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SNU MAGAZINE A PUBLICATION OF SOUTHERN NAZARENE UNIVERSITY FALL 2021
PRESIDENT Dr. Keith Newman (MA '94) VICE PRESIDENT OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS Larry Morris (‘90) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS Todd Brant ('94) ALUMNI RELATIONS COORDINATOR Marcia Mosshart ('77) DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT SERVICES Annette McElroy GRAPHIC DESIGNER Patrick Marston ('08) PHOTOGRAPHERS/ VIDEOGRAPHERS Todd Brant (‘94); Lizette Casas (‘20); Kristin Hardy ('20); Karsyn Matthews (‘22); Hailee Thompson (‘21); Ian Weston (‘15) CONTRIBUTORS Anna Derbyshire (‘90); Heather Fairbanks; Margaret Farmer; Cyndi Lamb (‘74); Kimberly McKay (‘95); Jessica Vernier (‘20); John Whitsett (‘82) TELEPHONE: 405-491-6312 WEBSITE: snu.edu/alumni EMAIL: alumni@snu.edu TO UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS snu.edu/update-your-information 405-491-6606 or snu.edu/alumni KEY NUMBERS Alumni Relations 405-491-6312 External Relations 405-491-6314 Trad. Undergrad Admissions 405-491-6324 Professional & Grad. Studies 405-491-6332 Campus Main Number 405-789-6400 SNU MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED by Southern Nazarene University The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editors or the official policies of SNU. POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Office of Alumni Relations SNU 1899 MAGAZINE 6729 NW 39th Expressway Bethany, OK 73008
View all issues of SNU Magazine online at snu.edu/alumni
Callie Campbell, Bio-Chem, Junior, Sachse, TX
Table of Contents HI G HLI G HT S
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Innovation with Worldwide Impact Bobby Gruenewald and the YouVersion Bible App Story
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Sowing and Reaping in a Whole New Way
Evan Mosshart Launches an Urban Garden Ministry
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C ONT E NT S
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4. From the President 6. Innovation & Servanthood Leadership
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BRIC Work
Dr. Truell Hyde’s Legacy of Spaces for Innovation and Inspiration
Susan (Van Hook) Riley is Serving Up Innovative, Servant Leadership
8. A Winning Combination Brennan DiChiara’s Strategy for Pro Sports Innovation
22. Shelter for Those Who Serve The Barn Ministry – A Vision for Pastoral Support and Shelter Comes to Life
24. Refining Students Through Service Misty Jaggers Leads the LiveLast Center at SNU
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A Passion for Life Jorge & Brenda Hernandez are impacting Their Community One Relationship at a Time
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From the President "Houston, we have a problem."
Though not an entirely accurate representation of the words spoken by Apollo 13 astronaut Jack Swigert in 1970, while communicating the discovery of an explosion that had damaged their spaceship, the movie's creative adaption of the original line became a popular phrase in our culture. It describes that "Uh oh" moment when something has gone wrong, a solution is needed, and the faster, the better. Growing up on an Air Force Base near the Space Center, my bedroom walls were lined with glossy signed photographs of the astronauts in the 1960s. I learned early that innovation requires curiosity and these pioneers in space were attempting to solve problems, the primary requirement, it seems, to try something new.
"WE CONTINUE TO POINT OUR STUDENTS IN THE DIRECTION OF JESUS..."
Back in mid-summer 1899, a different group of pioneers was granted a charter to open a new university on the holiness campgrounds a mile north of Greenville, Texas. Welcoming the first class of students in September of that same year, there was little time to recruit faculty, build classrooms, or develop curriculum, but innovators often leave the details to others. From the beginning, the university was designed to be a liberal arts Christian institution, welcoming all denominations and committed to being affordable and accessible for those seeking a purposefully different kind of higher education. Throughout SNU's history, resources have been limited, with some times being much scarcer than others. Records tell the story of lean times, sacrificial support, and at least a time or two when the institution's survival was in great question. During my first year as president at SNU I had the privilege of sharing a meal with one of the
"SEE, I AM DOING A NEW THING!" ISAIAH 43:19
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most innovative graduates in our history, Bobby Gruenwald. (You will read more about Bobby on the following pages). Though we were not talking about scarcity or sacrifice in that conversation, Bobby made a statement that I asked him to repeat and explain. Here's what he said: "We make the best decisions when our resources are the most limited." Though he did not know it at the time, I felt like it was a divine appointment and precisely what I needed to hear. Innovators know that scarcity creates opportunity, and opportunity opens the door to innovation. Now in our 123rd year of service, SNU continues to pursue innovation, a hallmark of our institutional history. Whether it was the decision to be co-educational from our beginning days, or being an early adopter of the Professional and Graduate Studies model in the 1980s, or the educational center in Costa Rica, or current plans being executed to add to our health science offerings, SNU is committed to excellence, relevance, and service. Innovators always need help…with the resources (human and capital), with the encouragement (don't quit, persevere), and at a place like SNU, with the prayers (God is with us, Amen)!
Recently, Edgar Sandoval, President and CEO of World Vision, said, "Good enough is the biggest enemy to breakthroughs." At SNU, my hope and my prayer and my commitment is that we will continue to seek God first, live last through lives of service, pray big, and trust God to help us with more and more breakthroughs! Thanks for your continued partnership with SNU in this process to produce more Christ-like disciples through higher education. Our world needs more candles in the darkness, and with God's help, we will continue to graduate men and women making a difference as they serve!
Keith Newman President
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& n o i t a v o n In d o o h t n a v r Se p i h s r e d a e L Innovation in Business
BY ANNA DERBY SHIRE (‘9 0)
SUSAN (VAN HOOK) RILEY (’97) has embraced innovation throughout her career, always grounded by fundamental lessons of Servant Leadership learned at Southern Nazarene University. As a Freshman at SNU, Susan became part of SGA (Student Government Association) working alongside (future husband) Rod Riley. Through their shared SGA experience, Rod and Susan “remember many faculty and staff members who poured into us, taught us the importance of servant leadership, and helped to lay the foundation for how we viewed business going forward.... We will forever be thankful to them,” Susan said. In 1997, Rod and Susan graduated from SNU, married, and headed to Nashville, TN, beginning careers in the Christian music industry. During that time, they saw a need for a label geared to a younger audience and started saving up money to launch Fervent Records in 1999. The biggest hurdle was getting the first band to sign. “We had no experience and were so young ourselves,” Susan recalled. Finally, after persistence, By The Tree, a band out of Texas, signed. Big Daddy Weave signed in 2002, which put the label on the map, and many other bands followed suit. “Early on we had to be innovative as we ran on a shoestring budget. We had to come up with street level marketing plans and creative ways to compete with more established labels.” she said. “We built the label together with the bands, as many lived in our house and drove our cars on promotional tours, etc. Innovation and servant leadership were truly the foundation of Fervent Records,” said Susan.
