Those words suggest one thing to basketball fans and another to teenage girls. However, I’m referring to something completely different.

When I was inagurated as president of OVU, I asked 16 preachers and elders and Sunday school teachers to walk in the processional with me. They represented the churches in the 16 states in the northeastern part of the nation, from Maine to Kentucky and from Virginia to Indiana.

There were two reasons for the Sweet 16.

First, as they marched in with their state flags I wanted them to know that Ohio Valley University is their school We exist to advance the kingdom around the world, but especially in these states.

Second, their presence reminded all of us at the university about our constituency. Our goal is to serve them. Instead of focusing only on our delightful environment in the Mid Ohio Valley, their flags keep us on a broader focus.

Who were those Sweet 16 representatives. We asked people who serve in those states who were able to make the journey to Vienna.

Here

they are: Connecticut—Mike Landon Delaware—James Wilson Indiana—Richard Partezana Kentucky—Brian Auxier Maine—Tom Olbricht Maryland—Floyd Williamson Massachusetts—Aaron Tremblay New Hampshire—Paul Clark New Jersey—Dan Cooper New York—Jerry Hill Ohio—Scott Miller Pennsylvania—Wanda Krevel Rhode Island—Norm Seiders Vermont—Ken Nicholson Virginia—Barry Bryson West Virginia—Steve Fox.

I appreciate these men and women for serving in the Sweet 16!