Olivet the Magazine; Abundant Life - Spring '26

IMPACT THAT MATTERS MEDIA AND SOCIETY ESTATE OF MIND

OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY SPRING 2026

CAMPUS MOMENTS

Anchoring the center of the mid-campus esplanade is Milby Clock Tower. Sounding chimes at each hour, half and quarter hour, the clock tower offers students a reminder that every moment should be treasured. On chapel days, the clock tower carillons play a prelude of Christian hymns, calling all to gather for worship in Centennial Chapel.

Dear Friends,

Since its inception, the aim of Olivet The Magazine has been to chronicle the good news of Olivet Nazarene University and illuminate moments of mission fulfillment. In each issue, we offer up examples of higher education at a very high level and stories of higher purpose and calling, and we use these pages as a means for expressing our deep commitment as a university to Jesus Christ. Our collective mission is distilled in our motto, “Education With a Christian Purpose.”

And while this generational faith is deeply rooted in the historic truths of Christianity and the Scriptures that contain these truths, to end there would be to miss the point entirely. Our truest fidelity and deepest devotion are not to words about God but to God Himself, to His Son, Jesus Christ, and to the Holy Spirit.

We also realize that all of us at some point will experience the challenges, difficulties and even disappointments of life. So, in this season of miracles, this resurrection time, please allow us to depart from our usual format for a moment and say a word about Jesus.

In the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Luke, amidst the background of the carefully documented signs and wonders of Jesus, is a brief story of healing for a man in desperate need. Jesus and his disciples are in the synagogue on the Sabbath, and Jesus is aware of a disabled man with a “shriveled” hand (Luke 6:6). The religious leaders of the day — the scribes and Pharisees — are observing Jesus closely and eager to accuse Him of working on the Sabbath. Can you imagine? You are standing in front of the healer, and the guys running the place say, “Yeah, we’re going to need you to come back tomorrow. It’s against our policy to heal on this day.” They had apparently forgotten that Jesus had set the record straight earlier, as He previously declared, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath” (Luke 6:5). The word of knowledge that would have really been helpful as they lurked and judged was that He is Lord of everything — even life and death. But they would find that out soon.

In short, Jesus chose the person in need because that was His will and His way.

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?’ He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He did so, and his hand was completely restored” (Luke 6:9–10).

Jesus knows our hopes and dreams as well as our desperation and need, and the great Miracle Worker chooses us. He is sovereign, and He is faithful — even to heal the “shriveled hands” of our lives. So we encourage our entire extended Olivet family as we celebrate the resurrection again this year: Don’t just enter the synagogue — or the sanctuary, in our case. Press on and find Jesus. Whatever your need might be, reach out to Him and be “completely restored.”

May God be with you all. Have a blessed Easter season!

The Editorial Team

OLIVET THE MAGAZINE is published quarterly by the Office of Marketing and Engagement under the direction of the vice president for institutional advancement.

VOLUME 95 ISSUE 1 (USPS 407-880) (ISSN 2325-7334)

Copyright ©2026

Olivet Nazarene University One University Avenue Bourbonnais, IL 60914-2345

800-648-1463

PRESIDENT

Dr. Gregg Chenoweth ’90/M.A./Ph.D.

VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Matt Foor ’95, CPA/MSA

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS

Rob Lalumendre ’12/’14 MBA

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

Dr. Mark Reddy ’95/’08 MOL/’24 Ed.D.

VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT DEVELOPMENT

Dr. Jason Stephens M.A./Ph.D.

VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Dr. Brian Allen ’82/’05 Litt.D.

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Dr. Stephen Lowe ’88/M.A./Ph.D.

EDITORIAL BOARD

Dr. Brian Allen ’82/’05 Litt.D.

Dr. Brian W. Parker ’93/’11 Ed.D. for 989 Group

George Wolff ’93 for 989 Group

Susan Wolff ’94/’06 MBA

Erika Moeschke ’12/’19 MBA

ART DIRECTION

George Wolff ’93 for 989 Group

DESIGN

Donnie Johnson

Matt Moore ’96 for 989 Group

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mark Ballogg, Jones Foto, Image Group, Joe Mantarian ’16, Noah Sears ’23

Additional photography submitted

EDITORIAL SUPPORT AND DESIGN

Adam Asher ’01/’07 MOL for 989 Group

Lauren Beatty ’13, Raquel Gonzalez ’24 Alicia (Gallagher) Guertin ’14, Rebecca Huber, Andrew Perabeau ’20

Hannah (Iverson) Priest ’21/’22 MBA, Noah Sears ’23, Heather (Kinzinger) Shaner ’98, Laura Warfel for 989 Group, Evan Ortell ’27, George Hannah ’25, Josiah Johnson ’25

Periodicals postage paid at the Bourbonnais, Illinois, post office and at additional mailing offices.

Postmaster, send address changes to: Editor, Olivet The Magazine Olivet Nazarene University One University Avenue Bourbonnais, IL 60914-2345

Reproduction of material without written permission is prohibited. News, events and announcements are printed at the discretion of the editorial board. Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent Olivet Nazarene University policy. Unless otherwise noted, Olivet The Magazine quotes Bible passages from the New International Version. Generative intelligence tools are occasionally used to assist in the creation of content for Olivet The Magazine. All content has been reviewed by our team of editors.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Reflections From Dr. Chenoweth on the Mission of Olivet

Dear Friends,

I was recently reminded by a friend of a message given by Charles Colson to a gathering in Indianapolis, where he referenced speaking to a group of United States Marines. At the end of the Q&A, one of the young lieutenants rose to his feet and asked what Colson described as the most salient question of our age: “What is truth?” That was decades ago, but I believe this remains the persistent question of our time.

Our daily life as a Christian university is dedicated to the pursuit of truth and the transfer of wisdom and knowledge to the next generation. There are, of course, a variety of ways to accomplish this task — from the open-ended Socratic method to detailed, documented scientific discovery — but, at Olivet, we understand all truth through the lens of the truths of Christianity and the divine revelations in the Biblical text. In addition, we stand in fidelity with the doctrines of the Church of the Nazarene as we seek to understand and impact the current world in which we live.

This commitment to truth-seeking becomes especially critical when we consider the deeply divided landscape our students are navigating. On issue after issue — from questions of liberty and governance to matters of human dignity and economic policy — our nation finds itself without unanimity, often without even the shared language necessary for productive dialogue. Into this fractured public square, Olivet offers something countercultural: a community where rigorous intellectual engagement and Christian conviction can coexist, where students learn not only what to think but also how to think.

We believe there is a place for thoughtful and even passionate debate around key issues. Our classrooms, residence halls and campus gatherings become laboratories for civil discourse, where students practice the difficult art of holding firm convictions while extending genuine respect to those who differ. This is not relativism — we are anchored in transcendent Christian truth — and we enter into the discussion with appropriate restraint and

Students learn that disagreeing agreeably is not a weakness but a strength. They discover that finding common ground amid ideological point and counterpoint requires both clarity of conviction and generosity of spirit.

humility, recognizing that we are not God and our understanding of how that truth applies to complex contemporary questions continues to develop through prayer, study and discernment guided by the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

Here, students learn that disagreeing agreeably is not a weakness but a strength. They discover that finding common ground amid ideological point and counterpoint requires both clarity of conviction and generosity of spirit. They see their professors model what it means to engage difficult questions with both intellectual depth and Christian charity. Most importantly, they learn that the pursuit of truth is not a solitary endeavor but a shared one, undertaken in the company of believers who are committed to following Christ together, even when the path forward is not immediately clear.

This is the education we offer at Olivet: not immediate answers to every question, but a framework for seeking truth, a community for wrestling with

complexity and an unwavering confidence that Christ is, ultimately, the way, the truth and the life. In a world asking, “What is truth?” we point our students toward the One who embodies the answer — and then we walk alongside them as they learn to follow Him into an uncertain but hope-filled future.

Sincerely,

Gregg Chenoweth, Ph.D. President, Olivet Nazarene

University

Gregg Chenoweth ’90, Ph.D., is the 13th president of Olivet Nazarene University. He earned his Ph.D. in organizational communication from Wayne State University and is the author of Everyday Discernment: The Art of Cultivating Spirit-Led Leadership (The Foundry Press, 2021).

LET’S GET SOCIAL

FIRST PERSON

“People who I’ll likely never meet get to experience life in a different way because of clean water.”

GOING FARTHER TOGETHER

Dr. Elyse Lamszus Competes in Fifth Chicago Marathon for Team World Vision

Sharing stories is the primary job of Elyse Lamszus, Ph.D., professor in the Department of English at Olivet Nazarene University. In both the general education and major requirement courses that she teaches, one of her goals is to help students step into the power of storytelling through literature, poetry, essays and their own writing projects. Outside the classroom, she has also discovered the impact of telling stories, one endurance race at a time.

Running With Purpose

Sometime toward the end of her own undergraduate journey, Dr. Lamszus was inspired to hear her university chaplain share his story of running 50 miles in celebration of his 50th birthday. His goal was not just about pushing his own physical limits but was an effort to raise money for World Vision, a nonprofit organization committed to ending the global clean water crisis.

Dr. Lamszus’ interest was piqued by the concept of running for clean water. But it wasn’t until almost a decade later, when a World Vision representative spoke in her home church about the opportunity to run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, that she really considered how she might get involved.

Less than a year prior, she and her husband had welcomed their first child. The reminder of the challenges that many women and children have around the world in acquiring clean water that is necessary for cooking, sanitation and hygiene struck a chord.

“Seeing that many mothers have to walk multiple miles each day to get water for their families — that’s often not even clean — really hit hard for me,” she says. “I had run several half-marathons but never considered doing a full. The idea of getting to

support the work of World Vision led me to believe that I had the capability of doing a full marathon. I decided to sign up for the marathon as a personal challenge.”

Her husband was supportive, which meant a lot, considering that the training schedule was increasingly intense. With his support and friends and family cheering on from the sidelines, she completed her first Chicago Marathon in 2017.

“It was really hard,” she says. “But it was such an amazing experience. I knew after that first race that I wanted to do more.”

The following year, she and her husband welcomed a second child. With two little ones at home, she decided to take the 2019 season off from marathon training. In 2020, due to pandemic restrictions, Team World Vision organized a marathon route along the lakefront in Chicago. She completed her second marathon that fall. Although it didn’t count as an official Chicago Marathon result, the race itself mattered less this time. Her purpose had shifted to maximizing her contributions to the work of World Vision.