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Susan (‘97) and Rod Riley (‘97)
By 2005 all the bands were hitting their stride, and larger labels took notice of Fervent Records. During this time the digital age of music became a bigger part of innovation and the future of music. The Riley’s were on the forefront of a new era in music. That same year, Warner Music Group bought Fervent, and became part of Word Entertainment, the Christian arm of Warner. They hired Susan to run A&R (Artist and Repertoire) and Music Publishing for Word and brought Rod on to head up marketing and operations. Later, Rod became CEO and President of Word. Sometime later, a friend who worked with Chick-fil-A corporate suggested that Susan apply for a Chick-fil-A franchise. Susan said, “I didn’t take it seriously at first, but, like everyone, I love Chick-fil-A, so I filled out the application, knowing full well that the odds were slim.” (In 2018, Chick-fil-A received over 80,000 applications and chose less than 100 applicants from that pool.)
n we Early o be had to tive innova as we a ran on ring shoest t. budge
Through the yearlong interview process, Susan came to deeply appreciate and respect the way the founders and owners of Chick-fil-A ran their business with intentionality, integrity, purpose, and a constant push toward innovation. And in the interview process one phrase was used over and over that resonated with her based on her years at SNU: Servant Leadership! In 2019, Susan became the owner of a newly built drive-through-only Chick-fil-A in downtown Nashville, just a few miles from her home. Her location is on track to do over $9 million in sales and employs 130 team members. When asked what her greatest success has been over the years, Susan answered that she was thankful for the years in the Christian music industry when she and her husband, Rod, were able to support so many ministries who brought hope, through music. They are now seeking to model servant leadership to their Chick-fil-A team members who will, hopefully, reflect their example in their service to guests and others throughout their lives.
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Innovation in Sports Marketing
DiChiara at HighMark Stadium, the home of NFL Buffalo Bills
A Winning Combination BY JE S SIC A VERNIER (‘20)
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WHEN BRENNAN DICHIARA (’13) began his freshman year at Southern Nazarene University (SNU) he was eager to find a way to pursue his passions for mathematics and sports in his future. As a student he was able to explore both - as a math major as well as a football player for SNU - but the biggest hurdle was going to be finding a way to continue both of these pursuits after graduation. Soon after his freshman year, he was shown that he could use his passion for math to pursue a career in the actuarial field, measuring risk benefits in insurance, and possibly expanding his career beyond insurance. Looking back, Brennan reflects that he owes a great deal for much of his success to Dr. Nicholas Zoller, who supported Brennan and guided him to his first job as an actuary immediately following graduation.
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"I really enjoy collaborating with my teammates and utilizing everyone’s strengths to achieve a common goal.” “In addition to being my academic advisor, Dr. Zoller helped me study for actuarial exams, find internships, and incorporate my love for sports in many of my math research projects, including predictive modeling for March Madness games and NFL win/loss records,” Brennan recalls. It was this mentorship that ultimately prepared Brennan for his current position. Through his studies under Dr. Zoller, Brennan realized that he could use his skills in mathematics to support and empower diverse groups of people and companies outside of the insurance world. In 2016, he decided that his desire to work in a field that included both sports and mathematics outweighed his interest in being an actuary. When he transitioned into his role as the Manager of Business Analytics for the Texas Rangers, his eyes were opened to the possibilities that Dr. Zoller had prepared him for. His recent move to New York as the Director of Strategy & Analytics for Pegula Sports and Entertainment - which includes the Buffalo Bills of the NFL and the Buffalo Sabres of the
NHL, along with other, smaller, sports teams - is when he was truly able to combine all his passions: sports, math, and people. Using the skills that Dr. Zoller helped him develop and expand in college, Brennan optimizes revenue across the company in ticketing, marketing, and with larger corporate partnerships, among other responsibilities. “My job requires me to interact with every department within our front office and determine how I can use data to help achieve their goals. I really enjoy collaborating with my teammates and utilizing everyone’s strengths to achieve a common goal,” Brennan said. Not only was Brennan blessed with Dr. Zoller’s commitment to his own success, he has been able to pay that blessing forward by supporting people company-wide at Pegula Sports. His desire to share his skills and use them to help other people succeed drives Brennan to find new and innovative ways to work within the ever-changing field of sports analytics and marketing.
Game shows have intrigued Brennan for as long as he can remember, and since graduating, he has worked hard to find his way onto a game show. That dream came true in July of 2021 when he appeared on The $100,000 Pyramid as a game show contestant. “I love to compete and put my wits to the test, so game shows are a perfect fit.” The next time Brennan is eligible to appear on another game show will be a year from now, and he plans to apply as soon as that day arrives.
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Innovation with
Worldwide Impact BY ANNA DERBY SHIRE (‘9 0)
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n 1995, a group of business majors hooked up an answering machine to a phone in an empty dorm room of Snowbarger Hall on the campus of Southern Nazarene University. With the encouragement of long-time professor and mentor, Dr. Larry Mills, and other members of the SNU School of Business faculty, they were determined to build a web hosting company. One member of that group was an innovative thinker and entrepreneur named Bobby Gruenewald (‘97). Today, Bobby serves as a pastor and Innovation Leader at Life.Church, a multi-site Christian church, and is the founder of the YouVersion Bible App. Arguably one of the most innovative, impactful ways the Bible has been made accessible around the world, the YouVersion Bible App is projected to have over 500 million unique downloads by November 2021.
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Innovation in the Church
After Bobby’s graduation from SNU in 1997, the web hosting company was sold, and by age 23 Bobby had built and sold a pro-wrestling site that drew 100,000 daily interactions from fans. When the local (Oklahoma City) newspaper ran a story on the deal, an associate pastor at Life.Church saw the front-page picture and recognized Bobby as “the guy who plays the keyboard on Sundays.” He invited Bobby to lunch and asked if he would consider being on staff of the growing church. Bobby initially told him “No” but was willing to donate his business expertise if it would benefit the church. At the time, Bobby did not realize how that appointment would change the trajectory of his life. The Lord spoke to him, reminding him of something he learned from his years at SNU: sometimes the Lord says, “you have plans, but I want you to go this way instead.” After several months it was apparent the Lord was directing him to accept the staff position at Life.Church. “I connected the dots between problems and solutions all the time, but it never occurred to me that my business world experiences could be applied to the church world,” he explained, “And I’m a connect the dots sort of guy!” Bobby reflected that an often-overlooked resource is sitting in the church pew. “Each congregation has a set of people with unique skill sets. When we think of serving in the church we tend to gravitate toward ushers, teachers, greeters, worship team members. There needs to be an empowerment and connecting of the dots for people Bobby presents Pope Francis an iPhone with the YouVersion App installed.
