L-R: Dr. Mary Pat Seurkamp, College of Notre Dame president, MVNU’s Dr. E. LeBron Fairbanks and Dr. Richard Ekman, Council for Independent Colleges president at a recent CIC meeting.
Our values drive us!
By Dr. E. LeBron Fairbanks, MVNU President
Greetings from Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
“For This We Stand,” MVNU’s values statement, reflects my conviction that the biblical mandate for the holy life, to which God calls all believers, is summarized in the scriptural commands to “Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength and thy neighbor as thyself” (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:3740; Mark 12:30-31). Our university values, therefore, must literally drive all aspects of campus life. This is the transformative dimension of a Christ-centered education. The following affirmations can be found in the document and online at www.mvnu.edu/about/stand.html.
1. A Worshipping Community. We acknowledge that worship is the Christian’s primary privilege and duty, and we consider corporate worship an essential ingredient of a faith community.
2. A Biblical Faith. Our faith is grounded in the Christ of scripture. We embrace the entire Bible, believing it to be the written revelation of our heavenly Father.
3. A Christ-like Lifestyle. A biblical faith results in Christian action. Jesus summed up the way He intends us to live when He said, “…seek first His (God’s) kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
4. A Holiness Ethic. Committed Christians do not live as the world lives. Words are spoken and
actions taken because of who we are as devoted followers of Jesus.
5. A Global Mission. We believe the whole world is the arena of God’s love and concern, and that everyone is in need of the gospel of His forgiveness and grace. When we experience people of other cultures, individuals who differ from us in color, race and language, we affirm that God loves them as He does us.
6. A Creation Vision. “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” These words in Psalm 24:1 challenge and command us to take care of His creation.
7. A Spirit-Empowered Devotion. We believe that prayer, bible study, devotional readings, reflection and solitude are valuable elements in each Christian’s devotional life and essential for a growing relationship with God.
In times like these, when Christian values are no longer the cultural centerpiece, we believe in the need for a university that embraces these convictions and lives in the light of these affirmations. Thankfully, others also believe in such a need.
The picture above was taken at the recent Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) annual meeting. Dr. Richard Ekman (right) serves as the CIC president and Dr. Mary Pat Seurkamp (left), president of the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, is the current board chair. I am privileged to serve on the CIC board of directors for the 500-plus member institutions nationwide.
What’s
Inside
11
Ministering in the Middle East:
Joun Samara (’03) recounts his experiences serving in a Nazarene Church in Damascus, Syria.
14 Excell Today: Fire
Chief Mike Hartson’s (’02) passion to help others achieve success resulted in his own.
22 Common Ground:
Two MVNU women’s volleyball players talk with Keith Newman about MVNU’s life changing impact.
Cover photo: MVNU students Jeremy Parsons, Angel Wilson, Brendon Lewis, Eric McKenzie and Nathan Bazler somewhere between California and Arizona on bicycle/psychology trip.
President Dr. E. LeBron Fairbanks
Vice President for University Advancement
J. Keith Newman
Director of CommunicationsCommunications Assistant Carrie A. CrouchTrinia Huddleston
Contributors
Mount Vernon NOW (USPS 761-980) is published four times a year by Mount Vernon Nazarene University, located at 800 Martinsburg Road, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050. Periodical Postage Paid at Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050
Campus Switchboard: (740) 392-6868
Subscription Updates: communications@mvnu.edu
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is an intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students and working adults who seek opportunities to learn and grow in an academic community of faith. We provide the context for a transformational experience through excellent academics, service opportunities, caring relationships and a nurturing spiritual and social environment. We challenge students to achieve their highest potential, to become increasingly Christ-like and to make a difference in their world through lifelong service.
Postmaster: Send address changes to:
Mount Vernon NOW 800 Martinsburg Road Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050-9500
Wilson to continue Couchenour’s legacy of leadership
Services Coordinator
During the fall 2003 meetings for Mount Vernon Nazarene University board of trustees, chair Dr. James R. Couchenour (pictured above, left, with President Fairbanks) announced his retirement from the 44-member board after 32 years of service, the last six serving as chair. Stepping into this role is Rev. David P. Wilson (pictured below), North Central Ohio District Superintendent.
Utilizing his years of experience as a successful businessman and faithful church layman, Couchenour has provided service, encouragement and leadership to MVNU’s entire constituency. President E. LeBron Fairbanks states, “Dr. Couchenour is an icon of MVNU’s motto, ‘To seek to learn, is to seek to serve.’ His legacy to the board will be his passion for Christ-like leadership and board development.”
Elected to the board in 1971, Couchenour received an honorary doctor of science in 1986 and was elected chairman of the board in 1997. In 1999, while President Fairbanks was on sabbatical, he served as the University’s acting president for an entire semester with no remuneration.
standing policies document that streamlined governance while ensuring and enhancing the effectiveness of each trustee.
Couchenour has served as an outstanding member of the board throughout most of MVNU’s existence. During his tenure, he has offered exemplary leadership, demanding a balanced budget for 30 consecutive years. He has been a compassionate and tenacious leader, serving on multiple committees and participating in hundreds of meetings, conference calls and business activities which often require hours of travel.
Throughout his years of devoted service, Couchenour has been actively involved in the financial support of the University, participating in every major capital campaign. He has offered the time and expertise of his company to manage the construction of several campus building projects. In 1999, he was instrumental in securing the purchase of over 120 acres of land across from the main campus.
Couchenour has proved repeatedly to be a man of great personal integrity whose wisdom has been highly valued by the entire campus community. He is an exemplary board member who has made a distinctive and lasting contribution to MVNU.
Residing in Columbiana, Ohio, Couchenour and his wife Patricia have four children, three of whom attended MVNU.
Rev. David P. Wilson, board secretary, was elected to the position of MVNU board chair. Prior to becoming NCO district superintendent, he was senior pastor of the Marion, Ohio, First Church of the Nazarene, having served there since 1989. He also pastored in Oklahoma, Florida and Missouri; served as coordinator of Pastoral Ministries in the Division of Church Growth at Nazarene Headquarters; taught high school English and coached varsity football.
Wilson is a graduate of Olivet Nazarene University and Nazarene Theological Seminary. He has been named a Fellow in Pastoral Leadership by Princeton Theological Seminary. Currently, he is completing course work for a doctor of ministry in spiritual formation from Asbury Theological Seminary.
In addition to his position on MVNU’s board, he serves on the board of trustees for Nazarene Theological Seminary, as well as the District Superintendent’s Advisory Council for the Church of the Nazarene.
David is married to Joy and they have three children, one MVNU graduate and two current students.
He has devoted extraordinary time and energy to the improvement of board performance by establishing a Board Development Committee to initiate education and development of the board. This resulted in the creation of a
Adapted from a document by Tricia McCormick, Advancement
School of Education and Professional Studies
San transformationDiego:through diversity
Our tendency as humans is to remain in familiar, comfortable situations. Sometimes the push we need to step out of our comfort zone comes in the form of a requirement to earn a degree. One of these is the Education and Cultural Diversity course offered each January at MVNU. A group of 13 juniors and seniors traveled to San Diego, Calif., for their diversity field and clinical experience. While warmth and sunshine may have been motivations to study in San Diego, these students also hoped to leave positive imprints on their students’ lives.
With some anxiety and expectation, the teachers became part of Andrew Jackson Elementary and Horace Mann Middle Schools in one of the poorest sections of the San Diego City Schools. Most students receive free or reduced lunch and breakfast, often the only meals they will eat. Student demographics include approximately 51 percent Hispanic, 24 percent African and African-American, 14 percent Asian and 11 percent white or other. For the majority, English is their second language and many younger students struggle to speak and understand English. Both schools are at the bottom of California’s elementary and middle schools based on performance on standardized tests.
Undaunted by statistics and demographics, MVNU students entered their classrooms. After only one week into the experience, here are some of the stories they had to tell:
• One day all the elementary students needed to take a very difficult standardized test. “Erequiel was getting frustrated and started to cry, and he was calling himself stupid. I told him the story about how I used to be in the lowest reading group and had to go to special reading. By the time I was in sixth grade, I got the award for the highest reading grade. After this encouragement, Erequiel was ready to face the test again.”
• “I have a little boy named Isaiyah who has a lot of trouble with his work. He had a hard time starting to do his [math] paper so I went over and said I would help him get started. I showed him how to do it and we worked it out. Then I told him to continue doing the last 19 problems on his own. He was so excited that he understood and could do it. . . . He ran up to me after every problem he finished and said, ‘I did it! I estimated and then measured and I was right!’ He was so proud of himself!”
Education students continue to raise the bar
By Dr. Steve Ragan, Dean of the School of Education and Professional Studies
Compiled by Dr. Rhoda Sommers, Associate Professor of Education
Joe Hughes, December 2003 education graduate, is now teaching at East Knox High School in Howard, Ohio.
• “Even though [Luis] can barely speak English, I always seem to connect with him on a social and academic level. When he asks a question, I explain it and he always understands it. I think that we are a lot alike, but he just speaks Spanish. He tries to say thank you, and knows not to take my good nature for granted. He is respectful and respectable. He has given me a positive experience.”
As St. Francis of Assisi noted, it truly is in giving that we receive. The 13 students not only gave to their class, but their own lives were also changed as a result of their giving:
• “Coming here has opened another door for me. I love the diversity and would love to teach in a school similar to this one. I have noticed that the children here seem to be more appreciative and they need someone to care about them and love them. I know that God will send me where He thinks that I am most needed.”
