Springfield, Ohio — The inspiring relaunch of Wittenberg's student-led Interfaith Committee (IC) has prompted the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) to present the IC with its Rookie of the Year award.
Although the campus committee, consisting of students, faculty and staff, previously engaged with interfaith work in the past, including creating an interfaith space for prayer and meditation, and launching visit and learn programs in local houses of worship, the committee lagged a bit in its level of activity in recent years.
This all changed last year thanks in part to the leadership of economics and finance double major Zara Tickner, Wittenberg class of 2018, from Harrisburg, Pa.
“Under Zara’s dedicated leadership as Interfaith Senator, and with the help of everyone on the Interfaith Committee, the Hagen Center, and many others on campus, we had some really neat interfaith opportunities and meaningful conversations across campus and in the community this past year,” said Matevia Endowed University Pastor Rachel Sandum Tune.
“While the Interfaith Committee has been a part of Wittenberg for a few years, it was truly revamped and very active this year,” added Tickner, who served as interfaith senator, led the committee this past year and is a member of the field hockey team. "We are honored to receive this award."
The Rookie of the Year award is usually presented to a group that is new to interfaith work and is already creating amazing change on their campus. This revamped group organized food for thought luncheons featuring monthly speakers and reflection, continued the visit and learn program, and hosted and took part in other activities throughout the school year including the Candlelight Peace and Unity Gathering following the 2016 presidential election, a reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and Better Together Day 2017.
"Throughout the year, our goal was to create situations where people could feel comfortable asking questions and sharing their own spiritual and religious perspectives and experiences," Tickner said. "Further, we hope that members of campus will intertwine these conversations into daily life. I hope that the conversation has been useful for campus, and I am excited to see what the committee can accomplish in the coming years. This recognition reaffirms that our effort is making a difference.”
According to the IFYC's website, the student leaders wanted to include the entire campus in their efforts and made the group open to everyone, including faculty and staff. This approach meant that they were able to have greater reach for their discussions of interfaith cooperation. The group began the year focusing on marketing the group, encouraging conversations around shared values and bringing people together. By focusing on their campus climate, the Interfaith Committee was able to see a need and fill it.
“We have worked hard as a group to jumpstart the interfaith discussion on campus," Tickner said. "Especially during this time, there are lots of questions about religion, and there are not always avenues to pose thoughts or let one's voice be heard."
Many of the events the group hosted drew 30 or more students, faculty, staff and members of the community and gained recognition not only from IFYC, but also other organizations, including the United Religions Initiative. Additionally, Wittenberg recognized the Interfaith Committee with the Contribution to Religious/Spiritual Life Leadership award and a nomination for the Celebration of Diversity.
“Wittenberg is a wealth of opportunities, knowledge and support that I am lucky enough to call home,” said Tickner, who as a freshman never imagined that she would be brave enough to share her own Jewish culture with others or lead a group that could successfully draw campus members together.
“Since my early days on campus, I have been welcomed by so many people, students, faculty and staff, that have challenged me in so many different ways. Through my time on senate, as well as in the classroom, on a team or in another organization, I have learned so much from the people around me. At Wittenberg, I've been able to continuously challenge myself, whether that meant starting freshman year in a school far from home, running for a seat on senate or joining a new field hockey team. To me, that speaks volumes for the growth that I, and so many others, have experienced and enjoyed at Wittenberg.”
The IFYC is a national organization founded by Eboo Patel, an American Muslim who served on President Barack Obama's Inaugural Faith Council. His goal is to build bridges of cooperation to overcome and avoid division in our society. His movement builds religious pluralism, which can be defined as respect for people's diverse religious and non-religious identities, forming relationships between people with differing backgrounds, and common action for the common good.
"This is a goal that resonates well with Wittenberg's own mission and Lutheran values: to become global citizens, to discover their callings, and to lead personal, professional, and civic lives of creativity, service, compassion and integrity,” Tickner said.
The award came with a cash prize of $500 to support campus interfaith work.