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A lack of resources was an opportunity for innovation by connecting people and identifying their unique gifts. Bobby speaking at Hillsong in Sydney, Australia
to engage at a more purposeful level,” he said. Bobby looks back at his own experience and sees how important it is for church leadership to see the congregation as the number one resource. In his case, a lack of resources was an opportunity for innovation by connecting people and identifying their unique gifts. Life.Church was only a few years old when Bobby’s skills as an entrepreneur were utilized to develop the multi-site model by using technology as the link between locations. He wore many hats and addressed the problems of the rapidly expanding locations along with the growing technology challenges. In fact, Bobby was serving the church in so many capacities, he found himself with a full calendar and a longing for more time to engage in reading and studying the Bible. And so it was that in 2006, in a crowded O’Hare airport, that Bobby first thought of leveraging technology to help with Bible engagement. He immediately thought up several names for a Bible website and registered them while standing in line to board his plane. When he presented the idea in a staff meeting, he explained “I think this might help me engage in the Bible more, so I think it might help others, too.” The other pastors told him, “Sure, try it.” But the church did not have the budget. There was no extra staff. It was just “go.” That began the quest for volunteers and any resources they could scrape together. They built a website with free Bible access and named it “YouVersion.” However, YouVersion failed! Technically, it worked, but even those who built it had to force themselves to use it. Then Bobby took an important leadership step and made the call to shut it down. As he knew, in most ministries fear of failure is one of the most paralyzing obstacles. He explained, “Fear does not usually keep ministries from starting something, it is the fear of stopping the thing that often keeps the church from innovation.”
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Bobby reflected that fear of failure also prevents the church from measuring outcomes. If it is not measured, it cannot be quantified as failure or success. Plus, fear of failure is more complicated in the church than in the workplace. Recognition of failure may cause rifts in relationships. Many pastors think if the idea fails, the church will lose confidence in “me.” However, it is freeing to acknowledge “It failed.” The win comes because there is freedom to assess the failure. “The next meeting after deciding to shut down the website, we were free to discover why YouVersion did not work for us,” he said. It was the failure discussion that led to the idea of making YouVersion a mobile website. BlackBerry was the big mobile choice at the time, so they created a mobile version of the website not knowing if it would be effective on such a small screen. At the last minute they added code from the only company who created analytics at that time. This gave them the power to measure the success or failure of the mobile YouVersion. The ministry team quickly found their own use of the digital Bible went up simply because it was always right there in their hands. Shortly after, Apple announced the new iPhone and the concept of mobile apps. Bobby and his team did not have years to figure it out and plan, they had a few weeks. So they created the iOS
version, and the YouVersion Bible App was in the App Store opening day in July 2008. They hoped the analytics would show 80,000 downloads in the first year. They were way off. It had 83,000 downloads the first weekend. A HUGE success! “There is not an easy recipe to help make decisions unless you assess expectations,” Bobby explained. “Expectations need to be defined from the beginning of any innovation and should not be re-written after the idea is underway. That is why it is important to measure everything and decide if the results are equal to the resource energy spent. Many start ministry ideas with no form of measurement. If success cannot be measured, then ‘the why’ is not clearly defined. It takes courage and honesty to measure and discuss outcomes,” he said. “Just as we should evaluate why something failed, it is equally important to measure success, because we need to learn how to repeat it. Even if an innovation is successful, it can be frustrating if you don’t know the ‘why,’” he declared. Bobby believes there must be at least one goal from the original problem that might answer the question, “Why it is working or not working?” Only then can leaders learn to “add or subtract from the process,” repeating the successes and stopping the less successful things altogether.
Bobby collecting Bibles in different languages from the Bible House
We need to be prepared to use the technology and tools around us to see lives changed.
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Bobby with Bishop Dale Bronner, Lead Pastor at Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral in Georgia
“Our focused goal from the beginning of YouVersion was how to get people more engaged in the Bible,” Bobby shared. He recalled two metrics that helped them measure success; one was the analytics, and another was the Streaks feature, which tracks how many days in a row a person engaged in Scripture within the app. “We had polarizing opinions when we launched Streaks. The ones who hated it were very vocal about it. If we had only that to go on, we might have taken Streaks out,” he shared. But the analytics told the other side of the story. A much higher number of people were using the app daily after the feature launched. That was the main goal, and with Streaks it was measurable. Bobby said, “How do you know if you are using resources in the right direction if you don’t measure it? Using resources with measurable accountability is important, assuming you don’t have unlimited resources.”
Bobby is selected as Commencement Speaker and is presented the Honorary Doctorate from SNU in 2015
“YouVersion started with humble beginnings and a lack of resources. Honestly, when the church has plenty of resources its biggest struggle is to stay innovative,” he said. “When there is no financial resource and ‘$100,000 doesn’t drop from the sky,’ innovation is the necessary route to solve problems.” And so, technology and the Church was not a new combination for Bobby and Life.Church when the global pandemic took place. But it was an unprecedented challenge for countless ministries around the world. Today, the innovation that those ministries used during the shutdown has created a hybrid church environment that will likely always remain. During the pandemic many churches relied on the digital world in order to keep ministries moving forward. And, as they did, church members became more technologically proficient users to maintain family and church relationships. Now, with many churches opening back up, Bobby believes there is a need for both types of church to remain available. “We can expect to see more technological integration and we need to be prepared to use the technology and tools around us to see lives changed,” he said. Bobby Gruenewald gives full credit to the Lord for all the innovative advancements and readiness of the digital tools that Life.Church created before anyone knew how desperately we would need them in 2020. “It is clearly something God has done, and I am very grateful to be exactly where God wants us to be.” Bobby speaking at Calvary Temple, a mega church in Hyberdad, India
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Innovation in Building Community
A Passion for Life K IMBERLY MCK AY (‘9 5) Since graduating from SNU, Jorge (’95) and Brenda (Campos) (’01) Hernandez have been driven by a passion to build up and enrich their community. This dynamic couple has played a significant role in the revitalization of the Oklahoma City Capitol Hill Historic District and the Latino community at large. Combining their talents with a desire to lift up and showcase their community, they’re changing their world one relationship at a time. “Southern Nazarene definitely offered certain events and experiences that helped us to understand the value of community,” Jorge said, reflecting on his time on campus. Jorge and Brenda live their lives with the premise that “if we could only remember how God loves us as his children, so that we could look at each person with a new lens – as humans - instead of looking at our differences with fear.” In fact, it was Jorge who started the first-ever Cinco De Mayo on campus back in the ’90s. Even then, he saw how much diversity could improve campus life.
