This year’s event welcomed 184 golfers for a day of camaraderie, friendly competition, and generosity. Cairn was also pleased to welcome five new corporate sponsors: AHEAD, Doxa Capital, Tracorp, Sargent & Lundy, and Young Life Bucks County. Their involvement, alongside returning sponsors and supporters, helped 91łÔąĎ raise over $126,000 for student scholarships.

As Cairn celebrates three decades of this meaningful tradition, plans are already underway for the 31st Annual Golf Classic. For more information or to reserve your sponsorship or foursome for next year’s event, please contact Graham Thorpe at gthorpe@cairn.edu.

On Saturday, December 14, 91łÔąĎ celebrated the fall 2024 graduates. In total, the University recognized 84 graduates, 4 with associate degrees, 60 with bachelor’s degrees, and 33 with master’s degrees.

Dr. Todd J. Williams, recently returned from sabbatical, delivered the commencement address. Drawing on the Christmas theme of Jesus’ birth as both a celebration of His arrival and an anticipation of His second coming, he likened graduation to a similar moment of anticipation for what lies ahead in the graduates’ lives.

He then reflected on the cyclical nature of commencement: bringing Cairn’s mission for its students to one stage of fruition while preparing students for continued growth and impact beyond its doors. Quoting former U.S. President James Monroe, Dr. Williams challenged the graduates to ponder, “The question at the end of each educational step in life is not simply what has a student learned, but has a student become?”

Dr. Williams also referenced the story of Joshua, whose commencement as the leader of Israel demonstrated the grace and faithfulness of God. He acknowledged the difficulties of modern-day leadership and life as a graduate, emphasizing that the same God who guided Joshua calls today’s graduates to be strong and courageous in serving Christ. Most importantly, Joshua’s courage was not rooted in himself but in God. Dr. Williams urged the graduates to do likewise, keeping their focus firmly on Christ through both successes and failures.

Following Dr. Williams’ address, Dr. Adam Porcella recognized graduates with the highest GPAs. With GPAs of 3.99, Ashley Cointot, Hannah Franchois, and Brooke McKenna were honored. Achieving perfect 4.0 GPAs were graduates Katharine Fauske, Gregory Phillips, Matthew Schick, and Michael Wilson.

The ceremony concluded with the University hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness.

A recording of the fall 2024 commencement is available here.

Congratulations, class of 2024!

Knowing how to make the best use of your first year can be challenging with all of these changes. What should you avoid? What should you strive to accomplish? Read on to see our best tips and tricks for first-year college students and how you can use this time to set yourself up for success for the rest of your life. 

20 Tips for Incoming College Freshmen:

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1. Get Involved On Campus 

Getting involved on campus is a great way to connect with fellow students and make friends. Beyond just exploring your interests and trying new things, you’ll connect with people outside your major and your year of school. Taking the time to get into campus life is a great way to find mentors and understand what your future in college can look like. 

Explore 91łÔąĎ’s student clubs and organizations

2. Go to Class

It can be tempting to skip class, but it’s essential to go. You’re paying for your classes, so you should make the most of them and attend as many as possible. Not to mention, some professors start taking away points from your grade if you miss too many classes. Professors also often drop hints about things that will be on tests or important notes for projects during class time. 

3. Meet Your Professors 

Having a relationship with your professors can make it less awkward if you need to ask for help or extensions later. Plus, professors have an abundance of wisdom in the course material they teach and beyond, so you should take advantage of their knowledge! 

4. Manage Your Time 

College is a time when you have more freedom over your schedule than before. It’s important to find an organizational system that works for you early on. Coming up with a way to make time for your homework, sports, social commitments, and sleep is important. 

5. Explore Your Interests

Whether it’s through your major or your minor, take time in your college years to learn more about your interests. You can even take classes that interest you but are unrelated to your major. Ask your academic advisor about what electives you can take. You’ll probably even make some new friends through those interests. 

6. Make New Friends

College brings people from all over the world together. Through your classes, your dorm, and social events, you’ll get to know people you may have never met otherwise. Take this opportunity to branch out and make new friends. 

