SNU Magazine | Spring 2024

YOUR WILL BE DONE STORIES OF SERVICE

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SNU MAGAZINE A PUBLICATION OF SOUTHERN NAZARENE UNIVERSITY SPRING 2024 PRESIDENT Dr. Keith Newman '94 VICE PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY RELATIONS Larry Morris ‘90 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS Todd Brant '94 ASSOCIATE VP FOR ADVANCEMENT Heather Fairbanks ENDOWMENT DEVELOPMENT & DONOR STEWARDSHIP MANAGER Vanette Bell DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT SERVICES Dustin Cornell ‘08 GRAPHIC DESIGNER Patrick Marston '08 PHOTOGRAPHY/DESIGN Todd Brant ‘94; Hannah Lindsly ‘25; Olivia Lindsly ‘21; Brisa Lopez '28; Carson Shirola ‘25; Randy Swanson ‘80; Hailee Thompson ‘21 CONTRIBUTORS Grace Eades ‘23; Dr. Kimberly Eades; Heather Fairbanks; Cyndi Lamb ‘74; Hannah Lindsly ‘25; Tollya Spindle ‘92; Randy Swanson ‘80; John Whitsett ‘80 TELEPHONE: 405-491-6312 WEBSITE: www.snu.edu/alumni EMAIL: alumni@snu.edu TO UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS www.snu.edu/update-your-information 405-491-6312 SHARE YOUR NEWS www.snu.edu/alumni/share-your-news REFER A STUDENT www.snu.edu/alumni/refer-a-student KEY NUMBERS Alumni Relations 405-491-6312 University Relations 405-491-6311 Trad. Undergrad Admissions 405-491-6324 Professional & Grad. Studies 405-491-6332 Campus Main Number 405-789-6400 SNU MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED

by Southern Nazarene University The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editors or the official policies of SNU. POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Office of Alumni Relations SNU 1899 MAGAZINE 6729 NW 39th Expressway Bethany, OK 73008

View all issues of SNU Magazine online at www.snu.edu/alumni

HERLINDA NAJERA-MARTINEZ Commercial Music Production, Junior Oklahoma City, OK

STORIES OF SERVICE

SPRING 2024

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10 / BEING THE CHURCH

President Newman on being a devoted follower of Jesus

12 / RESTORING HOPE TO OKC

NOT MY WILL, BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE

6 Serving Oklahoma Families in Need Deb Shropshire '93 fights for families in Oklahoma

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Scott Peterson '90 and OneWorld Health build hospitals and hope around the world

Rescue City Mission CEO Erin Goodin '01 helps provide dignity, respect, and the opportunity for a better life to the homeless of Oklahoma

14 / MAKING A MARK

Emma Dilbeck '25 & Sarah Dodd '25 find ways to be Live Last students

Campus Updates

18 / THE SCHOOL OF HARD WORK

What's new at SNU

26 / SERVING THROUGH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

20 Friendship, Faith, and Finding Your Calling How Class of '78 roomates, Jennifer Bergland and Susie Shellenberger, found their calling

J.R. ’82 and Susan Emrich know the importance of giving back

Carma Barlow '23 is building a STEM school in Northeast Oklahoma City

28 / A DIFFERENT CALLING Student, Camden Goff '24 Finds Ministry Through Storytelling

29 / HOW TRAGEDY LED TO SERVING Jeannie Gunter '89 refines her calling through tragedy

32 / ALUMNI NEWS & UPDATES SNU MAGAZINE | SPRING 2024 3

F ROM T H E P R E S ID E NT

NO T M Y W IL L , BU T

YOUR WILL BE DONE HOW DOES A HOMICIDE DETECTIVE with the Houston Police Department become a pastor in the Church of the Nazarene and then the 15th president of Southern Nazarene University? If I only had a nickel (maybe a dollar because of inflation) for every time that question has been asked of me. I love the question, and I take joy in telling the story because it is all about God. The short answer to the question is: “I kept saying yes.” Though my faith journey has not been a straight line or free of challenges and at times even some confusion, I have tried to stay open to the leading of the Spirit and respond, “not my will, but Your will be done, here on earth (here at SNU), as it is in heaven.”

Did I always get it right? Absolutely not, but God is faithful and gentle, and He keeps directing, sometimes redirecting, and looking for surrendered hearts

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and obedient individuals. As you read the pages of this edition of SNU 1899, I believe “Thy will be done” is a thread you will see repeatedly. I love how the Lord has led and continues to lead SNU graduates to serve across the globe and in strategic ways. Almost every week, I hear another powerful story of impact and influence by an SNU graduate who has chosen to live a life of surrender and service.

