By Lexie V. Owen | Echo
Taylor introduced a new educational program this year in the Haak. What used to be a housing option for seniors is now something much more intentional. However, few students know about the Haak residents' program.
"Contrary to popular belief that it is a bunch of hippies who sit around drinking coffee (and) solving the world's problems, it is a structured program known as a living learning community," Haak resident senior John Leman said. "Then again, we do drink a lot of coffee."
Living learning communities are popular on college campuses. A select group of students live together and work with faculty members to further engage with a topic. Topics vary annually and from campus to campus. Taylor's program, The Village Tree Experience, is an in-depth study of the plight of orphans and vulnerable children.
"We're taking education a few steps further than most people get to," Haak resident junior Ryan Ericson said. "Instead of stopping at the classroom and lecture level-when you leave the room you're done-we're taking it back home. We live together, we eat together, we learn and work with each other and we care about each other."
Ten students are participating in the community this year: Leman, Ericson, seniors Melinda Patterson and Emilee Murphy, juniors Taylor Hughes, Taylor Temple, Julia Nellessen and Katie DeHaan, and sophomores Alex Stokes and Sarah McLeester.
Following acceptance into the program, the participants took a two-week summer course on caring for orphans and vulnerable children. Afterward, they went their separate ways to take practicums in the field.
Some worked in a boarding school in Honduras or an orphanage in India. Others remained in the states to work with the Indianapolis Shepherd Community Center or the Ft. Wayne Clubhouse school program. During the school year, they will conduct individual research projects related to their topic.
"Now, as the year continues, we're trying to figure out what it looks like to apply our passion for loving and helping those children to our everyday lives," Ericson said. "We're figuring that out as a group, and that's the fun part."
Ideas for a program like this on Taylor's campus have been simmering for some time. Faculty members Jennifer, Director of The Village Tree Experience, and Scott Moeschberger, Associate Professor of Psychology, who are both passionate about the Biblical mandate to care for widows and orphans, organized the Village Tree Experience.
"We've taken Taylor students abroad and worked with vulnerable children in several contexts," Jennifer Moeschberger said. "There are lot of ministries that work in this field, but not much university presence in terms of scholarship. It's important for Taylor to have a niche in this area to develop. I'd like to see Taylor develop some leadership and get to the point where we're actively involved in research."
The Moeschbergers envisioned a program to help students connect with the topic and gain knowledge of how it relates to their individual disciplines and callings.
"We have a variety of majors," Scott Moeschberger said. "You don't have to be psychology or social work. Students come from a variety of perspectives."
The 10 students who are currently involved range in major from communication to economics.
"All of us come from different majors," DeHaan said. "It's a very broad thing. You can be called to any vocation and still fulfill this calling."
Some, like DeHaan, intentionally pursued the opportunity. Others, like Leman, stumbled upon the program when searching for housing options. But all have discovered a calling they are passionate to pursue.
"Although I was never especially passionate about caring for children in the past, I have always wanted to give a voice to the vulnerable," Ericson said. "And who's more vulnerable than an orphan? I've seen their faces up close and I know the issue now. I can't help but love them, and I want to learn how to do that better. Discovering that alongside other students who want to do the same thing is so exciting to me."
According to Jennifer, the Moeschbergers couldn't be more impressed with the passionate, participating students.
"It has proven to be one of the best decisions I have made during my college career," Leman said.
The students became passionate about each other as well as their topic. A common word they used to describe the Haak was "home."
"It is a sincere place," Leman said. "We have cried together, we laugh together all too often and we are ourselves openly and entirely."
DeHaan couldn't agree more.
"When I come back to the Haak, I feel like I'm coming home to my family," she said.
Both the Moeschbergers and their students hope The Village Tree Experience will be permanently planted on campus.
There will be an informational meeting about the new orphans and vulnerable children minor and The Village Tree Experience on Sept. 29 at 4:30 p.m., location TBA.
