Accent Summer 2018

SPECIAL ALUMNI INTERVIEW:

“What we choose in life is always second to Who” Tammie Jo (Bonnell ’83) Shults Southwest Airlines Pilot

PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Whatever is Praiseworthy MidAmerica Nazarene University was established by faith and for over 50 years its story of achievement and accomplishment has provided evidence of God accomplishing His purposes through the hearts and hands of His people. The excellence that we celebrate throughout the university these days is an indication of the prolonged commitment, persistence and support of those who believe in the mission and purposes of the university. Philippians 4:8 records the Apostle Paul’s admonition, “If anything is praiseworthy – think about such things and the God of Peace will be with you.” We celebrate these accomplishments as tangible evidence of God’s provision for the university through those who are faithful and respond fully to His call on their lives.

This issue of ACCENT features many reasons for us to celebrate. The accomplishments of our faculty, staff and students began as “seeds of excellence” planted by those whose vision reached beyond the possible and extended to the “impossible places” where our God does His best work. The financial support from our alumni and friends continues to be the “seeds of faith” planted as investments in the future and the new possibilities God seeks to provide for generations yet to come. The harvest will be seen in lives transformed through our ministry of excellence and faith put to work.

A.W. Tozer provided this challenge, “Refuse to be average. Let your heart soar as high as it will.” MidAmerica Nazarene University seeks to be a place where hearts can soar, where visions and dreams for the future are nurtured. We celebrate the dreamers among us who stretch to reach beyond the horizon and in doing so, inspire us all to discover the empowering presence and provision of Jesus Christ who is worthy of our praise.

Dr. David J. Spittal President

Volume 41, Number 1 MANAGING EDITOR

ART AND DESIGN

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Carol (Knight '81, MA '08) Best

Daniel Hawkins ('06, MSM '16) Matt Smith ('18) Mac Wyatt ('18)

Daniel Hawkins ('06, MSM '16) Dan Videtich Lindsay Willmer Jim Smith

CONTRIBUTOR Chad Jenkins

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TABLE OF OF CONTENTS CONTENTS TABLE

04 World Recognizes Greatness This MNU alum is the hero pilot who credits God as her strength.

08 What’s a Christian Education Worth?

The CCCU puts numbers to the question.

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10 Heritage Choir Receives High Honor

Performs at statewide conference.

16 Lifetime Achievement Award Recognized for their support, Dr. Larry and Donna McIntire are honored at gala.

18 Homecoming 2018 Schedule Save the Date: Oct. 12-14

20 President’s Honors Photo Gallery

Seven-Year Total Nearly $4 Million.

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22 Faithful Giving Couple Gives to Spread God’s Word.

24 Season Recap

Catch up with Pioneer spring sports.

Accent is published by MidAmerica Nazarene University and mailed free to alumni, friends and supporters of MNU. It is produced for University Advancement by the MNU Marketing and Communications Office. Postage is paid at Olathe, Kansas, and additional mailing offices.

News or comments: accent@mnu.edu

On The Cover MNU Alumnus Lt. Commander Tammie Jo (Bonnell '83) Shults, one of the first women to fly Navy tactical aircraft, poses in front of an F/A-18A with Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron (VAQ) 34 in 1992. After leaving active duty, Shults served in the Navy Reserve and is now a Southwest Airlines pilot.

» Sign up for Accent’s digital edition at:

mnu.edu/accent-notify

(U.S. Navy photo by PH2 Thomas P. Milne/RELEASED)

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Official White House photo by Shealah Craighead President Donald J. Trump and the crew members and passengers of Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 | May 1, 2018

Nerves of Steel Were Forged in Fire

By Carol (Knight ’81, MAOA ’08) Best

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It’s ironic to Tammie Jo (Bonnell ’83) Shults that the world has called her the pilot with nerves of steel, after successfully landing Southwest 1380 with one engine. While she knows she can focus and perform her duties now, she remembers a time when her nerves were practically debilitating. As a young girl, Tammie Jo dealt with anxiety over the pressures of elementary school. A doctor told her parents she was simply “too high strung.” He recommended medication.

Her parents decided to take another approach.

world, but in showing me that he can use a kid the doctor has declared too high strung to handle life.”

“They made sure there were pressure relief valves built in if it looked like I was getting anxious about something,” she recalls.

“I look at that now and here I am getting praised for nerves of steel and calmness.

Isn’t God interesting how he does that? You know David would never have been famous if Goliath hadn’t been a giant. So, I see God’s hand, not just in what’s obvious to the

Raised on a cattle ranch near Tularosa, New Mexico, she and her three siblings led a simple life of school, church and chores.

Her upbringing has a lot to do with who she is today.

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Building Blocks Tammie Jo credits her parents, God and life experience with the ability to do her job during that emergency landing when the plane’s left engine blew, throwing shrapnel into the fuselage, resulting in one passenger’s death and injury to others.

“When you are given a lot of responsibility at a young age, along with the authority to make it work, things will go wrong and

you’ll have to figure out how to fix them,” she says. “If you left the gate open and 200 head of cattle get out and wander a mile down the road, then you go get the horse saddled and you go get them back in the pen. So, when you are given a lot of responsibility and then left alone with it, I think that is a building block.”

Faith At Nazarene church camp when she was 13, Tammie Jo says she began to understand her faith.

“I had tried to be good and could never quite do it,” she says. “So, I’d make a deal with God and then I’d blow it and then make another deal and blow it. At 13, I finally figured it out. God didn’t call me to be good. He called me to believe.”

She says she was always in trouble more than her siblings.

“I was constantly in Huckleberry Finn trouble,” she laughs. “When I finally got the message that I wasn’t called to be good, it changed my life. I had such a different perspective.”

This eternal perspective is another of her building blocks.

College Days After high school, Tammie Jo, who had dreamed of flying with the Air Force, chose to attend MidAmerica to study pre-med.

“I found out the Air Force wouldn’t let women fly, so I thought, ‘I’m going to need a job,’” she says.

Deciding she wanted to be a veterinarian, she did some research.

“I found out MNU had never had a graduate who did not pass the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) on the first attempt,” she says. “Even though it was a small school, it was exceptional.”

So, she and her older brother Dwight, headed to Kansas.

When they drove onto the campus, it was their first time to see it. Though they had one another to lean on, Tammie Jo felt quite homesick as she navigated the transition from home to college. A roommate convinced her to go out for track & field in her second semester and that changed everything.

“Coach Curt Ammons is probably the only reason I stayed in school,” she says of the now retired coach.

Photo credit: Kevin Garber.

Captains Tammie Jo and Dean Shults, both Southwest Air pilots, visited MNU in March 2017, when Tammie Jo spoke to alumni and students about women in the workforce.

The Shults’ live in Burnie, Texas with their children Sydney, 20, and Marshall, 18.