7. Ask for Help 

If you find yourself in a tough spot, either academically or personally, it’s better to get help sooner rather than later. It can be scary to ask for help, but your professors, advisors, mentors, and RAs want to see you succeed in this season. They won’t know how to help you if you don’t speak up, so try to advocate for yourself. 

8. Use the School’s Resources 

Lots of colleges have free or discounted services for students’ mental and physical health. If you find yourself needing to talk to someone, be sure to reach out to your school’s counselors. Lots of schools also have tutoring services for students. 

9. Make Peace With Your Roommate

You might get along great with your roommate, or you might find that you don’t vibe with them as well as you hoped. Whatever the case, do your best to live with them well. You’re both in a new circumstance and trying to adjust to the demands of college life, so try to show each other grace. A great way to avoid arguments is to talk early on in the semester about things like cleaning schedules, how you both work best, and what each of you should do if you want to bring friends to your room. 

10. Take Care of Yourself 

Taking care of your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health is crucial during your first year of college. You’ll be experiencing a lot of changes to your routine and your responsibilities, so it’s important to check in with yourself and see how you’re doing. 

Taking care of yourself can look like getting enough sleep, eating healthy, and keeping in touch with your spiritual health. 

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1. Miss Class Too Much 

It can be a slippery slope once you start skipping. Make sure to take time away from class if you’re sick or really need a break, but do your best to get there otherwise. Even if you’re unprepared or tired, it’s better to go to class than to miss it. 

2. Isolate Yourself

Try to make an effort to be social, even if you’re shy or introverted. Loneliness can easily set in, and it can become harder to put yourself out there the longer you wait. 

3. Overcommit Yourself 

You’ll be adjusting to a new environment and a new amount of school work, but all the new social opportunities can be too exciting to pass up in college. However, it’s easy to burn out or have important things slip through the cracks if you overcommit yourself in college. 

Learning to say “no” is an important skill to develop in college, and it’s one that will be valuable to your life after college too. 

4. Procrastinate Endlessly 

It’s important to stay on top of your readings and assignments while in college. This might look like doing some homework on the weekends, staying up later, or getting up earlier. Whatever it takes, try to make sure you keep track of what’s due and when so you can keep your grades up. 

5. Eat Junk Food Constantly 

Having a balanced diet is important when you’re in college. Be sure to treat yourself from time to time, but make sure you’re fueling your body well too. If the food in the dining hall gets too repetitive for you, check out some local restaurants or foods that are unique to your college town! 

6. Feel Pressure to Decide on a Major 

It might feel like you need to know what your major is right away and stick to it all four years. However, it’s really common to start college without knowing what you want to major in, and it’s even more common for students to change their major some time in their college years. 

You usually have a year or two to explore programs and decide on a major, so don’t feel like you have to have it all figured out right away. 

7. Neglect Your Spiritual Life 

. A great way to stay consistent in your walk with the Lord is to get involved in a local church. From here, you can join Bible studies and small groups to have people who push you toward Christ. 

8. Lose Touch With Your Friends Back Home 

Even as you make new friends at college, make sure you take time to connect with your friends from back home. They’re probably going through their own changes too, and it’s important that you stay there for each other. 

9. Spend Frivolously 

The freedom that college brings can make it tempting to spend your money on a lot of things. Now is a great time to get really good at building a budget that works for you and sticking to it.

10. Forget to Take It All In

Your freshman year is a special time, and one that you only get once. Make sure you do everything you can to enjoy it to its fullest and make lots of memories. Don’t spend all your time studying, but also don’t spend all your time socializing and missing out on the cool things you can learn as you go deeper into your coursework. 

91łÔąĎ: Helping Freshmen Thrive 

At 91łÔąĎ, we believe Christian community can transform your college experience. That’s why we put Christ and His Word at the center of everything we do, including the freshmen college experience. 

All freshmen participate in our First Year Experience Seminar. Through this course, you’ll get practical tips on how to adjust to college life and how to keep Christ as the foundation of your life through your college years. 

Want to learn more about what life at Cairn is like?ĚýRequest more information today!

Designed for students who excel in written and visual communication, Cairn’s new Digital Media and Communication (BA) offers you a program with clear career objectives, opportunities, and outcomes. Your passions and interests will see growth inside and outside the classroom. Cairn seeks to enrich your academic experience through various internships, allowing you to acquire the professional tools you’ll need for your future career.

