MVNU has launched the first doctoral level program – DNP, Doctor of Nursing Practice. Debra Garee, DNP, RN, MVNU’s DNP Director and Associate Professor of Nursing stopped at WNZR to share about the new program. She talked about the different concentrations within the DNP program and the length of the program. Debra shared that courses are broken into 3 categories: DNP Foundational Courses, DNP Core Courses and Didactic and Clinical Courses. She shared how to register for an informational session and find more information. Debra also talked about how this powerful statement guides the program: Empowering Leaders, Enriching Souls: Transforming Healthcare Through Faith and Knowledge.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is excited to be part of September First Friday. Multiple departments will have informational tables set up on the public square. There will be hands-on, interactive activities for kids of all ages.
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with several faculty members about the exciting plans for First Friday. They each shared about their roles at MVNU and what they were most excited about for fall semester. They also talked about the latest news from their departments.
Featured Faculty: – Dr. Jennifer Ballenger, Assistant Professor of Youth and Family in the Christian Ministries Department – Dr. Jessica Grubaugh, Dean for the Jetter School of Professional Studies (includes Business, Education and Social Work Programs), Education Department Chair – Dr. LeeAnn Couts, Dean for the School of Natural and Social Sciences, Professor of Psychology and Director of Academic Summer Camps – Dr. John Packard, Chair of the Music Department and Band Director – Dr. Colleen Bryan, Professor of Psychology and Department Chair for Psychology, Criminal Justice, Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Stop by the MVNU tables and have some FUN! Psychology—Coloring books focused on: What can I be? Biology—Creepy Crawly Things and More (Plant and Animal Life) Education—Monster Origami Bookmarks and a gently used book plus some book drawings Christian Ministry—Games, Popcorn and More Music—Make your own musical instrument Nursing—Hands on Nursing Activities Fairbanks Center for Global Engagement—Partnership with Kenyon Admissions Table
A discussion about current construction and maintenance projects for the city. He shared an update and timeline for construction near Dan Emmett Elementary School.
An update on other Mount Vernon City Departments
Updates from Mount Vernon City Council
Updates from the Mount Vernon Police Department
Updates from the Mount Vernon Fire Department
Update on the Together Knox Community-Driven Project
Discussion on the special awards given out during the 2024 Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival
Upcoming events on the City’s calendar in September
Immediate goals for September
The retirement of Mount Vernon City Auditor Terry Scott
Insight into projects on the horizon for Mount Vernon
He shared details of the schedule including a special new grand finale at 5:45pm. All worship bands will join together for a special ending song. Dave also shared how Praisestock will raise money for Food For The Hungry of Knox County. Praisestock will also welcome over 20 local ministries and organizations to setup information tables at the event. Find out more at www.praisestock.org
Here is Sunday’s schedule: 10:00am: Welcome and Community Worship Service (led by First Church of the Nazarene Worship Team), Love Offering, Communion 11:30am: Break 12:00pm: First Church of the Nazarene (Mount Vernon) Worship Team 12:45pm: Set Free Worship Team 1:45pm: Salvation Army Worship Team 2:45pm: Chestnut Ridge 3:45pm: Covenant Christian Church Worship Team 4:45pm: Trinity Church Worship Team 5:45pm: Joint Song (All) to close event. “How Great Thou Art (Until That Day)” 6:00pm: Closing Comments
Between performances, various Christian-based organizations in the community will be featured in an interview-style format. Times are tentative and subject to change. Event will proceed rain or shine (but pray for “shine”)
An exciting live auction was held on Saturday at the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival. There were 25 wood challenge items created by local artisans. The Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon partnered with the festival to bring 17 pies made by local celebrities to the auction.
Here are the results for this year’s auction. Thanks to Cheryl Splain from Knox Pages for sharing these results with us.
•Pie auction and wood challenge raise over $13,000
Thanks to auctioneers John Sperry, Jerry Scott and Matt Fowler.
•The inaugural celebrity pie auction brought in $4,135
•The 2024 Wood Design Challenge followed the theme “Boutique Decor.” The design challenge brought in $9,200.
