Burman University Magazine Vol. 3, No. 1 | Fall 2020

BURMAN UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE

Engulfed A World in Crisis

Alumni find creative ways to serve despite hardships Capital campaign for library renewal reaches 77% of $5 million goal

Burman professor’s newly published e-book poised to help biblical scholars learn Koine Greek

The Sankey Challenge: Fully Subscribed 3 | Summer Sessions Set Record 12 Professor’s Research Grant Enables Student Research 16 | PAA Alumna Places in National Contest 21

BURMAN UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE

Feature Stories

VOLUME 3, NUMBER 1 FALL 2020 EDITOR Renate Krause CONTRIBUTORS Loy Anderson Ethan Burgess Askim Chundu Karen Dunbar Jr Ferrer Shirley Freed

Darren George Devon Graham Corinne Huedepohl David Jeffrey Delano Lewis Debbie Masela

Loritha Graham McDuffie Royce Odiyar Diane Southcott Sheldon Thunstrom Chloe Weir Marlon Wombold

DESIGNER AND PHOTO EDITOR David J. Kinsey, Alexander & Sydney, UBA Fall 2020 Volume 3 Issue 1

BURMAN UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE

Engulfed

Engulfed!

A World in Crisis

Reports from Burman alumni describe how dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic has affected them personally and professionally

A World in Crisis

Alumni find creative ways to serve despite hardships

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Capital campaign for library renewal reaches 77% of $5 million goal Burman professor’s newly published e-book poised to help biblical scholars learn Koine Greek

Montana physician Loy Anderson HS ‘87 spends much of her time helping patients understand the preventive aspects of the pandemic.

The Sankey Challenge: Fully Subscribed 3 | Summer Sessions Set Record 12 Professor’s Research Grant Enables Student Research 16 | PAA Alumna Places in National Contest 21

ABOUT THE COVER A worldwide pandemic affects everyone, everywhere.

Schools are among many institutions where the adaptations are monumental.

TO MAKE A GIFT To make a gift in support of Burman University call 403.782.3381 x 4161, or visit www.burmanu.ca.

VISIT US ONLINE AT www.burmanu.ca Facebook: Burman University Instagram: @burmanuniversity Twitter: @burmanuniv Burman University Magazine is published two times yearly by the Burman University, Office of the President, 6730 University Drive, Lacombe, Alberta T4L 2E5. © Copyright 2020 Burman University Letters to the editor are welcome and may be considered for publication. They may be edited.

Email messages to renatekrause@burmanu.ca.

Burman University is a Seventh-day Adventist institution.

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Update Of the three areas of our Shaping the World capital campaign—library renewal, student success, and faculty/ program support—the library portion has reached 77% of the $5 million goal!

Shaping the World In the pandemic environment, students, faculty, and the university administration must adapt to new and different ways of doing things. So your support in these areas becomes more important than ever.

12 S ummer School Thrives New relevant course offerings attract a record number of students.

One of these courses, “Educational Change in Times of Crisis,” teaches K-12 teachers how to navigate the changes that are required when delivering remote instruction.

21 Alumna

Recognized for Precedent-setting Work When children experiencing pain have to wait because a physician’s OR time is limited, the opportunity to step in and help presents itself— providing the nurse practitioner is willing to care enough to devote her time, energy, creativity, and ingenuity to intervene.

In this Issue

Facing the challenges of online teaching in the fall, one Burman professor says

“ My online classes this fall will be dynamite!

I’ll be a rock star on that camera.”

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President’s Message

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• Campaign Update • The Sankey Challenge

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Debbie’s Story: The Sakala Student Success Centre

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Engulfed: Alumni Report Pandemic Challenges

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Professor Studies Insect Diversity

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• Adapting to Change • Summer School 2020

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Year-end Reflections

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Awards Night 2020

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• A Clear Identity for PAA • Student Research: Haskap Berries

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Religious Studies Major Works with Little Chefs

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Comings and Goings

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Meet Your Board

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Ask a Professor

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• Nurse Hero • Harold Reimche’s 100th

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Alumni Profiles

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In Memorium

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Malcolm Graham: A Life Well-Lived

His work is for the birds—literally!

Declines in bird and insect populations are the focus of Professor Delano Lewis’ research.

The idyllic landscapes of the Ellis Bird Farm not far from Lacombe offer just the right environment for his study.

11 Photo by Colin Hill

17 Religious Studies Student Finds New Direction with Little Chefs A university-church-town cooperative program inspires career focus for religion major Askim Chundu

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President’s Message

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hile we were preparing for the Spring Reading Week in mid-March, we already realized the potential effects of the virus and informed students that we would implement an alternate delivery modality as of March 23. They would be working from home after their spring break and complete classes online.

During spring break, our faculty worked tirelessly to revamp classes. They adjusted teaching practices when students encountered difficulties. We also extended the winter term for students to meet all requirements.

One very difficult decision was to turn our annual convocation weekend into a virtual graduation ceremony. Because all families deserve to celebrate this special time together, we are inviting everyone to return and participate in next year’s convocation.

We also had to cancel the annual Alumni Homecoming weekend with the intent that next year’s homecoming will include honour classes from both this year and next.

During the early stages of the pandemic, we had to lay off about a dozen employees temporarily. But with financial support from the Canadian federal government, they have returned to work. We are also most thankful to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada for special funding and flexibility with employment policies.

Our academic committees worked diligently during the summer to ensure best practices for online learning. All faculty members, as a part of their summer assignments, completed courses in how to deliver effective online instruction appropriate to their specific disciplines.

Loren Agrey, President

Despite the pandemic that has disrupted everyone’s lives, Burman University is moving ahead with confidence. God has taken care of our campus for 113 years. He will continue to do so as we pray for His wisdom and guidance.

Although most faculty and staff were working from home over the summer months, essential services were still offered on campus. These included the library, information technology, the registrar, and student financial services. Additionally, the custodial, facility maintenance, and security staff were on campus to perform their duties. To ensure their safety, Burman follows the physical distancing guidelines and other regulations, as articulated by Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer.

As the pandemic continued spreading throughout the summer months, we decided to open Burman University by taking a flexible, hybrid approach for at least the first term of the 2020/21 academic year. What that means is that all application and registration processes are now online, as is all coursework—just as they were for the summer term. This fall, students can choose to take online classes remotely, or they can choose to take their online classes while being on campus.

With social distancing protocols in place, residence halls are open to those who feel that the campus is the best learning environment for them. The library and gym are also open to serve our students and community. The Sakala Student Success Centre offers counselling, tutoring, and mental health services both in-person and online.

We are keeping everyone apprised of any changes on a special web page that is updated on a regular basis at www.burmanu.ca/virus. I ask for your continued prayers for the safety and success of our students and entire campus family.

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Shaping the World

Alumni Investments

the campaign for Burman University

The Sankey Challenge has been met!

Student Success $3 Million

In response to this column that appeared in the last issue of Burman University Magazine, acceptance of the Sankey Challenge was outstanding!

Library Transformation $5 Million

Faculty and Programs $2 Million

to transform the library to fund student success initiatives to support faculty and programs Cash and Pledges

Library Donors

2,866,621

Library SDACC

1,000,000

Library Gift Total

3,866,621

Student Success Total

879,233

Faculty and Programs Total

432,708

Pledges and Cash Campaign Total

The Sankey Challenge

“We have committed matching funds toward the Shaping the World campaign that will modernize and expand the Burman University library. This bold and urgent project has significant future benefits for every university department!

The largest capital campaign in the university’s history has three main goals:

Donor Support

We thank the Sankeys for their creative generosity, and all those who joined them in helping us take a big step toward completion of the Shaping the World campaign.

5,178,562

Having our alumni and friends’ continuing commitment to transforming the library is exciting and faithaffirming. We are so very grateful to all those who accepted the Sankey Challenge and have moved us closer to reaching our $5 million goal for the library.

“We are extending an invitation for others to join us in honouring former President Victor Fitch and his family by naming the upper commons in the library the ‘Fitch Commons.’

“Respond by calling President Agrey or Eric Rajah [contact information below]. Our challenge doubles the value of your gift and honours the many contributions of the Fitch family!”

Murray and Elaine (Babiuk) Sankey

We would also encourage you to consider nurturing students and faculty by supporting the other two parts of the Shaping the World campaign: student success initiatives and faculty research. In this time of public health and economic crisis, these have assumed an even greater than normal urgency.

Thank you for your care and concern that surround us here on the Hilltop and on our virtual campus.

Eric Rajah, Chair, Advancement and Donor Relations

A vast bison herd keeps the Sankeys busy year round on their ranch in east central Alberta.

President Loren Agrey: (403) 782-3381, Ext. 4147. Email: president@burmanu.ca.

Eric Rajah: (403) 782-3381, Ext. 4161. Email: ericrajah@burmanu.ca.