“He has such a calm demeanor and spending every spring afternoon throwing discus or javelin or shot put—it was such an oasis in the world of college pressure and studies.”

With hard work and perseverance, Tammie Jo excelled.

The only female thrower on the team, she achieved the honor of NCCAA 1st Team All-American in javelin. She and Ammons’ are still close today, visiting one another’s families as often as possible.

Working two jobs most of the time, she still got involved in all sorts of activities at MNU. Tammie Jo was also a cheerleader, on the volleyball team, in student government, a resident assistant and a Homecoming queen candidate.

Military Training Two years after graduating from MNU, Tammie Jo was commissioned as a Navy officer, but the achievement did not come easy. While the Navy allowed her to take the aviation exam, it took another two years to find a recruiter who would process her application. She met a lot of resistance from those who thought women didn’t belong there, but she never gave up.

Rising to the rank of lieutenant commander, she became an instructor pilot for both the EA-6B Prowler and F/A18 Hornet. In fact, she was the first female pilot of the F/A-18 Hornet. She served at Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 34 in Point Mugu, California, as an instructor

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and also completed tours at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California.

It’s easy to see all this prepared Tammie Jo to react as she did when she landed flight 1380.

“Looking back, I see so many times when the trials that came my way absolutely forged the steel that we are all made of,” she says. “Those trials had their purpose. It’s like the forging of a sword. It’s put through the furnace, pounded, put through the furnace and pounded. Before that, it’s not all that hard or resilient.”

She remembers previous instances in her career when there was a problem and she had to think quickly to resolve the issue, then answer for her decisions.

“Even though I would not call those times pleasant, they certainly helped me face this with calm.”

Still, Tammie Jo agrees that her reaction was exceptional.

Photo at the White House. Marshall, Tammie Jo and Dean Shults.

In 2003, MNU honored Tammie Jo with the alumnus of the year award.

“It is not humanly normal, it is God,” she says. “It’s one of those extraordinary times that God says, ‘I will keep you strong because I have a task for you and I’m going to keep you on task and I’ve got this.’”

MNU In Her Own Words One of the things I would say was so wonderful about MNU, that you won’t realize until you graduate and get out in the world, was that I didn’t have to fight against the culture of anti-God until I was out and four years older.

Stepping out into the world, for most freshmen, it’s their first time away.

What was nice at MidAmerica is that God’s name was honored. It was good for me to relax into studying and not have to deal with that.

No one in our family had gone to college yet. There was a lot of new territory. You’ve been in a bubble up until you go to college. Then in college there is no one there to look over your shoulder. You start building your own standards.

MNU helped solidify what God had started building in my home. I had no problem at all knowing what was right or wrong for me once I was in the Navy.

What I learned at MidAmerica took away the question equation for me.

‘What’ we choose in life is always second to ‘Who’ we choose. God having His place as Lord, put life in good order. MNU was great for helping get my own standards settled.

Encouragement to Students Tammie Jo embraced Pioneer sports. She was a cheerleader (pictured fourth from the right above) one year, played volleyball and participated in track & field for three years. Javelin was her focus earning her an NCCAA 1st Team All-American award (82-83). She’s continued to love javelin throwing, teaching her son Marshall the sport which he will continue at the Air Force Academy this fall.

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Determine your God-given strengths and get started. You may have to start over in a different direction more than once. But don’t wait for an audible command. He did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love and selfcontrol.

THIS IS MNU. MNU’s beautiful campus is just 20 minutes from Kansas City and all the amazing learning opportunities and fun locations it has to offer.

At MNU we know how to balance fun and work.

QUESTIONS? mnu.edu/visit 913.971.3380 admissions@mnu.edu ACCENT MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2018

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WHATISISCHRISTIAN CHRISTIANHIGHER HIGHER WHAT Ever wonder what a Christian university degree is worth? A comprehensive study commissioned by the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), analyzed the significant economic impact of Christian higher education in the United States. The study calculated the impact on the national economy of its 142 Christian colleges and universities— IN ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT including MNU. We are proud that our alumni are among those with the lowest loan default rate and that community service is part of the MNU experience. When you give to MNU, you’re helping more than one student. You’re helping Christian higher education.

$60 BILLION

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$60 BILLION $34.6 BILLION

$25.9 BILLION

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To put things in perspective this is ... $9.7 BILLION 340,000 $17.8 BILLION GENERATED PER DAY FOR THE U.S. ECONOMY

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$9.7 BILLION 5.4 MILLION

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IN FEDERAL SERVICE HOURS JOBS IN THEOF ECONOMY COMMUNITY CCCU TAX REVENUEBY CCCU PERFORMED STUDENTS STUDENTS ANNUALLY

$17.8 BILLION 25.7% IN AND OFSALARY ALL COLLEGE BENEFITS STUDENTS

MORE PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY SERVICE

ADDITIONAL SOCIETAL BENEFITS INCLUDE:

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IN ANN

A new study from Econsult Solutions looks at the overall economic impact of the 140+ U.S. institutions part of the Counc ACCENT MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2018

CCCU

HIGHER EDUCATION WORTH? EDUCATION WORTH?

ON

NOMY

Where does student aid come from?

$470 MILLION

$2.46 BILLION

IN ANNUAL FEDERAL GRANT AID

IN ANNUAL INSTITUTIONAL AID

For every $1 in federal grant money a student receives, CCCU institutions provide $5 in aid to that student through grants and scholarships.

How does this benefit the federal government?

For every $1 in federal grant money a student receives, CCCU institutions generate more than $20 in federal tax revenue through their operations, capital investments, and additional alumni earning power.

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Recognizing Heritage Choir Receiving one’s dues. Respect. Recognition. There are plenty of ways to express that all too infrequent occurrence of being recognized for high performance. This winter, Heritage Choir enjoyed just such a moment when the group performed at the Kansas Music Educators’ Association In-Service Workshop February 22 in Wichita, Kansas. The opportunity provided the chance to showcase the choir’s accomplishments before educators from across the state. According to Dr. Donna Bohn, chair of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at MNU, high school music directors have significant sway with music students considering which college to attend.

“Being selected to perform at KMEA indicates the quality of our music program and conveys to high school choral directors that ours is a program and school worth suggesting to their students,” says Bohn.

Top choirs in the state are chosen by audition for the opportunity to perform for KMEA. “It’s a great honor to be invited to this venue,” says Dr. Christopher Smith, director of choral activities. “This convention gathers educators in music, from elementary school to college, in both vocal and instrumental disciplines. This is a great step forward for our ensemble, department and university!”

(Right: Performance photos at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church concert, Kansas City, Missouri.)

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CAMPUS NEWS

Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Honors Alum Bishop Jack C. Vaughn (left), senior pastor of International Ministries Church of God in Christ, Kansas City, Kansas, is a two-time MNU alum. Completing an undergraduate degree in Applied Organizational Leadership in 2015 and then the Master of Science in Management in 2017,

Vaughn was honored with MNU’s Living Legacy Award at the annual celebration. Two of his sons, Julian (’10) and Justin (MBA ’10) also are alums. Vaughn has personally recruited numerous students who have pursued and completed degrees at MNU.