Early in the training for the 2020 marathon, she completed the initial fundraising goal of $3,000 — enough to provide clean water for 60 people — and was encouraged to raise the goal to $5,000. In 2022, when she signed up to run her third marathon with Team World Vision, she fairly quickly surpassed her initial goal of $5,000 and was again encouraged to up the goal to $10,000. She was amazed that, by the end of the race, the entirety of that goal — representing clean water for more than 200 people — had come in.

“That was a lot of money,” she says. “I was blown away by the community support. Multiple people made multiple gifts, but even the little bits that individuals gave added up to something incredible. It was such a cool opportunity to see God moving beyond my expectation.”

Through her commitment to running for clean water over the past eight years, Dr. Lamszus has raised more than $50,000 for World Vision by inviting other people to step into her story of running with purpose.

In 2025 she took on an additional running and fundraising challenge with Team World Vision by participating in the Women for Women 24-hour relay event in Santa Barbara, California. She raised almost $12,000 to support educational and socioeconomic initiatives for communities that have received clean water sources and need additional support for women who now have more time and energy in their days.

“I’ve been reflecting on the ripple effect of running for World Vision,” Dr. Lamszus says. “People who I’ll likely never meet get to experience life in a different way because of clean water.”

As a result, she has encouraged others in her community and at Olivet to participate. In the starting corrals on the 2024 marathon day, she met an Olivet student who was also running for World Vision, and they chatted as they ran the first several miles of the course together. In 2025, at the 20-mile training run that Team World Vision organized along the Chicago lakefront, she connected with several current and former students, including the one who ran several miles of the 2024 Chicago Marathon with her.

This past October, Dr. Lamszus joined hundreds of Team World Vision participants for the 2025 Chicago Marathon, which touts the motto “Go Farther Together.” In total, the runners in Chicago raised more than $4.3 million by using their abilities to support the lives of people around the world. Olivet’s team of runners raised $90,000 of that total.

It’s a story worth telling over and over, step by step and mile by mile.

Dr. Lamszus encourages everyone to get involved in some way, whether it’s donating to a runner or running the race.

“Just do it,” she says. “I want people to dream big and think big. See what God can do.”

Far left: Dr. Lamszus and her family at her third Chicago Marathon. first race in 2017.

ONU IN THE NEWS

Createur Conference Seeks To Inspire Next Generation

Olivet Nazarene University will host the annual Createur Conference on April 16–17, 2026, bringing together entrepreneurs, innovators and aspiring creators for two days focused on faith, innovation and action. This year’s theme, “THE FUTURE IS YOU,” emphasizes the belief that the next generation is already shaping what comes next.

The conference will feature keynote speaker Earl Seals, co-founder of N2 Companies, a privately held media organization generating more than $150 million in annual revenue. He is also the executive producer of The Chosen, the groundbreaking global television series about the life of Jesus Christ.

Attendees will participate in interactive Spark Sessions led by more than 20 industry leaders across fields such as marketing, venture capital, health care, real estate and social impact. New for 2026 will be a high school track and a young entrepreneur panel.

“Createur Conference 2026 is building on Olivet’s tradition of excellence with challenging and inspiring events,” said Dan Ferris ’90/’01 MBA, director of Olivet’s entrepreneurship program. “We believe this event can be a catalyst for young entrepreneurs to grow deeper in their faith and be inspired on their journey to create.”

ONU

Athletics Celebrates Bill Bahr Soccer Facility

During Olivet Nazarene University’s Homecoming festivities this past October, ONU Athletics celebrated the opening of the Bill Bahr Soccer Facility.

The project revitalized existing locker and meeting rooms and added public restrooms and a concession stand for spectators. The donor-funded facility is named in honor of Bill Bahr ’96/’05 MBA/’14 M.A., head coach of the women’s soccer team. A 26year veteran head coach, he has led the Tigers to 346 wins and multiple NCCAA Championship appearances. He was honored for his impact and leadership both on and off the field, exemplifying the ONU Athletics mission of developing champions.

MBA, MOL Programs Launch Criminal Justice Track

Starting this summer, Olivet Nazarene University’s hybrid and online Master of Business Administration and Master of Organizational Leadership degree programs will offer a new concentration in criminal justice.

Designed for adult learners and law enforcement professionals, the program is the only one of its kind in Illinois. Developed in alignment with the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, the curriculum will be taught by faculty with extensive field experience and will prepare leaders to navigate today’s complex ethical, organizational and public safety challenges.

ONU Milestone: $2 Million in Endowed Scholarships Awarded to Students

Olivet Nazarene University reached a historic milestone in 2025, awarding more than $2 million in endowed scholarships to students for the first time. These scholarships, available to undergraduate sophomores through seniors, reflect the generosity of the Olivet community and the University’s commitment to affordability. Since 2005, annual endowed scholarship awards have doubled, helping students persist, graduate and thrive. At the same time, program endowments supporting academic chairs, research and enrichment opportunities have grown significantly.

Together, these investments strengthen Olivet’s mission and ensure long-term support for students and academic excellence well into the future.

ONU To Welcome Renowned Tenor Lawrence Brownlee

Olivet Nazarene University will present a special concert event featuring internationally renowned operatic tenor Lawrence Brownlee and Grammynominated pianist Kevin J. Miller on April 10. The program will open with selections from Brownlee’s album Rising, a collection of works he commissioned from contemporary African American composers that set poetry from the Harlem Renaissance to music. The second half of the concert will highlight the bel canto repertoire for which Brownlee is celebrated on the world’s leading opera stages. Olivet’s Orpheus Choir will perform a pre-concert set at 6:30 p.m.

Brownlee is recognized not only for his vocal artistry but also for his leadership and advocacy within the opera world. He is a distinguished visiting faculty member at The Juilliard School and serves in advisory roles with major opera organizations. The day before the concert, Brownlee will lead a master class for students in Olivet’s School of Music. The event is supported by the Jill Bowling Fine Arts Endowment.

For tickets and more information, visit Olivet.edu/Events

Cathy Dillinger, Ph.D.,

Appointed Associate Dean of School of Nursing

Olivet Nazarene University has appointed Catherine “Cathy” Dillinger ’16 MSN, Ph.D., as associate dean of the School of Nursing. She succeeds Tiffany Greer ’97, Ph.D., who has led the department since 2016.

Dr. Dillinger joined Olivet in 2016 and currently serves as program director for the BSN and ABSN tracks, teaching a range of undergraduate nursing courses. Her professional background includes clinical experience in emergency room nursing, long-term care and obstetrics nursing as well as leadership roles in corporate settings. In addition to a master’s degree from Olivet, Dr. Dillinger holds degrees from Joliet Junior College, Purdue University and Capella University.

One Day. One Mission. One Million.

On April 15, Olivet Nazarene University will celebrate a major milestone with an audacious goal: raising $1 million for the 10th annual Day of Giving.

“This is a breakthrough moment for Olivet and Day of Giving,” said Austin Brown ‘19/’21 M.A., who will lead the charge as director of annual and leadership giving. “We’ll show just how much ‘Education With a Christian Purpose’ means to us.”

The Day of Giving is a pillar of financial support for the University. Alumni, parents, students and supporters are encouraged to join together in a powerful show of generosity. In addition to online giving opportunities, the day will feature a new on-campus kickoff, along with special moments of connection throughout the day.

For more information about Day of Giving, visit Olivet.edu/DayOfGiving

Tigers Set New Records

Winter sports at Olivet Nazarene University roared into 2026. The women’s basketball team made history this season, securing both the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) regular season and tournament titles for the first time. The tournament championship game win also gave head coach Lauren Glenn ‘09 MOL her 300th career victory. The men’s team finished its season with a winning record and a new program record of 18 3-pointers made in a single game. The women’s and men’s track and field teams both swept the 2026 CCAC Indoor Championships and presented well at the NAIA Indoor Nationals. Both swim and dive teams finished in the top three of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, and the club ice hockey squad ended the regular season at the top of its division in the American Collegiate Hockey Association.

Spring season sports had strong starts as well when the baseball team won its home opener and the softball team maintained a winning record, despite playing a majority of their first games on the road. Both the tennis and golf teams started in February, looking forward to the bulk of their schedules in warmer months. In April the track and field teams will transition to outdoor competitions and look to qualify competitors for the national meet in May.

For updates about upcoming competitions or to find an event near you, visit ONUTigers.com

HOMECOMING

1. The Homecoming & Family Weekend program keeps everyone informed about the festivities.

2. Fun at the Alumni Association Pancake Feed. 3. ONU football is a Homecoming tradition. 4. The band is ready to perform. 5. The Homecoming concert featuring Dove Award-winning Christian music artist Meredith Andrews and ONU’s School of Music.

6. Students welcome everyone to the festivities. 7. Brian and Lynda Allen at the dedication of Allen Plaza on campus. 8. The food trucks are always a hit. 9. Photo opportunities abound during the weekend. 10. Tiger basketball teams pack McHie Arena. 11. The Vault, offering limited-run, specialty Olivet gear designed by Raquel Gonzalez ’24. 12. Woody Webb leads a panel discussion at the President’s Dinner.

13. ONU Hall of Fame inductees are honored at halftime of the men’s basketball game.

2025 O AWARDS

James “Mel” Melton Sayes ’73 2025 Lay Award

When he was 5 years old, Mel Sayes ’73 arrived on the campus of Olivet Nazarene College with his parents, Dr. J. Ottis Sayes and Delia (Melton) Sayes, and his sister, Deena ’75. Dr. Sayes later became chair of Olivet’s religion and philosophy division. Delia taught at elementary schools in Bourbonnais.

Mel’s childhood was filled with Olivet connections.

“We lived in a two-story white house on Main Street in Bourbonnais, at the entrance to Olivet,” he recalls.

“Our family lived on the first floor, and Dr. Harlow and Mrs. Harriet Hopkins lived on the second floor. The president, Dr. Reed, and his wife lived across the street from us.”

Mel was a student at Robert Frost Grade School in the building that is now the home of Olivet’s Department of Art and Digital Media. The population of Bourbonnais was about 10,000 at that time. He recalls the configuration of Olivet’s campus, too. The street going into campus made an “O,” went in front of Chapman and Burke, and went around the tennis courts located in the middle of the “O.”

“College Church was in the same location,” Mel says, “but the building was only the sanctuary, with the meeting rooms on the lower floor. And there was no air-conditioning. Dr. Nash was the pastor.”