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Alumni Investments

Investment Pays High Dividends

In response to Debbie’s post, Elmar and Darilee Sakala write,

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few years ago, a dedicated “success centre” for students was still a dream at Burman University. But because Elmar and Darilee Sakala believed they could make a difference in the lives of students, the Sakala Student Success Centre became a reality. To recognize the encouragement Elmar received on campus years ago, they gave a gift that helped Debbie Masela achieve some of her own dreams.

When Debbie arrived at Burman from Tennessee, she dreamed of preparing herself to work with those that society has marginalized. So she studied hard to complete a major in general studies and a minor in political science.

When Eric Rajah, CEO and cofounder of A Better World, offered her a practicum placement, Debbie was certain that God was leading. Gaining experience in this organization— one that helps communities provide sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty—confirmed Debbie in her career goal. She is currently in Quebec to hone her language skills and become fluent in French.

“I hope to be one of those bursts of light that can trace its origins back to the Hilltop.”

Debbie Masela Editor’s Note: When Debbie Masela posted the following on her Facebook page, in all likelihood she could not have known of the wide-ranging effect it would have on Burman University administrators, staff, faculty, donors and now readers of Burman University Magazine as we are sharing her story.

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Debbie Masela “And just like that, I’m done with university. My virtual graduation was today. Thank you to Burman University for taking a chance on me when no other college would. All the other Seventh-day Adventist colleges in the U.S. that I applied to must have looked at my SAT/ACT score and put my application in the reject pile.

“However, moving to Canada was one of the best things I have ever done. Special thanks to the Sakala Student Success Centre for taking me under their wings when I needed all the love that one could muster. That centre will always have a special place in my heart. It is where I grew as an individual, both as a person and a student.

Thank you for forwarding us Debbie’s Facebook post. Her testimony is so moving to read. Please convey our congratulation to her on her successful graduation. Debbie is a wonderful example of what can be achieved by combining personal courage and determination along with the support of her family and the staff of the Success Centre.

Darilee and I are humbled to have been able to be part of the financial cheering section that allows the Sakala Student Success Centre to be the lighthouse of hope and encouragement it is for Burman University students. We do appreciate your sharing with us the personal story of what a difference our support has made and is making.

“Without Wanda Johnson and Crystal Johnson, I would have dropped out a long time ago. But they both believed in me when I thought I was a hopeless case. I will miss all the hugs and the safe place where I could vent.

I hope to be one of those bursts of light that can trace its origins back to the Hilltop. Burman University has prepared me well for that.

“I aspire to be just as loving as that campus has been to me. While I may be on the other side of the country now, there will always be a feeling of nostalgia for the Hilltop. Thank you, Burman. Thank you for the past five years. Thank you for the tough, but much-needed lessons.”

Photo by Alexander Gilbert

Feature Dr. Loy Anderson, herself a survivor of COVID-19, reports that while a healthy lifestyle may mitigate the severity of this virus, it does not guarantee immunity.

In fact, several of her own patients were hospitalized with the disease.

Engulfed!

A World in Crisis Photo by Callie Brown

Reports from Burman alumni describe how dealing with a massive pandemic has affected their professions and their workplaces

So I will share just a few things I know for sure. I know for sure it is not a hoax, a terrorist attack, or a political ploy— though it has certainly been adopted by all kinds of groups for political reasons.

I know for sure that most people are recovering, and that most people who are dying from COVID-19 have at least one if not more underlying chronic health condition. And I know for sure that the only true defense is a strong and healthy immune system.

It therefore stands to reason that, if nothing else, COVID-19 should be a wake-up call for the need to optimize one’s health—not just to lower the risks of contracting or even dying from it, but to lower the risks of a host of other chronic lifestyle-related diseases as well.

Yet at least two out of three people in the United States, where I practice, have one or more chronic health conditions.

My mission is to help people discover any underlying problems.

I teach my patients how to support and

Infectious diseases can spread with extreme rapidity, threatening the health and lives of regional communities or global populations.

Editor’s Note: The news is grim. Here’s a small sampling: Refrigerated trucks, converted to serve as temporary morgues, are pulled up beside hospitals.

Hundreds of thousands of families world-wide are in mourning. People are out of work; companies are fighting to survive. Schools and universities struggle to transition from face-to-face instruction to online learning. And Florida police report they are using helicopters to stop “COVID parties” where people apparently mingle to try to spread the virus.

Because our society has experienced so many changes in response to COVID-19, we asked five alumni how the pandemic has shaped their professional practices.

Loy Anderson, MD Thriven Functional Medicine Clinic From Great Falls, Montana, Loy Anderson writes, COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus, is certainly very real and has affected us all, some in small and some in very big ways. One of the most devastating effects (aside from those caused by a faltering economy) is the disease’s effect on people’s mental health, largely due to fear, helplessness, and isolation.

I by no means consider myself an expert on COVID-19. Even the best infectious disease, virology, critical care, and epidemiology experts continue to learn more about this pernicious virus.

nourish their minds, bodies, and spirits so they can heal. I show them how to improve and optimize the immune system, which, by very definition, God gave to defend and protect us, allowing us to go forth in the world with boldness and confidence.

One of my favorite Bible verses says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.”

II Timothy 1:7

I believe our health is our most precious resource, and our best tool for living a life of freedom and confidence, one that is pleasing to our Creator.

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Feature no longer gather in labs to develop essential skills.

Like other schools of higher education in Alberta, SAIT As front-line workers during the transitioned to an online teaching COVID-19 pandemic, paramedics model. This model allowed faculty are extremely vulnerable to this very to continue working with students. contagious virus. Sheldon Thunstrom, All were quick to MAIS, CCP, adapt, and current has taught students could paramedicine attend the theory at the Southern portion of the Alberta Institute of program in either Technology (SAIT) a synchronous or for 18 years. an asynchronous He is also an format. active paramedic Our transition with the Calgary solved the problem Police Service of delivering the as a critical care theory portion. paramedic with the However, teaching Arrest Processing Training was difficult without protective essential skills Unit where he gear, but harder now with PPE. and facilitating runs a clinic for practicums—all requiring in-person arrestees. In that position, he has instruction—presented challenges. worked with COVID-positive patients Sheldon Thunstrom, MAIS, CCP Professor of Paramedicine

required competencies for graduation.

Our paramedic students, like many other front-line health care workers, expressed concerns over exposure to the coronavirus without having adequate personal protective gear available. Their stress was exacerbated by rapidly changing requirements as we learned more about the virus.

Providing care to patients in immediate need is stressful under the best of circumstances. The added stress of uncertainty over the pandemic added a new dynamic. Consequently, we now offer mental health support to enable student learning.

As we move forward to reopening the program at SAIT, we anticipate that post-secondary education will not look the same as it did pre-pandemic.

Students’ perceptions and fears will have to be addressed, and we will have to consider new and creative ways to deliver the knowledge and competencies for students to succeed.

A simple way to know the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic is to remember the “P” in pandemic, which means a pandemic has a passport. A pandemic is an epidemic that travels.

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and also with those that are symptomatic, but unconfirmed. All are automatically assigned to isolation units to protect staff and other detainees.

Professor Thunstrom reflects, The measures put in place by governments in the early onset of the virus were severe as we simply did not know much about this new threat. This pandemic has affected not only the practice of my profession, but also the preparation of future practitioners.

The post-secondary education model in most technical colleges and polytechnic schools brings people together to collaborate, share knowledge, develop new skills, and gain an education which has handson applications. With the onset of COVID-19, this model has been upended. Students and faculty can

We worked with Alberta Health At the same time, we need to be Services, the primary employer for mindful of proper social distancing, the healthcare workers in Alberta. They use of personal protective equipment, authorized student practicum and the proper cleaning of labs and placements because classrooms so that the potential need a high-quality, for more front-line safe education can healthcare workers continue to be was a possibility, available to both even early in the current and future pandemic. Teaching students. the skills that Our society students had not will continue to yet acquired was depend on capable, postponed until well-prepared, the fall semester. and professional By then, we hoped, paramedicsstudents could be perhaps now more Classroom scenes such as this are no brought back to than ever. longer possible with the social distancing campus in smaller requirements imposed by the pandemic. groups to gain the

Feature Karen (Krause) Dunbar, MA, PASC Teacher, Magnolia Academy Karen Dunbar has a diverse background in education. She has taught in public and private schools in multi-grade, single-grade, alternative education, and independent study settings, K-12. In addition, Karen has held appointments as adjunct professor for education departments at both colleges and universities. Her administrative experience includes teacher supervision as well as curriculum planning.

For the past two years, Karen has worked in Riverside, California, at Magnolia Academy, one of the Springs Charter Schools. Springs believes in parents’ rights to be engaged in their children’s education. So a personalized learning plan (PLP) that meets California’s standards for students becomes a collaborative project, involving parents, students, and

First, teachers at Magnolia Academy Finally, students were already were already working closely together familiar with checking in for online Photo by Austin Dunbar in teams. I was assignments to teaching seventh complete during grade students each Monday’s science, math, and home study session. physical education.