• “These children amaze me. Despite their home life and what they come from, they still strive [to do well] in the classroom. They don’t focus on the negative things that happen in their lives. They are just so excited about learning. The best thing that I have learned is to be sensitive to all cultures and not to stereotype.”
• “God has been showing me how to accept and be open to everyone. He also has laid on my heart a strong desire to work [with] and help young children. I feel that God has taken me out of my comfort zone and is stretching and molding me into what He wants me to be.”
God works in us and uses us in spite of who we are. As we open our lives in service to others, our lives are transformed and we grow, allowing us to give even more to those around us. Though growth can be painful and service difficult, life is enriched through this reciprocal process.
Five Mount Vernon Nazarene University students have earned the Educational Testing Service (ETS) Recognition of Excellence Award for outstanding performance on the Praxis II test in their discipline or in teacher education. They earned this award by scoring in the top 15 percent of all students taking the test in the nation between March 1998 and March 2003.
This honor will be indicated on all test reports from ETS. While this award is not a criterion for licensure, hiring or promotions in the field of teacher education, it is a testimony to the students’ commitment to teaching and learning, and it acknowledges their personal effort to achieve excellence.
ETS wrote to each student, “ETS believes that the best way to advance learning is to enhance teacher quality, one teacher at a time. Your performance on the Praxis II assessment shows your dedication to high standards in education.”
The ETS certificate to each student reads, in part, “Your exceptional performance earned a score that ranks within the top 15 percent of all test takers who took this assessment in previous years. This achievement indicates a high level of proficiency in an area critical for professional educators.”
Congratulations to these fine students:
Ryan Barnard (Mathematics; intended graduation: May 2004)
Jason Beavers (Social Studies, Excell Professional Educator’s License)
Carey Cunningham (Principles of Learning and Teaching, grades 5-9; intended graduation: May 2004)
Joe Hughes (Principles of Learning and Teaching, grades 7-12; graduation: December 2003)
Kevin Myers (Principles of Learning and Teaching, grades 5-9; intended graduation: May 2004)
Ohio has required Praxis exams for teaching licenses since 1999. MVNU students have been very successful on these exams, always exceeding the state passing rate. The 2002-2003 cohort who graduated last May had a 96 percent passing rate while the Ohio statewide passing rate was 92 percent. Previous MVNU summary scores can be seen in the annual Report on the Quality of Teacher Education at www.mvnu.edu/academics/eduprofstud/education/quality.html.
Through knowledge and experience comes power
By Molly Bixel, senior
“Dia Mathessos Dynamis”—the power to manage creatively for social and economic good. As president of Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s chapter of Delta Mu Delta, the National Honor Society in Business Administration, I see business students striving to achieve the essence of this motto. Our purpose in higher education is to learn and prepare for the time when we must put into practice our motto of “Through Knowledge, Power.” Many opportunities are available for students to gain knowledge, but perhaps none is more significant than firsthand experience. This is exactly what many business students are receiving through internships.
Senior Jessica Bell, a business major with concentrations in international business and finance, enhanced her learning experience this past summer in Cuenca, Ecuador, with Flores Bemani Cia Ltda. For three months, she performed a variety of functions that gave her a broad perspective on how an overseas company operates. Bell worked on a marketing project to explore the viability of expansion into the northwest, an accounting project for the refund of sales tax paid on exports and a web site management project, which was used to gain prospective customers. She said, “This was the best experience for me, as I put everything I have learned into actual practice.” Studying Spanish previously also helped, as each transaction was in Spanish.
This past year, Steve Leist (pictured) interned with David R. Dilley, CPA, in Chillicothe, Ohio, auditing non-profit and government entities. “Many times my boss put files on my desk and expected me to figure out what to do with them. I now know what is expected of me in the business world and how to react. I can take this experience into my interviews and have an potential advantage over other candidates.”
The Human Resources department at Nestle, Inc. in Solon, Ohio, has also participated in internships with students from MVNU. Dave Barry, a senior marketing major, spent his summer working in various departments throughout the company and ultimately planned a ceremony rewarding the long-term service of employees. He commented, “I learned a lot about how the business world really works.”
At the Sandusky, Ohio, office of Edward Jones Investment, Jeniece Flack used her office administration major skills. Jeniece was in charge of ordering and managing supplies and helped in the process of buying and selling stocks and bonds. “It is hard work, but it really gave me a true-to-life look at what [working] is going to be like after I graduate.”
Business students understand Delta Mu Delta’s motto, and are encouraged to add experience to their knowledge. The power that results is used to improve people’s lives through business. Opportunities with companies of all sizes, varying functions of business and different geographic regions are available to students at MVNU. Experiencing the work world through the knowledge of superiors and through direct practice is life changing. Internships have given these business students an advantage that is a highlight on their resumés in the business world!
If you are interested in providing valuable business experience to an MVNU student intern or know of an opportunity, please contact the School of Business at (740) 392-6868, ext. 3300.
Office Administration program transitions to Applied Business
With the rapidly increasing pace of computer technology use, businesses and organizations value employees who are knowledgeable in the application of technology to business strategy, management and decision making.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University has upgraded and modernized its Office Administration program to provide students with opportunities and experience to give them an edge in these areas. Now called Applied Business Technology (ABT), the program features three tracks: general, financial and design. Students can customize their program by earning a bachelor’s degree with a major, double major or minor in ABT, or an associate’s degree.
The general track combines a solid foundation of core business classes with a variety of computer courses. The financial track utilizes this same core with an emphasis on accounting and financial management. Utilizing faculty from the art and Graphic Design department, the design track focuses on desktop publishing and web design. All tracks stress the importance of computer technology.
“I’m very excited about the changes being made,” said faculty member Judy Madtes. “It’s going to better equip our students by giving them experience in a wide variety of software packages. It will strengthen their resumes and greatly enhance our business program.”
On past surveys, both alumni and students have commented about their desire for more computer courses. The ABT major provides a broader scope of business and computer courses which teaches the practical skills necessary to compete in today’s rapidly changing business world.
For more information on this program, please contact Judy Madtes at jmadtes@mvnu.edu or (740) 392-6868, ext. 3309.
M.S.M. program boosts its students’ success
Francine Crider (pictured), director of Health Management Services and Excell B.B.A. graduate (’03), started the Master of Science in Management program in September. This was the same month her former employer of 13 years, E-V Benefits Management, Inc., was acquired by North American Benefits Network (NABN), a Cleveland-based, third-party administrator for employee benefits. The challenges presented by the company’s purchase are enormous and Crider’s department faces significant changes in culture, mission and purpose, not to mention a refocus of services requiring significant operation restructuring. Managing the complexity of the transition, which includes conversion to a new telephone and computer system by May 1, is essential to meeting client expectations and governmental regulatory requirements.
Asked by NABN to stay on with a new title, Crider attributes much of her success in navigating these changes and transitions to the M.S.M. program at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. She believes the B.B.A. program provided an excellent foundation in business administration concepts. However, it is the M.S.M. program’s emphasis on executive-
By Dr. Glenn Bryan, Professor of Business and Coordinator of M.S.M. Program
level leadership, management, communications and organizational dynamics that has provided her with new insights and perspectives. The most significant insight has been the difference between managing and leading. Drawing on this and other concepts, she has been able to maintain a positive attitude, develop better options, make better decisions and lead her department through this critical period of transition.
Go online today at www.mvnu.edu/excell to learn more about the Master of Science in Management program: a graduate business program focusing on values-based leadership within a dynamically changing environment.
Zieglers transform lives through the language of a new world
David
How many people research possible locations for their new church plant by helicopter? Not many, but that is what Will Ziegler (’00) is doing as he and his wife, Mindy (Taylor ’00), decide where they will live and minister.
The locations they are scouting are all remote areas on the island nation of Papua New Guinea. In July 2003, Will and Mindy left home on their first assignment as missionaries with New Tribes Mission. Their goals are to move into a tribal group, learn its language and culture, teach the Gospel and translate the Bible into the language of this tribe. At the same time, they will plant an indigenous church, helping the people grow and mature in Christ.
Mindy completed a Spanish education major at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, while Will’s major was communication. Both minored in missions since they knew early in their college careers that the Lord was calling them into missions. They have two daughters, Grace (3) and Sarah (1) (pictured left). Raising their family in this remote tribal setting demonstrates their commitment to see the Word of God spread to people of all tribes and languages.
The Zieglers’ preparation for entering this new tribal group has been daunting, to say the least. They underwent one year of intense language training, including study of the Cherokee
language, as well as learning bush Pidgin—the language of commerce among the over 800 different language groups in Papua New Guinea. Will and Mindy have passed competency tests in all four levels of Pidgin. When they enter a tribe, they will begin learning the tribal language in order to teach the people in their own native tongue.
The next two or more years will be devoted to learning the tribal language while they and their family live among the natives. Before they can begin their work, they must be invited by the people of a language group to minister among them. The Zieglers have been invited into every village they have surveyed and are considering a language group called Midsivindi. There are approximately 3,000–4,000 people in this language group with no missionary presence among them.
There are many challenges ahead for Will and Mindy. Will they effectively live and work among the people of this tribe? Will they learn their language and translate the message of the Bible into terms the people will understand? Will they adjust to living so far from home in an environment that is so very culturally different? They are simply trusting the Lord for his help and guidance in meeting these challenges. Please join MVNU in thinking about and praying for the Ziegler family as they seek to transform our world.
