MEDIA ADVISORY
March 30, 2004

EVENING OF EXCELLENCE TO FEATURE 10-YEAR-OLD VIOLINIST WITH STUDENT-ENGINEERED PROSTHETIC ARM

Cedarville, Ohio

When 10-year-old Jaclyn Barker takes the stage at the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC) Evening of Excellence on Wednesday night, she'll be playing the violin with a one-of-a-kind device.

Born without her right forearm, the Beavercreek girl plays the violin with a prosthetic arm made uniquely for her by a team of Cedarville University mechanical engineering students. She will use her prosthesis to perform with the Cedarville University String Quartet as they provide music for the Evening of Excellence.
The event is scheduled for Wednesday, Mar. 31 at 5 p.m. in the Adam's Mark Hotel Ballroom of downtown Columbus. The engineering students who designed and built Barker's prostheses have also been invited to attend.

Barker began playing the violin several years ago using a prosthetic arm. As her playing advanced, she needed an arm that would give her a more natural wrist action over the bow. Last year, two teams of Cedarville University engineering students adopted this design challenge as their senior project.

The teams worked with Cedarville University violinists as well as John Brandt, a certified prosthetist, to fine-tune their design. Last May, the teams presented Barker with both prostheses. At the presentation, Barker's father remarked, "These guys are my heroes."

"I found it fascinating how they came up with the ingenuity of the bow design," Brandt commented. "We need more engineers to come up with ideas like this."

Media interested in covering Barker's performance and the Evening of Excellence should contact Cheryl Kight of OFIC. 614-469-1950 ext. 111.

Contact:
Roger Overturf
Cedarville University
Director of Public Relations
937-766-7808
pr@cedarville.edu