The Beacon - Fall 2022

Dear Bushnell friends,

We have welcomed a new cast of students to campus. They have come from a contentious culture that advocates disdain for people with differing viewpoints. In this peculiar age of division, it seems as if people are forgetting how to seek truth humbly, listen respectfully, and disagree agreeably. What, or rather, who can bring people together?

In the culture of this University, we teach and model values and practices that point to a unifying Savior. As the embodiment of truth and grace, Jesus calls us to pursue truth over falsehood with a spirit of grace. The tradition that launched this University teaches, “In essentials unity; in opinions liberty; and in all things charity.” Our Savior and our Scriptures teach us to love one another, including those that some might call enemies, and to live as agents of healing and togetherness.

"Together" was the theme of campus chapel last year, but lingers as motivation on campus for the coming semesters. The new James and Sharron Kay Womack Hall (our largest and best residence hall) is the product of creative minds working together over many years. Bushnell Stadium came together because local business leaders, the School District, and the University partnered to form a diamond in the heart of Springfield. The Goodrich Hall tower and renovation are well under way because a new cast of supporters joined hands with faithful, time-tested donors. We break ground next year on a large, functional Student Commons because people of considerable means came together around the common goal of readying our campus to bring more students together.

This magazine is a celebration of partnership. Through all that we do, we point to Christ and celebrate what happens when we answer His call together.

Yours,

Joseph Womack, Ed.D. President

Dr. Joseph Womack, President

President

Joseph Womack ’89, Ed.D.

Vice Presidents

Gene De Young, MBA

Michael Fuller, M.A.

Reed Mueller, Ph.D.

Keith Potter ’84, D.Div (hon) ’11

Editor

Corynn Gilbert, Ph.D.

Contributors

Nick Askew

Kelly Ballard, D.Min.

Corynn Gilbert, Ph.D.

Keith Potter ’84, D.Div (hon) ’11

Doyle Srader, Ph.D.

A.J. Swoboda, Ph.D.

Joseph Womack ’89, Ed.D.

Photography

Tom Boyd, AHM Brands

Art Direction, Design, and Production

10

DR. DOYLE SRADER, BUSHNELL’S FIRST FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR

His Quest to Bring “Togetherness” to Japan

12

On Mission Together

PILGRIMS

The Beacon is published by Bushnell University as an information service and is posted on the Bushnell University website. For information, call 541-684-7318. Readers are encouraged to submit text for publication via email to alumni@bushnell.edu or via mail to:

Office of Advancement

Attn: Corynn Gilbert, Editor 828 E. 11th Avenue Eugene, OR 97401

Bushnell reserves the right to edit all copy. Articles should include names and class years (if applicable) for all individuals mentioned.

Need to Update Your Information? Bushnell.edu/alumniupdate

Campus Construction Projects Gain Momentum

Repurposing the Old, Preparing for the New PeaceHealth and Bushnell Solving a Problem Together

Field of Dreams Coming Together

Creative Minds and Committed Friends Make Baseball A Reality

Song Nai Rhee Scholars Reach for More

A Classic Example of Students Aspiring for Excellence

Bushnell Athletes Lead with Character

Turner Continues to Bring Us Together

In Memoriam

Gail G. Bash ’29 Leaves a Legacy

President's Letter – Inside Front Cover

From My Point of View – Inside Back Cover

Dr. Doyle Srader, Bushnell’s First Fulbright Scholar

WRITTEN BY DOYLE SRADER, PH.D.

Dr. Doyle Srader is Professor of Speech and Communication in Bushnell University’s School of Arts and Sciences. He was selected for the prestigious international Fulbright Award, an academic exchange program which provides him a year of funded teaching and research abroad. His research addresses the role of interpersonal communication in a culture coping with unprecedented social isolation.

The first time I taught interpersonal communication was in September 1994. Back then, when I told my family and friends what I taught, they would try to hide their smirks and say, a little mystified, “There are actual college classes about that? Don’t you learn how to do that just by being alive?” I don’t really hear that anymore. Today, people get it.

Interpersonal communication is the social scientific study of how we talk to one another in gatherings too small to be called public speaking. The most basic unit of all is what we call a dyad, just two people in conversation. But interpersonal communication only makes sense against the backdrop of the kind of relationship the communicators have: friends, co-workers, family members, spouses, teacher and student, detective and suspect. The possibilities are endless.

As the worst of the Covid protective measures were lifted on campus and we could meet again in person, I was so very thankful for what we’re often guilty of taking for granted: being together is a glorious blessing that we only appraise rightly after we’ve been kept apart. In Genesis, before the fall, before sin entered the world, the very first thing God said was that it is not good for Adam to be alone. We were not created to be alone. God engineered us to thrive when we are together.

Togetherness is magic.

Interpersonal communication done well is one of the best ways to foster togetherness. I love that part of my job. But that does pose a reasonable question: if togetherness is so important to me, why I have decided to cross the planet’s largest ocean, set up shop in what might be the most different culture on Earth from my own, and stay there for an entire school year?

The truth is, God put Japan on my heart over twenty years ago, before my current students were even born. Even then, Japan kept inserting itself into my story.

While coaching debate at the University of Georgia I hosted a team of college debaters from Japan. We threw a reception to welcome them, and someone made sushi. Realize, I had never tried sushi before. But my very good friend picked up a piece and said, “Eat this and don’t ask me what it is.” I said, “Yes ma’am,” and did what I was told. It was one of the best things I had ever tasted. “What is that?” I asked. She answered, “Eel.” On that day I learned an important lesson about suspending judgment. The idea of eating eel would have killed my appetite, but when I first tasted it and then found out what it was, I loved it.

Soon I found myself living in Nacogdoches, Texas, trying to find something engrossing to fill my spare time. The pineywoods of east Texas are beautiful and its people are warm and loving. But it is possible for a young man still in his twenties to find the town a bit dull. So I started learning to speak Japanese. Chiefly, I did it to amuse myself, but occasionally I would throw in a Japanese phrase during a lecture to illustrate a point about cultural difference. Those examples came in handy. As more and more classes were added to my assignment, I noticed that nearly all of them had a chapter on cultural difference: interpersonal communication, nonverbal communication, conflict management. All were incomplete without some attention to the influence of culture.

I began to dream about what God might have in store for me, as Japan continued to weigh on my heart. The opportunity to visit Japan came and went, unfulfilled, several times. I applied for a teaching job there. Though I made the final round, I was not selected. Upon learning how unreached Japan is by the gospel (a mere one half of one percent of the population of Japan is actively pursuing a maturing Christian faith), I planned a short-term summer mission trip that never materialized.

Along the way, I landed a professorship at Bushnell University and began teaching intercultural communication. For many of the

major concepts in the class, the difference between the United States and Japan was the best possible illustration: individualism vs. collectivism, direct vs. indirect, emotional vs. reserved, high vs. low power distance. It became a running joke with my students. Anytime I suggested we discuss ‘culture’, they would all respond in unison with ‘Japan!’

Japan continued to draw me in. In May of 2021, I made up my mind to apply for Fulbright 12091-JA, Study of the United States, Teaching in Social Sciences and Humanities in Japan. But just like a grad student searching for a thesis topic, I had to dream up the proposal that I would ask the Fulbright body to support. I spent several weeks sifting through research reports and editorials about Japan, searching for anything that would merge my teaching specialties of debate and interpersonal communication.

