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GROWING A CARING COMMUNITY U N I V E R S I T Y
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University of Northwestern – St. Paul students, alumni, and employees are doing what they have always done—serving selflessly, praying with urgency and hope, and extending God’s mercy. It is heartening to see so much evidence of our community responding to the needs of others. During this time, may we join hands and recommit ourselves to be lights wherever there is struggle and emissaries of God’s enduring love.
BETHANY JACKSON ’13
It has been an unpredictable and eventful year, both challenging and transformational.
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PILOT is published by the Office of Institutional Advancement University of Northwestern – St. Paul 3003 Snelling Avenue North St. Paul, MN 55113-1598 651-631-5100 | unwsp.edu PRESIDENT Alan S. Cureton, Ph.D. VICE PRESIDENT, INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT April Moreton, Ph.D., CFRE
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ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Greg Johnson, MOL (’05, M’09)
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DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI AND PARENT RELATIONS Scott Anderson ’84 MANAGING EDITOR Sheri Lunn
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DEPARTMENTS Faculty News
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University News
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Student News
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CONTRIBUTORS Amy Awasom Joan Ayotte Nina Barnes, M.A., SPHR Jenny Collins ’05 Nina Engen Linda LaFrombois Guytano Magno ’08 Jackie Lea Sommers ’03 Josh Stokes Annette Triller ’20 Alison (Nevin ’18) Vincent Cover photo: (left to right) Kirsten (Triller ’17) Tindall, Sam Tindall ’17, and Betsy Boggs ’16 volunteered with others to serve meals and distribute groceries to people in need during the spring and summer months. (Photo: submitted) Photo, opposite page: Source MN, a nonprofit organization led by Peter Wohler ’87 (pictured) and his wife Jessica, distributed food and essential items after recent unrest in Minneapolis. Source MN organized hundreds of volunteers; collected and distributed 100 tons of food; served 10,000 meals; held a 24-hour, 7-day prayer vigil; and created a 400-foot prayer wall on Lake Street.
Alumni News
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Dear alumni and friends,
We remain grounded in God’s faithfulness and in His Word. His Word is our foundation. It is our source of truth. It nourishes and fortifies us to continue our mission of sharing the love of Christ with our students in the classroom and with our listeners over the airwaves.
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Over the past several months we have endured a global pandemic and societal upheaval. Fear has knocked at our door: how will this virus and social unrest play out and what will happen? For many people the fear is real. Fortunately, those who call upon the name of the Lord know that He is faithful. We do not need to fear. How do we know? Because the Lord has told us in His Word: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10, NLT). He has shown His faithfulness throughout the university’s history. Since its founding in 1902, Northwestern faced numerous challenges: world wars (1918, 1941), The Great Depression (1929), recessions (1982, 1987, 2008, 2020), downward enrollment (1952, 1958, 1966), ice storms that affected transmission towers (2005), radio equipment failure, rejection of accreditation status (1965), the closing of the seminary (1956), closing of the Bible college (1958), suspending the entire academic program (1966–1972), and questioning of the spiritual integrity of the university’s leadership (1951, 1958, 2009). Through it all, the Lord continues to show His faithfulness to Northwestern. The full impact of both COVID-19 and the death of George Floyd has not yet been realized. We will continue to experience changes. But one thing will not change: the Lord’s faithfulness to us. We rest in the knowledge that God has His hand upon each of us and Northwestern. One example of God’s hand of blessing occurred in 1966. The Board of Trustees made the bold decision (due to the denial of accreditation) to suspend classes, sell the downtown location, pursue a new site, and reconvene classes in 1972. The Lord made it clear when the university moved to its present location and achieved accreditation in 1978 that He intended for the college to exist, grow, and thrive. He has faithfully guided Northwestern every step in ways that we would never have predicted or expected. And so, we remain grounded in God’s faithfulness and in His Word. His Word is our foundation. It is our source of truth. It nourishes and fortifies us to continue our mission of sharing the love of Christ with our students in the classroom and with our listeners over the airwaves. As we remain faithful to Him, He remains faithful to us. Sincerely,
Alan S. Cureton, Ph.D. President University of Northwestern – St. Paul
100years of Pilot
One hundred years ago, a handful of Northwestern students launched a new school publication and called for name suggestions, promising a two-pound box of candy for the contest winner. Two months later, the newsletter bore its new moniker: The Northwestern Pilot. The name, wrote its editors, gave “insight into the work of the Northwestern Bible School students” and was a reminder of “the Supreme Pilot whose loving hand is daily guiding the Christian sailor nearer and nearer the Heavenly shore.” Ten decades later, current readers of Pilot find that they share common ground with the students of 1920. We are in the midst of a pandemic; they had only recently been through one. The Spanish Flu, as it was known, had begun quietly in a Kansas Fort Riley training camp in 1917 and was inadvertently transported overseas when American soldiers shipped out to Europe. The deadly illness infected 500 million people around the world and killed 30–50 million. The most deadly disease since the Black Plague, it felled more people in America than the Great War. For Northwestern students, this war wasn’t “over there”; it was all around them. A few archived papers and publications from that time tell of postponed missions, students spending hours in prayer for those who had fallen sick, and the death of fellow student Clare Busse due to influenza. It must have been devastating to that small circle of Northwestern attendees. With a Minnesota death toll of more than 10,000, it is likely that all students were touched by the pandemic in some way. Did those students begin the school year feeling shell-shocked? There’s no record. But that same year, Northwestern took the bold step of purchasing a new residence, Lyman Court, to house its increasing student body. The training school could now provide lodging for 225 students. With soldiers back from the war, registration soared. Students graduated. Missions were embraced. Hope rose. God reminded Northwestern that encouragement lay ahead even after devastation. As the Supreme Pilot demonstrated unchanging goodness, the publication Pilot recorded student events, Bible lessons, and campus news. As we look ahead to a future that seems disorienting and unknowable, we have the assurance of God’s faithfulness. May all of us see evidence of that faithfulness in our lives, our UNW community, and on the pages of this publication.
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In the past year, Rick Love, MFA, chair and associate professor of Art & Design, has produced numerous commissioned and noncommissioned works.
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At the University of Calgary, Love was invited to create a tape art installation with undergraduate students in the Biological Sciences department. Their work explored the intersections of creativity and science in a permanent installation titled “An Exploration in Scientific and Artistic Notations.”
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In the last weeks of the 2020 academic year, Love encouraged his students to make art despite the discomfort and uncertainty of the pandemic. “It’s our job to continue to be creative,” he told them, drawing parallels between artists working today and Shakespeare writing during the Black Death. Of Hamlet, Love said, “We don’t necessarily think of the Plague [when we read or watch the play performed], but we can see the Plague in it. Shakespeare was dealing with death and mortality.” Love’s point: art and creativity are vitally important at all times, but especially during a crisis. “The pandemic,” he said, “shows how important human activities are, how human we are, and the way God calls us to be interacting with each other.”
Love’s tape art is created in an untraditional medium. “I had this tape lying around and started playing around with it on the walls,” he said. He became interested in how the colors interacted much like translucent paint, and he experimented with large-scale works. With only 325 square feet for work and storage, he didn’t want to fill up his studio space with “stuff,” so the tape was ideal. As soon as he likes a work, he documents it and takes it down. “I don’t want to be burdened with something that’s done. I treat it like a prayer or meditation.”
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Love has created tape-based artwork around the world. After a trip to Italy to view early Christian art before COVID-19, Rick was inspired to make mosaics. In tape. “In Italy,” he says, “graffiti is an acceptable form of art. It’s not frowned upon.” His tape art is impermanent and has a performative element. When he showed up at a site and began working, he appreciated when people stopped, watched, and asked questions. Because he’s using tape, not paint, “it’s not implied that I’m being destructive.” There are no previous masters to emulate, so Love says he can “do 100 percent whatever I want. There’s no historical baggage.” Some locations he chooses; others are selected by a patron.
Annunciation art—works that celebrate the angel Gabriel’s message to Mary—abound in Europe. Love’s “Why Me” tape art is a play on that: “My own contemporary annunciation,” he said. It’s not necessarily a negative question; instead, it harkens back to the supernatural encounter and Mary’s affirmation while also drawing in the viewer. “Why not you?”
Thrivent Financial commissioned Love to create a work using the trees cut down during construction of its new downtown Minneapolis site. The installation will be 9 feet tall by 20 feet long. Love is using four different species of wood harvested from the site—cedar, birch, crab apple, and poplar—to create an original print. He’s doing everything by hand. “No power tools,” he said. “I’m being romantic. There’s a huge tradition in Japan of hand-printed multicolor wood block prints.” The work is much slower and more meditative than much of his work. He enjoys the patience it requires.
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Award for Antibiotic Discovery Research, Teaching Joanna Klein, Ph.D., chair, Department of Biology & Biochemistry, professor of Biology & Biochemistry, received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to India. Through the FulbrightNehru Fellowship, Dr. Klein will travel to Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University of Hyderabad, India, during the 2021–22 academic year, where she will be teaching, conducting
research, and sharing expertise. As an instructor with the Tiny Earth program for antibiotic discovery, her plans include using course-based research and instructor training to crowdsource discovery of new antibiotics. She writes, “There is currently a crisis in medicine—the alarming rise of bacterial infections that are resistant to treatment with antibiotics.” Her research with students here and in India aims to identify bacterial isolates that produce antimicrobial compounds and has the potential for significant public
health impact as antibiotic-producing microbes are funneled into the drug discovery pipeline. Dr. Klein was selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as her record of service and demonstrated leadership. The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program and is designed to build lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.
FACULTY BOOKS
Jonathan Loopstra, Ph.D. The Patristic “Masora”: A Study of Patristic Collections in Syriac Handbooks from the Near East (Peeters Publishers, 2020)
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Matthew Miller, Ph.D. John R. Mott, the American YMCA, and Revolutionary Russia (Slavica Publishers/ Indiana University, 2020)
Walter J. Schultz, Ph.D. Jonathan Edwards’ Concerning the End for Which God Created the World: Exposition, Analysis, and Philosophical Implications (The Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale University, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2020)
Brad Sickler, Ph.D. God on the Brain: What Cognitive Science Does (and Does Not) Tell Us about Faith, Human Nature, and the Divine (Crossway, 2020) Sickler’s book reached and has remained in the Amazon Top 10 New Releases in Science & Religion since publication.