Scholarship Challenge Recipients Are Service-Oriented Achievers By volunteering on mission trips, at church, with special needs children and by organizing a dental clinic event for the underserved, the fall 2018 Scholarship Challenge recipients put helping others high on their priority lists. The students were awarded their full-tuition (renewable) scholarships after competing with 50 other candidates based on scholarship, volunteer and extracurricular activities and an interview process.

Emma Carter of Lone Tree, Colorado, is an avid athlete who hopes to become a physician assistant and plans to major in biology at MNU. Jentry Muck of Olathe, Kansas, is a musician and actress with more than 50 performances on her resume. She hopes to become an orthodontist and will major in biology and chemistry.

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L-R: Becca White, Emma Carter and Jentry Muck.

Becca White of Peoria, Illinois, already has 29 college credits and her Certified Nursing Assistant license.

She hopes to become a nurse practitioner and will major in nursing.

The competition takes place each January. Visit mnu.edu/scholarship-challenge for more information.

CAMPUS NEWS

Expansion Through New Academic Programs MNU is enrolling new students in several new programs created in response to market trends and alignment with MNU’s mission. The programs will begin in the fall, with varying start dates.

Business 4+1 The Business 4+1 program allows highly-qualified traditional business administration undergraduates to get a head start on an MBA degree by taking three graduate courses during their senior year. These credits count toward the completion of both the Bachelor and the Master of Business Administration degrees, allowing the student to earn both in just five years.

According to Program Chair Dr. Graydon Dawson, among its many benefits, the accelerated nature of the program appeals to students who want a fast-track option not only for their education, but also for their earning potential. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average MBA graduate makes $11,000 more per year than bachelor’s-level grads.

MBA in Healthcare Management Healthcare executives need solid skills in business as well as knowledge of the healthcare industry. This 30-month program can be accomplished in evening classes and/or online. Featuring courses in emotional intelligence, mediation & conflict resolution and quality & regulation management, as well as advanced business courses, the curriculum teaches students how to lead operations, manage organizational culture and understand data that drives daily decision making.

MNU’s Department of Business Administration and the MBA program have achieved the highly coveted accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACPBSP).

Traditional Computer Science Major Returning as a major for traditional undergraduates is the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. Students will have three tracks to choose from in the daytime program: software development, scientific computing and big data/data science. The major will focus on preparing graduates interested in pursuing careers in areas such as software engineering, big data and web development, among others.

Dr. Nancy Damron, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, says that she expects the courses will be valuable to students in other majors as well.

“Many of the classes may be taken by students outside the area of the sciences such as business, graphics or nursing,” she says.

“These computer classes also complement current offerings in the traditional undergraduate information systems minor.”

Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems Combining computer and information systems technology, this program features two ways to customize one’s studies in either software engineering or cyber security.

Provided entirely online, the CIS curriculum provides a foundation in technology and business. Students in the program will learn to apply information technology tools and principles to improve business processes, design and implement new software, and/ or enter the growing field of cyber security.

Students will also apply their knowledge through projects, designing software for a variety of industries.

Additional New Programs

Just announced

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Traditional Major in Theatre

•

Engineering degree partnership with Washington University, St. Louis

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Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology program

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Post-MBA Certificate in Healthcare Management

•

Associate of Applied Science in Cyber Security

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Associate of Applied Science in Software Design and Development

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Minor/Certificate in Informatics

•

Minor/Certificate in Cyber Security

»

For information on all MNU majors and programs, visit mnu.edu/academics.

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NEW WEBSITE PUTS USERS FIRST MNU launched its redesigned website December 12, 2017. The 18-month project was completed

by MNU’s web and marketing team with the help of 5° Branding, an award-winning marketing company.

Amy Curtis, MNU web communications manager, says that the team wanted to showcase the spirited character and rich academic programs of the university. They also conducted research with potential users focusing on making the site easy to use.

Since a website is one of the most powerful tools available to universities for sharing information and creating interest among prospective students, a primary objective of the site is

Celebration of Scholarship MNU honored academic excellence at this year’s Celebration of Scholarship, with students and faculty presenting their research and projects in Mabee Learning Commons on April 5. The showcase included poster sessions of student and faculty research, a faith integration in learning panel discussion, faculty and student flash talks (three-minute presentations) and a theatrical performance by students.

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to digitally communicate the culture of the institution.

“On the new site, the spirit of student life, serenity of space, and the beauty of campus come to life through the innovative use of a hero video (an attention-grabbing video),” Curtis says. “This has been especially effective in communicating with out-of-state students.”

Website analytics since the launch show an increase in sessions and pageviews over the previous year. The team continues to monitor and make improvements to the site through data analysis and user experience feedback. www.mnu.edu

CAMPUS NEWS

Much Ado About Nothing

FORCE Program Has First “Teacher Draft”

Claudio (Korey Postoak) watches as his new bride Hero (Helen Isaac) taunts Benedick (Christian Stewart) and Beatrice (Chelsea Smet) in MNU’s spring production of “Much Ado About Nothing.”

Forging Opportunities and Recruiting for Careers in Education (FORCE) is a program MNU designed to introduce talented men of color to prospective employers in the field of education. This fall, MNU’s first two placements were made when FORCE students Jordan Dailey (left) and Jonathan Green (right) were drafted by the Blue Valley School District as candidates the district would like to equip for the classroom. During the “Teacher Draft Day,” last fall, district representatives had the opportunity to meet and interview draftees.

Offers were made to draftees through the education department and then presented to FORCE members.

Jordan and Jonathan, who are both juniors, will complete all their field and clinical experiences in the Blue Valley district under the supervision of the School of Education. Upon completion of a successful student teaching experience, each student will be eligible for a job interview with the district.

Career Fairs Bring Employers to Campus Two days of interviews and meetings brought hundreds of students and employers together on campus as the Department of Teacher Education and Career & Life Calling each held fairs for graduating seniors. The Teacher Career Fair paired 35 school districts with grads and alums February 27. The districts conducted more than 200 screening interviews for MNU student teachers, alumni and candidates from five surrounding universities.

Janet Reed, a human resource representative from Garden City, Kansas, shared, “This is one of the most

organized and well-run career fairs I’ve attended.”

Exit surveys either agreed or strongly agreed that MNU candidates were well prepared, professional and courteous.

The next day MNU’s Spring 2018 Career & Internship Fair hosted 54 organizations and more than 100 representatives who promoted their openings for parttime and full-time positions and internships to students and alumni of all majors.

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The McIntire family gathered at President’s Honors 2018 to celebrate the higher education legacy created by Dr. Larry and Donna McIntire.

