Reflections on the past 25 years and the Templeton Honors College
September 17, 2024
As I begin my 49th year of teaching at Eastern University (on top of 4 years here as an undergraduate, starting in 1972), there are so many memories to sift through. I was an integral part of the original Honors Program at Eastern College with Biology professor Joe Sheldon, and because of him we brought Honors Program students to Forked Lake for years before the Templeton Honors College was begun in 1999. Many of the “traditions” of that wonderful trip were initiated by Joe Sheldon and continued by us and subsequent professors and staff until the THC took it over in 1999. (Talk to Dr. Jeanne Bundens of Chemistry about how she and her future husband Greg (and 8 other campers!!) were stuck in our large tent in the pouring rain on the first night of our first adventure at Forked Lake! What a trip that was!!) Our goal for those adventures was to attempt to impart that the many gifts which our loving Father has given to us are meant to be shared in selfless service to others and never to be hoarded for ourselves or a small, select group. Helping each other up Mt. Marcy or Mt. Algonquin, both arduous hikes, especially for people not prepared for physical challenges, was to instill in those for whom it wasn’t a big deal that they should stay back and encourage those who were struggling, and not necessarily rush on ahead just because they could. It was always a wonderful opportunity for everyone to build lasting bonds, and it didn’t always go well, but certainly made for memorable adventures! (Joe Sheldon’s son, Bret, lost his headphones/tape player on Marcy by a large black bear that came stomping out of the woods and tramped on it!!)
When Dr. David Black, one of the best presidents that Eastern College/University has ever had, suggested that we needed to have an Honors College, I was dead set against the idea. My argument was that the entire College should be a place where academic excellence was expected, and that if a “special” curriculum was one that was “better” than the general curriculum, then that curriculum should be offered to everyone. But my opinion was in the minority, and so I decided to support the THC as best that I could in order to be certain that its ideals would be carried out and that distinguished students would be taught to be servant leaders to all, especially to the general population of the student body. Dr. Allen Guelzo (the first Dean of the THC), Dr. Phil Cary, (esteemed Philosophy professor and scholar) and I met in Fowler Hall and discussed at length our perceptions of the overall curriculum for the THC. Allen and Phil were both heavily into classical education, and I remember Allen telling me that he would never have survived the THC admission process because of his weak performance in mathematical areas, as contrasted to his phenomenal English and writing skills. When I suggested that a Cosmology course be added as a core course he leapt at the thought and placed it (originally) as a required course for all THC sophomores. I have tried very hard to make that course meaningful and impactful, to help students see how our views of the universe have changed so drastically, especially over the past 130 years, not to mention going from geocentric to heliocentric. And making the Observatory experience part of the course has also enriched everyone’s time in learning about God’s Creation firsthand.
Being restricted to 500 words (I’m already way over!) doesn’t allow me to expound on the truly phenomenal students that I have had the sincere pleasure of teaching within the THC. What a profound blessing they have been to me! To have students who truly want to learn and master material, so much so that they often go on to take several more astronomy courses after Cosmology, even becoming Astronomy minors…what an honor to have had them as students.
I’d also love to talk about the other Deans who embraced the THC: Drs. Chris Hall, Jonathan Yonan and Brian Williams did (and do) phenomenal jobs in leading the THC, and we are where we are today very much because of their intrepid leadership and love of Jesus and the students. But 500 words…
I want to also mention Jack and Pina Templeton. Their love, caring and phenomenally generous and humble attitudes throughout the beginning years of the THC will always live on in my memory as great examples of what true servants of Jesus look and act like. I miss them both a great deal, and I will never forget Pina’s warmth and friendliness to me personally whenever we were together. They both truly loved the students and the THC faculty, and it showed whenever they were with us all.
I was wrong about the THC. It has brought a myriad of great scholars to Eastern who would never have graced this campus or our classes had it not been instituted. I still hope that it can be expanded so that more and more students can participate in the grand adventure that learning about God’s Creation can be, especially when you’re in this community of Christ-loving scholars that populates the THC. I hope I’m around to celebrate the 50th year!
David H. Bradstreet, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair, Astronomy & Physics Department
Observatory/Planetarium Director