Ashlyn Vermeer (freshman), Brenda Mata (sophomore), Destiny McClintock (junior), and Jessie Kohl (senior), are this year鈥檚 scholarship recipients. As free society scholars, these students will conduct research on the foundations of a free society. These foundations are a free-market economic system, a democratic form of government, and strong cultural institutions like the church.

鈥淚 think I am most excited to independently explore an area and simply become, not necessarily an expert, but at least well versed enough to hold a long conversation with someone about it,鈥� says Jessie Kohl, senior scholarship recipient. 鈥淔ew things beat out the ability to have a deep, well-informed conversation with someone on a topic in which you are passionately investing time in learning about.鈥�

These students were selected based on an essay submission explaining what a free society is, what it means to them, and what it means to their community and country. This is a renewable scholarship so students can continue their research throughout their college career.

鈥淚 am really excited about the opportunity to work with this group of students over the course of their academic career at HLGU,鈥� says Scott Hall, Moorman Professor of Business at HLGU. 鈥淭o be able to work with them year to year on a consistent topic is worth its weight in gold. It鈥檚 the kind of thing you don鈥檛 get to do within the frame of normal coursework. I can鈥檛 wait to see how it turns out.鈥�

For more information about free society programming at 番茄社区 University, contact FreeSociety@hlg.edu.

These Constitution Day events are in partnership with the Moorman Foundation.

鈥淲e are pleased to once again host our Constitution Day events,鈥� says Scott Hall, Moorman Professor of Business at HLGU. 鈥湻焉缜� University has long been an advocate of the principles of a free and virtuous society. This year, we鈥檝e expanded on Constitution Day and will have two events.鈥�

Dr. Jeffery J. Ventrella serves as senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, where he is the senior vice president of academic affairs and training. Alliance Defending Freedom is the world鈥檚 largest legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, and the sanctity of life.

Since joining ADF in 2000, Dr. Ventrella has designed curriculum for ADF training and professional development programs. He also helped develop ADF International鈥檚 Aret茅 Academy Europe, Asia, and Latin America, which provide training for international advocates and cultural leaders. Additionally, he is the author of 鈥淭he Cathedral Builder: Pursuing Cultural Beauty,鈥� and contributor to nine books.

Dr. Ventrella holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in music education from the University of Northern Colorado, a doctorate in church and state studies from Whitefield Theological Seminary, and a juris doctorate from the University of California Hastings College of the Law. He is a member of the state bar of Idaho and has practiced law since 1985.

鈥淲e are excited to have Dr. Ventrella with us to speak on the importance of our Constitution and its role in promoting and protecting the principles of a free and virtuous society,鈥� says Hall. 鈥淭he next week, we鈥檙e pleased to host Mr. David Roland from the Freedom Center of Missouri, who will look into the concepts that framed our Constitution and how that has worked throughout history.鈥�

David Roland is the director of litigation and co-founder of the Freedom Center of Missouri (FCMo). Roland also serves as the secretary for the Freedom Center鈥檚 board of directors. FCMo is a non-profit, non-partisan organization co-founded by Roland and his wife Jenifer in 2010. FCMo is dedicated to research and constitutional litigation in the areas of freedom of expression, economic liberty, property rights, religious liberties, and limited government.

Roland earned undergraduate degrees in political science and biblical studies before earning his law degree and master鈥檚 in theology at Vanderbilt University.

Before co-founding the Freedom Center of Missouri, Roland spent several years in Washington D.C. as an attorney with the Institute for Justice. He also worked for the Show Me Institute in Missouri which is dedicated to promoting free markets and individual liberty.

Major media outlets like the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Fox News, and MSNCB have discussed Roland鈥檚 work. Since moving to Missouri in 2007, he has been featured in a variety of news broadcasts, radio shows, and newspapers. Roland travels across the state of Missouri speaking to elected officials, student and community groups, and Federalist Society chapters.

For more information about the Constitution Day speaker series, email FreeSociety@hlg.edu.

番茄社区 University is a four-year Christian university fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The University prides itself in its traditional and nontraditional educational experience in a distinctively Christian environment.

This funding made it possible to implement programming on campus that focused on the foundational principles of a free society. Through exclusive lecture series and student-led reading groups, students have the opportunity to better understand and to participate in conversations about democratic government, free-market economic systems, and strong socio-cultural institutions. These three principles are at the core of programming funded by the Moorman Foundation.

Programming is executed by HLGU鈥檚 Moorman Professor, Mr. Scott Hall. 鈥淭he funding from the Moorman Foundation allows us to promote free society concepts to the student body and community at large,鈥� said Hall. 鈥淚n our own small way, we鈥檙e trying to educate the population so they can make decisions that will help them prosper鈥攖hat鈥檚 the whole point鈥攖o educate about free society and show people effective pathways to prosperity.鈥�

With the grant renewal, HLGU will have the resources to continue to promote the importance of free market principles in business and society.

For more information about the Moorman Professorship or upcoming events, contact Hall at 573.629.3023, or via email at scott.hall@hlg.edu.

by Emma Anderson, HLGU student

鈥淪tudents taking this class, even non-business majors, should gain a greater appreciation for the role the entrepreneur plays in the economy and wealth creation,鈥� said Hall. 鈥淓ntrepreneurs create jobs, jobs enable prosperity.鈥�

The focus of the entrepreneurship class will be on identifying and creating opportunities. Students can expect to analyze real-world cases, examining how business can create solutions and solve real-world problems like poverty. Hall says students will learn about the traits and skills commonly used by entrepreneurs; how to identify opportunities; and the role entrepreneurs play in the economy, wealth creation, and human flourishing.

鈥淏usiness people have a unique role in God鈥檚 creational and provisional plan for Man,鈥� said Hall. 鈥淭he entrepreneur specifically creates and builds opportunity. They pull together different resources to create new businesses, which in turn creates jobs, wealth, and community.鈥�

Hall added that students will have the unique opportunity to take basic business concepts and apply them to 鈥渂egin building a vision and a plan for potential future ventures,鈥� such as an entrepreneurial startup, all while in a safe environment.

For more information on this class, contact Scott Hall at 573-629-3023 or at Scott.Hall@hlg.edu. To register for the class, call the registrar鈥檚 office at 573-629-3046 or sign-up using HLGU鈥檚 self-service feature.

by Alex Shipley