Jorge and Brenda located in the Historic Capitol Hill District
To learn more about the Historic Capitol Hill District, visit historiccapitolhill.com.
Tango PR and the Myriad Botanical Gardens partner each year to bring the community Dancing in the Gardens. 16
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Jorge & Brenda Hernandez with OKC Mayor David Holt following a Facebook Live interview highlighting Hispanic Heritage Month. Scan QR code to see the interview.
The couple credits their professors at SNU for giving them the skills, confidence, and education they needed to make an impact where they were planted. While Jorge admits he wishes he would have paid more attention, both credited and gave thanks to Prof. Marcia Feisal and Dr. Pam Broyles, in the Communications Department, for laying the groundwork for many of their future endeavors. They also expressed their gratitude for intentional ways the faculty at SNU taught them about family and growing a heart for humanity. Early on, Jorge and Brenda became aware of groups or organizations that needed a “road map for the steps to success.” Because of their relationships and connections throughout Oklahoma City, they were sought out for advice regarding marketing, public relations, and business decisions, which eventually led to spearheading events and planning. This was the dawn of Tango PR, and a new era for the Hernandezes. “There are different ways of doing business in this new age and with this community,” Brenda said, adding that “a lot of people don’t understand what the Latino community actually is.” “Education is vital to helping others see things from a different perspective and understand every
Tango PR participates in community outreach with Supermercados Morelos.
“EDUCATION IS VITAL TO HELPING OTHERS SEE THINGS FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE"
nationality inside this amazing group of people from Guatemala, Colombia, Hispanic – Central and South America,” she explained. One event, the “Fiestas of the Americas,” has been pivotal in not only growing their company but lifting Latino people, giving them a voice and presence in their city. This started renewing their community in a way that no one saw coming. While it’s a huge celebration, giving people the opportunity to share their heritage, this annual festival is so much more. It has enriched family life and empowered children to further their education and become leaders. It also draws corporate sponsors and stimulates new business in the historic district. The Hernandezes are reluctant to take credit for creating all of these new opportunities in the Latino community, but there’s no doubt they are breaking barriers to encourage “togetherness” and changing how people view the Hispanic community. Through innovation and a passion for building relationships across cultural lines, Jorge and Brenda Hernandez are impacting and adding value to their community – one encounter at a time.
The Hernandezes meet with Capitol Hill Civic Group. SNU MAGAZINE | FALL 2021 17
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Innovation in Service to Community
The beginnings of an urban farm in midtown OKC
SOWING ANDREAPING IN A WHOLE NEW WAY BY C YNDI L AMB (‘74)
In 2011, Evan and Andrea Mosshart left Oklahoma to serve for one year as on-site coordinators in the African country of eSwatini (formerly Swaziland). The Mossharts were part of a now 20-year partnership between SNU, Bethany First Nazarene, and this tiny country the size of New Jersey which has the highest prevalence of HIV in the world. When Evan disembarked from the 19-hour plane flight, he expected to encounter a country ravaged by disease and poverty. What he didn’t expect was to see “people who had a passion for helping their neighbor. People who worked tirelessly for the benefit of those in need around them with seemingly reckless perseverance and irrepressible enthusiasm.” One of the Mossharts' assignments in eSwatini was to assist the established HIV/AIDS Task-Force which visits hundreds of homebound patients offering palliative care. The task force also works with communities throughout the country in planting gardens. Evan observed people bent over toiling, faces glistening with sweat as they worked together - digging, planting, and weeding in the African sun. Even those who were sick would help as they could.
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When the Mossharts returned to life in the US, Evan brought back more than great memories and some beautifully woven baskets. He brought home a longing for a new kind of normal. “I found within myself this relentless gravitational pull, an incessant yearning to take the things I learned there and contextualize them in my life today.” The couple found kindred spirits at a new church plant in midtown Oklahoma City - 8th Street Church of the Nazarene. One of the congregation’s founding values is to “be a good neighbor.” The church eventually realized that addressing the neighborhood’s food insecurity would be a major way to do this. The Mossharts began to view this challenge through this lens of longing they’d brought with them from Africa and to imagine what an urban garden might mean for their neighbors. Evan and Andrea explored the idea with lead pastor Dr. Chris Pollock and eventually shared the vision with the church.
“As we look around our neighborhood at 8th and Lee, we see people who are hungry. Oklahoma is the fifth hungriest state in the nation. One in four Oklahoma children fights back hunger pangs every day. We are hungry…not only for food but friendships, to belong to people that understand us, to love and to be loved, to be able to contribute to something meaningful, experience personal growth, and have a place to call home,” said Evan. Pastor Chris introduced Evan to his friend Kevin Marshall. Several years earlier Marshall had left a 35-year profession in IT, sold his home, and moved to an acreage north of Oklahoma City without knowing what came next. In time he sensed the Lord saying, “I want you to farm.” Gardening had been a lifelong hobby, so Marshall started with the few tools he had and began “to play in the dirt” as he describes it. Four months later his land was ready for planting. Marshall initiated an innovative farming practice called market gardening, which involves taking a small plot of land - one to five acres growing produce, and then selling directly to the public. This technique uses low power implements and focuses on growing the soil as much as growing the plants. Marshall avoids tilling, harmful chemicals, and applies organic fertilizer with an ingredient list that reads like a multi-vitamin. This technique produces healthier and tastier plants. God also gave Marshall a vision for his future. “He told me, in five years I would be training other farmers. I thought that was crazy since I didn’t even know how to farm myself. But at the end of last year, which was our 5th season, Evan Mosshart came to us wanting to work and learn how to farm.” From that meeting, Evan began to intern three days a week at Indigo Acres under the tutelage of Kevin Marshall. But the story doesn’t end there. From its beginning, 8th Street Church has enjoyed an innovative partnership with its neighboring hospital - Saint Anthony’s (Oklahoma’s oldest medical center). Together, they share a vision to minister to their community. This past summer, the 8th Street Urban Farm was created as a separate 501c3, built its first raised beds, and planted its first crops on
Andrea (Green) (‘08) & Evan Mosshart (‘09) with children
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a piece of property provided by the hospital. A large portion of the produce grown will be earmarked for use by patients dealing with food insecurity through St. Anthony’s recently established Food Pharmacy. As the farm has begun to take shape another opportunity for collaboration has emerged. St. Anthony’s is the site of a behavioral health unit for adolescents. One morning a week, a group of middle schoolers from the unit now come to help on the farm. They do hard, physical labor - from spreading large tarps to filling the sandbags that hold the tarps down - to tedious tasks like pulling weeds and planting seeds. Through working with these youth, Evan has seen part of his vision unfold in a way he could never imagine. When his helpers tell him, “Wow…I really felt like I did something today,” or “I’m so proud of what I accomplished,” Evan’s dream is blooming even before the garden has produced its first harvest. He’s overwhelmed to hear a young
man who was setting fires a few weeks earlier now saying, “Whenever I get out of here, I want to go help my grandma in her garden.” As the first vegetables rise from the healthy dirt that Evan and his helpers have cultivated, the urban garden is already producing a bounty. A bounty of caring…for others and the earth…a bounty of purpose and community. And a reminder to us all that God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV).