My friend, Dr. Wally Quanstrom, an SNU alum and Foundation Board member likes to say, “From here (SNU), you can go anywhere!” While it was true in his life (and his wife, Dr. Fay Quanstrom), it has been true in thousands more, and I know it will continue to be experienced by women and men who simply say yes to God.

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“FROM HERE, YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE!"

The longer story of how I came to SNU is found in the lives of countless individuals who loved me and led me along the way. Sunday School teachers who exhibited loads of patience, professors who taught and demonstrated their love of Jesus, pastors who inspired, encouraged, and even corrected me along the way, and friends and colleagues who invested in me and set examples for what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus. My desire is to keep saying yes to God and to serve a university with a mission that has never been more important. SNU is purposefully different, and may we always be faithful to our mission of making Christlike disciples through higher education. 

Dr. Keith Newman President SNU MAGAZINE | SPRING 2024 5

A DV O C AC Y

SERVING OKLAHOMA FAMILIES IN NEED

BY JO H N WH I T SE T T ' 8 0

Dr. Shropshire at a recent ribbon cutting of a new DHS office in Woodward.

IT’S A LONG WAY FROM A TOWN OF 1000 TO LEADERSHIP of a government agency with more than 6000 employees that serve a million people with an annual budget of $5 billion. That’s the journey of Deb Shropshire—Director of Oklahoma Human Services and graduate of Southern Nazarene University Class of 1993.

Growing up in a Nazarene pastor’s family, Deb came to SNU from Erick, Oklahoma to play basketball and major in pre-med.

Quickly realizing the competition was much stiffer at the college level, she hung up her Nikes after her freshman year and focused on her studies. “Doctors Judd, Finkenbinder, Young, and Heasley were incredible teachers and mentors,” says Deb. “They prepared me well for medical school.”

While learning about child abuse and neglect during one of her rotations, she found herself riding along with child welfare case workers, attending court hearings, and learning about the foster care system. “I fell in love with all of it,” says Deb. “I’d always thought I’d be an ER doc, but that experience pushed me headfirst towards pediatrics.” During residency that call became even clearer.

Dr. Shropshire speaking to state officials and fatherhood program experts on engaging and supporting fathers in the lives of children and family.

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Dr. Deborah (Keith) Shropshire ‘93

"...IT’S BEEN AMAZING AND FILLED WITH MIRACLES, SIMPLY BECAUSE I TOOK THAT NEXT STEP AT KEY MOMENTS." Upon graduation, she joined the medical faculty at OU Children’s Hospital while finding ways to work within the child welfare system—caring for kids in a foster care shelter, starting a clinic specifically for those kids and families, assisting case workers, and learning everything she could about how to influence systems. She went back to school, earning a Master’s Degree in Health Administration & Policy, and began to build relationships with key leaders in the government and non-profit sectors.

In 2014, the Director of Child Welfare asked her to come aboard as Deputy Director of Community Partnerships—a position she agreed to on the condition

she could remain active in the clinic.

Five years later, under a new administration, she was asked to assume the director’s position, never thinking her education on things like epidemics and infection control would come in handy a few months later when COVID hit. “The number of questions our team members, foster parents, biological families, and others had were endless,” she said.

On January 10, 2023, Governor Kevin Stitt appointed Deb to serve as the first female director of Oklahoma Human Services—the agency that not only oversees Child Welfare, but five additional divisions that provide services to children, families, the elderly, and people

with disabilities. A few months later, at his request, she joined the governor’s cabinet as Secretary of Human Services which added the responsibility to serve as an advisor and liaison between her team and several other agencies. “There’s lots to learn, lots to discern, and lots of opportunities for collaboration and influence,” says Deb. “My professors at SNU blended science and the spiritual with such grace. Being saturated in relationships where faith was a priority during my ‘becoming an adult’ years set the stage for me to hear God’s voice and call. I didn’t have a grand plan of where it might go. Each time there was a decision point, I only could see the next step. It’s been wilder, and harder, than I can imagine. But it’s been amazing and filled with miracles, simply because I took that next step at key moments.”