An Enduring Passion for Higher Education

By Carol (Knight ’81, MAOA ’08) Best

Larry McIntire was just out of college, working as a junior high teacher and coach in Palco, Kansas, when he came home from work and announced to his wife, Donna, that he wanted to be a doctor. She was less than enthusiastic when her husband shared this news.

“I’d been observing the team doctor and I thought, ‘I can do that,’” Larry says. Soon the idea became a goal and Donna got on board too. Four years later the couple and their two young children moved to Kirksville, Missouri, where Donna found a teaching position and Larry started school at AT Still University of Health Sciences.

After Larry completed his residency in Denver, the couple set up his first practice in Portland, Maine, where they stayed for five years before returning to Kirksville so Larry could teach at the medical school. A fellowship in neurotology and skull base surgery took them to St. Louis 12 years later. Then in 1992, the McIntires established their Joplin, Missouri, practice, the Freeman Ear, Nose and Throat Center, which now has four doctors, including their son Kent, a head and neck surgeon.

“I’ve had three different lives in the practice of medicine,” Larry says.

“And they have all been really good.”

Many scholarships, even some they didn’t apply for, helped the couple pay for tuition. Donna says that “a bunch of miracles” convinced her that this was God’s plan for their lives and so the second career of Larry McIntire, DO, began.

Along the way, the couple has supported higher education in every community in which they have lived, as well as at MNU. Whether through teaching, serving in administrative roles or contributing financially, several universities and colleges have benefited from their vision.

Risk, faith and an enduring passion for education have been markers on the journey to Larry’s thriving 26-year medical practice and the couple’s reputation as community and philanthropic leaders.

Their support of MNU began when Larry served on the board of trustees under the university’s first president, Dr. R. Curtis Smith. In fact, Larry has served off and on through the years for every president in the university’s

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Dr. Larry McIntire on the Farber-McIntire Campus of KCU in Joplin. McIntire was instrumental in bringing the medical school to Joplin, Missouri.

Dr. Larry and Donna McIntire accepted MNU’s Lifetime Achievement Award at President’s Honors 2018.

history. Donna has maintained a supportive role visiting the university with him and participating in everything from meetings with other board spouses to philanthropic events such as the Autumn Auction and President’s Honors.

Former MNU President Dr. Richard Spindle recalls many years of working alongside the McIntires.

“Larry is a great dreamer who doggedly pursues his dreams and refuses to give up,” Spindle says. “If you were to make a list of the great friends and supporters of MidAmerica’s first 50 years, Larry and Donna McIntire would surely be near the top of that list.”

Although he completed his term as chairman of the board in November, Larry’s service to MNU hasn’t ended.

He continues to serve as a university trustee and MNU Foundation board member and supports the university’s initiatives through generous gifts. Together, the couple say they would encourage others to support MNU financially because it is a “worthwhile gift” to an institution where top-quality faculty care for their students. In addition to receiving a quality education, the McIntires are grateful that both of their children, who are also medical doctors, met their spouses at MNU. According to Larry, the “trickle-down effect” has also led three of their six grandchildren to MNU. MNU President David Spittal has worked with Larry the past six years.

Under Larry’s leadership as chair of MNU’s Board of Trustees, the university has expanded programs, achieved prestigious program accreditations and embarked on a $60-million capital campaign for academic programs, capital projects and university support. Today more than half of that goal has already been raised.

HONORS/AWARDS • 2018 MNU Lifetime Achievement Award • 2017 Citizen of the Year Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce • 2017 Joplin Regional Business Journal – Salute to Health Care Lifetime Achievement Award • 2016 Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons Physician of the Year • 2010 Lion-Hearted Award from Missouri Southern State University Alumni Association

PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC SERVICE • MNU Foundation Board Member • MNU Board of Trustees, multiple terms between 1984 to present, chair 2009-2017 • Board of Directors of Freeman Health Systems • President of the Joplin Regional Medical School Alliance • Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs KCU-COM • General Board Member Church of the Nazarene • President of American Osteopathic College of Otolaryngology, 2002 • Former Board Member Eastern Nazarene College

“I’m very grateful for the leadership Dr. and Mrs. McIntire have given to MNU,” Spittal says. “Not only have they given selflessly, but they both bring an understanding of higher education that is invaluable to the work they do for MNU. The Lifetime Achievement award is very fitting for this couple.”

Last year Larry was honored with 2017 Citizen of the Year Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, in part for his efforts to bring a new school of medicine to their city. Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCU-COM) opened the Farber-McIntire Campus in Joplin in 2017.

Small town America needs doctors,” he says. “The best way to get them is to train them here.”

Serving as President of the Joplin Regional Medical School Alliance, a group he helped assemble, Larry and other civic and business leaders helped raise $38 million for the medical school. Their efforts to coordinate local organizations led to Mercy Health System’s donation of their former hospital building and land to KCU-COM. Wherever they land, Larry and Donna seek to make a positive impact.

“It’s just part of what we do—to put our efforts behind a good organization,” Larry says.

They are both humbled to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. “We have great admiration for the board, administration, the students and parents and those adults who come back to school on their own,” he says. “We are proud of MNU and we feel honored.”

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HOMECOMING & FAMILY WEEKEND OCTOBER 12 - 14, 2018 Homecoming Celebration Concert Featuring

Guy Penrod & Lynda Randle Friday, October 12, 7:00 PM Bell Cultural Events Center

Homecoming Chapel: Blair Spindle (’92) SNU Campus Pastor & Dean of Chapel Friday, October 12, 10:00 AM College Church of the Nazarene

Late Night | Buck Night - Friday, Oct. 12

Pancake Bonanza - Saturday, Oct. 13

BBQ Cook-Off - Saturday, Oct. 13

Class Reunions - Saturday, Oct. 13

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HOMECOMING SCHEDULE Join us for Class Reunions ’73 ’78 ’83 ’88 ’93 ’98 ’03 ’08 ’13

Friday, October 12

Saturday Continued

9 AM

WELCOME CENTER The Merc in Campus Center

9:30 AM

10 AM

HOMECOMING CELEBRATION CHAPEL College Church, Sanctuary; Featuring Rev. Blair Spindle (’92), Dean of the Chapel and Campus Pastor at Southern Nazarene University

CELEBRATE TOM CROSS’S 90TH BIRTHDAY & HARPER RODDEN DEDICATION Cook Center Weight Room

9:30 AM

CLASS REUNIONS Under the Big Tent Class Reunions ‘73 ‘78 ‘83 ‘88 ‘93 ‘98 ‘03 ‘08 ‘13

12 PM

8TH ANNUAL ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME BANQUET Bell Cultural Center, Grand Lobby; $35 per person; Ticket Required