•Susan Ramser paid $3,000 for Matteo Lybarger’s Dry River coffee table. (highest bidder)
Celebrity Pie Auction bakers and buyers:
•Bakers – Matt Starr, Mount Vernon Mayor, and Joann Starr, Apple. Buyer – Cliff’s High Performance, $275
•Bakers – Bruce White, President/CEO Knox Community Hospital, and Kathy White, Key Club liaison, Blueberry. Buyer – Terry Scott, $275
•Baker – Chris Hiner, Regional President Park National Bank, Peach Bourbon Cheesecake. Buyer – Dr. John Berry, $275
•Bakers – Jeff Scott, Executive Director Knox County Foundation, and daughter Annaliese Scott, Cherry. Buyer – Jay Nixon, $300
•Baker – Dr. Carson Castleman, President Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Chocolate Cream. Buyer – Todd Sands, $225
•Baker – Judge Jay Nixon, Knox County Probate and Juvenile Court, Peach. Buyer – Wendi Fowler, $200
•Baker – William Seder, Jr., Superintendent Mount Vernon City Schools, 2 Peanut Butter pies. Buyers – ACS Title, $300; Pie #2 resold to Wendi Fowler, $300
•Baker – Dr. John Berry, President Central Ohio Technical College, Strawberr. Buyers – Matt & Joann Starr, $200
•Baker – Cindy McDowell, Senior Closing Officer ACS Title, Dutch Apple with Caramel. Buyers – Dave McDowell Auctioner, $250; resold to David Bouchard, $100
•Baker – Tina Cockrell, Public Health Education & Nursing Division Director Knox Public Health, Pumpkin. Sold for $125 (not sure on buyer)
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with Jacob Francis, board member for the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival. Click HERE to hear their conversation. Jacob shared the details of several exciting events on the schedule this weekend – the Wood Auction and the Car/Motorcycle Show. He also talked about his exciting journey from volunteer to board member. Jacob also invited the community to a special Sunday morning breakfast being served by Set Free Ministries.
The Morning Thing is shining the spotlight on the 2024 Music and Arts Festival this week. On Wednesday, we talked with Wendi Fowler from the Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon. She shared the details about the Kiwanis Club Pie Auction which is a new event to the festival. Click HERE to hear the conversation.
The pie auction will be held in conjunction with the wood auction on Saturday, August 10. Bidding registration starts at 4:30pm. The auction will from 5:30pm – 7pm on the Public Square.
There are 17 pies up for bid. Pies are being made by celebrities. Some of them include: Mayor Matt and Joanne Starr – All American Apple Pie, Bruce and Kathy White (from KCH) – Blueberry, Dr. Carson Castleman (MVNU President) – chocolate pie and Dr. Berry (COTC) – strawberry pie. The Mount Vernon High School Key Club is also involved. Wendi also shared how the money from the auction will be used. The Kiwanis Club supports youth and children in the community: Imagination Library, 4H, Babe Ruth baseball, and the Fredericktown Fire Academy.
If you would like to donate a pie, send an email to Wendi.fowler@parknationalbank.com
Wendi told us more about the Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon. Some of their programs include: boots and coats for kids, literacy projects and gathering 1,200 books for kids this summer! They also go into the Mount Vernon classrooms to read books to students. Literacy has been the focus for 2024.
Wendi invites residents to visit the next meeting for Kiwanis on Monday, 8/12 at Noon at the Gallagher Center at the Ohio Eastern Star. They meet on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month.
The festival runs on these dates: Thursday 8/8 – 5pm – 10pm (They will have a soft opening on Thursday at lunch time so that people can access the food trucks on the public square) Friday 8/9 – 11am – 10pm Saturday 8/10 – 11am – 10pm Sunday 8/11 – 11am – 3pm
Today, The Morning Thing kicked off our preview of the 2024 Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival. We talked with Board Member, Debbie Ruggles. Click HERE to hear the conversation.
She shared an overview of the festival with highlights of the vendors and food trucks coming this year. She shared that some exciting events are on the schedule including Lonestar on Saturday night, the Children’s Ballet and a new Pie Auction with the Kiwanis Club. A special KidFest will be held all 4 days. Friday will feature local community acts.
The Festival dates and times: Thursday 8/8 – 5pm – 10pm Friday 8/9 – 11am – 10pm Saturday 8/10 – 11am – 10pm Sunday 8/11 – 11am – 3pm
Find all the details and the complete schedule at www.mvmaf.org
Rise and Shine 