As to what keeps her going, Deb says, “I see a world where abuse and neglect don’t exist, where families are safe and strong, and where those that are vulnerable are valued and prized. The Lord’s Prayer says, ‘Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ That’s what motivates me every single day.” ⬛

Learn more about Deb's role at Oklahoma Human Services.

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CA M P U S N E W S

New in Athletics

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In 2023, SNU Athletics welcomed several new additions to its varsity sports. The new teams included STUNT, Bowling, and eSports.

STUNT

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The newest female sport at SNU, with 21 athletes, STUNT finished their inaugural season strong on March 2nd at Oklahoma Baptist University. STUNT incorporates skills derived from cheerleading and is played between two teams who execute skill-based routines in various categories - partner stunts, jumps & tumbling, pyramids & tosses, and team routines. SNU played in three tournaments that included a total of 11 games.

Coach Angela Hamilton is very excited to continue to grow the program, with hopes of expanding the team to 30 female athletes for the '24-'25 school year. Find out more about the STUNT program at www.snuathletics.com.

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BOWLING 2

In 2022, SNU announced the addition of competitive Bowling and play began in Fall 2023. Both the men’s and women’s teams took to the lanes for the first time on October 7-8 in Fort Worth, Texas, led by Coach Mark Jeffreys. The inaugural season was topped off with awards presented at the SWIBC Championship. SNU women’s player Sienna Stoner was the 2024 SWIBC Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year, while Connor Anderson earned 2024 Rookie of the Year. We’re looking forward to more exciting play this fall.

ESPORTS 3

2023 brought the start of eSports at Southern Nazarene University.

The team of seven players began their inaugural season with two wins in the Oklahoma Association of College eSports (OACE) and advanced to the semifinals of the OACE Spring season tournament. Last August, the eSports team announced its partnership with Bye Blue Light, an American-based company that makes blue light-blocking glasses. This partnership will prioritize the health of players by providing them with the premier glasses of collegiate eSports.

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FOOTBALL TEAM 4

Southern Nazarene Football had a highly successful 2023 season with the first winning season since joining Division II play. They closed out the regular season with a 6-5 record under coach Dustin Hada, his fourth season leading SNU. It was also the first time in school history that the Storm had appeared in a bowl game.

On December 2nd, Southern Nazarene traveled to Corsicana, Texas to take on the Hornets of Emporia State, a highly decorated football program out of the MIAA conference. Although the Storm fell to the Hornets (55-24), we celebrate the milestones accomplished by these students and coaches.

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Academic updates

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PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT

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In January of 2023, SNU received Candidate for Accreditation status and started the first cohort of PTA students. The program can be completed in 23 months and prepares students to sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam in order to become fully licensed Physical Therapist Assistants.

In order to begin the program, the entire third floor of the Sawyer Center was renovated to house the School of Rehabilitation and Sport Sciences. The new area provided needed classrooms, labs, and faculty offices. For more information on the program, go to pgs.snu.edu/pta.

KAIROS 6

SNU’s Kairos Scholars scholarship program recognizes academic excellence, rewards hard work and dedication, and opens doors for deserving students. This investment in future leaders benefits not only the scholars themselves but also their communities and the campus as a whole, fostering a vibrant and diverse student body while motivating others to strive for academic excellence. Prospective Scholars compete for one full-ride scholarship and three full-tuition scholarships, awarding them thousands of dollars.

The 2023 Kairos Scholars full-ride recipient, Joanna Zachariah, is from Yukon, Oklahoma. Her dream is to pursue a career in medicine and be a servant leader in her community. Along with Joanna, three Kairos Scholars Full-Tuition scholarships were awarded to Emma Burton, Danielle Coombes, and Evan Rader. Emma is from Bryan, Texas, and is pursuing a degree in graphic design. Danielle hails from Edmond, Oklahoma, and is studying to become a physical therapist.

Evan comes from Mustang, Oklahoma, and is pursuing a mechanical engineering career.

The Kairos Scholars Program reflects SNU’s commitment to academic excellence, access to education, and the development of future leaders.

Together, we are making Christlike disciples through higher education.

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Around Campus CHICK-FIL-A 8

This year marked a milestone for the SNU community as Chick-fil-A opened on campus. Chick-fil-A is part of on-campus and commuter meal plans but is also open to the Bethany community. It is located next to the Office of Student Life offices in the lower level of Webster Commons.