Mel vividly remembers when he was a sophomore at Olivet and a ministry team from Asbury University came to campus. On a Wednesday night at College Church, the team gave their testimonies.

“Chapel the next day was very different,” he says. “Students came forward to pray together. Chapel lasted all day long. We experienced a spontaneous revival.”

While he was a student at Olivet, Mel met Judi Tucker ’73, and they married after graduation. They are now the parents of two sons: Jay ’06, who is married to Cyndi (Rucker) ’08, and Josh, who graduated from Southern Nazarene University in 2008. They are the grandparents of two granddaughters. Their family attends Brockington Road Church of the Nazarene

“Olivet helped me channel my competitiveness into a successful life of service.”

in Little Rock. Mel serves as a Sunday school teacher and a church board member.

Mel treasured the advice of professor Harvey Humble, one of his favorite Olivet professors, when he was uncertain about what to do after graduating from Olivet. During one of their conversations, professor Humble encouraged him to go to law school and pursue a career as a lawyer. After he graduated from Olivet, Mel enrolled at the University of Arkansas School of Law in Little Rock. He worked during the day and took classes at night.

After receiving his Juris Doctor degree, Mel went into practice with another attorney and then later joined his current firm. Today, his son Jay is also a member of that firm, Matthews Sanders & Sayes, in Little Rock.

“Olivet gave me a good education and equipped me well for law school,” Mel says. “I am a trial lawyer, and I’ve practiced law for 48 years, trying 25 or 30 cases a year. Through professor Humble, God guided me to a successful career. God has faithfully taught me and led me and provided for me in everything I have done.”

Mel serves as chair of The Olivet Foundation, helping to make sure the mission of Olivet continues into the future. He is also an ex officio member of Olivet’s Board of Trustees. In 2011 he and Judi established Olivet’s Young Alumni Award to honor two alumni — one male and one female — and to be presented annually at Homecoming. Recipients are chosen by vote of the Alumni Board and must have graduated from Olivet within the last 10 years.

“During my days in Bourbonnais, I always had solid Christian people who cared about me,” Mel says. “The people in our Olivet community helped my parents raise me. Olivet helped me channel my competitiveness into a successful life of service.”

Rev. Dr. Mark Holcomb ’81/’18 D.Div. 2025 Ministerial Award

Freshman move-in day at Olivet Nazarene University is still an unforgettable day for Mark Holcomb ‘81/’18 D.Div. — but not for the usual reasons. As he was moving into Chapman Hall, he saw a student driving a Public Safety golf cart down the sidewalk. The Public

“What a blessing to give back to the place that had shaped me.”

Safety officer was chasing him on foot and not even close to catching him. He jokingly says that was his first indication that Olivet was definitely the school for him. While he was a student at Olivet, more unforgettable experiences set the tone for the rest of his life and ministry. God confirmed his call to ministry at a fall revival service during his sophomore year. Also that year, he met a freshman girl named Terry Hodge ’82, a baton twirler.

“Our first date was for Homecoming that year,” Mark recalls. “We got married after we graduated, and we’ve shared 44 years of ministry and family together.”

Sports broadcasting also became part of Mark’s life while he was an Olivet student. He met Gary Griffin ’81/’07 MOL, and they did play-by-play radio broadcasts together for Tiger football and basketball for two years.

“Students are shaped by faculty members who are engaged with the students,” Mark says. “Professor Jim Boardman and professor Ray Moore were two of those professors for me. They counseled, mentored and taught me. As a resident assistant in Chapman for two years, I strived to do the same for the students on my floor.”

He graduated from Olivet with a bachelor’s degree in Christian education and a minor in radio broadcasting. He also holds a master’s degree in religious education from Nazarene Theological Seminary. In 1990 he was ordained as an elder in the Church of the Nazarene.

For 22 years, he served as a youth pastor in Kansas, Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. In 2000 he was elected to the Global Nazarene Youth International (NYI) Council and served on the USA/Canada NYI Council from 2000 to 2009. He was elected Global NYI vice chair in 2005, USA/Canada NYI Council chair in 2005 and NYI Global chair in 2009.

In 2004 he joined the Olivet faculty and taught in the School of Theology and Christian Ministry for 15 years. He developed a Master of Ministry in Youth Ministry

degree program, and he helped shape the current Master of Ministry in Family Ministry degree program. He was named the University’s chaplain in 2010.

“The greatest honor of my ministry life came in the spring of 2010, when I was named chaplain at Olivet,” he says. “I served my alma mater in this role until 2022. What a blessing to give back to the place that had shaped me.”

In 2018 Olivet recognized his service for the Lord with a Doctor of Divinity degree.

“People fall in love with the community aspect of Olivet,” he says. “They want to invest in it and be a part of it. Graduates want their kids to experience the Olivet way of education, ministry and life.”

His Olivet connections now extend to the family he and Terry have built together. They have two daughters, Kristin ’06, who is married to Luke Sanders ’06, and Kelli ’08, who is married to Christopher Bowman ’08. They are also grandparents to seven grandchildren: Brayden, Bradley, Bella and Boone Sanders; and Jackson, Oliver and Vivian Bowman.

He currently serves on the church board at Reed City Church of the Nazarene in Michigan. He now does sports broadcasts for his local high school and also coaches the varsity girls basketball team. As the director of spiritual life at Eagle Village, a primary care facility for at-risk youth, he continues his commitment to having great conversations about faith with people who are struggling.

“The definition of Christian has changed in some places in our culture, but it hasn’t changed at Olivet,” he says. “Our society and culture need places like Olivet, where people can disagree and still be kind and gracious to one another. When you’re kind and gracious, God works in the disagreements and brings us together. Together, we are modeling what Christian truly means, and we don’t have to change what we believe to do that.”

Young Alumni AWARDS

Young Alumni

Alyssa Franklin ’19 2025 Young Alumni Award

From her first visit to the Olivet Nazarene University campus to her current career as an Emmy-nominated producer for WGN-TV’s lifestyle show Daytime Chicago, Alyssa Franklin ’19 has followed God’s leading in His plan for her life. In the process, she is seeing her dreams come true.

Growing up with three siblings in a Christian household, Alyssa learned to put God first in everything. She and her family continue to put Jesus at the forefront of everything they say and do.

At Olivet, Alyssa began blending her passion for media with her deep love for ministry. Her bachelor’s degree is in multimedia communication with a concentration in broadcast journalism.

“My Olivet professors. especially professor Mark Bishop, Dr. Beth Patrick-Trippel and Dr. Heather McLaughlin, helped me develop my strengths and get hands-on, real-world experience,” she says. “They taught me the necessary skills for success and showed me what was possible for my career.”

Alyssa was one of those Olivet students who seemed to be everywhere on campus at the same time. She served on a music ambassador team; sang in chapel and as a member of Proclamation Gospel Choir; was elected to the Homecoming Court; and gave tours as a student ambassador in the Admissions Center. In her dorm, she started and led a women’s Bible study, The Passover. She also traveled on mission trips to the Englewood neighborhood in Chicago and internationally to Uganda. During her senior year, she completed a

dream internship at a TV station in downtown Chicago. Today, Alyssa continues to blend media and ministry in her life. She and her sisters lead worship and record music as A4L Music. She started and leads Chicago Girls Love Jesus, a ministry to bring women together in community.

“Whether I’m in the newsroom at WGN-TV or leading worship at my parents’ church, I want people to see Jesus in me and encounter His love,” Alyssa says. “I want to do more than excellent work in my life. I want to be salt and light in a dark world.”

Kolton Williford ’15

2025 Young Alumni Award

“Olivet provided a sanctuary for me and gave me a platform to grow deeper in my faith,” Kolton Williford ’15 says. “At Olivet, I built relationships — rooted in the love of the Lord — that will last a lifetime.”

From his vantage point today as a development officer, husband, father and follower of Christ, Kolton thanks God for everything he learned at Olivet Nazarene University.

Kolton came to Olivet from Urbana, Illinois, on a football scholarship.

“I had accepted Christ when I was 16 and, although the Christian faith wasn’t new to me, I had a lot of learning and maturing to do,” he says. “Drew Benson was my resident advisor in Chapman. He challenged me to go deeper in my walk with the Lord and really mature in my faith. And he not only said it; he modeled it.”

During his freshman year, Kolton met Sarah Walsh ’15 while he was using the printer at Benner Library. After Christmas break, they began dating. They got married in 2017 and are the parents of two daughters.

At Olivet, Kolton was surprised by the professors’ intentionality in building relationships with students. Dr. Tim Mercer ’71 and his wife, Mary ’71, invited him to join a group of students who met at their home for dinner and conversation. He also went on a mission trip to Thailand with the Mercers.

One of Kolton’s favorite Olivet memories is a mission trip to an inner-city Chicago neighborhood, led by JP Troglio ’09/’15 M.A., another of Kolton’s mentors on campus.

“We were less than an hour from Olivet,” he recalls. “Serving the youth in that neighborhood opened my eyes to the fact that people in our country are living in poverty.”

That realization plus a visit by Jay Height, executive director of Shepherd Community Center in Indianapolis, to the Olivet campus during Kolton’s senior year set the trajectory for his career. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in intercultural studies and joined the team at Shepherd in 2015. Currently, he serves as the chief development officer, overseeing marketing, communications, development and donor events.

“At Shepherd, we work with hundreds of kids in inner-city Indianapolis every year,” he says. “I can be a positive mentor and a man of faith for these kids. Olivet helped shape my faith, the way I relate to others, the desire to build authentic relationships and [how to] truly love my neighbor the way God loves them.”

THE LOVE LANGUAGE THAT MATTERS MOST

There’s something that matters even more than how you express love: It’s how the other person experiences it.

Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott

Discover Your Love Language Dialect

The Five Love Languages Premium Assessment goes beyond identifying your primary love language. It reveals the specific ways your child most naturally experiences love — helping parents stay connected during the college years with clarity, confidence and care.

Drs. Les ’84 and Leslie (Young) ’84 Parrott are No. 1 New York Times bestselling authors of numerous books, including The Love Language That Matters Most. See LesAndLeslie.com.

The text was meant to say, I love you. But what our son heard was, Do you think I can’t handle this?

We didn’t realize it at the time. All we knew was that somewhere between move-in day and midterms, something subtle had shifted. Our intentions hadn’t changed. Our love hadn’t changed. But the way our love was being heard had.