As we transitioned My partner teacher to total online was teaching them learning, the school language arts and provided each social studies. family with at least Together we had one computer. met with parents Of course we and their children had challenges. to create a PLP Most serious for each student. was the lack of Finding a quiet corner for teaching at Then, throughout experience with home can be quite challenging. the year, we had new platforms checked in with each other regularly and programs. Issues with student to ensure that academic, social, and attendance, online etiquette, and emotional goals were being met. technology connection also emerged.

When COVID-19 hit, we took this As expected, some of the online same team approach to create student platforms were new to students. So my schedules for synchronous instruction partner and I spent time reviewing and from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. As we met teaching both parents and students how

More than 200 countries and territories have been affected

by COVID-19, with major outbreaks occurring in central China, Iran, Western Europe, and the United States. teachers. Each Monday, parents work with students, several parents with their children at home to meet checked in as well. They appreciated PLP objectives; on knowing that the Tuesdays through interruption to Fridays, teachers their children’s work with them education was kept diligently at school. minimal.

Karen writes, The second Our classroom reason for the instruction came quick turn-around to an abrupt halt was that our on Monday, March administrators 16. Two days were supportive. later, students and They encouraged, teachers met online. gave direction, and This quick switch provided resources Teachers, parents, and students all had to to online learning and ongoing adapt to the new “school” environment. for all grades training to help at Magnolia was possible for three the various teams navigate through the important reasons: online platforms that were most suited to their subject matter.

to access and navigate through them.

Some excelled, and some needed more coaching. I met individually with those that required more coaching until they could competently move among the various programs and platforms.

Another challenge came up because a number of parents were “essential workers” and needed to leave their children home alone. Consequently, a significant number of our middle school students were left in charge of not only their own learning, but also that of younger siblings who were entrusted to their care. To meet this challenge, we supplemented synchronic with asynchronic instruction.

I pre-recorded and posted each core subject lesson so that students had access throughout the day.

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Feature Maintaining a daily routine, including “homeroom” exercises that focused on character building, helped ease student anxiety. My team teacher and I talked with students about the changes in our homes, school, and community to calm some of their fear. The daily newsletter we created included links to all their classes, announcements, their daily schedule and assignments, extracurricular assignments, and access to counselors.

It reassured them that they could cope.

Also important was planning for variety. In addition to their regular daily intervention time and core classes, we rotated art and PE into the schedule at least weekly. We also took students on virtual field trips to various places around our globe and provided opportunities to participate in meme contests, talent shows, and even a virtual school-wide open house.

The mission of Magnolia Academy is “to empower students by fostering

alternating shifts has allowed us to Marlon reports: be in compliance with provincial As our mission states, Wombold expectations. We are able to clean and Family Funeral Homes provides caring, disinfect between personalized, visits, and remain and professional available for service funeral-related should any of our services tailored staff become ill or to the needs of require quarantine families of all faiths due to possible and cultures. In COVID-19 addition to offering exposure. the facilities and Meeting with care needed, we families to advise, offer guidance, plan services, and information, and offer emotional advice to grieving care has been families and Prior to COVID-19, this family would have particularly communities. anticipated more than 500 attendees. challenging. We The current repurposed space in conference rooms restrictions placed on public gatherings so that we are able to meet social during the pandemic have seriously distancing requirements. But we still affected and altered many of our have to limit the number of family normal practices. To begin healing after members physically present, so we are experiencing loss of a loved one, it is offering and utilizing video helpful for family and community

The 1918 flu pandemic infected half a billion people around the world, including on remote Pacific islands and in the Arctic, killing 20 to 100 million. their innate curiosity, engaging their parents, and promoting optimum learning by collaboratively developing a personalized learning program for each student.”

We found that this mission can be fulfilled—even during a pandemic.

Marlon Wombold Owner/Director, Wombold Family Funeral Homes Following graduation from Parkview Adventist Academy (PAA), Marlon Wombold attended Burman University (then Canadian Union College [CUC]).

A few years later, in 1994, he established Wombold Family Funeral Homes in Central Alberta.

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conferencing, which allows anyone members to come together. But social wishing to participate in planning to do distancing requirements meant that we so remotely. had to develop new Facilitating avenues for people meaningful to grieve losses, ceremonies while share pain, and adhering to strict receive the needed guidelines and support. requirements To begin with, specifically we are required to designed to keep limit the number people apart and of individuals in isolated from the facility at any each other (from given time. In 15 participants at the past, we were first to 50 and now always open to to 100) also took the general public. Fifty mourners are physically distancing adjustments and Controlling public at a funeral service held at the College Heights SDA Church. careful planning. access by meeting We are meeting this challenge by with people by appointment only offering families the option of having and by separating our staff into

Feature an extended time when many of their services live streamed from our regular duties have been drastically chapels so that more people are able to modified or even eliminated due participate remotely. to provincial Some families regulations. are deciding to Implementing a postpone funeral creative action plan, ceremonies until and the commitment restrictions are and cooperation lifted. To help of all our staff have these families, we helped us maintain created uniquely our staffing levels. individual We know that this memorial spaces has not been the in our chapels case recently for where families many companies and may come to employees, and all spend time in Full PPE gear ensures the safety of all of us feel blessed to remembrance. be able to continue Each space has employees, including Director Marlon Wombold (pictured here). serving the families a framed portrait who come to us for help during this of the deceased, the urn (if cremation unprecedented time. was chosen), and personal mementos While the pandemic has not claimed provided by families. These spaces are as many lives in Western Canada as it available to families, by appointment, has in other parts of the world, the any time day or night.

mind settling into a new home, and then being stopped in one’s tracks by the risk of an invisible enemy. This was completely new territory for me in almost every way. I didn’t know the area, I didn’t know the church and its culture, I hardly knew the members.

My original plan for ministry was simple—do ministry side-byside. In other words, do on-the-job discipleship. Our church is known for training people. We have a seminar for everything. But while at Andrews, I found that the best way to disciple and train is to work with people one-onone while doing ministry together. For example, my visitation plan was to take all who wanted to come and show them how to visit. When COVID hit, this changed everything because now we were being discouraged from close contact with people.

It was obviously impossible to “do church” as usual. The pandemic forced all of us to find new ways of ministering

The most fatal pandemic in recorded history was the Black Death (also known as The Plague), which killed an estimated 75 to 200 million people in the 14th century.

It is also critical to keep our staff (and their families) safe as they care for the deceased who may have been infected with COVID-19. Personal protective equipment (PPE) has always been required for procedures performed at funeral homes. However, implementing its mandatory use in all situations created a number of new challenges. Due to the global demand, we experienced PPE supply challenges, but so far, we have been able to navigate that successfully.

In addition, our staff must now utilize full PPE gear to transfer the deceased from the place of death. When the death occurs at home, this can be very unsettling for family members who are present.

Finally, we are facing the challenge of keeping our staff employed during

economic, social and professional fallout is very real.

and sharing our love for God with each other and our community.

Photo by Keith Phare

Royce Odiyar, MDiv, MA Church Pastor in British Columbia Royce Odiyar pastors Seventh-day Adventist churches in Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, and Silver Creek, British Columbia. Shortly after completing graduate studies at Andrews University in Michigan, he arrived at his new posting, ready to implement his carefully developed blueprint for getting to know and serve his new parishioners. Six weeks into his new posting, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Royce writes: Six weeks is hardly enough time for moving into a new district, never

Working with a communications team is a good way to get the youth of the church actively engaged. Pictured above are 11th grade students Jaina Druitt (centre) and Karina White.

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Feature Photo by Ryan Swanson

didn’t have internet One of the first access to watch things our church our church series, leaders did was to figuring out produce an online how to host a church service— Zoom memorial not to compete service, to assisting with other media our Bible worker ministries, but to with changing stay connected from door-towith our local door ministry to congregations ministry through and their specific social media, to needs and prayer finding solutions requests. We faced Karin and Peter (HS ‘60) Burman prefer for families in need challenges such as in-person communication, but in a pandemic modern technology works well. or for people who rapidly changing had lost their jobs, information and a to dealing with a host of other issues. lack of resources and expertise.

Remarkably, with a great group of The good news for me was that leaders and a lot of hard work—like while at Andrews University, I had making phone calls and phone calls taken a double degree: a Master of and more phone calls, plus hosting a Divinity and also a Masters’ degree in 10-day running challenge—we started communications. Within this second to see results. With God’s help, we are degree, I had had several classes in managing to help our church family film production. These taught me the

sustainable pace regardless of what new crisis presents itself daily.

