Asbury Reflects Back on the Blessings of 2018
December 26, 2018
2018 was a year of abundant blessings on Asbury University’s campus! We are excited to see how God will use the University in 2019. As we anticipate the arrival of the New Year, we pause to look back on the many blessings of 2018:
In 2018, Asbury University’s Joe Pitts Center for Public Policy was dedicated and hosted its first few events. Former U.S. Representative Joe Pitts ’61 attended the dedication and inaugural event, a conference on the opioid crisis in March, and returned to campus in the fall semester for a roundtable where students heard from ambassadors from around the world.
The University hosted several Think Tanks at its new Guest House, Windsor Manor. We dedicated the Bowdoin Athletic Practice Facility and Jameson Recital Hall in the spring. Additionally, the University saw much progress with Ignited: The Campaign for Asbury University and Imagine 2022: Asbury’s Vision for Faithful Change. In the fall semester, Asbury welcomed the Faithful Class of 2022 to campus, introducing new students to Asbury’s one-of-a-kind community.
In 2018, Asbury’s Service Mounts program saw much success! Asbury’s Equine Program was awarded $5,000 from USA Equestrian Trust to provide three scholarships for upperclassmen students in the service mounts program. Additionally, the program also shined brightly at the National Mounted Police Horse Colloquium in September, where students engaged in clinics, exhibited Asbury-trained horses and served as volunteers throughout the week.
In 2018, academic excellence abounded throughout the many majors and programs offered at Asbury. Asbury’s Adult Professional Studies program announced the creation of two new online majors: the Health Promotions and Wellness Program and the Public Health Program. Several Asbury-produced films received distribution deals. Asbury announced the Pre-Med Early Assurance Program, which will grant Asbury’s Pre-Med majors assured admission into the University of Kentucky College of Medicine (UK COM). Asbury professors published groundbreaking research in several subject areas, while student researchers presented at several local and national conferences, including Asbury’s own SEARCH Symposium.
In 2018, the Asbury Worship Collective recorded and released its third album entitled “Journey.” Students went on mission trips around the country and the globe, from Costa Rica to Haiti. Asbury students completed a semester abroad in China, through which they spent 14 weeks traveling through various cities in the country as well as visiting Thailand for a brief excursion. Meanwhile, journalism students received once-in-a-lifetime, hands-on experience working at the Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Asbury alumni were recognized around the world for excellence in teaching and storytelling.
In 2018, hundreds of alumni returned to campus for Reunion 2018, where they gathered together to fellowship and reflect on the theme of boldness. High school students learned from Asbury’s esteemed professors during ImpactU summer camps. Alumni and friends enjoyed an Alaskan cruise with musical guest Sandi Patty. Asbury on the Road — a new regional alumni event — provided a fun series of events across the country where alumni and donors were able to network and learn more about Ignited: The Campaign for Asbury University. In November, Asbury rocked out with a concert in Hughes from Christian folk-rock band Rend Collective. To close out the year, Asbury celebrated the Christmas season with Grammy-nominated singer Jaci Velasquez.
2018 was a year of abundant blessings for Asbury University and we anticipate the ways in which the Lord will move on our campus in 2019. Happy New Year from all of us at Asbury!