That research clarified two things. First, Japanese teachers had spent decades trying to design a successful approach to teach English to

their students. They had taken strides forward, moving from rote memorization to conversation practice, but they were at a standstill on one fairly specific problem: Japanese graduates sent out to interact with English-speaking colleagues from neighboring countries had little confidence in any work that required assertiveness. They struggled to negotiate and didn’t know how to play hardball. Their culture emphasized harmony and kindness, so elders taught juniors that speaking directly and forcefully was the same as starting a fight.

Second, Japan had a problem with loneliness. Since 2008 — coincidentally, the year after I arrived in Eugene — Japan’s population had been falling. Probably the biggest root of this trend is that fewer young adults are marrying. In fact, a report released this year by the Japanese government indicates that about a quarter of adults in their thirties have had no intention of getting married, and that the number of marriages in 2021 was the smallest since records had been kept.

Additionally, the phenomenon of 引きこもり (pronounced hikikomori ), or social withdrawal, is ubiquitous. It describes a situation where individuals will simply take to their homes,

sometimes even to just their bedrooms, and withdraw completely from interacting with the outside world. Roughly 1.5% of the population, more than one million people, are caught in this pattern. In February of 2021, the Japanese government created a cabinet-level Ministry of Loneliness to try to diagnose the problem and reverse it.

Once I had a grasp of these two issues, I had my project. I am a professor of interpersonal communication with roots in competitive debate, and I specialize in teaching how proper, issue-focused assertiveness can actually strengthen relationships instead of endangering them. I also place strong emphasis in my teaching to the power of listening in order to overcome loneliness by helping people connect and build trust. I proposed to teach about argument in order to help Japanese students get the most out of their English lessons, and to teach broader interpersonal communication skills to help them feel confident navigating difficult patches in their relationships as a protective factor against withdrawing and becoming hikikomori.

Tsuda University, which is a women’s college in the west end of Tokyo, is hosting me and I will be teaching three classes there: two undergraduate classes in argumentation and conflict management, and one graduate seminar in relational communication which explores the social

science of how Americans start, maintain, and repair relationships after hurtful events. Next, I will teach two classes at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies: nonverbal communication and a special topics class about the use of story in interpersonal communication. I’ll finish my year teaching two classes at Tokyo International University.

There’s one last thing I learned in all my preparation. In Japan, students in K-12 education work very hard to try to earn admission to a top college. After they graduate college, they have early mornings, late nights, and long weeks from the day they are hired until the day they retire. But college is the one time for a typical Japanese young adult when it is acceptable, even expected, for them to take a big step back and think about what it all means. For that reason, the college years are the most promising opportunity most Japanese people will have to receive the gospel and take it to heart.

The Fulbright grant’s purpose is to enable me to create an intercultural learning experience. That means I am charged with explaining a lot about what makes westerners in general, and Americans in particular, tick. I get to talk about a long list of influences, including our history,

our demographics, and our economy. And very high on that list is the role of Christianity in our values and motivations. I get to address head-on the misunderstandings and misrepresentations of Christianity. I plan to stop far short of openly proselytizing, but the thing about evangelism is that I feel no burden to sell the gospel. Charles Spurgeon would have described what I plan to do as “letting the lion out of its cage.”

For His own purposes, God stitched me together in temperament and habits to be able to connect with college students. Since 2007, I’ve been presented with five campus-wide teaching awards and I’ve never understood quite why. All I do when I teach is turn my personality up all the way and then explain the class content to the best of my ability. Somehow it works. But God has had a purpose for it all along. His providence brought me here in His timing, not mine. I am more excited for what lies ahead than I’ve been about anything I have ever undertaken in my adult life.

If you want to follow my journey of togetherness, you can find me at doyleinjapan on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Please pray for me. And please pray for all the students whom I will teach.

student ambassadors on mission together

Jaron Carter ’23 and Miriam Gutierrez ’22 may have come to Bushnell University through different means, but they have found themselves on the same path as Summer Student Ambassadors for the Office of Admission. Together, they welcome prospective students to campus and represent the best of what it means to be a Beacon.

Jaron, a native of Tacoma, Wash., is a senior business major who shines on the track and just about every area of campus leadership. An artist at heart, Jaron is best known around campus for brightening people's days with his legendary balloon art, yet he also loves to draw, paint, and even sew. His campus visit was the deciding factor in committing to Bushnell, as Track Coach George Walcott made him feel at home. Jaron has made Bushnell his home here in more ways than one. He is involved in student programs, has served as a Resident Assistant, leads a small prayer group, assists with University social media efforts, is an orientation coordinator, and a team captain who represents his team to the athletic department. This year he was the 100M Men’s Conference Champion and has broken school records in indoor track. He is completing two concentrations in his major (management and marketing) and is interested in the event planning industry or social media marketing after graduation. His favorite class has been Old Testament with Dr. A.J. Swoboda. Jaron believes that Bushnell has been the place in which he has been able to live into the fullness of who God has made him to be: “I am made in God’s image and I am a child of God.”

Miriam, also a senior business major, has found community on campus despite her choice to live at home in Eugene. She chose Bushnell in order to stay close to her parents, whom she describes as the “hardest working people I know,” despite the barriers they have experienced as immigrants who did not speak English when they arrived from Mexico and Peru. Their main desire for Miriam and her siblings was for them to go to college and obtain the education which had been out of their reach. She also chose Bushnell after her campus visit due to the friendly tour guide who made her feel seen and cared for from the moment she walked around campus. Miriam found community through joining campus small groups, leading the Catholic Club, serving coffee as a barista in The Beanery, and working as a student caller in Admissions. She had never had the opportunity to study the Bible with peers in a small group setting, and it has helped her grow in her love for Jesus immensely. Miriam hopes to merge her interest in international business and her passion for the disadvantaged through a career in the non-profit sector. She is completing an internship with Holt International (a global adoption and child-aid ministry based in Eugene) this fall and will continue to welcome prospective students to campus every chance she gets.

Do you know a prospective student who should visit the Bushnell University campus? Students can receive a $500 visit scholarship to be applied to their tuition. Virtual visits, group visits, and individual counselor coffee chats are also great ways to learn more about our Christ-centered educational community. Learn more here: www.bushnell.edu/admissions/visit-campus

The Beacon had the privilege of catching up with alumna Maggie McCausland ’19 who has spent most of the pandemic serving travelers along the Camino de Santiago (known in English as “The Way of St. James”) in Spain. The "Camino”, as it is commonly known, is one of the most famous Christian pilgrimages in the world. Technically, it is a network of multiple pilgrimage journey routes through the Spanish countryside, all of which lead to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain (where tradition maintains the apostle’s remains are buried). More than 200,000 pilgrims from around the world travel The Camino on foot each year, for both short journeys and trips that cover many miles. Maggie is serving as a host at Pilgrim House, a ministry to those seeking a place of refuge, prayer, and reflection as they end their walking pilgrimage along this historical and sacred journey. To learn more about this special place, visit pilgrimhousesantiago.com.