CRIMSON CORNER 9

Once students finish their meal at Chick-fil-A, they can step outside to enjoy the new Crimson Corner. This donor-funded community and recreational space was the dream of one of SNU’s alumni. Located on the northeast corner of campus, Crimson Corner offers a putting green, sand volleyball, pickleball, and tennis. There is also a firepit where students can relax and enjoy roasting marshmallows. Be sure to visit next time you’re on campus!

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NASA GRANT 7

In an effort to partner with and support under-researched institutions, NASA awarded $3.7 million to 11 institutions. SNU was privileged to receive one of the first 11 grants to be given. This was prompted by the work of Dr. Caio França who has worked with student researchers each summer. The teams of students collect and analyze research on the “Application of Remote Sensing for Predicting Mosquito-Borne Disease Outbreaks.” We are grateful for the partnership with NASA and particularly to the work of our students under Dr. França’s leadership.

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A DV O C A C Y

Scott and the team from OneWorld Health provide clinical outreach to a community that has no access.

BEING THE CHURCH C YNDI (BUR R OWS) L AMB '74

Volunteers serving at the Community Outreach Days in Uganda.

Dr. Scott Peterson ‘90 10

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AFTER SERVING 27 YEARS in local churches and in higher education, Scott Peterson ‘90 and his wife Katie decided that the time had come to move back to Oklahoma City. Scott accepted a position as Director of Major Gifts at Integris Hospital Foundation which allowed an immediate bonus: a return to the area where Katie grew up. They could not have known at the time how significant this decision would prove to be.

Scott had been at Integris for two years when a head-hunter and friend called with a proposal. Even though he was not looking to make a career change, he agreed to a meeting. Afterwards he told Katie, “I can’t think of a reason not to say yes to this opportunity.”

The opportunity was to become VP of Development for One World Health, a non-profit organization establishing clinics and hospitals in third-world countries. Three core values define it.

First, the work had to be sustainable.

Second, it had to be both accessible and affordable for the community. And

finally, all projects were to be built and staffed by locals.

“It was easy for me to get excited about an organization that empowers, equips and brings dignity to the people they serve.” He now travels 40 weeks of the year meeting with potential donors or taking them to the countries where OWH is present.

While Scott is not serving in a church, he has never felt more like he was being the church. “We’re a Christian organization, and we do the one thing we’re best at: medicine. We lean into local churches to provide spiritual support—pastors and leaders who will be there when we leave.”

Three years after joining One World, Scott was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer. He was shocked. Having started CrossFit months before, he had never been in better condition or felt better since college. One year later after 12 rounds of chemo (the first round almost killing him due to a rare allergic reaction), 30 days of radiation and five surgeries, he is cancer free. His doctor’s

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At the end of the day, Scott cleans dental tools used by dentists to extract teeth.

warning that ”treatment will bring you to the edge of death, but then it will bring you back” turned out to be prophetic.

As Scott reflects back over his “cancer” year, he says moving to OKC was one of the best decisions he and Katie ever made. They were surrounded by friends and family who showed up in every possible way from meals to mowing, accompanying him to doctor’s appointments or bringing the card game to his house when he was too weak to leave. It was an additional gift that both his father-in-law and brother-in-law are physicians. Paul Rothwell ‘69 and David Rothwell ‘93 connected him to the doctors he needed, interpreted the medical-speak, advised, encouraged and urged action when necessary.

“God was very present in the midst of it all from my morning moments of quiet to providing unbelievable timing in renewing our medical insurance. My new employer could not have been more gracious in giving me the time I needed to recover and allowing me to work from home. And my wife was a rock star!”

OneWorld Health worker provides care.

Following an arduous year, Scott’s health journey recently took another turn. On returning home from a trip, Scott had a massive stroke while in Atlanta, GA. Due to the quick response of a Delta flight attendant and airport staff, Scott was quickly taken to Grady Memorial hospital in Atlanta, a level 1 neuro trauma center and known as one of the best in the country.

After brain surgery to remove a large clot, the doctors were unsure about the damage that was done to Scott’s brain.

However, just one hour after the surgery, Scott called Katie and was speaking clearly. Both Scott and Katie believe this was nothing short of a miracle. As Katie shared, “I believe that God is with us in the hard times and helps us in our time of need. The miracle comes in the fact that Scott was right where he needed to be when the unthinkable happened. Had he had the stroke mid air, things probably would look much different today.”