That moment forced us to slow down and ask an uncomfortable question: How can love be sincere — and still miss the mark?

It’s a question many families wrestle with during the college years.

Students are stretching toward independence. Parents are learning how to stay connected without hovering. Both care deeply. Both want the relationship to stay strong. And yet, misunderstandings seem to multiply just when closeness matters most.

For decades, one of the most helpful frameworks for understanding connection has been The 5 Love Languages — the idea that people tend to give and receive love through words of affirmation, quality time, gifts, acts of service or physical touch.

For millions of couples and families, this insight has been transformative. It helps explain why one person feels loved by a heartfelt note, while another feels it most through time together or practical help.

Knowing your love language matters. But over the years, we began to notice something else: Even

Within each love language are different ways of hearing love. One person whose love language is affirmation may feel affirmed by praise, while another is moved most deeply by reassurance. One values time through meaningful conversation; another through shared activity. One appreciates practical help when it lightens their load; another when it communicates partnership.

when people knew their love language — and tried sincerely to express it — it didn’t always fill up that person’s proverbial “love tank.”

The words were right. The effort was genuine. The love was real. And still, something felt off.

That realization didn’t come out of nowhere. It grew out of years of conversation with our longtime friend Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The 5 Love Languages

As we talked together, often circling back to the same questions, we found ourselves drawn to a shared conviction: Even when people know how to express love, something essential can still get lost.

Those conversations eventually shaped the heart of our new book, The Love Language That Matters Most.

What is it? Well, there’s something that matters even more than how you express love: It’s how the other person experiences it.

In other words, what we found is that each of the five love languages has various dialects.

Most of us assume that once we know someone’s love language, we’ve cracked the code. If they value words of affirmation, we offer encouragement. If they value quality time, we make plans. If it’s acts of service, we pitch in.

And that helps, until it doesn’t.

Because within each love language are different ways of hearing love. One person whose love language is affirmation may feel affirmed by praise,

while another is moved most deeply by reassurance. One values time through meaningful conversation; another through shared activity. One appreciates practical help when it lightens their load; another when it communicates partnership.

Same language. Different dialect.

When we miss that distinction, love can sound right but feel wrong.

That’s why, in The Love Language That Matters Most, we explore the specific dialects within each of the five love languages. The goal isn’t to love more loudly, but more clearly — to express care in a way that truly resonates with the person you love.

This insight is especially powerful during the college years.

Students are changing rapidly, gaining independence, forming identity, carrying new pressures. What once felt loving may now feel constraining. What once felt distant may now feel respectful. Parents, meanwhile, are learning how to stay connected without crossing invisible lines that didn’t exist before.

Understanding love’s dialect helps both sides adjust — not by guessing, but by becoming more intentional. It replaces assumptions with awareness.

And awareness has a way of softening conversations, lowering defensiveness and reopening connection.

BREAKING FREE

New Media and Society Course Addresses Technology Use Beyond the Classroom

When Dr. Daniel Allen ’10 began teaching at Olivet Nazarene University in 2021, he noticed something immediately: The moments in the classroom before class began looked very different from when he was a student.

Stephen Case

It was often completely silent in a lecture hall filled with students as they scrolled on their devices and waited for class to start. As a sociologist who studies human interaction, Dr. Allen was concerned. Students were “alone together,” he noted, isolated by their devices even while sharing physical space.

Unease with technology’s effect on students led Dr. Allen to begin studying technology usage among college students. He was soon convinced it was having a negative influence on students’ mental and social well-being. In response, he created a class to explore this growing issue with students. Media and Society, a course open to students of all majors, was an opportunity, Dr. Allen says, to give students the chance to “live deliberately” and critically assess their use of technology. Offered for the first time this past fall, the course includes readings, discussions and class activities that guide students in asking, “How does our use of various technology impact our values, beliefs and experiences?”

This was a question that appealed to Caleb Jones, a senior sociology and intercultural studies double major who decided to enroll in the course.

“Throughout college, I found myself healthier when I had days without being on social media,” Caleb says.

With a growing awareness of the negative effect technology was having on him, he joined a cohort that also included communications, psychology and education majors to explore the issue more.

“I was curious to see what facts could help me understand what I was seeing in myself,” he says.

Alongside studying sociological trends in technology usage, Media and Society gave students opportunities to evaluate the impact of technology beyond the classroom. In one activity, for instance, students were challenged to take an eight-hour “digital detox,” during which they completed tasks from a list of things to do without devices, including navigating to a local business and paying in cash. Even such an apparently simple assignment had an impact.

“I took this opportunity to go to a coffee shop and pay with cash,” Caleb recalls. “When I did, I had a fun conversation with the barista, and I realized how often I rely on mobile ordering and miss out on the opportunity to talk with people. This encouraged me to begin bringing human experience back into the very simple things that I do in life.”

Max Penrod, a senior double major in sociology and psychology, also found the course to be a transformative experience.

“My relationship with technology has not been the same since this class,” Max says. “I have been more cognizant of my phone usage both in and outside of the academic setting. I am beginning to regain control over my attention span that has been ruined by endless scrolling.”

Max recommends the course for any student who “feels the constant anxiety that comes from being lost in the digital world.”

For Dr. Allen, a Christian university is the ideal place to explore these topics, because Christianity has the theological resources to critique our culture’s dominant paradigms regarding technology. Chief of these resources, he points out, is Christianity’s belief in an embodied Savior.

“While American culture in the digital age encourages separation or fragmentation of our online and offline selves,” Dr. Allen explains, “[Scripture teaches that] all of our human experience is connected and inseparable.”

Christ’s incarnation and resurrection point to redemption of “the whole created order” and the significance of living holistically in community, Dr. Allen continues. Media and Society gives students a unique opportunity to do just that.

And the period before classes? Based in part on his experience with this class, Dr. Allen has initiated a “device-free zone” in all his classes. Instead of the silence of screens, the pre-class conversation provides an opportunity for students “to meet a new best friend — or future spouse, to talk about current events with someone who doesn’t think the same way, or to come alongside another human being who is going through something outside of class,” he says.

Mindfulness with devices is helping restore a sense of community.

“I still use technology, and I am still on social media,” Caleb admits, “but I am much more aware of myself now and feel like I am now in control of my technology use, not the other way around.”

Stephen Case ’05, Ph.D., is the director of the University Honors Program and a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Geosciences. He holds degrees in physics and the history and philosophy of science and teaches courses in astronomy, physics, history of science, and science and theology. He is the author of Making Stars Physical: The Astronomy of Sir John Herschel (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2018) and co-editor of The Cambridge Companion to John Herschel (Cambridge University Press, 2024).

THE ADA NEAL SCHOLARSHIP A LEGACY

OF GIVING

A family’s legacy of giving is continuing to bless nursing students at Olivet Nazarene University. In 1993 Alden and Nancy Neal and their family established The Ada Neal Scholarship to honor Ada, Alden’s mother. They designated that this scholarship be specifically for nursing students. To date, 78 students have benefited from receiving this scholarship.

“The Ada Neal Scholarship is an excellent example of generational participation giving,” says Dan Ferris ’69, the major giving strategies consultant for Olivet’s development team. “The next generations’ step is to carry the torch in supporting the scholarship as originally established.”

Ada Neal was a longtime member of the Church of the Nazarene. She raised her five children (three daughters and two sons) in the Nazarene church. Ada always had a fondness and a great respect for the nursing profession.

Alden, one of Ada’s two sons, graduated from Eastern Nazarene College (ENC) and married Nancy, who, much to Ada’s delight, was a nurse. Nancy graduated from the New England Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing. She also received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from Boston University and a Master of Science in Nursing degree from Emory University. Alden and Nancy had two children, Sally and Charles.

When Ada passed away, Alden and Nancy wanted to establish a nursing scholarship to honor Ada. They decided to do this at Olivet because ENC didn’t have a nursing program. And so The Ada Neal Scholarship began with their initial gift.

Alden and Nancy have both passed away. To honor them and her grandmother, Sally Neal began giving in 1993 and has continued to fund the Olivet scholarship, faithfully and cheerfully, for the past 32 years. Although she’s not a part of the health care profession and does not have educational ties to Olivet, Sally is committed to seeing the scholarship enrich the lives of Olivet nursing students.

“Nursing offers a wide variety of career opportunities, and I love the fact that nurses are uniquely positioned to care for patients holistically,” Sally says. “Nurses focus on a person’s physical illness and also on their emotional, mental and spiritual needs.”

Since the passing of her parents, Sally is the contact person for this scholarship. She is also providing an example to her two nieces about the importance of giving to help others. Thanks to the investment earnings on this endowed scholarship, the current market value of this fund is 50% higher than the sum of all the donor gifts.

Among the many students who have been blessed by The Ada Neal Scholarship are two of the 2025−2026 recipients, Briana Whalen and Sergio Pena Pacheco.

Briana Whalen

Ada Neal Scholarship Recipient 2025−2026

“After the pandemic, money became tight for our family, just as I was preparing to attend college,” says Briana, a senior at Olivet. “I also have four younger siblings. I chose to attend Olivet over other schools because of the strong nursing program and the evident influence of Christ on campus.”

In addition to being a nursing student, Briana also works as a certified nursing assistant at Riverside Medical Center. Receiving this financial assistance is reducing her education expenses and allowing her to dedicate more time to her studies.

Briana appreciates the opportunities an Olivet education is giving her.

“I am growing both personally and spiritually at Olivet,” she says. “This is my second year at Olivet. I am gaining the confidence and humility to trust fully in the Lord. I believe that the Lord placed me at Olivet so I could learn to devote myself to Him. Now, I actively look for ways to share the goodness of Jesus with others. At CSL Plasma in Kankakee, where I donate blood, the Lord allowed me to speak with a worker who

“I wouldn’t be where I am in my college journey if it weren’t for the generous financial help of these donors.”

had never heard of the Bible. That moment made me realize how much work God has done in my heart.”

She is grateful for the generosity of the Neal family in providing this scholarship for her.

“It takes a lot to invest in the future of a student you barely know,” Briana says. “I know that the Lord has called me to nursing, so I hope to glorify Him through my studies and fulfill His calling for my life.”

Sergio Pena Pacheco

Ada Neal Scholarship Recipient 2025−2026

“I am paying for my college education all on my own without any financial help from my family,” says Sergio, a senior at Olivet. “I work a part-time job off campus and an on-campus job to help cover the cost. With this scholarship, I can work less during the semester and focus more on my studies. A nursing degree program is already challenging, and managing it while working two jobs makes it even harder.”