Lisanne Winslow, Ph.D. A Trinitarian Theology of Nature (The Princeton Theological Monograph Series published through Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2020)
Lisanne Winslow, Ph.D. A Great and Remarkable Analogy: The OntoTypology of Jonathan Edwards (The Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale University, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2020)
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Now Available: the MBA with Data Analytics Concentration The demand for data analysts and scientists is intense right now. An article in The Wall Street Journal (April 30, 2019) titled “Supply of Analytics Workers Set to Double” stated, “Analytics is among the most in-demand IT skill-sets in nearly every industry as companies expand the use of data to drive business decisions, automate services, or even run entire areas of daily operations.” The need for professionals in the field is only expected to grow. Mark Antiel, assistant professor of Data Analytics, said that UNW is offering the Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Data Analytics to help meet that need and prepare Christian leaders for the future. The WSJ estimates artificial intelligence (analytics) spending will hit $110 billion by 2024, up from the estimated $50 billion this year. Gaining insights and expertise Northwestern’s 42-credit program covers the theoretical to the practical. Subjects covered in the concentration include business analysis, data mining, trends in data analysis, and forecasting. Students will train to use a suite of technologies and software including Hadoop, SAS, JMP, Amazon Cloud, Tableau, and more. Core business and leadership credits can be taken online or on campus. Data analytics courses are available fully online. Business with Christian principles What really makes this degree unique is the foundation of Christian principles woven into every course. In an age of data capture, UNW graduates will be prepared to consider the ethical ramifications of data use and analysis in their work. Professor Antiel said, “We hear in the news about security breaches and the misuse of social networking, where information is compromised. We’ll discuss events and cases such as this within the Christian perspective.” The future is data-driven “Almost all industries are exploiting analytics to make decisions based on discovering patterns and predictions from data,” said Professor Antiel. “They’re learning more about customers’ habits and buying patterns, and making algorithms to improve forecasting and predictive power. Organizations are adding skilled analytical workers to improve their operational processes and enhance products and services.” Students graduating with a Master of Business with a concentration in Data Analytics from UNW don’t need to be data scientists, but they will be equipped to supervise a team of them and understand the importance of making data-driven decisions.
The Tools to Thrive: the Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership (MAML) Degree Launched in September 2019, the Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership (MAML) is designed to meet the needs of pastors, lay leaders, nonprofit employees, and others who want to expand their leadership abilities, influence their organizations, and make a difference in the lives of others. Customizable and accelerated The degree’s uniqueness lies in its customizable options. Students can choose from seven emphasis tracks: pastoral leadership, organizational leadership, biblical studies, theological studies, human services, educational studies, and clinical pastoral education. The program can be both online and on-campus. Best of all, the MAML degree is attainable. “It’s like a mini M.Div.,” said Dale Lemke, department chair, assistant professor of Christian Ministries. “Our M.Div. is a very large program (76 credit hours). We were seeing that there was an opportunity for a shorter program (36 credits).” MAML degree completion is possible in 18–22 months. Well-balanced learning for ministry work Curriculum covers the vital skill-based side of ministry work— communication, strategic planning, and relational and cultural awareness. Formats include interactive learning, discussion with cohorts, and internship opportunities. Leaders learn how to move conversations forward not just tactically but relationally. To relate well to others, they must function in an increasingly diverse world, growing in selfawareness and understanding cultural contexts. Different from typical organizational leadership degrees, however, Northwestern’s program is centered on solid biblical and theological foundations. Students leave the program having grown spiritually. Poised for growth After attaining the Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership, students may continue to pursue the Master of Divinity or other graduate degrees, including the MBA. They also have the option to apply to an outside clinical pastoral education (CPE) program to be trained for chaplaincy work. The MAML degree gives students the tools to influence others and impact their organizations, community, and world for Christ.
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Lives of Service, Hearts for Ministry “My grandparents were inspiring. They worked hard but loved harder and kept God at the core of every action and decision they made.
Education was always important to them; they knew it was something that could never be taken. The Dalton Family Foundation provides resources to help equip young men and women to thrive in life. They would be proud to know that their foundation is helping to advance a place that was so special to them.” Alison (Nevin ’18) Vincent
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Carl and Phyllis Dalton graduated from Northwestern decades ago. They passed away in 2013 and 2016, respectively, and yet their presence is felt on campus today and will be far into the future. They had “an extraordinary life,” said their son James. The couple’s love story and life partnership began when they met as undergraduates. They married in 1950 and, as newlyweds, continued their studies, graduating in 1952. The Daltons made a loving home for four adopted children. Carl went on to achieve master’s degrees in mathematics and speech. He started his professional career as a teacher but eventually became a business owner, running multiple successful companies over five decades. The family home was always full. Billy Graham, whom they had met while he was Northwestern’s president, was a personal friend and a regular guest in their home. Corrie ten Boom told the story of The Hiding Place at their dinner table. When their community in Wisconsin had difficulties with crime, they opened their house to people who had experienced trouble with the law, inviting them to come to learn about the Gospel through the books of C.S. Lewis. “They had more than one hundred people in the house,” James recalled. Many of the attendees had criminal records, but it didn’t matter to Carl and Phyllis. Years later, as the Daltons prepared to leave the state for retirement in Florida, they received thank you notes from individuals who had been affected by their ministry of kindness. “I found my life in your library,” said one note. Through all of their life experiences (including meeting presidents and receiving awards), they maintained their humility. “My dad owned big, big companies,” said James, “but he always had the smallest office in the building.” Before their deaths, they established the Carl and Phyllis Dalton Family Foundation—”set up so it should never ever end,” said James. It is “financing ministries all over the world and will continue in perpetuity.” James said that because his parents had paid their own college tuition and graduated with substantial debt, they wanted to lighten the load for future students. Since the fall of 2018, the foundation has generously funded scholarships for Northwestern students and others. In the fall of 2019, the foundation also began a five-year commitment to University of Northwestern’s STEM program expansion. UNW is deeply grateful to the Daltons for the life-changing encouragement they offer to current and future Northwestern students—and to countless others across the country and around the world. Northwestern “left its mark on them,” said James. “It was a pivotal thing for both of them.” Their granddaughter, Alison (Nevin ’18) Vincent, attended UNW too, walking in the footsteps of her grandparents. “I don’t think either had the easiest childhood,” said James. “They found purpose at Northwestern.”
Every Gift Matters By April Moreton, Ph.D., CFRE Vice President for Institutional Advancement JOSH STOKES
I remember the first time I set foot on a college campus some 30 years ago. As a firstgeneration college student from a lower middle-class family, it was just short of a miracle to take that step of faith. While I was excited to start pursuing a dream, doing so was fraught with financial uncertainty. Today, I look back on my education and career and humbly remember the generosity of those who gave to create an endowed scholarship or to need-based scholarships, both of which made my undergraduate degree possible. I was and continue to be grateful for the generosity of others.
Many students who step onto the University of Northwestern campus are in similar situations: they are able to pursue their dreams of a college education because of the generosity of others. In many ways, that generosity is God’s people living out the Great Commission: giving financially so that students are equipped to give Godhonoring leadership in the home, church, community, and world. When you give to the Northwestern Fund or create an endowed scholarship, you are making the dreams of a student come true! And, more importantly, you are investing in those who will graduate to change the world. Last fall, more than 1,670 students received scholarships from the Northwestern Fund, an award total of $1,275,000. Some 385 students received financial support through 183 endowed scholarships awarding over half a million dollars. Every dollar given to the Northwestern Fund supports
need-based scholarships, and every dollar given to create an endowed scholarship—a scholarship named by the giver and awarded in perpetuity—makes a Northwestern education possible. Whether $5 or $500,000, every gift given to scholarships matters. As many families face economic challenges due to the pandemic, the generosity of others will be critical for their students to attend and persist at UNW. What a tremendous investment! We are grateful that God moves in the hearts of His people to give generously. And we are grateful that UNW students will have the opportunity to experience the faith-infused, academically rigorous education and community that our faculty and staff provide.
Mourning a Friend Jeremy Kolwinska, Ph.D., a vital and beloved member of the UNW community, passed away after a sudden cardiac event on March 13, 2020. Dr. Kolwinska filled many professional roles at Northwestern, most recently serving as the university’s associate vice president for Academic Affairs and the dean of the College of Arts and Humanities. “Dr. Kolwinska was a man of deep faith, extraordinary talent, and incredible interpersonal skills,” said President Alan Cureton. “His leadership on our campus was extensive.” That recognition echoed across campus. Students remembered his mentorship and genuine interest in them. Staff and faculty praised his collaborative and generous spirit. Janet Sommers, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, worked closely with Dr. Kolwinska and described him as “detailoriented, logistical, and process-driven. He had the intuitive ability to identify and act on items that needed to be addressed even before I was aware of them.” Northwestern’s director of Traditional Admissions, Andy Gammons, counted him as a close friend and said “faithful” was the word he would use to describe his colleague. “If Jeremy said he was going to do something, it was going to happen.” The Northwestern community is keenly aware of the absence of this man of God. He will be profoundly missed. Dr. Kolwinska is survived by his wife, Joan, and their two children.
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Honors from Mayo
Winners of the Best Poster Award included Jack Hackney and Savannah Martinson. (Not pictured: Lily Courneya and Jessica Crosson)
Northwestern’s team made it into the top ten at the Mayo IMPACT symposium (left to right): Maisie Bry, Caleb Johnston, and Sydney Schwitters, shown with Dr. Gary Mumaugh. (Not pictured: Guerin Szafraniec)
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UNW students received honors in Mayo Clinic’s annual clinical competition in March 2020. Each year, the IMPACT Program (Innovative Minds Partnering to Advance Curative Therapies) poses complicated clinical questions and invites teams of students to propose their hypotheses in response. In spring of 2020, Associate Professor of Biology Gary Mumaugh, Ph.D., accompanied four teams to the annual gathering at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The largest symposium to date, it drew 45 teams and 140 participating students. This year’s challenge: find the mechanistic link between binge alcohol drinking, addiction, and the function of the neuroimmune system. Two Northwestern teams walked away with honors. The Best Poster Award was given to the team led by Lily Courneya ’21 and including Jessica Crosson ’21, Jack Hackney ’21, and Savannah Martinson ’21 for their poster on “The Effects of Ethanol on Microglia Activation and Neuroplasticity.” Another team landed in the top ten and was asked to make an oral presentation on “MCP-1 and Microglia Upregulation in Alcohol Use Disorder” to the other scientists present. The team led by Sydney Schwitters ’21 included Maisie Bry ’21, Caleb Johnston ’22, and Guerin Szafraniec ’22. All of these students are majoring in biology and are on track to become physicians or physician assistants. Their excellence speaks highly of Northwestern’s biology department. Mumaugh said, “UNW will receive a plaque from Mayo Clinic which we will proudly display in the biology department!”
