The Flame, Fall 2025

THE FL AME

MOUNT VERNON NAZ ARENE UNIVERSIT Y FALL 2025

FAITH, FAMILY FUEL NEW COLLABORATORY

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

+ 2025 Alumni Awards

+ Alumni Spotlight: Madison Rose-Malkamaki

+ Prof. Donnelly Reflects on Career

MVNU kicked off the 2025-26 school year with Move-In Day, Freshmen Ribbon Cutting and Welcome Week. Students were eager to celebrate all the new year brings.

For more photos, visit flickr.com/mvnumarketing.

FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear MVNU Community, Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a place filled with energy, growth, and God’s unmistakable presence. Every day, I see students pursuing excellence in their studies, deepening their faith, and preparing to serve the world with Christlike character.

“MVNU is more than a university; it is a missional place that serves the Church and the world.”

CONNECT WITH MVNU

I am grateful for our dedicated faculty and staff who invest their gifts and wisdom into the lives of students. Their commitment ensures that MVNU remains a Christ-centered community where learning is not only about knowledge, but also about shaping lives for service and leadership.

I hope you will enjoy reading this issue of the The Flame. Just as the Eternal Flame shines on our campus, reminding us that whether it is light or dark, the Holy Spirit is always at work, we celebrate the ways God continues to move through our faculty, staff, and students.

MVNU is more than a university; it is a missional place that serves the Church and the world. Together, we are answering God’s call to love, serve, and lead in ways that make an eternal difference.

Boldly Unhindered,

thisisMVNU MVNUAlumni @mvnu1968 Mount Vernon Nazarene University

VIEW PUBLICATION ARCHIVES AT MVNU.EDU/ALUMNI/ PUBLICATIONS

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Dr. Carson D. Castleman MVNU President

FALL 2025

IN THIS ISSUE

THE FLAME President Dr. Carson Castleman Chief Development & Operations Officer Rev. Brad Kochis ’94 Executive Director of Alumni & Major Gifts Rev. Mike Cheek ’82

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Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Heather Hoag ’98

FAITH, FAMILY, AND THE FUTURE: THE VAZQUEZ LEGACY AT MVNU Juan and Inez Vazquez’s unwavering commitment to faith and service — instilled by Rev. Angel Vazquez and lived out through generations — led them to establish the Vazquez Family Collaboratory. Now, this transformative collaboratory enables students to move beyond textbooks, shaping MVNU students into servant-leaders who discover how education, service, and faith can transform lives across the globe.

IN EVERY ISSUE

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From the President Campus Updates Faculty Spotlight — John Donnelly, MFA 13 Student Spotlight — Katie Starr ’27 14 Alumni Spotlight — Madison Rose-Malkamaki ’19 15 From The Viewer 18 Athletic Spotlight 19 Spiritual Life

FEATURES

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HW Hub opens doors to innovation MVNU transformed a downtown Mount Vernon building into a state-of-the-art academic hub for students in engineering and computer science programs.

12 Collaboration key to MVNU’s Aquaponics Partnership A 2023 Guatemala trip sparked an interdisciplinary aquaponics project aimed at developing sustainable, replicable food systems for Mozambique communities.

Vice President of University Marketing and CAPS Enrollment; Chief Marketing Officer Johnna Vanover, MO ’11 Executive Director of Marketing Samantha Scoles ’22 Editor Joe Huddleston ’97 Art Direction/Design Tricia Bowles ’01 Contributing Writers John Donnelly, MFA Faith West ’25 Emma (Warkall) Jenney ’23 Rev. David Mills The Flame is published twice a year by Mount Vernon Nazarene University, 800 Martinsburg Road, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050 Subscription Updates: MVNU. communications@ mvnu.edu mvnu.edu

16 2025 Alumni Award Honorees Each year, the MVNU Alumni Association honors alumni whose careers and lives exemplify the values of the University.

Fall 2025 | 5

WITH THE START OF THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR, MVNU WAS EXCITED TO WELCOME 15 NEW FACULTY MEMBERS INTO THE FAMILY. We are so grateful for the talent and expertise they bring to our students each day, and for the way they embody our mission to educate students in a Christ-centered community of faith and learning.

Pictured, front row, from left, are: Prof. Kelly Smith, Assistant Professor of English; Dr. Jodi Mills, Professor of Education and Dean of College of Adult and Professional Studies; Dr. Angela Castleman, Assistant Professor of Education and CAPS Education Program Director; Dr. Gbemisola Bamiduro, Assistant Professor of Chemistry; Prof. Jessica Armstrong, Assistant Director of Global Learning and Assistant Professor of International Studies; Dr. Cyril Enyi, Associate Professor of Mathematics; and Prof. Mary Brown, Assistant Professor of Social Work and MSW Field Education Director.