But these resources and experiences aren’t all Cairn has to offer to you in this program. When you come to earn your degree in Digital Media and Communication, you are studying at a holistically Christian university. Our dedication to serving Christ and studying from a biblical perspective will not happen only in your Bible classes or chapels, but will be incorporated into your whole curriculum. While we want to help prepare you for a career, we also want to prepare you to be salt and light in the fields you will serve. 

“Our current cultural context requires us to navigate the dynamic waters of the digital world. I want 91łÔąĎ to be at the forefront of preparing Christian communicators and providing them with the hard and soft skills they need to stay afloat.”

—Charlotte Gleason, Chair of the Humanities Department

Learn more about our digital marketing program at Cairn and see for yourself what kind of educational experience we offer. 

Already know this program is right for you? Apply today at cairn.edu/apply.

Transcript:

On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed into law the SECURE Act which makes a number of significant tax law changes effecting retirement planning as well as planned giving.  The new legislation addresses a wide variety of areas that are likely to impact our alumni and friends.
The changes made as a result of this new law became effective January 1, 2020. One of the most significant changes impacts:

1. Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)

As of January 1^st, you will not be required to start withdrawing money from your traditional IRAs and employer retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and 403(b)s until age 72. Previously the law required withdrawals to start at age 70½.
So, if you turned age 70½ in 2019; or in other words, born prior to July 1, 1949, you will still need to take your first RMD for 2019 no later than April 1, 2020. Also, if you are currently receiving RMDs because you are already over age 70½, you must continue taking your RMDs. Only those who will turn 70½ in 2020 or later may wait until age 72 to begin taking required distributions. That means those born on July 1, 1949 or later can wait until age 72.

2. You Can Contribute to Your Traditional IRA After Age 70½

Beginning in the 2020 tax year, the new law now allows you to contribute to your traditional IRA even after you turn age 70½, provided you have earned income. But, a word of caution is necessary here – if you are over 70½, you may no longer make prior year traditional IRA contributions. They must be made during the actual calendar year.

3. Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from your IRA are still allowed at age 70 ½

IRA owners age 70 ½ or older may continue to make charitable contributes directly from their IRA and avoid all taxes up to $100,000 annually.  Another word of caution is needed here – there are special circumstances and exceptions to consider if you make a deposit into your IRA after reaching age 70½. This new rule complicates the decision to make QCDs for any IRA owner who makes deductible contributions to their IRA after age 70½.
Qualified Charitable Distributions made in 2020 or later, the $100,000 QCD limit for that year is reduced by the aggregate amount of deductions allowed for prior tax years  under the Secure Act change. In other words, deductible IRA contributions made for the year you reach age 70 1/2 and later years can reduce your annual QCD allowance.
If you make no deposit into your IRA, the entire amount of a QCD can be excluded from your income.

4. The Secure Act now allows the use of 529 Accounts for qualified student loan repayments up to $10,000 annually.

So, if you have money left in a 529 plan, you can use those funds to make student loan repayments.

5. “Stretch” IRA eliminated for most non-spouses.

When an IRA is inherited by a non-spouse who is more than 10 years younger than the deceased, distributions can no longer be stretched over his or her life expectancy. Instead, the new owner must empty the inherited IRA within 10 years unless the heir is a minor child of the deceased owner, chronically ill, or disabled. However, there are no RMDs during the 10 years. The owner can take distributions any way she wants as long as she withdraws all funds within the 10 years. Designated beneficiaries of IRAs inherited prior to 2020 are grandfathered in under the old rules; they can continue to take distributions over their life expectancies.
Tax law changes almost always have an impact on the way we manage our personal finances as well as the way we make contributions to the charities we love.
At 91łÔąĎ and The Regency Foundation, we want to be a valuable resource of information and ideas that can help you make wise decisions. We want to help you improve efficiency and effectiveness when it comes to giving. If you have any questions about what you heard today, feel free to contact me by email at kjohnson@cairn.edu.
We are so grateful for the significant number of donors who give to 91łÔąĎ, whether it be gifts from an IRA, gifts of stock, or through one’s estate. Your support provides scholarships and grants to more than 90% of our student body.
So, on behalf of our students, we say thank you!
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1. Psychology