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Kudos to Music Students Eighteen UNW students competed in the 2019 Minnesota National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Classical competition. Senior PSEO student Alexandra Lindgren (in white shirt) was a finalist, earning second in her category. Semifinalists (left to right) were Elijah Hager ’22, Emily Rouse ’19, Emma Davis ’22, and Sydney Lanning ’23. Alisha (Roby) Korpi ’20, flute, and Elijah Hager ’22, baritone, were declared winners of Northwestern’s Concerto-Aria competition in January.
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CELEBRATE ATHLETICS SUCCESSES Head Volleyball Coach Beth Wilmeth recorded her 400th career win last fall in just 16 seasons of coaching. She is the winningest coach in program history.
Onstage with UNW Theatre
UNW Eagles athletes racked up 159 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference [UMAC] Academic All-Conference honors.
Director of Athletics Matt Hill, Ed.D., was appointed to the NCAA Division III Management Council.
The Eagles Volleyball team clinched the conference post-season tournament championship, their ninth in the past 10 years. Four-time allconference golfer Nick Mahowald ’20 took home the prestigious NCCAA Dan & Kelly Wood Award for performance, leadership, and Christian character. Head Coach Tim Grosz was named the UMAC’s Coach of the Year, his second straight nod and the 10th of his career. Talia Sherry ’19, M’21, Women’s Lacrosse and Basketball player, received the 2020 Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award and was nominated for 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year.
Sydney Schwitters ’21 was named the UMAC Player of the Year, a member of the AVCA All-Region Team for the second straight year, and AVCA Honorable Mention All-American for the second time. Kelsea Lund ’22 was named the NCCAA North Central Player of the Year and NCCAA First Team All-American.
Tanner Youngberg ’20 was awarded the 2020 Pete Maravich Award, the NCCAA’s top basketball honor.
UNW Men’s Basketball won the UMAC Regular Season Title for the 15th time in the last 20 years.
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UNW Theatre productions cancelled due to COVID-19. (Beauty and the Beast and Peter Pan, A Musical Adventure were postponed.)
Costumes made by UNW students for 2019–20 performances.
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UNW actors received nominations to compete at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship.
3 Original plays by playwright Max Bush that have premiered at UNW.
Performances of Beauty and the Beast enjoyed by audiences in the Nazareth Hall courtyard this fall.
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UNW student Jonah Smith ’21 competed in the Irene Ryan Scholarship semi-final round at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.
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Growing a
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of Care “I couldn’t shake the feeling of the need to bring music into the heart of the city. So as people cleaned up and processed the trauma of the death of George Floyd and the loss of businesses and structures, I recruited musicians to bring music into that space. My heart needed it, too.” Stephanie Allen, D.M.A., is a music adjunct instructor in violin and viola. (Photo: Kristin Tabb)
“We must have hope that together, a better world, a more loving and caring world, is possible.” Seraiah Brooks’ letter of hope was published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. He is a senior PSEO student and leader in UNW’s PSEO community. (Photo: Seraiah’s mom)
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“There are so many ways to help meet imminent needs in our cities and nation.” Peter ’87 and Jessica Wohler are directors of Source MN, Inc. and have been leading prayer and outreach initiatives in Minneapolis, including a “Diapers for South Mpls” drive. (Photo: Bethany Jackson ’13) Joseph “Juice” Sutton ’16 is a comedian who is working to rebuild the Northside community through efforts such as “Northside Emergency Resource Pop-up” events to gather and distribute personal, household, and cleaning supplies for those in need. (Photo: Ashli Henderson)
“There’s a bigger message to take in ... we’re all people, and we have to love each other.” Senior Airman Nathan Van Beusekom ’21 says he worked to both protect and show love while on call in the Twin Cities. (Photo: Star Tribune via Getty Images / Renee Jones Schneider)
“Whether at events and outreach such as this or in other critical ways, let’s be the hands and feet of Jesus in loving those that are hurting; Black lives, of infinite worth, matter.” Falicia Cunningham ’19 organized a time of prayer and reflection in Minneapolis. (Photo: Annette Triller ’20)
A Prayer for Transformation During Turbulent Times
A sweet, spontaneous encounter was “a small, but greatly appreciated break in the craziness that has been going on since the beginning of the riots and protests.” SPC Aaron Sopelle ’22, a current UNW student, shared a moment with a little girl while on duty with the National Guard. (Photo: submitted)
Nina Barnes, M.A., SPHR, is vice president for Student Life and Human Resources. JOSH STOKES
Yasmine Norman ’20 and her sister Grace Norman raised more than $2,000 to buy hygiene products for people affected by the events in Minneapolis. Their Instagram video gained the attention of Taylor Swift who donated an additional $1,300. The story was picked up by People magazine. (Photo: submitted)
Applied pressure creates movement. Sometimes it’s an almost imperceptible internal shift. Other times, the pressure creates an external reaction with a force that can be surprising—even shocking. Like in a pandemic. Or a racial reckoning … Neither issue can be controlled by individuals. That’s an unfamiliar challenge to people who typically feel competent and in control of their circumstances. Our ability to navigate daily life undisturbed by the world beyond our own individual choices is gone—and we do not like the loss of choices and control. The external societal pressures we are experiencing have exposed the state of our hearts and souls. Our thoughts, attitudes, and actions are the manifestations of what we have been controlling. What we have learned to mask and manage can no longer be suppressed and kept at bay, and when a crack in a dam isn’t fixed, the force of the water behind it will become too powerful to be contained. Likewise, when we do not pay attention to and address the soul fissures, disorder floods out into our environments, significantly affecting us and every person in our relational radius. Selfishness, anger, frustration, strife, division, sadness, grief, and denial are familiar in this season. We experience them and witness them spill out of others. Rather than being filled with shame and ignoring or covering up what comes out when pressure is applied, we can choose to acknowledge it. We can admit our humanness, the inevitability of making mistakes, and, sometimes, our sin that has both individual and societal impacts. Rather than ignoring or excusing our attitudes and actions, we have the opportunity to bring our human blind spots to the Lord, for forgiveness, healing, and transformation. We also have the opportunity to authentically model for others that we are all being invited by the Lord to bring every aspect of our lives into His presence, knowing there is forgiveness and healing. The good news—the Gospel—is that we aren’t left to figure it out alone! Hallelujah and thank God for Emmanuel! May we look for and embrace the uncomfortable helplessness that leads us in utter dependence and trust into the arms of Jesus. My prayer is that during difficult seasons we spend time in God’s presence, humbly seeking mercy, grace, and transformation within ourselves and the world around us. Oh Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers. Refresh, enliven, and strengthen us, so we can express your love and justice in this world.
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During a series of riots in northern Iraq when the Arab Spring movement was breaking out, Jonathan Loopstra, Ph.D., would sit in bed listening to bullets go off at protests in a nearby bazaar. Each night he wondered if his students were involved in the gunfire. By day, those students— Shia, Sunni, Christian, Armenian, Yezidi, and Turkish—would sit in his small Modern Middle History class at the American University of Iraq in Sulaimani debating issues of democracy, equity, and freedom.
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GUYTANO MAGNO ’08
At Home in Ancient History
BY LINDA LAFROMBOIS
A connection to the region Loopstra’s connection to the region began years earlier when he joined the U.S. Navy. He served for six years as a naval nuclear mechanical engineer on the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and saw several deployments to the Persian Gulf while serving on the ship. The time he spent developing friendships and scholarly networks in northern Iraq provided the building blocks of a passionate study and deep knowledge of Middle Eastern history, culture, and languages. “The blessing,” says Loopstra, “is that I can bring that knowledge and experience into conversation with my students in Western Civilization classes. I can talk firsthand about what it was like to be in the Persian Gulf during the sanctions period.” A Northwestern alum After completing his military service, Loopstra pursued an undergraduate degree at Northwestern. He graduated in 1999 and subsequently earned a seminary degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois, an advanced master’s degree from Oxford University and, ultimately, a Ph.D. in Early Christian Studies at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Loopstra then helped start the American University of Iraq— the first liberal arts university in northern Iraq. He credits his time there with helping him understand the value of liberal arts. “I teach students from all majors,” he explains, “but because of the broad background of what we are teaching them in writing, reading, and critical thinking, they are now serving in many places around the world.” Loopstra came to teach at Northwestern in the fall of 2016. Asked why an internationally known scholar would choose a small Midwest university, he replied, “I was impressed by the University of Northwestern—with the power of its emphasis on both the Bible and the history of Christianity.” Today he is professor of History and chair of Northwestern’s Department of History & Related Fields.
Love for ancient manuscripts Loopstra’s eyes shine brightest when discussing teaching and the significance of ancient Syriac texts. Syriac is a later dialect of the Aramaic that Jesus would have spoken. It was the common language spoken by Christians throughout the Middle East, all the way to China, during the period of the early church—before the coming of Islam.
C. LOOPSTRA C. LOOPSTRA
Speaking around the world When not on campus, Loopstra can be found speaking in venues across the globe as a sought-after scholar in ancient Middle Eastern languages and culture. He has been invited to participate on a panel of ancient language experts by the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, on multiple occasions. He also participates regularly in conferences in Europe and India. At a conference in Paris, Loopstra spoke of his work on the Christian Syriac “Masora,” an ancient ninth-century teaching handbook for Bible recitation that predates our oldest complete codices of the Hebrew (Jewish) Bible, such as the Aleppo and Leningrad Masora manuscripts. Colleagues at the conference, which focused on the New Testament in the ancient Syriac tradition, were from Oxford, Cambridge, and other top universities. Loopstra was also a featured speaker at the Library of Congress Symposium on “The Assyrian Christian, Past and Present” in 2016. There he presented a talk on “The Church of the East and the Transmission of Ancient Knowledge,” sharing why the fact that “Syriac-heritage Christian communities have always found themselves at the crossroads of cultures and at the periphery for the transmission of knowledge,” is relevant to our society to this day.
Early Christians that spoke Syriac were heir to ancient Aramaic traditions of the East, and the inheritors of logic (Greek) and scientific (Arabic) thinking. These early Christians translated numerous works of ancient classic literature into Syriac (Aesop’s Fables and legends of Sinbad and Alexander the Great), chronicled major events of ancient history (the coming of the Mongols and the rise of the Islamic movement), and recorded traditions and histories of neighboring Christian communities (Byzantine, Armenian, Coptic, and Mar Thoma Indian). The early Syriac Christians also preserved key scientific and medical works by those considered fathers of their fields of study (e.g., scientific writings of Galen, the ancient Greek physician). Perhaps the greatest significance of ancient Syriac is that many Bible translations, spiritual texts, and Christian texts were written in the language. Loopstra is using his knowledge of the ancient language to translate books of the Bible directly from Syriac, itself a very early witness to the Hebrew text of the Bible.
