Trinity Forum Academy Class of 2011
Back: Mike Phillip, Daniel Allen, Daniel Goans,
John Porter, James Jordan, Parker Hancock
Front: Rebeckah Groves, Julia Thompson, Anna Paden,
Sarah Coffin, Lauren Farrar, Mary Grace Hager
On May 19 the Class of 2011 graduated, bringing the total number of Academy Alumni to 112.
Fellowship Thesis Projects
Daniel Allen | A Faithful Evangelical Response to the Conflict in Israel-Palestine
Drawing from his experience studying abroad in the Middle East, Daniel developed a biblically-based framework by which Christians should approach the crisis in the Middle East. His thesis delved into a brief history of the conflict, examined Biblical bases for engagement following the way of Jesus, and posited constructive ways forward to foster reconciliation.
Sarah Coffin | The Sense Event and Pottery Set
Sarah created a sensory experience centered around a dinner, incorporating a full set of dinner plates that she threw on her pottery wheel. Everything from the centerpieces containing fresh herbs to the textured Nepalese papyrus paper used for the cover of the DVD event invitation was carefully implemented to enhance the guest’s sensory experience and to experience afresh our Lord’s magnificent creation.
Lauren Farrar | The Implications of Biblical Hospitality in a Digital Age
Hospitality is not a trait reserved for one industry (hotels); it is a way of life. Christ calls us to serve others, inviting others into our homes and our lives that we may be a blessing to them. Lauren explored how the Trinity provides the basis for exhibiting hospitality in our own lives, pairing her Biblical study with extensive outside research to develop a practical way forward in which to practice hospitality in the 21st century.
Daniel Goans | Original Album BrotherStranger
Daniel wrote, recorded and produced his sophmore album as his fellowship thesis. The concept album BrotherStranger is in the folk tradition, exploring the common bonds among humans and the parallel truth that no man knows another man’s sorrow. Visit www.daniellevigoans.com to hear his music and receive more information on his upcoming album release!
Rebeckah Groves | Comedy: A Serious Pursuit
God created us to laugh! Yet never has the business of laughter been more of a moral compromise than today, when it seems as though the only thing people want to hear is degrading and vulgar humor. Becky spent her fellowship year exploring what a redemptive approach to comedy looks like, culminating in a 45 minute standup routine based in creative observational humor. It was an event unlike any the Academy had previously experienced!
Mary Grace Hager | The Demon in the Machine
Are we shaping technology in our image or is technology shaping us in its image? Mary Grace explored the way in which technology is rapidly affecting our lives, especially concerning how we read, communicate and interact with others. She incorporated her thesis into a series of blog posts in order to make it accessible to her intended audience. Visit her blog here!
Parker Hancock | GivingLink Software Programming
Parker spent a portion of his fellowship year learning numerous programming languages in an effort to develop the preliminary GivingLink algorithm (see Mike Phillip’s fellowship thesis description). He eventually used Ruby on Rails to develop the Phrased-based Statistical Analysis of Text for Automatic Categorization (PhraS-ATAC), which served as the foundation to the GivingLink matching algorithm.
James Jordan | Seeking Integration in a Fragmented World
We live in a world where the relational wholeness found in the Garden of Eden has all but vanished; our lives are fragmented into countless different and often distinct spheres, ranging from family to church to work to social gatherings. JJ explored the contours of fragmentation in our world today as a means to develop an effective strategy for response.
Anna Paden | From Transactional to Transformational: An Exploration of Love and Sexual Relationships in the Present Era
We seem to be living in a culture that idolizes eros (sensual love) and cannot conceive of love outside this limited definition. Anna drew from her education and experience in public and sexual health to convey how this idolization of eros has caused sex to be a transactional activity instead of an intimate physical and spiritual union with another soul. Returning to the Biblical texts, she applied the wisdom found in the scriptures to developing effective strategies for restoring a real and true expression of love in society.
Mike Phillip | GivingLink Entrepreneurial Business Plan
GivingLink, a start-up technology initiative, is designed to provide an online platform for matching individuals with non-profits through a question-based survey. The concept works much like a dating website, except instead of eligible singles you have individuals and non-profits: as users answer questions, their responses are evaluated via a proprietary computer algorithm and applied to a database of non-profit organizations.
John Porter | The Merchant’s Occasion to Die: Restoring Faith in American Enterprise
Can we really say that the increased regulation and “return” to strict ethical standards following recent financial scandals has restored faith in American enterprise? John explored the current state of American business and our culture’s view of work, noting that we are living at a time where the social contract that businesses once held with society has disintegrated.
Julia Thompson | Three Windows
The freedom endemic to American culture has brought with it a renewed bondage to self-destructive behaviors. Julia researched how Genesis 1, 2 and 3 can confer freedom to those suffering in self-destructive prisons of addictions, eating disorders, depression and anxiety.
Fellow Host Families
Daryl and Karena Dixon, Dan and Sandy Frantz, Carolyn and Lenwood Hayman, Al and Marty Sikes, Bill and Bette Webb
Undergraduate / Graduate Institutions Represented
Dartmouth, USC, Georgetown, Grove City, Furman, Rice, Georgia Tech, Indiana University, Olivet Nazarene, UNC Chapel Hill, University of Texas, University of Maryland, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Undergraduate / Graduate Majors
Film and animation, philosophy, public health, art, communications, English, engineering, mathematics, accounting, political science, finance
Professional Experience
Event planning, operations management, marketing/copywriting, women's public health, pottery, education, videography, sociology research, corporate accounting, singing/songwriting, gubernatorial advance staff, missions