In November 2022, Houghton Biology professor Dr. Eli Knapp 鈥�00 visited two incredible alumni using their gifts as scholar-servants in Cambodia. The article that follows shares some of his reflections in the weeks after that trip.

When Jesus admonished the 鈥渟tiff-necked generation,鈥� he wasn鈥檛 talking about gibbon watchers – but He sure could have been. I had spent the last two hours in the Cambodian jungle, head back and chin up, watching long-armed, tailless gibbons brachiate through the branches aware of yet unconcerned with our presence below. Trailing a film crew, my only job was to be quiet and keep out of the way; I fell woefully short of both tasks. How could I remain silent? Above us swung creatures that recent 黑料科 graduate Kyle Burrichter 鈥�21 had spent the last two years habituating, a multisyllabic term for teaching the gibbons we didn鈥檛 mean any harm. Unlike Cambodian hunters, who historically used gibbons for food, we were there merely to ogle. Around us, these heavily endangered primates could chill out and hopefully sing.

We had been peering into the canopy ever since the first stabs of sunlight penetrated the dark, leafy canopy. Unlike me, the three-person film crew鈥擧umble Bee productions, a subsidiary of the BBC鈥攈ad been out running about the forest for a month, chasing high-quality, unobstructed shots of the Southern Yellow-Cheeked Crested Gibbon, a wary species renowned for their operatic singing ability, which they typically exercised at dawn, though unpredictably enough to frustrate filmmakers. Since the hoped-for documentary focused on animal vocalization, recording the song wasn鈥檛 enough. The crew wanted footage of the process, gape-mouthed gibbons with notes ringing out. For a month, they had struck out, the foliage too thick, the trails too narrow and the gibbons too fickle. With the budget exceeded and only a few days left to film, nerves were tight.

As a visiting Biology professor from 黑料科, I had little business tagging along. Kyle Burrichter, on the other hand, had every reason to be. Through a unique partnership linking Jahoo Gibbon Camp, World Hope International and 黑料科, Kyle had landed an internship with crazy requirements: learn the Khmer language, create trails in the forest, build bird blinds, lead ecotours and, most importantly, habituate the gibbons. While talented Houghton alumni have gone on to do many unique things, none have done this. Outside of Jane Goodall and a handful of dedicated primatologists, few people have ever done this.

For a calendar year, Kyle indefatigably arose in his dank, porous tent at 5 a.m., laced up his sneakers, and plunged into a forest with little more than a headlamp, mosquito coil and a few sleepy Cambodian guides with whom he didn鈥檛 share a language. Slowly but surely, the gibbons accepted their bipedal followers, eventually allowing tourists, the film crew and now lucky me to watch them as well.

When Humble Bee productions notified Jahoo about their intention to film gibbons, Kyle was the perfect person to assist. Indispensable, in fact, as he was the only person who knew every trail and every gibbon proclivity and could translate between the local guides and filmmakers.

Useless in the forest and Cambodia at large, I basked in the moment nonetheless. Unfurling before me was the joy of every professor: the chance to watch a freshly minted prot茅g茅 put academic learning to good use. The only thing I鈥檇 done was recognize talent and stoke Kyle鈥檚 passions. As the precocious son of colleague Bill Burrichter 鈥�92, I鈥檇 gotten to know Kyle well over his four years at Houghton, having had him in many courses. He鈥檇 studied with me in Kenya and taken my ornithology course that traveled to Big Bend National Park, Texas. On that trip, a freak storm whipped up one night and collapsed several tents. While I cowered in my tent, Kyle ran around the campsite propping up tents, tightening guylines and encouraging sopping-wet students. Here was a Houghton student built for something tough.

What I hadn鈥檛 anticipated was that the perfect something would present itself just a few years later, through an internship opportunity in the mountainous jungle of eastern Cambodia. Even better, I hadn鈥檛 anticipated crossing paths with a second exceptional student who was kind, self-reliant and Christ-loving, tailormade for taking the torch from Kyle.

