCU president Dr. Ron Smith as a distinguished professor, students receive an exemplary Christian education.The School of Strategic Leadership for World Ministry, World Missions, and World Evangelismat Ohio Christian University is guided by three distinctives: Our commitment to Scripture, ourpassion for holiness, and our heart for the church. These will be the driving focus of all ourprograms and areas of study shaping the leaders of tomorrow.To find out more please visit our admissions webpage and schedule your tour today!Click here to see the brochure.

President's Five-Fold Vision

A Five-fold Vision for a Renewed Witness at Ohio Christian UniversityIn assessing the institution I inherited as an interim president, I saw five ways I felt OCU could begin to ascend and thrive again, provided we could successfully address each situation. I believe Ohio Christian University truly has the potential to be the premier conservative Wesleyan Christian undergraduate school in the nation. The following is my strategic vision for the University.Re-center the university on its doctrinal center for faith and practice. Ohio Christian University was founded to teach students to receive, then model the soul converting, heart sanctifying love of God in Christ that spiritually and morally transforms the world. We interpret Scripture through the lens of John and Charles Wesley, believing their doctrine of sanctifying love best corresponds to Scripture’s truths. We believe that the work of atonement is two-fold. First, the grace of God through faith justifies a person, cancelling the penalty for their sins. Secondly, God’s grace wholly sanctifies a person empowering them through the Spirit to defeat sin’s power in their lives, freeing them to walk in joyful obedience, being conformed to God’s will and ways. These great truths must be robustly preached and taught until love is the measure of rule for our community. Only then can a person be freed from personal self-interest to, in love, walk with Christ hand in hand for the redemption of the world.Re-Build the engine that once caused OCU to thrive in its enrollment and business dealings. Attrition and atrophy can dissipate a school’s drive and thrust to outcompete other schools for enrollment and measures of excellence. To thrive, this engine must be re-built. To re-build the engine, enrollment issues including retention, marketing dollars as a premium, and a strategic development program for income and gifts must be a day-to-day part of our academic lives.Re-construct the School for Ministry. This vision would re-forge our constituents with our alums and once again identify the culture at Ohio Christian University as one with ministry, either lay or professional, at the center. The world of Christian ministry must flow once again in and out of our doors. The uniqueness of our school’s history is lost when ministry is merely one of many majors in our school. Ministry is not merely one of our university offerings, rather it is our raison d’etre. The state of Ohio needs an undergraduate institution heading the charge on this. Moreover, the theology of Wesleyan holiness for which the Churches of Christ in Christian Union was raised is a universal expression of love which needs always to be reclaimed for future generations. “Love will not fail.”Establish a major for science and medical training, of which nursing will be a principal part. Twenty percent of all college applicants are requesting such programs and OCU will thus increase its recruitment options twenty percent by strategically building such a program. Science and medicine is a booming industry in Ohio, particularly in the growing Columbus region. It is time to leverage this field as an asset for our university. Moreover, healing ministries have always been a part of Christ’s plan for community. Providing this field of study as an option can only strengthen our Christian agenda.Establish a major for agriculture. Train our students to help Ohio as they feed the world. Ohio is a national leader in growing food for our world. Christ said, “I was hungry, and you fed me.” Ohio Christian University is in one of the great agricultural belts of our nation, so equipping students to serve the agriculture industry lines up with one of the great industries of our state. This major would create value for our school. While agriculture is one of the great majors for Ohio State University, it is also true that many of Ohio’s farm families have a great commitment to church and the Christian faith. Therefore, offering a Christian option for these families where they can study seems to offer a strength that we are currently missing. We must give agriculturists a chance to know us and prayerfully help us in this great enterprise. Agriculturists in Ohio tend to be magnanimous people and that corresponds to the OCU agenda. I truly believe there is a bright future for us if we pursue this strategy.This five-fold vision for Ohio Christian University can help our school thrive spiritually as well as academically while providing a new relevance to our state and local communities.Click here to see the brochure.

OCU Men's Soccer Named RSC Team of Character

The Trailblazers are proud to announce that the Men's Soccer program has recently achieved the River States Conference Team of Character Award for their service to the community and commitment to the NAIA Champions of Character including integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. The RSC Team of Character Award is given to one male and one female team within the River States Conference who exemplify these five core values. Men's Soccer participated in 12 service projects from running a local soccer clinic for the community of Circleville, to building furniture for a store's ribbon-cutting ceremony in Lancaster. In April, the team traveled to Otway to take part in a prepping and cleanup project for Mt. Hope Bible Camp, a camp that started in 1969 that has continued to partner with Ohio Christian University to have student-led camps onsite. "Our coaching staff is proud" said Head Coach George Arroyo Jr. "We've worked intentionally to focus on leadership and excellence. These men show up to each practice ready to work, but the program strives for something greater and it begins off the pitch. While the RSC Team of Character Award is a bonus, being able to take part in several service projects and having the opportunity to impact others is rewarding in itself. The team sacrificed many hours this year but great memories were also made. We even participated in the annual Pumpkin Show OCU parade float! Impacting others is a tradition we want to continue and make synonymous with OCU Men's Soccer." Senior Jorge Pacheco said "Serving the community has been a unique experience. From power washing camp sites to assembling new shelves, I've had fun blessing the community but also spending time with teammates. Blessed to be part of a team where we can spread our name as well as the name of our Lord. This award means that we are a hardworking team. It's not easy going after class to do labor work or give a day to people we don't know, but we do it with joy to help others."2023-2024 RSC Male Team of Character article published by the River States Conference.To keep up with the Trailblazer soccer program and the rest of Ohio Christian athletics, follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.