Aug. 25, 2010
For Immediate Release

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Praise Band performs at the opening FIRST CLASS in Ransdell Chapel. From left are: Josh Hensley of Campbellsville and Megan Massey of Science Hill, Ky. In back from left are Matt Hodge, instructor in music and fine arts recruiter, and Drew Underwood of Campbellsville. (Campbellsville University Photos by Christina Miller)

By Christina Miller, office assistant

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.— R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Campbellsville University's FIRST CLASS surrounded around the word “respect” when they met for the first time of the fall semester.

FIRST CLASS is for first-time students and is “designed to enhance students' academic, social and spiritual integration into the Campbellsville University community. The course emphasizes development of intellectual and academic responsibilities; interpersonal growth through active campus and community involvement; and integration of spiritual and core values essential for Christian servant leadership,” according to Dr. Ted Taylor, professor of Christian studies who is the director of the Leadership/Character/Development Institute.

Taylor said the class is off to a positive start. “Our goal for the year is to engage the entire freshman class in character, leadership or stewardship, the acronym FIRST CLASS.”

Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University, encouraged the Class of 2014 to do goodness.
Students participated in an activity where they were to earn letters that spelled out “respect.” To earn the letters, students performed tasks relating to respect for God, teachers, coaches, etc.

Trent Creason, a 2008 graduate of Campbellsville University and youth minister at Lowell Avenue Baptist Church in Campbellsville, Ky., shared his experience with respect.

He shared the story about an old baseball cap that to him has a lot of value and worth, and he finds respect in the value of his first baseball glove. “It reminds me of fun times, and it reminds me of my dad, who gave it to me,” he said.

Creason also shared examples of disrespect and respect within the media, showing reasons why we respect some people because of a high position they hold, their abilities and talents, or because they are rich and famous.

He asked, “Is that the real reason we respect people or is there another reason? For me, you must earn respect before I will respect you.”

Creason shared Genesis 1:26-27 where it says “…God created us in His image.” He said, “The very God that created you in His image is the very God who shows respect… if we respect the things that have worth and value, then all of us are worthy and valuable and worthy of respect.”

Creason said the biggest disrespect in life is turning back on God. But, “he made a way for our relationship to be repaired through Jesus Christ… what God did through Jesus Christ is the most amazing act of respect.”

Creason challenged all students at Campbellsville University's FIRST CLASS to rethink respect. “Respect is not to be earned or gathered in our things, it's an attitude rooted in Jesus Christ.”

Taylor said, “Our goal on Monday was to challenge the freshmen to be persons of respect, along with that we were saying that our campus was to be a place that showed respect. We weren't asking them to do something that our campus isn't willing to be involved in. We want to raise the respect level campus wide.”

The FIRST CLASS experience is a one-credit hour course that is a required opportunity for all first-year degree seeking students who are age 23 and under with less than 24 transfer hours.

Taylor said, “FIRST CLASS is the only class at CU that is all about them (the freshmen) starting well at CU. We challenge them to take advantage of it; it's set up just for them.”

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with over 3,000 students offering 45 undergraduate programs, 16 master's degrees and five postgraduate areas. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.