If you’re interested in the human mind and human behavior, you may want to major in psychology. As a psychology major, you’ll develop both quantitative and qualitative skills. You’ll learn how to research and analyze data, as well as develop interpersonal, critical thinking, and writing skills.
Many psychology majors find careers as…

• Social workers
• Mental health counselors
• Human resource generalists
• Research assistants
• Caseworkers

2. Liberal Arts/Interdisciplinary Studies

If you have no idea what you want to do after graduation, a liberal arts or interdisciplinary studies major may be right for you. In these types of majors, there tends to be a lot more flexibility in your choice of classes, and you can take classes on race, gender, sexuality, foreign language, culture, and more.
While there is an ongoing argument that the liberal arts don’t prepare students for the workforce, liberal arts majors develop interpersonal, research, communication, analytic reasoning, and critical thinking skills. Still not convinced? once published a popular article on the trend of liberal arts majors getting jobs in America’s hubs for technology and innovation (i.e. Silicon Valley).
Liberal arts majors can pursue further studies or get trained on the job to become…

• Lobbyists
• Economists
• Museum managers
• Salespersons
• Teachers

3.Ěý°ä´ÇłľłľłÜ˛Ôľ±ł¦˛ąłŮľ±´Ç˛Ô˛ő

Communications is another broad field, and as a communications major, you can choose from a number of different careers. You can choose a specific focus in communications:

• Journalism, media, and broadcasting
• Public relations
• Marketing and advertising
• Business and industrial relations
• Government and politics

By majoring in communications, you’ll learn how to communicate effectively in order to form business relationships, plan campaigns, change policy, promote events, write news articles and press releases, and report on major issues on broadcast television. Communications majors develop skills in public speaking, writing, interpreting, and problem solving which are skills necessary for every field.
Communications majors may go on to become…

• Investigative reporters
• Digital marketing specialists
• Press secretaries
• Accounts executives
• Market research analysts

4. Business

If you’re not sure what you want to do after college, but want to gain practical skills for the workplace, major in business. There are a ton of career options for business majors! Whether you end up working in higher education, a nonprofit, or even venture out as an entrepreneur, every organization functions as a business and requires people who are business-minded for their daily operations to run smoothly.
With a degree in business, you may pursue a career as a…

• Financial analyst
• Benefits and compensation manager
• Real estate agent
• Business operations specialist
• Sales manager

5.ĚýEnglish

There are many people who rag on English majors, but a degree in English prepares you for a variety of contexts. You’ll learn how to think critically, analyze texts, and write clearly. Critical thinking skills and the ability to write well are skills that you can take with you to any job in any industry.
Many English majors go on to become…

• Editors
• Copywriters
• Teachers
• Marketing associates
• Lawyers

6.ĚýBiology

A biology degree isn’t just for future doctors. If you liked biology in high school, considering majoring in biology in college. You’ll study living organisms and the environment, test hypotheses, interpret scientific data, and synthesize research into lab reports. Biology majors, like many liberal arts majors, learn how to think critically and analyze their research.
With a biology degree, you can work as a…

• Conservation scientist
• Occupational therapist
• Forensic scientist
• Cellular biologist
• Disease researcher

7. Computer Science

There is an ever-increasing need for people with computer science degrees. If you’re not sure what you want to do after college, but want to make sure that you’ll find a job, computer science is one of the best degrees out there in terms of employment rates according to . Check out our article on the security of computer technology jobs in the midst of uncertainty.
Computer science majors also have a variety of opportunities as they work in scientific and technical fields, as well as in education, business, healthcare, and more.
Many computer science majors go on to become…

• Software developers
• Business intelligence analysts
• IT and support staff members
• Web developers
• Network systems administrators

Choosing your major can be difficult, but it’s not the end of the world if you don’t know what you want to do after graduation. Take classes that sound interesting, find an internship or part-time job, and talk to professors to get a better idea of what you would like to do in the future and what you should major in.