By Dr.
Kale, Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities
Will talking with villagers in a prospective church location.
Mindy and Sarah with village ladies.
MVNU brings “Natural High” to Ohio youth inmates
By Phillip Wilks, senior
Standing L-R: David Foraker, Jack Williams, Melissa Evans, Dr. David Kale, Amber Tink and James Humphrey. Kneeling L-R: James Laker, Sarah Kline and Zach Wilson.
Within the division of Campus Ministries at Mount Vernon Nazarene University resides a special and challenging organization rich with opportunity to minister. Managed and operated exclusively by students, Mohican Youth Outreach was incepted in 1990 when committed students created the idea of a prison ministry.
Now, with the support of faculty volunteer Dr. David Kale, dean of the School of Arts and Humanities; and Gail Wright, the chaplain of Mohican Juvenile Correctional Facility, the group heads to the medium security prison in Perrysburg, Ohio, on Sunday afternoons conducting a contemporary
have witnessed God working through us in the hearts of these young men. Other times, we leave angry and frustrated because the guys just didn’t [understand] or gave us a hard time. But we come back week after week and the guys see that. They see you genuinely caring for them.” And that can make all the difference.
Dr. Kale comments on what it is like for a faculty member to be a part of this ministry by saying, “This is a wonderful ministry opportunity for me. I spend quality time with our students in a ministry to young men who very much need to know that someone cares. They also need to know that
“Their lives seem so much harder than mine, but some of the guys still have a positive attitude. We try to teach them about Jesus, yet often we’re the ones receiving messages through them.”
worship service known as “Natural High.” The inmates are all Ohio males, ages 12 to 19, with substance abuse problems. They come to Mohican, serving the final six months of their sentencing “exposed to the concepts of right living.” This includes the availability of Christian services to all inmates.
After a general introduction with song and prayer, the inmates are divided into groups of eight to ten for Bible studies. “We go there to listen to them. They tell us about their families, feelings, goals [and] struggles,” said Melissa Evans, president of Mohican Youth Outreach and senior psychology major. She firmly believes in the power of listening in order to teach. “We show them we are committed to them by coming back every Sunday and showing real compassion for their situations. We try to show them Christ not only by teaching, but by example.”
Volunteers take prayer requests from the youth, which becomes an important part of meetings held back on the campus during the week. In those weekly meetings, students pray for each of the individuals and their concerns, donating significant time and effort to the welfare of each inmate.
But Mohican services are not always perfect. “It’s a really hard ministry,” Evans says. “Sometimes we leave thrilled to
there is hope in Jesus Christ. It is often challenging when the young men hear so much hate and anger from other forces within the prison population.”
Mohican Juvenile Correctional facility, located in the scenic Mohican State Park, is owned and operated by the Ohio Department of Youth Services, housing as many as 120 inmates at a given time. The average Natural High service pulls in nearly 40 inmates every Sunday, proving the effectiveness of dedication, devotion and prayerful consideration of the Gospel mission, advocated by all members seeking to serve a group often considered “terrible” or “unreachable” by the rest of society.
According to Evans, “Their lives seem so much harder than mine, but some of the guys still have a positive attitude. We try to teach them about Jesus, yet often we’re the ones receiving messages through them.”
Mohican Youth Outreach is an organization of individuals strongly committed to those they serve. Anyone may join as long as they remain committed to the ministry, for the youth need consistency in the services for a lasting impression to be made.
School of Natural and Social Sciences
This January, 26 Mount Vernon Nazarene University students bicycled 1,100 miles with Dr. Randy Cronk and 10 trip staffers. The psychology course, Group Behavior and Processes, began in 1986; since then more than 200 students have participated. Their journey from California to Arizona led them through mountains, past the ocean and across the miles of their hearts and minds. Highlights included the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Carmel Mission, Big Sur and the towns of Santa Barbara, Malibu and Santa Monica. Most nights were spent camping in churches or schools. Campsites included a night in the redwood forest, one on the beach and two under the desert sky.
Transforming ourselves: lessons from the road
Compiled by Dr. Randy Cronk, Professor of Psychology
Eleven hundred miles of bicycling! That seems impossible. When you finish the trip it feels like you have done 1,100 feet. I miss every single moment. It is a great trip through southwestern America; you don’t just see, you explore. The trip requires more self-determination and discipline than physical strength. It is a lifetime experience. I believe that I am the first Ethiopian who has done this trip and I am proud of that. Riding 1,100 miles requires you to be careful on the road and God has taken care of me and made me finish the trip safely. And this is not my last bicycling trip— it is just the beginning.
– Debebe Kebede, senior from Ethiopia
There are times when life seems to lose meaning. People fall into routines and become buried in monotony. I was one of those people, however, the J-term California trip would change my routine. The trip was more than I could have ever imagined. The trip not only strengthened my muscles, it strengthened my understanding of how to really live. I learned that sometimes it is in the unplanned activities that the biggest lessons are learned. I also realized that life is not centered on books, grades and degrees; life is centered on people, experiences and knowledge. This experience opened my eyes to the vastness of God’s creation and the wonder of what His work will be in my life.
– Lindsay Noonen, freshman from Mount Vernon, Ohio
I was given the opportunity to do something I never thought I would be able to do, and for that, I am grateful and overjoyed. I have a visual impairment with limited depth perception. In January, I rode a tandem bike with Dr. Cronk from California to Arizona. The experience was incredible and taught me what life is truly about. It showed me that
my fears do not need to stand in the way, and that I can accomplish anything I go after. God once again showed me that He provides unfathomable strength. I will never forget the experience and am taking with me all that I discovered.
– Angel Wilson, sophomore from Boardman, Ohio
I’ve gone on the J-term bike trip twice, and through this trip I’ve learned more about God and myself than in any other month of my life. This trip is a chance to experience life, to be fully alive. God gets taken out of any box one might have put Him in, only to reveal His love and creation, power and strength in a new and amazing way. Students get to know one another—really know one another—in ways that you never do in the traditional learning environment. This trip has changed me; never again will I look at life through the same eyes. Never again will I say no to the adventure that God is calling me to because it seems too impossible. In my four years at MVNU, I can honestly say that the bike trip is the best thing I’ve ever done.
– Rebecca Klontz, senior from Sabina, Ohio
Studying the environment from a Christian perspective
By Dr. Mike Mendel, Assistant Professor of Biology
Have you noticed how much we hear these days about environmental and ecological issues? Do you have concerns about environmental stewardship from a Christian perspective? Mount Vernon Nazarene University offers an environmental track for biology majors.
MVNU’s campus consists of nearly 300 acres along the Kokosing River and an environmental laboratory that was updated and expanded in 2000. MVNU also owns a 70-acre, wooded, natural study area nearby, and there are several lakes, state parks and wildlife management areas in close proximity.
Students are taught proper stewardship of God’s creation and learn to seek the truth in finding solutions for environmental problems. They develop strong foundations in ecology and environmental science and have the opportunity to take specialized field courses. Additionally, these students gain valuable experience through exposure to laboratory and field techniques commonly used in environmental science professions. This experience prepares them for immediate employment or graduate studies.
Students can pursue careers in air or water quality, environmental education and training, land and water conservation, fisheries management, wildlife management, natural and water resources, parks and outdoor recreation, waste management and more. Summer employment helps students gain additional experience.
MVNU alumni have gone on to influence their communities in these fields. Ryan Taylor (’96) worked for several years on watershed management issues for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. He is now completing his doctorate in environmental science at Oregon State University. Suzanne Dapprich (Farmer ’01) currently works at the Knox County Health Department in the area of environmental health. Nate Overholt (’02) has spent the last two years working for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in the control of larval sea lampreys in streams that flow into the Great Lakes. And Scott Albaugh (’98) has been employed as a naturalist at Dawes Arboretum in Newark, Ohio.
God’s calling leads Emblen to career and second family
By Dr. Karen Doenges, Dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences
Sometimes God leads us in ways that we do not anticipate, but if we are willing to follow, doors are opened allowing us to transform the world in ways we never imagined.
As an integrated mathematics education major at MVNU, Andrea Emblen (’02) knew she wanted to make a difference in the lives of high school students. She had lived in the Mount Vernon area for her entire life, so it was a big step when she began looking at teaching jobs in other states. She landed in Kannapolis, N.C.
Emblen knew she would be teaching algebra and geometry, but encountered surprising diversity on her first day of class. Over the next few months, she became a translator and advocate for her many Hispanic students. Now in her second year at Kannapolis, she has 49 ESL (English as a Second Language) students, each requiring modified teaching. Emblen has worked diligently to help her students be successful in mathematics. She uses a free web site to translate tests and assignments. A special challenge was the EOC (End of Course) Exam that all students must pass before completing the course.
Through hard work and compassion, Emblen has won the hearts of her Hispanic students’ families. She is often invited to gatherings and special occasions. Her students are so appreciative of her that they have become her champions when other students dare to give her trouble. The Hispanic community there is very close knit, and they have adopted Emblen into their homes. She is making a difference in many ways in the lives of her students and their families.
