The MIU women’s basketball team made its home crowd proud on Wednesday evening, earning a 74-65 victory over Buena Vista University JV to secure the Pioneers’ first home win of the 2026-27 season.
The Pioneers delivered a strong offensive performance, finishing with 74 points, 43 rebounds, 12 assists, and eight steals. Their effort on both ends of the court helped MIU secure the nine-point victory.
Leading the way offensively was Daijahnay Winston, who delivered an impressive performance with a game-high 32 points, including five three-pointers. Winston also recorded three assists and two steals.
Alexandria Wolff contributed 15 points and was a major presence on the boards, finishing with 14 rebounds. Amarie Phillips added 11 points, along with two assists and two steals.
The Pioneers also received valuable contributions from Promise Dunbar, who finished with eight points and seven rebounds, and Malayah Ward, who recorded seven points and a team-high 15 rebounds. Ward’s presence on the boards and her ability to convert clutch free throws helped MIU throughout the contest.
“Every one of the starters contributed. It was a solid effort. We will keep growing as a team, but I’m happy my girls were able to see what they can do in spite of low numbers.”
— Head Coach Niki Collins
For Head Coach Niki Collins, however, the significance of the victory went beyond the final score. As a first-year program, the Pioneers are continuing to establish their identity, and today’s performance demonstrated the toughness and determination the coaching staff hopes to build.
“Tonight’s game ended with a win, but I just wanted my team to outdo themselves from the previous game. Being a year-zero team, it’s hard to tell the grit and determination by only wins and losses,” Collins explained.
Despite facing limited roster numbers and having to rely on two freshmen who were not yet fully prepared for collegiate basketball action, the Pioneers continued competing. Three players played the entire game without coming off the floor, something Collins believes reflects the team’s developing toughness.
MIU also faced a challenging stretch after building a 20-point lead, as Buena Vista continued fighting its way back into the contest.
Collins highlighted the contributions of her starters, including Winston’s long-range shooting, Ward’s rebounding and clutch free throws, and Wolff’s all-around performance and three-point shooting. She also praised Phillips for playing with confidence and drawing three charges, while Dunbar battled through illness to make sure the team had the players it needed.
“Every one of the starters contributed,” Collins said. “It was a solid effort. We will keep growing as a team, but I’m happy my girls were able to see what they can do in spite of low numbers. We just need our point guard one back.”
Tonight’s victory marked an important milestone for MIU Women’s Basketball, giving the Pioneers their first home win and another opportunity to build confidence as they continue their 2026-27 campaign.
The Pioneers will look to build on their first home victory as they continue developing as a team. MIU Women’s Basketball will travel to face Kansas Christian College on November 11, 2026, as the team looks to carry its momentum into its next matchup.
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Maria Eduarda Rodrigues da Silva is the MIU News sports editor and the Sports Information and Creative Director for the MIU Athletics Department.
MIU Athletics will make history this November as Giu Ricciotti becomes the first student-athlete in university history, across all sports, to represent MIU at a USCAA National Championship.
Ricciotti will participate in the 2026 United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Cross Country National Championship, held November 6–7 at Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus, in Lemont Furnace, Pennsylvania.
A transfer student-athlete, Ricciotti brings previous collegiate cross-country experience to MIU. In addition to her contributions to women’s cross-country, she is also one of the top players on the MIU Women’s soccer team, representing the university across two athletic programs.
“This year, I feel more confident and more at ease going into the competition. I believe a lot of that comes from MIU’s philosophy.”
— Giu Ricciotti
For Ricciotti, this opportunity carries special meaning. After narrowly missing the national championship last season, she is excited to finally have the chance to compete on the national stage.
“I’m really happy for this opportunity,” she said. “Last year, I trained really hard but ended up missing Nationals by a very small margin. It was a difficult experience for me at the time for several reasons. This year, I feel more confident and more at ease going into the competition. I believe a lot of that comes from MIU’s philosophy. I’m excited to put into practice everything I’ve worked on during these past several months.”
As she prepares for the championship, Ricciotti knows that the challenge will involve more than just physical preparation.
“I’ve always enjoyed running. My preparation has been more mental than physical. I saw that the course is hilly, which can be very tiring on the legs, so I think the mental side of the race will make a big difference,” she added.
Head Coach Rafael Muniz, in his first year at MIU overseeing both women’s soccer and cross country, expressed how proud he is to have witnessed Ricciotti’s dedication throughout every practice this season.
“I’m incredibly proud of Giu and the dedication she has shown throughout this season.”
— Head Coach Rafael Muniz
“I’m incredibly proud of Giu and the dedication she has shown throughout this season,” said Rafael Muniz, who is in his first year as head coach of both women’s soccer and cross country. “I’ve had the opportunity to see her commitment at every practice, and seeing her earn this opportunity is very rewarding. This is a historic moment for MIU Athletics, and I’m excited to support her as she represents our university on the national stage.”
Coach Muniz will drive from Fairfield to Pennsylvania to accompany Ricciotti and ensure she can compete at the national championship. His support reflects the department’s commitment to providing student-athletes with opportunities to grow, compete, and represent the Pioneer community.