Dear Friends,

Over the last few months, I have reflected quite often and intensely on Genesis chapter 50 and Joseph鈥檚 relationship with his brothers. After the death of their father Jacob, Joseph鈥檚 brothers wondered whether he would hold a grudge against them for the incredible harm they had done to him; selling him into slavery out jealousy and starting an almost unbelievable chain of events in his life. With love and compassion, Joseph responded to them, letting them know that what they had intended for his harm, God had used for good.

There is no question that as Houghton continues to stand for and model both the compassion and truth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, there will continue to be those who seek to do harm to the university. We hold no ill will and desire only to love and honor God, and love our brothers and sisters. Further, I am convinced that as Houghton remains faithful, God will use even those things meant for our harm for His glory. We have already seen the evidence of it. God continues to bless Houghton in ways seen and unseen. Chief among those blessings are the students and families we are privileged to serve.

By the grace of God, generation after generation, students from Hornell to Honduras make their way to our residential campus, Houghton online, and to Houghton Buffalo for the life-giving and life-altering experiences that comprise a 黑料科 education. This issue of Houghton magazine captures the adventure and excitement of students鈥� off-campus learning experiences. Houghton students鈥� learning has never been confined to the classroom. The stories captured here provide a snapshot of the ways students are learning, serving, and leading in their local and global communities.

I pray that the stories and experiences captured in this issue will be a reminder to us all of how God uses our diverse backgrounds, gifts, talents, and passions to be a redemptive light in a dark world; having transformational impact on the world and those around us as we advance His kingdom.

Yours in Christ鈥檚 Love,

Wayne D. Lewis, Jr.

Leadership in Action

Seeing a team and community centered on Christ was new to Ali (Wisniewski ’23) Zientra when she visited as a track and field recruit four years ago, but that focus on pursuing excellence for the glory of God was captivating and made for a simple college decision.

鈥淚 had never been on a team that put God first and put God at the center of all practices and all races,鈥� says Wisniewski. 鈥淭his was something that I didn鈥檛 even know existed with a sports team until I saw it at Houghton. Once I noticed this, I wanted to be a part of it and that is what drew me to Houghton.鈥�

The business department and the Army ROTC program were also big draws for the recent graduate, who just competed in her final season of track, prepping for her first job as a military officer, and eyeing an ultimate goal of serving in the National Guard while pursuing a career in accounting. Wisniewski鈥檚 Houghton experience was important for her development as a scholar-athlete and her growth as a Christ-follower, but also in identifying and honing the leadership skills necessary for her career endeavors.

“There is no such thing as a perfect leader,” says Wisniewski, but she points to someone who is knowledgeable, caring, motivational, and a strong communicator as someone who can be most effective in a leadership position.

Her own leadership style is approachable and encouraging, someone who leads by example, she says. These traits have proven effective for the senior as she has navigated through a variety of leadership roles on campus, as a captain on the track team, and an ROTC student leader.

鈥淗oughton and Highlander Athletics have taught me leadership skills, discipline, and how to put God at the center of everything. It has also taught me how to give my all to everything I am doing,鈥� says Wisniewski. 鈥淭hese things will help me in my future in the Army since these skills are some of the key characteristics of an Army officer.鈥�

Moving from student to alumna, Wisniewski encourages future student leaders to find a way to leave a legacy. 鈥淔igure out what impact you want to leave on your school or team and strive for that goal. It can be big or small, but it is something to strive for as a leader.鈥�

When Jordan Scott 鈥�17 entered Houghton as an education major, he had dreams of coaching basketball and teaching high school chemistry. He could not have imagined the role he now plays, ministering to the needs of cancer patients at as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist.