Gary Morsch, in “What Are You Going to be When You Grow Up?” writes, “God has something he wants you to do that only you can do, and that won’t get done quite as well should you choose to do your own thing.” Emblen answered the call of God to transform the world of her mathematics students and God is using her in unique and wonderful ways. Morsch continues, “It’s far more important to ‘be’ something than to ‘do’ something…If you’ll emphasize ‘being’ the person God wants you to be, you won’t have to worry so much about what it is you’ll be ‘doing’ in life.”
Along the way, Emblen has learned some important lessons. If you commit your way to God, and earnestly seek out His will, He will bless you and use you in ways you never dreamed. She left her family and lifelong home in Mount Vernon and discovered not only a career, but also a mission and a second “family” in her students.
MVNU students study aquatic ecosystems along the banks of Delano Run which winds through campus.
Andrea Emblen (rear, center) with her Hispanic students.
School of Religion and Philosophy
Transforming our world: ministering in the Middle East
By Joun Samara, 2003 graduate
Joun Samara (pictured left) is a 2003 MVNU religion graduate from Damascus, Syria. He currently resides in Houston, Texas, with his sister and her family. He hopes to attend Nazarene Theological Seminary in the fall. This is his story of his experience working in a Nazarene church in Syria last summer.
Ministering in Korea: Inspiration is a streettwo-way
By Lindsey (Hughes) Musick, 2003 graduate
“Those who would come after me must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
Mark 8:34
These words of the Messiah came to life during the month I spent in South Korea. In October 2003, I traveled to Seoul to teach English at the Global Mission Society. I lived with Korean missionary students who were preparing to go to various mission fields such as Iran, Turkey, Indonesia, China and Japan. Every day was spent in intense prayer, worship and English study.
My role was to prepare the students for a weekly English service. In this preparation, I realized that while English is vital to their future missions work, it also causes them great levels of anxiety. One woman, Soon Ah Lee, or “Hannah,” came the first day of class, trembling with fear. She was extremely shy and whenever I spoke to her, she would panic. After I spent time with her, we become close friends and because of the work of the Holy Spirit, she began to relax and her English dramatically improved. Everyone was amazed by her change and her newfound confidence. Through this experience I learned about overcoming language barriers and communicating love through actions (Galatians 5:6).
The students and I became very close and I greatly admire them. They are driven by their love for Christ and His Great Commission, and therefore, are willing to sacrifice all (Philippians 3:7–11). Their lives radiate the fact that nothing is impossible with God, and that Christians can trust Him entirely. Because of their selfless example and through their constant encouragement, I made the decision to enroll in seminary. I experienced many amazing things in Seoul and will never forget the incredible people who inspired me to follow Christ with a more perfect faith and love.
When the war broke out in Iraq, millions of refugees fled to surrounding countries to seek security. Many traveled to Syria where they have begun their lives all over again. For most, there is no food, shelter or medication. A small Nazarene church in Damascus, called “Jesus the Nazarene,” took on the role of Christ to be a useful tool in God’s kingdom. I had the privilege to participate in and observe how God worked in this church last summer.
These Syrian Nazarenes organized services to reach out to the Iraqis in need. The Monday service is for Iraqi Christians to be fed the Word and have wonderful, encouraging fellowship with each other. On Wednesdays, they follow the example of Jesus when he healed the people, preached to them and fed them. They provide a medical service, a spiritual service to give people the chance to meet with Christ and a food distribution service.
During the medical service, people make appointments to see the doctor. Some are new cases, some are follow-ups. They go in according to their turn, and the doctor helps them or gives them the needed medicine. If the church does not have the medicine in stock, they send out to buy it for the patients since they can’t afford it. If the doctor gets a chance, he shares with people according to their needs, either by sharing the message of Jesus, or by speaking words of encouragement and love to them.
The second part is a church service. Muslims and Christians alike sit and listen to the message of Jesus’ love. As a result of attending this service, many people have testified about how they were consumed by their religion, and how Jesus saved them. So many testimonies of inner and physical healing come forth to glorify God. One woman said, “I used to hate Sadam Hussein because he killed my sister right before my eyes. Now, that I know Christ, if I see [Hussein],
Sabbatical reflections
By Dr. Bruce Petersen, Professor of Religion and Coordinator for the Master of Ministry Program
After 36 years in pastoral and teaching ministry, I was looking forward to my first sabbatical. But what would I do with my time? One project I wanted to tackle was writing a textbook that could be used for undergraduate classes in pastoral care.
After the lengthy process of researching and gathering materials, I finally began putting words into the computer at a cabin in northern Minnesota in July of 2003. The writing has continued at a slower pace than I had hoped, but with steady progress throughout the fall term.
Another interest was teaching in other cultural contexts. After writing a module course for ministerial preparation for the Church of the Nazarene on pastoral care, I was interested in how it would be received in a different area of the world. When Trevor Johnston, our MVNU missionary in residence in 2002–2003, invited me to teach this module course in Paris in November 2003, I eagerly agreed. What a wonderful experience to teach pastors and others preparing for ministry in this culturally
I will tell him these words, ‘I love you because Jesus loved me.’” She said she thinks that he needs Jesus the most, because he is the biggest sinner of all. Another Muslim woman testified that she knew of Jesus, but now she knows that He is the one who healed her and gave her life. So many amazing stories are coming out of this ministry!
After the church service, each family goes into stations, according to their passport registration, and receives portions of food. In their portion, they might find staples such as rice, cheese, tea, eggs, butter, oil, olives, sugar, tuna, spaghetti and many canned foods.
This ministry has touched the lives of many. It has changed families. The Syrian Nazarene church in Damascus visits these families at home to disciple, check on the sick and encourage. It has been both fruitful and difficult at the same time, but God is working in a wonderful way. His name is being preached and accepted by people of many religions. Praise Jesus!
If you are interested in contributing to this ongoing ministry, you may write a check to: General Treasurer, Church of the Nazarene. Mark it “Attention: Nazarene
Compassionate Ministries for Iraqi Refugee Assistance (Damascus, Syria), #ACM1645,” and mail it to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries International, 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131-1213.
sophisticated, but spiritually needy country. Thirteen students came to class each evening after a full workday and long travel. I began to understand the deep commitment within these men and women preparing to reach people for Christ throughout France.
My wife Jackie and I also had the privilege of spending time at European Nazarene College in Busingen, Germany. In addition to speaking in chapel and in class, we enjoyed getting to know the students and renewing friendships with several faculty members.
We will not soon forget the memories of medieval towns and castles of Germany, the Alps and villages of Switzerland, the palaces and museums of Paris, and the warm, friendly people we met everywhere. What a wonderful sabbatical experience.
student at a time
by Dr. Randall Wells, Associate Vice President of Graduate and Adult Education
A colleague of mine told me of a conversation which occurred several years ago with one of his employers while he was in college. The employer said to my colleague, “So, you’re a Christian. How do you expect to convert the world?”
Somewhat baffled by the suddenness of the question, my colleague responded, “One person at a time.”
transformation also occurs in students as a result of encountering new ideas in the classroom and applying them in the workplace, in church or in families with the ultimate goal of improving lives. We receive many success stories from our graduates who have changed their workplace, some significantly, as a result of graduating from our programs.
Transforming the world is an ambitious, but worthy goal. Excell is committed to this mission, by developing our students—one at a time.
Transforming the world is a “global” task, but if we are to undertake this task with any hope of success, we have to do it one person at a time. One cliché puts it, “Think globally, act locally.”
This is also the goal of Excell. We offer non-traditional graduate and undergraduate programs in the areas of business, teaching and church leadership. We have the opportunity to transform our communities through our students. How do we do that? One student at a time.
Transformation occurs a number of different ways. You may be familiar with the spiritual transformation the Bible describes as part of a meaningful relationship with God. However, a
We also hear employers of Excell graduates use superlatives such as “superb,” “excellent” and “first-rate quality” when they describe the contributions of our students.
We are not only interested in our students becoming proficient with a body of knowledge, but also in our students developing a Christian worldview. It begins with devotions and prayer each class night, and we intentionally integrate faith with learning, regardless of the class. That may be easier in some courses more than others, but we want students to know that every subject is relevant when it comes to understanding how God views our world.
Kalvary Kershner, secretary in the Mount Vernon Excell office, helps student Allen Frye with some paperwork.
Strongerbetterleaders,firefighters
By David Baker, Curriculum Specialist for Excell
Most Excell students, while pursuing their degrees, are earning a living in the workplace. Many are using the skills they acquire in class to significantly impact that workforce.
Michael Hartson is one example. He graduated from the Excell program in May 2002 and is the fire chief of the Mansfield, Ohio, Fire Department. Hartson joined the department in 1974, following in the footsteps of two uncles. He spent three years at The Ohio State University upon graduating from Northmor High School, but never earned his degree.
Nearly 30 years later, Hartson said he felt cheated—that he had “unfinished business.” He considered finishing up at OSU, but the schedule did not meet his needs. That is when he turned to Excell; its one-night-a-week approach suited his needs perfectly. For that reason, he said, when he decides to begin working on his master’s degree, he will go through Excell.
For many years, Hartson enjoyed the hands-on aspect of firefighting, whether it be a child trapped in a burning house or a cat stuck in a tree. Over time, however, Hartson began moving toward the administrative side of the job. He said he felt it was a natural step and gave him an opportunity to have a more widespread effect within the department.