The 2026 USCAA Cross Country National Championship will be a two-day event, taking place November 6–7 at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, in Lemont Furnace, Pennsylvania. The championship will bring together collegiate cross country athletes from across the country to compete at the national level.
As MIU Athletics celebrates this historic first, the department is already looking toward the future of its Cross Country program. Recruitment for upcoming seasons is underway, as the Pioneers continue working to grow the program and create more opportunities for student-athletes.
MIU Athletics also welcomes businesses and community partners interested in supporting the Pioneers and sponsoring the program during this historic national championship appearance. Anyone interested can contact Head Coach Rafael Muniz at rafaelde.araujo@miu.edu.
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Maria Eduarda Rodrigues da Silva is the MIU News sports editor and the Sports Information and Creative Director for the MIU Athletics Department.
For patients whose high blood pressure remains stubbornly elevated despite taking multiple medications, options can feel limited. Now, the nation’s leading cardiology organization has added a new tool to its treatment playbook: Transcendental Meditation.
The American College of Cardiology’s new 2026 Expert Consensus Decision Pathway for resistant hypertension includes Transcendental Meditation (TM) as part of an intensified lifestyle treatment strategy, alongside weight loss, a heart-healthy diet, sodium reduction, exercise, and other non-drug approaches.
Resistant hypertension, which affects an estimated 8.5% to 20% of people with high blood pressure, is defined as blood pressure that remains above 130/80 despite treatment with three medications or requires four or more drugs to stay under control. The condition significantly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and cardiovascular death.
The ACC pathway cites research showing that TM practice can lower systolic blood pressure by about 5 to 7 points on average, a benefit comparable to several established lifestyle interventions. Transcendental Meditation was the only meditation practice included in the guideline’s table of recommended lifestyle measures.
Those few points can matter. A major analysis involving nearly 350,000 patients found that every 5-point reduction in systolic blood pressure is associated with about a 10% reduction in the risk of major cardiovascular events.
Building on a earlier work
The new recommendation builds on a milestone reached in 2025, when the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and eleven partner organizations included TM in the national high blood pressure guideline. That document described TM as the only meditation technique supported by consistent moderate- to high-quality evidence for lowering blood pressure.
Over the past three decades, Robert Schneider, Dr. Sanford Nidich, Dr. John Salerno, Dr. Carolyn Gaylord-King, Maxwell Rainforth, and the late Charles Alexander have helped lead studies examining the effects of TM on blood pressure and cardiovascular health. Their work has been supported by approximately $25 million in primarily NIH-funded research grants.
The evidence includes randomized clinical trials showing reductions in blood pressure, studies reporting fewer heart attacks, strokes, and deaths among long-term TM practitioners, and investigations suggesting that the practice may reduce stress-related activation of the nervous system while improving blood vessel function.
A shift in the mainstream view
“The new resistant hypertension pathway recognizes the importance of addressing stress alongside medication and other lifestyle measures,” said Keith Norris, MD, PhD, of UCLA. “Including Transcendental Meditation gives clinicians an evidence-based, nonpharmacologic option to consider for patients whose blood pressure remains difficult to control.”
“The recommendation represents a significant shift in mainstream medicine’s view of mind-body approaches, said Robert Schneider, a cardiologist, Distinguished Professor of Integrative Medicine and Health, and Director of the Institute for Prevention Research at MIU. “Resistant hypertension is where patients and doctors feel they have run out of options. Seeing Transcendental Meditation in the American College of Cardiology’s pathway for these patients tells clinicians that a safe and effective mind-body practice belongs alongside medication in their repertoire.”
“The recommendation represents a significant shift in mainstream medicine’s view of mind-body approaches.”
— Robert Schneider
The new pathway doesn’t suggest replacing medication. Instead, it recognizes that for patients with the most difficult-to-control blood pressure, addressing chronic stress may be one more avenue for improving outcomes. And with two major cardiology recommendations now citing TM within the span of a year, what was once considered an alternative approach is increasingly finding a place in mainstream cardiovascular care.
For months, Leslie Ciuppa had been hearing about Fairfield’s growing involvement in an international movement to help communities become more innovative, prosperous, and sustainable.
Nahom Abegaze, MIU’s Director of Continuous Improvement, had attended international conferences and returned with enthusiastic accounts of what other communities were accomplishing.
But Ciuppa, MIU’s Vice President of Operational Excellence, didn’t fully appreciate what he was describing.
“I got it before, but I didn’t feel it until I went there and saw how everyone works together.”
— Leslie Ciuppa
Then, in October, she joined Abegaze and three other Fairfield representatives at the 2026 Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) Global Summit in Columbus, Ohio.
“I got it before, but I didn’t feel it until I went there and saw how everyone works together,” she said.
The summit brought together civic leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, and economic development specialists from communities around the world, including Taiwan, Brazil, Spain, and the Netherlands.
For Ciuppa, the experience was eye-opening.
