There’s talent everywhere
Our chapel season is over for the academic year, and we ended with Dr. Nielson sharing thoughts particularly with seniors as they head onward from here. You can read his recent blog post, which touches on many of the same issues. After chapel, we had a unique event–Administration member, Wallace Anderson, had his head shaved before the gathered, cheering crowd. The shaving was the culmination of a week-long fundraiser for the needs of a student’s family (they are missionaries in Kenya). The exact amount that the family needed for their situation was raised. Here’s a photo of Wallace, post-shave, shaking hands with Ryland, whose family received the funds: 
This weekend, and into Monday, I had some wonderful opportunities to experience and appreciate the God-given talents of many Covenant students. Most of the creativity I saw and enjoyed was displayed outside of classroom assignments, although several were senior students’ SIP (Senior Integration Project–an opportunity to integrate what they have learned in their major).
Friday night was the First Watchtower Film Festival, featuring student films and art as well as special guest speaker Joe Kickasola, Covenant ‘94. This student-planned, student-led, student-attended festival was very well done. I walked into Jackson Hall, and hardly recognized the place. Great lighting, interesting decoration (including lots of goldfish), and something happening in three rooms. A Bergman film playing in one, two Hitchcock films (Rear Window and The Birds) and two Indiana Jones movies playing simultaneously to a separate musical soundtrack in another, photography and video displays from our art students, and specifically senior Liz Tubergen in the final room. Later, a classroom filled to overflowing for the showing of eight student films, and then Dr. Kickasola spoke about the challenges of directing: balancing desire for excellence and humility. Well-planned, well-executed, and very enjoyable! Thanks to the Covenant Film Club for putting this all together.
Saturday, I spent quite a few hours at the Bakertree Music Festival, where student talent was on display all day and groups took their turns playing and singing a variety of music. It was great to see some much collaboration–many of the students played in several groups. Here’s a student perspective on the event.
Then, last night, I stopped by the Sessions House, at the bottom of Lookout Mountain, to see the unveiling of Lauren Cox’s SIP, a fountain sculpture of a beautiful young woman. The sculpture was placed on a flat surface on top of a double foundation of tan rock. Here are pictures of the sculpture before she was placed on the foundation–but they don’t do justice to the final version, especially as she presided in natural garden setting on a beautiful spring evening. (Photos have been added of the final presentation now)
I praise God for the artistic gifts he has given to our students.
Published on 22 Apr 2008 by Christiana Fitzpatrick at 1:04 pm.
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