The Beacon: How did you find your way from Bushnell to Spain?

I chose to major in interdisciplinary studies so I could combine Spanish, theology, and Christian ministry, though I also took classes in business and accounting. I was involved in mission trips to Nicaragua and Puerto Rico, and studied abroad in Italy, all of which deepened my passion for other cultures and languages. Experiencing the church internationally was a huge part of my spiritual development. Resident Director Emily Johnston encouraged me to explore opportunities abroad after graduation. I found out about Pilgrim House through Go Corps, a ministry of Avant Ministries, which helps connect Christian college graduates with two-year ministry opportunities abroad.

Welcome Dr. Reed Mueller

Bushnell University welcomes Reed Mueller Ph.D. as the new Vice President for Academic Affairs. He joins the Bushnell University administration this summer, bringing a resume that includes over 25 years of academic and pastoral leadership.

“I resonate strongly with the mission, vision, and core themes of the University” says Mueller, “along with the ethos of the Restoration Movement. Having served at Bushnell in 2020-21, it was clear to me that these distinctives are lived out at every level of the institution. After beginning to build relationships with the university and its students, staff, and faculty, I have a strong desire to return and serve the institution at this level of leadership.”

While serving as the Chair of the Department of Psychology at Concordia University, Dr. Mueller was appointed to several task forces and committees by Executive Cabinet members and the Provost. Relying on his program development and research skills, he designed and managed the Psychology department’s assessment model, tracking departmental progress and associated student outcomes with an evaluation plan that was used as a university example for accreditation purposes. Dr. Mueller shaped onsite and online

academic programs as chair of the university’s task force to reimagine online course development and continuous quality improvement in pedagogy and andragogy. He supported other departments, engaged with student recruitment and retention, counseled students, provided conflict mediation services across the university, and served as the Title IX/Equity Faculty Deputy and Investigator. His publications include six peer-reviewed works and twenty-five other reports and works, plus eleven grant and consulting awards.

His fourteen years as a lead pastor reinforce his belief in the centrality of Christ in the curricular model of the University. “Dr. Mueller holds a strong belief in the unique value and relevance of Christian higher education within society and a particular alignment with the mission of Bushnell University to teach wisdom, faith, and service,” says Bushnell President Dr. Joseph Womack.

Dr. Mueller holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Biblical Studies and a Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology. He’s married to Dr. Erin Mueller, who joined our psychology faculty as a result of a separate search. They are proud parents of a son and daughter, both of whom are college students.

Dr. Dennis Lindsay: A Legacy of Leadership

Dr. Dennis Lindsay has concluded 22 years of teaching and academic leadership at Bushnell University. Over 17 years as Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Lindsay has shaped the University’s ever-expanding curriculum and refined the integration of faith and learning in every field of study.

On August 1, 2022, Dr. Lindsay began a year of sabbatical by directing the recently acquired NetVUE Grant Program for “Reframing the Institutional Saga” on behalf of Bushnell. The product will be the first significant historical publication since 1969 that chronicles the growth and development of Bushnell University from its origins. Dennis and his wife, Dr. Karen Lindsay, have moved to Tübingen, Germany, where Dennis will serve as Director of the Institute for the Study of Christian Origins—a mission site sponsored by the European Evangelistic Society (EES) in concert with the University’s historic heritage. The Lindsays have been involved with the Institute for over 40 years, and Dennis has been the board chair of the EES for the past three years.

“We receive this change with a mixture of excitement and loss,” writes Bushnell President Dr. Joseph Womack. “I am personally very sad to conclude our daily partnership and thrilled that Dennis and Karen are able to return to Germany and continue their excellent contributions to the study of Christian origins.”

Kim Williams Called to Chair Trustees

Anyone who knows Kim Williams would say that her selection as Chair of Bushnell University’s Board of Trustees is a natural, sensible stewardship of her extraordinary skills. As a co-manager of McKay Investment Company, Williams has given a lifetime of leadership to the properties and businesses, including Oakway Center in Eugene, that are affiliated with the family-owned company. She has also given leadership to church and non-profit organizations, making her a respected figure in the Eugene/Springfield business and philanthropic communities.

What makes this appointment increasingly notable is that Williams is the first woman to chair the University’s Board of Trustees in our 127-year history.

The University began in 1895 with a predisposition toward providing educational opportunities for both men and women. An early advertisement for Eugene Divinity School (now Bushnell University) reads,

Like mother, like daughter. President Dr. Joseph Womack describes Kim Williams in this way: “She possesses a keen mind, kind spirit, and a wealth of organizational experience coupled with a generational appreciation for the mission of Bushnell. While there’s never been an actual ceiling that prevented female leadership, the University is pleased to see Kim fill this crucial leadership role.”

But the early Board of Regents and, later, the Board of Trustees were composed mostly of men—male pastors, in fact—through much of the 20th century. In the later 1900’s, under the leadership of President Emeritus Dr. James Womack, the Board of Trustees increasingly reflected a broader sweep of the leadership community. More and more business leaders and other non-clergy came alongside pastors from the region, and more women began to fill important roles. One prominent trustee, lending years of significant leadership, was Linda Korth, the mother of Kim Williams.

“Linda was the kind of person that I wanted on every important project. When we were building buildings or developing property or making significant changes in the trajectory of the college, I wanted Linda to be right there. She was quiet and smart. When she spoke up, people listened,” said Dr. James Womack.

With no external denominational or organizational body overarching the University’s governance, the Board of Trustees represents authority and collective discernment for the vision and policies that drive its mission. The Chair represents the Board’s interest to the President, offering support and accountability. “I’m thrilled to dream with Kim, and the entire Board of Trustees, about what Bushnell University could be at its best,” says Womack. “Both the Board and the University are in good hands with her discerning leadership.”

Along with her business and non-profit involvements, Williams is a mother of three adult daughters and married to Dale Williams. Among other enterprises, including serving as President of their family foundation, Dale is an active partner in the Refuge Foundation, providing soul care for pastors and other spiritual leaders.

Close to one third of the University’s Board of Trustees are women, including business leaders, non-profit professionals, and clergy. This is the right moment for Kim Williams to step into this role.

“Open to women and men on equal terms.”

Granting Partners Fund Research and Growth

Vision + Call

The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust has granted the University $126,720 for a Vision + Call Internship Program. This two-year grant, with the potential for two additional two-year grants, affords the University the potential for six years of intern funding.

Vision + Call is a faith-based leadership development program designed to help Christian organizations build a sustainable leadership pipeline with young leaders ranging from 20 to 25 years of age. Equally important, the program is also intended to provide a vocational internship for young people as they consider the big questions shaping their lives and futures. The vision is to assist college-aged students and recent graduates as they consider their vocational direction while gaining meaningful ministry or work experience. Students will work in a variety of roles on campus and be mentored and supervised by program manager, Angela Doty ’00, M.A. ’05, the Dean of Career and Academic Resources.

Reframing the Institutional Saga

The Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE), an initiative of the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) with the financial support of the Lilly Foundation, has granted the University $40,000 to research, compile, and publish new historical materials that tell the story of Bushnell University from its origins to its emerging future. This will include a published book, teaching curricula, and online tools.