9 AM

KIDS’ ZONE ACTIVITIES AND INFLATABLES Near the Big Tent

10 AM

ALUMNI BASEBALL GAME Dixon Field; Free

10 AM

ALUMNI SOFTBALL GAME Williams Field; Free

10 AM

ALUMNI SOCCER GAME Pioneer Field; Free

9 AM

9TH ANNUAL PIONEER BBQ COOK-OFF Near the Big Tent

11 AM

HOMECOMING TAILGATE BBQ LUNCH FOOTBALL AND SOCCER PARENTS BBQ LUNCH Under the Big Tent; $12 per ticket or $5 per child (ages 4 – 9)

1 PM

PIONEER WOMEN’S SOCCER GAME VS MISSOURI VALLEY Pioneer Stadium; $8 (adult); $3 (student); Under 4 free

2 PM

PIONEER PATHWAYS 5K FUN RUN $30 pre-registered (t-shirt & breakfast included); $40 same day; Check in under the Big Tent

PIONEER FOOTBALL GAME VS BAKER UNIVERSITY Olathe District Activity Center (ODAC); $8 (adult); $3 (student); Under 4 free

3:30 PM

WATER DISTRIBUTION AND BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS Under the Big Tent - Sponsored by School of Nursing and Health Science

PIONEER MEN’S SOCCER GAME VS MISSOURI VALLEY Pioneer Stadium; $8 (adult); $3 (student); Under 4 free

6 PM

8 AM

ALL DAY CELEBRATION Under the Big Tent

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ALUMNI GAME Cook Center, Bell Family Arena

7:30 PM

8 AM

PANCAKE BONANZA Under the Big Tent; $8 (adult); $4 (children 12 and under) Sponsored by Women’s Basketball

STUDENT BANQUET Off Campus Location

7:30 PM

MEN’S BASKETBALL ALUMNI GAME Cook Center, Bell Family Arena

7 PM

HOMECOMING CELEBRATION CONCERT: GUY PENROD & LYNDA RANDLE Bell Cultural Center; $18 Alumni; $23 General Admission

8:30 PM

HOMECOMING BONFIRE Pioneer Stadium Parking Lot

8:30 PM

LATE NIGHT & BBQ BUCK NIGHT Under the Big Tent; Buck Night BBQ (assorted items for purchase)

Saturday, October 13 7 AM

WELCOME CENTER Under the Big Tent

8 AM

FOOTBALL ALUMNI REUNION FLAG FOOTBALL GAME MNU Pioneer Football Stadium

8 AM

8 AM

8 AM

8 AM

BAKE SALE Under the Big Tent Sponsored by School of Education RECEPTION FEATURING SWEET TEE’S COFFEE SHOP Under the Big Tent Sponsored by Nazarene Theological Seminary

Sunday, October 14 8:00 PM

PRESIDENT’S PRAYER BREAKFAST Bell Center, Grand Lobby $12 per person; Ticket Required

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President’s Honors 2018 raised more than $691,000, bringing the seven-year total to nearly $4 million. Gala participants enjoyed a sumptuous meal served by MNU athletes and live-action and online bidding on items and experiences donated by friends of the university. The audience was delighted by the MNU Women’s Choir performance of “Ain’t No Grave.” Thank you, sponsors, donors and bidders for raising funds so more students can have the MNU Experience.

Join us next year on April 12, 2019

Faithful Giving Spreads the Gospel

By Carol (Knight ’81, MAOA ’08) Best

Major Bryan (’02) and Rochelle Anderson credit his MNU experience with a life-changing turnaround. His parents, Dr. Dennis and Linda Anderson give to MNU monthly so that others can have that transformational experience.

Linda Anderson’s first encounter with MidAmerica was in 1968. That was the year the college welcomed its first class. That was also the year that Linda, a freshman, left her hometown of Des Moines, Iowa, to attend the fledgling school and experience for herself what folks in her church had been talking about. She found an accepting community, established on Christian principles, with godly professors. And while she decided not to continue her college career, Linda never stopped caring about this special place where students can earn a degree and learn lessons for a lifetime.

Back home, Linda met and married Dennis Anderson at Des Moines Eastside Church of the Nazarene. Dennis was in the military—the Army for three years, then the Navy for 34 years—so they moved often. Dennis completed medical school and became a physician, while Linda worked in medical administration. They were blessed with two sons. With each move, they looked for Nazarene churches to attend and through those churches they stayed informed about Nazarene higher education.

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“I stayed connected to MidAmerica,” Linda says. “I liked seeing what was being presented to the young people in all the Nazarene colleges.”

When their son, Bryan, completed his stint with the Marines and began looking for colleges, Dennis suggested MidAmerica.

Not only did MNU have the criminal justice major Bryan was interested in, but also it offered him what Dennis calls a second chance.

“Bryan didn’t take high school too seriously,” Dennis says, chuckling. “What I love about MNU is that they give everybody a chance. When he got that acceptance letter I told him, ‘here’s your chance.’”

Bryan took full advantage of that opportunity. Not only did he complete his degree, but also, he met and married a local girl, and according to his parents, he matured personally and spiritually.

Bryan returned to the military, this time as an Army officer, and is happily working in the field he loves.

“He’s been in the Army 15 years now,” Linda says.

“He loves what he’s doing.”

Major Bryan Anderson (’02), his wife Rochelle and their three boys, live overseas where he is stationed. They are active in a non-denominational church and both teach Bible studies.

he really gets ahold of you. I also attribute that to a praying mom.”

Linda and Dennis give all the credit to God’s plan, part of which included MNU. That transformational experience in their son, and their hope that it will do the same for others, is a big reason why the Andersons are faithful donors.

“If you want a spiritual awakening or if you are just looking for direction, go and experience it [at MNU],” Dennis says. “We give because it is a gift God has given us. We want students to be grateful to God, not to us.”

Linda adds her philosophy that their gifts can have far-reaching effects.

“Because of what we give, students are able to go out and tell others about God,” Linda says. “They’ll meet people we’ll never meet, so it’s like it explodes (spreading the Gospel). We never know who these students will reach and who those people will reach. And that’s our goal, to reach others with the Gospel.”

Dr. Dennis and Linda Anderson have faithfully given to MNU monthly since 2011.

“I had a life-changing experience while I attended MNU,” Bryan says. “When God gets ahold of you,

TOP: Dr. Dennis and Linda Anderson enjoy vacationing near the beach.

LEFT: Rochelle and Bryan enjoy a military event.

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MNU ATHLETICS

NAIA DIVISION I—HEART OF AMERICA CONFERENCE

Pioneers’ Season Wrap Ups

by Sports Information Director Chad Jenkins

Men’s Basketball—Head Coach Rocky Lamar The team finished 16-15 with some signature wins in the 2017-18 season, including a victory over No. 7 Central Methodist on Senior Day. • Jonathan Green, guard, (16.4 ppg) Conference Player of the Week, second-team All-Conference.

• Gabriel Jordan, guard, (11.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg) Honorable Mention All-Conference.