Parallels with today’s concerns For Loopstra’s students, these texts hold foundational writings, discoveries, and theories in their fields of study, whether math, engineering, philosophy, law, history, health sciences, or literature. Gaining an understanding of these origins is invaluable. Having access to Loopstra’s deep knowledge of ancient cultures and how our system of democracy, law, and freedom formed and developed is priceless today as young people in our society and across the world wrestle and debate these same issues societies have grappled with throughout history.
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GUYTANO MAGNO ’08
Signs and Symptoms of Excellence in Nursing
BY JENNY COLLINS ‘05
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<< Assistant Professor of Nursing Christine (CJ) Brockway, MSN, RN, CNE, is one of many dedicated professors leading UNW’s nursing program.
When the UNW School of Nursing launched in 2013, it was the newbie among many established university programs in the Twin Cities. But seven years later, Northwestern has graduated more than 230 new nurses, and the baccalaureate degree program has grown in name and reputation. A few of the signs? Northwestern was ranked the #1 Best RN Program in Minnesota by RegisteredNursing.org for three years in a row. UNW nursing students had an exceptional 98 percent pass rate on the NCLEX-RN® exam in 2019, with a 100 percent employment rate within six months of graduation. And in spring 2020 when the American Association of Colleges of Nursing awarded one $500 scholarship per state, Northwestern’s Elizabeth Hackney was selected to receive the scholarship in Minnesota. Perhaps most celebratory was the baccalaureate degree program in nursing receiving its 10-year accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, effective September 9, 2019.* While accolades and recognition are a confirmation of excellence, Chief Nurse Administrator and Assistant Dean for the School of Nursing Ginger Wolgemuth, Ph.D., knows it’s because they stay grounded in the real priorities. “We prepare godly men and women for ministry and service—it just happens to be in nursing. That’s the priority order,” she said. “We care as much for where our students are spiritually, where they are emotionally and physically, as we care about where they are academically.” Transcultural learning The School of Nursing, which now occupies all three floors of the Wilson Center after an expansion with upgraded facilities, also stands out by integrating faith and learning with transcultural experiences. “We are one of a very small handful of schools that require a focus on caring for the world, not just Minnesota,” said Wolgemuth. “We equip students with the tools they need in their toolbox to be effective light and salt in a dark world.” The course, Serving Transcultural Populations, offers a twoweek international nursing service immersion, giving students clinical experience outside the USA. Alex Runk ’16, an RN serving in mental health who recently returned to UNW as an adjunct instructor, points to his cohort experience in Jamaica as being pivotal. “I remember at the end of the trip, Dr. Wolgemuth said, ‘I think you’d be good at teaching.’ Ever since then we had a joke I’d end up working for her, and now it really has come full circle.” This past spring, three groups of nursing students and faculty traveled to Ukraine, Ecuador, and Zambia—and were just returning home when COVID-19 arrived on the main worldwide stage.
Navigating through COVID-19 When the stay-at-home orders went into effect in March, the School of Nursing went into action to adapt to an online format. “Our education hasn’t changed but our venue has,” said Wolgemuth. “While our students are not allowed in the hospitals, the method in which we’re preparing them has changed.” Instead of being on campus for labs and lessons with the simulated patients, the new reality for the rest of the semester involved online simulations—allowing students to interact with virtual patients and learn what questions to ask. Teaching has since resumed in the Wilson Center. Grounded in calling, focused on opportunity Wolgemuth said challenges like COVID-19 present opportunities for graduating nurses. She expects many older nurses who were already nearing retirement may choose to leave the workforce soon, adding to the nationwide nursing shortage. That shortage ensures some stability for job growth, even in the midst of uncertainty. While some students and parents fear taking out student loans, and some choose to leave school due to financial concerns, Wolgemuth reminds them of the resources available to support them. “The opportunity for work and to get scholarships and forgiveness of student loans is great because the need is so great,” she said. “If people really feel called to be a nurse, God will provide the finances.” That sense of calling is key, Wolgemuth pointed out. “There’s a difference between individuals that go into nursing for a job compared to those who are going into it for a calling. Nurses that are doing it for the job fall away pretty quickly when it gets tough.” She added that a student’s strong relationship with God makes a huge difference at the patient’s bedside. “Nurses who trust that the Lord is going to be with them in the very demanding, physically exhausting, and sometimes dangerous work know that they’re not alone! That’s something other nurses don’t have. The patients sense it. They know it.” More than 200 students are currently enrolled in UNW’s nursing program. *The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at University of Northwestern is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www. ccneaccreditation.org).
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Becca Wurgler ’20 said the decision to study nursing at Northwestern “fell into her lap,” but it actually walked through her front door. Her youngest daughter, nineyear-old Claire, who lives with spina bifida, requires nursing assistance through an in-home health care service 18 hours a day. When a Northwestern nursing student’s clinicals brought her to the Wurglers’ home, Becca was impressed by the care Claire received. Already feeling a call to become a nurse, Becca seized the moment to inquire
for anything BY JENNY COLLINS ’05
program. “I asked her a lot of questions!” With a bachelor’s degree and a career in health insurance
“
“ are prepared
As nurses, we
JOSH STOKES
about the university’s nursing
already under her belt, Becca said caring for her medically complex child motivated her to pursue this new vocational path. “I’m a nurse at home without a degree already,” she joked. “Give me a trach and cath and I know what to do.”
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A new passion, a new challenge After searching online for the university and spending over an hour on the phone with one of the nursing administrators, she told her husband Chad, “This is where I need to go for nursing. There is no other place.” Prior to that, “Northwestern wasn’t even on my radar,” said Becca, whose first time stepping foot on campus was for her admissions interview. Becca and Chad decided the time was right to take that leap of faith, and she became one of a few postbaccalaureate nursing students in her cohort to complete the requirements for a bachelor of science in nursing in two years. The faith integration and faculty support made all the difference in her education. “The professors are more than nursing educators,” she said. “They’re our friends and they are there to support us beyond academics.” That support became evident during an “extremely difficult” season when her husband faced stage 4 cancer while she was in school. Despite her heavy schedule of responsibilities at home and school, she was able to be at all but one of his chemotherapy sessions.
Study interrupted and reimagined Faculty support took on a new level when COVID-19 interrupted the rest of the school year. Becca was in the process of finishing her 96-hour preceptorship, a senior capstone, at Mayo Clinic in Red Wing when Minnesota’s stay-at-home order ended all in-person studies and internships. Quick to adapt, the School of Nursing moved the hands-on requirements to virtual simulations, which portray real-patient scenarios in an online format. While not the same as the real thing, Becca said the simulations do “set you up for the real-world situation because you don’t get an hour to prep for each patient. You get five minutes and go on with your day. You have to be prepared for anything! We as nurses are prepared for anything.” Becca’s experiences give her very personal insights into what it takes to live with uncertainty and respond with grace. “We learned that early on with Claire,” she said. “We can’t control it, but we can control our actions in response to it.”
“We’re taught to look at the spiritual aspect and look at the breadcrumbs people give us: ‘I haven’t been to church’ or ‘I really need to talk with a chaplain,’” for example. Instead of brushing it off, Becca said she’s been empowered to talk about faith. “That doesn’t happen with every nursing program. Some nurses will pass by it. But that’s not okay because they’re not fully listening. The spiritual can have a real impact on their recovery.”
Dreaming of tomorrow The family is looking ahead. Older daughter Grace is an eighthgrader this fall. Claire started fourth grade. Chad continues to work while his health care team monitors him closely. In her new role as an RN, Becca may soon meet the parents of a child with medical complexities. She feels ready to offer the compassion born of her own experience and the meticulous skills learned in Northwestern’s nursing program.
“Nursing is all about serving others. Everyone is made by God, and you are there to serve that person.”
Hoping to be there for others
JOSH STOKES
Becca passed the NCLEX-RN exam in June and is pursuing a position in pediatric nursing. “It’s a tough place. I know, I’ve been there. I’m a previous NICU [neonatal intensive care unit] mom, and I know I can be there for families in a different way.” She said one of the big differences she experienced at Northwestern is how nursing students are trained to be able to have conversations about faith and spirituality, too. “Nursing is all about serving others. Everyone is made by God, and you are there to serve that person,” she said. UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN
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EDUCATING AND
ENERGIZING
ENGINEERS
After years of planning, ENGINEERING LAB Northwestern is
celebrating a new
facility and the first
class to graduate from its four-year engineering program. The paint is fresh, the equipment is in place, and the path is wide open for incoming students. Like all engineering projects, the design and construction of the new engineering facility at Northwestern had its challenges. It needed to be big enough for six individual labs. It had to be reasonably close to campus so buses and shuttles could get students there and back. And the city of Roseville had to sign off on the use of leased space. One after another, options fell through. Then a space in Rosedale North Shopping Center, a strip mall across from Northwestern’s School of Nursing, came to market. With 9,000 square feet, it was big enough. And it was close enough to campus that students could bike or walk to the building. The engineering team had already designed numerous spaces in several buildings, but they began the process again. On the upside, “By the time we got to this location, we knew what the full program was going to look like and what was needed,” said Carrie Francis, Ph.D., assistant professor and chair of the Department of Engineering. The facility opened in the fall of 2019. Every UNW engineering student will learn in labs designed just for them.
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COMPUTER SIMULATION ROOM
Space for learning The newly constructed site solves the problem of toolittle space for a growing major. Introduction to engineering lab Large square tables accommodate team projects and collaboration. The space includes ample storage for hand tools. Students have access to 3D printers and a PCB (printed circuit board) milling machine that enable them to create prototypes. All of the tables are on wheels and can move around the lab to make room for projects of almost any size. In the spring, the adjoining wall between the intro lab and the senior design space opens via a double-wide garage door. This allows senior projects to expand into a larger space as they enter the build phase.
ENGINE ROOM
PHOTOS: DR. CARRIE FRANCIS
Engine room Here, students run small engines as well as repair them or take them apart. They have access to a jet engine and steam turbine that can be operated indoors. The lab is ventilated by an overhead exhaust system and four extendable exhaust snorkels so multiple groups can work simultaneously.