Dennis Lindsay, D.Th. and Agam Iheanyi-Igwe, Ph.D. will serve as project leaders and editors, with multiple voices contributing to the manuscript. Wipf and Stock Publishers will refine and distribute the work. A significant history of the University has not been published since former President Ross J. Griffeth’s 1969 work, Crusaders for Christ.

Humanities Research for the Public Good

The Council for Independent Colleges (CIC) awarded the University a $10,000 research grant for a public presentation of historical narratives from institutional archives showing the University’s contribution to the public good. Lindsey Quigley-Johnson ’18, Library Technical Services Supervisor, coordinated the Bushnell effort. Brian Mills, Ed.D. and Bushnell undergraduate student Jamison Hanson researched and presented “The Sacred Art of Christian Nursing at Pacific Christian Hospital (Eugene, Oregon): Answering the Call for Healing” at a CIC conference in Baltimore. Their work documents the birth of Pacific Christian Hospital in 1924 (now PeaceHealth/Sacred Heart Medical Center Campus District) and the early formation of nursing education here at the University and our associated hospital.

Mills and Hanson unearthed pamphlets, letters, newspaper articles, nursing student journals, journal articles, bond receipts, gradebooks, invoices, and board minutes from University and hospital archives and formulated a clear sense for the social and theological underpinnings for launching a hospital. First, the hospital was an “act of Christian benevolence” in responding to post-pandemic America and the plight of injured World War I veterans and war widows. Second, the hospital and associated nursing program were in response to a broadening theology of ministry calling, beyond mere church leadership to address the needs of poverty, disease, suffering, death, and abuses of every kind. The nursing school, embedded into the hospital’s work, was the University’s effort at lending a “hand of mercy” in the “sacred art of Christian nursing”.

On August 5th, the University hosted a reception and presentation in the Kellenberger Library to celebrate this research. Representatives from the University, PeaceHealth, and other healthcare organizations were present, including the current students in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program.

WISDOM

TH • SERVICE

2022 MISSION TRIP: PUERTO RICO

Campus Construction Projects Gain Momentum

Repurposing the Old, Preparing for the New

Womack Hall is nearing completion after a thorough repurposing of the old Phoenix Inn. Floors two, three, and four are already being used for student housing. The first floor includes offices and meeting space for the Department of Student Life, as well as an attractive and functional Welcome Center. The Welcome Center houses the admissions and marketing teams and provides Franklin Boulevard frontage, making the corner of Alder Street and Franklin Boulevard the new doorway to campus. A corner marquee showcases the University for the steady flow of Franklin traffic and a large sign on top of the building lights up the city skyline at night.

Michael Fuller, M.A., Vice President for Student Enrollment and Special Assistant to the President for Strategic Planning, truly celebrates this strategic part of the campus plan. “Our Welcome Center gives our University an amazing new front door to greet our prospective students and their family members. It’s a much-needed tool to support our recruitment efforts, since creating a good first impression for our guests is so very important. This change also allows us to bring together our entire undergraduate, online, and graduate admissions teams, as well as our marketing teams, under one roof, allowing for increased synergy and collaboration as we grow and build Bushnell.”

Over $1.1 million has been raised for the renovation and repurposing of Womack Hall, named in honor of President Emeritus James and Sharron Kay Womack in honor of their long and significant leadership at the University and in churches.

Meanwhile, the Goodrich Hall renovation and tower project kicked off on May 6 with a lunch, dedication, and groundbreaking ceremony. Trustees, students, faculty, staff, and community partners joined the event, which launches a significant construction project in the heart of Bushnell campus life.

Incoming Board of Trustees Chair Kim Williams and outgoing Board Chair Gary Jurden led the crowd in prayer and words of dedication, while President Dr. Joseph Womack added inspiration about the history and future of Goodrich Hall. Vice Presidents Gene DeYoung and Keith Potter gave details of construction plans and campaign progress and were joined by Vice Presidents Dr. Dennis Lindsay and Michael Fuller (along with the board chairs and President Womack) in turning over ceremonial turf. Waves of others came forward to take up a shovel and welcome this historic moment.

Over $2.2 million toward a goal of $5 million has been raised specifically for this project, which will completely renovate the interior of the campus “Old Main” and add a tower with elevators, bathrooms, bells, and a cross.

Plans continue for construction of the new Student Commons building, which will run from East 11th down to the millrace after the demolition of the current Richardson Hall. The first-floor dining center will seat close to 800 and a spacious second floor will be the hub of campus social life—a larger, more sophisticated “rug room”.

Paul Wright ’01, Director of Student Programs, is eager to see this building in place. “A new Commons building is an essential upgrade. It provides a much-needed space for our students to connect and an incredible place to be served amazing food. Having a space where students can connect face-to-face and feel a sense of ownership will continue to improve retainment as well as attract prospective students. We can't wait to connect with students in the new Commons building.”

Long-term campus plans envision housing, dining, and student life on the north side of East 11th, with the south campus (around the Quad) serving as the academic square.

Groundbreaking for the Student Commons is scheduled for 2023. So far, more than $7.3 million has been raised for the $9 million project.

PeaceHealth and Bushnell

Solving A Problem Together

Bushnell University and PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center University District have announced shared use plans to build out the School of Nursing at Bushnell. PeaceHeath has offered 8,700 square feet of space for nursing education, with 16 simulated rooms and a common space large enough for two classrooms.

The last few years have highlighted a pressing need in America to train more nurses. During the extreme challenges of the Covid-19 crisis, some nurses walked away from the already-depleted forces, leaving healthcare agencies scrambling for qualified caregivers.

Bushnell University had already launched the RN to BSN program in 2016 and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in 2019 to address the problem. In early 2022, the University added an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN), which condenses the necessary clinical coursework into a one-year experience for those who already have a bachelor’s degree in a science-related field.

This new partnership throws the doors open to a significant increase in nursing students in all three programs. It will

also provide critical space for skills lab equipment. “This partnership opportunity allows Bushnell University to answer the call to train nurses at the pace necessary to make an immediate, significant impact on the caregiving and healthcare community,” explains President Dr. Joseph Womack.

The partnership between these two entities is not actually new (see page 21). The University founded the hospital in 1924 as Pacific Christian Hospital in response to the aftermath of World War I and the terrible pandemic of 1918. The hospital was sold to The Sisters of St. Joseph in 1936 as part of the University’s reorganization during the Great Depression. The hospital became Sacred Heart General Hospital. Through the decades, the two neighboring institutions have stayed connected, as Bushnell provided volunteers, chaplains, and others to the hospital’s workforce, while the hospital offered excellent, faith-based care and periodic shared programs with the Univerity for the surrounding community.

While PeaceHealth has shifted a significant amount of its services to the Springfield campus since 2008, the

University District continues to provide 104 beds, behavioral health services, 30,000 emergency visits, and more than 100,000 outpatient visits each year, while employing 949 people. Recent demolition of the oldest parts of the facility opens the door to a fresh season of high functionality with the best use of space: including Bushnell’s School of Nursing.