Jordan鈥檚 role focuses on bone marrow transplant and lymphoma patients. He is the go-to pharmacy resource for physicians and an educator for patients undergoing treatment. 鈥淚 love working with patients undergoing chemotherapy,鈥� Jordan says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 tough, but having the opportunity to walk with them through a really challenging point in their lives is what gets me up every morning. Ministering directly to people with my skills as a pharmacist is the highlight of my work.鈥�

As with many alumni, Jordan鈥檚 time at Houghton shaped and honed his sense of calling. He credits much of that shaping and honing to Houghton professor Dr. Karen (Reese 鈥�93) Torraca. Dr. Torraca served as Jordan鈥檚 advisor, and it was her medical biology course that introduced Jordan to the idea of becoming a pharmacist.

Beyond learning with Dr. Torraca in the classroom, Jordan had the opportunity to work alongside his mentor in the lab and in life. A former senior research scientist with pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, Dr. Torraca brought Jordan into the lab through the Shannon Summer Research Institute. 鈥淚 had no idea how to do research,鈥� Jordan shared. 鈥淚 discovered that anyone can do impactful research, and it prepared me well for what I do today. I had the ability to learn from an experience I never dreamed I鈥檇 have the opportunity to have.鈥�

Outside the Paine Center for Science, Jordan managed a full co-curricular life as well. A dual sport athlete, Jordan developed exceptional time-management skills. He excelled on the basketball and tennis courts and served as a resident assistant in Rothenbuhler Hall. Still, Jordan found a way to earn academic achievements, including being named to the President鈥檚 List his junior year.

Jordan鈥檚 athletic endeavors didn鈥檛 just serve to fill his schedule. He spent a great deal of time learning about teamwork, a quality he developed in the classroom as well when he worked on a research team in First Year Science Honors. 鈥淐ollege is a very 鈥榤e鈥�-focused time in your life, but in the real world, you always have to be able to work on a team. There is significant overlap between my experiences in teamwork at Houghton and my current work as a member of a patient care team.鈥�

Jordan also spent time developing his leadership skills as an RA, as a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee and as a participant in Science Honors. He sees leadership as a way to give back through service, and he continues that kind of service today. Next year, he will serve as the Vice Chair of the American Pharmacists Association New Practitioner Network, and he is currently a member of 黑料科鈥檚 Athletic Advisory Board.

Scholar and servant 鈥� those are the two qualities I think of most when I think of Houghton graduates. And they鈥檙e two pillars I strive to achieve. I saw this modeled in the excellence of teaching and scholarly activity in the classroom and in the faculty-led ethos of Christ-centered servant-leadership.

鈥淚鈥檓 forever in debt to Houghton,鈥� said Jordan. 鈥淪o many people there took chances on me, and I will always be looking for ways to give back.鈥�

A true scholar-servant indeed.

Hands-on learning can be an excellent option for students looking to engage closely with their desired field. Emily Pickering 鈥�23, daughter of alumni Carmen (Weimer) Pickering 鈥�93 and Matthew Pickering ’93 and sister of Megan and Elyssa (Pickering ’17) Schreppel, took on the challenge of exploring three hands-on learning experiences for her sports, recreation and wellness management major.

Emily became involved in hands-on experiences in personal training, yoga and Houghton鈥檚 ENCORE program. ENCORE provides enriching experiences for senior adults in a Christ-centered environment. Emily currently instructs an equipment class every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 鈥淧eople have been amazed with how kind and welcoming Houghton is,鈥� Emily says. She noted that the constant appreciation she receives encourages her that she is making a difference in their health. She is gifted in return with life advice and fun memories that increase her love for what she does even further.

In addition to her work with senior adults, Emily taught a Monday yoga class at the university last spring. She also engaged with five Houghton community members as a personal trainer this past fall for GetFit Allegany, funded by Univera Healthcare.

What makes a good trainer is being good at motivating your clients and knowing what style of motivation works best for them.

Emily has since received her certification in personal training and is now working towards her certification in nutrition.

Houghton provides a Christ-centered living and learning environment that ministers to, supports and provides for the whole person. Emily found this to be true in her work as she takes care of the body that God has given her and encourages others to do the same. She inspires others to be open to experiences outside of the classroom. Emily has now started her search for new gyms to utilize her skills and plans to continue gaining personal training experience after graduation.