Pictured, back row, from left, are: Dr. Doug Matthews, Professor of Christian Ministry and Chair of Division of Christian Ministry; Dr. Carol Matthews, Executive Director for Foundational Learning and Professor of Psychology; Rev. Gene McBride, Assistant Professor of Mathematics; Prof. Kamela Owen, IGNITE Program Director; Dr. Emily Huddleston, Assistant Professor of Education; Prof. Aaron Brumit, Associate Professor of Biology; and Prof. Angela Stanley, Assistant Professor of Psychology.

Not pictured is Dr. Tiffanie Jones, Associate Professor of Social Work.

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COUGAR COMMUNITY RALLIES: 894+ FANS RAISE OVER $40K FOR NEW ATHLETICS BUS Recently, MVNU student-athletes united across all sports for a two-night fundraising campaign to purchase a new team bus.

They eached out to friends and family for support, and the response exceeded all expectations. The Cougar community rallied behind them enthusiastically, with more than 894 fans contributing $40,736 over the course of the event. These funds went directly toward acquiring a significantly improved vehicle for team travel. Our studentathletes and coaches are incredibly grateful for this overwhelming show of support!

NEWS & NOTES

CAMPUS UPDATES

MVNU NURSING: A YEAR OF EXCELLENCE AND EXPANDED OPPORTUNITY When the Class of 2025 nursing graduates walked across the stage last spring, each carried more than a diploma.

They carried a remarkable distinction: every single graduate passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) on the first attempt.

100%

OF MVNU 2025 NURSING GRADUATES PASSED THE NCLEX THE FIRST TIME.

Tha ’s a 100 percent first-time pass rate — well above the national average of 88.9 percent. A perfect pass rate on the NCLEX not only highlights the strength of MVNU’s curriculum, but also the commitment of faculty and students alike.

At MVNU, success doesn’t happen by accident. Seniors spend their final semester in weekly coaching sessions with faculty who serve as NCLEX mentors, guiding students through the transition from classroom to practice.

The results speak for themselves: all 15 graduates not only passed the NCLEX, but also entered the workforce with job offers already in hand — many from the very hospitals and clinics where they completed their senior clinical placements.

While the Class of 2025 sets a high bar, MVNU is also paving the way for future students through new financial support. The university has been awarded more than $650,000 through the Choose Ohio First (COF) scholarship program, funding designed to strengthen the state’s STEM workforce.

For the next five years, eligible first-time freshmen and students changing majors into nursing, computer science, engineering, or speech-language pathology & audiology may qualify for this state-funded award.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MVNU’S NURSING PROGRAM, VISIT MVNU.EDU/NURSING.

CONTINUE THE LEGACY

You built your foundation here — now help the next generation discover theirs.

REFER THE STUDENTS IN YOUR LIFE AT MVNU.EDU/REFER-A-STUDENT

JUMP START YOUR FUTURE WITH CCP/DUAL ENROLLMENT AT MVNU!

Start earning high school and college credit now!

Save Money.

Save Time.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? VISIT MVNU.EDU/DUALENROLLMENT OR SCAN THE QR CODE

Fall 2025 | 7

HW HUB OPENS DOORS TO INNOVATION, COLLABORATION MVNU has opened the HW Hub, a state-ofthe-art facility that transformed a once-vacant downtown Mount Vernon building into a center for innovation, collaboration, and learning.

$1.4 million+

IN NEW TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT TO SUPPORT COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STUDENTS.

Funded by a major grant from the Ariel Foundation, the project includes more than $1.4 million in new technology and equipment to support computer science and engineering students. The facility is named in honor of Hunter Wright, former president of Ariel Corporation and longtime advocate for education and community development.

Located near the Stephen W. Nease Center, the HW Hub expands MVNU’s capacity to serve STEM students while fostering collaboration between computer science and engineering programs. The space features laboratories for cybersecurity, virtual reality, embedded systems research, computing and networking, and mechanical engineering.

This new environment provides students with experience in advanced technologies, preparing them for graduate studies and high-demand careers.

It also supports MVNU’s ongoing partnerships with organizations and high-tech industries.

The HW Hub is more than a facility — it is a testament to MVNU’s commitment to academic excellence, faith-driven purpose, and community impact, empowering students to lead and innovate in a rapidly changing world.