• Dante Scroggins, forward, (9.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg) Honorable Mention All-Conference.

Softball—Head Coach Rob Wade The Pioneers finished 35-21 and included a 10-game winning streak near the end of the season. MNU won 30 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2010-2011.

• Emily Robinson, pitcher/DP, second team AllConference.

• Macie Jones, third base, second team All-Conference.

• Kaitlyn Leffle, catcher; Madison Butcoff, second base; Taylor Creason, outfielder; Honorable Mention AllConference.

Baseball—Head Coach Ryan Thompson The Pioneers finished the season 24-20 and 19-13 in the Heart Conference to finish second in the South Division.

• Joshuan Sandoval, catcher, first team All-Conference.

• Carlos Reyes, shortstop; JP Rousseau, third base; Jacob Jenkins, outfielder; second team All-Conference.

• Jacob Sylvester, pitcher, Honorable Mention.

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MNU ATHLETICS

All the Way to the Elite Eight Women’s Basketball- Head Coach Jon Lewis The Pioneers finished 27-7, tying for second place with a 15-4 record in the tough Heart Conference. The No. 12-ranked Pioneers made a run to the Elite Eight at Nationals with victories over Lindenwood-Belleville (Illinois) and Providence (Montana). The Pioneers dominated the first and third quarters vs. LU-B for a 10-point victory. They were led by Alisha Washington's 33 points and Jovana Jovovic's 22 points and 11 rebounds. The Pioneers used a huge third quarter to take control of the game and won by 16. Washington and Jovovic shone, with 32 and 27 points respectively. In the national quarterfinals vs. No. 4-ranked and eventual national runner-up Westmont (California), the Pioneers could not overcome a big first-quarter deficit and lost by 9.

• Tristin Wicks led the Pioneers with 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. In the tournament, MNU was carried by junior guard Alisha Washington, who scored a Nationals' program-record 33 points in the first round, following with 32 points in the second round.

2017-2018 PETEY AWARDS

• Alisha Washington, guard, first-team All-Conference, Conference Newcomer of the Year, and Honorable Mention All-America.

•

Tristin Wicks, center, first-team All-Conference, third-team All-America (13.6 ppg., 6.6 rpg.).

• Ashley Cook, guard; Jovana Jovovic, forward; Whitney Moia, forward; Honorable Mention AllConference.

Petey Awards The Inaugural Petey Awards provided MNU athletes, coaches, and fans the opportunity to celebrate the 2017-18 season. The ESPYs-inspired evening was hosted by Gordie Wetmore and included a highlight film, awards ceremony, and a senior recognition ceremony to include graduates who often miss graduation due to post-season tournaments. Athletic awards included: • Comeback of the Year - MNU Pep Band

• Top Individual Performance Female - Bethany Brown (TF)

• Champion of Character - Kendyl McDougald (TF)

• Top Individual Performance Male - Devan Sawyerr (TF)

• Super Fan - Jim Smith

• Newcomer of the Year Female - Savannah Moxley (WSOC)

Presented to:

• Cross Award (strength & conditioning) - Macie Jones (SB)

• Newcomer of the Year Male - Ivan Ruiz Vidal - (MSOC)

• Support Staff of the Year - Dennis Troyer & Kelvin St. John

• Top Team Performance - Women's Indoor Track & Field 5000m

• Top Female Athlete - Bethany Brown (XC/TF)

• Ms. Pioneer - Taylor Cowan

• Top Male Athlete - Isaac Zitterkopf (TF)

• Mr. Pioneer - Hudson Welty

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MNU ATHLETICS

NEW HEAD FOOTBALL COACH Todd Sturdy is the new head football coach at MNU, replacing Brian Willmer who resigned in March after coaching the program to a 26-18 record over four seasons.

“Coach Sturdy’s experience and success at multiple levels of collegiate football speaks for itself, but his passion for developing young men through football is the core of who he is,” says Todd Garrett, athletic director. “His focus on creating a positive culture, a commitment to excellence on and off the field while intentionally developing strong Christian leaders make him a tremendous fit for MNU Football.”

Sturdy comes to MNU after several years as an assistant/coordinator in NCAA Division I at Eastern Washington (2007), Washington State (20082011), Iowa State (2012-2015) and Northern Iowa (2016). Prior to 2007, he was the head coach at NAIA St. Ambrose (Iowa) for 12 years, where he won six conference titles and reached the NAIA Playoffs multiple times.

“I am extremely excited for this opportunity to lead a football program again!” Sturdy says. “I am proud to be joining an athletic department that has a tradition of excellence.

Todd Garrett has set a great vision for MNU athletics, and I am eager to get started building a program that the faculty, staff, students, alumni and community can be proud of.”

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MNU ATHLETICS

Squads Win Conference

Track & Field—Head Coach Nate Weins

The Track & Field squads continued their dominance in the outdoor season. The women's team captured the Heart Conference title to earn the Triple Crown for the year, winning conference titles in Cross Country, Indoor Track & Field, and Outdoor Track & Field. The men's team finished second in the outdoor conference meet, just missing the Indoor/Outdoor sweep after capturing the crown for the Indoor season.

• Isaiah Griffin, Men's Outdoor Conference Track Athlete of the Year.

• Nate Wiens, Women's Outdoor Conference Coach of the Year.

• Kevin O'Grattan, Women's Outdoor Conference Assistant Coach of the Year.

Want to learn more? Visit mnusports.com ACCENT MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2018

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COMMENCEMENT 2018

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Daniel ('08) and Candace (Barkman '09) Moss, Lynnette and Brent Barkman, Dr. Rion and Heather Taylor, Shirley McIntosh (Rion’s mother) and Andrea Huffman (Rion’s sister).

First-Ever Endowed Professorship Established Alums Brent (FS ’85) and Lynette (Hight, FS ’84) Barkman of Barkman Honey established the university’s first endowed professorship with a gift to support scientific scholarly activity. The Barkman family announced the endowment at President’s Honors April 13, 2018.

The Barkmans join Dr. Mary Jones in presenting Dr. Rion Taylor with the Barkman Endowed Professorship in Science.

The endowed professorship funding will provide for expenses related to Taylor’s ongoing scholarship, research efforts and instructional support.

Dr. Rion Taylor, MNU professor of biology at MNU, was selected as the first recipient of the Brent A. and B. Lynette Barkman Endowed Professorship in Science.

Taylor joined the MNU faculty in fall 2010. His research and teaching interests focus on microbiology and parasitology. Taylor earned a BS in biology from Augusta State University and a PhD in biology from Syracuse University.

“I feel incredibly blessed,” said Taylor. “I know many have worked hard to make this possible. I am thankful to the Barkman family and the university’s advancement team. I hope to represent this honor well.”

Taylor teaches joint science and marketing class about the "bee business."