If you want more information on the 8th Street Urban Farm or would like to support their mission to be good neighbors you can go to: 8thsturbanfarm.org or find them on Facebook and Instagram by following @8thsturbanfarm
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Innovation in Ministry to Ministers
Rev. Michael & Dee Ann Page
Shelter for Those Who Serve BY AN N A DER BY SHI R E (‘90)
“The original idea was to build a barn home to bribe my grandkids to come and see us more!” Pastor Michael Page laughs as he explains. However, “three years ago the Holy Spirit began working on my plans and changing my heart.” Michael (‘77) & Dee Ann (Douglas) Page (’77) are nearing the end of four decades of ministry in the Church of the Nazarene. They have pastored Lubbock First for almost a quarter of their ministry and purchased ten acres and a barn for retirement. When the Holy Spirit began speaking, he struggled with it. “I wanted to retire. I wanted to play with the grandkids.” He wrestled with the Lord through many nights, reasoning, “I’ve done my part, Lord.” “I don’t have resources.” “I don’t see why you need me to do more.” But it became apparent that he was receiving a “second call” from a role of “shepherd to sheep”
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to that of “shepherd to shepherds.” Finally, he told the Lord, “If there is any stuff left in my tank it belongs to You.” When Michael asked Dee Ann, “Are you willing to sacrifice more?” she responded, “We have to follow what God wants us to do,” thus, the struggle turned to submission and The Barn Ministry emerged. Michael shared the idea with close friends. A trusted friend, Dave McClung, advised him to be officially recognized as a non-profit ministry, attorney Walt Fair donated his time for legal work, and Roger Huff is upgrading the website. Michael contacted longtime friend, Dr. Dave Ralph, who had recently retired as District Superintendent from Colorado, and they began communicating and ‘melding their minds.’ Out of their prayers, conversations, research and reaching out to other pastors and leaders, The Barn Ministry took shape.
SNU.EDU/ALUMNI
Michael & Dee Ann Page with family
The Barn Ministry is endeavoring to solve a two-part problem in the Church. First, the premature exit of pastors from the ministry, and second, the lack of funds available to pastors of retirement age. There are three main objectives to address these issues: 1. The Barn Ministry Retreat Home and RV pads are open for pastors and missionaries who need to step away, rest and rejuvenate. 2. Shepherd to Shepherd (STS), a boots-on-the-ground pastor support system where retired pastors come alongside those currently in ministry, is being developed. 3. Retired Minister’s Fund (RMF) is a matching funds program to help subsidize retired pastors’ incomes. Family and friends of retired pastors can participate by giving $100 per month, which RMF matches. The RMF has received startup funding and is prepared to receive tax-deductible gifts.
“I have watched my peers battle and struggle in the ministry, and now I see them struggling financially in retirement,” said Page. Pastor Page knows it was the Holy Spirit who turned that burden into compassion, and compassion into vision. “My hope is to inspire more sensitivity, support and encouragement for our pastors and retired pastors,” he said. Daniel 2:19, “The vision came to Daniel” is The Barn Ministry promise passage. Pastor Page and his team are confident many others see the need and have the desire to help support their pastors, shepherds, brothers, sisters and friends, who dedicated their lives to the all-consuming service to the Church.
If you would like to learn more, or send a tax-deductible gift, visit BarnMinistry.org or find them on Facebook at The Barn Ministry. Pastor Page is also available if you would like to contact him personally at mpagefcn@aol.com.
Innovation in Service Learning
s t n e d u t S g n i n Refi h Service g u o r Th BY J O HN W HI T SE T T ('82 )
“I love SNU. I love our students. I love the OKC community. The chance to serve the university and our students by creating opportunities for them to serve our surrounding community was a chance I couldn’t pass up.” So says Misty Jaggers, Executive Director of the newly established LiveLast Center for Learning through Service (LLCLS) - a donor-funded initiative designed to empower meaningful Kingdom service in the lives of SNU students. Concurrent with this is the introduction of the Hope Rising scholarship initiative which provides financial assistance to select students recruited specifically because of their desire to serve. Thirty scholarships were awarded in this first cycle.