HONORING DR. KAREN WRIGHT MVNU expresses deep gratitude for the life and legacy of Dr. Karen Buchwald Wright, whose generosity and vision have shaped countless MVNU facilities, including the HW Hub, and advanced our faith-driven mission. Her steadfast support continues to create opportunities for students to learn, lead, and serve with purpose.

We are deeply saddened by her passing on October 15, 2025, yet her commitment to education, community, and the Kingdom will inspire generations to come.

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EXPLORE MORE OF WHAT THE HW HUB HAS TO OFFER AT MVNU.EDU/HW-HUB.

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

36 YEARS OF ART, FAITH, AND COMMUNITY

By John Donnelly, MFA

Thirty-six and a half years ago, on a hot August day in 1989, I called my wife from a pay phone in Centerburg, Ohio, to share the news that I had just been hired by Mount Vernon Nazarene College. Two weeks later, I was in the classroom teaching painting to eager students. The opportunity was providential — just months earlier, a stranger at a men’s retreat told me MVNC had an opening in the art department.

From the beginning, I felt the gift of teaching art through the lens of faith was a true blessing. Many of my students were new to both art and a life of faith. Helping them grow in each became my vocation. For me, art and faith have always been inseparable, and I now had the privilege to share that conviction.

As a young faculty member, I found support and encouragement from Professor Emeritus Jim Hendrickx, colleagues, and the administration. Beyond teaching, I directed MVNC’s first art gallery for 16 years, coordinated the Honors Seminar, and created one of my greatest joys: the biannual international art travel course to Italy, launched in 1995. Over the years, I have led more than 600 students and friends of MVNU to experience the rich artistic heritage of Italy.

In those early years, MVNC was a close-knit family. Faculty retreats to state parks nurtured our community. We prayed together, worked diligently, and strove to bring intellectual rigor to our instruction under the umbrella of faith. Within the art department, I sought to foster that same spirit — through Art Club retreats along the Mohican River and trips to galleries and museums in Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago, and other cities. Students grew into serious artists and designers, and many remain today as professionals, teachers, entrepreneurs, and faithful friends.

“

Each piece of artwork, like MVNU itself, carries a bit of me and a lot of God. I pray that God has used me in some way to positively affect those whom I have encountered. I am deeply grateful.

Six presidents later, MVNC has grown into a university. I, too, have grown, thanks to strong leadership and cherished friendships. Alongside teaching, I continued my practice as an artist, exhibiting widely and modeling for students the commitment to excel in one’s craft while serving as a beacon of kindness in a world that needs hope.

Now, as I retire and reflect on my career as a professor and my calling as an artist, it is humbling. I was granted a retrospective of my art in the Schnormeier Gallery this fall.

Each piece of artwork, like MVNU itself, carries a bit of me and a lot of God. I pray that God has used me in some way to positively affect those whom I have encountered. I am deeply grateful. Thank you, MVNU community.

Fall 2025 | 9

FAITH, FAMILY, AND THE FUTURE:

THE VAZQUEZ LEGACY AT MVNU

By Joe Huddleston ’97

When Juan Vazquez arrived in Los Angeles from Puerto Rico in 1976, he couldn’t have imagined that his journey — from banker to McDonald’s franchisee — would one day transform how students at Mount Vernon Nazarene University engage with the world. Yet that’s exactly what happened.

The Vazquez Family Collaboratory, part of the Fairbanks Center for Global Engagement, now stands as a living testament to how one family’s faith and generosity can create ripples that reach from Ohio to Guatemala and Mozambique.

relocated to Florida, they looked for a church.

A JOURNEY OF FAITH FIRST The Vazquez family story picks up when Juan and Inez landed in Los Angeles, where Juan worked as a banker. Juan spoke almost no English. Their four-year-old daughter needed a bilingual teacher. Yet their priorities remained clear.

That principle guided them through an extraordinary journey. After three years of training, they purchased their first McDonald’s restaurant in Cedar Hill, Texas in 1986 — selling everything they had to make it happen. The business grew from one restaurant to 13 across Florida. Today, their son Rafael serves as president, overseeing 21 restaurants.

“The first thing I'm going to do is look for a church,” Juan told his wife.

When they moved to Dallas, they looked for a church. When they 10 |

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“In our life, church is first, home is second,” Juan explained. “The Lord will provide you with what you need if you put Him first ”

The legacy extends even further back.

Juan’s father, Nazarene pastor Rev. Angel Vazquez, completed only third grade but authored two books and

still prepares a sermon every day. His influence shaped how the family approaches giving — teaching them about tithing and generosity even in times of personal need.