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The Barkmans support the university in a variety of ways including their 2017 donation of two bee colonies containing 120,000 honey bees. With their gift and support from the Title III Department of Education Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) grant, Taylor started the MNU Apiary, to support students’ applied learning projects in biology.

UPCOMING EVENTS JUL 20-21

Silver Dollar City Branson, Missouri

Aug 18

Legacy Family Brunch

Sep 18

New Theatre Restaurant: “Mama Mia”

Olathe, Kansas

Overland Park, Kansas

Sep 27-30

Pioneer Adventures: Fall Leaves Tour

Oct 12-14

Homecoming & Family Weekend

Divide, Colorado Olathe, Kansas

Oct 12

Guy Penrod & Lynda Randle in Concert

Oct 23

MNU Tuesday: Patrick Gray & Justin Skeesuck “I’ll Push You”

Nov 30 Dec 2

Olathe, Kansas

Olathe, Kansas

Worlds of Fun: MNU Family Weekend Kansas City, Missouri

For more event details and to register, visit mnu.edu/alumni-events

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ALUMNI NEWS

ALUMNI NEWS Jill (Simms ’96) Becker accepted a new job as a language arts teacher at Aurora Colorado Public Schools.

Phil Burkhart (’04) graduated with a Master of Arts in music and worship from the School of Music at Liberty University.

Larry Campbell (’96) was appointed by Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer to be the new state budget director.

Ben Bradshaw (’07) accepted a position as senior solutions consultant at Line Drive, Kansas City, Missouri.

Rev. Phil Rhoades (’83) is now the Joplin district superintendent for the Church of the Nazarene.

Stacy (Alderson ’97) Jackson was chosen

by PepsiCo to receive the Chairman’s Ring of Honor, which is awarded to employees who go above and beyond in service to their customers and business.

Desmond Jamison (’07) was on the television show “The Price is Right” where he won a car and a total of $59,245.

Dale Gray (’89) accepted a new position at Point Loma Nazarene University as director of philanthropy.

Carrie (Runyon ’98) Whitworth accepted a position at You’re Invited as the day of coordinator/event assistant.

Faith (Palmer ’92) North was named one of Ingram’s magazine’s Heroes in Healthcare 2018. Read the story at: http://ingrams.com/article/heroes-inhealthcare-2018/. Faith is currently completing her Master of Science in nursing at MNU.

Josh Broward (’00) co-authored “Edison Churches: Experiments in Innovation and Breakthrough,” released by The Foundry Publishing. His co-authors are Jesse Middendorf, Greg Arthur, and Megan Pardue.

Jon “Rocky” Lamar (’76) was honored with the Marcus Priddy Award of the Great American Basketball League in Lenexa, Kansas.

Wayne Dawson (’83) accepted a new position as pastor at Fort Smith First Church of the Nazarene, Fort Smith, Arkansas.

John Redwine (’92) recently became the member/owner of Bronco Equipment Rental & Sales in Oklahoma City.

Rod Smith (’92) received the Honor Administrator Award from the Kansas Music Educators Association.

Greg Hager (’94) made his second concert tour of Japan in April 2018. He was recently nominated Entertainer of the Year by the Pro Cowboy Country Artist Association.

Walt Cochran (’95), Gardner-Edgerton (Kansas) High School teacher, has been honored with the MNU Teacher Who Inspires award. This annual award from the Teacher Education Department is determined by nominations from MNU student teachers.

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Andrew Phelps (’07) accepted a position as content manager at Parallon, Nashville, Tennessee.

Jonathan Hall (’09) accepted a new position as pastor at Garnett Kansas Church of the Nazarene.

Debbie (Buxie) Jasiczek (’01) was promoted to associate director of engineering at Garmin International, Olathe, Kansas John Bustle (’02) was promoted to chief executive officer and chief medical officer at Bates County Memorial Hospital, Butler, Missouri.

Nathanael Dungan (’02) is now associate director of project management with Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc., a San Diego-based company that develops novel pharmaceuticals for the treatment of infectious diseases, including Ebola.

Hope (Tallent ’02) Owens, her husband, Nate, and their family, moved to the Philippines to work with the Asia-Pacific Region of the Church of the Nazarene.

Hope is regional communications coordinator.

Jason Menard (’10) was named the Kansas District 4 Athletic Director of the Year by the Kansas Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (KIAAA). Jason is the athletic director for USD 396 Douglass High School and Sisk Middle School.

Nicholas Woodward (’10) accepted a position as partner at Dotzler Siding, LLC, Elkhorn, Nebraska.

Dan Peterson (’11) won the Arizona Div. I State Golf Championship.

ALUMNI NEWS

Tanner Stevens’ (’11) business Post Coffee in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, was named one of the five best local coffee shops in the Kansas City Metro, by KMBC TV 9 News.

Jonathan Hooker (’12) accepted a position at Sirius Computer Solutions, Birmingham, Alabama.

Joe Willis (’12) accepted a position as the payment posting adjustment specialist at Physician Office Partners, Olathe, Kansas.

Michael Morrison (’13) is now teaching at MNU in the math department.

David Clark (’14) recently graduated from the University of Texas with his master’s in occupational therapy.

Daniel Cunningham (’17) accepted a new position as a program specialist at Cerner Corporation, Kansas City, Missouri.

Chris Lindenmeyer (’14) accepted a position at College Church of the Nazarene (Olathe) as the young adult pastor.

Britney Lewis (’16) received the Crystal Merit Award and was named the Rookie Leasing Professional of the Year from the Kansas City Apartment Association. She also won first and second quarter 2017 All Star Awards from Lincoln Property Company.

Melissa Kinzer (MET ’17) was honored with the prestigious Horizon Award by the Kansas Department of Education, recognizing the exemplary work of teachers during their first year in the classroom. Melissa is a seventh-grade science teacher at Chisholm Trail Middle School in Olathe, Kansas.

Aaron Merrell (’17) was named Truman Medical Center’s (Kansas City, Missouri) Emergency Department Employee of the Month, February 2018.

Joey Rosales (’17) is a financial representative at Northwestern Mutual Insurance, Olathe, Kansas.

Olathe School District Honors MNU Alums The Olathe School District honored several MNU alumni at its March 1, board meeting. College Church of the Nazarene and MNU also were honored for participating in the Adopt-a-School program at Central and Havencroft elementary schools.

Among the honorees were former MNU Vice President Dr. Bob Drummond (second from left) and MNU alums Dr. David Sharpes (’84) College Church lead pastor, Troy Snyder (’03) College Church of the Nazarene administrative pastor, Jan (Clem ’79) Wessels, Jenny (Wagner ’83) Downs and Dr. Jo Lamar (MED ’91).

»

HAVE NEWS?

Want to share births, marriages, new jobs and accomplishments with Accent? Please send to alumni@mnu.edu or connect with us on social media. It doesn't matter how you connect with us, we just want to hear from you!