Modeled on the example of Jesus commanding His disciples to apply what He was teaching them about serving others, the LLCLS seeks to augment and enhance student learning through service. It aims to help them grasp the importance of the Biblical mandate for service and realize it’s a key part of God’s purpose for their lives. “I recently had lunch with an SNU alum whose whole vocational path was changed through the impact of a service opportunity during their student experience,” says Misty. “My hope is that every SNU student would have the opportunity to serve and be shaped by that service during their time at the university.” As to why she’d accept the challenge of starting something new, she stated, “On one of my first days as a student at SNU, I had the opportunity to participate in a service project. I immediately recognized the value SNU places on serving others. During Dr. Newman’s inaugural address, he called us to continue that legacy and be LiveLast leaders. The LLCLS and Hope Rising initiative is a tangible prioritization of that calling, and I believe it has the potential to shape our SNU community, and the OKC community, in dramatic ways.” Student prepping food items to be delivered in the community
Misty (Cook) Jaggers (‘01)
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SNU student aiding a Tulakes community member
Jaggers explained, “The foundation of serving our community has been laid over the years and is well in place, but I have the opportunity to centralize it through one office and serve as a resource to students, faculty, and staff.” She added, “Much of my initial work has been reaching out to local non-profit agencies to share the vision and re-establish connections lost due to the impact of COVID last year. My hope is to have many opportunities ready to roll out to students this fall semester.” As SNU seeks to provide a place of refining character, shaping culture, and serving Christ, the LLCLS seeks to embed these principles into students’ hearts and lives while helping them develop and live out a distinctively Christian worldview. “God’s Word is clear that, as Christ-followers, we are not only to serve, but we are also refined through service. The world needs the influence of our service and the Jesus-centered hope it conveys,” said Jaggers. “The LLCLS and Hope Rising initiative aim to be a win-win arrangement - forming SNU students more fully into servant leaders who can impact their communities for God, while improving the lives of people in the Oklahoma City area and beyond.”
“GOD’S WORD IS CLEAR THAT, AS CHRISTFOLLOWERS, WE ARE NOT ONLY TO SERVE, BUT WE ARE ALSO REFINED THROUGH SERVICE."
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Innovation in Collaborative Research
BRIC Work Dr. Truell Hyde Builds on a Dream
M
BY J O HN W HI T SE T T (‘82 )
ost of us think of a brick as a rectangular block of clay, hardened by heat, and used in building or paving. In basketball jargon, it refers to a shot that never had a chance of going in the basket – one that awkwardly clangs off the rim or backboard. But in Waco, Texas, the word is an acronym for the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative (BRIC) - an initiative developed by Dr. Truell Hyde. Dr. Hyde, a 1978 graduate of SNU, has served at Baylor for the past two-plus decades as a professor and Vice-Provost for Research. Opened in 2012, the BRIC is a 330,000 square foot facility that is the centerpiece of the Central Texas Technology & Research Park. It is a place where world-renowned scientists and researchers collaboratively work with faculty, graduate students,
and undergraduate students from a variety of fields on federally sponsored grants and scholastic projects. With the support of corporate partners, the BRIC provides a state-of-the-art space designed specifically for this purpose. Featuring world class laboratory and symposium spaces, the BRIC also provides elementary and secondary students exciting discovery experiences ranging from ‘research-on-display’ tours of active laboratories to interactions with museum-quality exhibits. Formerly a tire manufacturing plant that provided 1400 jobs for the Waco community, the BRIC has become a hub of activity where cutting-edge research in emerging technologies can be developed, some of life’s hard questions can be investigated and examined, and a future generation of scientists can be stimulated and inspired.
Dr. Hyde and the one of a kind, CASPER Plasma Krystl 4 analog instrument used by researchers to conduct physics investigations related to work being done on the International Space Station.
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SNU Physics Dept. visit to the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative (BRIC) (Left to right) Dr. Ed Neuenschwander, Jorge Carmona (‘94), Dr. Hyde (‘78), SNU students and Dr. Mark Winslow
The GEC RF Reference Cell provides researchers the ability to examine complex plasma physics.
“SNU provided me a Christian worldview that has held me steady across an ever-changing academic landscape.”
The BRIC did not exist when Dr. Hyde first came to Baylor. It was an idea he “shopped” for a number of years. “I’m fortunate we had university presidents who caught the vision and donors who helped fund the dream,” says Dr. Hyde. But the journey was long and arduous. “In addition to funding, which is a challenge in any big project, overseeing the design, keeping people convinced it was worthwhile, and making sure we kept everyone in the loop that needed to be in the loop was imperative,” said Hyde. University administrators, city, state, and federal leaders who provided political support, as well as university alumni and people from the surrounding community needed to be informed of what was going on in a timely and truthful manner. “Any perceived shading of the facts would have been, in my opinion, disastrous,” he said. Today, a cutting-edge space for interdisciplinary research at a prominent university exists because a man with a calling pursued a dream with resolve and determination. Dr. Hyde had a passion to engage young people, especially those intrigued by some of life’s perplexing questions, and inspire them to set and pursue their goals. While his current work involves such heady things as complex plasma and astrophysics, and he collaborates with world-renowned scientists and researchers on high-profile projects like the International Space Station, his path began during his undergraduate years at SNU.
“I’m more grateful for the beginning I received at SNU with each passing year,” says Dr. Hyde. “Not only did is provide me a foundation for what I do today, but, more importantly, SNU provided me a Christian worldview that has held me steady across an ever-changing academic landscape. The tenet that anyone - particularly someone in a position of leadership - should maintain an absolute standard of right and wrong and then employ this standard to direct their interactions with those around them is almost unheard of these days. My introduction into the world of science without the dichotomy often inserted between a Christ-centered worldview and scientific research was, and still is, invaluable to me. Had my journey started elsewhere, my own worldview and spiritual journey might well have been impacted in ways I can’t even imagine.”
Learn more about the BRIC at baylor.edu/bric. SNU MAGAZINE | FALL 2021 27
Refining Character | Creating Culture | Serving Christ
snu.edu
Al umn i Ne ws & Update s
PROFESSIONAL UPDATES ANTHONY DOUGLAS (‘00) Athletic Director at Wichita High School North was recently awarded Art Newcomer Promising Athletic Director by the Kansas Interscholastic Athletic Association (KIAAA) BILL HAMITER (‘82) Congratulations to Coach Bill Hamiter and the US Sitting Women's Volleyball Team for winning the GOLD at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. MELISSA HAMPTON (‘14) Has been hired by the Miami Marlins organization to be their first ever woman Athletic Trainer. JOHNNY KIDWELL (‘21) Southern Nazarene University alumnus Johnny Jack Kidwell was elected to fill the Cherokee Nation’s At-Large seat on the Tribal Council earlier this year.
KENNY MARCHANT (‘73) Texas Governor Greg Abbott appoints former U.S. Representative Kenny Marchant to Texas Dept. of Housing and Community Affairs DR. DAN MARTIN (‘89) Recently became the Vice President of Development for St. Luke’s Foundation in the St. Luke’s Health Texas Division GIB MILES (‘78) Recently elected as Lt. Governor for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in Oklahoma CHRISTIAN MORSE (‘20) Piedmont Public Schools welcomes Chris Morse as their new Assistant Band Director and Director of Percussion.