Today Scott is doing well recovering at home and continues to serve out his calling to Be the Church. ⬛

"WE’RE A CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION, AND WE DO THE ONE THING WE’RE BEST AT: MEDICINE. "

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A DV O C AC Y

RESTORING HOPE TO OKC

BY JO HN WHI T SE T T '80

Erin Goodin ‘01

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IT’S NO SURPRISE THAT THE TENDERHEARTED FIFTH-GRADER who volunteered to assist students in her school’s special education class finds herself decades later the CEO of an organization that helps some of central Oklahoma’s most vulnerable find support and strength. Such is the journey of Erin Goodin, 2001 SNU graduate and President/CEO of City Rescue Mission in Oklahoma City.

Erin grew up in Moore, Oklahoma in a home that had some challenges largely because of her father’s alcoholism. Her parents divorced when she was in sixth grade and, while her mother worked tirelessly to provide stability for her and her sister, her extended family was an invaluable source of support and guidance. However, scars and wounds still remained, which resulted in a season of uncertainty once she graduated from high school. After a decade of wandering, she knew deep down inside that she needed to prioritize her education. That’s when she found herself at SNU. “SNU wasn't just a college for me. It was a turning point in my life's journey,” says Erin. “After some educational setbacks, I wasn't sure if I'd ever get back on track. But SNU believed in second chances and welcomed me with open arms. They didn't just see me as another student; their genuine care and encouragement gave me the confidence to believe in myself again.

The teachers weren't just educators; they were role models.

Their passion for their subject matter and dedication to their students inspired me to strive for excellence in everything I did. Balancing full-time work and school was difficult, but they provided me the support and tools I needed to succeed.”

As to why she chose SNU, Erin says, “My faith played a central role in my decision. Their focus on servant leadership really resonated with me, making it the logical choice. Looking back, I'm grateful for the journey and the lessons learned.”

In 2010, after having been a stay-at-home mom for three years following the birth of her fourth child, Erin got a phone call from a friend who asked if she’d entertain the possibility of returning to the workforce. Not ready to do so but not comfortable in shutting the process down without at least

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investigating the opportunity, Erin decided to explore a position her friend insisted would “be perfect” for her. “I figured I could always say ‘No’,” she said.

She interviewed for the CFO position at City Rescue Mission and was hired.

In 2018 when the then-CEO retired, Erin stepped into that role on an interim basis while continuing to serve as CFO. She told the board she was willing to help but was quite content in her current role and had no interest in the permanent position. However as the search process continued, the Lord began to stir in her heart. After a few months, she opened herself up to the possibility in spite of feeling completely out of her comfort zone.

City Rescue Mission launched in 1962 by a group of business leaders in downtown Oklahoma City who decided they needed a shelter to serve individuals experiencing homelessness. What began as an embryonic 27-bed operation has morphed into an organization that serves 300-400 clients a night - 100 single men, 100 single women, and approximately 40 families with almost 100 children. That equates to 135,000

Erin and the intake staff assign a room for a desperate single mom and her brand-new infant who just lost their housing.

“OUR MISSION ISN'T JUST A JOB, IT'S A CALLING TO SERVE WITH COMPASSION AND EMPATHY."

pounds of produce, 25,000 pounds of meat, 35,000 rolls of toilet paper, over 100,000 loads of laundry and 850 gallons of laundry soap per year.

“We’re driven by a passionate commitment to end homelessness and restore hope in our community,” says Erin. “Our mission isn't just a job, it's a calling to serve with compassion and empathy.

We believe everyone deserves dignity, respect, and the opportunity for a better life. Through our services and programs, we offer not just shelter, but a pathway to stability and self-sufficiency. As President and CEO, I strive to foster an environment where everyone can thrive.”

Erin’s faith has played a significant role in her undertaking this role. As she states, “When God called me into my current role, I found myself focusing on my perceived inadequacies rather than recognizing the unique gifts and abilities He’d already blessed me with. As I began to listen and surrender to His will, I witnessed how He equipped me with the necessary skills and strength to lead.

I've come to realize His presence and guidance have been constant companions throughout this journey. He’s taught me the profound lesson of trusting in His timing and plan.”

Because Erin leaned into and trusted in God’s plan, many people are experiencing a changed life and discovering a brighter future. It is truly an example of what can happen when we say, “Thy will be done.” ⬛

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LIVE LAST: FINDING WAYS TO SERVE

Sarah Dodd

Emma Dilbeck

BY G R ACE E AD E S ' 2 3

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THE “LIVE LAST” AWARD IS A YEARLY AWARD given to an SNU student who has dedicated a significant amount of their time and energy towards serving others. Two of these recipients, Emma Dilbeck and Sarah Dodd, reflect on what living last means to them.