One of these opportunities came during his business research project. He had to address a work-related problem, and chose to analyze the effectiveness of the processes of training firefighters. After proposing his idea to his instructor, Dr. Ron Bolender, he was told the project might be too difficult. But Hartson said, “With me being stubborn, I wanted to do it.” And he did.
By administering a test, Hartson compared the knowledge base of firefighters before and after one year of training. Firefighters ranged in experience from 2 to 30 years. He found that the knowledge base increased by 10 percent and, since then, the Mansfield Fire Department has held continual training for all firefighters.
“His analysis, report and presentation illustrated a level of competence and professionalism desired by MVNU’s faculty for all B.B.A. graduates,” said Dr. Bolender.
Hartson has had the opportunity to use skills acquired and honed in the Excell program in other ways, as well. He has projected the budget for the Mansfield Fire Department so accurately that even the city’s finance director could not match it. He also uses his presentation skills to share crucial information with the community, illustrating goals for the department and identifying pressing needs.
Hartson did not pursue his degree to advance his career. Upon entering the Excell program, he was already assistant fire chief. Instead, it was a matter of personal satisfaction, as is his joy for helping those in crises. Doors of opportunity have opened which will allow him to pursue an Emergency Management Agency director position one day. And while he is no longer fighting fires, Hartson’s passion is enabling others to do so to the best of their ability.
Lady Cougars Cap Off Record Year With NCCAA National Title
In only four short years, the Mount Vernon Nazarene University women’s soccer team has gone from being a new varsity program in 2000 to claiming the School’s first-ever soccer national title in 2003.
After compiling a successful 39-25-1 record through the team’s first three years, the Lady Cougars set their sites on doing something special in 2003. The team narrowly missed winning the American Mideast Conference South Division title in 2002, and the players and coaches alike were determined to take the next step.
“Saying that this season was ‘awesome’ or ‘great’ just seems too little,” said MVNU Head Coach Jonathan Meade, who was named AMC South Division Coach of the Year for the second straight season. “When players and coaches begin working hard the day after the previous season ends to reach for more, and then have all the differing personalities, skill levels and emotions mesh together so perfectly to create what this team accomplished and experienced this season, ‘awesome’ is just not enough.”
MVNU won its first 11 matches for the longest winning streak in the program’s brief history. The team did not allow a goal until their ninth match of the season. In addition, MVNU received votes in the NAIA national poll for the first time ever and moved up as high as 26th in the September 30 poll.
After finally having their winning streak snapped 1-0 by Malone, a double-overtime scoreless tie with Saint Vincent (Penn.) and another 1-0 loss to 17th-ranked Indiana Wesleyan, the Lady Cougars won the team’s five remaining regular season matches with victories over Kenyon, Ohio Dominican, Tiffin, Cedarville and Urbana to finish with a 17-2-1 record. The team also captured its first-ever AMC South Division title with a 6-1-0 conference mark.
Next up for the team was its first-ever home NAIA postseason match as the Lady Cougars hosted Geneva (Pa.) in the AMC/NAIA Region IX Tournament first round. After a 3-0 victory, MVNU advanced to the NAIA Region IX Tournament Final Four for the second straight year. The Lady Cougars dropped a tough 3-2 decision to eventual region champion Malone in a match played in freezing weather on a snow-covered field at Houghton (N.Y.).
By Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director
MVNU then shifted its focus to the National Christian College Athletic Association national tournament in Kissimmee, Fla., where the team was the top seed in the eight-team field. The Lady Cougars posted identical 4-1 victories over eighth-seeded Bryan (Tenn.) and fourth-seeded Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) in their first two matches to advance to the championship match for the first time. MVNU capped off its spectacular season fittingly with a 2-0 shutout of second-seeded Trinity International (Ill.) to claim the School’s first NCCAA soccer national title.
“Winning the national championship was a phenomenal experience, and I am so proud of the team for seizing the opportunity that was given to them,” said Meade. “The team played very well all year, but the entire team lifted its level of play to new heights at the national tournament. Each player realized her role on the team and put her best effort forward to excel in that role.”
Defensively, the Lady Cougars allowed just 12 goals in 24 matches while posting a school-record 15 shutouts. Even in MVNU’s three losses during the season, the Lady Cougars were outscored by a total of only three goals.
Seniors Cheryl Balogh and Karen Stasiowski, junior Sarah Helbert, and sophomore Leanna Goss anchored the team’s back-line success. Meanwhile, freshman goalkeeper Krysti Wilson started all 24 matches and allowed just 9 goals. She set new school records with 117 saves, 14 shutouts and a 0.39 goals against average.
The Lady Cougars also boasted a record-setting combination in sophomore forward Kristen Votapek and junior forward Catherine Hess. Votapek led all players in NAIA Region IX with 32 goals and 73 total points as she broke her own school records in both categories and became the MVNU career leader with 58 goals and 134 total points. Hess scored a career-high 19 goals and broke her own school record with an AMC South-leading 16 assists to become the Lady Cougars’ career assist leader with 35 and moved into second place with 43 career goals.
Front row kneeling from left: Kristi Tuck, Lisa Hinman, Katrina Iles, Cheryl Balogh, Sarah Rinehart and Karen Stasiowski. Middle row from left: Coach Jonathan Meade, Meghan Schymanski, Sarah Helbert, Audrey Hager, Allison Linak, Leanna Goss, Krysti Wilson, Deborah Shinaberry and Assistant Coach Kelly Evans.
Back row from left: Bethany Rockwell, Dana Detty, Kristen Votapek, Catherine Hess, Jessalyn Hardesty, Katie Farver, Laurel Lautensack, Holly Dyer, Lindsay See and Jessica Ward.
By Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director
Katie Keller, a member of the Mount Vernon Nazarene University women’s basketball team, was featured in the December 8 issue of Sports Illustrated in the “Faces in the Crowd” section.
Keller, a 5-foot-5 freshman guard from Prospect, Ohio, had a memorable collegiate debut when she scored 39 points—one shy of the Lady Cougars’ single-game record—in an 84–55 victory at the University of Michigan-Dearborn on November 5. The former Elgin High School star nailed a school-record 12 threepointers in 15 attempts as she shot 80 percent from beyond the arc in the game. The 12 three-pointers made were one shy of the NAIA Division II national record.
Keller becomes the eighth MVNU athlete or coach to be featured in Sports Illustrated in the past nine years. She joins Wendy Rader, volleyball (October 31, 1994); Travis Gray, baseball (May 26, 1997); Paul Swanson, volleyball (October 6, 1997); Andy Heimbach, baseball (May 24, 1999); Keith Veale, baseball (June 14, 1999); Tara Seiter, volleyball, (November 2, 1998); and Shelly Aldrich, women’s soccer (October 9, 2000).
MVNU’s Balogh receives two
major awards
By Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director
Cheryl Balogh, a member of the Mount Vernon Nazarene University women's soccer team, received two major awards this year. She was selected as the 2003 recipient of the National Christian College Athletic Association's Michelle Akers/Wittnauer Award and one of six recipients nationwide of the 2004 Woody Hayes National Scholar-Athlete Award.
A senior defender from Lima, Ohio, Balogh played in 83 matches with 82 starts as MVNU went 59-28-2 during her career. She anchored the Lady Cougars' defense that posted 37 shutouts during that span, including a school-record 15 shutouts in 24 matches in 2003 as MVNU posted a 20-3-1 overall record and won the American Mideast Conference South Division crown and the NCCAA national title.
In the classroom, Balogh is also a standout as her 3.94 grade point average indicates. She has been a three-year captain for the Lady Cougars, and she is active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and in her Lima home church. She also worked for a group home for the chronically mentally ill, and is in her second year as the Physical Education Department student assistant.
The Michelle Akers/Wittnauer Award is the highest annual honor given by the NCCAA to the most outstanding female soccer player in the nation. The recipient must possess a vital Christian testimony, exhibit leadership and participate in service activities.
The award is named after the former team captain of the U.S. National women's soccer team and an Olympic gold medalist. Balogh is the first MVNU player to win this award.
The Woody Hayes National Scholar-Athlete Award is given annually to one male and female student-athlete in Division I, Division II or NAIA, and Division III for achievement in that individual's respective sport, excellence in the classroom and service to others.
Baseball Schedule
April 1* at Tiffin1:00 p.m. DH
April 3* at Tiffin1:00 p.m. DH
April 6at Walsh1:00 p.m. DH
April 8* at Ohio Dominican1:00 p.m. DH
April 10* at Ohio Dominican1:00 p.m. DH
April 12* at Urbana1:00 p.m. DH
April 13* URBANA 1:00 p.m. DH
April 16* CEDARVILLE 1:00 p.m. DH
April 17* CEDARVILLE 1:00 p.m. DH
April 20 OHIO WESLEYAN 4:00 p.m.
April 23* SHAWNEE STATE 1:00 p.m. DH
April 24* SHAWNEE STATE 1:00 p.m. DH
April 27 WOOSTER 3:30 p.m.
April 29 MALONE 1:00 p.m. DH
April 30* at Rio Grande1:00 p.m. DH
May 1* at Rio Grande12:00 p.m. DH
May 6-8^AMC TournamentTBA
May 12-15%NAIA RegionalTBA
May 12-15NCCAA RegionalTBA
May 19-22+NAIA Super RegionalTBA
May 19-22$NCCAA NationalsTBA
May 28-June 4!NAIA World SeriesTBA *American Mideast
2004 Lady Cougar Softball Schedule
April 3*
April 9
April 12
April 13* at
April 15at Kenyon4:00
April 17* CEDARVILLE 1:00
April 19* at Shawnee State3:00 p.m.