Commander Mellissa A. Walker
COMMANDER MELISSA A. U.S. Public Health Service Officer WALKER Commander(‘97) Mellissa A. Walker retired from the US Public Health Service on 31 March 2021. She served 23 years in the uniformed Retired from the US Public services. Commissioned in 1997 at the University of Central Oklahom CDR Walker entered the Army in 1998 Health Service onUSMarch 31,as a communications office She served 10 years as a US Army Officer before transferring to the U 2021. She served 23 years Public Health Service in August 2008. in the uniformed Sheproject for the Federal She served as the Project Manager for the Risk, Issues,services. and Opportunities LUANN SCHMEIDEL (‘82) Electronic Health Record Modernization (FEHRM) program office. In this role, CDR Walker led activitie served 10become years as adecision-making US Army authority in that allowed the FEHRM Program Office to the single Recently appointed as theimplementing the DoD & VA integrated EHR. Officer before transferring to new president/chief executive CDR Walker worked with thethe National Service (NPS), where Service she supportedin the NPS's Chief of the USParkPublic Health Park Facility Management Division (PFMD). In this role, she managed and coordinated actions of the officer of Oklahoma’s Credit PFMD senior management team, as well as implemented a division-wide organizational review, which August 2008. Union. Schmiedel takes resulted in improved division collaboration, communication, process, and management practices. WEAVER III (‘04) the reins after 35 years Prior to this role, she served JIMMIE as the Program Manager and Principal Advisor for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director's Office of Business Management (OMB), on efforts pertaining t Oklahoma State University with OKCU. planning, budgeting, execution, and implementation of the FEMA Management Directorate Strategic Plan. CDR Walker also supported several majorDr. FEMA programs Weaver with budgets ranging from $50 million professor Jimmie SUSIE SHELLENBERGER $1 billion through multiple levels of the DHS Acquisition Life Cycle process. She also served as a received a more 5-year, Supervisor with the U.S. Army Signal Corps for than 10$1.8 years, million where she led the training, readine (‘78) Recently accepted and maintenance of health, welfare, and safety to more than 500 personnel during peace and wartime grant from the National the role of Senior Pastor atCommander Walker was a member of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Incident Institutes of Health (NIH), Management Team. In this role, she is a credentialed Type-3 Safety Officer and has deployed in respo Lakeview Park Church of the to major incidents of concern and several events of national significance in the Washington DC becoming one of only six metropolitan Nazarene in Oklahoma City, OK. area, and across the nation. people in Oklahoma ever to CDR Walker is a graduate of The George Washington University with a masters in organizational scienc Professional She received her bachelor’s degree in compute TODD THURMAN (‘83) She is PMI Project Management receive thecertified. award. information systems from Southern Nazarene University. She is a recipient of the 2020 Tuskegee Airme Todd Thurman was namedIncorporated National Military General Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Awardee, and the 2019 Armed Forces KELLY DIEHL YATES Communications Electronics DR. Association IT Military Leadership award. (‘94) Director of Athletics Dr.consist Yates recently authored Her uniformed services awards of a Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious a Service Medal (x2), at Metropolitan State Commendation Medal (x2), Achievement Medal (x3), PHS Presidential Unit Citation (x2), Navy historical fiction book entitled, Presidential Citation, Joint Meritorious Unit Citation, PHS Outstanding Unit Citation, PHS Unit University of Denver, Commendation Medal (x7), Army Meritorious Award, PHS COVID-19 Rush to theUnitHeartland. ThisPandemic Campaign Medal, a public university in PHS Crisis Response Service Award, PHS Response Award, PHS National Emergency Preparedness Awa intriguing takes place National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forcesstory Expeditionary Medal, Global in War on Terrorism Denver, CO. Expeditionary and Service Medals, DoD Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Overseas Ribbon, PHS Oklahoma in 1889. JOEL MULLEN (‘86) Recently reassigned to Thailand to continue as the Field Strategy Coordinator for South Asia
MARRIAGES
Becca Hollon (‘07) married Jeff Mathis on Jan. 30, 2021
Abby Felter (‘17) married Aaron Kovalcik on Apr. 24, 2021
Bryton Schmidt (‘20) married Riley McGrath (‘21) on May 22, 2021
Trysten Thompson (‘20) married Hailee Thompson (‘21) on May 23, 2021
Valentina Kusanovic (‘20) married Dan Dwyer on May 27, 2021
Noah Truitt (‘20) married Rebecca Morris (‘21) on June 12, 2021
Corey Bieber (‘21) married Rebecca Moore (‘21) in June 2021
Tyler Cook (‘22) married Maggie Pigg (‘22) on June 19, 2021
Jaden Osborne (‘21) married Garrett Turner on Jul. 3, 2021
Sam O’Bannon (‘20) married Taylor Womack (‘21) on July 31, 2021