When applying for colleges, Rachel Huchthausen 鈥�23 knew she wanted to double major in music and English at a Christian university. Following a quick Google search, Rachel was visiting Houghton with her mom.

After taking a piano lesson with Professor William Newbrough during her campus visit, Rachel fell in love with Houghton鈥檚 welcoming atmosphere and community.

Houghton invites me to engage our community of faith. This emphasis on community has helped me act increasingly out of trust and confidence in the love and mercy of God shown through community.

As an introvert, engaging with her community can be hard for Rachel. However, primed by her experience in the London Honors Program, Rachel has learned that interacting with the community around her helps her take advantage of experiential learning opportunities, something she now values in her education. 鈥淭he cohort aspect [of London] was amazing. I really appreciated it because we were able to place what we were learning about in the context of a place, together. We experienced history outside of a lecture or textbook.鈥�

Since then, Rachel has intentionally sought out ways she can combine her love of community and experiential learning. Whether it鈥檚 playing in the pit orchestra for a Lyric Theater production or performing the works of student composers, Rachel loves it. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 just learn how we might perform a work; we actually do it.鈥�

Last semester, Rachel had the opportunity to combine her love for music and English when she was asked to write a poem to complement a student composer鈥檚 work for the Wind Ensemble鈥檚 end-of-the-semester concert. After working with Jonathan Gates, professor of English, and Timothy McGarvey, the Wind Ensemble conductor, Rachel was paired with a student composer and presented her poem after the Ensemble played the composer鈥檚 work. Rachel is also the editor for the Lantern and works at the Writing Center on campus, where she helps others work through their writing process.

Next spring, Rachel will return to London as the program鈥檚 teaching assistant. 鈥淭he London program and TA position in particular matched with my sense of vocation.聽I hope to help the students in the 2024 cohort to grow as whole people in a community that wonders at and applies what they learn toward further love of God and neighbor.鈥�

Camels lead caravans, goats frolic down the aisles, and horses pull magnificent chariots. Like their human counterparts, the animals of in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, have their blocking memorized and respond promptly to their cues 鈥� all thanks, in significant part, to Houghton alumna Joanna Sudlow 鈥�15.

Joanna is the lead animal trainer at Sight and Sound Theater, a role she could not possibly have imagined when she was teaching at Houghton鈥檚 equestrian summer camps, working as a shift leader for the chore crew at the barn or interning at the in the Netherlands. Today, she divides her time between many responsibilities, including animal training, teaching others to work with animals, animal design work for upcoming shows, and leading and supporting a team of animal trainers. Her work is highly collaborative and hands on but also involves research and interpersonal skills.

A lifelong animal lover who started riding at the age of 15, Joanna was drawn to Houghton鈥檚 nationally recognized equestrian program and completed dual degrees in Equestrian Studies and Business Administration. She filled her time at Houghton getting as much hands-on experience as she could while sitting under the tutelage of legendary professors Jo-Anne Young 鈥�69 and Ken Bates 鈥�71.

Joanna threw herself into every equine-related opportunity she could. She worked barn crew and served as a shift leader, including over breaks when she would spend extra time learning from Professor Young. Learning happened not only during chores but also during extra lessons or gathered around Young鈥檚 dinner table.

Joanna spent her spare time riding, although it鈥檚 hard to determine when she found that spare time. Her business coursework further filled her days while allowing her to develop relationships with students and faculty outside the Equestrian Center. She was a member of Houghton鈥檚 Society of Human Resource Management club, attended conferences and was advised by Professor Bates.

Her business capstone project, along with two internships 鈥� one at a small equine farm in Virginia, one in the admissions office of the Royal Academy of Art at the Hague 鈥� eventually led her to her rather unique position today. Her equestrian internship, which didn鈥檛 quite turn out the way she鈥檇 expected, resulted in a phone call with her internship advisor, Professor Andrea (Potteiger 鈥�00) Boon, and helped Joanna realize that her original career plan of running a small business was not the right fit for her. Joanna鈥檚 business capstone project explored her unique skills and strengths and helped her determine the types of work environments in which she would thrive. Her internship in the Netherlands, in conjunction with a business study-abroad program, taught her how to navigate international relationships and showed her that working in a traditional office also wasn鈥檛 a good fit.

