Academic Creativity and Excellence Day
The semi-annual research colloquium at Bushnell founded by Dr. Tim Bergquist.
CM 440 Integrative Project
Through community-engaged learning, students partnered with a transitional housing community and a local church to conduct needs assessments and facilitate grief support groups. This presentation highlights their implemented strategies and key learning outcomes from these real-world experiences.
CM 440, Grief and Loss
Agam Iheanyi-Igwe
Pomajevich 103
11 – 11:30 AM
Beyond Labels: Excavating Identity and Culture at Bushnell University
This interactive exhibit explores identity and belonging within the Bushnell University community through student-led cultural excavation. Inspired by Dr. Paul Metzger’s talk on insignia, impulse, iPhones, and industry, students interviewed key stakeholder groups—athletes, commuters, faculty/staff, and administrators—and created artifacts reflecting their findings. The exhibit features a bookshelf display of these artifacts with explanatory paragraphs, a polaroid photo collage, statistical data, and a short film compiling voices from the campus. This Living Cultural Museum invites viewers to consider what it means to be seen beyond labels and to celebrate the richness of our shared identity.
BTM/HIST 207/307, Back to the Future – Theologies of Culture
Stephen Andes & Agam Iheanyi-Igwe
11:30 – Noon
Pomajevich Lobby
The Digital Body of Christ: Can the Virtual Church Fulfill the New Testament Model?
This presentation explores whether the virtual church can fulfill the model of the New Testament church during times of crisis. It focuses on five essential practices found in the early church: fellowship, worship, baptism, the Eucharist, and the exercise of spiritual gifts. While virtual platforms can help believers remain spiritually engaged and connected during disruptions such as pandemics or persecution, some practices raise theological and practical concerns. Drawing from Scripture and historical examples of how the church has adapted under pressure, this presentation argues that the virtual church can temporarily carry out many core functions of the New Testament church. Though not a permanent replacement for an embodied community, the virtual church offers a faithful way for the body of Christ to remain unified and active when gathering in person is not possible.
BTM 499, Senior Capstone
David Reed
L203
1:30 – 2 PM
The Role of Popular Worship Music in Attracting Followers to Theologically Questionable Teachings: A Study of Hillsong, Bethel, and Elevation Worship.
This presentation focuses on the importance of worship music to an individual’s spiritual well-being, and the danger of theologically-errant worship songs. Worship music serves as a tool for attracting followers of Christ. However, due to much Christian music out there with dangerously misleading and even false lyrics, such as Hillsong, many unsuspecting believers are then introduced to problematic theological teachings. This presentation will outline the problem, cite examples, and then propose a solution for the way forward.
BTM 499, Senior Capstone
David Reed
L203
10:30 – 11 AM