We are experiencing challenging times and walking in uncharted territory, but we are learning that we can work together not only to support each other, but also to serve those around us—including our own families.

Alumni Contributors

Loy Anderson, MD HS ‘87

Sheldon Thunstrom, MAIS, CCP HS ‘88

Fatalities alone don’t account for the full effects of a pandemic, such as absenteeism or the demand on healthcare services.

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stay connected. Another huge blessing, importance of story and also some basic giving us a much-needed boost, is technical skills. seeing our Bible worker’s social media So as quickly as possible, I took the efforts miraculously bring results. opportunity to invite some of the youth But this in our church to reflection would be learn how to edit incomplete if I did videos. Organizing not mention the and training them toll that COVID-19 took a lot of work, takes on my family. but it was amazing Pastoral ministry, to see how quickly even without a they caught on. The global crisis, can be kids were not only damaging enough a lot of fun to work for spouses and with, but they were children unless a big help. boundaries are There are many in place. It has other challenges Ensuring a good balance between work become absolutely that range from and family is especially critical for those in essential for me to helping church the helping profesions. set a healthy and members who

Karen (Krause) Dunbar, MEd, PASC HS ‘89, U ‘92

Marlon Wombold

HS ‘86

Royce Odiyar, MDiv, MA U ‘05

Campus News

Professor Studies Insect Diversity at Ellis Bird Farm

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elano Lewis, an associate professor in biology, is conducting a three-year study on potential links between the diversity of birds and the diversity of the insects they feed on.

For some time, bird watchers have noted the decline of bird populations throughout the world. More recently, a decline in insect populations has also come to people’s attention. Dr. Lewis’s research is examining the ecological linkages between these phenomena at Ellis Bird Farm, located a short distance southeast of Burman University.

Dr. Lewis uses several different collection methods for his research. The Hester Dandy sampler facilitates comparisons of freshwater fauna collections from various wetland sites. These comparisons help determine the health of the freshwater ecosystem at Ellis Bird Farm.

To attract ground insects, Professor Lewis uses white, blue, and yellow bowls containing a soapy solution. These are called pitfall traps when they are sunk into the earth. Identical bowls (“bee bowls”) also attract native pollinators.

Lewis explains, “To arrive at valid Photo by Colin Hill comparisons, we are sampling in five different habitats. The times are dependent on the weather, but our sampling attempt is maintained for as close to 60 days as possible.”

Genetic samplings of bird droppings can determine the groups of invertebrates birds feed on. In addition to these standardized collection methods, Lewis also compares opportunistic catches (with and without insect nets) to gather important information on the diversity at Ellis Bird Farm.

Ellis Bird Farm is known for its educational outreach. School children, college students, retirees, and the general public—all will benefit from the added body of knowledge Delano Lewis’s research will provide.

Book Launch The Koine Immersion Series

by Dr. Stephen Reasor

The Koine Immersion Series is designed to help students learn, enjoy, and become more comfortable with the Greek language. In this first volume, Dr. Stephen Reasor, professor of Biblical Greek at Burman University, guides students through the beginning elements of the Greek language via the inductive approach.

The “inductive approach” or the “communicative approach” introduces students to language learning in an interactive, fun, semi-immersive, and embodied way. It draws on the best insights from linguistic theory and language pedagogy to both bring the language to life and bring life to the language. The Koine Immersion series will have students listening to, speaking, reading, writing, and “watching” Stephen Reasor the language. The Chair, Religious Studies electronic format of this resource allows students to take short assessments along the way and receive instant feedback.

The Koine Immersion Series, Volume 1, is available in digital Mac or PC format from the publisher, GlossaHouse. www.glossahouse.com 11

Campus News

Adapting to Change The new Office for Continuing Education and Institutional Research headed by Dr. David Jeffrey will broaden the career horizons the university offers.

S

hifting government expectations have always required universities to adapt. Recently Alberta Education has changed how it measures institutional success, moving to a performancebased model.

In response to this change, Dr. David Jeffrey, Assistant Professor of Business, was invited to direct the new Office for Continuing Education and Institutional Research.

Dr. Jeffrey’s initial responsibility is to establish new certificate and diploma programs. At this time, current academic courses and departments will be providing the bases for the programs under discussion. Dr. Jeffrey does not discount the possibility of adding vocational programs in future. In fact, he sees a number of opportunities for such training on campus.

These students would acquire specific skills that are in demand in the marketplace and thereby enhance their employment opportunities.

In consultation with faculty, administration, and representatives of the community’s labour market, Dr. Jeffrey is investigating the most appropriate programs to develop.

Students will benefit from improved qualifications, and the university will be well-positioned to meet the Alberta government’s performance-based assessment of higher education.

Dr. Jeffrey believes the addition of new diplomas and certificates will play a role in maintaining the university’s operating grant in the coming years.

He points out, “These are high-stake issues for our institution and our stakeholders, and for all of our faculty and staff who work here and depend upon that funding.”

Dr. Jeffrey has taught at Burman since 2005, and has held joint administrative appointments in the past.

But whether or not a proposed program becomes feasible depends to a large extent on ensuring that “we work within the mandates of the government of Alberta.”

Under consideration now is a diploma for nursing students who spend 18 months on Burman’s campus before transferring to Kettering, a sister college in Ohio. Jeffrey explains, “A diploma will recognize the valuable stage of education that students complete here before moving on to finish their nursing degree at Kettering College. In this case, the diploma represents not the completion of a skill set, but a marker in their educational journey.”

A one-year certificate in bookkeeping, on the other hand, could attract those not interested in a four-year degree.

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Each year the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada (SDACC) hires Burman University graduates to teach in primary and secondary schools across the nation. Almost half of the hundreds of teachers teaching in SDACC schools received their training on Burman’s campus.

Summer School 2020 Thrives

T

he SDACC looks to Burman to provide summer school options for teachers. In the past, these courses were usually offered on campus and met various certification and re-certification requirements. However, over time it became obvious that teachers preferred taking classes online. For the last ten years there has been a gradual transition away from traditional face-to-face classes to online classes.

As SDACC teachers were requesting more online classes, some students in the teacher education programs at Burman were also seeking ways to advance their degrees by taking online summer classes. So, in the summer of 2018, Burman University tried to meet the needs of both groups by offering fully accredited classes in four-week sessions to SDACC teachers as well as Burman students.

New courses point to need for relevant offerings

David Jeffrey says, “I miss the classroom interactions with my students, but I am enjoying the challenges of my new administrative role.”

When summer registration opened in 2019, more than 40 SDACC teachers registered for a new course: “Teaching for Truth and Reconciliation.” Three School of Education faculty— Shirley Freed, Isaac Darko, and Gina Guiboche— developed the course collaboratively with Campbell Page, the Indigenous Ministries Director for SDACC. Both Dr. Page and Ms. Guiboche are of First Nations descent.

The four worked together over a period of about three months in a deliberate effort to meet the provincial mandate

for Indigenous studies for all education majors. The course explores Indigenous worldviews, human rights issues, and impacts of European contact (particularly on education) within the context of Christianity.

Chloe Weir, the new chair of the School of Education, points to the value of including “Indigenous ways of knowing in our pedagogy. We need to understand each other better, and this is possible through uninhibited discourses with the people in our community.”

40 to 60 SDACC teachers. Including 61 undergraduate Burman students, summer 2020 enrollment stood at 131 in seven classes.

“We are seeing the value of having Burman students and SDACC teachers in the same course—they learn from one another in a positive synergy!”

Shirley Freed, recently retired chair of the School of Education, concludes,

The number of registrations for both the 2019 and the 2020 summer sessions is an indicator to School of Education faculty that Canadian teachers deem this knowledge valuable.

Second new course In 2020, another new course was offered: “Educational Change in Times of Crisis.” Registration was capped at 30 students, but many more had hoped to enroll in the course that focused on “the changes K-12 teachers make when they are required to deliver instruction remotely due to circumstances beyond their control.”

Included in the competencies students were expected to demonstrate were “building personal and collective professional capacities and expertise” and “using technology to enhance knowledge and inform practice.” Again the registrations provide evidence that Burman is offering courses of interest to SDACC teachers.

Steven Gabrys, vice principal at College Heights Christian School, produced a video collage for one of his “Educational Change” course assignments. Students from four Alberta schools participated.

Steven writes, “This is the first time I’ve had 16 different videos stacked into one take.

(I can see that I’m going to need to upgrade my computer if I want to add more!) We never met together as a group. Kids from all over learned a song.

“I shared videos of how to play the chords on the guitar and kids practiced and learned it. Pretty cool for amateur stuff.” The video collage was used at Alberta’s online camp meeting as an education feature.

Yet a third course drawing record enrollments combines two traditional classes: “Bible Methods” and “SDA Doctrines.” Taught by pastor/teacher teams, the course introduces teachers to the new Encounter Bible curriculum used in all SDACC primary and secondary schools across Canada.