A small town with an extraordinary distinction
Fairfield had already attracted international attention. In 2025, the Intelligent Community Forum named Fairfield/Jefferson County one of the world’s Top 7 Intelligent Communities — an extraordinary achievement for a community of approximately 10,000 people competing alongside metropolitan regions with populations in the millions.
Fairfield had previously earned Smart21 recognition in 2023 and 2024 and received that distinction again in 2026.
The ICF evaluates communities on six measures: connectivity, workforce development, innovation, digital inclusion, sustainability, and community engagement.
But as Ciuppa discovered, the movement is about much more than technology.
“It’s not about smart cars and all these other things that you’re thinking about,” she explained. Instead, it focuses on bringing universities, businesses, governments, and community organizations together “to create a place where people want to live, work, stay, and invest their time.”
One statistic particularly impressed her.
Fairfield, she reported, has 56.9 microbusinesses (very small enterprises, often run by just one person) per 100 residents, compared with a metropolitan benchmark of 4.8 — nearly twelve times as many.
That remarkable concentration of entrepreneurship is one of Fairfield’s greatest strengths.
“What we have is not intentional yet, but we have this big entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
— Leslie Ciuppa
But Ciuppa sees an opportunity to accomplish much more by bringing together the community’s businesses, educational institutions, talent, and resources.
“What we have is not intentional yet, but we have this big entrepreneurial ecosystem,” she said. “How do we connect businesses, capital, talent, education, government, all together to really work together to be more cohesive?”
What universities can make possible
One of Ciuppa’s most memorable conversations was with an Ohio State University professor who described a 14-week accelerator course in agriculture.
Students work directly with surrounding communities on practical challenges involving water quality, soil, and other agricultural needs.
The communities benefit from the students’ work, while the students gain valuable hands-on experience.
“Now the town is turning to the university to help identify opportunities and address local challenges,” Ciuppa said. “In turn, students gain valuable hands-on experience while contributing to initiatives that move the community forward.”
“Every place that was a top town, universities were really the catalyst for the community transformation.”
— Leslie Ciuppa
She encountered similar examples throughout the summit.
“Every place that was a top town, universities were really the catalyst for the community transformation,” she said. “They’re the connector points, the ones that help bring people together.”
For MIU, the possibilities include student internships, community-based projects, entrepreneurship initiatives, innovation hubs, and partnerships that help graduates build careers locally.
Ciuppa emphasized that attracting talented people is only half the challenge. Communities must also create opportunities that encourage them to stay.
“Economic development is more than attracting businesses,” she said. “It’s about how we’re retaining the talent and creating the opportunity that’s going to strengthen our neighborhoods, support the entrepreneurs, and make this a place people want to come and call home.”
Turning inspiration into action
Joining Ciuppa and Abegaze in Columbus were Fairfield City Councilor Bob Ferguson, Torah Torres, founder and CEO of Adventure CPG, a national distributor serving the natural products industry, and the company’s Chief Strategy Officer, Nevada King.
Abegaze also participated in a summit panel, Workforce of the Future: Skills, Talent & Retention.
For the delegation, the next challenge is translating Columbus’s lessons into coordinated action back home.
“One of my biggest takeaways from attending the conference in Columbus was how important collaboration is in building vibrant, economically thriving communities.”
— Leslie Ciuppa
“One of my biggest takeaways from attending the conference in Columbus was how important collaboration is in building vibrant, economically thriving communities,” Ciuppa said. “Fairfield has already received global recognition for its innovation, entrepreneurship, and community development, and I think there is a real opportunity for MIU to play an even greater role in that progress.”
She sees opportunities for MIU to contribute through student internships, community-based projects, entrepreneurship initiatives, and closer partnerships with local businesses and organizations.
“As one of Fairfield’s key institutions, MIU has so much to contribute through our students, faculty, programs, partnerships, buildings and resources,” she said. “And when Fairfield thrives, MIU benefits as well.”
***
Community members interested in participating can contact Abegaze at nabegaze@miu.ed u and explore the ICF Community Accelerator, an online educational resource made available to Fairfield through donor support.
Photo by Jordan Griffith on Unsplash
In five MIU classrooms last weekend, students from six colleges and universities faced a challenge: Could they help two parties in a dispute find a solution acceptable to both?
The disputes were fictionalized cases drawn from real life. But the skills being tested — listening carefully, understanding opposing viewpoints, managing emotions, and finding common ground — were very real.
The occasion was MIU’s 18th Annual Peacemakers Invitational Mock-Mediation Tournament, held October 23–24. Thirty-three students representing 10 teams from six states gathered in Fairfield for two days of competition and collaboration.
Participating institutions included MIU, the University of Texas at Dallas, Principia College in Illinois, Lincoln University in Missouri, Grace College in Indiana, and the University of Central Florida.
Learning to resolve conflicts
Unlike a courtroom trial, where opposing attorneys argue their cases before a judge or jury, mediation brings disputing parties together with a neutral facilitator who helps them work toward a mutually acceptable resolution.