Sergio’s plan is to graduate from Olivet in May with a BSN degree. He has seen many blessings during his time at the University.

“I have learned how to be responsible for myself while I’ve been at Olivet,” he says. “I am breaking generational cycles I have struggled with in the past. Olivet has provided a safe space for me. This allows

me to stay focused on my academics as well as on the relationships and friendships I’ve built over the years. I see my Olivet community as my family.”

Sergio continues to be impressed by the extended Olivet community that wants to help students succeed.

“I wouldn’t be where I am in my college journey if it weren’t for the generous financial help of these donors,” he says. “I am not only earning my degree for myself, but I am earning this degree for the donors who have helped me. I wake up with a smile on my face every day because I know that I am privileged to attend college and get an education that will help me be successful and enable me to give back.”

Learn more about supporting Olivet through an endowment by contacting Walter “Woody” Webb at WWebb@Olivet.edu or 815-939-5228.

Our goal: $50 million in planned legacy gift commitments funded equally — half by estate and planned gifts and half by endowed gifts.

The following pages are excerpts from the newest publication of Estate of Mind: Planning a Legacy of Hope.

“

The line between excellent and average is surprisingly thin … but with your support, we will maintain our position as one of the leading Christian universities in the nation.”

Dr. Gregg Chenoweth, University President

ESTATE OF MIND Planning a Legacy of Hope

“We’re strengthening Olivet Nazarene University’s mission for the next chapter — one where excellence isn’t just sustained, but amplified.”

President Gregg Chenoweth’s voice sets the tone: Olivet has operated on the principle of “excellence without elitism” since 1907. Expenses only move in one direction: upward. Inflation-related costs and enhanced student services can add millions annually. The line between excellent and average is surprisingly thin. Alumni and friends who give are what keep Olivet among the strongest Christian universities in the nation.

THE MARGIN OF EXCELLENCE

Your planned legacy gift commitment will empower Olivet to:

Unlock Student Potential — Scholarship programs that keep pace with inflation, ensuring talented students can pursue their calling regardless of economic barriers

Pioneer Innovation — Cutting-edge technologies that enhance learning, research and campus life

Launch Tomorrow’s Programs — Emerging academic programs and student services that meet evolving workforce and ministry needs

Preserve Our Campus — Maintaining and enhancing historic campus facilities for generations of students to come

Each gift becomes part of a living legacy that extends far beyond the donor’s lifetime, creating ripples of impact that will touch countless lives.

PARTNER WITH OUR TEAM TO CREATE YOUR FAMILY PLAN

Estate planning empowers you to protect what matters most — your future, that of your loved ones and the causes close to your heart. Without a plan, state laws decide your legacy, often in ways that don’t reflect your values or wishes.

Olivet’s staff stands ready to help you create a meaningful estate plan using confidential planning tools, including a comprehensive questionnaire to clarify your goals and simplify decision-making.

You’ll also have access to experienced PhilanthroCorp advisers, who will provide free, personalized guidance and connect you with a vetted Christian attorney to prepare all essential documents.

THREE WAYS TO GIVE

Gifts That Help Later — Bequests in a will or trust, retirement designations, other beneficiary designations

Gifts That Help Now — Donor-advised funds, appreciated assets, real estate, endowed funds

Gifts That Pay Income — Charitable gift annuity, charitable remainder trust

“ We had delayed estate planning for years, always saying, ‘We need to get that done.’ Now we have! Olivet and their trusted partner helped us get there.”

Greg and Tina Bruner

GIFTS THAT HELP LATER

“ It has been such an honor to be a part of Olivet’s great work. We’ve found great joy in our current giving and in our commitment through our estate! Wherever Olivet’s students go, we feel we go with them.”

Drs. Brian and Lynda Allen

Bequest in a Will or Trust — Consider meaningful ways to pass assets at your death. A trust can also manage assets during your lifetime. Your gift through a bequest costs you nothing today, is free from estate or death taxes, and can be changed at any time. Your bequest can be a percentage of your estate, specific property or a cash amount. You may direct it where needed most — or designate it toward spiritual life, campus life, faculty development, athletics, fine arts or specific academic programs.

Retirement Plan Designation — Designate Olivet as a beneficiary through your retirement plan custodian. You may direct the gift toward current needs, a specific scholarship fund, an academic department or a program. The designation can be structured as a percentage of your retirement plan for flexibility as your assets change over time.

OTHER BENEFICIARY PLANS

Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) — Recommend charitable distributions now, then designate the balance to Olivet after your passing.

Life Insurance — Name Olivet as a beneficiary or transfer ownership of a policy.

Commercial Annuities/U.S. Savings Bonds — Designate to Olivet upon maturity or end of term.

Payment on Death — Designations on bank accounts or stock holdings avoid probate and enable seamless transfers.

Real Estate — Gift through transfer on death deeds or by creating a remainder interest, retaining personal use during your lifetime.

“

Olivet

has had a generational impact on our family. My grandfather was a homeschooled pastor, but his four children all graduated from Olivet. We want to pay it forward in honor of those who have been so generous to us.”

Rev.

David Wine

GIFTS THAT HELP NOW & TOMORROW

Your Endowed Fund — A permanent endowment — managed by the Olivet Nazarene University Foundation — provides perpetual support by awarding a percentage of the fund each year. You can create an endowment for a scholarship, faculty position, department or program. Named endowments honoring family, loved ones or a mentor begin at a minimum gift of $25,000. Gifts of cash, stock or planned gifts from your will, trust or IRA are all options.

Appreciated Assets — If you own appreciated publicly traded stock, real estate or privately held stock, donating directly to Olivet escapes capital gains tax liability — and if you itemize, you receive an income tax charitable deduction for the gift.

Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) — A DAF allows you to support charitable missions during your lifetime, with no new out-of-pocket expense. Recommended grants can pay pledges and support scholarships, endowments and more. In your estate plan, you can pass ownership of your DAF to Olivet.

“

Because this Godly institution has helped shape the legacy of our family, we want to make the ONU experience possible for other families. Our endowed scholarship is a personal investment in the lives of students we may never meet but deeply believe in.”

Dan and Dianne Ferris

GIFTS THAT PAY INCOME

Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) A CGA is a contract with Olivet that pays you and/or your loved ones a fixed income for life in exchange for a gift of cash, assets or a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from your IRA. Payments begin immediately or may be deferred. The gift qualifies for an income tax deduction and reduction of capital gains tax. Some income can be tax-free.

Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) — A CRT pays you and/or your loved ones a fluctuating income for life (or up to 20 years) based on investment returns in exchange for a gift of cash, assets or a QCD. The minimum suggested gift is $100,000. A CRT qualifies for an income tax deduction and avoidance of capital gains tax. At the death of beneficiaries, the residual supports an Olivet designation of your choice.

Consult with your tax adviser about potential tax savings — including deductions and capital gains — for you and your heirs from all strategies.

“

I have found that gifts through our donor-advised fund and gifts of appreciated stock are good stewardship of the resources God entrusted to us. Olivet Nazarene University is part of my estate plan. It is the kind of Kingdom work I gladly support.”

Rick Dykhouse, J.D.

RECOGNITION SOCIETIES

Heritage Society — Honors those who have planned a gift from their estate using any recommended vehicle. No minimum dollar amount required.

Founders Society — Honors cumulative lifetime current, deferred and planned gifts:

Burke Level ($10M+)

Chalfant Level ($5M–$9.9M)

Birchard Level ($1M–$4.9M)

McClain Level ($500K–$999K)

Nesbitt Level ($250K–$499K)

Chapman Level ($100K–$249K)

Williams Level ($50K–$99K)

PLAN YOUR LEGACY OF HOPE

Olivet Nazarene University, a denominational university in the Wesleyan tradition, provides a university-level liberal arts “Education With a Christian Purpose” — preparing individuals for a life of service to God and humanity. We seek the strongest scholarship and deepest piety, and a Christian environment where not only knowledge but character is sought.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

To receive your full copy of Estate of Mind: Planning a Legacy of Hope, contact Walter “Woody” Webb, CFRE, director of planned and estate giving, at WWebb@Olivet.edu or 815-939-5228.

IMPACT THAT MATTERS:

THE ENDURING POWER OF FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS

Mindy Williamson

Each year, students who receive Foundation scholarships at Olivet Nazarene University are invited to reflect on how they’ve grown since arriving on campus. What they share is both powerful and beautifully consistent: Olivet is a place where transformation takes root. Spiritually. Academically. Personally. Relationally. In every corner of campus life, students are being shaped in ways that matter.

With 893 individual student responses, one theme rises above all the rest. Nearly 90% of students say their spiritual life has grown in meaningful ways. They talk about drawing closer to God, discovering a personal faith and being encouraged to live out Christian values in their daily lives. Chapel services, Bible studies and faith-infused classes often become turning points. For many, Olivet becomes more than a university; it becomes the place where their faith comes alive.

Now in her senior year, Aleithia Keltner confirms she has experienced that impact during her time at Olivet.

“I can look back confidently and say that I am more dependent on God, more aware of His work in my life and assured that He has a plan for my future, no matter where He takes me,” she says.

Right behind spiritual growth is a deep sense of community and belonging, mentioned by about 80% of students. They describe Olivet as a second home — a place where they feel welcomed, supported and genuinely known.

“My coaches always check up on me to make sure I’m doing well, and the students do too,” says Makoa Kupahu, a senior and member of Olivet’s football team. “The people around me constantly push me to be the best version of myself.”

The friendships students form and the relationships they build with professors, coaches and staff become anchors in their journey — particularly when hardships arise.

Makoa Kupahu Rachel Wooten

Aleithia Keltner

Jayden Charfauros

Academically, many students say they’ve been stretched and supported in ways that prepare them for their future careers.

College students encounter a range of experiences while living on campus, from difficult coursework to navigating roommate relationships to receiving hard news from home. Senior Levi Counterman dealt with unspeakable loss as a student but was bolstered by the community of support that he felt at Olivet.

“When I lost my father, I experienced firsthand the caring community of Olivet in the form of teachers, friends, students and faculty who all reached out to me with love and a willingness to help me in any way they could,” he says.

In story after story, students say the same thing: The people are what make Olivet special.