FROM VISION TO REALITY When Juan and Inez met with Dr. LeBron Fairbanks and MVNU leadership two years ago about the FCGE, the conversation sparked something bigger. What started as a contribution became the Vazquez Family Collaboratory — an endowment established in 2024 that multiplied their initial vision fivefold.

“I wanted my children to understand that part of their inheritance is going to this work,” Juan explained. “This is not a short-term commitment; it has to be a long-term commitment.”

A DIFFERENT KIND OF CLASSROOM The Collaboratory operates through project-based learning, bringing students, faculty, and community partners together to address real challenges. In Knox County, students partnered with health officials to study COVID-19’s impact. In Guatemala, they developed drone technology to help farmers improve food security. In Mozambique, they’re helping establish a tilapia fish farm that promotes economic empowerment and sustainability.

“The Collaboratory gives students opportunities to not just study the world, but to step into it — listening, serving, and learning alongside others,” explains Dr. Brenita Nicholas-Edwards, FCGE Director.

The work complements MVNU’s Intercultural Studies program, which prepares students for careers in missions, humanitarian aid, and global ministry through classroom study and international practicums.

A LIVING TESTAMENT At the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 17, Juan’s voice broke with emotion recalling the morning chapel service.

“The spirit of God was there, and I felt it. I couldn’t stop crying.”

Dr. Carson Castleman, MVNU’s president, captured the significance: “This will stand as a living testament to the Vazquez family — a family rooted in faith, united in service, and devoted to using every gift for the glory of God and the good of the world.”

The story of the Collaboratory is still being written. But with every project and partnership, students are discovering how education, service, and faith can transform lives — carrying forward a legacy that began generations ago in Puerto Rico and now reaches every corner of the world.

“The Collaboratory gives students opportunities to not just study the world, but to step into it ...”

Dr. Brenita Nicholas-Edwards, FCGE Director SCAN HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TRANSFORMATIONAL WORK OF THE VAZQUEZ FAMILY COLLABORATORY AND THE FAIRBANKS CENTER FOR GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT.

FAIRBANKS CENTER CELEBRATES WITH DEDICATION The airbanks Center for Global Engagement was dedicated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Oct. 17, honoring President Emeritus Dr. E. LeBron Fairbanks and former First Lady Anne Fairbanks’ legacy of global vision and service.

The center has achieved remarkable early success, deploying over 200 students on 23 trips to 18 destinations. Nearly 250 students have participated in community-engaged learning with 22-plus partner organizations, with 80 percent reporting meaningful contributions and 90 percent gaining better understanding of community needs. All of this success is made possible through the endowment support from more than 100 donors, totaling more than $1.1 million dollars.

200+

STUDENTS DEPLOYED ON 23 TRIPS TO 18 DESTINATIONS

250

STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN COMMUNITY-ENGAGED LEARNING

Dr. Fairbanks’ 1989 vision was to enable the campus community to “think more globally, live more simply, love more deeply, and give more generously.”

“Anne and I were elated when we heard the plans for the Center for Global Engagement,” Dr. Fairbanks said. “We shifted our MVNU endowment giving to support the development, sustainability, and global reach of the Center.

It was a dream come true.”

The Fairbanks Center for Global Engagement embodies MVNU’s motto, established by founding president Dr. Stephen Nease in 1969: “To Seek to Learn Is to Seek to Serve,” ensuring students engage their heads, hearts, and hands in ways that honor Christ and serve the common good.

Fall 2025 | 11

Collaboration key to MVNU’s Aquaponics Partnership What began as a field-identified nee has grown into a meaningful global learning partnership. The Aquaponics Collaboratory Project started when the Director of Nazarene Compassionate Ministries in Mozambique reached out with a vision: an economic-empowerment initiative built around aquaponics.

Could MVNU help make it happen?

The Fairbanks Center for Global Engagement embraced the challenge through the Vazquez Family Collaboratory, recruiting students Bryce Bosworth ’26 and Zach Ballenger ’25 to lead initial research and system design. Their goal: create a sustainable aquaponics model that can be replicated in Mozambique — advancing food security and economic empowerment while serving as an educational resource.

Aquaponics integrates aquaculture and hydroponics in a closed-loop system where fish waste fertilizes plants, and plants clean the water before it cycles back to the fish tank.

It’s efficient, sustainable, and ideal for regions where water and soil are limited — requiring up to 90% less water than traditional farming.

After a semester of design work, Bosworth and Ballenger expanded their learning beyond the classroom. In May 2023, they traveled to Guatemala to study aquaculture systems firsthand — connecting the project’s origin in Mozambique to a broader network of global partners.