The mediator doesn’t decide who wins. Instead, the participants themselves seek an agreement, often discovering possibilities that might not emerge through adversarial proceedings.
Mediation has become an important part of the American legal system, offering a potentially faster, less expensive, and less confrontational alternative to litigation. Courts frequently encourage or require parties to attempt mediation, although the decision to settle remains with the disputants.
The skills are equally valuable outside the courtroom — in business, education, families, workplaces, and communities.
At the MIU tournament
At MIU’s tournament, students worked through three case studies in 90-minute sessions on Friday afternoon, Friday evening, and Saturday morning.
In each round, two teams supplied advocate-client pairs representing opposing sides of a dispute. Two students from other teams served as co-mediators, guiding the discussion and helping participants explore possible solutions.
Experienced mediators from the Fairfield community served as judges, evaluating participants on their communication, professionalism, creativity, and effectiveness in moving toward resolution.
The mediators were also evaluated on their neutrality, ability to keep discussions productive, and respect for confidential information shared during private conversations with the disputing parties.
MIU students earn awards
A team from the University of Texas at Dallas earned first place in the Advocate-Client competition, while Lincoln University of Missouri took first place in the Mediator category.
Other top awards went to teams from Grace College, Principia College, the University of Central Florida, and a second team from UT Dallas.
MIU’s team earned fifth place in the Advocate-Client Team category. MIU students Caresse Rodriguez and Elijah Romero placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in the individual Advocate-Client competition.
The tournament concluded with a celebratory lunch and awards ceremony at Annapurna Dining Hall.
MIU’s long tradition of mediation leadership
MIU has played a prominent role in collegiate mediation competitions for nearly two decades, largely through the leadership of Professor Vicki Alexander Herriott, who has taught the university’s Mediation and Negotiation course for 18 years.
Alexander Herriott has organized and hosted annual regional mediation tournaments at MIU, helping introduce generations of students to practical techniques for resolving disputes peacefully.
She is also president-elect of the International Academy of Dispute Resolution (INADR), which sponsors the tournaments.
Earlier this year, at the International Intercollegiate Mediation Tournament hosted by the University of Central Florida, Alexander Herriott received INADR’s Coach of the Year Award, recognizing her longstanding contributions to mediation education and the regional tournaments she has organized at MIU.
MIU students also earned fifth place in the Mediator Team competition and seventh place in the Advocate-Client Team competition at that international event.
Reflecting on their performance, Alexander Herriott said, “They were all very well prepared and very professional. They were calm, friendly, willing to think outside the box to solve the problem — ideal examples of Consciousness-Based Education.”
A growing international movement
Collegiate mediation tournaments began in December 2000, when 14 schools participated in the first competition at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
The idea was to create an educational counterpart to mock-trial competitions — one emphasizing peaceful dispute resolution rather than adversarial argument.
Since then, INADR-sponsored tournaments have been held in more than 16 countries, attracting participants and representatives from over 50 countries.
The Peacemakers Invitational is an official INADR regional tournament, helping students prepare for national competition. This year’s national tournament is scheduled for November near Atlanta, Georgia.
For MIU students, however, the value of mediation extends well beyond competition.
“It was my first real opportunity to operate in a simulated professional environment where I could apply theory in real time, think critically under pressure, and better understand what it truly means to advocate, listen, and problem-solve with intention.”
— Caresse Rodriguez
Following the international tournament earlier this year, Rodriguez, an aspiring attorney, described the experience as one of the most meaningful of her education.
“It was my first real opportunity to operate in a simulated professional environment where I could apply theory in real time, think critically under pressure, and better understand what it truly means to advocate, listen, and problem-solve with intention,” she said.
Her experience captures the larger purpose of these tournaments: preparing students not simply to win arguments, but to understand differences, communicate constructively, and help people find solutions together.
# # #
Photographs by Dileep Krishnamoorthy
It was a week of firsts, milestones, and momentum for MIU athletics, as the men’s soccer, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball programs all delivered performances that reflected the continued growth of Pioneer sports.
In the photo above, facing forward: MIU women’s basketball players Promise Dunbar, Retha Moshaoa, Amarie Phillips, and Niki Collins. Facing away: Emily Sanmartin, Alexandria Wolff, and Malayah Ward.
From a historic national award in men’s soccer to impressive opening performances on the basketball court, MIU athletes gave fans plenty to celebrate.
The biggest headline came from men’s soccer, where junior forward Estevao Goncalves became the first MIU athlete ever to earn U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Player of the Week honors. The Week 7 Fall USCAA recognition followed his extraordinary four-goal performance in the Pioneers’ 7-4 road victory over Mount Marty University on October 14.
The historic award represents a significant milestone for a developing soccer program that is continuing to gain national attention.
“Estevao’s contributions throughout the season led up to this award,” said Associate Head Coach Caio Pereira. “His performances have been impressive, and he totally deserves this recognition. It also highlights the development of our program and puts us in the national spotlight. We are so happy for him and hope he can continue to help the program grow.”
For Goncalves, the honor was the culmination of months of dedication and preparation.
