For 天涯海角社区 sport management students, learning extends far beyond the classroom. Recent visits to Citizens Bank Park and Trenton Thunder Ballpark provided opportunities to step into the professional environments they are studying and see sport management concepts in action.

On September 24, students enrolled in the Introduction to Sport Management course attended Philadelphia Phillies College Night at Beyond enjoying a Major League Baseball game, students observed the many elements that contribute to a successful professional sporting event, including venue operations, event management, and the overall fan experience.

A few days later, students in the Sports Facilities Management course traveled to , just down the road from Cairn鈥檚 campus. The visit offered firsthand insight into the management and operation of a professional sports facility, allowing students to connect classroom concepts with the realities of running a live venue.

While each experience provided a different perspective on the industry, both offered something a classroom alone cannot provide: the opportunity to observe the sports business in action. Cairn鈥檚 location in the Greater Philadelphia region gives sport management students access to a wide variety of professional sports organizations and facilities. Experiential learning is a key component of Cairn鈥檚 sport management curriculum, and these settings create valuable opportunities for students to engage with the industry firsthand as part of their academic experience.

Festivities began Friday with Experience Cairn Day, welcoming prospective students and their families to campus, followed by the start of Lil鈥� Sibs Weekend. Friday evening featured the Department of Visual Arts鈥� 10th Anniversary Alumni Exhibition. Alumni and students celebrated a decade of equipping artists with skills, knowledge, and a biblical perspective on the arts. The evening concluded with a concert featuring singer-songwriter , followed by a bonfire and s鈥檓ores at the

Saturday featured a full schedule of activities for alumni, students, and families. The morning began with Coffee with the President, while activities throughout the day provided opportunities for alumni to reconnect. Reunions included Global Missions, Handbells, Chorale, and the 1980s alumni, along with a special recognition of the 1996 Men鈥檚 Soccer Team. Despite rainy weather throughout the weekend, Homecoming activities continued across campus. Amusement rides, games, food trucks, and student-led activities provided opportunities for families and friends to enjoy the weekend together. 

Athletics remained an important part of the weekend, with women鈥檚 volleyball and men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 soccer games taking place throughout the day. During halftime of the men鈥檚 soccer game, Cairn Athletics honored former athletes through the induction ceremony. This year, Cairn Athletics honored Rebecca Graber 鈥�18 and Andy Miller 鈥�09 as Athletic Hall of Honor inductees. Graber was a member of the from 2014鈥�2017, while Miller was a member of the from 2004鈥�2007.

From alumni reunions and athletic traditions to music and family activities, Homecoming 2026 provided an opportunity for the Cairn community to come together and celebrate the connections that continue long after graduation. Do you want to be informed about what upcoming alumni events are in store for the year? Connect with us!

Save the Date
Homecoming: Friends & Family Weekend
September 24鈥�25, 2027

Bilotta brings more than 30 years of experience in Christian higher education, including extensive work in academic leadership, program development, faculty development, and digital media communications. Most recently, he served as Dean of Academic Planning and Operations and Chair of the Department of Digital Media Communications at the University of Valley Forge, where he helped grow the department from a single academic program into five undergraduate majors and one graduate program. His appointment also strengthens Cairn’s ability to serve students transferring to the University following the University of Valley Forge’s transition. Bilotta brings firsthand knowledge of Valley Forge’s academic programs, curriculum, and students, providing an important point of continuity for students who choose to continue their education at Cairn.

“Leone brings an unusual combination of academic leadership, program-building experience, and professional expertise in digital media,” said Dr. Adam J. Porcella, Senior Vice President and Provost of 天涯海角社区. “We are particularly grateful for the opportunity to welcome him to Cairn as we seek to serve students coming to us from Valley Forge. His familiarity with their programs and their students will help make that transition as smooth as possible, while his experience will strengthen our Digital Media and Communication offerings for all of our students.”

During his tenure at Valley Forge, Bilotta led university-wide strategic planning, faculty governance, and academic operations while developing new academic programs and strategic industry partnerships. He also played a leadership role in the institution’s integration of artificial intelligence into curriculum and institutional practice.

A longtime practitioner in music and media production, Bilotta has more than 15 years of experience leading worship and touring with music groups. He has served as executive producer for 17 albums and consults nationally on church audio and production systems. His professional background brings practical, industry-informed experience into the classroom and complements Cairn’s emphasis on preparing students for vocational service. Bilotta earned a Master of Music in Music Education with a concentration in Technology from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Westfield State University. Bilotta’s appointment reflects 天涯海角社区’s continued investment in the Digital Media and Communication program and its commitment to providing students with academically rigorous, professionally relevant education within a distinctly Christian context.

This year’s Golf Classic brought together 176 golfers and raised over $137,000!

As another successful Golf Classic concludes, Cairn remains grateful for the generosity of those who make this tradition possible. The University looks forward to continuing the tradition of the Golf Classic in 2027. For more information about sponsorship opportunities or participation in next year鈥檚 event, please contact Graham Thorpe at gthorpe@cairn.edu.

Following the awarding of diplomas and degrees, University President Todd J. Williams delivered the commencement address. Drawing from 2 Timothy 2:1鈥�9, he challenged graduates to view their calling through the lens of faithfulness rather than personal achievement. God grants us all unique gifts and opportunities in life. Dr. Williams reminded graduates that we all stand before God equal in our need for God and his grace. 