April 20* RIO GRANDE 4:00 p.m.
April 23-24%NCCAA RegionalTBA
April 27* URBANA 3:00 p.m. DH
April 29-30$NCCAA NationalsTBA
May 13-14! at NAIA RegionalTBA
*American Mideast Conference Division Games
%NCCAA East Region Tournament (at Geneva College)
$NCCAA National Tournament (at Indiana Wesleyan University)
!NAIA Region IX Tournament (TBA)
DH = Double Header
2004 Cougar Golf Schedule
April 6at Univ. of Indianapolis Invit.Camby, IN
April 9-10at Urbana Univ. Invit.Urbana, OH
April 12-13at Walsh Univ. Invit.Canton, OH
April 16-17 MVNU COUGAR CLASSIC Howard, OH
April 19-20at Cedarville Univ. Invit.Beavercreek, OH
April 26at Otterbein College Invit.Westerville, OH
April 29-30at AMC/NAIA Reg. IX Tourn.Howard, OH
May 17-21at NAIA National Tourn.Olathe, KS
From baseball to business – Ondina builds his own success Alumni Feature: Arturo Ondina (’86)
Even before graduating from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in 1986, Arturo Ondina had plans to live life large. As a double major in accounting and biology, he envisioned working for one of the “Big Eight” accounting firms. Playing Cougar baseball on scholarship, Ondina would learn how to turn his dreams into home run realities.
Ondina admits to being a nervous freshman, “Coming to MVNU from Puerto Rico was hard for me at the beginning due to the distance, cold weather and speaking English as a first language. But the Christian atmosphere helped me to overcome those obstacles quickly.” And overcome he did. Some of his favorite memories include playing baseball, spending time with friends and developing leadership skills. “The learning experiences with leaders like Sam Riggleman and Keith Veale transcended baseball and became a part of who I am as a person,” he commented.
After graduation, Ondina interviewed with accounting firm Ernst & Young (then Ernst & Whinney) in San Juan and was hired on the spot as a staff accountant. Shortly thereafter, he moved to New York to manage the internal auditing department of Sterling Drugs, Inc. Ondina performed audits for Sterling in Africa, Chile, Spain, Portugal, Singapore, Indonesia and others. This experience would prove invaluable as he returned to Puerto Rico to be rehired by Ernst & Young as manager of the U.S. Virgin Islands offices at the age of 26. Ten years later, the motivated Ondina was named a partner.
It wasn’t easy, though. “I noticed stares from the more experienced partners every time I walked into a meeting,” he said. But his knowledge, leadership and ethical outlook quickly made his colleagues believers.
1970s
Steve Collins (’78) serves as principal flutist for the Reston Chamber Orchestra and co-principal flutist for the McLean Symphony. He was also a soloist for the opening concert of the Reston Chamber Orchestra on November 23, 2003, and made an appearance with the McLean Symphony at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on November 2. He is a professional flutist/violist in the Washington, D.C., area.
Diane (Beile ’79) Perry recently received her master’s in acquisition management. She will transition from contracting officer in the special operations branch to procurement analyst for the U.S. Air Force at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
1980s
Ted Murphy (’80) is the recipient of Houghton College’s annual Excellence in Teaching award. The award supports undergraduate education by recognizing excellence in teaching and by rewarding outstanding teachers. He is one of eight faculty members in the state recognized for making a positive contribution to the teaching climate at their respective colleges.
David (’81) and Pam (Hughes ’82) Sullivan announce the marriage of their daughter, Christin, to Kevin Hayes in July. David serves as minister of music and education at Chapel Hill Baptist Church in Milan, Tenn. Pam is an investigator with the U.S. Department of Labor.
Barbara (Keslar ’82) Gibson is a junior at Nazarene Bible College and plans to graduate with her husband, Doug, in May 2005. She hopes to work in children’s ministries while Doug pastors a church in northeast Ohio.
Today, Ondina serves as partner in the Assurance and Advisory Business Services Division and is in charge of audits for clients such as Verizon, Coca-Cola and Eli Lilly throughout the Caribbean and Florida. He observed, “This is an industry where integrity and ethics define you as a person and a company— today more than ever.”
As hard as he works on the job, Ondina strives even harder at being a husband and dad. Ernst & Young supports a “people first culture” where an emphasis on flexibility helps him balance work and family. “I always make room in my schedule for school functions and sporting events. My oldest son, David, will graduate in 2005, so we have been planning for college together. I am also blessed to have a wife who understands my job demands,” said Ondina. Passing down a special love, he serves as a baseball coach for his son’s team for 7- and 8-year-olds.
Ondina gives back to his community by serving on the board of directors for two organizations that assist children: CODERI is a school in San Juan dedicated to the development of children with mental disabilities, and Fundacion Orlandito helps families of children with brain lesions to attend seminars in the U.S. and Mexico. He also serves as the president of the Puerto Rico State Society of CPAs which raises funds to perform studies on issues impacting the economy.
“As a student athlete, I learned to balance sports demands with a tough educational curriculum,” said Ondina. “Handling various responsibilities at once was an important lesson that has helped me develop as a professional, a father and a citizen.” He would also say that taking risks has aided him in reaching goals. A quote on his desk reads, “Success always involves some risk. You can’t steal second base if you keep your foot on first.”
Lastly, for Ondina, it all comes back to family. “I come from a very supportive family and that definitely gives you an edge when facing problems or difficult tasks,” he said. “I try hard to give my kids that same support, influence and pride that I was given by my family.” Ondina, his wife Kathy, and their children, David, Francisco and Sofia, attend San Juan Evangelista Catholic Church in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
MVNU Faculty Openings:
Visit www.mvnu.edu/news/jobpostings for more details on these listings as well as our application procedure.
• Graduate Teacher Education
• Graduate Finance
• Graduate Management
• Management Information Systems
Douglas (’84) and Deanna Curry announce the birth of their daughter, Molly Erin, on April 17, 2003. She joins big sister Sarah Michelle (3). The family resides in Oxford, Ohio, where Doug is the director of the recreational sports center at Miami University.
Brian Deaton (’85) and his wife Becky announce the birth of their first child, Lauren Elizabeth Deaton, on November 9, 2003.
Mearl “Butch” Hodges (’87) has recently taken a new assignment as associate pastor of youth and music at the Idaville (Ind.) Church of God. He hopes to bring excitement to the youth program and transition one service to a contemporary format. He is joined by his wife Angie, daughter Brooke and son Sean.
Jim (’88) and Carolyn (Rhodes ’90) Hampton recently moved to Kentucky, where Jim serves as assistant professor of youth ministry at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is also a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Kansas. Carolyn works part time as a freelance editor and enjoys spending time with children Alyssa (7) and Nathan (3).
David (’89) and Melinda (Priest ’92) Fulks announce the birth of David Wesley Jay Fulks on July 21, 2003. He was welcomed by big brother Daniel (4). The family resides in Durand, Mich., where David has pastored for more then seven years. Melinda is a stay-athome mom and stays very active in the church life.
Michael Lyons (’89), his wife Sherri, and daughter Virginia recently moved to Morgantown (W.Va.) First Church as pastor.
Daryl Pierce (’89) is the program director at WAKW radio in Cincinnati, Ohio. His wife, Julie (Duncan ’89), works on promotions for the station. The couple is on air together in the afternoons. They have two children, Spencer (9) and Regan (5).
1990s
Pam (Brunk ’90) Little and her husband Clark announce the birth of their third child, Maggie Grace, on November 7, 2003. Maggie joins big sisters, Kayla (9) and Meredith (6). The family resides in Lima, Ohio.
Trevor Dillinger (’90) graduated with an M.B.A. on December 13, 2003, from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. He lives in Columbus with his wife, Clarissa (Myer ’92) and their two children, Marlena (4) and Brett (1). Trevor is a financial analyst for Columbia Gas and sings tenor in a local gospel group, the Hamilton Road Quartet. Clarissa is a stay-at-home mom.
Troy Munn (’90) and his wife Kelli adopted Katherine Eugenia on December 22, 2003 in Krasnodar, Russia. The Munns live in Winterville, N.C., where Troy is the director of development for the Medical Foundation of East Carolina University, Inc. Kelli teaches public relations and
journalism for East Carolina University. They are active with the Covenant United Methodist Church.
Christi (Hogue ’91) Jent married Darryl Jent in 1996. They have two children, RaeAnn (5) and D.J. (3). Christi has been the preschool director/teacher at Springfield Christian Schools for the past five years.
Jacque (McMillen ’91) Smith graduated with a master’s degree in education (curriculum and instruction) from MVNU in spring 2003. She is a 7th grade teacher at Utica Junior High School. She resides in Mount Vernon with her husband Dave, and son Jake (4) who attends Esther Jetter Preschool at MVNU.
Jeff and Lori (Brisker ’91) Thompson announce the birth of Megan Elizabeth on October 14, 2003. She joins big sister Mikayla (4) and big brother Micah (1). The family lives in Logan, Ohio.
Eric (’95) and Carla (Shelly ’92) Pennington announce the birth of their son, Ian Ray, on October 9, 2002. He joins big brother Zachary (4). The family resides in Dayton, Ohio.
L-R: Arturo Ondina and his family: children David, Sofia, Francisco and wife Kathy.