ELECTRICAL LAB
Computer simulation lab Engineering students have rows of computers with an array of industry standard software at their fingertips for testing, programming, and simulation. Software includes SAP2000, SolidWorks, MATLAB, and ANSYS. Electrical lab Whatever courses students are taking, whether circuits, communications, or embedded systems design, there’s a specific zone set up in the lab for them. They can work and leave equipment out from week to week, picking up where they left off. Potential employers often ask whether UNW students have access to embedded system coursework and labs (where participants work with the microchips/ small computers that are built into bigger devices or machines), indicating that “if they’re studying this, we’ll hire them.” Northwestern students are doing exactly that. Machine shop The machine shop gives students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience with metal, plastic, and wood. The space includes metalworking equipment (vertical mill, lathe, shear, etc.), woodworking equipment (table saw, >> UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN
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MACHINE SHOP
SENIOR DESIGN LAB band saw, router), and more. Work in this space helps students connect computer-aided design (CAD) to real-world limitations. “Where can I physically place this bolt?” “How precisely can I cut a dimension?” Senior design lab This is where seniors put their acquired expertise to the test, spending an entire year planning, managing, and fabricating a complex project. The generous work space also has an external, overhead garage door so large items (even as big as a vehicle) can be brought into the building, if needed. In 2020, students used the space to build a concrete canoe, a disaster relief shelter, and a supermileage car. The work of designing, prototyping, and building challenged them to think like engineers and follow the steps that professional engineers would take to solve problems.
More than just labs Other features of the building include a ... • meeting room with video conferencing, which is essential as Northwestern expands connections to companies and
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invites them to use the skills of its fledgling engineers for industry-based projects; • student lounge with vending machines and tables where students can study or take a break; and • shared faculty office for professors and staff.
Calling Christ-led engineers Professors here believe that Northwestern’s outstanding university engineering program will attract even more applicants in the future, students who will have access to distinctive offerings that make UNW special: biblical instruction; a close and supportive community; and access to music, theatre, sports, and ministry opportunities—to name a few. The new facility is another major asset in the education of students who will bring a unique faith-based work ethic and a desire to serve their communities and world.
A distinguished class He is among the first class of students to graduate with a four-year engineering degree from Northwestern. Prior to 2016, students could study engineering for three years before being required to transfer to the University of Minnesota or elsewhere to complete their degree from Northwestern. That meant two additional years of study. But as he was beginning the 3/2 program at Northwestern, Matthew received a letter informing him that UNW would be implementing a full, four-year engineering program. A godsend. Lifelong dream Matthew has been interested in engineering since he was a kid. “My dad is an electrical engineer with a defense contractor that builds military vehicles,” said Matthew, noting that he always tuned into dinner discussions of his father’s work. In school, Matthew excelled at math and “there was something about engineering. I liked the problem-solving aspect. I kind of got a sense over the years that this is the career to go after if you’re really interested in seeing problems and finding solutions.” So he set himself on course. In his junior and senior years of high school he took PSEO (postsecondary enrollment options) courses—calculus 1, statistics, public speaking, and composition—earning 30 credits to apply to his college studies. Hello Northwestern Matthew learned about UNW through a church friend, an undergrad who played on the basketball team and invited him to games. Matthew already
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To be an engineer, you have to think like an engineer. Matthew Nilson ’20 is ready to give it a shot. He finished his engineering studies in May, and began a full-time engineering job on August 31.
AN ENGINEER IS BORN knew he wanted to stay close to home (Andover, Minnesota) and go to a Christian university with an engineering program. Visiting campus helped solidify his decision. As a freshman he quickly got acquainted with fellow first-year engineers and professors. In the classroom his instinct was to ask pointed questions. He found that interacting with professors and other students was “definitely one way I learned better.” Hands-on education Matthew relished the course work and time in the lab. During a course on circuits, his professor taught about “inductors, capacitors, resistors, voltage, and currents,” said Matthew, and in labs he could get his hands on the components, learn what the circuits looked like, and then build them. He manipulated “actual wires, breadboards,
and power supply. It wasn’t just writing a circuit diagram, there was actual power going through.” As the lights on the circuit board illuminated, so did Matthew’s focus. Engineering degrees can be grueling to achieve. Despite the heavy study load, Matthew always left some time to get “to know people well. I didn’t spend all my time studying.” He also devoted energy to creating an alternate “theology chapel” for fellow Eagles. “We picked a topic every week and opened up dialogue to other students.” Independence and experience Through it all, Matthew received “a good balance of guidance with necessary independence.” An internship at General Dynamics last summer gave him out-ofclassroom experience and a foot in the door. “I moved out to Michigan over the summer and took a role in the reliability section.” In addition to orientation, he did some minor tasks (“the ones that no one else wants to do”). He built a program that correctly recorded odometer mile data points for army vehicles, something that had previously been done manually. for the four years prior. It gave him the reassuring sense that he could quickly and accurately perform assigned tasks. What’s ahead? General Dynamics made a return offer and Matthew is now working as an engineer alongside other professionals with decades of experience. Although he hopes to work his way into the managerial track, he knows he has to first put in time and gain the expertise. “I’m brand new in the industry,” he admitted, but credits his professors, fellow students, and Northwestern education with preparing him to think— and work—like an engineer.
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“There has never been a greater need for Christian education. We are all here exactly where we are for just this moment, equipping young people to be Jesus in the world. I am passionate about Christian higher education and the role it plays in the common good.” SHIRLEY HOOGSTRA, PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL FOR CHRISTIAN COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (CCCU)
The Incalculable Value of Christian Higher Education Does Christian higher education really matter? Janet Sommers, Ph.D., UNW’s provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, considers its value in a time when families are making crucial decisions about tuition dollars.
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Does Christian higher education really matter? Yes, absolutely! As our Philosophy of Education affirms, “The study of the Bible and theology and the practice of personal spiritual disciplines is the foundation upon which all other disciplines rest.” I’m convinced that an education that focuses solely on personal gain and success is a missed opportunity. At Northwestern we are committed to helping students pursue truth with excellence and then effectively engage and serve others so that the light of Christ continues strong.
What perspectives are unique to Christian higher education and truly change a student’s education? We have a fundamental recognition of the giftedness and talents that God has given to individuals. That’s an eye-opening understanding—that there is a larger purpose on earth and each student has a unique role to play. We are here to help students identify their God-given gifts and to provide opportunities for students to expand and develop them. Christian higher education ties that giftedness to a desire to give back. We cultivate leaders who can look beyond their own welfare to the needs of a hurting community and world. We celebrate the joy they will experience in contributing to the welfare of others.
What do the professors at Northwestern offer? Our professors have deep knowledge in their areas of expertise and a passion for teaching, but they are also “people of The Book.” What an amazing opportunity for students— learning and growing in a place where the intellectual and the spiritual are so intertwined! They help students apply the breadth of Scripture to their lives individually and collectively. UNW faculty educate students holistically to prepare them to succeed in their profession, while providing a community in which their spirit, heart, and mind are transformed.
What’s the benefit of Christian students pursuing higher education together? Being part of Northwestern means participating in a vibrant learning community where Christ is at the center of our relationships. At Northwestern, we do community really well—with intentionality. We work at cultivating respect and appreciation for one another. That’s true within dorms, classrooms, and every space throughout campus. Mentorship and discipleship are part of everything from athletics to accounting, from music to biology. In a Christian university, students are able to sharpen one another in faith and academics.
What role do parents play in helping their students choose Christian higher education? A wonderful window of opportunity exists with young people. Parents have the ability to help their students recognize and step into the lifechanging environment of Christian higher education. In the rapidly changing culture of the 21st century, parents can help students grow in strides during a period of key decisionmaking about who they are and whom or what they’re going to serve.
What’s the outcome of Christian higher education? Ultimately, the role of Christian education is to educate the next generation of leaders to glorify God in our world. We prepare our students to function well in a society that is based on very different principles, helping them understand the assumptions and philosophies undergirding our culture. But we go further. We help students understand the larger trajectory of humanity, so their lives can reflect integrity, consistency, and hope. I am so proud of our alum who are thriving in their professions while impacting their homes, churches, communities, and the world for Christ.
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New Digital Cadaver Lab:
LINDA LAFROMBOIS
A Game Changer for Clinical Education
“Oops!”
BY JENNY COLLINS ’05
“It’s the dreaded word sometimes heard in educational human cadaver labs,” said Gary Mumaugh, Ph.D., associate professor of Biology & Biochemistry. But with the arrival of the Anatomage table, a digital cadaver system in Northwestern’s newly renovated Human Biology Lab, no slip of the “scalpel” is ever permanent. A table-sized, touch-screen computer device that brings the hands-on function of human anatomy and dissection through advanced 3D technology, the Anatomage is like a six-foot iPad on steroids. Unlike a typical human anatomy lab, the digital cadavers require no freezer storage, no permits or restrictions, and no formaldehyde ventilation regulations. Aside from software upgrades, it’s virtually maintenance free—and devoid of the traditional lab smell.
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An invaluable tool With 30 years of clinical experience in orthopedics and a former pastor and chaplain, Mumaugh brings 15 years of teaching to the lab. While this new device has been called a “game changer” for student learning and bolstering Northwestern’s reputation in the medical sciences, Mumaugh is quick to set the tone. “This is not a video game,” he said, having taught students throughout his career to respect the dignity of the cadavers. “The first thing they do when they walk in the lab is put on a lab coat, which is a sign of respect. They’ve all been taught: You don’t touch that screen until you thank God for this gift—because she [the cadaver] was a mom, a sister, a daughter, an aunt. We don’t know much about her, but we know that she’s given us a gift that we can never thank her for.” Mumaugh said his students leave the lab with an appreciation for the human body that they never had before. He has seen how students’ faith actually grows in the lab, too, having walked in to see students praying, opening their Bibles, and doing devotions. “This is what I had in mind all along.”
Giving students an essential edge Northwestern is one of only three Minnesota universities to secure an Anatomage for undergraduate use. Mumaugh said more schools are moving toward digital cadaver systems and saving the regular human cadaver labs for surgical residents. Medtronic and 3M also have this technology, which Mumaugh said makes UNW graduates attractive to these companies.
Access for all Another factor on Mumaugh’s mind was to create a lab environment that could provide 24/7 access to learning. National cadaver regulations require a professor with the proper credentialing be present at all times in the lab—greatly limiting student access, not to mention adding the costs of storage, maintenance, ventilation, and disposal. The Anatomage removes all those barriers, allowing biology and health sciences majors near 24/7 access with a key card, so they can study on their own time. Some alumni have access, too, to further their research. But Mumaugh’s vision for access went beyond his students. He ordered a super-sized version of the Anatomage to expand access to faculty and courses outside his domain.
