Alumni e-Newsletter CONTENT GRATITUDE CONNECT CELEBRATE CONTRIBUTE
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OUR VISION The Cornerstone University Alumni Association will support and partner with alumni through opportunities to expand relationships, grow as lifelong learners and engage with the mission of the university by serving with their individual giftedness.
Vol. 3 | Nov. 2010
GRATITUDE Dear Karissah, During this season of interviewing and investigating our gratitude, I’d like to share 10 reasons I’m grateful for you and what God is doing among us. Would you take a moment and email me a reason you are grateful for your alma mater as well? 10. Welcoming more than 400 alumni on campus during our 2010 fall homecoming week. 9. The Alumni Campus Liaisons, an incredible group of faculty and staff who represent the school and remain connected to you (more to come in the months ahead). 8. Alumni like Joel Shaffer (B.A '91; M.A. '06), David Wisen (B.A. '86), and Katherine (Wisen) Averill (B.A. '10), who took time to share about the ministries they’re involved in during our homecoming chapels. 7. The 5,254 good mailing addresses for alumni (3,506 undergrad; 1,311 Professional & Graduate Studies; 1,112 Grand Rapids Theological Seminary). Update your information. 6. The 11 alumni who are currently mentoring Cornerstone students through the new mentor program, Sojourners. 5. The six alum who volunteered at New Student Arrival day on Sept. 1, 2010. 4. The 40 plus alumni connections we made at Big Ticket Festival 2010. 3. The six upcoming Alumni Chapel & Luncheon events where at each event we’ll connect personally with eight to 10 alumni. 2. The 50 plus alumni stories out there – one is yours! Would you consider sharing it? 1. And for the countless ways God is using you in the world to influence people and bring the love and hope of Christ. May God bless you this season! Gratefully,
Darci Irwin (M.S. '09) Director of Alumni Relations
CONNECT HOMECOMING 2010 Fall Homecoming 2010 held Sept. 26 through Oct. 2 was a huge success. It was apparent that God worked through the plans that were made and brought people back to campus to reconnect, celebrate their faith and remember their time at Cornerstone. Check out photos from Homecoming 2010. Congratulations to the Alumni winners of each brakcket from the 16th Annual Alumni and Friends 5K Walk/Run. Josh Modert (B.A. '07) Becca Wright (B.A. '07) Noah Filipiak (B.A. '05) set his age group record! Erin Clason (B.A. '01) set her age group record! Nate Van Holten (B.A. '01) Rod Wortley (B.A. '88) Scott Stewart (B.A. '87) WINTER HOMECOMING 2011 -Feb. 10-12, 2011. -Cornerstone Golden Eagles vs. Saints of Sienna Heights: Women @ 1:00 p.m., Men @ 3:00 p.m. -Keep checking website for more info! ALUMNI JOURNAL #3 The next issue of the Alumni Journal is scheduled for delivery before Thanksgiving. If you have not received the first two issues of the journal you may view them online and email Karissah Holmes to update your information in our database to receive future journals. ALUMNI CHAPEL AND LUNCHES Alumni Relations and Dr. Stowell invite you to return to campus and enjoy chapel with the students and a complimentary lunch with the president. Event dates: Nov. 8, Nov. 10, Mar. 2, Mar. 23, Apr. 6, Apr. 27. For more information on attending or turning this event into a reunion for you and your classmates, please email Karissa Ryan, coordinator of alumni reunions. WHITE CHRISTMAS
WHITE CHRISTMAS What does your Christmas tradition look like? If it includes watching the classic musical, White Christmas, consider watching it live at Cornerstone University this winter with your alumni friends! Show dates are: Nov. 18, 19, 20 & Dec. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12 at 2:30 p.m. The Nov. 18 performance includes a dessert reception hosted by the theatre department. If you are interested in making this event into a reunion for you and your classmates, or if you would like more information about ticketing, contact Karissa Ryan, coordinator of alumni reunions. REUNION TOOLKIT How do I reconnect with my former roommate? How might I go beyond Facebook to catch up with friends from my college days? Look no further! In the next Alumni Journal (scheduled for delivery mid-April 2011) we will reveal the official “Reunion Toolkit,” including all the tools necessary to develop and execute a successful reunion with you and your classmates. Contact Karissa Ryan, coordinator of alumni reunions, for questions concerning the “Reunion Toolkit.”
CELEBRATE ARRIVALS Check out the growth of your fellow alumni families! MILESTONES Read about major alumni milestones! UNIONS Celebrate the recent unions of alumni! HONOR HONORING JOYCE HORN Please celebrate and honor, along with us, the life of our dear professor, mentor and friend, Joyce Horn (B.Mus. '69), in her recent passing. The mark she left on Cornerstone University, as an alumna and after teaching for more than 40 years as professor of music will never be forgotten. She went home to be with the Lord on Sept. 17th, 2010, after a full 83 years of life. Her life was celebrated at Metcalf & Jonkhoff funeral home on Sept. 21, and the burial took place Sept. 22 at the Cascade Fellowship Cemetery, where you may pay your respects. HONORING MAXINE MARGESSON
Honor with us a woman who brought a fresh breath of spring air
Honor with us a woman who brought a fresh breath of spring air to so many lives, someone who throughout her life was inspiration of faith and joy. Dr. Maxine Margesson, former teacher education division chair and associate professor of education at Cornerstone University, passed away Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010. She taught at Cornerstone University for seven years, from 1998 to 2005. If you would like to pay your respects to Professor Maxine Margesson, she is resting in Oakwood Cemetry in Lowell, MI.
CONTRIBUTE SHARE YOUR STORY Since graduating from Cornerstone, we are sure that Christ has shaped your life with a story that has suprised you in many ways. We invite you to share your story with us! You can share your story online or send it to Tom Bos, coordinator of alumni communications. Your story is our story, and we are ready to listen and celebrate. SOJOURNERS Our new Sojourners mentoring initiative is designed to partner local alumni with current CU students. We’ll connect you to training and resources to help make your relationship a success. For mor information contact Karissah Holmes, assistant to Alumni Relations. LEGACY LUNCH/DINNER Tuesday, Oct. 26 Legacy Dinner: We celebrated the gifts of our donors who provide the scholarships and the students who receive the awards. Ian Grotenhuis, Raya Rubino and Aleka Thrash shared their gratitude on behalf of all the students in attendance. Paired with the CU Brass Ensemble, it was a very good evening. Thursday, Oct. 28 Legacy Luncheon: We celebrated the seminary scholarship program. John VerBerkmoes shared an update of the positive happenings on campus. Matt Boyle expressed his desire as a student to remain connected to his classmates, noting the special bond experienced when one goes through seimary with others. Bette Dickinson shared her artwork on the biblical narrative which has been installed in the Leon Wood Seminary building. The piece titled “What Breathes Beneath our Story” is a beautiful representation bringing abstract and realism into the same view to represent creation to consummation. Come to visit and view it in person! OCTOBER ADVANCEMENT PHONATHON
-"The Cornerstone Student Fund is committed to students by providing student scholarships, faculty excellence, classroom enhancements and technological improvements." - Emily (Faletti) Rolls, (B.A. '10) cornerstone student fund coordinator. -Exceeded $20,000 in donations to the Cornerstone Student Fund. -Dozens of alumni, friends and parents were prayed for nightly by the student phonathon callers. -Students are thankful for your support and are encouraged by your enthusiasm to give generously to your alma mater.