MVNU alumni remain committed to serving
Our alumni are serving God and others around the world. We are grateful to God for the impact they have—making a difference in homes, churches, workplaces and communities.
In the Fall 2003 issue of the Mount Vernon NOW, we highlighted the work of one of these alumni, Rev. Lester Hardesty. Lester and his wife, Lisa, work among the Cherokee Indians in North Carolina. I shared with you that a first alumni-associationsponsored Work and Witness trip is planned to the reservation this summer, June 25–July 3.
We will leave the MVNU campus the morning of July 25, arriving in Cherokee, N.C., later that day. We will worship with the Hardestys and their congregation on Sunday, with some area sightseeing included that day. We will work at the mission Monday through Friday, returning home on Saturday, July 3. The cost of this trip is $250. Several alumni have already expressed an interest. We will limit this trip to the first 20 with paid reservations. I invite you and your spouse to join me for this exciting life changing experience. For more details please contact me at 1-800-367-9294 or mcheek@mvnu.edu
By Mike Cheek, Director of Alumni Relations and University Fund
I want to introduce you to the two newest Alumni Council members, Susan Rorabaugh (Hoover ’92) and Dave Huffman (’78).
Rorabaugh is the recently elected secretary to the council. She and her husband, Boyd (’95), attend the Bedford, Ohio, Church of the Nazarene. She is currently employed as an administrative assistant for Progressive Insurance. After graduation, She worked in the alumni office with then Alumni Director Chawn Flemming. Rorabaugh replaces outgoing secretary, Judy Hawes, who served the Alumni Council greatly in her tenure. Thank you, Judy!
Dave Huffman (’78) replaces Jim Ledford as the lay representative to the board of trustees. Jim served faithfully for two terms in this position. Dave is also the 1978 class agent. He is employed by Portsmouth City Schools as a librarian where he recently completed his twentieth year of service to the school system. Huffman and his family attend the New Boston, Ohio, Church of Christ in Christian Union, where he is the treasurer and teaches the college and career Sunday school class.
We welcome Susan and Dave to these positions on the alumni council, and look forward to working with them!
Mike (’92) and Andrea (Badger ’92) Yough have returned to Japan. Andrea graduated in May with a master’s degree in Japanese translation from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. She is translating for Toyota near Nagoya, Japan. Mike worked in California with mentally ill offenders and is now working on a master’s degree in educational psychology through Capella University.
Angie (Staker ’95) Ferrell and her husband Andy welcomed their first child, Katherine Virginia, on July 9. Katie weighed 9 lbs., 12 oz. and was 21-3/4 inches long. The family resides in Fairfield, Ohio.
Dan (’96) and Christy (Hill ’96) Barnett announce the birth of their second daughter Lauren Mackenzie, born on September 26, 2003. Lauren weighed 7 lbs., 7 oz. and was 20-1/2 inches long. She joins big sister, Kelsey (3). The family resides in Erie, Penn., where Dan is an actuary with Erie Insurance Company and Christy is a stay-at-home mom.
Dave (’96) and Dawn (Elbert ’96) Langdon are living in Woodsfield,
Ohio, where Dave is serving as senior pastor of the local Nazarene church and president of the Monroe County Ministerial Association. Dawn is a stayat-home mom as well as a part-time freelance database programmer. They have two sons, Nathan Robert (3) and Jonathon David (2).
Gregory McClain (’96) and his wife Deanne (Blythe ’95) were united in marriage on August 10, 1996, at Columbus First Church of the Nazarene. They moved to Nicholasville, Ky., for Greg to attend Asbury Theological Seminary. He graduated with a master’s in theological studies in May 2000. The couple now resides in Howard, Ohio, with their baby girl, Bethany Marie, born on August 8, 2003. Greg works in academic computing at MVNU and Deanne teaches part-time at MVNU. They attend Fredericktown Church of the Nazarene and work with the youth group.
Sherry (Geib ’97) Leggett and her husband Chad announce the birth of their son, Isaac James, on November 12, 2003. He weighed 6 lbs., 5 oz. and was 18 inches long. Sherry is a health-
I continue to meet new alumni friends in my travels. Whether recent or older graduates, I am amazed at your level of commitment and service. You are truly living the MVNU motto. I am so proud to be the director of Alumni Relations. The life changing influence of MVNU has continued for me in my career.
I look forward to meeting many more of you in the future. May God bless you richly.
and-wellness specialist for Wooster Community Hospital’s HealthPoint facility. Chad teaches 7th grade at Wooster City Schools. The family resides in Orrville, Ohio.
Rebecca (Hickman ’97) Mohiuddin and her husband, Khaleel, announce the birth of their daughter, Maaria Jabeen on November 22, 2003. She weighed 8 lbs., 9 oz. and was 21 inches long. Rebecca is an account manager for HUMACare at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Khaleel is the director of operations for an occupational therapy company. The family resides in Powell, Ohio.
After three-and-a-half years working with Youth in Mission and Nazarene Youth International in Kansas City, Mo., Holly Bibler (’98) recently accepted a position at Southern Nazarene University as the associate in Spiritual Development.
Jeremy Moorman (’98) was recently promoted to the position of director of Six Sigma–Cooper Compression. Cooper Compression is a division of Cooper Cameron Corporation. He is responsible for global process
improvement initiatives. Jeremy lives in the Houston, Texas, area with his wife, Nicki (Gedeon ’00), and three daughters: Isabella, Lilia and Katarina.
Stephanie (Hayes ’98) SylvesterJohnson, along with her husband Anders, is happy to announce the births of their first two children. Elijah Noel was born on September 20, 2003, weighing 6 lbs., 5-3/4 oz. Emalyn Pauline was born one minute later weighing 6 lbs., 1/4 oz.
Douglas Adair (’99 Excell) recently completed his M.B.A. from Franklin University. His wife, Lori, is an adjunct instructor at the Polaris Excell campus.
Upcoming Alumni Gatherings and Events*
Dayton Network LunchApril 7
Cincinnati Network LunchApril 8
Charleston Network LunchApril 14
Ashland, Ky., Network LunchApril 15
Morgantown, W.Va., Network LunchApril 16
Toledo Network LunchApril 21
Pastors Appreciation DayApril 22
Invasion Day in Eastern KentuckyApril 25
Lima Network LunchMay 4
Cleveland Network LunchMay 12
Youngstown Network LunchMay 13
Excell Graduation BanquetMay 15
Columbus Network LunchMay 19
Downtown Columbus Network LunchMay 20
Traditional Graduation BanquetMay 21
Canton/Akron Network LunchMay 27
*dates subject to change
The MVNU Alumni Association is also planning gatherings for summer 2004 at the Columbus Zoo, Toledo Zoo, a Cleveland Indians game and a Cincinnati Reds game. Dates and details will be coming soon.
Please check the alumni activities web site at www.mvnu/edu/alumni/activities.html for updates, e-mail alumni@mvnu.edu or call 1-800-367-9294.
2000s
Josh Allen (’00) and his wife Danica (Wanty ’00) had a baby boy, Jayden Derrek, on October 17, 2003. He weighed 8 lbs., 6 oz. and was 20-1/2 inches long. Jayden joins big brother Taylor (1). The family moved to Waterford, Mich., about a year ago. Josh is the director of student ministries at Shepherd Fellowship Church.
Crystal (Gregg ’00) Burgel and her husband Shane announce the birth of Kylie Michele on December 18, 2003. She weighed 6 lbs. 12 oz. and was 20 inches long.
Sean (’00) and Sarah (James ’00) Butler welcomed their daughter, Skylar Grace, on August 17, 2003. The family resides in Canal Winchester, Ohio.
Charity (Knapp ’00) and Craig Alan McMillan (’02) welcomed their son, Riley Blake, on November 4, 2003. He
Alumni take the lead in developing affinity groups
The Alumni Relations office is proud to announce the first alumni society—ArtAlum. Alumni societies are affinitybased clusters of alumni. Whereas alumni chapters are geographical in nature, societies are centered around interests/ associations that unite alumni.
The ArtAlum society is the first of what we trust will be many alumni societies. ArtAlum was begun with the intent of providing scholarships for art majors and minors. The group has elected officers, had an organizational meeting to plan future events, held a reunion gathering at Homecoming 2003, sent out a newsletter and held a silent auction of alumni art to raise money for their scholarship endowment. Thirty-four pieces were sold, with nearly $1,800 raised. Kim Rhyan (’00) is the first ArtAlum president. What a busy, exciting beginning they have had!
If you have an affinity-based group you would like to organize into a society, small or large, e-mail the Alumni Relations office alumni@mvnu.edu or call 1-800-367-9294.
weighed 8 lbs., 6 oz. and was 21-1/2 inches long. The family resides in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
Casey Tygrett (’00) graduate in May 2003 with honors from Lincoln Christian Seminary having completed his master of divinity degree. In early December 2003, Casey accepted the position of preaching minister at Emden Christian Church. He and his wife, Holley (Bente ’00) reside in Emden, Ill. Holley is a human resource analyst for Memorial Medical Center and is finishing her master’s in organizational communication.
A band called “The Lester Finn Experiment,” including members Ben VanAlstine (’00), Shawn Barrett (’00), Chad Berlean (’99) and two others, will be featured on a new PlayStation 2 and Xbox game called “All Star Baseball 2005.” Their song will be played in a rotation as background music for the game.