The online environment is ideal when providing classes for teachers from British Columbia to Newfoundland.

Summer school enrollment has increased by fifty percent from about

A second project Steven chose was a Frisbee collage to connect students and faculty at his school and keep them excited about being a part of their school community.

 To assist with ease of application and enrollment,

Burman administration has enabled complete online application and registration for the first time this year.

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School of Education

Year-end Reflections

by Chloe Weir Chair, School of Education

One wrote, “We are all struggling with our new realities due to corona virus: leaving school early, doing online classes, and for me, living at home again rather than having my own apartment.

On March 23 Burman University transitioned quickly from a face-to-face delivery to an online teaching-and-learning modality.

It was a quick pivot!

A

t the School of Education, faculty responded with alacrity as they moved classes online. Asynchronous classes were augmented by occasional Zoom sessions that facilitated meeting as a group. While students seemed to have little difficulty navigating the Zoom platform, some faculty experienced a new learning curve while engaging with their students.

It quickly became evident that isolation and having no face-to-face contact with friends and peers was difficult for many students. The lack of daily structure also created added pressure for some. So our faculty encouraged students and found time to conduct wellness checks to help them cope with the new way of life under COVID restrictions. The personal touch of checking in with students via Zoom, emails and telephone calls gave them opportunities to express their fears and concerns. Students appreciated the efforts made to accommodate their individual needs and ever-changing situations.

“But through our struggles we have to remember where we get our strength from. No matter what life throws our way (because it’s going to get worse before it gets better), we are able to access true strength. Like the tree that doesn’t fear when the heat comes, we too can rest assured that God will carry us through.”

To end the semester in one of my classes, students wrote inspirational thoughts to each other as they navigated the new time of COVID. Some shared Bible verses such as Deuteronomy 31:6 and Psalm 91:1-7. Others wrote their own words of encouragement and hope.

One student commented, “The times we’re living in are uncertain, uncomfortable, and scary. But there is a God who protects us from these terrors, and promises that He will take care of us. Even though humans frequently can’t solve our problems, God promises He will look after us. Take courage in that.”

As I read their postings, I shed some tears. I thought, at the School of Education we are committed not only to teach, but to address the holistic and dynamic realities of the human experience. Our students have learned to do so, as well.

In the age of the corona virus, “zoom” has acquired a capital “Z” and now has a whole new meaning.

Faculty of the School of Education

Chloe Weir Chair

Tim Buttler Assistant Professor

Isaac Darko Assistant Professor

Julia Falla-Wood Assistant Professor

Teachers do more than teach. They mentor. They empathize. They care. They share. They feel. They adapt.

Chloe Weir 14

Campus News

Awards Night 2020 Unveils Two New Scholarships Burman presented 96 scholarships and awards that totaled $181,740.

Diane Southcott, director of donor and alumni relations, reports that two new scholarships were added to the roster this year: The Service Scholarship for Education Majors and the Edith Fitch Memorial Volunteer Scholarship.

I

n mid-March, Burman University encouraged all students to return to their places of permanent residence in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the annual Awards Night, recognizing student excellence, took place on March 26 as scheduled—only in a unique format. The entire program was run by live stream on the university website and was well-attended (virtually, of course) by students, faculty, staff, and community members.

President emeritus J. D. Victor and Gem Fitch established the Edith Fitch Memorial Volunteer Scholarship. This scholarship honours Victor’s sister Edith’s life of service through eight years of teaching in the public school system followed by 33 years in Adventist education.

The Service Scholarship for Education Majors, new this year, acknowledges and encourages volunteerism in the community as a habit of life and awards five students $1,000 each every year.

This annual $1,000 scholarship was established to recognize a student who, while pursuing fulltime studies, is actively involved in volunteer activities either on or off-campus.

The anonymous donor writes, “Contributing to the community results in increased skills, selfconfidence, and self-esteem.

People who are active in their local community are known to experience positive physical and mental health benefits as they provide needed support for various causes. Each weekend Burman students faithfully serve in their churches, neighbourhoods, and schools. This scholarship acknowledges this selfless service.”

Students applying for this scholarship must identify and describe the service projects they have been involved in. Those scoring highest in service will be the successful candidates.

President and Mrs. Fitch explain, “In addition to teaching, volunteering in the church and community was always integral to Edith’s life.

After retirement, she volunteered for almost 20 years in the archives department of Burman University for a total of over 20,000 hours.”

“Awarding student excellence is a great honour. Each year our outstanding students receive the acknowledgement they deserve because of our many donors who have firmly committed to strengthen Burman’s mission.

We are so very grateful for their generous and whole-hearted support.”

President Loren Agrey Alumni—keep in touch at www.burmanu.ca Although presenters and recipients were separated by hundreds to thousands of miles, the annual Awards Night was carefully crafted to be a very personal event. Via the Zoom streaming service, awardees were recognized for both academic and service achievements with the added benefit of families and friends joining the festivities.

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Campus News Photo by Jr Ferrer

A Clear Identity for PAA

His research at Burman is exploring new ways to grow and utilize haskaps in agriculture and healthcare. Under the supervision of Dr. Määttänen, Ethan has been working with various selections of haskaps to quantify C3G, the major anthocyanin in haskaps that is responsible for its dark pigmentation.

I

n 1982, the high school division of Burman University (then known as Canadian Union College) was given the name Parkview Adventist Academy (PAA). Giving the high school division its own name was borne out of the wish to give clear identity to the high school.

Almost forty years later, PAA is making another move to cement its position as a leading provider of Seventhday Adventist secondary education in Alberta. To ensure the long-term success of PAA, the governance of the school has moved from Burman University to the Alberta Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Dallas Weis, PAA principal, first became a part of the institution when he started teaching for the high school in 1974. He taught for seven years and so thoroughly enjoyed his time that it influenced his decision to return as principal in 2018. Dallas holds the unique position of being a part of planning for the identity change in 1982. He is now a part of the leadership team that will guide PAA in its next chapter under the governance of the Alberta Conference.

“Moving our governance to the Alberta Conference will give us strong educational support and a solid foundation. It will give PAA a new building and a new peer group.

I am excited for what is in store for our school,” states Dallas. He also enthusiastically welcomes Holly Kay into the role of vice-principal for the upcoming school year.

Holly has taught at PAA since 2017 and is bringing her expertise and creative ideas to the role. Holly is also happy about PAA’s new direction and anticipates seeing where God leads.

Holly says, “I have felt since my first

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offering both medical degrees and doctoral studies.

Holly Kay, new vice principal

year at PAA that God brought me here to help navigate that change and grow it into pure unfiltered excitement! I think there are a lot of great things coming for this school and I’m grateful to get to be a part of it. A new building, growing into the Alberta Conference family, and continuing to foster an incredibly close school culture are probably the top three things that I am most looking forward to. God has His hand on this school, and watching Him work from this vantage point is an incredible honour.”

Student Research: Haskap Berries Haskap berries, with their unique taste, colour, and texture, are quickly gaining popularity in Canada. Dr. Pekka Määttänen’s research on prebiotics and cardiovascular disease, funded by The W. Garfield Weston Foundation, has also given senior students at Burman oppportunities for research. One of these students is Ethan Burgess.

Ethan will graduate with a biology major and chemistry minor in 2021.

Between now and then, he will apply to North American graduate schools

This biomolecule is of particular interest because of its known antioxidant capabilities and cardioprotective properties. By extracting C3G, Ethan was able to obtain the relative anthocyanin concentrations for each type of haskap. After extracting the soluble proteins, he took Brix measurements, an analysis of the sugar content of an aqueous solution. Dr. Määttänen will utilize his data in future human clinical trials.

Ethan writes, “In my free time, I was able to experiment with haskap cosmetics. I wanted to take advantage of the dark purple juice extract to make an organic and locally sourced lip chap formula.

“I am thankful for the opportunities Burman University creates by providing the resources and mentorship for students interested in research.”

Photo by Paxton Huether

Student researcher Ethan Burgess watching over his field of haskap berries

Photos by Christian Lintan

Campus News

Religious Studies Student Teaches Little Chefs

W

hen professor Klaus Irrgang gave Askim Chundu the choice of writing a term paper for his Principles of Nutrition class or leading the Little Chefs program in the nearby town of Bentley, Askim didn’t have to debate long.

That was back in February 2017. Since then, Askim has led Little Chefs three times, first for a class assignment, then for himself.

Little Chefs’ Comments I love this class. What are we making today?

My best after school school!

We make awesome food, right?

Taking turns is hard.

Can I come next time too?

My grandpa always asks if I saved him some to try.

to the high school. They came to have fun. They had circle time, passed the “talking ball” around, and listened as each told how the week had gone. They read a story from The 7 Habits of Happy Kids (by Sean Covey) and discussed the social skills it presented.

They played games.