Through career counseling with VOCA (or, as it is known on campus now, the Office of Vocation and Calling), Joanna found the one animal-related job on the online job board: an animal-handling position with Sight & Sound Theatres. The position was needed before graduation, but a new position opened in the months after graduation, for which she interviewed. Through the interview process, Joanna was asked to apply for an animal-training position, which she started in September 2015.

Joanna spends a lot of time learning on the job, both from highly experienced colleagues and through extensive research. This scholarly aspect to her highly hands-on job is also a gift from her time at Houghton.

I gather information to serve my team well but also because I recall a phrase Ken Bates used to use: 鈥榮harpening the saw.鈥� It鈥檚 this idea of never being content to stay where you are in your learning but to continue to learn and grow so you can share with others and help them grow.

Alexia Patterson 鈥�24, a psychology and restorative justice major with a pre-law track, aspires to be a criminal court or Supreme Court judge. Before that, she hopes to practice either environmental or family law.

I can鈥檛 complain about the world if I鈥檓 not going to try to fix it.

As a resident assistant, a member of the cheerleading team and the president of the Black Heritage Club, Alexia continues to impact the people around her. Being in these leadership positions has allowed her to create meaningful relationships with her fellow students. 鈥淚 want to make people feel seen, loved, and cared about,鈥� said Alexia. Speaking especially about her work with the Black Heritage Club, she continued, 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to me that we are seen and are able to have community.鈥�

On top of that, this year, Alexia attended a conference in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Friends Committee on National Legislation, a Quaker organization committed to the advancement of peace, justice and environmental stewardship. During the conference, Alexia learned about the laws surrounding immigration and the difficulties families face when trying to navigate the process. Alexia also learned about the importance of professionalism and had the opportunity to network with various congresspeople.

Similarly, as a member of MANNRS (Minorites in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences), Alexia attended a conference last semester where she learned about the United States鈥檚 stance on various environmental issues and how different passions and skills can help improve it.

鈥淲e are the stewards of the world,鈥� Alexia said. 鈥淲e need to take care of the environment and its people. There are so many different paths and connections to better this world, and we should be doing it.鈥� As Christians, Alexia noted, that is exactly what God calls us to do.

Before leaving Houghton, Alexia wants to gain experience for a career in law through an internship and possibly explore photography. Most importantly, she said, 鈥淚 want to leave a positive lasting impact on Houghton, whether it鈥檚 on individual people, a program or my residents, that鈥檚 what I want to do. A positive experience can change someone鈥檚 life.鈥�

The first time Cassidy Kuhlmann 鈥�23 rode a horse was in eighth grade after a difficult move to North Carolina. After discovering that riding helped with her struggle with mental health, she never wanted to stop.

鈥淭hroughout those hard years, I can look back and see God鈥檚 provision in my life,鈥� Cassidy reflected. 鈥淚 think He brought me horses to give me a peace that, at the time, I couldn鈥檛 feel anywhere else.鈥�

Now, as a double major in equestrian studies听补苍诲 psychology, Cassidy wants to bring the same sense of peace God gave her to others. After graduation, Cassidy will pursue a career in equine-assisted therapy; she fell in love with the practice after interning at a facility in Colorado last summer. During the internship, she helped people heal from difficult situations while also rehabilitating abused horses. This was the first time Cassidy realized that horses and people can work through trauma together.