“That means everything to me,” he said. “I have been working all season for a moment like this, and finally, I got it.”
“That means everything to me. I have been working all season for a moment like this, and finally, I got it.”
— Estevao Goncalves, on becoming the first MIU athlete to earn U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Player of the Week honors
He credited the accomplishment to the effort of the entire team.
“I think the key was the hard work that my teammates and I put in during training sessions throughout the week,” Goncalves said. “This success is because of my teammates and all the staff.”
His four-goal explosion came during one of the team’s most impressive performances of the season. The Pioneers defeated NAIA opponent Mount Marty 7-4 behind four goals from Goncalves and four assists from midfielder Martim Soares. MIU built a 4-1 halftime lead and continued to attack throughout the second half despite playing a portion of the match with a player down.
Francesco Puch, Nixon Valencia, and Lucas Nunez also scored for MIU, while Soares played a key role in the attack by contributing directly to more than half of the team’s goals.
“Today was a great display of Pioneer spirit from the boys,” Pereira said after the victory. “They showed great enthusiasm and intensity throughout the whole match and came home with a very deserved win.”
Soares praised the team’s effort and resilience.
“We maintained our intensity for the full 90 minutes and knew how to manage different phases of the game,” he said. “In my opinion, it’s a well-deserved victory, and now we want to keep working hard to win our next games.”
The win ended a lengthy drought for the Pioneers and served as another indication that the program is moving forward as it pursues continued growth and future NAIA aspirations.
Women’s basketball opens inaugural season
While men’s soccer was making history on the pitch, MIU’s women’s basketball team was making a promising debut in its inaugural season. Competing in its first tournament at Culver-Stockton College, the Pioneers finished 2-1 while gaining valuable experience against Culver-Stockton, Missouri Valley, and Clarke.
Several players turned in standout performances throughout the tournament.
Daijahnay Winston led the way offensively in the opening game with 26 points and four steals, then followed with 21 points and five rebounds against Missouri Valley. Emily Sanmartin contributed 14 points against Culver-Stockton, added 16 points, seven rebounds, and four assists against Missouri Valley, and then exploded for 22 points and seven assists against Clarke.
Camryn Walker made an immediate impact, recording double-doubles in two games. She posted 10 points and 12 rebounds against Missouri Valley, then followed with 14 points and 10 rebounds against Clarke. Alexandria Wolff added consistent production throughout the tournament, contributing scoring, rebounding, and defensive pressure.
The Pioneers also received important contributions from Amarie Phillips, Malayah Ward, Promise Dunbar, and Retha Moshaoa, whose defensive effort and teamwork helped establish the foundation of the team’s identity.
For Head Coach Niki Collins, the tournament offered an important early-season evaluation.
“I am happy to now know what we have to build on for the season,” Collins said. “Having limited players, we don’t get a chance to scrimmage as much, but now we know what we need to work on and what we need to build on to be successful.”
The players shared that optimism.
“We may have a short roster, but we’re going to make it work. We have heart, hustle, and determination. We have shooters all around, strong leadership, and players who are ready to step up.”
— Camryn Walker, who posted double-doubles in two games.
“I think we played well as a team,” Winston said. “We have a long season ahead of us, especially with a short roster, but I believe in this team and know we’re going to get the job done.”
Walker believes the team’s best basketball is still ahead.
“We may have a short roster, but we’re going to make it work,” she said. “We have heart, hustle, and determination. We have shooters all around, strong leadership, and players who are ready to step up.”
Men’s basketball dominates home opener
Meanwhile, the men’s basketball team opened its official home schedule in emphatic fashion, defeating Buena Vista University 96-60 at the Yingwu Zhong Sports Center. After holding a narrow 38-36 lead at halftime, the Pioneers dominated the second half, outscoring Buena Vista 58-24 to secure the 36-point victory.
KeeMaryon Hargrow led all scorers with 28 points, while Brandon Lowe controlled the boards with 11 rebounds. Tyler Smith added 11 points, four rebounds, and four steals as MIU displayed balanced contributions on both ends of the court.
Head Coach Romel Bryant viewed the performance as another step in the program’s development.
“I’m proud of these guys,” Bryant said. “Today, we took another step forward in our journey to establish our identity.”
Lowe emphasized the team’s focus on competing together.
“The game is very fun for me, competing, you know, and just trying to make an impact on the game for my team,” he said. “I feel like we did what we were supposed to do, so I feel like it was a good game.”
Momentum across Pioneer Athletics
Taken together, the week offered a snapshot of a growing athletics program. A historic national award, a successful inaugural women’s basketball tournament, and a dominant home-opening victory for men’s basketball all underscored the progress being made across MIU athletics. As the seasons continue, the Pioneers are building not only competitive teams but also a culture of achievement that is beginning to attract attention both on campus and beyond.
Information provided by Maria Eduarda Rodrigues da Silva, Creative Director for the MIU Athletics Department.