They worked on crafts. They tied their aprons and cooked.

They made banana muffins, personal pizzas (with English That first year, Askim, muffins), pancakes, a religious studies a fruit salad, and major in his freshman Askim the storyteller is just as popular with his students as is cookies. They even year, found himself Askim the chef! made a frog cake by writing lesson plans, pouring batter into a frog-shaped pan, deciding on recipes, planning games baking it, and decorating it with green and crafts, finding stories with a social icing. All were recipes they could make learning component, shopping for under adult supervision at home. groceries, and driving 30 kilometers west of Lacombe twice a week for Askim reports, “Together we stood six weeks to meet with 10 first- and around a table making these recipes, second-graders for a popular aftersometimes taking turns pouring school program called Little Chefs— ingredients into a bowl, sometimes one that always has a waiting list. holding the electric mixer. For the fruit salad all the kids actually cut the The Bentley Seventh-day Adventist fruit—with butter knives, of course.

Church partners with the Town of As we worked, I told them about Bentley, Burman University, and the ingredients and explained what’s Bentley High School to run Little Chefs. required of a chef.”

Karen Baumbach (HS ‘75), a local farmer, and Barb Carson from Bentley’s Now in his senior year, Askim has Family and Community Support decided that he likes working with Services (FCSS) supervise, assist, kids. He laughingly admits, “I feed off and support. The high school lends their energy and become a kid again.” its food lab space. Middle and high He is considering graduate work in school students volunteer. Askim was chaplaincy or even social work. His responsible for facilitating each session. religious studies major will remain the foundation for a career of service, but The 2020 program was changed to two his Principles of Nutrition class project hours once a week. So at 3:30 every has changed his approach. “God works Wednesday afternoon, the little ones in mysterious ways!” from the grade school crossed the street 17

Comings and Goings

Comings and Goings

In a May 28 virtual employee recognition ceremony, the following three retiring faculty were honoured:

Burman University welcomes the following faculty: Kwame Adom is an associate professor at the School of Business. He holds a PhD in management from the University of Sheffield Management School in England. His MBA is from University of Leicester, UK. Dr. Adom is an experienced researcher in entrepreneurship and marketing. He has 15 journal publications, two book chapters, and one edited book to his credit.

Dr. Adom comes to Burman from the University of Ghana Business School where he taught for the past eight years. He and his wife, Cynthia Obenewa, a caterer, have three children.

Dadria R. Lewis is an assistant professor in the psychology department. Dr. Lewis earned her PhD in counseling and counselor education at the University of Florida (UF). While studying there, she was awarded UF’s Outstanding International Student Award.

At the College of Behavioural and Social Sciences at Northern Caribbean University in Jamaica, Dr. Lewis taught as well as coordinated practicums and fieldwork. Her areas of interest include social justice advocacy and family-school-community collaboration.

She and Dr. Delano Lewis, associate professor in the biology department, have three children.

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Bruce Buttler arrived at Canadian Union College (CUC, now Burman University) with Geri, his wife, and their sons Timothy and David on Registration Day 1976. They came from Loma Linda University where Bruce had earned a PhD in biology.

At that time, no private college in Alberta had the authority to confer degrees—except in theology. President Neville Matthews was intent on hiring highly qualified professors. He fully supported Bruce’s efforts to build a strong biology program, and it grew rapidly from one instructor to several.

For 44 years, Bruce worked with the administration to achieve fully-accredited university status while still being focused on mission. He served first as biology instructor, then as department chair, and finally as dean of the Division of Science. He spent his life helping Burman University become the institution that it is today.

His many diverse interests have given Dr. Buttler a reputation as a “Renaissance man.” He writes, “My greatest challenge and greatest accomplishment was to grow as a scholar.” In retirement he plans to continue his research and learn Hindi.

John Byron Connors started an undergraduate program in psychology at Burman University in 1990. He was the department chair for more than 20 years. Under Dr. Connor’s leadership, the university added two additional professors to expand the curriculum during the 1990s. In 1997, a 3-year BSc was approved; and in 2003, a 4-year BSc was added. Dr. Connors’

many professional accomplishments include creating a psychometric lab and building an extensive library collection to support student research.

Dr. Connors writes, “Psychology is now among the largest majors on campus. Graduates have gone on to medical and dental schools, and allied health programs. Some choose to take graduate training in mental health studies such as social work and counseling psychology.”

Dr. Connors is a member of the Canadian Psychological Association. His research area is the history of psychology, and he has been an invited researcher for five years at Dalhousie University where he joins other scholars during the summer for pursuing his research interests. His retirement plans are to “maintain my health and continue projects on the history of Canadian psychology.”

Shirley Freed came out of retirement to chair the School of Education for the past three years.

She and Allan, her husband, had moved from Andrews University, Michigan, to Lacombe to be near family. She writes that helping Burman seemed “the ‘right thing’ to do. But the transition was a steep learning curve primarily because of the strong connections that needed to be maintained with Alberta government ministers of education, the Alberta deans of education (a group of 10), the North American Division, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada.”

During her tenure as chair, Dr. Freed wrote and received grants for integrating the new Alberta Teaching Quality Standard into all courses with analysis across the program, renovating two classrooms for active learning, setting up a much-needed student lounge, and providing students with unique learning opportunities in Cambodia.

Dr. Freed strengthened the online summer program by developing new and relevant courses. She also fostered increased research activity among her faculty. Perhaps most important of all her accomplishments are the friendships she built for Burman with the deans of education at Alberta’s nine other universities.

Dean Jennifer Tupper from the University of Alberta writes, “Before you finish your time as dean, I wanted to express how much I have loved knowing you and working with you these past three years. Your care, commitment, leadership, and humour have lifted up AADE [the Association of Alberta Deans of Education] in all the best possible ways. You'll be missed.”

Meet Your Board Burman’s Board of Trustee members come from across Canada.

Some of these are ex officio—that is, they are members by virtue of the positions they hold in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada. Others are elected by local church constituents.

Kwasi Ansah-Adu was elected president of the Quebec Conference of Seventhday Adventists in 2016 and has served on Burman’s board since 2017. He has pastored for 35 years, partly in Africa and presently in Quebec.

Pastor Ansah-Adu’s relationship with Burman goes back to 2007. He and his wife, Lydia, supported their daughter’s studies at the university for three years. He sees his role as a board member to help the university in four main ways: continue with a clear focus on its mission, recruit highquality faculty and students, maintain its good image in the community, and remain in a strong financial position.

Victor Dingman is a businessman. He is part owner and operator of a lumber/ sawmill in Coaticook, Quebec, and has lived in nearby Austin his entire life.

He writes, “Being a third generation Adventist by choice, I am proud of my heritage. I have always encouraged our youth in their commitment for spreading the gospel.”

Leading by example, Victor is an elder in the South Stukely Church (the oldest SDA church in Canada), and for many years has served on the Quebec conference board and as a lay member at the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. He has been on the Burman University board for the past 13 years. He serves not only his church, but also as an elected official in the Eastern Townships of Quebec.

Victor and his wife, Guylaine, have been married for 36 years.

They have three children: Samantha, Joshua and Lisa. Before serving on Burman’s board, Victor was never farther west than North Bay, Ontario.

The two primary challenges Victor sees for Burman’s board are keeping the university identified as Canada’s choice for Adventist higher education and guiding the university in meeting the needs of young people for today and tomorrow.

He believes that the university must become visible and maintain a strong presence in Central Alberta. To that end, he is encouraging the university to invest in new programs and research to maintain a healthy student body.

Readers are invited to share questions, concerns or suggestions about the direction of Burman University with any board member.

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Ask a Professor

W

ithout a vision the people perish. Solomon said it, and who am I to disagree? Meaningful life is impossible without the pursuit of important goals and objectives. So, the first step to emotional health in these uncertain times is to resurrect those goals and begin active pursuit.

Some goals may have been disrupted by the pandemic—but only a few. You can still exercise, pray, read, study, improve relationships, eat healthfully, practice your kazoo; in short, do just about everything you could prior to COVID. Edward Everett Hale stated, “I will never permit what I cannot do to prevent me from doing what I can do.” So focus your attention on what you can do and systematically work toward those objectives. A year from now you want to have lived and accomplished, not just be a year older.

If you find that, because of the pandemic, you are more and more fearful and have ceased meaningful activity, if you monitor COVID statistics daily, if you immerse yourself in the current chaos in the world, if you have shifted into observation mode—then be assured of terminal depression.

Staying Emotionally Healthy in the Era of COVID Darren George, PhD Professor of Psychology

I can sympathise, because just like J. R. R. Tolkien’s Frodo, I, too, “wish it need not have happened in my time.” But, knowing the debilitating effects of fear, when Burman closed its campus March 12, even though my preference is face-to-face teaching, I decided to embrace distance learning with total enthusiasm. My online classes this fall will be dynamite! I’ll be a rock star on that camera! Students will learn better than ever before!