“In Guatemala, we learned directly from people who had spent years maintaining systems,” said Ballenger. “The opportunity to learn from each other’s diverse perspectives is impossible to do with a textbook.”

Working alongside students from Point Loma Nazarene University and Olivet Nazarene University at the AgInno Institute, they explored barrel systems and in-ground ponds, ultimately concluding that barrel-based systems offered simpler maintenance and easier replication.

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“Global collaborations are mutually transformative.

We learn as much from our international partners as they do from us.”

Zach Ballenger ’25

The Aquaponics Collaboratory Project has engaged students and faculty from engineering, environmental science, nursing, biology, communication, Christian ministries, and intercultural studies — an interdisciplinary team designing practical, community-centered solutions. This fall, a team of seven students shared their progress with the Vazquez family and Cosmas Mutowa, Field Strategy Coordinator for Africa Southeast.

“This project has been a team effort bringing together diverse skills and perspectives,” said Professor Jessica Armstrong.

“Every single student involved has brought an amazing work ethic, great enthusiasm, and an impressive amount of problem-solving ability to the project.”

“Our long-term goal is to establish an aquaponics system at the Leadership Training Center in Milange, Mozambique, so pastors-in-training can gain experience and teach their communities how to build systems to augment local food supply,” said Dr. Jon Bossley.

SCAN TO READ MORE ON THE PROJECT AT MVNU.EDU/FLAME-AQUAPONICS

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

CALLED TO SHEPHERD:

KATIE STARR’S SUMMER OF FAITH AND GROWTH

By Joe Huddleston ’97

Junior Katie Starr never doubted that God woke her up early that March morning. She opened her eyes an hour before her alarm with one persistent thought: Shepherd Community Center.

The Indianapolis nonprofit wasn’t even on Katie’s radar until Pastor Jay Height mentioned it while speaking at her church, Mt. Sterling (OH) First Church of the Nazarene, the previous October.

“I hadn’t thought about it in months,” Katie recalls. “All I could think about was Shepherd Community. It was kind of weird, so I called my parents.”

Her parents, Phil and Melanie Starr, encouraged her to reach out. Within weeks, Katie connected with Shepherd’s staff, interviewed, and accepted a position — still unsure what God had in store. That divine nudge and a call that wouldn’t let go led to a summer that would stretch her faith and clarify God’s calling on her life.

FINDING STRENGTH IN STRUGGLE At first, Katie wanted to go home. She sat in a brightly painted room in the middle of Indianapolis, surrounded by children she had just met, trying to take in the whirlwind of activity around her. Katie expected a camp counselor experience, but found herself in structured classrooms, teaching science, art, health, PE, and Bible to inner-city children.

Working with children from difficult backgrounds while navigating new relationships and independent living pushed Katie to depend on God daily. Also, for the first time, Katie found herself completely away from family support. In Indianapolis, she was on her own.

“You’re in the inner city with kids from rough lives — it is hard. I learned I can’t do it without (God),” she said. “Since I knew God wanted me there, I had to rely on Him.” More challenging than teaching was learning to balance love with authority. Initially wanting to befriend every child, Katie quickly learned leadership requires boundaries.

“I wanted to be the kids’ friend, but you’re also the adult,” she explains. “You have to draw lines, and sometimes you have to not care if the kids don’t like your decisions.”

GROWTH THROUGH SERVICE Katie went to Shepherd hoping to discern between education and nonprofit work. Though she grew in her love for children, the teaching experience revealed important truths.

“I’m comfortable up there, but it’s not my passion,” she realized. “I’m finally at a place where I can say I don’t think teaching is what I’m called to do.”

Rather than disappointment, though, this experience brought God’s peace and direction to her previously uncertain future. The confidence Katie gained from following God’s prompting has transformed her willingness to step outside her comfort zone.

Katie carries those lessons forward with clarity about her calling, confidence in her leadership, and a deeper faith in God’s provision.

“I remember thinking, what am I doing here?” Katie said.

“I felt so out of my comfort zone.”

“I would be more willing to do things on my own now because I know I can do it — with God’s help.”

But just as quickly as the doubts came, so did her anchor: the joy of the Lord is my strength.

Katie’s early morning wake-up call led to a summer proving God’s faithfulness. Her experience demonstrated that when God calls, He provides the strength to answer.

Fall 2025 | 13

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

MADISON ROSEMALKAMAKI ’19:

WALKING WITH PURPOSE

“The details of my career no longer mattered as long as my journey was walking alongside the Lord.”