While there are many factors to consider when making the decision to attend college, there are many benefits of earning a bachelor’s degree. If you’ve researched some schools which are affordable and seem like they could be a good fit, here are a few reasons why you should consider going to college even when you don’t know what you want to do with your life:

1. Expand your worldview

In college, you’ll meet people you’d never bump into in your hometown, take courses that you wouldn’t think you’d be interested in, and read books you’d never choose to read yourself.
College is one of the few opportunities you will have in your life to live and learn with people who are very different from you, gain a breadth of knowledge in a variety of subjects, and be exposed to different perspectives and opinions.
Depending on your major, you may also have the opportunity to travel abroad. Explore another country, meet people who don’t speak the same language as you, and discover how big this world really is.

2. Pursue your interests and passions

Interested in literature and biology? Business and art history? Music and political science? In college, you can explore your diverse interests by choosing two majors, a major and a minor, or one major and two minors. Some schools even allow you to have two majors and two minors! If you’re worried about wasting time and money, fear not. You’ll have to take general education requirements, so you can work towards your English degree while taking a biology class to fulfill your science requirement and vice versa. Some majors are less flexible, so talk to your advisor before registering for that underwater basket weaving class.
At most four-year colleges, the professors will hold doctorate degrees and are experts in the field. If you think you may be interesting in a topic, meet with a professor in that field to discuss your interests and future career goals. They may provide valuable insight and point you in the right direction.

3. Figure out what you believe

You will be challenged by the people you meet, the books you read, and the lectures you hear from your professors. In college, you’ll be in a place where people have different beliefs and values from you. By engaging in conversations, discussions, lectures, assignments, and personal reflection, you may find that your opinions start to change. Or you may find ways to defend your beliefs and grow more confident in what you believe. Either way, college is a great time to explore, shape, and affirm your core beliefs.

4. Form meaningful relationships

There is nothing quite like the relationships formed in college. You’ll become friends with like-minded individuals and people who share your passions. You’ll also become friends with people who have completely different interests and are from parts of the world you didn’t even know existed. Many people say that their college friendships are their strongest friendships and considering the amount of time and growth you experience in college, this makes sense.
In college, you’ll also have the opportunity to network and form connections which will help you land a job or internship. There’s a saying in business: It’s all about who you know. There’s some truth to the saying. In college, there are job fairs, professional fraternities, associations, societies, and more to help you network and develop professional relationships.
Some of the relationships you have with your professors may turn into mentorships or friendships. College is a wonderful to make lifelong friends and mentors.

5. Gain experience

While you don’t have to be a college student to apply for internships and jobs, some companies only hire college students for certain internships. For example, hires juniors and seniors in college as Associate Consultant Interns. Many of these hires go on to become full-time employees after their internship is over. In these cases, it’s a worthwhile investment to go to college and gain professional experience. After you graduate, you’ll have a degree and experience, which will make more you more marketable when it’s time to look for a job.

6. LearnĚýtransferableĚý˛ő°ěľ±±ô±ô˛ő

You’ll be required to take classes such as English composition, philosophy, speech, and American literature. Even if you don’t like the humanities, these classes will help you become a better critical thinker, writer, and public speaker. By taking general education requirements and core classes in your major and joining a club or organization, you’ll learn a number of transferable skills, such as how to…

• Adapt to situations
• Analyze and solve problems
• Cast your vision
• Communicate effectively with others
• Delegate tasks
• Make major decisions
• Manage your time
• Organize events
• Plan ahead
• Set goals
• Work with others

7. Earn a higher salary

Last but certainly not least, research shows that college graduates earn more money than high school graduates.Ěý states, “College graduates aged 25 to 32 who are working full time earn about $17,500 more annually than their peers who have only a high school diploma, according to the Pew Research Centre.”
College is an investment, and while the initial costs can be expensive, your degree will provide you with the skills to be qualified for more jobs, job promotions, and higher salaries.
With so many articles going around discussing the value of higher education vs. the cost, making the decision to attend college is not an easy one. Talk to your high school counselor, college admissions counselors, and your parents as you do your research and make your decision.
If you are considering attending a Christian university located in Pennsylvania, contact 91łÔąĎ admissions counselors for any questions you may have at 877.786.2728 or admissions@cairn.edu.