That is my vision. What is yours? Excel at your studies? Prepare for a professional future? Develop a rich spiritual life? Improve your relationships?

Whatever your vision, pursue it with enthusiasm.

Fretting about the pandemic will never help.

So go forth, follow appropriate health practices and, unless you are a researcher working on a vaccine, shift your focus away from COVID to important goals. Finally, are you a Christian? Do you trust God? Then remember Ellen White’s reminder: “We have nothing to fear for the future except that we forget how God has led in the past.” And let Paul’s words bring comfort: “The peace of God that surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

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...even though my preference is face-to-face teaching, I decided to embrace distance learning with total enthusiasm.

My online classes this fall will be dynamite! I’ll be a rock star on that camera!

Students will learn better than ever before!

Alumni Profiles

C

orinne (Holdal) Huedepohl, nurse practitioner at Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital and Stollery Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, was nominated for Canada’s Nursing Hero award and placed second. She is the first nurse practitioner authorized to perform sedated botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injections for children in an operating room (OR) without a physician present. These injections help manage spasticity caused by rapid growth during childhood.

Nursing Hero Corinne Huedepohl Corrine explains, “Children’s bones grow faster than muscles.

So if a child has an underlying muscle problem, muscles tighten up significantly. Often children eventually require surgery to manage tight muscles and tendons and to correct bony deformities. Having Botox can delay the need for these surgeries.”

One of Corinne’s patients is Liam. He was only 5 years old when a trampoline accident resulted in a stroke that left him a quadriplegic. That was in 2015. Corinne met him a year later when Liam started having spasticity in his legs.

Corinne’s independent OR work is precedent setting.

No other programs in Canada allow nurse practitioners this designation. Nor is there an organization that grants permission or competency in injecting Botox.

Corinne writes, “We needed to somehow prove competency, both to reassure families and to satisfy colleagues in the OR. Thus, we wrote up a two-year plan that designated the progression of skills over time. Top management at both Corinne (Holdal) Huedepohl, HS ‘92 the Glenrose and Stollery hospitals signed off on all documents. Dr. Yiu, CEO of Alberta Health, signed the Nurse Practitioner Role Description addendum.

Since Liam’s injury, he has needed 10 sets of Botox injections.

He also received an implanted pump in 2018 that delivers baclofen, an anti-spasticity medication, directly to his spinal cord. Recently he had orthopedic surgery.

“Our protocol is not standardized as of yet, but certainly could be used as an example to any other nurse practitioners attempting to change practice in the OR or other environments. One advantage we have here in Edmonton is the wonderful access to the Stollery OR for doing these procedures.”

Corinne sees Liam frequently for pump refills, check-ups, and Botox injections. She says, “He will never mobilize without a wheelchair, but the goals are to keep him comfortable and pain free and allow him to tolerate his wheelchair and braces.”

Today, Corinne performs and supports 50 to 60 percent of monthly juvenile spasticity treatments in northern Alberta.

Canada’s Hospital News reports, “Children experiencing pain are no longer limited by individual physician OR time.”

H

arold Reimche celebrated his 100th birthday on August 18. Burman University joins Harold’s many loved ones and friends in congratulating him on attaining this momentous milestone and wishes him much joy and great blessings as he begins another century of life.

When Harold first arrived in Lacombe, he enrolled at Canadian Junior College (CJC). When he graduated in 1947 with a Bachelor’s degree in theology, he matriculated from Canadian Union College (CUC). One of the first eight students to receive a degree from what is now Burman University, Harold ministered in the Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, Greater New York, and Potomac conferences.

His first assignment was to the Olds/Acme District. A few months after starting his pastoral duties, he married Mary Penner, a student at CUC. Together they raised two boys and two girls. Their boys, Al and Don, also graduated from the school on the Hilltop where their parents met.

One of the highlights of Harold’s ministry was his ordination at the Peoria, AB, camp meeting. He loved his Lord and continued serving in various pastoral positions even after his retirement in 1986.

Harold Reimche Photo by Doreen Zyderveld-Hagel

Alumni and friends send best wishes on Harold’s 100th birthday!

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Alumni Profiles

1980s Lawrence Stoyanowski HS ’85, U ‘89 has been a marriage and family counselor since he received his master’s degree from Loma Linda University in 1991. He is co-owner of Bestmarriages.ca and Affinity Counselling Services, and co-founder of Lighthouse Therapeutic Services. Lawrence was also employed at counselling centres and family clinics in California and Alberta.

Lawrence and Donna Stoyanowski Certified in the Gottman Method of Couples Therapy, he has presented at over 150 Gottman trainings, seminars, and workshops across Canada and the U.S. His leadership roles at The Gottman Institute include Gottman consultant and master trainer, Levels 1, 2, and 3.

Lawrence writes, “My job is to help clients clarify what they want to achieve, find a path to their goal, and take the required action. I have a desire to help people overcome challenges, take control of their lives, and realize their full potential.”

Lawrence has a deep commitment and interest in his local community as well. He has served on several boards and committees in the Langley, British Columbia, area. These have included leadership positions with the Community Health and Education Committee (CHEC).

He was also a board member of Aldergrove Neighborhood Services and part of the steering committee for Aldergrove Computer Training School (A.C.T.S.), a nonprofit computer school.

When not working or being active in the community, Lawrence enjoys spending time and travelling with his best friends— his wife and two daughters—and playing golf with his buddies.

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1990s Camilla (Naherny) Campbell HS ’90, U ‘96 completed an undergraduate degree in behavioural science at Burman University and then earned a Master’s degree in public administration with an emphasis in criminal justice at City University in Seattle, WA. In 2011 she qualified for a Juris Doctorate degree from Seattle University School of Law. Her specialty is employment law defense.

An attorney in southern California when the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions went into effect, Camilla reports that court hearings conducted over the telephone, depositions done via Zoom, witness interviews and evidence gathering done remotely—these have all called for great creativity and flexibility.

In addition to practicing law, Camilla is co-owner of Campbell Realty, a brokerage firm in Highland, California. She is also president of an adult residential facility, where she serves as the administrator.

Camilla’s busy life includes many volunteer activities as well. In addition to providing regular pro bono legal services to community and church members, she has volunteered with Public Counsel in Los Angeles, led out as director for a legal clinic at her church, and served as codirector for her church’s marriage ministry.

She also volunteers at Adventurers and teaches children’s Sabbath school classes.

Camilla is married to Fritz Campbell, portfolio manager in information technology for Loma Linda University Health. They are parents to 10-year-old Malia who attends Loma Linda Academy.

2000s Chris HS ’95, U ’00, U ’05 and Julie (Jai) Phare Dubyna U ’00, U ‘01 have been involved in Adventist education since graduating from Burman University with both education and adventure-based counseling degrees.

Their most recent assignments were in the Alberta Conference of Seventhday Adventists as administrators: Chris, principal at College Heights Christian School; and Jai, principal at four “micro-schools.”

Jai’s micro-schools (Sylvan Meadows Adventist School, Peace Hills Adventist School, South Side Christian School, and Woodlands Adventist School) have enrollments of 18 to 58 students.

Although physically distant from each other, they conduct joint field trips for students and professional development events for teachers. Jai explains, “This leads to a sense of belonging and allows multigrade teachers to collaborate with other teachers in the same situation.”

During this unique time of educating students through a global pandemic, Jai and Chris have seen evidence of God’s leading in their schools. Both teachers and students needed to learn how to use Zoom and Google Classroom.

While their school buildings were empty and staff missed personal interactions with students from March to June, there were positives that came out of remote learning: • Daily worship with the students in their homes provided opportunity for parents and younger siblings to join in this time of praise and prayer.

• Zoom meetings allowed students to see their classmates and teachers and know that they were supported and loved.

• Increased family time let families slow down and reconnect.

The Dubynas, (l to r) Jorjah (12), Jai, Mackenzie (14), Samantha (15), and Chris Throughout this crisis, Chris and Jai were supportive leaders ensuring that teachers and families worked together as teams with the goal of developing the mind, body, and heart of every child. They look forward to the challenges and blessings of the upcoming year when Chris will be taking over the administration of central Alberta’s micro-schools, and Jai will be returning to the classroom as a substitute teacher in hopes of having her own classroom again in the future.

TD Insurance Meloche Monnex

An exciting benefit for you as a Burman graduate!

In Memoriam

Glen Owen (att) August 27, 2019

Burman University notes with sadness the passing of the following alumni (based on information received between June 2019 and June 2020).

Howard Ray Pearson (att)

Fern Trarback Adams (att) July 25, 2019

Florence Noreen Kereychuk Alexander HS ’55 July 2019

George Bell HS ’63 September 24, 2019

Shannan Lee Daigle Blabey, staff (att) February 7, 2020

Alberta Reimche Blake U ‘63

Take advantage of your alumni benefits • You have access to the TD Insurance Meloche Monnex program. This means you can get preferred insurance rates on a wide range of home, condo, renter’s and car coverage that can be customized for your needs.