By Faith West ’24 and Emma (Warkall) Jenney ’23

Since graduating from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in 2019, Madison Rose-Malkamaki has built a life marked by accomplishment and purpose. She married her college sweetheart, Matias Malkamaki, while both were in medical school at Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Along the way, Madison discovered a passion for mentoring future physicians, which led her to teach younger medical students during her own training.

Her hard work was recognized in 2023 when she was named Heritage College Student D.O. of the Year. Soon after, she graduated and matched into the Internal Medicine Residency at the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus.

In December 2024, during her first year of residency, Madison and Matias welcomed their son, Taavi.

A DEFINING DECISION Looking back, Madison credits MVNU professors with shaping both her career and faith. During her freshman year, she nearly transferred 14 |

THE FLAME

to another school. But Dr. Carrie Beal encouraged her to stay until her advisor, Dr. Paul Madtes, returned from sabbatical.

“She saw potential in me that I didn’t yet see in myself,” Madison reflected.

“Leaving MVNU would have been shrouded in regret.”

That decision opened the door to a lasting mentoring relationship with Dr. Madtes, who not only prepared her academically but also redirected her perspective on success.

A SHIFT IN PURPOSE As a freshman, Madison admits that academic success had become an idol. A conversation with Dr. Madtes changed everything.

He asked her, “Madison, what if you fail this next exam? What if you don’t go to medical school? What then?

What are you meant to do?”

Madison responded that she would work harder and continue trying until she succeeded. But Dr. Madtes was pointing to something deeper.

He pushed back: “What if trying harder doesn’t work? What then?

What are you really meant to do?”

Finally, he reassured her: “Your purpose — your sole purpose — is to walk with God.” For Madison, that conversation lifted the weight of worldly success.

“The details of my career no longer mattered as long as my journey was walking alongside the Lord.”

MEDICINE AS MINISTRY Today, Madison approaches her medical career as an extension of her faith.

“There is an essence inherent to the art of medicine that emanates from the Spirit.”

Even in long, demanding shifts, she finds strength in God’s presence.

“I serve my patients best when I am filled and overflowing with the Spirit and meditating on His faithfulness in even the small moments.”

FROM THE VIEWER

VIEWER STAFF VISITS ALUM’S BARBIE DREAM ON ROUTE 13 Welcome to ‘From The Viewer,’ featuring stories from the Lakeholm Viewer, MVNU’s student paper. Each edition highlights compelling pieces from campus, giving you a glimpse into current student life and perspectives. In this issue, Viewer staff caught up with Class of ’83 alum Melanie Mowery at her new museum. Scan the QR code to read more from writer Naomi Painter.

READ MORE AT LAKEHOLMVIEWER.COM

MVNC alum Melanie Mowery ’83, second from left, entertained the staff of the Lakeholm Viewer recently at Melanie’s Barbie Collectibles & More museum in Mount Vernon.

GET YOUR DNP OR MSW WITH MVNU ONLINE DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE The DNP program is designed for professionals in any stage of their nursing journey.

MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK The MSW is designed to develop students into advanced social work practitioners.

Three tracks are available: • Nursing Practice DEV AD • Psychiatric Mental Health Content Needed Nurse Practitioner • Family Nurse Practitioner

Two specializations available: • Behavioral Health • School Social Work

LEARN MORE MVNU.EDU/DNP

LEARN MORE MVNU.EDU/MSW

Spring Fall 2025 2025 || 15 15

2025 ALUMNI AWARD HONOREES DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD

DR. RONALD KEITH BOLENDER ’77

Dr. Ronald Keith Bolender’s life has been shaped by his faith and Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s motto: To seek to learn is to seek to serve. After accepting Christ at a Nazarene children’s camp in 1964, he devoted himself to both spiritual growth and lifelong learning, earning degrees from MVNC (B.A.), the University of Cincinnati (M.A.), Nova Southeastern University (Ed.D.), and MVNU (M.B.A.). He continues exploring new fields, including artificial intelligence.

Dr. Bolender has built a distinguished career spanning business and higher education. He earned “Rookie of the Year” honors at Universal Computer Services, founded Bolender Consulting to serve small businesses, and later became Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, where he received the “President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.”

Today, he operates Bolender Initiatives, LLC and Systemic Coaching, LLP, providing business development and AI consulting services, particularly within the Hispanic community.

His commitment to service extends beyond his professional life. From leading district IMPACT teams as a youth to serving as president of the Living Witness Organization in college, Dr. Bolender has remained active in ministry. He has worked with inner-city teens, led evangelistic outreach for a church plant in Houston, and currently serves as a spiritual influence in Utah’s Hispanic community.