Todd Salnas, Chief Executive, Oregon Network of PeaceHealth (below, second from left) shares, “PeaceHealth is honored to partner with Bushnell University to advance nursing excellence in our local community. We are very excited to offer this state-of-the-art program to the next generation of nurses in support of our mission and the patient care needs of the region.” In addition to providing the University space to expand, PeaceHealth will be also be implementing a student loan repayment program to help support ABSN students.

The mission of PeaceHealth aligns beautifully with wisdom, faith, and service, the mission that drives Bushnell University. PeaceHealth’s statement of mission reads:

We carry on the healing mission of Jesus Christ by promoting personal and community health, relieving pain and suffering, and treating each person in a loving and caring way.

PeaceHealth also has facilities in Cottage Grove, Creswell, Dexter, and Florence in Oregon. Outside of Oregon, PeaceHealth serves Anacortes, Bellingham, Burlington, Camas, Friday Harbor, Longview, Lynden, Sedro Woolley, and Vancouver, Washington, as well as Ketchikan, Alaska.

Bushnell University is raising $1 million to fund the program, facilities, equipment, and scholarships needed for the ABSN program. So far, close to $56,000 has been raised, and the PeaceHealth partnership will drive this fundraising effort.

Pictured (L to R): Alicia Beymer, MBA ’12 (Chief Administrative Officer, PeaceHealth), Todd Salnas (Chief Executive, Oregon Network of PeaceHealth), President Dr. Joseph Womack, Dr. Linda Veltri (Dean of Nursing), Dr. Reed Mueller (Vice President for Academic Affairs), and Heather Wall, RN (Chief Nursing Officer, PeaceHealth)

Field of Dreams Coming Together

Most good things happen because of bold dreams, sacrifice, and collaboration. It took all three for the vision of Bushnell Baseball and the Springfield Baseball Project (SBP) to come together, and “together” has been the key to success. The joint vision to re-launch our team and bring summer collegiate wood-bat baseball to the area has made both dreams possible.

Just as the Beacons were finishing up their inaugural season in the new facility, Coach Tommy Richards was in the box ready to see the Springfield Drifters come to life. Backed by local business leaders and philanthropists, Ike Olsson (owner of Olsson Industrial Electric, pictured left) and Kelly Richardson (owner of Richardson Sports, pictured right), the team is the newest member of the West Coast League (WCL). Collegiate players from all over the country play a 59-game season, testing their mettle and keeping their skills sharp for their collegiate play. Out-of-town players spend the summer living with local host families who have become part of the extended Drifters family.

As a community venue, the new stadium has become a destination for affordable family fun and an amazing baseball experience. It is an instrumental location for cultivating youth sports through Huddle Up, a local non-profit serving low-income families founded by Olsson. Bushnell players will have the opportunity to mentor local youth and build meaningful relationships because of the facility. The Springfield School District, the third crucial partner in the SBP, believes the stadium and the two home teams will bring excitement and opportunity to the neighborhood. Both Hamlin Middle School and Springfield High School have experienced immediate benefit.

But there are more ways that the Beacons and Drifters are working together, both on the field and in the classroom. This summer, 18 Beacons competed on amateur teams in the region. Among those playing locally for the Drifters were Daniel Furman, Kai Keamo, Brandon Reed, Jahshua Yacapin, and Trevor Hammond. They also had several opportunities to face off against teammate Kyle Casperson, who played for the Corvallis Knights.

The launch of the Drifters baseball club also provided a hands-on way for Bushnell students to apply their classroom education to a real-life scenario. Business professor Dr. Pete Diffenderfer partnered with Drifters General Manager Jamie Christopher to create their marketing plan in Bushnell’s Sports Marketing class. Their class project for the spring semester was to help with branding, website design, media strategy, and promotion of the new team.

While both programs are still in their infancy, the energy and buzz around the Beacons and Drifters is palpable. It is giving new life to a community and providing hope of normalcy again.

Bushnell University is still raising the funds to fulfill our $1 million commitment to the nearly $4.5 million complex. Donors at the Starting 9 level ($50,000 or more) and the Founders Club ($20,000 - $50,000) will be recognized publicly in a permanent display. All gifts to the project will help us finish our Field of Dreams.

“If you build it, they will come…”

Song Nai Rhee Honors Scholars Reach for More

A Classic Example of Students Aspiring for Excellence

The Song Nai Rhee Honors Program inspires Bushnell students to take a deeper dive into their fields of study. Recent graduate Jared Dodson ’22 (above) provides a classic example of the challenges and benefits of honors study, as well as the proficiencies fostered by this program.

In his senior year, Jared produced a 34-page research project on the theological image of “Light and Darkness in Johannine Literature.” The work features the Gospel of John’s recurrent focus on Jesus both bringing and teaching light in the midst of darkness. For example, Jared shows how “John presents Nicodemus coming to Jesus by night and responding positively to Jesus. And Judas Iscariot leaves the Last Supper and goes out into the night to betray Jesus. Throughout the Gospel, John positions God as present both in the darkness and in the light.”

At the encouragement of Dr. Dennis Lindsay, Jared entered his paper in the 2022 Stone/Campbell Journal Student Paper Competition. He was informed in March that he was a finalist and invited to the national conference and awards presentation. Jared flew to Knoxville, TN, and presented to a panel of scholars. He studied under an impressive array of scholars for three days. On the last day, he was awarded first place in the undergraduate division.

When asked what made his effort stand out, Jared cited his pastoral application on “the light of Christ in the darkness of today’s world.” He also admitted that his preparation and

familiarity with the content allowed him to present without the aid of his paper in hand, while most others read from their submitted documents. And when asked how the University prepared him for this significant moment, Jared launched into a strong testimony of how “Bushnell showed me a deep love of scripture and theology” and how he was mentored by the faculty of the School of Bible and World Christianity. In particular, his studies in Greek with Dr. Lindsay prepared him for some very challenging questions about his Greek from the judges in the contest. “That Greek class had an incredible culture. We helped each other learn together. And all those professors taught me to be well-equipped to interpret and understand Scripture, as well as to love it. If you’d asked freshman Me to enter that contest, or even sophomore Me, I could never have done it.”

Jared lauds the Song Nai Rhee Honors Program for his excellent ministry preparation. “It challenged me, with the help of my mentors, to be creative and to make the learning process my own.” Jared decided to remain part of the Bushnell community while he pursues his seminary studies at Multnomah University. He is currently using the blend of his detailed, technical savvy with the warmth of a pastoral heart as the Advancement Office Assistant. He and his wife Rose are prepared to serve in whatever teaching or pastoral role God might have for them in the future.

Nearly $800,000 has been raised for the endowment and expansion of the Song Nai Rhee Honors Program on the way to the $1 million goal.

CAMPAIGN TOTALS

CAMPAIGN UPDATE

Over $13,500,000 has been raised for Venture Forward from close to 150 families and organizations. Most of the donations were given for specific campaign projects, while almost $2,000,000 is undesignated and available for emerging campaign needs. Early fundraising efforts focused primarily on construction, though a few very dedicated families have poured generously into the Song Nai Rhee Honors Program. Baseball stadium and program fundraising continues to gain momentum with the help of many corporate sponsors and a growing number of alumni and friends. The next big thrust of the campaign will be related to the accelerated nursing program and the expanding relationship with PeaceHealth. See pages 29-30 for the story of shared space and implications for the entire School of Nursing.

