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Shawn Williamson| April 1, 2026
Track and Field Makes MVNU History
The MVNU men’s and women’s track and field teams delivered a competitive showing at the 2026 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) indoor national championship in Gainesville, Florida, on March 7...
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Track and Field Makes MVNU History
By Shawn Williamson, Staff Writer
The MVNU men’s and women’s track and field teams delivered a competitive showing at the 2026 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) indoor national championship in Gainesville, Florida, on March 7.
For the men's side, senior Tyler Shipley competed and finished as the national runner-up in pole vault, placing second with a mark of 4.95 meters. Jackson Loyd, a sophomore, said, “The team this year has really put it into a new gear. I’m just excited to see how everyone performs at outdoor nationals and just to watch the team grow.”
Evan Hodkinson also competed at nationals, placing eighth with a mark of 2:27.06 in the 1000 meter, while also receiving All-American honors. Hodkinson stated, “Nationals was an incredible experience. You are competing with the very best in the NAIA, which is exciting.”
However, for Hodkinson, this experience was about more than just the competition and honors. “I am grateful that God gave us this experience because it can be shared with others,” he said. “I was fortunate to be able to share my last indoor nationals experience with a wonderful group of young men and women.”
The men's 4x800 meter relay contained Daron Porter, Simon Rohwer, Ryan Lehman and Evan Hodkinson placing third overall and running a school record time of 7:32.10— a feat that earned him All-American status.
Ashley Yoder, Louisa Hallabrin, Allison Bonito and Tammy Liplin, the women's 4x800 meter relay team, placed 21st overall with a time of 9:34.52.
But it wasn't just individuals setting records: the men's team placed 13th overall in the championship— the highest rank in MVNU's track and field history. In the wake of all these victories, MVNU can anticipate another round of excitement and record-breaking as the track and field team gears up for their outdoor season.
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Students Get Hands-On Experience in MVNU’s HW Hub
By Isaiah Clark, Staff Writer and Social Media Manager
For students whose classes have been relocated to downtown Mount Vernon, the new engineering and computer science building, known as the HW Hub, offers more than just a change of scenery. The space provides opportunities to collaborate, experiment and gain practical experience in their fields.
“The goal was to give students quality engineering education with an emphasis on hands-on application,” said Dr. Peter Baonhe Sob, assistant professor of engineering. “We want students to not only learn theory in class but also put it into practice to build systems and perform experiments just like in real life. That way, when they enter the industry, they’re prepared and confident.”
Sob highlighted that students can now use a cooling tower in the lab, which mirrors technology used in industry, allowing them to measure temperatures, perform heat treatment and see material properties change in real time.
Students say the new space is already making a difference. “I really enjoy the new engineering facility,” said Coen Hall, a computer science major. “The data center and VR room are especially exciting, even though most of my coding projects are done on my laptop. It feels more like a place for collaboration than just a spot with extra resources. Knowing the university invested in this facility makes me feel secure about my major and confident that I’m being prepared for my future career.”
Eli Thrush, also a computer science major, said the updated labs provide a more realistic post-college experience. “The space really supports hands-on learning and collaboration with engineering students,” he said. “Being in an updated environment like this prepares us better for internships and the workforce and helps us stay up to date with technological advancements.”
For students now spending much of their academic time at the HW Hub, the building represents more than new equipment. It represents a space where classroom concepts feel tangible and where preparation for life after graduation feels a little more real.
From Combados to Campus: A Lasting Impact of Intentional Service
By Brock Hankins, Staff Writer
Over spring break, a group of 13 MVNU students and leaders traveled to Spain for a FaithWorks mission trip. Through cross-cultural engagement, students become well-informed, empathetic and open-minded individuals, growing both in their faith and their understanding of the world.
During the trip, students prepared a children’s ministry space at a church in Combados, Spain. They built furniture and painted walls to support this rapidly growing ministry. While the work itself was important, it also pointed to a deeper purpose.
As Chelsea Porter, assistant director of spiritual life and service, defines service—“It has far more to do with the presence that we can offer…Sometimes, service isn’t about doing, it’s about being.” This perspective shifted the focus from what students did to how they showed up.
This commitment extended beyond the trip, shaping how students live out what they learned in Spain back on campus. Reflecting on her experience, Aly Quillen, a junior psychology major, shared, “Since going on the trip, I have developed a big passion for serving in general, but specifically, being more community-centered…I want to live out my faith by being more intentional in this community God has placed me in.”
She further illustrated this mindset through the choice between renting and owning. When people rent, they often act carelessly because what they have does not belong to them. In contrast, ownership fosters a greater sense of responsibility and intentional care—a perspective that now shapes her view of the Mount Vernon community as a whole. While in Spain, students like Quillen learned how to take ownership of the time and community they have on campus.
For students hesitant to take part in a FaithWorks trip, Porter offered further insight: “What we hear is that the biggest limiting factor for students to engage in these experiences is money. What I want to encourage students is that they have far more community than they think they do of people who want to see them go into the world and do good things, so don’t let the fear around fundraising limit you from taking that step.”
The impact of a FaithWorks trip extends far beyond the journey itself, shaping how students move forward with greater intention, serve others and engage their communities long after they return.