Dr. Bolender enjoys desert hiking, traveling with his fiancé Blanca, and photography — his images of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture have been published internationally.

He encourages others to cultivate curiosity, believing it enriches life and keeps it from becoming boring.

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MATTHEW 25 AWARD

KED ’99 AND MICHELLE (AYALA) FRANK ’97

Both graduates of MVNC, Ked and Michelle Frank have served in full-time ministry for nearly three decades with a heart to bring healing and hope to those experiencing profound hopelessness. They champion the mission of serving every woman and child in harm’s way and are dedicated to transforming lives through freedom and wholeness.

Ked holds a B.A. in Religion from MVNC, and a M.A. in Professional Counseling from Liberty University. Michelle graduated with a B.A. in Christian Education.

In 2006, God opened Ked and Michelle’s eyes to the dark realities of Human Trafficking. Women expressed a desire to leave this type of work but had few options for where to go. God broke Ked and Michelle’s hearts with this unmet need, and they felt compelled to respond. In 2009, renovation began on the first of many homes they would opem around the country for women seeking a new beginning.

Since the beginning of that experience in 2006, Ked and Michelle have opened 12 homes in eight different states and are working on house number 13 in Miami, Fla. Today, Ked and Michelle reside in Denver, Colorado. Ked leads Safe Places for Women as sex trafficking survivors find employment and begin a brand-new life through jobs and education. Michelle has started a coaching and consulting business called Inpower Partnerships, where she comes alongside organizations in the anti-trafficking space. he has a passion for organizational health, staff development, and leaders in the anti-trafficking movement.

Together, they enjoy hiking, coffee, and time with family.

Ked and Michelle have been married for 27 years and have three children and one daughter-in-law: daughters Julianna and Bailey, and son Nathaniel (Audrey).

BRESEE PASTORAL SERVICE AWARD

OUTSTANDING CLERGY AWARD

KEVIN JACK ’06

KENT ESTEP ’87

Lead Pastor at Church for The ONE

Kent Alan Estep, who has served as Senior Pastor of South Charleston First Church of the Nazarene since 2005, is a 1987 graduate of MVNC with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Christian Education. Kent was ordained in 2003 after completing his course of study through MVNU and Nazarene Bible College.

Kevin Jack has served as Lead Pastor of Church for The ONE in Lak land, Fla., since April 3, 2022. Kevin grew up at West Chester (OH) Church of the Nazarene, where he met his future wife, Bethany (Mahaffey), in youth group. He graduated from MVNU in 2006 with a B.A. in Pastoral Ministries and earned his M.A. in Christian Leadership from Trinity Seminary in 2012.

Prior to his current role, he spent 5 1/2 years as Lead Pastor at Be Hope Church in Beavercreek, Ohio.

Lead Pastor at South Charleston (WV) First Church of the Nazarene

South Charleston First is the only church Kent has ever called home.

He began in lay ministry before accepting a pastoral role in 1999, serving as Children’s Pastor, Daycare Director, and Associate Pastor.

In 2003, he became co-pastor alongside his father, Rev. Morton Estep, and then Senior Pastor in 2005. His service continues the legacy of his parents, Morton and Carolyn, who pastored the church for almost 40 years.

Kent served as an MVNU trustee and executive board member from 2010 to 2021. He is married to Kelly (Weghorst) Estep, also a 1987 MVNC graduate, with whom he has shared 38 years of marriage and ministry. They have two grown children — Ross (Mackenzie Walker) Estep and Hope (Andy) Flavin — all MVNU graduates.

Kevin believes the church is the greatest force for good in the world and is passionate about helping people discover and live out their God-given calling with courage and compassion. Under his leadership, Church for The One has become a thriving community centered on leading people to love God and love others while providing a safe space for recovery, healing, and wholeness.

Beyond the local church, Kevin extends his ministry influence through the Leading Hope with Kevin Jack podcast, where he shares insights from his ministry journey and explores themes of perseverance and long-term success. He is also a published author.

Kevin and Bethany ’07 are the proud parents of four children: Madi, Emily, Molly, and Parker.

OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD

RICHIE ’20 AND BETHANY (RICHARDSON JOHNS ’20 Richie and Bethany Johns are the creative forces behind Studio 523, a Nashville-based production studio dedicated to communicating the gospel through film and television. Bot 2020 graduates of MVNU, Richie and Bethany share a deep passion for storytelling that inspires faith, hope, and redemption.

Richie, who was ordained in the Church of the Nazarene in 2023, brings pastoral insight and vision to their work, while Bethany’s producing expertise ensures that each project is both artistically excellent and spiritually impactful.