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Online: alumni@burmanu.ca

By Mail:

Alumni Association Burman University 6730 University Drive Lacombe, AB Canada T4L 2E5

• Send digital photos by email in the jpg, tif or eps file format.

File sizes of one megabyte or more are best.

• Be sure to include your date of graduation or dates of attendance.

Kent Allan Rusk HS ’90, U ‘95 June 9, 2020

Huzella Erna Littman Sampsel (att) January 10, 2020 Herb Schafer HS ’57 November 2020 Irven (Irwin) Schafer (att) June 27, 2019 Walter Schram, staff (att) November 27, 2019 Wilson Sieg HS ’62 September 4, 2019

David “Hudson” Cowley (att)

Irish (Iris) Vergie Smelser (att) October 23, 2018

Gary de Boer, staff

Kristen Marie Spangler HS ’97 September 18, 2019

December 13, 2018 July 23, 2019 March 2020

Gillian Kingsfield Fisher U ‘65 March 23, 2020

Eleanor Gustavson Friesen U ‘55 June 25, 2019

Courtney Gimbel (att) March 12, 2020

Malcolm S. Graham, staff U ’54 May 17, 2020

John Holstein U ’49, U ‘50 August 17, 2019

Martha May Horn (att) May 2, 2020

Donna Ann Densmore Spencer HS ’71 May 5, 2018 Caroline Campbell Stickle HS ’55, U ‘56 February 29, 2020 Joe Strutz, staff February 3, 2020 Patricia Munro Swisher HS ’48, U ‘51 October 4, 2019 Heather Dawn Daley Tam U ‘91 October 21, 2019 Della June Huether Trenchuk (att) August 25, 2019

Marilyn Jean Ilchuk HS ’75 October 29, 2019

Joseph Uniat HS ’52, U ‘53 July 26, 2018

Betty Ann Gieck Jacobson HS ’83

Ulrich Unruh (att) August 23, 2019

May 18, 2020

Alumni: We’d like to hear from you!

June 17, 2019

Rudolph Skoretz HS ’51, U ‘58 August 9, 2019

November 5, 2019 The TD Insurance Meloche Monnex program is underwritten by SECURITY NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY. It is distributed by Meloche Monnex Insurance and Financial Services, Inc. in Québec,

by Meloche Monnex Financial Services Inc. in Ontario, and by TD Insurance Direct Agency Inc. in the rest of Canada. Our address: 50 Place Crémazie, 12th Floor, Montréal, Québec H2P 1B6.

Due to provincial legislation, our car and recreational insurance program is not offered in British Columbia, Manitoba or Saskatchewan. Wide Horizons Solution® travel insurance is administered

by RSA Travel Insurance Inc. and is underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada. Medical and claims assistance, claims payment and administrative services are provided by the administrator described in the insurance policies. All trade-marks are the property of their respective owners.® The TD logo and other TD trade-marks are the property of The TorontoDominion Bank.

Walter (Pylypiuk) Phillips HS ’46

Ellen McWillis Brucks (att)

July 22, 2019

Patricia Reiswig Halleson HS ’59

Recommended by

April 3, 2020

Donald Frederick Lonnstrom, staff October 15, 2019

Date Vanderwerff U ‘65 January 18, 2020 Martin Yterberg HS ’60, U ’64 August 20, 2019

Gordon Martin (att) June 9, 2020

Jeremy Leighton Nischuk HS ’99 January 19, 2020

Enid Epp Northam HS ‘63 September 2019

23

A Tribute

Malcolm Graham: A Life Well-Lived 1931-2020

When prospective students arrived barefoot and penniless, but hungry for an education, Malcolm Graham could relate. Now director of Gitwe Adventist Secondary School in Rwanda, he, too, had at one time been barefoot and penniless in his youth. So he created jobs for them that were paid out of his own pocket.

At the time Malcolm and Lorine, with 10-year-old Loritha and four-yearold twins, Dari and Devon, accepted an invitation to serve in Rwanda in 1965, Malcolm’s passion for Christian education had already developed strong roots. Now, with Lorine’s support and encouragement, he was fulfilling his life-long dream of mission service.

Although born in a tar-paper shack, Malcolm was able to attend church school and academy. He had studied theology at Burman University and education at Pacific Union College.

Responding to the need for Adventist teachers, he had taught in both elementary and secondary schools.

Now in Gitwe, Malcolm was intent on upgrading the infrastructure and legal status of the school.

By the time the family left Rwanda, Malcolm had grown the enrollment of girls at the school 10-fold, he had added a ministerial training program, and he had seen many of his students accepted at national universities. The campus also had a new science and administration complex.

Malcolm dedicated his life to giving as many opportunities as he could to as many young people as possible. One of his signature accomplishments when working for the Alberta Conference after returning from Africa was starting the summer Friendship Camp for disadvantaged city youths.

24

Many had never experienced stories told around a campfire. His son, Devon, recalls, “They hung on to every word of Dad’s ‘continued stories,’ and there was always a groan of disappointment when he stopped each segment right at a cliffhanger moment. Nobody ever missed a campfire.”

Another program Malcolm established was for the visually impaired. He wanted everyone to have a rich experience, so he introduced archery at the camp. Devon writes, “It could have been a recipe for disaster, but it quickly became one of the campers’ favorites.

Each archer was paired with a staff member who pointed him or her in the right direction. When the balloons that had been attached all over each target began to pop, the excitement levels went through the roof.”

As Burman University’s 17th president (1982-87), Malcolm encountered exceptional challenges that required all his ingenuity, creativity, and diplomacy.

They also required personal sacrifice.

For example, Burman was deeply in debt. At a memorable meeting, the Canadian conferences pledged funds.

So did Malcolm. In faith, he pledged $10,000 he didn’t have. Subsequently, the members of the Gideon Club, moved and inspired, also pledged.

Together they eliminated the debt.

In retirement Malcolm continued to be active in educational work, serving in various interim positions. He also assisted ADRA-Rwanda for a year (1992-93). In 1998 he was back in Africa with ADRA and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Guinea, West Africa, during the Liberian refugee crisis. Then, in 2003, once again he returned to Rwanda— this time with his second wife, Betty (Munroe)—and served as ADRA interim director.

With his prayerful attitude and dependence on his Lord for strength and wisdom, Malcolm was not afraid to be the first. If something was worth doing, he did it with all his might.

Malcolm Graham was tall not only in stature, but in spirit. He will be missed.

Malcolm was known for his willingness to follow God’s promptings. For him, education was the key to opening up opportunities, and service was his motto. The morning he died, he was reading his French language Bible because, he explained, he wanted to “stay relevant.”

This story appeared in the Canadian Messenger in the August 2020 issue.

Photo by Devon Graham

malcolm graham 1931 - 2020 Malcolm Graham, president from 1982-1987, leaves a legacy of leadership. Graham loved the campus-in fact, he was the first alumnus to return as president.

During the 1980s when the institution struggled to find financial stability, his determination, dedication, and personal sacrifice inspired others to give generously. In time, a plan was developed to clear all indebtedness.

His family invites you to honour his service by donating to the new campus library.

“Donating to the library is something that would resonate with Dad’s sense of purpose,” states daughter Loritha Graham McDuffie. “The library is a place where people learn, connect, and belong—and Dad fostered each of these ideals.”

Your donation will be matched dollar for dollar, creating twice as many blessings for students.

Make your gift online at www.burmanu.ca or call the Office of the President, 403-782-3381 x4147.

Gifts by mail may be sent to Burman University, 6730 University Drive, Lacombe, Alberta T4L 2E5.

BURMAN UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE

Burman University 6730 University Drive Lacombe, AB Canada T4L 2E5

www.burmanu.ca

Believe in Burman Annual Fund • October 31

E

ach year alumni, Seventhday Adventist church members, and other friends give a special offering to help young people at Burman University progress in their journey to higher education and greater service.

On October 31, 2020, you will again have the opportunity to enhance the learning environment at Burman. Your gift will support projects that range from scholarships to sidewalks, from bike racks to tutoring, and from lighting to microscopes. Each dollar makes a difference.

Thank you for your life-changing gift to Burman University on October 31!

I’ve grown a lot here at Burman. I have learned what it is to have a relationship with God and make it personal.

Being a student dean has also greatly helped me in my development in how I work and minister to those around me. I love Burman!

Ralph Magsalin 3rd-year Religious Studies Major

For more information or to donate at any time, please contact Shannon Bechthold at sbechthold@burmanu.ca or (403) 782-3381 Ext. 4161.

Donate online at www.burmanu.ca/alumni/give or www.canadahelps.ca.