TIME TO JOIN IN

As in the case of most capital campaigns, Venture Forward started with an appeal to historic and prospective large donors, along with Trustees and campus leaders. In our case, these early appeals generated a swelling interest and a wonderful boost toward our goals. Lead gifts have afforded the confidence to march forward on each of the projects, even during inflation and other challenges that are unique to this season.

Now is the time to reach out to every member of the Bushnell family. Please give what you can. Perhaps there is one project that piques your interest and you would like to contribute to its success? Or you might be more interested in a Venture Forward gift that supports each goal? It’s possible you’d like to make a one-time gift that represents your passion for our mission? Or would you prefer to make smaller monthly payments that add up over this three-year campaign?

Please pray and give. God is doing great things and it would be wonderful if we could experience it all together.

Bushnell Athletes Lead with Character

For nearly eight decades, the Bushnell University athletic department has created and nurtured a wholistic approach to sports, known as the Tri-Athlete Model. This model reflects Bushnell’s desire to see students grow in Wisdom, Faith, and Service. This is accomplished through a transformational experience with equal emphasis on competition, character, and the classroom, all with a Christ-centered focus. Perhaps the most important pillar of the Bushnell student-athlete experience is a commitment to what the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) and National Associate of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) calls the Champions of Character Initiative.

Champion of Character: Samantha Silver ’22

Continuing a strong tradition, senior softball student-athlete Samantha Silver ’22 was recently honored as the 2022 CCC Les Schwab Female Champion of Character of the Year and the prestigious NAIA national Dr. Leroy Walker Champion of Character Award. Bushnell has now been honored to receive at least one male or female winner in each of the last five years. Silver is the second softball player to be honored for the Beacons.

As team captain, Silver thrives in all aspects as a holistic student-athlete on the field, in the classroom, and as a champion of character. Originally recruited as a utility player, Silver stepped up to fill a gap in the pitching staff her first season and remained in that role to become Bushnell's top pitcher this year. She graduated summa cum laude in May with a 3.94 GPA in communication and was named the Gardepiey-Peloquin Outstanding Speaker Award winner, given to the top graduating communication student.

Silver is passionate about life, learning, and helping others on and off the field. Working part-time jobs in the library and coffee shop on campus, she also ran her own coffee-mug design company. She balanced those multiple jobs outside of her academic and athletic commitments while continually making time for others in the community and peers on campus.

Silver interned with the Bushnell counseling office this year and began developing a program that provides a team and peer counselor for every Bushnell athletic team. As part of her capstone project this spring, Silver met with different spring sports teams about student-athlete mental health issues, providing resources, and getting feedback on what can be improved for the teams. She also gives private softball lessons and serves as a leader in the Bushnell chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).

Silver had a leading role in team community service efforts, especially during Bushnell's "Embrace the Community" day, where the team cleared and mulched walking paths and pruned overgrown blackberry bushes at a local park.

Head Softball Coach Jim Patrick shares, "Sam has served as a leader on the softball field this season and handled obstacles with grace. We are so proud of her and proud to have her as a member of our team.”

After receiving an additional year of eligibility through Covid-related rules, Silver will return to the field for one final season while she pursues her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and assumes the role of peer counselor for her team.

Team of Character: Bushnell Baseball

Bushnell’s Baseball program proved to exceed all expectations in their inaugural season, both on the field and off. The team quickly established themselves as a team of strong character, gaining a reputation on campus as men of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. In May, the team was recognized as the Cascade Collegiate Conference Les Schwab Male Team of Character, as voted on by the CCC athletic directors.

Bushnell Athletic Director Corey Anderson observes, "Our baseball team in just one year has become a great representative of our University and athletic department, living out our Tri-Athlete Model. I give so much credit to head coach Tommy Richards for the values he is instilling in our team and the type of athletes he is bringing in to this program."

Their team mentality has created an unparalleled environment which created a ripple effect among other Beacon teams and the campus as a whole. Bushnell's character-related focus includes a team rule to sit in the "Power T" in all of their classes (first two rows or directly in the middle of the class), small group Bible studies, and a team book club.

The team has been involved in numerous community service projects, including helping first-time collegiate

students move into their dorm rooms. The Beacons also helped with a large painting and cleaning project at a local school property and served the community by collecting over 400-pounds of food and non-perishable items for FOOD For Lane County.

The Beacons also had a unique opportunity for service with the Springfield High School baseball team through their shared facilities at the newly renovated Hamlin Sports Complex. The Bushnell players routinely hit alongside the high school players, giving pointers, feeding the pitching machine, and throwing soft toss.

Coach Richards adds, "This is a big deal for our program and I am grateful for the conference recognition of the work our guys put in outside of the lines. I have a ton of respect for the teams in our conference and I believe there is huge character and community-mindfulness in the CCC. Our players have a heart for the community and their passion to serve others is inspiring. I look forward to building on the relationships we made this year and am excited to see their continued service around Lane County."

Bushnell has now been home to three of the last four winners of the Les Schwab Team of Character Awards as the Beacons swept both the male (Men's Soccer) and female (Women's Basketball) awards in 2021.

Beach Volleyball Makes Their Debut

Eighteen months in the making, the Beacon Beach Volleyball program finally played their first games this season, officially becoming Bushnell’s 17th Varsity sport. Bushnell is the second Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) school to add Beach Volleyball and the fourth institution in the state of Oregon to officially offer the sport. The Beacons join the University of Oregon, University of Portland, and Corban University. At least three other conference schools are preparing to add beach volleyball within the next two years, which will make it an official CCC sport. In the meantime, the Beacons compete as part of the NAIA’s California Pacific Conference, with teams from Oregon, California, and Arizona.

Beach volleyball is one of the fastest growing sports in the nation and has benefited from the support of the American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA) to bring the sport to national prominence in the collegiate ranks. Over the past eight years, the NCAA membership list has doubled to more than 80. More than 30 NAIA institutions currently sponsor Beach Volleyball, giving it "Invitational" status. Once the NAIA achieves a threshold of 40 schools, it will be eligible to become the 29th NAIA National Championship sport.

Head Coach Kim Elgarico says, "Beach volleyball is an up-and-coming sport and a lifestyle for so many. It can be played for a lifetime. It brings out competition, character, and work ethic in its athletes and creates unbreakable bonds between teammates. I am so excited to be part of the team of coaches in bringing this sport to Bushnell University.” In just their first season, the Beacons were selected to compete in the CalPac Championships in Chula Vista, California.

2011 Britni (Steiling) d’Eliso ’11 Women's Soccer

2014 Janel (Fetters) Coburn ’14 Volleyball

2018 Jordan Alexander ’18 Men's Basketball

2019 Kaleb Miles ’19 Men's Soccer

2019 Britnee (Joaquin) Ely ’19 Women's Soccer

2020 Maya (Jenkins) Basto ’20 Softball

2021 Ethan Crofts ’21 Men's Soccer

2022 Samantha Silver ’22 Softball

Cascade Conference Bushnell’s Champions of Character

Turner Continues to Bring Us Together

In 1885, the Turner family donated the property that has served as a host for the annual camp meeting now known as the Northwest Christian Convention (formerly the Oregon Christian Convention) for over 170 years. The historic Turner Tabernacle, built in 1891, has stood the test of time, reflecting God’s glory in each and every face who gathers together each June, including many in the Bushnell University community.