Together, they are the producers behind the breakout comedy se-ries The Promised Land, where The Office meets The Exodus. As director and producer respectively, Richie and Bethany also lead the creative team be-hind their upcoming feature film Still Hope, a powerful faith-based drama inspired by true stories of sex trafficking survivors and their journey toward healing. Still Hope releases in theaters nationwide on February 5, 2026.

When they’re not on set, they reside in Franklin, Tenn., with their two Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Esther and Melchizedek.

Fall 2025 | 17

2025 COUGAR WALL OF FAME INDUCTEES WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

RACHEL (FIELY) KERNS ’09

Kerns rewrote the record books during her exceptional basketball career, ranking sixth in career points (1,551) while becoming the alltime leader in both assists (654) and steals (335). She also ranks fifth in three-pointers made (193), 10th in field-goals made (470), and fourth in free-throws made (418).

Kerns’ senior season was particularly memorable, helping lead the team to the NCCAA National Championship while earning the prestigious NCCAA Kathy Freese National Player of the Year award. She was also named American Mideast Conference First Team, NCCAA All-American First Team, and NCCAA East Region Player of the Year.

A two-time NCCAA East Region First Team selection and NCCAA All-American First Team honoree, Kerns’ legacy as a complete player, leader, and champion remains unmatched in program history.

MEN’S SOCCER

KEMAR JACKSON ’11

A defensive stalwart and offensive threat, Jackson left an indelible mark on the men’s soccer pro-gram during his tenure, recording 19 goals, 45 points, 54 shots on goal, and 6 gamewinning goals during his career.

His junior season earned him American Mideast Conference First Team, NAIA Honorable Mention All-American, and NCCAA All-American Second Team honors. Jackson’s senior campaign reached even greater heights as NCCAA East Region Co-Player of the Year, NAIA All-American Second Team, and Team Most Valuable Player.

A decorated student-athlete, he consistently appeared on multiple All-Academic teams, including the prestigious NSCAA College Scholar All-America First Team. Jackson exemplified excellence both on the field and in the classroom.

18 |

THE FLAME

COUGAR Q&A MASON HENDRICKSON ’26

CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK AND FIELD, YOUTH AND FAMILY MINISTRY

HOW HAS ATHLETICS TRANSFORMED YOUR LIFE? Without cross country or track I would not have met my best friends, my fiancée, or many other people that have had a huge impact on my life. Without these sports and these teams, I would not be where I am now in my faith journey or where I literally am at now at MVNU. Cross country and track have also taught me so many lessons in discipline, patience, and humility.

HOW HAVE YOU FOUND MEANING AT MVNU? MVNU has opened doorways into helping in different student ministries that I would not have been able to be a part of without their help. I have found meaning through each of my experiences like leading in youth groups, and being able to sit in a classroom, observing what it is like to teach in the classroom setting.

ALEXIS HOFFMAN ’26

WOMEN’S SOCCER, MARKETING & FINANCE

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A COUGAR? To me, being a Cougar means when I step onto the field I am playing for something bigger than myself. I get to represent my university, teammates, and most importantly Christ, while having a supportive community to walk with me every step of the way.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH OTHERS, REGARDING YOUR MVNU EXPERIENCE? There is a genuine care here that you feel from day one.

Professors aren’t just teachers they are mentors. Your friends aren’t just people you hang out with; they become family as they walk with you through the good and the bad. I have made connections here that are rare.

I will forever be grateful for my MVNU experience.

WATCH CHAPEL LIVE OR ON DEMAND.

“DO YOU NOT SEE IT?”

By Rev. David Mills, Vice President for Spiritual Life and Church Relations

That question has been stirring in my heart since we chose our university scripture for this academic year at MVNU. God is doing something new in our midst, and Scripture reminds us that it has already begun. My prayer for our faculty, staff, and students is that we will not miss it.

From this passage came our chapel theme for the year: “Awaken.”

To be awakened means more than noticing — it means responding. We don’t just want to see what God is doing; we want to follow where He is leading. The good news is that He promises to show us the way.

In John 14, when Thomas asked, “How can we know the way?” Jesus answered with clarity: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

So what keeps us from seeing it? Is it the weight of circumstances, anxiety about tomorrow, regrets from the past, or the pressure to please others?

Just before Isaiah 43:19, the Lord tells us not to dwell on those things. He is doing something new — it’s already underway. Do you see it?

Lord, don’t let us miss it.

Help us to recognize it. Give us eyes to see and faith to follow.

Fall Fall 2025 2025 || 19 19

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