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ALUMNI & FRIENDS

Help us welcome our newest → BIRTHS 1) Dempsey and Vladislava (Kopanarova ’15) Averitt, a daughter: Savanna Louise, March 2, 2018.

2) Andrew (’13) and Emily Blum, a daughter: Noelle Ann, November 2, 2017.

3) Cole (’10) and Rachelle (Warren ’10) Branstetter, a daughter: Evelyn Dawn, February 18, 2018.

4) Mitchell (’10) and Brittany Cloud, a daughter: Remy Kailene, December 13, 2017.

5) Brandon (’11) and Miquela (Smith ’11) Cluff, a son: Summit, March 2, 2018.

6) Ashford (’12) and Cary (Hayes ’11) Collins, a daughter: Demi Juliet, December 14, 2017.

7) Jonathan (’08) and Mallory Darcy, a daughter: Stella Monroe, November 15, 2017.

8) Colton (’14) and Sarah (Schmalzried ’15) Easdon, a daughter: Abigail Grace, January 31, 2018.

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9) Kevin and Miranda (Barnes ’09) Edwards, a daughter: Adeline Faith, February 22, 2018.

17) Mike (’12) and Ashley (Maxville ’12) Keese, a son: Michael Alan, October 28, 2017.

10) Russ and Kyli (Stoltzfus ’10) Fink, a daughter: Adalaed Remee, March 27, 2018.

18) Brett and Mindi (Lewis ’04) Kuper, a daughter: Ellie Grace, December 19, 2017.

11) Justin and Kristen (Bohi ’04) Gore, a son: Jeremiah James, October 24, 2017.

19) Micah (’11) and Nellie (Evans ’12) Lawson, a daughter: Lanie Sue, January 9, 2018.

12) Matthew (’11) and Heather Gow, a son: William Andrew, March 18, 2018.

20) Karl (’09) and Amanda (Holsinger ’08) Magnuson, a son: Leo Anders, November 2, 2017.

13) Josh and Kaitlin (Wertz ’13) Hartman, a son: Braylon James and three daughters: Teagan Atalie, Ainsley Elia and Sadie Amarisa, November 19, 2017.

21) Josh (’07) and Callie (Kearns ’09) Maher, a daughter: Korah Mae, January 4, 2018.

14) Matt and Carolyn (Wheeler ’09) Jensen, a daughter: Aviana Tov, December 16, 2017.

15) Jacob (’12) and Monica (Holmes ’12) Johnson, a son: Bo David, December 17, 2017.

16) Taylor (’03) and Kimberly (Talley ’03) Johnson, a son: Joey, December 9, 2017.

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22) Micah (’15) and Sarah (Lankford ’15) McEwan, a son: Ryan Worley, December 13, 2017.

23) Jared (’12) and Karissa (Wangberg ’12) Menard, a son: Leeland Daniel, February 11, 2018.

24) Brandon (’11) and Andria Owen, a daughter: McKinlea Ann, November 2, 2017.

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ALUMNI & FRIENDS

PIONEERS! → MARRIAGES 25) Matt and Jenna (Schultz ’10) Pence, a son: Everett Matthew, February 27, 2018.

32) Joshua and Linsey (Rogers ’08) Taylor, a son: Jack G., December 7, 2017.

26) Andrew (’10) and Tasha Riley, a daughter: Zoey Elaine, January 5, 2018.

33) Allen and Cristina (O’Dell ’08) West, a daughter: Lennon Diana, March 1, 2018.

27) Jason and Heather (Lukens ’07) Roberts, a daughter: Ellie Marie, November 17, 2017.

34) Jimmie (’02) and Stephanie Williams, a son: Jimmie V., September 18, 2017.

28) Tyler (’13) and Bethany (Taylor ’13) Roberts, a son: Whittley Charles, January 24, 2018.

35) Matthew (’12) and Amanda Williams, a son: Beau Allen, January 3, 2017.

29) Daniel (’12) and Ashley (Taylor ’10) Ruegsegger, a son: Chase Adam, November 2, 2017.

36) Nicholas (’10) and Laura (Zimmerman ’09) Woodard, a daughter: Quincie Dawsyn, February 28, 2018.

30) Kyle (’08) and Lindsay Sloan, a son: Oliver Perry, February 21, 2018.

31) Craig and Gail (Burney ’01) Snowbarger, a daughter: Caris Anne and a son: Cavet Anders, October 7, 2017.

Matthew and Kelsey (Balcom ’14) Bickley, December 16, 2017.

Derrick and Breanna (FitzGerald ’17) Crane, March 24, 2018.

Mark (’15) and Jeni Hall, September 30, 2017.

Justin (’17) and McKenzie (Hayes ’17) Randall, September 3, 2017.

Randy and Brenda (Jones ’82) Miller, September 9, 2017.

Greg (’15) and Becca (Skillman ’13) Van Noordt, November 18, 2017.

Richard and Lindsey (Sprague ’12) Hyde, December 17, 2017.

Ray (’16) and Kylin (Winters ’17) Merschbrock, November 4, 2017.

Matthew and Kori (Woods ’11) Phillips, October 22, 2017.

→ CONDOLENCES Ronald Attig (’73), March 29, 2018.

Alan Couch (’82), November 17, 2017.

Dale Fish (’73), October 31, 2017.

Melissa (Andrews ’90) Murphy, April 1, 2018.

Diane Halter (’77), December 13, 2017.

Kathleen Beale Patton (MET ’05), March 1, 2018.

Janell (Crenshaw ’78) Kellum, November 19, 2017.

Mary Ann Wilson, December 25, 2017 (Former Faculty).

Karen (Crow ’79) Blankenship, February 14, 2018.

Norman Bloom, February 22, 2018 (Former Trustee).

Anthony Quinn (’80), March 14, 2018.

Jimmy Dillow, December 30, 2017 (Former Trustee).

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University Advancement 2030 E. College Way Olathe KS 66062-1899 Change Service Requested If you receive more than one Accent Magazine at your home, or if you are the parent of an alum and you are also receiving their copy, please call 877-496-8668 or email accent@mnu.edu.

HOMECOMING & FAMILY WEEKEND October 12 - 14, 2018

GUY PENROD & LYNDA RANDLE Homecoming Celebration Concert Friday, October 12, 7:00 PM Bell Cultural Events Center

Special Features: Friday, October 12 -Homecoming Chapel: 10:00 AM College Church -Late Night | Buck Night: 8:30 PM Under the Big Tent Saturday, October 13 -Class Reunions ’73 ’78 ’83 ’88 ’93 ’98 ’03 ’08 ’13: Under the Big Tent -All Day Celebration: Under the Big Tent Sunday, October 14 -President’s Prayer Breakfast: Bell Cultural Events Center

For more event details and to register, visit mnu.edu/alumni/homecoming 36 ACCENT MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2018