LINDA LAFROMBOIS
Human anatomy goes digital German for “anatomy,” the Anatomage holds a vast data bank from five real human cadavers—three women and two men who donated their bodies to science for this project. The database also has more than 5,000 CT scans and MRIs, hundreds of other human organ specimens, including the heart and brain, as well as embryological and fetal specimens. Another add-on is the cardiac catheterization lab, in which students can interact with a beating heart. Mumaugh said one incredible feature of the lab is being able ask it to show specific conditions. “Can you give me a 65-year old woman and have her brain with Alzheimer’s disease?” he said, for example. “Suddenly it goes into that vast data bank, finds it, and brings it up for us.” As the driving force behind securing the new tool in time for the 2019–20 school year, Mumaugh made it his mission to transform the students’ learning experience in a clinical setting, since 80 percent of the department’s graduates go into health care.
“I thought, ‘If we’re going to have the device, let’s at least have it so it can be used in several classes,’” he said. “There are archeological mummies in here that Dr. Boyd Seevers (professor of Old Testament Studies) can use. There are several animal specimens that pre-vet and animal biology students can use. There are thousands of pathology specimens that the pathology and nursing students can use.” Two of Mumaugh’s teaching assistants, Josh Krueger ’19 and Grace Wilson ’20, were among the first UNW students to use the lab last fall. “When I first turned it on, I spent five hours just learning,” said Josh. “I got so enthralled with it. Anyone who loves the human body, loves to learn about medicine and anatomy, can just dive into this thing.” Grace added, “You’re able to touch each individual muscle or bone and it’ll tell you exactly what it is.”
Doing anatomy remotely during COVID-19 When all courses went online after spring break in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that removed lab access for everyone except Mumaugh. He With the spent the first couple of weeks of the shutdown working countless arrival of the hours in the lab to convert his Anatomage visual, hands-on lessons to an online format that included video table, a digital demos on the Anatomage. While he knows he could have cadaver relied on PowerPoints for his online classes, Mumaugh said he was system in determined to bring students the Northwestern’s same level of quality education they had prior to COVID-19. “These newly are going to be doctors and nurses and surgeons. They’re going to renovated have the same content.” He knows, too, that the lab is a Human Biology launching pad. “This room will birth Lab, no slip of thousands of doctors and nurses. They will go out and be of Kingdom the “scalpel” significance. My students know, ‘If I’m going to be in health care, I have is ever to be the hands and feet of Christ.’ They also know, ‘If I don’t permanent. understand the inner workings of the human body, I cannot do what He’s called me to do.’ This is just one more tool available to them.” Vision for the future Mumaugh is committed to investing in his students and growing Northwestern’s clinical education. He intends to add more Anatomage tables while also bringing in human specimens and 3D plastinate models to complement the digital learning. “I want to see three of these [tables] on campus. If we do that, this place will be different for a generation or more.”
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BY AMY AWASOM
YES TO
Christy (Triggs ’96) and Jake Vanada ’96 have a mandate straight from John 21, but, for them, “feed my lambs” translates to “feed my teenagers breakfast.”
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BREAKFAST
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“We do this because we feel like God told us to,” said Jake Vanada about the couple’s resolve to provide breakfast and encouragement on a large scale to teens in Albertville, Minnesota. Six years ago they first opened their home. This year, they have coordinated the feeding of hundreds of teenagers once every other week.
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A humble planting The partnership of this determined couple goes back to their undergraduate days at Northwestern. Laughing, Christy said she sat down next to the “mildly handsome gentleman” in Bible 101 class taught by Professor Mark Muska. She has been the steady presence alongside visionary Jake ever since—together, a formidable team. Breakfast Club was born in 2014, and inauspiciously. That year Christy and Jake shifted their ministry focus to do something local for their kids, Jackson, now 21, Abby, now 19, and their friends. Jackson and Abby invited friends to come over one Thursday morning before school since most evenings were packed. Twelve teenagers showed up to enjoy the morning spread Christy put on the table, listening tired-eyed as Jake shared from Scripture. It was simple, unpretentious.
so large that the group had to be divided in two and served in two homes. High head counts gave way to headline news in newspapers and television broadcasts. While the numbers were encouraging, the Vanadas were excited about the Breakfast Club for one simple reason: young men and women were meeting God for the first time. “Seventy percent of our students have never had a Bible, never heard the Gospel until they came to Breakfast Club,” said Christy, “They are learning that this Jesus—He knows my name, He created the mountains I saw on spring break, and He knows who I am.” Persevering simplicity Simply introducing Jesus is the goal, but Jake admitted, “We’ve had to fight to keep it uncomplicated.” There are many details to coordinate: planning carpools, scheduling volunteers, completing setup, prepping meals and messages, individually texting every student on Wednesdays, and cleanup. Logistics loom, but the Vanadas have learned to unclench their fists. “God tells us, ‘Continue to create space and the Spirit of God will come and transform the lives of these students,’” said Christy. As “space creators,” the Vanadas focus on embodying Jesus. They welcome every student at the door, offering eye contact and encouragement. One senior confessed she came to Breakfast Club for hugs she never got at home. Jake ends each club gathering with an affirmation, sometimes in tears: “We love you. God has a plan for you, and you are always welcome here.” The words have landed true every time a student texts, calls, or stops by late at night for a talk. Taking the next hill Since the COVID outbreak, the Vanadas have been livestreaming from their garage as their loyal crew of students lights up Jake’s message on the Snapchat social networking app. Hopeful plans are being drawn up for a Breakfast Club barn on donated land next to the high school. COVID-19, like each obstacle before it, has not wilted Jake and Christy’s zeal to share breakfast and relationship with teenagers. And that means Team V will continue giving God a soul-shaping “yes.”
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God’s love: the magnet That awkward first meeting sprouted a mustard tree. Kids kept coming. Steadily more high schoolers were drawn into Team V’s boundless hospitality, hearty breakfast, and Bible teaching before school. Last year, more than 375 St. Michael-Albertville High School students were gathering. The events had gotten UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN
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I’LL HELP YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH NORTHWESTERN A
s the senior admission counselor, I get to introduce prospective students and families to University of Northwestern. I love my job! A UNW grad myself, I know every corner of every building (including all the secret tunnels most have never seen!), but I also know why students should clamor to come here. I don’t need to tell prospective students the obvious: the campus is incredible. Not only was Northwestern ranked the #1 most beautiful campus in the Midwest, our dorms are ranked #1 in Minnesota. From the stained glass windows of Nazareth Chapel across the lively campus green to the vibrant Robertson Student Center, campus is where it all begins: lifelong friendships, memories, intense spiritual growth, the support of friends and professors. Bottom line: This is more than a university—it becomes home. I want prospective students to feel comfortable in my little office in Nazareth Hall—even if it’s a virtual visit. The walls are decorated in purple and gold, with notes from students I’ve assisted during nearly 17 years in Admissions. I’ve become sensitive to hearing the fears and questions that are unspoken. I share honestly about Northwestern: we’re not summer camp, and we’re not church. We are a group
of faculty, staff, and students who love the Lord and want to honor God with whatever gifts He has given us. Students who come here find a loving community that challenges them intellectually and embraces them. Expect authenticity here. This community is focused on Christ and grace. We admissions counselors love taking prospective families to chapel, not only so they can hear an outstanding message or praise music, but also so they can observe Northwestern students as they gather, interact, and encourage one another. Chapel is just one of many opportunities for spiritual transformation here. Spiritual growth is Northwestern’s focus. The professors happily meet with prospective students to share more
BY JACKIE LEA SOMMERS ’03
w I LOVE MY JOB!
Jackie Lea Sommers’ recruitment territory includes west central Minnesota, South Dakota, Indiana, and Ohio. She also works with on-campus PSEO students. Photo: Laura Rae Photography
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details of their departments, as well as what graduates are up to. The care they take with our visitors often surprises prospective students who are treated like they’re part of the Northwestern family already. Many professors will begin to create a four-year plan for them, then and there. Students’ futures are not an afterthought. We start building toward tomorrow right away. After the application is submitted and the student has received that exciting acceptance letter, we meet again to walk through their financial aid award letters, making sure they understand the fine details. I enjoy helping them explore work study, payment plans, and other options. Through the Admissions office’s partnership with the financial aid office, we are often able to find financial solutions for families that allow students to attend UNW. It’s important to me to make the financial aid process easy, clear, and confidence-building for my students. Northwestern’s educational excellence and willingness to work with families make this university a great value. The message I try to get across to every potential student I meet is, “You’re not an interruption to the staff or faculty here, and you’re much more than a student ID number. You’re our priority and purpose.” What a joyful message to share.
Even during a pandemic, the Admissions office is meeting with prospective students and families constantly, offering online campus tours, virtual appointments with faculty and staff, and livestream opportunities to ask questions and interact with current students.
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Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a state-funded program that allows Minnesota high school students to take free college courses. Participating students accrue college credit while simultaneously covering their high school requirements. In addition to onsite PSEO (before COVID-19), Northwestern is the largest provider of online PSEO among private institutions in the state, offering more than 50 online courses.
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PSEO: Less Expense, Less Time
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Kaylie Brase ’22 of Rochester is a high school senior and a university junior. This confusing reality is the end result of Kaylie’s diligent work and Northwestern’s robust PSEO (Postsecondary Enrollment Options) program. Kaylie’s parents learned of Northwestern’s PSEO while attending a conference sponsored by Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators (MACHE) in Rochester. Their daughter had already taken a PSEO ethics course at Rochester Community and Technical College, but they all jumped at the chance to get college credits, free tuition, and a faith-based education via Northwestern. Kaylie had guidance from her PSEO advisor and the process was “simple and self-explanatory. I learned the ropes pretty quickly.” She concedes that some of her college-level courses were intense, but “I am generally a pretty Type-A person. Everything goes in my planner.” She completed introductory courses in literature, music, psychology, and art appreciation at UNW. She still found time to maintain a breathless pace of extracurricular activities, including volleyball, two choirs, playing acoustic guitar during her church’s worship services, and working with a kids’ group. Today Kaylie has 60 credits completed and began Northwestern with junior status. She has already received a schedule of courses that will take her to graduation day. “My advisor sent my completion plan and I held it in my hands. Wow, I didn’t even know all the advantages of taking PSEO classes!” At Northwestern, she is studying elementary education with an emphasis in communication and hopes to teach in an elementary classroom, ideally with first, second, or third graders. “I don’t think I want to go too far from Minnesota,” she said, “but you never know where God’s going to take you.” Does she recommend PSEO to other high school students? Without hesitation. “There’s no reason not to do it.”