Growth in independence and maturity also stands out, with a significant number of students sharing how they’ve learned to manage responsibilities, make decisions and navigate life with greater confidence. For many, this is their first time living away from home, and they credit Olivet with helping them grow in ways that feel both challenging and encouraging.

Academically, many students say they’ve been stretched and supported in ways that prepare them for their future careers. They speak highly of professors who not only teach with excellence but mentor with heart, combining faith and learning and inspiring students to pursue their calling with purpose.

Social growth is another key component of the student experience. They talk about becoming more outgoing, overcoming shyness and learning how to build meaningful, lasting relationships. Whether through small groups, ministry teams, athletics or late-night conversations in the residence halls, campus life offers countless moments to connect, grow and belong.

Others reflect on the resilience and confidence they’ve gained through challenges. They describe facing academic pressures, personal struggles and spiritual questions and finding strength through the support of the Olivet community. They consistently point to the people around them as the ones who helped them persevere and trust God more deeply.

“The decision to attend Olivet has proven to be one of the best choices I’ve ever made for my personal growth,” senior Avery Chandler says.

Finally, a significant number share that they’ve discovered their calling and stepped into leadership and service. Through student organizations, ministry opportunities and hands-on experiences, they learn to lead with compassion in meaningful ways. The education they receive at Olivet, supported financially by sources like the Foundation scholarships, sets students up for big dreams and bright careers.

Nicholas Stratton is excited to pay things forward with a clear vision for his postgraduate plans.

“Ultimately, I want to graduate from law school and begin my career helping others, ensuring the equality and fairness of the law with a Christian emphasis,” the senior says.

For many students, the decrease of their college financial burden through the gift of scholarships simply brings a sense of peace to their future.

“Borrowing less helps reduce the amount of debt I will owe later and will make it easier to start my postcollege life,” senior Rachel Wooten says.

Taken together, these reflections and the statistics behind them paint a clear and hopeful picture. Foundation scholarships do far more than fund education. They spark growth that genuinely matters.

Mindy Williamson serves as the director of foundation and advancement engagement at Olivet Nazarene University. Read more about the other students pictured who have received scholarships at Olivet.edu

Nicholas Stratton

Levi Counterman

Brighton Kudej

Avery Chandler

Micah Sisk

Nadia Stevenson

RAVING FANS

BRUCE VOGEL ’62, D.O. GIVING BACK

Dr. Bruce Vogel ’62 understands the importance of never giving up and always giving back to others. From his humble beginnings as the oldest of five children born to a nurse and a salesman, he has found many reasons to give thanks to God along the way. One of those ways is by giving back to students at Olivet Nazarene University.

Since spring 2023, through a generous donation from Dr. Vogel, The Dr. Bruce Vogel MCAT course at Olivet has prepared premedical and predental students for their standardized entrance exams, also known as the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and the Dental Admission Test (DAT). Commercial preparatory classes for these exams usually cost a student $2,500 or more. Olivet now offers this class each year to students for no additional cost. Even books and practice exams are paid for.

“Olivet is thankful for this historic giving milestone,” says Walter “Woody” Webb, director of planned and estate giving. “Dr. Vogel is dedicated to making sure Olivet students succeed and is empowering them through this endowment gift. He has chosen to bless many students in this way for years to come. Olivet’s faculty, staff and students join our development team in thanking him for his generosity.”

In addition to this gift, Dr. Vogel inspires many with his career path and journey of faith. Here are a few highlights from his very interesting life.

A Challenging Start to Life

He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He almost died from a severe cut to a main artery in his left arm when he was 18 months old.

His family moved from Minneapolis to Ohio when he was 6 years old. He recalls watching families come and go from a Nazarene church across the road from

INSTEAD OF GIVING UP

their family home. His father gave him permission to attend Sunday school there. The pastor visited his family to tell them more about Jesus, and his father and mother soon accepted Christ. The Vogel family began attending church together.

His family moved to Michigan when he was 8 years old. By age 11, he was harvesting fruits and vegetables at a truck farm. At age 16, he got his driver’s license and began driving a fuel oil truck and installing furnaces for his father’s business. He worked four to six hours each day, in addition to attending high school.

God had so much more prepared for him.

And Then the Impossible Happened

As a teenager, while at church one day, he saw a flyer about Olivet Nazarene College in Bourbonnais, Illinois. He knew right away that he wanted to apply, but his father didn’t want him to go because he was so much help in the family business.

God did make it possible for him to attend Olivet, and he entered as a freshman in 1958.

“When I left Michigan for Olivet, all I had was $50,” he recalls. “I used $25 to buy a bicycle so I would have transportation.”

He got a job as a custodian for a company in Kankakee. He rode his bicycle to and from work, regardless of the weather. When his grades began to suffer because of his many hours at work, his friend Dale Reedy ’62 and Olivet faculty member Dr. David Jones took a special interest in him and his desire to become a physician. Dr. Jones helped him improve his grades and encouraged his dream. Dale made sure he got out of bed on time every morning and got the help he needed with his studies.

During his senior year at Olivet, he applied to Kansas City Orthopedic College (now the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Kansas City University). To his surprise, he was invited to come to Kansas City for an interview. At the time, he had only enough money for a round-trip flight and fare for a taxi. He spent the night in Kansas City’s Union Station, cleaned up and changed clothes in the bathroom, and went to the interview.

He did receive a letter of acceptance from the medical college. When he graduated from Olivet in 1962, the future looked bright indeed.

And Then Problems Happened

Before he could get to Kansas City for medical school, however, his father became ill. His four siblings were still living in the family home with his parents. So he sent a letter to the medical school, saying that he would be unable to attend because of financial concerns and his father’s illness.

The school responded, saying that they would hold a place for him.

He took a job in the chemistry department at General Motors in Toledo, Ohio. He was able to purchase a house where he and his family could live. Once again, he notified the medical school that he would be unable to attend. And once again, the school assured him that they were holding a place for him.

He continued supporting his family until his father was able to work again. By that time, he was making a good salary with General Motors and was expecting a promotion. For the third time, he told the medical school that he would be unable to attend. And for the third time, the school told him he still had a place there.

TIGERS ROAR

Olivet Nazarene University’s athletics program proudly boasts a commitment to “Winning Championships. Developing Champions.” This coming fall, there will be two more reasons to cheer. The University will add women’s flag football and men’s and women’s pickleball to the list of offered sports. For more information, visit ONUTigers.com.

STEM RULES

The Martin D. Walker School of STEM was established in 2015 and prepares men and women for careers in engineering, biological sciences, mathematics, geology and computer sciences. Nationally recognized as a Best Christian College for STEM studies, the Walker School stands committed to sending qualified graduates into the workforce across the globe.

WITH HONORS

Since 2011, the University Honors Program at Olivet Nazarene University has graduated 183 students, all of whom completed a capstone research project and thesis supervised by a faculty mentor in their respective disciplines. These significant undergraduate research experiences open the door for leadership opportunities in academia and industry.

Each cohort of around 30 academically gifted students kicks off the college experience at Olivet with a unique freshman Honors Program welcome weekend and then caps coursework with a cultural excursion to Chicago during the sophomore year. Students in the program participate in a sequence of team-taught, discussion-based classes during their freshman and sophomore years that satisfy four of Olivet’s core general education curriculum requirements. These courses explore what it means to be human and expose students to the Christian liberal arts tradition.

During their junior and senior years, students who continue in the program engage in a faculty-mentored capstone research project. The following capstone projects of the eight members of the 2026 graduating cohort represent a range of academic disciplines as well as potential practical applications of their work.

ShayLynn Baniszewski International Business Negative Externalities and Their Relation to Regenerative Farming in the U.S.

“My project examines the need for climate-friendly farming methods in commercial-level farms, using an economic lens to assess potential problems and solutions to these problems. Using the Coasé Theorem to understand the effect of policy intervention versus free-market shifts, my project looks for the best possible solutions going forward as we begin to integrate more regenerative farming methods. After graduating, I hope to pursue further education in economics abroad.”

Sadie Blaszczyk

Biology

Optimization and Validation of a LAMP Assay for Cost-Sustainable Detection of High-Risk HPV in Papua New Guinea

“Under the mentorship of Dr. Nicole Vander Schaaf, my project involves the development and validation of a low-cost cervical cancer screening test for high-risk human papilloma virus. Our aim is the ability to detect the two most cancer-causing strains of HPV in Papua New Guinea. This is a promising method to serve God’s people through diagnostics in low-resource settings globally. I feel very blessed to have sought the Lord in this work and called to continue cancer research in my career. I plan to attend graduate school for a Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biology after graduation.”

Jessica Gill

Electrical Engineering

Examining Sense of Belonging for Students of Color in STEM

“My honors project explores the sense of belonging among students of color in STEM by combining survey and interview data. Through this research, I aim to understand what factors help students feel connected and how a more inclusive environment in STEM fields can be fostered. After graduation, I plan to spend a few years gaining experience in electrical engineering before pursuing an MBA to prepare for leadership roles that bridge technology and business.”

Ava Gorman

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanically Designing a LowerLimb Robotic Exoskeleton With Bionic Applications Intended To Aid Those With Paraplegia To Control Their Lower-Limb Movement

“I have been digitally creating the mechanical design for an exoskeleton with the hope that it could help those with paraplegia to not only walk again but also regain other movements such as criss-crossapplesauce. I plan to be a design engineer and work in a design engineering firm to design solutions for other companies.”

Tyler Hall

Mechanical Engineering

Design of a Continuous Noninvasive Blood Glucometer Using Existing Technology

“Working with Dr. Jonathan Weber, we were able to take a large step forward in diabetes technology by prototyping a continuous, noninvasive blood sugar monitor for an affordable cost. We designed and tested a method for measuring and tracking glucose levels by using near-infrared light and properties of glucose in the interstitial fluid. We look forward to see where God will continue the research path. After graduation, I will work in project engineering with Milwaukee Tool.”

Jamie Graves

Early Childhood Education

Paving the Way to Walkability: A Meta-Analysis of Urban Planning Practices To Promote Active Transport and Practical Recommendations for Bourbonnais, Illinois

“I am identifying common themes among studies that evaluate urban planning practices related to increased walking and biking. I will then apply those themes to a real-world context by providing Bourbonnais with recommendations for urban planning practices that can be implemented to encourage walking and biking and discourage car usage. After graduation, I want to teach English abroad, preferably in an early childhood setting in Germany, and am considering a master’s in linguistics.”