Photos – Mekhi Wilson and Maria Eduarda Silva
MIU marked a significant athletic milestone on October 9 with the ribbon-cutting and renaming of its former Field House as the Yingwu Zhong Sports Center, a renovated facility that will serve as the home court for MIU’s inaugural men’s and women’s basketball programs.
University staff, student-athletes, local residents, and representatives of the Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce came together to recognize the completion of the renovation project and the launch of a new chapter for MIU Athletics.
The facility is named in honor of Yingwu Zhong, a 2007 MIU graduate whose gift made the renovations possible. The project addressed longstanding issues including roof leaks, water damage, and deteriorated flooring, transforming the building into a basketball venue ready to host collegiate competition.
The timing is especially significant as MIU prepares for its first season of men’s and women’s basketball competition in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). For Fairfield residents, the upgraded facility creates a new opportunity to watch college basketball locally while supporting MIU student-athletes.
Athletic Director Ruben Sanchez used the occasion to recognize the many individuals who helped bring both the facility improvements and the new basketball programs to fruition. He highlighted the contributions of men’s basketball coach Romel Bryant, whose efforts helped turn the university’s vision into reality. Sanchez also introduced women’s basketball coach Niki Collins, emphasizing the programs’ growing momentum and the support they have received from the campus and wider community.
Representatives from the Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce joined the celebration, including Executive Director Mendy McAdams, who spoke during the ceremony and introduced attending Chamber Ambassadors. Their participation underscored the project’s collaborative spirit and the role athletics will play in strengthening university and community ties.
Building on momentum across athletics
While the new basketball programs represent a first for MIU at the varsity level, basketball is not entirely new to the university — a small club team composed of students and staff existed during the mid-1970s. The new programs build on that history while establishing a more formal and competitive future through USCAA membership.
Soccer team earns landmark road victory
The men’s soccer team recently earned one of its most notable victories of the season, defeating Mount Marty University (South Dakota) 7-4 on the road. Forward Estevao Goncalves delivered a standout performance, scoring four goals, while teammate Martim Soares contributed four assists.
“Today was a great display of Pioneer spirit from the boys,” said Associate Head Coach Caio Pereira. “They showed great enthusiasm and intensity throughout the whole match and came home with a very deserved win. The team was building momentum, and it’s really important for us to get these types of results. It validates all the work they have put in so far, and I am very proud of every one of them.”
“I thought it was a very well-played game on our part,” Soares said. “We came out strong, eager to win, and were willing to run for each other. We maintained our intensity for the full 90 minutes and knew how to manage different phases of the game.”
The victory ended a lengthy winless stretch and represented an important achievement against an NAIA opponent as MIU continues working toward future NAIA membership.
Basketball program makes strong early impression
Meanwhile, the university’s new men’s basketball team has already shown promising signs during preseason competition. The Pioneers opened play with an 82-66 comeback victory over the Creighton University Men’s Basketball Club, overcoming a 21-point first-half deficit. A junior varsity squad also earned a 41-38 win, giving both teams successful starts.
Tyler Smith led the varsity team with 20 points, while John Mozele added seven points and 11 rebounds.
“Today we grew as Pioneers,” head coach Bryant said. “I’m proud of these guys.”
Tennis team posts successful fall results
The tennis program also enjoyed a productive fall tournament season, recording 19 combined victories at the Bronco Invite hosted by Hastings College. The Pioneers finished 12-10 in singles play and 7-4 in doubles competition, highlighted by an A Flight doubles championship won by Jared and Jeronimo.
Laying the foundation for the future
As MIU expands its athletics offerings, the university has also welcomed Collins as the founding head coach of women’s basketball. Collins brings more than 12 years of collegiate coaching and athletic administration experience and will be responsible for establishing the program’s culture and identity.
“My goal is to build more than a basketball program,” Collins said. “I want to create an environment where student-athletes can grow in discipline, confidence, self-awareness, and purpose.”
For MIU Athletics, the opening of the Yingwu Zhong Sports Center represents more than a renovated building. It serves as a visible symbol of the university’s expanding athletic ambitions and a gathering place where students, alumni, and community members can come together to support a new generation of Pioneer athletes. As the first basketball season gets underway, university leaders hope the energy of the ribbon-cutting ceremony will carry into packed stands, spirited competition, and a lasting connection between the campus and the Fairfield community.
Information provided by Maria Eduarda Rodrigues da Silva, MIU News sports editor and the Sports Information and Creative Director for the MIU Athletics Department.
The MIU men’s tennis team delivered another strong performance on Saturday, September 26, sweeping Cornell College 7-0 while combining for a 14-1 record across singles and doubles competition, including exhibition matches.
Pictured above: Juan Ignacio Luccione, Nicolas Quercia, Katlego Masa Regoeng, Jared Escobar, Lorenzo Lazarte, Ignacio Romero, Tomas Kurz Cardozo and Jeronimo Arango Restrepo.
The Pioneers opened the day with a strong showing in doubles, winning all five doubles matches played throughout the competition. MIU carried that momentum into singles, finishing with a 9-1 record across the day’s matches.