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Transferring to UNW was a Win Erik Nelson ’20 has made an impact on Northwestern and vice versa. Originally from “a tiny town on the Great Plains”—St. Francis, Kansas—Erik first attended Free Lutheran Bible College in Plymouth, Minnesota. He received a two-year Bible degree and accepted a youth pastor position in North Dakota. But he knew he wanted to come to Northwestern eventually. “I was looking for somewhere that would take my Bible school credits and also be a place that approached science as a way to worship and glorify God through creation.” He contacted Admissions and “over the phone, we set out a degree program. There’s always the fear that you might hit a snag,” he said, “but the Admissions team made it super easy.” Erik has been at Northwestern for two years now. His major, environmental science and business, feels like a perfect fit. “Science and business have different emphases,” he acknowledged, “but the professors’ faith-integration is very consistent.” Active in student leadership as a senator, Erik has worked alongside fellow students to expand composting across the campus. The team incorporated collection bins into two new buildings, including the nursing center and engineering building. Students, faculty, and staff are now able to compost everything from food scraps to milk containers to cups to eating utensils. The Facilities team is leading the implementation while students back it up and support it. It’s a win-win. “Composting helps the earth,” said Erik, “but also the school’s budget.” He’s also been involved in designing a sustainable approach to the university’s natural environment. By gradually adding native and organic plants, flowers, and grasses to the campus (“designed by God to thrive in these areas”)—and by switching out nonnative species—the university will be able to use less fertilizer and pesticide. “Our campus is the largest institution on the shores of Lake Johanna,” he said. “We have a responsibility to take care of the lake. As it is now, we have a super beautiful campus. We just want to do things better.” Erik’s career goal is to go into urban planning with a focus on sustainability. One of the strengths of a degree that combines science with business is he’ll have “the technical knowledge of the field [and the] business skills that other scientists might not have.” Erik will graduate in December and he’s grateful for the opportunities he’s had to be mentored by professors and fellow students. “The community at Northwestern can’t be beat for a place that celebrates our faith and academic rigor. We might have different perspectives or opinions, but everyone has the same root and source.”
One thing that made a big difference to transfer student Erik Nelson: scholarships. Financial aid options for transfer students have expanded and are similar in scope to the renewable four-year funds being offered to freshmen. “A lot of schools have puny transfer scholarships. I appreciate that Northwestern has made their transfer system so approachable and helpful.” UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN
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We would love to hear how God is working in your life. Update your profile at unwsp.edu/alumni
ALUMNI NE WS
1940s fter 42 wonderful years in Ethiopia, A which included marriage to Richard Spahr and three children, God brought Norma (Clippers ’48) Rogers back to a ministry in Minneapolis for nine years. After the death of her husband, Norma moved to Florida. She is 94.
1950s ev. Ross ’54 and Miriam ’54 Winters R celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2019. Ross and Miriam have served in many churches. They have 5 children, 14 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.
1960s Rev. Walter ’60 and Donna (Johanson ’60) Schoon travel to Latvia three times each school year to facilitate a public school conference for teachers. This year will be the 21st year of the conference. Many have come to know Christ. They are both working part time in their 46th year at the Torchbearer Bible School in Sweden. Dr. Carl Haugen Sr. ’66 recently retired after 39 years of private practice as a psychologist. He and his wife, Lynette, celebrated their 50th anniversary in the summer of 2018 at their home in Washington. Gordon Moritz ’66 and his wife, Ruth, retired in 2019 after a total of 52 1/2 years working at InFaith, formerly the American Missionary Fellowship and American Sunday School Union. Gordon is on the board of his local God’s Storehouse and local ministerial association. He started and directed Camp Praise for 48 years. Gordon and Ruth have five children.
1970s Debra (Karsjens ’76) Boal retired in September of 2018 after 43 years of fulltime nursing.
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r. Gaylan Mathiesen ’77 taught at D UNW from 1996 to 2005 in the Modern Languages and later Christian Ministries departments. In 2005 he took a call to teach at Lutheran Brethren Seminary in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. In January 2019, Dr. Mathiesen was privileged to teach a dozen Ph.D. students on the topic of Christian Theologies in Asia at Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
1980s Greg and Mary (Boyd ’80) Pearson are working full time with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Bible translation ministry. They worked in Papua New Guinea with the Lote language. The Lote New Testament was put into the hands of the Lote people in great celebration in January of 2010. Greg and Mary now live in Minnesota. Greg is a consultant, checking the final stages of Scripture translation in various languages. Mary works on language documentation and intercultural studies. aren (Erickson ’80) Powell has worked K at Mission West Elementary in Houston, Texas, as a school counselor for 13 years. In 2019, she received the CREST Award (Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas). She is the first to receive the award in her school district, which is the eighth largest in Texas and one of the most diverse in the nation. 1 Nate Bostrom ’81 was elected to an interim position on the Chaska City Council that concluded in summer 2019. During this time, two of five city council members were UNW alumni. Lisa (Milne ’86) Sowards and her husband John both work at Bethel University. John works in Facilities, Lisa in Academic Affairs. Tim ’87 and Pam (Hultgren ’87) Klein started their 32nd year of teaching at the Osseo Area Schools in September 2019. They wish God’s blessings to everyone who has been part of the Education department at UNW.
isa (Collins ’89) Friesen, her husband L Dan Friesen ’90, and the Oroko people of Cameroon celebrate the Oroko New Testament (with Genesis) translation, completed and published after 20 years.
1990s Rev. Kathy (Green ’92) Toenjes earned her pastoral credentials with the Assemblies of God. She currently serves as the children’s pastor with Frontline Church in Burnsville, Minnesota. Mark Geerdes ’94 met his wife, Lisa, while working in communications at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. They were married in 2001. When the BGEA moved from Minneapolis, he worked at FirstTech computer in computer repair and application development. He is now part of Technology By Design where he specializes in making different applications communicate with each other. He has enjoyed serving in technical ministries with many local churches. Steve George ’95 married Tiffany (Thompson ’97). Steve is the senior pastor at the Lamar United Methodist Church in Lamar, Missouri. Tiffany is a therapist working with troubled teenagers at Heartland Behavioral Health in Nevada, Missouri. Annette (Leander ’96) Pare and her family recently moved from Minneapolis to Spokane, Washington. Annette is a school counselor at Freeman High School in Rockford, Washington. She and her husband, Dan, have three children who are in kindergarten, second grade, and fourth grade. Will ’96 and Angela (Jacobson ’96) Pazurek live in Austin, Minnesota. Will is in his 23rd year teaching math, currently at Austin Public High School. Angie is an eye technician at Family Eye Care Center. They have three children: Brooke (21), Grace (19), and Trevor (17). Brooke ’19 married Josh Rydberg in July 2018. 2
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Brian ’98 and Mary (Swanson ’01) Lee and their daughters Maya (8), Adalie (5), and Kayla (2) recently moved from White Bear Lake to Forest Lake, Minnesota. Eric Quinn ’98 has been promoted to chief technology officer at the C&S Companies, headquartered in Syracuse, New York. He is also the general manager of Q-Ware, a cloud-based computerized maintenance management software solution. Megan (West ’98) Yates recently graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with a master’s degree in biblical and theological studies. Keith ’99 and Colleen (Fish ’00) Hurlbut moved from Wisconsin to North Dakota for Keith’s new pastorate position in Carrington, North Dakota. Keith is the pastor at Calvary Baptist Church.
2000s tephanie (Gullifer ’01) Pieske married S Nathan Pieske on September 30, 2018. 3 Nicole (Hudson ’01) and her husband Jeff Waggoner ’01 spent 15 months in Nicaragua serving with an organization called One Collective. They spent most of their time working with youth and young adults through Young Life. Michelle (Larsen ’02) Moss lives in Colorado and works with the marketing team for Renew Anchored Dentures creating commercials and newspaper ads for the company. She enjoys coming back to the Twin Cities for grand openings. Brett ’02 and Sara (Olson ’02) Wiuff welcomed their son, Bennett, on February 18, 2020. He joined five excited siblings. Brett and Sara currently serve at Twin Lakes Bible Camp in Manson, Iowa. Margaret Frye ’03 completed her doctorate in Christian education leadership at Regent University in 2019.
Leanna Frye Walker ’04 completed her doctorate in ministry in worship leadership at Liberty University. li (Baden ’03) Geier is still doing A photography, but also got a-full time job at Eagle Brook Church as the pastor of groups at the Lakeville campus. Her husband, Darrin, works at UNW as the director of Commuter Life.
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artha (Krienke ’03) Renaud and her M husband, Tom, welcomed their daughter, Mary Grace, in 2019. ara (Anderson ’03) Robinson and her S family relocated from the Indianapolis area to the Twin Cities in the spring of 2018.
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Gunnar (Andrew) Norquist ’04 and his wife, Shannon, live in Rhode Island with their three children. Norquist is a professional artist and was recently in a show in Brooklyn, New York, called “Smaller and Smaller” that focused on the beauty and intimacy of art. Nordquist’s piece, “Small Disasters,” brought attention to the grand scale of the NASA accidents in 1970 and 1986 and the sinking of the Titanic. 4
4 Tana (Gruber ’05) Huber and her husband, Brett, are thrilled to announce the adoption of their fourth child, August, who joined three big siblings: Josiah (10), Brynnly (7), and Emma (5). Luke Rasmussen ’06 and his wife, Elizabeth, welcomed their daughter, Caroline Jean, on July 8, 2019. 5 Sam Anderson ’06 is a band director at Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The band recently set a new record for the number of students—47—chosen for the South Dakota All-State Band.
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Colin Brown ’06 was promoted to the rank of major in the U.S. Army. He graduated from general surgery residency on June 7, 2019. UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN
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Tim Ferret ’06, his wife Annie, and big brother Bauer welcomed baby Maizen Thomas into their family on September 16, 2018. Tim is now employed as the family ministry director for The Point Church in Seymour, Indiana. He has direct oversight of the student ministry, which is exciting because it is his first vocational church position that has allowed him to use his youth ministry undergrad degree. Ami (Mathison ’08) Andersen released her second full-length album called Wayfaring. It is an independent, Christian singer-songwriter album produced by Matt Patrick. 6 Daniel West ’08 is a video producer for Westwood Community Church. He recently went to Ghana to work with some of Westwood’s partners (International Justice Mission, Globe Serve, and The Timothy Initiative). Westwood’s primary focus with International Justice Mission and The Timothy Initiative is to end child slavery on Lake Volta. While Daniel was in Ghana, he unexpectedly ran into another UNW alumni who is the assistant principal at the American International School. Tim and Jessica (Thiessen ’09) Brown married on May 12, 2019, at Eastern Montana Bible Camp. Jessica continues to serve in Bible translation in Papua New Guinea while Tim serves in Missions Aviation. 7 Micaela (Vedder ’09) Elzea married Dana in October of 2016. They both struggled with the loss of their first baby due to miscarriage and then Dana’s diagnosis of cancer at age 33 in October of 2018. He has been in remission since October of 2019. Krista (Wallace ’09) Lavrusik and her husband Vadim welcomed their fourth boy, Jones, on September 28, 2019. 8
2010s Rachel (Maki ’10) married Bryan Lindner on June 21, 2019.