Scott (’01) and Darla (Levering ’99) Hardwick announce the birth of their daughter Elizabeth Grace on
September 15, 2003. She weighed 8 lbs., 9 oz. and was 21 inches long. Scott teaches 5th grade at Cardington Elementary and Darla, a certified public accountant, is the treasurer for the Cardington School District.
Jenelle (Garber ’01) Robertson graduated in October 2003 with her master’s of physical therapy and is currently working as a pediatric physical therapist for the Miami Valley Special Education Regional Resource Center. Her husband, Jason (’99) recently became the high school pastor at Beavercreek Church of the Nazarene. They reside in Vandalia, Ohio.
Adrian Kaluga (’02) and Brannon Snyder were married on December 7, 2002. They are expecting their first child in January 2004.
Jeremy Walls (’02) and Maile Kwiatkowski were engaged on January 31, 2004, in San Diego, Calif. Jeremy is a group sales executive for the Phoenix Suns and Maile graduated from Arizona State University in December. The wedding will be in October.
Entries with a camera icon ( ) have a photo available online.
To view these photos, visit www.mvnu.edu/alumni/ grapevine/grapevine.html
Please feel free to submit photos of weddings, babies, etc. to Mount Vernon NOW, 800 Martinsburg Rd., Mount Vernon, OH 43050, or by e-mail to alumni@mvnu.edu, or online at www.mvnu.edu/alumni/grapevine/ grapevine.html.
Ground breaking initiates Prince Student Union construction
Ground breaking for Phase 1 of Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s Prince Student Union was held Thursday, March 4. In keeping with the tradition of past ground breakings, special guests and University officials were once again greeted with rain as they symbolically turned over shovels full of earth.
With the recent award of a $50,000 capstone grant from the Community Foundation of Mount Vernon & Knox County, pledged funding for the $2 million project is completed. Construction is expected to begin as soon as weather permits.
This 13,560-square-foot addition/renovation to the current Donoho Recreation Center and gymnasium facilities will include a large glass atrium entrance; casual dining area; and a lounge for pool tables, air hockey, physical fitness and other recreational equipment. The new space will also be Internet ready with wireless technology. MVNU has tentatively scheduled a dedication ceremony for the building in November 2004.
Gettingbestthebuy
The University Advancement office is always measuring “return on mission.” We want to ensure we are being good stewards of the budgets allocated to us. Recently, one of our faithful matching givers wrote a note describing why he believes in matching gifts.
“In the grocery store, you see ‘Buy One—Get One Free’ signs all the time, but they are not always the best buy. I know, as a retiree, to count my money and be sure it goes as far as it can. When I give to MVNU through my company’s matched gift program, it’s like one of those buy-one-get-one-free programs, but better. I know this is true value for my gift; for every dollar I give, my company gives a dollar. In this case, it is the best buy.”
– David Stoer
Many companies allow their employees to participate in matched giving programs—perhaps yours does as well. To find out, contact your Human Resources department. They will have a form for you to fill out and sign. Send that form in with your check to our office and we will do the rest.
Make your money go farther by helping MVNU students. It truly is your best buy and you can be assured your return on mission is sound.
The Prince Student Union, named for MVNU’s fourth president Dr. William Prince and his wife Evelyn, is Phase 1 of several. In subsequent phases, additional intramural athletic space, a large student gathering area and new Student Government and student publications offices will be featured. SGA President Michael Sellers commented, “Students are very excited to begin seeing the bricks being laid. We are ecstatic about seeing all the plans come together to create a place where we can really build community.”
MVNU looks forward to an exciting summer of construction on campus!
The Seeds We Sow
With spring nearly upon us at MVNU, we love to watch the perennials come into full bloom. Perennials remind us of the seeds that faithful endowment donors have sown in the “MVNU garden” over the years as they provided resources to establish scholarship endowments.
Endowments provide encouragement and support in meeting the financial needs of today’s as well as tomorrow’s students. Other endowments provide ongoing support for operations, building needs and special projects.
As with any garden, it’s nice to have annuals like marigolds and geraniums that add spice and color, but it’s even more wonderful to watch perennials like crocus, daffodils and tulips, our “endowment plants.” As we walk across campus and see the many gardens blooming this spring, we say prayers of thanksgiving for those who have planted seeds for the future of MVNU.
Perhaps you would like to “plant” an endowment to support MVNU? You can establish an endowment for as little as $10,000. Many people add to their endowment on a yearly basis, some provide endowment through their estate planning.
To learn more about creating an endowment fund, contact Austin Swallow, executive director for Development, and request our complimentary brochure. Call 1-800-367-9294 or e-mail austin.swallow@mvnu.edu. You may also visit www.mvnugift.org for further information.
Common ground on holy ground
By J. Keith Newman, Vice President for University Advancement
Many students choose Mount Vernon Nazarene University because we are committed to a distinctively Christian higher education. Recently I spent time with two seniors who chose MVNU in spite of that fact. These young ladies shared much in common. Both were talented athletes and good students, both attended MVNU volleyball camps in high school, both had other college plans and both moved to Mount Vernon without a personal faith in Jesus Christ.
Hearing their stories reminds me why we call this place “Life Changing.” Carrie (McClelland) Mason, a communications major, and Jennifer Vanderhoof, an accounting/marketing major, roomed together their freshman year. Both knew of the excellent reputation of the volleyball program and Coach Paul Swanson, but they were also keenly aware of what they described as “strict rules” and “lots of church.” They talked about their first time in chapel, sitting on the back row, watching others worship and wondering “if it is always like this.”
Four years later, Carrie and Jennifer enthusiastically discuss the value of chapel services; laughing, crying and praying with their small group; the impact of their teammates, coaches and professors; and the radical transformation that has taken place. What happened? Quite simply, they met Jesus.
While Jennifer was not a Christian, she knew Christians and found something about them “different” and “attractive.” Her plans for faith were future-oriented, but she did not count on Jai (Holland) Keller as a roommate during volleyball camp her freshman year. Coach Swanson asked the girls to bring some photos that might give insight to their lives. Jai showed a picture of herself at a party, and then a picture of a cross. She talked about her life before Christ and the difference He had made. Jennifer related to Jai’s life before Christ. Later that night talking in their room, Jennifer accepted Christ. She believes Jai and Coach Swanson are the reasons she is a Christian today. About Coach Swanson she tearfully said, “He believes in people more than anyone I have ever known, and he is the wisest and most perceptive person I know.”
Carrie believes God was working on her from the beginning of her MVNU experience. Interacting with her teammates, attending church with her future husband’s family and participating on a Work and Witness trip to Mexico were all a part of her steps to Christ. Still, she saw Christianity as too great a commitment. During her sophomore year, she listened to a Bible discussion among teammates Deanna Stayman, Bethany Anderson and Amber Thorne. Bethany asked Carrie, “Are you a Christian?” She responded, “I can’t make that commitment.” Deanna told her, “None of us can, but God will help you.” Looking back, Carrie said, “They all made me feel so important. We prayed and that night I accepted Christ and was transformed. Physically and spiritually I was at peace, a weight had been lifted.” The next morning Carrie told Coach Swanson and the team, resulting in a celebration with lots of hugs and tears!
Is there a guaranteed formula for spiritual transformation? No, but life change can happen when common ground encounters holy ground. Does an academic community of faith make an eternal difference worthy of sacrificial investments? Jennifer and Carrie think so. And I do, too!
L-R: Carrie (McClelland) Mason, J. Keith Newman and Jennifer Vanderhoof. These two volleyball players’ lives were changed because of special encounters at MVNU.
The gathering is designed for clergy serving on the front lines of ministry. All elders, deacons and district-licensed ministers are invited, including senior pastors, chaplains, evangelists, pastoral staff, missionaries on furlough, retired elders and students preparing to answer God’s call upon their lives. The event is sponsored by Church of the Nazarene Clergy Services and is hosted by MVNU’s University Advancement division.
PALCON 2004
June 7–11, 2004 at Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Theme: “Encountering the Glory of God”
Featured Speakers: Kennon Callahan
George Hunter
H.B. London, Jr.
Talmadge Johnson
Cost:
$355, includes room, board and program expenses
Register:
You can register online at www.nazarenepastor.org/palcon.html or by calling 1-866-658-9951. Housing assignments are based on registration date.
Questions:
Contact campus PALCON coordinator Rev. Bruce Oldham at boldham@mvnu.edu or (740) 392-6868, ext. 3601. For information on specific arrangements for your district’s delegation, contact your district superintendent.
named one of the
“Best in the Midwest”
Mount Vernon Nazarene University was recently named one of the “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review. MVNU is one of 150 schools profiled in the very first edition of The Best Midwestern Colleges, one of five in a regional guidebook series.
The Princeton Review’s goal in creating the series was to identify colleges and universities they feel stand out within each region and to raise awareness of schools that are less well-known outside their region. Along with the profile in the publication, information about MVNU can be found on The Princeton Review’s web site at www.princetonreview.com. This includes admissions, financial aid, campus and student life, academics, extracurricular activities and more.
MVNU Director of Admissions, Tim Eades, commented, “It is an honor for the University to be recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the ‘Best in the Midwest.’ This serves as another affirmation of who we are as an ‘academic community of faith’ and speaks to the quality of experience students encounter in an MVNU education. It is also a testimony to the tremendous dedication of the administration, faculty and staff of this institution.”