Amy Johnson

Environmental Science

Organic Constituents of Bourbonnais Creek Watershed

“My project involved taking water samples from Bourbonnais Creek over an eight-month span and analyzing them for organic compounds. My data shows how humans have introduced various contaminants, such as plasticizers, into surface waters, with seasonal trends of pesticides also observed. I plan to pursue a job after graduation based on the opportunities that God provides. I am keeping an open mind and growing in trust in the Lord, as He has always continued to provide.”

Megan Mussard

Criminal Justice

Factors Influencing Police Officers’ Access to Mental Health Resources and Willingness To Seek Departmental Support

“Police officers are trained to intervene during times of crisis and emergency. Heightened awareness, high stress levels and poor coping mechanisms pave the way for negative outcomes when on duty. Shifting toward prevention and support allows officers to maintain [their] mental health while supporting our community’s safety and cohesion. This project aims to make a public call for action — which legislators and policymakers cannot ignore — a demand for preventative departmental mental health care for police officers.”

To be eligible for application to the Honors Program, students must meet at least one of the following qualifications: have an ACT score of 28 or an equivalent SAT score; graduate in the top 10 percent of their graduating class; or have an unweighted GPA of at least 3.75 on a 4.0 scale.

The culmination of students’ research is published in ELAIA: The Olivet Nazarene University Honors Journal. All volumes of ELAIA can be read online at issuu.com/Olivet

For more details about the Honors Program and application information, visit Olivet.edu/Honors

BOB GOFF UP CLOSE

The benefit of a thriving chapel series means Olivet Nazarene University students not only hear renowned speakers like author Bob Goff, but they also get to interact with them. Many speakers visit classes as guests and lead symposiums and panel discussions.

FIRESIDE EVENINGS

The newly reimagined Decker Quadrangle includes not only the Allen Plaza, with seating for study, chats and dining under a treescape, but also a massive fire feature. The nearly 30-foot-long stretch of Adirondack chairs and bench seating has become a favorite meeting point each evening.

SPORTS MANAGEMENT

Designed for coaches, athletes, graduate assistants, athletic directors and professionals looking to break into sports leadership, the fully online Master of Business Administration — Sport Management program is 36 credit hours and can be completed in as little as 12 months. Coursework covers sport finance and analytics, organizational leadership and global sport perspectives, with a Master of Organizational Leadership track also available for those who prefer a people-development focus.

ALUMNI THE CLASSES

“FRIENDS FOREVER”

1980L

“Friends Forever”

Friends who graduated from Olivet Nazarene University in 1980 get together once a year to laugh, cry, reminisce, pray for each other and enjoy meals.

The first picture above was taken in 1980 at ONU’s 1980 Commencement. The second picture was taken in October 2024.

From left to right: Julie (Hinkle) Ross ’80, LeeAnn (Ward) Schulze ’80, Cindy (Turner) Shumaker ’80, Sharlene (Hess) Neumann ’80.

2008L

Dawn Bates ’08 MAT recently wrote a piece for Joliet, Illinois-based The Times Weekly advocating for teaching coding at the elementary school level as a way to develop

critical-thinking and problem-solving skills in students. She is a second grade teacher leader at Woodland Elementary School in Joliet and a 2024–2025 Teach Plus Illinois Policy Fellow.

2010L

Jodi Hoskins ’10 MSN recently served on a task force created as part of a maternal health carefocused project for the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the University of Illinois Chicago’s Center for Research on Women and Gender. The task force created a toolkit to prepare emergency department staff for addressing the needs of pregnant and postpartum women, as more women are using emergency

departments for care in the face of labor units closing and hospitals cutting funding.

2016L

Natalie and Jeffery Glitz ’16 welcomed their first child, Merit Rose, in 2025. Natalie is a special education teacher at Scarborough Elementary School, and Jeff is the vice president at Applied Hand Dryer. The family resides in San Antonio, Texas.

2019L

Ayana (Hancock) ’24 and Hunter Treat were married on March 31, 2025. Hunter and Ayana live and work full time in Hot Springs, Arizona.

Submit your class note to OlivetEditors@Olivet.edu or online at Olivet.edu/class-notes.

HANCOCK

GLITZ

BATES

NOTABLE PASSINGS

ALUMNI

VIOLET (MILLER) LEEZER ’48

July 22, 1926–June 20, 2025

Saint Charles, Missouri

RUTH (CAILEY) STOVER ’48

May 6, 1926–Sept. 7, 2025 Celina, Ohio

BETTY JEAN (MCCORD) ODUM ’49

Nov. 27, 1927–Sept. 1, 2025 Anna, Illinois

JEWEL (BRITTON) OLIVER ’52

Sept. 9, 1930–Sept. 19, 2025 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

CALVIN JOHNSON ’53

Jan. 30, 1931–Oct. 9, 2025

Jacksonville, Illinois

CARROLL VOIGT ’53

June 23, 1931–Sept. 8, 2025 Indianapolis, Indiana

HARVEY GALLOWAY JR. ’55

Jan. 20, 1934–Aug. 3, 2025

Worthington, Ohio

NORMA JEAN (BLOCHBERGER) MILLS ’56

April 12, 1934–June 16, 2025

Las Vegas, Nevada

MARTHA (MCROBERTS) NICHOLS ’57

Aug. 9, 1935–July 26, 2024 Avon, Indiana

DAVID ANDERSON III ’57

Dec. 21, 1935–Feb. 20, 2024

Bakersfield, Missouri

CAROLYN (ECKLEY) LUNN ’57

Aug. 27, 1934–Oct. 29, 2025

Olathe, Kansas

DR. EARL E. VASTBINDER ’57

July 26, 1935–Nov. 17, 2025

Brentwood, Tennessee

REV. JANET (BEAN) BENTLEY ’58

Nov. 16, 1936–Sept. 4, 2025 Pickford, Michigan

PASTOR BARBARA CUMMINGS ’59

Nov. 30, 1937–Aug. 30, 2025 Chandler, Arizona

JANICE (FACEY) KRAUSS ’60

Dec. 28, 1935–Nov. 16, 2026

Spring Arbor, Michigan

MARILYN (TRIMBLE) SHEFFER ’60

Nov. 19, 1938–Oct. 17, 2025

Overland Park, Kansas

MAJ. DALE HIXENBAUGH ’84

Aug. 11, 1952–May 23, 2025

Loves Park, Illinois

REV. WILSON DEATON ’85

March 16, 1960–Feb. 4, 2025

Kenosha, Wisconsin

RICHARD “RICK” PETRUCHA ’85

Sept. 8, 1960–Oct. 15, 2025

Au Gres, Michigan

REV. EARNEST REVELL ’87

Sept. 21, 1956–July 28, 2024

Villa Grove, Illinois

KAREN (SCHNELL) NELSON ’97

May 21, 1975–June 27, 2025

Manteno, Illinois

SCOTT SHIPP ’98

Sept. 23, 1964–Sept. 28, 2025

Manteno, Illinois

JOSEPH PARNARAUSKIS ’01

March 15, 1954–Oct. 23, 2025

Westville, Illinois

NATALIE (EVANS) CLAUSE ’03

Sept. 26, 1980–March 2, 2025

Las Vegas, Nevada

Submit your class note to OlivetEditors@Olivet.edu or online at Olivet.edu/class-notes

REBECCA MADSEN ’03 MED

July 30, 1949–June 13, 2025

Wyanet, Illinois

TAMMY (CADLE) FARLOW ’05 MED

Nov. 12, 1964–Sept. 6, 2025

Wabash, Indiana

KATHERINE “KATIE” (STROH) BRZUCHOWSKI ’06

Sept. 26, 1983–June 2, 2025 Paxton, Illinois

GARY GRITTON ’06 MED

Feb. 6, 1976–Sept. 22, 2025

Danville, Illinois

MISTY (CHANEY) PAINTER ’09 MED

Jan. 16, 1975–Dec. 1, 2025

Riverton, Illinois

JULIE “CRICKET” BRETZMAN ’10

Feb. 17, 1965–Sept. 9, 2024

Bourbonnais, Illinois

MICHAEL MANN ’10

Jan. 10, 1954–Jan. 16, 2025 Champaign, Illinois

ALEXANDRA (SMITH) ASHBY ’13 MAT

Oct. 14, 1988–Nov. 14, 2025

Cape Coral, Florida

continued, next page

NOTABLE PASSINGS

STAFF

ANN ATKINSON

Graduate and Continuing Studies Office

Nov. 27, 1946–Nov. 10, 2025

Bourbonnais, Illinois

CHRISTINA “CHRIS” (WOLFE) FRANCOEUR ’90

Financial Aid

April 6, 1968–Nov. 17, 2025

Bourbonnais, Illinois

ESTHER MARLENE (RAISCH) KOCHERSPERGER ’64

Education Secretary

April 18, 1941–July 5, 2025

Spring Grove, Illinois

FRIENDS OF OLIVET

JERRY ABBITT

June 27, 1945–Aug. 21, 2025

Ellettsville, Indiana

KELSEY (ALDRICH) BAILEY

Aug. 15, 1990–Oct. 22, 2025

Xenia, Illinois

ZACHARY BAILEY

July 29, 1988–Oct. 22, 2025

Xenia, Illinois

JASON BROTHERS

Nov. 14, 1978–June 27, 2025

Carbondale, Illinois

WESLEY CADDELL

Aug. 6, 1935–Sept. 8, 2025

Kankakee, Illinois

BETTY MARIE (LEWIS) DONALDSON

Sept. 13, 1932–June 19, 2025

Nampa, Idaho

BONNIE (WELLS) HARTZMAN

May 16, 1933–Aug. 7, 2025

Cordova, Tennessee

THOMAS L. HICKE

Dec. 11, 1945–June 29, 2025 Ottawa, Illinois

RAYMOND E. JENKS

Oct. 30, 1934–April 18, 2025 Battle Creek, Michigan

JAMES KRUG

June 18, 1976–June 27, 2025

Coal City, Illinois

DR. MELVIN O’BANNON

Nov. 24, 1931–Feb. 5, 2025 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

DANIEL “DAN” PETRY

Jan. 3, 1937–Nov. 8, 2025

Kankakee, Illinois

TILLMAN E. SMITH

Oct. 3, 1940–Sept. 12, 2025

Greenfield, Indiana

ExtraordinaryDestinations. People. Exceptional

We’re offering an incredible collection of journeys that blend history, beauty, culture and Christian fellowship.