Jeremiah ’10 and Chantal (Abendroth ’12) Schneck welcomed baby Jonah to the world on July 6, 2019. 11
Mike and Stephanie (Quernemoen ’10) Peterson are overjoyed to add another baby to their family. Savannah Elaine Peterson was born on September 8, 2019. She was welcomed home by big siblings Griffin (2) and Kinsley (1). 9
Stefan Swanson ’12 is enrolled in the Master of Divinity degree program at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California. He is also serving in the U.S. Army Reserve’s Chaplain Candidate program at Camp Parks, California.
Melody (Olson ’10) Sutherland and husband Kirk welcomed their first baby, Mack Douglas, in February.
Sharissa (Farley ’12) Wagner and her husband, Stephen, welcomed their second daughter, Eleanor Faith.
Kaylin (Hreha ’11) Faust and her husband Tyler welcomed their second daughter, Summer Belle. She joins her big sister, River. 10
Leya (Klingsporn ’13) Charles was nominated and accepted as the alternate tribal representative for the Region 5 Tribal Operations Committee which works to fix environmental issues in Indian country with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Leya is married to Timothy Charles ’10.
Jacob ’11 and Kristen (Scott ’11) McLellan moved to Alaska in October of 2018. Jacob traveled the globe as his Brigade prepared for deployment to the Middle East. In the middle of his travels, training, and preparation, Jacob and Kristen added to their growing family with the arrival of Jedidiah, born May 18, 2019. Five days later, Jacob took command of an Infantry Rifle Company, and four months later he deployed to Iraq.
atthew and Rachel (Tanner ’13) Dykstra M welcomed their third son, Conrad Joseph, on March 28, 2019. Conrad joined big brothers Oden (4) and Diesel (2) at home.
Christina (Holt ’11) Steer, her husband, Jerald, and their daughter, Eva (4), welcomed a new baby near Thanksgiving 2019.
aylor ’13 and Carly (Sellberg ’15) Heinsch T welcomed their baby girl, Brynlee Jane, on August 23, 2019. They reside in Orlando, Florida, where Taylor works at Celebration Community Church. Carly teaches English online to students in China. 12
Zeke Fuhrman ’12 joined the morning team on Wave 104.1 in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.
atelyn (Torell ’13) Herrera married Carlos K Herrerain Minneapolis, Minnesota, on October 11, 2019. 13
Thomas ’09 and Allyson (Jordan ’12) Mancuso are excited to announce the birth of their son, William Royale, on June 1, 2019. William joins proud big sister, Elaina.
ayla (Johnson ’13) married Lawrence K Pruitt on February 16, 2019. 14
Jesse ’10 and Merissa (Kittleson ’12) Scheumann are pleased to announce the publication of illustrated Hebrew resources by Glossahouse. Jesse continues to teach Biblical Hebrew at Sattler College in Boston, Massachusetts.
Taylor ’14 and Jessica (Beran ’14) Gonyea welcomed their son, Oliver Drew, on November 4, 2018. 15
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McKayla Hatfield ’14 was elected in November 2018 to the Chaska City Council for a four-year term. She has lived in Chaska since she was just two months old and she looks forward to having an impact in her community. 16 Zach ’13 and Olivia (Arnold ’14) Holloway welcomed daughter Rosemary Luella on August 17, 2019.
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Cody ’16 and Erin (Westerberg ’14) Kielsa were married on October 14, 2018. 17
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Amanda (Ahlers ’14) Vanderzee and her husband Mark welcomed a baby girl, Eden Grace, on March 30, 2018, and a baby boy, Levi Michael, on November 23, 2019. 18 Lindsey (Kuhlman ’15) Back and husband Nathaniel welcomed their daughter, Lucy Jo, in February. 19
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Connor Olson ’15 graduated from Concordia University (St. Paul) in May of 2019 with a doctorate in physical therapy. He is now employed as a physical therapist by Big Stone Therapy in Olivia, Minnesota. His wife, Erin (Kleinjan ’14), is self-employed as a graphic designer at ELO Creative. While working from home, she cares for her elderly grandfather and brother on the family’s dairy farm. Meghan (Sly ’16) married Joshua Malley on September 22, 2019, at UNW. Anthony Ohlendorf ’16 is working as a police officer for the Mounds View Police Department in Minnesota. Peter ’15 and Quinn (Bos ’16) Olson were married on July 6, 2019. 20
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J ake Colombo ’17 is married to Samantha (Dewey ’17) Colombo. Jake works as an emergency department technician and will be starting medical school to become an M.D. soon. Sierra (Frankamp ’17) married Joseph Emison on June 22, 2019. Sierra is teaching in Bloomington, Minnesota, while Joseph is an engineer in Medina. 22
Alumni Authors Peggy (Molitor ’96) Harvey You’re Never Alone: Divine Companionship in a Broken World (Timeless Publications, 2018) Zeke Fuhrman ’12 Land of 10,000 Aches: A History of Minnesota Meltdowns (Xlibris US, 2019)
In Memory The Northwestern community extends sympathies to the family and friends of alumni who have passed away.
Ruth (Schmitke ’17) and Anders Gredvig were married in 2013. Ruth is employed at the Minnesota Senate with the Republican Caucus as the finance committee legislative assistant for Senator Julie Rosen. She is currently campaigning for Pierce county, Wisconsin, county board supervisor in District 2. 23
orothy (Aldrich ’40) Berntson passed D away on February 5, 2020, at the age of 105.
raham McKee ’18 and Carmen (Johnson G ’17) were married on October 6, 2018, in Turtle Lake, Wisconsin.
Bertie Harrison ’54 passed away on May 30, 2019, at the age of 90.
Rosemary Grant ’18 accepted a place and a scholarship for the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Following her graduation, she hopes to complete residency in emergency medicine. Kaitlyn (Hohenstein ’18) and Samuel Jack ’18 were married on July 29, 2018.
Mastery, Talent, and Pluck
NATALIE CHAMPA JENNINGS PHOTOGRAPHY
John Taylor ’15 is a paraprofessional as well as a youth and high school football coach at Irondale High School in Minnesota. His wife Mikaela (Kase ’16) is on staff at Bethel University in the Special Education Programs. The couple welcomed baby Moriah Joy on July 18, 2019. Their little eaglet is full of life and has already attended her first UNW football game where Daddy used to play. 21
Marie (Andersen ’48) Ryden passed away on February 13, 2020. Beatrice Erickson ’51 passed away at age 91 on January 12, 2020.
Lois Westlund ’51 passed away on Christmas Day, 2018. Rev. Dr. Forrest (“Jiggs”) Williams ’50 passed away on April 2, 2020, at age 93. He received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Northwestern in 2010. Forrest met his wife Rachel (Van Loon ’52) Williams at UNW. She passed away in 2015. 25
Joseph ’18 and Sydney (Werlein ’19) Mahlke were married in the summer of 2019. 24
Eva (Gray ’63) Boyd passed away on October 8, 2019, after a long battle with cancer.
Cory and Karolyn (Randall ’13) Wilder are happy to announce the birth of Liam on April 28, 2018.
everend Lamont A. (“Monty”) R Loudenslager ’78 passed away on September 8, 2018, after a short illness.
Hannah Flowers ’16 received a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award to Ireland in Traditional Irish Music Performance. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in traditional Irish music and conduct research at Maynooth University outside Dublin during the 2020–21 school year. Her research aims to explore the use of the Irish harp as an accompaniment instrument for the performance of traditionally unaccompanied songs. Much of what Flowers anticipated— “late-night Irish music sessions and social music opportunities”—will probably not occur due to COVID-19, but she is “looking forward to a year of dedicated practice and master classes from excellent harpists ... even if it is behind a mask and six feet apart.” Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as the recipients’ record of service and leadership potential in their respective fields. See videos of Hannah’s prestigious work on her website: hannahflowersharp.com.
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Celebrating Eagle Togetherness BY JENNY COLLINS ’05
From our fall 2020 perch, Homecoming 2019 feels like a lifetime ago. After all these months of physical distancing, seeing celebratory photos of Eagle gatherings last September is a wistful experience. Oh, for the days when the only phenomenon threatening to cancel festivities was a horrible weather forecast. Scott Anderson ’84, director of Alumni and Parent Relations, said his staff was praying just hours before canceling outdoor activities in 2019, when the rain decided not to attend. Planning for this year’s Homecoming celebration included more weighty considerations than precipitation. After prayer and consideration, university leadership postponed Homecoming 2020, originally scheduled for September 24–25, until a later date. A revised date is yet to be determined. While the decision is in the best interest of the UNW community, it is difficult. “Homecoming will look totally different this year,” said Anderson. “We want to celebrate God’s goodness to this university for 118 years. To not do something doesn’t seem right.” The alumni office is discussing what a virtual homecoming could look like in the event that a concert and in-person activities are off the table. Anderson feels that celebrating God’s faithful hand doesn’t need to be limited to campus. “God is using our alums to make a Kingdom impact throughout this world. That’s who Northwestern is.” Even a pandemic can’t halt that reality.
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2019 HOMECOMING HONOREES
Distinguished Alumni Award Bill ’81 & Lisa (Berwald ’83) Abeler
One of the alumni office’s goals was to partner with Student Life and student leaders to bolster the experience of Homecoming to be more inclusive of alums and students. What emerged was a weeklong series of competitions between the different residence halls, where the winning hall lays claim to the “Cureton Cup.” Knutson Hall took the honors.
Buckles-Hanna Service Award David K. Johnson ’57 Music & Theatre Hall of Recognition Dr. April Fredrick ’02 Athletic Hall of Fame Kristina Siemens ’12—Women’s Golf Joe Palke—Football Joe is the son of longtime UNW coach George Palke 1984 Women’s Basketball Team Coached by Dan & Kristine Smith For more details, visit: unwsp.edu/ resources/alumni/honorees
In 2019, one of Homecoming’s highlights was the Music Showcase, which brought together more than 800 students and alumni for worship and entertainment.
Homecoming honored seasoned alums who once roamed the “old campus” in downtown Minneapolis. Around 70 alums who attended in the 1960s gathered to reminisce and share stories about those historic and pivotal years. Bob ’66 and Jane (Hansen ’66) Hosman joined in the fun.
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