In the official team competition, MIU secured all three doubles points to take a 3-0 lead over Cornell.
Jared Escobar and Jeronimo Arango Restrepo opened doubles competition with a 6-3 victory over Cornell’s Trent Devore and Trace Turner. Nicolas Quercia and Tomas Kurz Cardoso followed with another 6-3 win over Henry Lambley and Jack Saunders.
Ignacio Romero and Juani Luccione completed the doubles sweep with a 6-2 victory over Matthew Oshiro and Gavin Collyott, giving the Pioneers a 3-0 advantage heading into singles.
MIU continued its dominant performance in singles, winning all six official matches to complete the 7-0 team sweep.
At No. 1 singles, Jared Escobar defeated Trent Devore 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. Jeronimo Arango Restrepo followed with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Trace Turner at No. 2.
At No. 3 singles, Lorenzo Lazarte earned a three-set victory over Jack Saunders, winning 6-4, 7-5. Tomas Kurz Cardoso added a decisive 6-2, 6-0 victory over Braeden Holmes at No. 4.
Nicolas Quercia posted a 6-0, 6-4 win over Henry Lambley at No. 5, while Ignacio Romero closed out the official singles lineup with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Andrew Campbell.
“I really liked our intensity and effort. We brought it beginning with doubles and continued into singles. The team played well.”
— MIU head tennis coach Eric Sturgis
Beyond the official team matches, the Pioneers continued competing in exhibition matches throughout the day, adding to their overall success. Including those matches, MIU finished the day with five doubles victories and nine singles victories, going 14-1 overall.
Head coach Eric Sturgis praised the team’s energy and consistency throughout the competition.
“I really liked our intensity and effort. We brought it beginning with doubles and continued into singles. The team played well,” Sturgis said.
The performance gives the Pioneers another strong result as they continue building momentum during the fall season.
Next up — The Pioneers will return to action next weekend at the Bronco Invite, a two-day tournament, October 2–3, as MIU continues its fall tennis schedule.
Maria Eduarda Rodrigues da Silva is the sports editor for MIU News and the Sports Information and Creative Director for the MIU Athletics Department.
Since its release on July 28, The Power of Caring by Dr. Tony Nader has gained significant national and international attention, earning places on two major bestseller lists, receiving four book awards, and generating a growing stream of media coverage, interviews, and podcast discussions.
Published by Hay House, The Power of Caring became both a USA Today and Los Angeles Times bestseller. The book has also received four major awards: Gold honors from the Living Now Book Awards and Global Ebook Awards, a PenCraft Book Award, and the Literary Titan Gold Book Award.
The book’s central message is that fulfillment comes not from caring more, but from caring better. Nader introduces the concept of “conscious caring,” which emphasizes compassion, healthy boundaries, and inner balance rather than anxiety, over-responsibility, or emotional exhaustion.
That message helped earn the book a five-star review from Literary Titan, which praised The Power of Caring as an expansive exploration of caring that draws on biology, philosophy, relationships, work, grief, technology, environmental concerns, and spiritual life. The review highlighted one of the book’s central themes: the importance of learning to “care better” rather than simply “care more.”
Prominent media appearances
The book’s visibility has been further amplified through a series of prominent media appearances. One of the book’s highest-profile media appearances came in late August, when Dr. Nader appeared on CNN International’s One World. During the interview, he discussed how people can remain deeply engaged with the needs of others while maintaining their own balance and well-being.
Earlier this year, Nader outlined the book’s core ideas in an article published by Medium Magazine. There he argued that many people become emotionally overloaded not because they care too much, but because they confuse caring with anxiety, control, or excessive responsibility. Conscious caring, he wrote, allows people to maintain compassion and connection while preserving their own energy and resilience.
Several widely heard podcast interviews also explored the book’s themes. On the popular Dharmic Life / BAPS Better Living podcast, Nader examined loneliness, distraction, the biology of caring, and the relationship among self-care, love, meditation, and human flourishing. He emphasized that lasting caring requires an inner foundation rather than simply giving more of oneself away.
Another notable appearance came on Your Thoughts Your Reality, where the discussion focused on trauma, veterans, first responders, emotional resilience, and belonging. During that interview, Nader drew a distinction that has become one of the book’s recurring themes.
“Caring means ‘I see you, I’m here, I’ll help where I can, and I know your life is yours to live,'” he said. Carrying, by contrast, involves assuming responsibility for another person’s outcome and feeling compelled to solve their problems.
“Caring means ‘I see you, I’m here, I’ll help where I can, and I know your life is yours to live.'”
— Dr. Tony Nader
To extend these conversations beyond the book itself, Nader launched the podcast Depth Over Noise in early July. The series explores what he describes as the ten major themes underlying The Power of Caring, including purpose, relationships, burnout, leadership, personal transformation, and well-being.
The inaugural episode, “Choosing to Care When Life Gives You Every Reason Not To,” featured bestselling author Hal Elrod, who reflected on surviving two life-threatening experiences and the deliberate choice to continue caring rather than becoming cynical. Their conversation explored how daily practices can restore purpose and engagement even during difficult periods.