“I never planned on coming to SNU,” admitted Emma. “I was actually set to go to OU and to be in their ROTC program.” However, after some medical issues, she was disqualified for military service. “I kept getting mail from SNU, and finally one day I was like, ‘Fine. I’ll just go on a campus visit.’ So I came to visit, and when I walked on campus, they knew my name.”

"I THINK VOLUNTEERING AND SERVING SHOULD BE OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF YOUR HEART."

Emma (in yellow shirt) volunteering at Bethany Children Health Center during COVID-19 pandemic.

After enrolling at SNU, Emma quickly submerged herself into the culture of living last, which earned her the Live Last award in the second semester of her freshman year.

“When I received the award, I was volunteering at the Bethany Children’s Health Center in the complex care unit throughout COVID,” said Emma.

“These patients have very complex medical needs.

Many of them are hooked up to lots of machines.”

While serving with Bethany Children’s Health Center, Emma took great measures toward ensuring that patients were as comfortable as possible and did her best to reassure children in a time when their contact was limited.

“I think volunteering and serving should be out of the goodness of your heart. [The award] makes me feel like this is something good, something important, something to continue.”

And continue she has. Emma serves across campus in a variety of capacities, all while continuing to pursue volunteer work in the greater Oklahoma City community. She hopes to enroll in the new Physicians Assistant program at SNU which will allow her to continue to serve.

Emma in PPE at the Bethany Children’s Health Center.

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Sarah visiting the Monastery in Petra, Jordan.

“I plan to work with underserved communities and volunteer. There are a lot of gaps in healthcare that need to be bridged, and if I can be part of that, I’ll feel like I’ve done something good with my life.”

Sarah received the Live Last award just one year after Emma. The junior history and theology student immediately set her sights on researching issues of equity and ageism in healthcare. That led to her founding a program on campus that connects SNU students with Southern Plaza, a retirement home in Bethany.

“During my freshman year, my research was actually on ageism and physician assisted suicide in the state of Oregon,” explained Sarah.

“As I was doing that, I saw more and more, not just how relationships with people 30-60 years older than me had been impactful in my life, but how detrimental it is for both older and younger generations when there isn’t a lot of inter-group contact. I really wanted to see that change, but I didn’t know how.”

After hearing about Southern Plaza from Dr. Doug Forsberg in her Christian Faith and Life class, she presented her desire to see a program connecting retired seniors with college students.

“Next thing I know, it’s not that he’s starting a program, he’s announcing to the class that I’m starting a program and he’s putting me in contact with the activities director over there,” Sarah recounted.

So, she put that vision into action, creating a program that allows SNU students to earn Christian Formation credit by spending time with senior adults at Southern Plaza on Sunday nights. “The idea is that we’re building relationships that are beneficial to both groups.”

Little did Sarah know how influential her work with Southern Plaza would be for her going forward. It was this program that earned Sarah the Live Last award in spring of 2023.

“One day I got an email that I’d been chosen to receive an award. That was huge news for me, as at that time I was hoping to study abroad, but I wasn’t sure how the finances would work out.” Receiving the award enabled her to study abroad in Jordan and that experience would shape the course of her education going forward.

“After studying in Jordan, after visiting Israel and Palestine, after traveling to Istanbul… my senior thesis is going to be on a subtopic of genocide,” Sarah explained. “I was there at the start of a new round of violence, a new war.”

Being there firsthand, her eyes were opened to the issues faced in the Middle East. Coming back home, she had a new passion to become an expert on these issues.

Today, Emma and Sarah are close friends because of the shared experience of receiving the Live Last award. Their hearts for service inspire one another to make impactful changes in their communities for the better. ⬛

"THE AWARD ALLOWED ME TO STUDY ABROAD IN JORDAN."

Learn more at www.snu.edu/snu-life/spiritual-life/livelast-service-program 16

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THE SCHOOL OF HARD WORK J.R. ’82 AND SUSAN EMRICH

BY HE AT H ER FAIRB AN K S J.R. EMRICH KNEW THAT IF HE WANTED TO GO to Bethany Nazarene College, now SNU, he’d have to work for it. “My sophomore year, I started a roofing business: I’d go to classes in the morning, then leave and work in the afternoons. That’s how I paid for school. I had planned that I would go into some kind of business after college, never knowing that I would stay in the roofing business for 44 years.”