Mindy Brooks (‘04) married Dan Jenstad on Sep. 10, 2021
Cooper Milford (‘19) married Angie Fonseca on Sep. 10, 2021
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IN MEMORY BARBARA FERGUSON (‘64) Jul. 16, 1942 - Feb. 28, 2021 Oklahoma City, OK
SYBLE WOODRIDGE GEORGE (‘53) Sep. 12, 1031 - Apr. 30, 2021 Bethany, OK
DR. DANIEL C. BUSH (‘74) Mar. 19, 1952 - Mar. 2, 2021 Arlington, TX
LYDIA KEETON WHEELER (‘70) Jan. 7, 1948 - May 8, 2021 Yukon, OK
JOHN TEMPLE MAYO (‘86) Aug. 30, 1964 - Mar. 6, 2021 Luther, OK
JONNA CATHRYN BUCK (MA-’99) Feb. 22, 1966 - May 17, 2021 Norman, OK
SANDRA JEANNE PETROV (‘66) Jun. 2, 1944 - Mar. 8, 2021 Colorado Springs, CO
REV. BILL FELAND SR. (‘76) Mar. 27, 1939 - May 20, 2021 Yukon, OK
DR. WILLIAM DEAN NORRIS (‘60) Apr. 10, 1940 - Mar. 11, 2021 Punta Gorda, FL
DORIS WEST BARNES (‘57) Jul. 20, 1936 - May 22, 2021 Pasadena, TX
BETTY DAVIS CARTER (‘54) Jan. 21, 1933 - Mar. 18, 2021 Rogers, AR
RAY G. RICHARDS (‘55) Dec. 20, 1930 - May 27, 2021 Bethany, OK
GERALD FLOYD MCCASLIN (‘59) Apr. 8, 1933 - Apr. 3, 2021 Golden, CO
DR. GENE SANDERS Mar. 28, 1929 - Jun. 6, 2021 Yukon, OK
REV. JERALD ALLEN BUSHMAN (‘60) Mar. 27, 1931 - Apr. 8, 2021 Enid, OK
BILL J. BAKER (‘48) May 2, 1924 - Jun. 9, 2021 Ft. Worth, TX
DAISY HAILMAN GOULDEN (‘68) Founder of SNU’s Nursing Program Oct. 6, 1934 - Apr. 8, 2021 Yukon, OK
REV. LEON L. SEATON (‘72) Feb. 10, 1938 - Jun. 22, 2021 Kingfisher, OK
LEE LUDWIG HART (‘58) Feb. 20, 1936 - Apr. 9, 2021 Lakewood, CO
PATRICIA WHITE HENDRIX (‘50) May 10, 1927 - Jun. 24, 2021 Bethany, OK
DAVID JAMES LONG (‘91) Sep. 22, 1970 - Apr. 10, 2021 Edmond, OK
REV. EMIT DINWIDDIE (‘54) Sep. 2, 1922 - Jun. 25, 2021 Denton, TX
LERLINE STOKELY (‘47) Nov. 4, 1925 - Apr. 19, 2021 Kilgore, TX
EVELYN HUDGENS KEETON (‘50) Jul. 6, 1927 - Jun. 29, 2021 Bethany, OK
DONALD EDGAR CORNWELL (‘52) Aug. 28, 1923 - Apr. 24, 2021 Overland Park, KS
MELVA KNIPPERS HORTON (‘57) Feb. 9, 1933 - Jun. 29, 2021 Many, LA
GRACE HORST KETTERMAN (‘48) Sep. 11, 1926 - Jul. 6, 2021 Leawood, KS LENORA EAGON WILLIAMS (‘55) Aug. 20, 1933 - Jul. 8, 2021 Arlington, TX WILMA CAMPBELL ADRIAN (‘64) May 24, 1941 - Jul. 8, 2021 Bixby, OK MARVIN L. HENDRIX (‘65) Dec. 27, 1941 - Jul. 10, 2021 Harlingen, TX JOYCE CARTER FORMAN (‘44) Dec. 9, 2021 - Jul. 13, 2021 Bethany, OK LANETA WHITE POOLE (‘53) Dec. 17, 1931 - Jul. 27, 2021 Bethany, OK DWAYNE ALLEN BROWN (‘75) Apr. 14, 1952 - Jul. 29, 2021 Bethany, OK REV. KENNETH DALE JONES (‘65) Jul. 12, 1936 - Aug. 3, 2021 Oklahoma City, OK KENNETH CECIL HEMBREE (‘61) June 17, 1935 - Aug. 9, 2021 Bethany, OK LENA “PAT” FIXICO ('56) Feb. 16, 1934 - Aug. 20, 2021 Bethany, OK VIRGINIA PHILIPS FRIEND (‘51) Aug. 12, 1929 - Aug. 25, 2021 Dallas, TX SHARON SMITH HANKINS (‘81) Sep. 9, 1959 - Aug. 31, 2021 Oklahoma City, OK DUANE E. ROMEY (‘95) Nov. 8, 1967 - Sep. 9, 2021 Newnan, GA ALLY REDDING ROWDEN (‘99) Nov. 26, 1974 - Sep. 13, 2021 Bethany, OK SNU MAGAZINE | FALL 2021 31
A l umn i Ne ws & Update s
BIRTHS
Lincoln Jeffery Greenback (son) Born: Dec. 16, 2020 Parents: Tucker (‘15) & Abby Eaton (‘17) Greenback
Declan Benjamin Acre (son) Born: Feb. 25, 2021 Parents: Jordan (‘12) and Emily Krueger (‘14) Acre
Indaya Danae Morrow (daughter) Born: Apr. 9, 2021 Parents: Riley (‘15) and Brianne Canino (‘15) Morrow
Sullivan Landry and Shepherd Ray Kessler (twin sons) Born: Apr. 12, 2021 Parents: Brian and Laura Poff (‘08) Kessler
Vera Lynn Vaughn (daughter) Born: Apr. 15, 2021 Parents: Kamron (‘16) & Kaylee Couchenour (‘15) Vaughn
Ollie Rose Carden (daughter) Born: Apr. 28, 2021 Parents: Jeff (‘14) & Michelle Madden (‘14) Carden
Clara Lowery Falkner (daughter) Born: May 10, 2021 Parents: Trey (‘10) & Allie Oakes (‘14) Falkner
Connor Alan Van Sickle (son) Born: May 12, 2021 Parents: Drew (‘14) and Lesli Kelly (‘15) Van Sickle
Callum David Acre (son) Born: May 24, 2021 Parents: Jeremy (‘14) & Candra Newton (‘17) Acre
Coleman Turner Siems (son) Born: May 26, 2021 Parents: Thomas (‘09) and Victoria Oakes (‘11) Siems
Shiloh B. Bolerjack (daughter) Born: Jun. 2, 2021 Parents: Aaron (‘07) and Brittany Henck (‘08) Bolerjack
Teddy Jane Riggs (daughter) Born: Jun. 20, 2021 Parents: Timmy (‘16) and Emma Krottinger (‘15) Riggs
Sutton Hunie Biggers (daughter) Born: Jun. 24, 2021 Parents: Foster (‘11) and Ashley Stewart (‘11) Biggers
Evangeline Fern Vera (daughter) Born: Jul. 9, 2021 Parents: Chris (‘09) and Sarah Siems (‘05) Vera
Eli Benjamin Busic (son) Born: Jul. 11, 2021 Parents: Ben (‘11) and Alicia Garmin (‘11) Busic
Stay Connected
Eloise Nadine Klippert (daughter) Born: Jul. 16, 2021 Parents: Andrew (‘15) and Amy Snyder (‘14) Klippert
Lennon Brack Stelting (son) Born: Aug. 17, 2021 Parents: Tyler (‘16) and Dannah White (‘17) Stelting
Scout Mae Shelton (daughter) Born: Aug. 17, 2021 Parents: Matthew and Paige Loyd (‘10) Shelton
Claire Marie Cummings (daughter) Born: Aug. 19, 2021 Parents: Chris (‘14) and Brittany Mullens (‘14) Cummings
Update SNU alums about milestones in your life — weddings, births, promotions, retirements, honors and awards. Send your updates to: • alumni@snu.edu • 405-491-6312 • snu.edu/alumni
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