The University has played a part of the gathering since Dean of the University, Eugene Sanderson, gave the keynote sermon in 1898. In fact, the historical record of Convention leaders and speakers reads like a who’s who of college history, bringing decades of families together around a common cause in a place filled with legacy. James Bushnell himself, the University’s namesake and first President of the Board of Regents, served as Vice President of the Convention for six years (1890-1896).

The 2022 Convention brought Bushnell alumni, friends, faculty, and staff together over a week of worship, teaching, and fellowship. Some of the most notable highlights included a session featuring Dr. Joseph Womack and Boise Bible College President Dr. Derek Voorhees, teaching sessions with Dr. A.J. Swoboda, daily devotions led by alumnus Dr. D. H. Shearer ’78, and the annual Bushnell University gathering during which the State of the University was shared. Alumni Chad ’09 and Rebecca (Fitch) DeKay ’07 served as the Convention Presidents and their energy and innovation was infectious. Of course, all of the behind the scenes coordination was handled by the graceful administrator, alumna Dianne McIntosh (parent of current student Annalee McIntosh).

One highlight of the week was the opportunity to hear from Dr. Chap Clark, recently retired Fuller Seminary professor, an expert on youth culture and discipleship with a passion for the next generation to know Jesus. Fuller’s long connection to the history of the University, beginning with former professor Dr. Donald McGavran (who helped found Fuller’s School of World Mission in 1965), was reflected in the many Fuller alumni in the room who either attended or work for Bushnell (or both).

Next year, the Convention will feature Bushnell University’s Dr. Melisa Ortiz-Berry as she brings her heart for history in the early church and a deep passion for Scripture. Turner will continue to play a part in weaving together the University’s past, present, and future in the hearts and minds of Christ followers around the globe.

Bushnell

School of Business, Leadership, and Technology on the Move

Welcome Dean

Dr. Latrissa Neiworth

Latrissa Neiworth, Ed.D. began serving as Dean of the School of Business, Leadership, and Technology in March of 2022. She brings more than 25 years of experience in the disciplines of business, leadership, and technology, including teaching and leadership at Warner Pacific University, University of Washington, and Pepperdine University.

Retiring Dean David Walsh writes, “It is with great enthusiasm and joy that the students and faculty of the School of Business, Leadership, and Technology welcome Dr. Neiworth. It has been a privilege to have served as dean, and as I retire, I am so pleased to be succeeded by someone of Dr. Neiworth's competence, character, and commitment.”

Dr. Neiworth holds a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership, a Master of Arts in Education in Curriculum and Teaching, a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a minor in Economics, and an Associate of Arts in Journalism Arts Technology. She is also a lifelong follower of Christ. “The University’s emphasis on wisdom, faith and service spoke to me very clearly. Being a champion in these areas is especially important as we look to preparing students of all backgrounds to lead and make a difference in our world,” says Dr. Neiworth.

A prolific writer and Emmy-nominated documentarian, she has published articles, book chapters and research pieces, and produced and directed award-winning documentaries during her earlier career in print and broadcast journalism.

4 + 1 = 2: Bushnell Offers

Accelerated Dual Business Degree

Students enrolled in Bushnell University’s School of Business, Leadership, and Technology will have the opportunity to participate in an innovative degree pathway beginning in the 2022-2023 academic year, earning two business degrees – an undergraduate accounting or business administration degree and a Master of Business Administration degree – in under five years, saving time and money.

According to Dr. Latrissa Neiworth, Dean of the School of Business, Leadership, and Technology, “There is market pressure for more efficient, affordable college degree programs that also offer high quality. We have taken three

IACBE Grants Full Accreditation

of our respected, accredited business programs and found a way to make them better through bundling, while meeting the needs of students and employers in today’s world.”

Not only will students save an average of $4,400 in tuition charges by bundling two degrees, but they will also be supported by a business faculty mentor as they navigate from undergraduate-to-graduate school learning. Students in the pathway can also seek out graduate assistantships when they are in the MBA, reducing their graduate tuition burden even further and attaining additional work experience.

The School of Business, Leadership, and Technology at Bushnell University has been accredited until 2028 by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). This important designation places our school and our students among a company of more than 2,000 quality business and accounting programs worldwide.

In Memoriam

In Memoriam features departed friends and alumni who have shone bright in the world. This particular issue pays tribute to beloved professors, trustees, and staff who left an indelible mark on our campus.

Beloved former Dean of Students, KATHLEEN “KATHY” MARIE CARR, passed away on April 8, 2022 at the age of 74. Originally from Ontario, Oregon, Kathy attended the University beginning in fall of 1966. Although she transferred to Northwest Nazarene University, ultimately graduating from there, Bushnell remained on her heart. After 7 years of teaching in the public school system in Ontario, Kathy returned to Eugene where she became Associate Dean and eventually Dean of Students. Years later, Kathy served as a member of the University Board of Trustees and established the Kathy Carr Endowment Fund to support students with financial needs. After her season serving the University on campus, Kathy returned to Idaho where she was the Deputy Executive Director for the Student Loan Fund of Idaho alongside her long-time colleague and friend, company founder Carrol Lee Lawhorn. A long-time member of First Christian Church in Ontario, Kathy taught Sunday school and served as both an Elder and a Chair of the Board. She was known for her gift of hospitality, cooking for and entertaining guests in her home and blessing her friends and family. Kathy is survived by her sister, her sister-in-law, her three nephews, and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother. Gifts in Kathy’s honor can be made to the Kathy Carr Endowment Fund at Bushnell University.

Former student JANET (CARLSON) STREET passed away on September 19, 2021, following a long illness. She attended the University before eventually graduating from California State University at Chico. Janet and her husband Lary were active in their church and she was an avid volunteer. She is survived by her husband, her children, and grandchildren.

DOUGLAS D. PRIEST, SR. ’57 passed away on January 2, 2022. He spent 70 years in the ministry, serving four Oregon churches (Springfield, Athena, Trent, and Noti), as well as serving overseas in Ethiopia and Kenya with Christian Missionary Fellowship (CMF) for 30 years. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Marjorie, his three children, Karen (and Gordon) Dalcour, Doug Jr. ’74 (and Robyn) Priest, and Janice ’76 (and Duane) Grange. He was blessed with five grandchildren and 11 greatgrandchildren.

GLORIA NADINE (MCRAYDE) MARTIN ’55 passed away on February 22, 2022. Gloria came to the University from Yakima, Wash. As a student she was active in the women’s quartet and choir for all four years and played piano for several local Eugene churches. She met her husband Ellis ’55 and they were married in 1954. Her role as a wife, mother, and pastor’s wife were all very important to her in their life together. She is survived by her husband, two daughters (Cynthia Ryness and Nancy Love), and four grandchildren.