鈥淚t was something God put on my heart. When I added a second major in psychology to help with my therapy focus of equestrian studies, I fell in love with everything about it. I鈥檝e always been passionate about helping people, so adding horses to that is a huge bonus.鈥�

Cassidy credits her barn instructors for her success during her internship and at Houghton. 鈥淚 feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from these wonderful women in the past four years,鈥� said Cassidy, referring to Jo-Anne Young 鈥�69, Laura (Alexeichik 鈥�01) Thayer, Larissa (Strapello 鈥�08) Ries and Andrea (Potteiger 鈥�00) Boon. 鈥淚 will strive to emulate聽pieces of each of them as I step into my career.鈥�

As the teaching assistant for Horsemanship II, Cassidy has already started to do this, helping underclass students overcome the frustrations and challenges of learning a new skill or correcting an old habit. Her favorite moment is seeing the 鈥渓ightbulb鈥� go off when a student accomplishes something difficult.

鈥淚 have loved teaching more than I ever thought I would. When a rider learns a new skill, it’s so rewarding to see them understand that they changed what they were doing, to help them feel proud of their accomplishments. It’s great to know that I was a part of that in a small way. On top of that, I love the fact that my students then become my peers.鈥�

Cassidy鈥檚 love for people and horses will continue to drive her toward success. Her internship and TA position have opened the door for Cassidy to continue her passion for equine-assisted therapy after Houghton.

鈥淗oughton,鈥� reflects Tom Scriven 鈥�00, 鈥渋s exceptional at showing students they can live out their faith in many different ways. When I came to Houghton, as the son of a pastor, it took some soul searching to realize ministry didn鈥檛 have to look like a traditional pastoral role. Houghton shows students that they can have a vibrant lay ministry and what that ministry can look like.鈥�

And Tom, as an impact investment lawyer and senior counsel for RPCK Rastegar Panchall LLP in Denver, Colorado, has found an incredible way to live out his faith.

鈥淯sing free markets for good,鈥� shares Tom, 鈥渋s the hallmark of my career.鈥�

Two things significantly influenced him during his time at Houghton. The first: studying under long-time Houghton professor Dr. Ron Oakerson as a political science major. Through Dr. Oakerson鈥檚 wisdom born of real-life experiences, Tom explored ideas about economic development, incentives and economies. With classmates and professors, he discussed the implications of government and philanthropic subsidies in economic development and investigated what kind of economies might allow for the markets to operate in such a way that they make the world a better place.

This kind of academic discussion was paired with real-world case studies, which, according to Tom, showcased the 鈥渞eal practicality鈥� of political science and economic development. Tom grew up in nearby Westfield, Chautauqua County, New York, and came to Houghton with insights into the needs of economically disadvantaged communities. At Houghton, his participation in student club Youth For Christ gave him a real sense of the need in poverty-stricken communities for successful economic development.

The second influential experience came under Professor Jeff Spear 鈥�79 through the business plan competition. This competition not only helped develop in Tom a motivation to do good things in the world as a believer and a desire to see others thrive but also gave him the time and space to start determining what that might look like given his particular skillset and interests.

I want to use my abilities to help people see God鈥檚 goodness and encounter God in their lives, even in the ways they interact with capital markets and businesses.

Tom focuses his work as a legal advisor on impact investors who desire to move out of traditional investing into doing good in the world through business. He advises his clients on compliance, regulatory matters and potential investment structures and helps connect them with likeminded partners.

Not content to simply advise others, Tom was a founding partner of Renew Capital, an impact investment fund that began its work almost twelve years ago in Ethiopia. Renew invests in developing necessary services like banking, education and ambulance services and works toward sustainable job-creation. Over the past decade, the work of Renew Capital has expanded, and it now invests in small- and medium-sized enterprises in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda. Today, Tom remains a member of the investment committee for Renew.

鈥淚 hope I can look back and say that, because of what I鈥檝e done, people are using the free markets for good. I hope that, because of my work, people are using the free markets not just to make a profit but also to make people鈥檚 lives better.鈥�

Tom, like our founder Willard J. Houghton, could assuredly sign his letters 鈥測ours for fixing up the world鈥� 鈥� the ideal scholar-servant leading and laboring in a world that desperately needs him.