This spring getaway brings us to Nashville and the Smoky Mountains. Enjoy three nights exploring Nashville’s lively culture, with live music, historic landmarks and famous attractions. Then, head to Pigeon Forge for two nights of beautiful scenery and exciting entertainment. You’ll visit the Grand Ole Opry and The Hermitage and take a Nashville trolley tour. The trip also includes Dollywood, The Island and a lively dinner show, mixing history, music, laughter and great food.

Cost per person: $1,495 | Deposit: $250

Journey through Rome, Florence, Pisa and Assisi. Stand inside the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Gaze upon Michelangelo’s David and the Sistine Chapel, and wander ancient paths like the Appian Way and the Catacombs. Take in a Tuscan farmhouse lunch and cooking class, and experience the wonder of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Duomo. An optional Venice extension is also available. This tour is offered in partnership with Footstep Ministries.

Cost per person: $6,595 + airfare ($1,563 optional group flight)  | Deposit: $500  | Limited spots

PACK YOUR BAGS! We have a trip just for you.

Check out all of our trips at Olivet.edu/ TravelWithOlivet

Experience breathtaking landscapes, iconic cities, Biblical sites and inspiring spiritual moments.

Follow in the footsteps of the apostle Paul across Greece. Explore iconic sites such as Philippi, Berea, Corinth, the Acropolis and Mars Hill. Enjoy a four-day Aegean cruise featuring stops in Mykonos, Ephesus, Patmos, Rhodes, Crete and Santorini. This tour is offered in partnership with Footstep Ministries.

Cost per person: $5,995 + airfare ($1,833 optional group flight)  Deposit: $500  | Limited spots

Take in Seattle’s sights, including the Space Needle, Pike Place Market and Chihuly Garden & Glass before sailing across Puget Sound. Explore the landscapes of Mount Rainier, learn the story of Mount St. Helens and wander the streets of Astoria. Relax at Cannon Beach with views of Haystack Rock and colorful tide pools, then stop at Tillamook Creamery.

Cost per person: $3,690 + airfare ($365 optional group flight) | Deposit: $400

Walk Boston’s Freedom Trail and the city’s landmarks before heading to the grand Omni Mount Washington Resort. Drive along the Kancamagus Highway and take a fall foliage train ride. Continue into Vermont to explore the village of Stowe, the von Trapp Family Lodge, Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Ben & Jerry’s Factory and Simon Pearce Mill.

Cost per person: $3,540 + airfare ($387 optional group flight)  | Deposit: $400

REVIVAL IN OUR LAND

in”

God moved in a wonderful way in and around this series of services for a time of renewal, encouragement and spiritual breakthroughs.

Led by Rev. Jonathan Burkey ‘10/’12 M.A., pastor of Elm Street Church of the Nazarene in Lima, Ohio, revival at Olivet Nazarene University and College Church University Avenue was an “all

event.

AREAS OF STUDY

UNDERGRADUATE AREAS OF STUDY AND GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Art

Art – Studio Art

Art Education

Communication Studies

Corporate Communication

English

English as a Second Language

English as a Second Language

Education

English Education

Geography

History

Leadership Studies

Legal Studies

Literature

Multimedia Communication

Multimedia Communication –Film Studies

Multimedia Communication –

Journalism

Multimedia Communication –Live Event Media Management

Multimedia Communication –Radio/Audio Media

Multimedia Communication –TV/Video Production

Musical Theatre

Photography

Political Science

Political Science – Public Policy

Pre-Art Therapy

Pre-Law

Psychology

Public Relations &

Strategic Communication

Social Science Education

Sociology

Spanish

Spanish Education

Theatre Production & Performance

Writing

SCHOOL OF MUSIC

Commercial Music

Music

Music – Composition

Music Education

Music – Performance

Music – Recording Arts

Worship Arts

WALKER SCHOOL OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS

Actuarial Science

Biology

Chemistry

Chemistry – Biochemistry

Chemistry – Earth/Environmental Chemistry

Chemistry – Forensics

Computer Science –Networking & Data

Communications

Computer Science –

Software Development

Computer Science –

Software Entrepreneurship

Computing Technology

Cybersecurity

Data Science

Earth & Space Science

Engineering – Architectural

Engineering – Chemical & Biochemical

Engineering – Civil

Engineering – Computer

Engineering – Electrical

Engineering – Mechanical

Environmental Science

Geological Science

Geological Science –Geochemistry

Geological Science –Geotechnical

Geological Science – Life Science

Mathematics

Mathematics Education

Physical Sciences

Pre-Dental

Pre-Medicine

Pre-Optometry

Pre-Pharmacy

Pre-Physician’s Assistant

Pre-Veterinary

Science Education – Biology

Science Education – Chemistry

Science Education – Earth/Space Science

Zoology

COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice – Criminology

Criminal Justice –Law Enforcement

Health Education

Interior Design

Kinesiology

Kinesiology – Exercise Physiology

Kinesiology – Pre-Athletic Training

Kinesiology – Pre-Occupational Therapy

Kinesiology – Pre-Physical Therapy

Military Affairs

Military Science

Physical Education

Recreation & Sport Studies

Social Work

Sport Management

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Child Development

Early Childhood Education

Elementary Education

Special Education

Master of Arts in Education: Curriculum and Instruction

Master of Arts in Education:

Educational Leadership

Master of Arts in Education:

Reading Specialist

Doctor of Education:

Ethical Leadership

MCGRAW SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Accounting

Business – Human Resource

Management

Business – Management

Business – Operations

Management

Business – Philanthropy/Not-forProfit

Business – Public Administration

Business Administration

Economics

Economics & Finance –

Applied Economics

Economics & Finance –

Certified Financial Planning

Economics & Finance –

Corporate Finance

Entrepreneurship

Finance

International Business

Management

Management Information

Systems

Marketing

Marketing – Commercial

Graphics

Marketing – Corporate Relations

Marketing – International

Marketing – Management

Master of Business Administration

Master of Organizational Leadership

SCHOOL OF NURSING

Nursing

Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

Master of Science in Nursing: Education

Master of Science in Nursing: Transformational Leadership RN to BSN

SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AND CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

Biblical Languages

Biblical Studies

Children’s Ministry

Christian Education

Christian Ministry

Christian Studies

Greek

Hebrew

Intercultural Studies

Ministerial Missions

Pastoral Ministry

Philosophy

Philosophy & Religion

Pre-Seminary Theology

Youth Ministry

Master of Arts: Christian Ministry

Master of Arts: Family Ministry

Master of Arts: Ministerial Studies

Master of Arts:

Missional Multiplication

Master of Arts: Pastoral Leadership

Master of Arts: Pastoral Ministry

Master of Arts: Religion

Master of Arts: Urban Ministry

Master of Divinity

Master of Ministry

Master of Ministry: Spanish

AT A GLANCE

STUDENTS

More than 3,200 (2,500 undergraduates) from nearly every U.S. state, 25 countries and more than 35 religious denominations.

ALUMNI

Olivet Nazarene University has graduated many notable alumni who have given back to the University, the Olivet region, the Church and the world in so many ways. There are more than 40,000 living alumni making a worldwide impact.

ACADEMICS

Over 150 areas of undergraduate study and graduate degrees, including the Doctor of Education: Ethical Leadership, offered on campus and online through the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Professional Studies and the School of Theology and Christian Ministry. Study-abroad opportunities have included Australia, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, England, Egypt, Honduras, Romania, Japan, Uganda, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.

ACCREDITATION

Olivet Nazarene University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Specialized accreditation includes the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council on Social Work Education, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, the National Association of Schools of Music and the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. In addition, the Teacher Education program is recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education as an education preparation provider.

ATHLETICS

Home of the Tigers, Olivet Nazarene University fields 23 intercollegiate teams. Olivet provides competitive athletic awards and scholarships for qualifying candidates. Varsity teams for men include basketball, baseball, cheerleading, cross-country, football, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. Varsity teams for women include basketball, cheerleading, cross-country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. In addition to varsity sports, more than half the student body participate in Olivet’s thriving intramural and club sports programs.

COLLEGIATE IDENTITY

University Colors: Purple and gold Tagline and Motto: “Education With a Christian Purpose” and “We Believe. You Belong Here.”

Mascot: Toby the Tiger Religious Affiliation: Church of the Nazarene School Song: “Alma Mater, Olivet” by Byron Carmony ’39 University Seal: Symbol of truth and justice; containing the dove of peace, the cross, the lamp of learning and the Holy Bible

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

More than 90 clubs and organizations representing diverse interests, including a campus yearbook and literary magazine; Enactus business club; Student Philanthropy Council; ROTC; radio broadcasting (Shine.FM); numerous choral and instrumental ensembles (including ONU Marching Band and the University Orchestra); drama and musical theatre performances; intramural athletics; and community volunteer and spiritual life organizations.

MISSION

“We seek the strongest scholarship and the deepest piety, knowing that they are thoroughly compatible ... and a Christian environment where not only knowledge but character is sought.” — University Catalog, 1915

CAMPUS

Olivet Nazarene University has a beautiful, park-like campus featuring 35 major buildings on 275 acres. Located in the village of Bourbonnais, Illinois, just 45 miles south of Chicago’s Loop, the campus is situated on what was once tallgrass prairie. While not much of the original habitat remains, caretakers of the University have spent the past few decades intentionally planting trees native to the area as well as diversifying the flora. In 2022 Olivet joined the ranks of internationally accredited arboreta with a Level I Certification through the Morton Arboretum’s interactive community, ArbNet.

SPIRITUAL LIFE

This Christian community is committed to making worship of God the central focus of our lives. Our faith in Jesus Christ cannot be separated from the educational experience, and we seek to honor God in all we learn, say and do. Through chapel services, each segment of the University community has the opportunity to join with others in worship and receive instruction in the Word and encouragement to serve. Notable and world-renowned speakers regularly address the Olivet community during chapel.

ACCOLADES

Regularly among the Best Colleges in U.S. News rankings, Olivet Nazarene University has also been a top 10 Best Value School for multiple years and has earned special recognition for Social Mobility. In 2024 Olivet was named a Four-Star College by Money Magazine, and Forbes ranked the McGraw School of Business MBA No. 9 in the U.S. in the Best MBA Accelerated Online Programs category. A recognized College of Distinction for more than a dozen years, Olivet received special badges for the schools of Business, STEM, Education and Nursing. WalletHub also ranked Olivet in its top 10 list of Best Colleges & Universities in Illinois.