UC Spring Break: a trip to Haiti over a trip to the Beach

Press Release

BCM Spring Break Team

(Baptist Campus Ministries)

                                                            Contact: Albert Jones

(606) 515-9462

www.ucumberlands.edu

February 24, 2016

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University of the Cumberlands students’ trade in their Spring Break relaxation to go on an influential mission trip to Haiti.

Twelve UC students affiliated with Baptist Campus Ministries will travel to Fermathe, Haiti over Spring Break vacation to spread the gospel of Jesus and to learn as well as to live the culture of the residents of Fermathe.

            BCM ministries is one of the most popular ministries on the UC campus. The mission of BCM as stated on their webpage is, “BCM focuses on building excellent Christian leadership in students, on the inward spiritual journey to find Christ and on the outward spiritual journey of service in His power.”

Albert Jones a faculty sponsor for BCM and
local youth and young adult pastor
at Main Street Baptist Church.

BCM faculty sponsor Albert Jones says, “My desire in leading a missions group to Haiti is that we learn what it means to love others as ourselves (Mathew 22:39) and develop a passion to serve the Lord.”

            Students will be led by two UC student leaders: Natalie Graham and Bethany Yontz. They will guide students as they engage the community in events such as a sports camp, building a house, and finishing their week up by helping at multiple orphanages.

These dedicated students are eagerly awaiting March 11-20, also known as Spring Break, to arrive so they can board a plane to Haiti. Once there, they will have a bus ride of four hours to their destination of Fermathe.

Upon arrival, students will be joined by four other colleges from the Kentucky area who are there to serve the Lord as well.

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The Baptist Campus Ministries is located at the University of the Cumberlands, in Williamsburg, Kentucky. BCM is sponsored by their local church, Main Street Baptist. Main Street Baptist says, “They are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, Kentucky Baptist Convention and the South Union/Mount Zion Baptist Association and supports evangelism through local outreach, and the North American and International Missions Board. To contact MSBC go to http://www.mainstreetbc.org/aboutus.php for further information.

Spotlight: Round 2

February 9^th Spotlight’s second round of competition began in the Gatliff Chapel, as the 12 remaining contestants rivaled for fans, votes, and eventually for the title of UC 2016 Spotlight Champion.

The vocal and performance competition at UC mirrors the well-known competition “America Idol.”

 Following the first round of competition (duets) contestants were challenged with throwing a spin on a soundtrack of their choosing.

Niki Marietta who is pictured above is a freshman at UC and
fist time contestant on Spotlight.

Niki Marietta, a contestant in this year’s competition, decided on the song “No Diggity.” She said, “I changed my mind from my original song to a really random song that I thought I could totally throw a jazz twist on. It turned out way better than I expected.”

The tradition of the Spotlight competition has made quite an impact on both students and staff each year.

Myah Flecher, a freshman at UC experiencing Spotlight for the first time said, “I think it gives students a taste of fame. You hear students talking and encouraging their friends on stage and you even hear compliments from professors.”

According to Dr. Dickman, a professor and popular judge for the Spotlight series said, “Year after year, more UC students attend Spotlight than attend sporting events here at the college.”

The appeal of Spotlight comes from more than just the vocal talents but also the personalities of each contestant, which include; Nick Baxter, Trey Bryant, Joey Fiefhaus, Seth Hale, Slade Lambert, Niki Marietta, Maya Nelson, Krystal Roberson, Elizabeth Steward, Kristen Swords, Kelsley Wilkinson, and Alex Withers.

Dr. Dickman says, “My favorite aspect of Spotlight would be how the students come out to support their peers year after year.”

After all the hype and entertainment, comes the business and paperwork of Spotlight; the voting.

Voting is very important and can be done in two ways. One way is online and the other is in house voting, at the time of event. Online voting is easily done by locating the C.A.B. accounts on; Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter and clicking the link in their bio. Votes will be how the judges decide who goes home and who stays, and ultimately decides the UC 2016 Spotlight Champion.

“Voting is critical and everyone should go online and submit a vote,” said Marietta.

Next Spotlight event is scheduled for February 23, in the Gatliff Chapel. Sure to be a crowd pleaser, the challenge of the competition is to perform a Classic Rock song. 

First time the RN-BSN Pinning Ceremony housed at the University of the Cumberlands

University of the Cumberlands conducted their first Pinning Ceremony, to celebrate the successful graduate students who completed the online RN-BSN Nursing Program, on December 18.

Dr. Cailen Baker RN-BSN Nursing Program
 Director /Associate Professor of Nursing
at the University of the Cumberlands.

According to Dr. Cailen Baker, director of the RN-BSN nursing program, described the mission statement for this program when she said, “We are striving to assist working adults, who are previously licensed RN, to achieve their BA in Nursing.”

 The RN-BSN nursing program is confirmed by Diane Glenn a graduate student who received her pin on December 18.

She said, “During my final term of school I interviewed and accepted a position as a Behavioral Health Case Manager for Anthem. My past experience in nursing and obtaining my Bachelors assisted me in obtaining this new position.”

            Keeping this tradition alive, the UC Ceremony contained all the traditional aspects.

According to the web page Nurse History, “The Pinning Ceremony is a tradition that originated from the Nightingale School of Nursing in London. This tradition is designed to award a badge with Maltese Cross to the nurses as they complete their education.”

Immediately following the actual pinning, the tradition of reading the Florence Nightingale’s Pledge took place to seal the evening.

Glenn said, “The tradition of reading the Florence Nightingale’s Pledge is important and is a very moving poem of the spirit of nursing.”

            The future or goal of this RN-BS nursing program is that of Life Long Learning. Life Long Learning is a program which encourages the ongoing pursuit of learning either at the personal or

professional level.

            Glenn says, “Life Long Learning and living a life more abundant were the themes throughout the program, making us all better nurses serving not only our patients but thinking how we can serve our communities, states, nation and even internationally.