Subsequent guests have included Dwayne J. Clark, founder and CEO of Aegis Living, who discussed “Caring Across a Lifetime” — aging, caregiver burnout, elder care, and leadership.
Another episode featured author and researcher Steven Kotler, whose conversation with Nader on “Flow, Neurobiology, and the Science of Caring,” explored empathy, flow states, intuition, neurobiology, and the implications of artificial intelligence. Together they examined the idea that caring has measurable biological and neurological foundations and should not be viewed solely as a moral or philosophical concept.
The value of Transcendental Meditation practice for caring
Throughout these interviews and discussions, Nader has consistently emphasized that the Transcendental Meditation technique plays a central role in developing what he calls conscious caring.
“Overall, the book really defines caring to be something that comes from the inside,” he said in a recent interview. “That’s what I differentiate: just general caring, empathy, and compassion from conscious caring. Conscious caring is something that comes from within.”
Reflecting on the book’s broader purpose, he added, “I’d love the book to be in the hands of everyone because we all care, we are humans. It’s only a matter of allowing that inner value to blossom, and that is what the book teaches.”
With national bestseller recognition, multiple independent awards, an expanding media presence, and a new podcast dedicated to exploring its themes, The Power of Caring continues to bring Nader’s message of conscious caring to an increasingly broad audience.
For many women in Lebanon’s rural Chouf region, stress isn’t something that comes and goes. It’s part of daily life. Economic hardship, political uncertainty, environmental challenges, and family responsibilities can create a constant stream of pressure.
Researchers wondered whether the simple practice of Transcendental Meditation might help.
According to a study published in Women’s Health, it did.
Women who learned the Transcendental Meditation technique reported greater happiness, resilience, and confidence in their ability to handle life’s challenges, along with lower levels of stress, after just three months of practice.
The women were divided into two groups. One learned the Transcendental Meditation technique, while the other received weekly videos focused on personal development and well-being. After three months, the differences were clear. Compared with the control group, women practicing Transcendental Meditation reported higher levels of happiness, resilience, and self-efficacy, along with lower levels of perceived stress.
“This is very encouraging because it shows the women improved across several dimensions of psychological well-being at the same time.”
— Marie Loiselle, principle investigator
“This is a significant study considering the methods: a randomized controlled trial with 114 subjects and statistically significant improvements in every measure,” said Marie Loiselle, PhD, principal investigator and researcher in MIU’s Department of Maharishi Vedic Science. “This is very encouraging because it shows the women improved across several dimensions of psychological well-being at the same time.”
Happiness showed the biggest improvement
Of all the outcomes researchers tracked, happiness showed the largest improvement. Women in the Transcendental Meditation group reported increased happiness after both one month and three months of practice. By contrast, the control group showed a small increase after one month, followed by a substantial decline at three months.
The researchers also found that women who felt more capable of handling life’s challenges tended to report greater happiness. Lower levels of stress were also closely linked to higher happiness levels. Together, these factors accounted for nearly half of the differences in happiness scores among participants.
In simple terms, self-efficacy is a person’s belief that they can successfully deal with challenges and achieve desired results. The study found that this sense of capability increased among women practicing Transcendental Meditation while declining in the control group over the same period.
Strong participation in the practice
Participants were encouraged to practice Transcendental Meditation for 20 minutes twice a day. Participation remained high throughout the study. Sixty percent reported practicing twice daily every day or most days, 18% practiced once daily, and 20% practiced less regularly. No harmful effects related to participation were reported.
“The improvements in self-efficacy and reductions in perceived stress are particularly important because both were related to happiness in our analysis.”
— Fred Travis, co-author
Because the study compared Transcendental Meditation with another structured activity focused on personal growth and well-being, researchers could evaluate whether the observed changes were associated with the meditation practice itself rather than simply participating in a supportive program.
“The improvements in self-efficacy and reductions in perceived stress are particularly important because both were related to happiness in our analysis,” said Fred Travis, PhD, statistician, co-author, and senior advisor on the study. “These findings provide a basis for further research into approaches that may help people cope with persistent environmental stress.”
Inspired by the experiences of local women
The research was conducted in collaboration with the Ladies Foundation for Pure Knowledge, which was nearing completion of a project to teach the Transcendental Meditation technique to approximately 1,000 women in the Chouf region.
After hearing many participants describe positive changes in their lives, the foundation wanted to know whether those experiences could be measured scientifically.
“So many of the participants told me their lives had been transformed in many ways that words could not even begin to describe,” said Susan Hamza, the foundation’s director. “We are deeply grateful for all those who were involved in realizing this project.”
Further research needed
The researchers advise that larger and longer-term studies are needed to confirm the findings. Of the 114 women who initially enrolled, 83 completed both post-study assessments, and participants were followed for three months. The researchers recommend future studies involving larger populations and follow-up periods of six months to a year in Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East.
Still, the findings provide early evidence that a simple, twice-daily meditation practice may offer meaningful support for women facing persistent stress in their daily lives.