Reflecting on Paul鈥檚 descriptions of the soldier, athlete, and farmer in 2 Timothy, Dr. Williams encouraged graduates to remain focused on serving Christ above all else. He reminded students that the Christian life is not about earning redemption through hard work or performance, but about living in response to the forgiveness already given through Christ. In a culture often consumed with self-promotion and personal success, Dr. Williams encouraged graduates to shift their focus toward lives of service and devotion to the glory of God.

Provost Adam Porcella announced the undergraduate students with the highest academic achievements. He recognized Felicity Anne Crippen and Adaira Nicole Hufford for earning the second-highest GPA of 3.99 and Abigail Grace Raymond and Eli Blake Cerezo for achieving a perfect 4.00 GPA. In addition to celebrating academic achievements, the University recognized several faculty members for advancing in faculty rank this academic year. Dr. Bryan Murawski was named faculty member of the year.

The ceremony concluded with the longstanding tradition of singing the University hymn, 鈥淕reat Is Thy Faithfulness鈥�, a reminder that while we are called to be faithful to Christ, he has promised to be ever faithful to us. 

Congratulations, Class of 2026!

If you would like to watch the recording of this year鈥檚 Commencement, it is available here.

Over spring break, the 天涯海角社区 men鈥檚 soccer team traveled to Pucallpa, Peru, for a student-led mission trip centered on sharing the gospel through soccer. 

The trip was spearheaded by team captain, Aaron Babyak 鈥�26, whose initiative carried the effort from early planning to execution. After proposing the trip, he spent the following months coordinating with South American Mission (SAM) to finalize logistics and develop a plan for the week. He shared 鈥淚 had questions about whether it would really end up working out. But in the end it went better than we could have ever thought.鈥�

Throughout the week, the team hosted daily soccer camps for more than 200 boys and girls in Pucallpa. Each session combined soccer skill development with devotionals, using translators to communicate the message of Jesus Christ. 鈥淲e used soccer as a door to share the good news of Jesus with them every day,鈥� Aaron said.

While language barriers and the heat presented challenges, the team rose to the occasion. Soccer became a common language as the student-athletes formed trust and connection with the kids they served. Spanish-speaking students led in translating for the rest of the team, while some led devotionals, and others served in the background by handling equipment.

One of the most meaningful moments came at the end of the week. In the early days of the week, campers seldom celebrated exciting moments on the field. By the end of the week, that hesitation was gone. Aaron shared, 鈥淧eople who did not know each other’s names a couple of days ago were screaming in celebration and running around. All of a sudden, no one was too cool to celebrate anymore.鈥�

By the end of the trip, more than 200 children had heard the gospel, and the team was able to donate equipment and soccer gear to the community in Pucallpa. Head Coach Luke Gibson highlighted the impact of Aaron鈥檚 leadership: 鈥淎aron took full ownership of the vision and brought it to life through intentional planning, strong communication, and meaningful relationship-building with our hosts,鈥� Gibson said. 鈥淗is work was foundational to everything we experienced.鈥�

This mission trip to Peru is an encouragement, seeing how 天涯海角社区 students are purposefully using their unique gifts and talents to make a lasting impact through global missions. 

SHARE exists to 鈥渉elp English-speaking families serving in Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East meet their children鈥檚 educational needs.鈥� Through this mission, SHARE seeks to serve global workers to enable them to remain where God has called them. Cairn teams have long partnered with SHARE in this mission.

Many of the children at this conference are considered Third Culture Kids. This year鈥檚 Cairn team included four TCK students, who were able to bring personal understanding and insight into the unique experiences of the children they taught and served. Throughout the week, the team demonstrated consistent Christ-centered service, humility, and energy. Evening debriefs revealed deep spiritual growth, seen by one student鈥檚 reflection on the importance of missions: 鈥淚 just don鈥檛 want to waste my life.鈥�

On Thursday, March 5, 天涯海角社区鈥檚 School of Divinity hosted its annual Church Leaders Conference. Pastors, lay leaders, and ministry workers gathered for a day of biblical teaching and encouragement. 

Dr. Jared C. Wilson, assistant professor at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and pastor at Liberty Baptist Church in Kansas City, MO, served as this year鈥檚 keynote speaker, addressing the topic of 鈥淩ecognizing, Resisting, and Recovering From Gospel Drift.鈥� Wilson drew from his recent book, Lest We Drift: Five Departure Dangers from the One True Gospel, as he explored the importance of gospel centrality over three keynote sessions. 

In the first session, Dr. Wilson emphasized that the gospel is not advice or instruction but the announcement of what God has accomplished through Jesus Christ. In the second session, he identified three common obstacles that keep pastors from preaching Christ from every text of Scripture. Turning to Isaiah 40 in the final session, Dr. Wilson reflected on the heart of pastoral ministry, establishing the shepherd鈥檚 primary task is to proclaim the good news of Christ鈥檚 finished work. Together, the sessions encouraged church leaders to remain anchored in the gospel as the central message, confidence, and hope that sustains faithful ministry. Times of worship, fellowship, and a Q&A session rounded out the day鈥檚 schedule and provided refreshment for all attendees.

Dr. Keith Plummer, Dean and Professor of Theology for the School of Divinity shared, “We enjoyed a day of making new friends and reconnecting with old ones, singing heartily to our Savior, and being nourished by sound biblical teaching. A major takeaway for me from what Jared shared is how easy and perilous it is to assume that we are so well-acquainted with the gospel that we no longer need to hear it. It was refreshing to be reminded that we will never outgrow the message of salvation by grace through faith.”

Dr. Wilson鈥檚 conference sessions will be made available on Faith & Truth Media. You can watch the first session here: .

Be sure to mark your calendars for next year鈥檚 conference on March 4, 2027!