Former employee ROBERT LOUDON passed away on March 3, 2022 at the age of 92. Bob was originally from Yakima, Washington and graduated from the University of Washington. He was a resident of Eugene for more than 40 years, where he raised a family with his wife Meredith. Bob had a robust career after a tour of duty in the Air Force, including a season as the Director of Public Relations for the University. He was preceded in death by his wife Meredith, and survived by his second wife, Beverly McDonald-Pinata, and his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Former student MAURINDA (BYERS) SOUTHER passed away on March 8, 2022 at the age of 92. She attended the University in the late 1930’s and ultimately became a missionary teacher in Guatemala, where she also started a home for homeless and orphaned children. She married her husband Paul in 1974 and enjoyed many years of retirement alongside him, serving her community and her church. She was preceded in death by her husband, two sisters, and two brothers.

Friend of the University JUDY (ULLMANN) HOCKETT

passed away on March 10, 2022 at the age of 82. She served as a special education teacher (and later director) in the Marcola School District and was a long-time member, Sunday school teacher, and Elder at Northwood Christian Church in Springfield, Oregon. Judy and her husband Bert raised three daughters and settled in Springfield in 1972. Judy was preceded in death by her husband and her parents. She is survived by her daughters and their families, as well as her brother Duane.

REV. ALAN EARL FILIPPI ’71 passed away on April 6, 2022, after a long illness. He was born in 1948 in California and attended the University, graduating in 1971 with a Bachelor of Theology. While at the University, Alan met his future wife, Dorothy, as both were members of Waylighters. They married in 1970 and he was ordained into the ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1971. He attended Brite Divinity at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. While there, they served student pastorates at Princeton and Plano, Texas. After receiving his Master of Divinity, he pastored churches in Fort Collins and Colorado Springs, Colorado. He later became a chaplain at Penrose Hospital. Alan is survived by his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother.

Gail G. Bash ’29 Leaves a Legacy

It was springtime of 1929, a time of great economic stability and progress. It was a year of innovation—the Museum of Modern Art had opened in New York City, the San Francisco Bay Toll Bridge opened, the airship Zeppelin completed its first round-the-world flight, the Monaco Grand Prix Formula One car race debuted, and the very first Academy Awards were presented. The mini-stock market crash that year on March 25th shook investors briefly. By September 3, the market had reached a new peak and fears were relieved.

In midst of this excitement, Gail G. Bash ’29, graduated from the University on June 1, 1929. He was born in Cornell, Illinois on October 9, 1909, son of pastor Allie Bash and wife Grace (Dickens), a descendant of Charles Dickens. His older brother, Gerald Bash ’29, ’32, also graduated that year, but continued on and completed a second degree in 1932. At the time, graduating classes were often less than 20 students. Gerald was a classmate of siblings Edwin Whisler ’32 and Virginia Whisler ’32, the latter of whom he later married. Thus began the long legacy of Bash and Whisler family members who attended the college over the decades to come. The Bash-Whisler names live on today in the form of the Bash-Whisler Bible Reading contest, the longest running tradition at Bushnell University.

But none of these things had yet unfolded in June, 1929. Gail was much like every other college graduate that year—excited to start the next stage of his life in a time of seeming prosperity. But by October 28, a mere four months later, all that optimism disappeared quickly as Black Monday cast its dark cloud over the United States economy, kicking off the Great Depression.

While we can’t speculate what Gail, Gerald, Virginia, and Edwin were living through in the years to follow, we do know it was a difficult time for the school. The University was forced to shut down or sell off several auxiliary ministries, including the hospital it had founded (Pacific Christian Hospital). Curriculum was reduced, Spokane

University (a sister school founded by friends of the University) failed and merged with the University as part of a massive reorganization.

But the college survived. And the Bash and Whisler families, like many other Americans, were resilient. Gail went on to marry his great love, Madaleen Hough, and had a successful career. He was the City Manager and Mayor of Tulare, California and served the Arcade Water District in Sacramento, California as Superintendent for nearly 30 years prior to retirement. Gail was known for his magnificent singing in his church and in choral groups. But like many people who lived through the Great Depression, Gail and his wife were careful stewards of their resources and made estate planning a giving priority.

Upon Gail’s death in Citrus Heights, California in 2001, the Gail G. Bash Revocable Trust was formed. He generously shared his wealth with family members through the Trust for twenty years. Then, in 2021, the Trust legally dissolved, and the balance of his estate was generously donated to two universities close to his heart: Chapman University and his beloved alma mater, Bushnell University.

The timing was providential. Just as Gail had graduated from the University into a time of uncertainty and financial insecurity, his estate came as a great blessing during some of the most difficult moments of the global Covid-19 pandemic and related challenges. To see the hand of God on Gail’s life through his stewardship and generosity, from one painful historic moment to another, is nothing short of a miracle. The proceeds from the Gail G. Bash Estate total $1,013,000 and will bless and inspire our students and alumni for generations to come.

*Editor’s Note: Estate gifts to Bushnell University are designated to the endowment, providing long-term financial stability to our mission. Annual interest from the endowment plays a significant role in providing scholarships and financial aid to make the Bushnell experience more affordable for our students.

SUPPORT US WHEN YOU SHOP

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If you’d like a portion of your orders to support scholarships for Bushnell students, we encourage you to use Amazon Smile. Shopping on Amazon at smile.amazon.com will provide a steady stream of generosity to support your Beacon community.

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When you shop at smile.amazon.com, Amazon donates 0.5% of your eligible purchases – at no cost to you. AmazonSmile offers the same products, same low prices and same services as the Amazon you know.

FROM MY POINT OF VIEW

WRITTEN BY A.J. SWOBODA, PH.D

The Tongues on their Heads

In the narrative of Acts 2:1-13, we are provided an interesting depiction of the descent of the promised Holy Spirit upon the church known as the day of Pentecost. The setting is humble— the disciples were “gathered together in one place.” (v. 1) That word “together” seems to stick out in Luke’s description. And, as any doctor would, Luke leaves no description unturned describing for us that “tongues on the heads” descend on the disciples as the Spirit falls.

The Bible can’t be read quickly. Patience and attention are part of the task. And while it might be tempting to move past the little image of “tongues on their heads,” I’ve long wondered if there is something deeper to its meaning—as have many commentators and ancient church fathers and mothers.

The image of the tongue is interesting. When we zoom back to the beginning of the biblical narrative in Genesis 2, we are surprised to discover that God places breath into Adam’s lungs by breathing “into his nostrils.” In giving life to humanity, God apparently puts his mouth on or near Adam’s nose. God’s mouth is apparently back in Acts 2. Here, interestingly, we have an image of a “tongue” descending on the heads of the new community. Every time God wants to give new life, God allows his face to come near to ours.

The tongues are said to have “rested” (v. 3) on what appears to be the crowns of their heads. Which leads to a question. If they had looked up, could they see the tongues resting on their own heads? Or could the tongues only be seen by others. If they could not have seen the tongues on their own heads, they could only see the tongues on one another’s heads.

It is often hard to see the work of God in our own lives. This is why we need the community of God. Often, only in community are we able to see the work of God in others and, in turn, be told about the work of God in our own.

In these moments after COVID and major world upheaval, it is increasingly easy to live our lives separately, apart, individually. But as we celebrate the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost, may we remember that we were not (and are not) made to do faith alone.

We need each other. Together.

A.J. Swoboda, PhD Associate Professor of Bible, Theology and World Christianity