J.R. practically grew up on campus. His father, Bob Emrich, was a Nazarene pastor whose day job was as a janitor in Bresee, while his mother, June, served students as the financial aid director. “The college campus was my playground. I learned to swim in the Broadhurst Gym when I was six years old. I rode my bicycle down every sidewalk on campus. I explored every building.”

From the time he was a child, J.R. was a hard worker. He got his first job at age 10, had a paper

“ Do not fear failure.

Failure is not final.”

route at 12, and took on a regular job at EMCO Building Supply at just 15.

“By 1970, I was hanging around Bresee Hall so much that Harper Cole offered me my first job, to go around the campus and pick up trash. He paid me 25 cents an hour, and I was limited to 10 hours a week. On Fridays, I would go to his office and he would pay me $2.50 out of his pocket.”

When J.R. and Susan, also the child of a minister, met in his junior year of college, they knew exactly the kind of person they wanted for a spouse. As she put it, “when we met, we had both already been through so much life.” They were introduced in the fall, J.R. proposed via a Valentine’s Day newspaper ad, and they married the next May! With a bustling business to run and a family to support, the couple stayed close to the Bethany area, diligently building their life together.

Susan and J.R. ’82 Emrich 18

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Now, after more than four decades of marriage, all the hard work has paid off. J.R.’s company, Reroof America Contractors, is thriving, and Susan found her creative outlet over the years through several small businesses and projects. Both volunteer their time, from SNU’s Board of Trustees and Foundation Board to their local church and the Salvation Army. J.R. also serves as the chair of a committee that oversees licensing for roofing companies throughout Oklahoma.

After forty-plus years in business, they have a straight-forward message for SNU students: “Don’t give up,” says Susan.

“Do not fear failure. Failure is not final,” agrees J.R. “Failure helps you become stronger, helps you become smarter, and helps you become better prepared for the next go-round. I learned a long time ago: good times don’t always last forever, but neither do the bad times.”

When asked “what does Character – Culture – Christ mean to you,” J.R. had a quick answer. “The phrases refining Character, creating Culture, serving Christ – those are instilled in you while you are attending SNU. Those values stick with you as you go through life. It’s a foundation that students can build on.” Susan confirms: “Character, Culture, Christ is what life is all about.”

As faithful donors to SNU for over two decades, it’s not surprising that the Emrichs’ natural perseverance carries through to how they invest in SNU students. “I’m all for it. I’ve always been about giving,” Susan says. “Once we get involved, we stay involved,” says J.R. But what really compels them to give? The students.

J.R. shares plainly: “The main thing, what I love the most, is hearing the stories and testimonies of the students of how SNU has impacted their life, how their life has changed since they’ve been here, and how they’re looking forward to the future.

“That’s what motivates me to continue to give year after year.

My giving is just small investments in the lives of people who are telling those stories and giving those testimonies.”

Join J.R. and Susan and invest in the Character – Culture – Christ testimonies of SNU students with your SNU Fund gift today! The SNU Fund provides crucial need and merit-based scholarships to SNU students. Also called "the annual fund," these gifts from alumni, parents, and friends cover student expenses in the year they are given. Monthly automatic giving is an easy way to have a powerful impact and provide steady, dependable support for students. Visit www.snu.edu/give to make your gift today. ⬛

Student Spotlight Lily Rhodes ’24 “As I get closer to graduation, I am becoming more and more excited about my future as a registered nurse. SNU has taught me so much about servanthood, and I will always cherish the things I’ve learned both inside and outside of the classroom. I love this school, and I hope to leave a lasting impact here on campus. One of the reasons I am able to do so is because of you.”

www.snu.edu/give

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M I N IS T RY

1977 HeartPal Court From left to right: Susie Shellenberger, Jennifer (Green) Bergland, Jan (Grant) Devilling, Teresa (Demetre) Van Zant, Rena (Burkhart) Nance.

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FRIENDSHIP, FAITH, AND FINDING YOUR CALLING

BY R ANDY SWANSO N '80

IT WAS 1974 and incoming freshmen were excited about unpacking suitcases and settling into their dorm rooms. Jennifer Green had just lost her anticipated roommate. Although finding a friend to room with would have been easy, she decided to stretch herself and room with someone new. As God’s providence would have it, Jennifer’s sister Stephane ‘74 had married Kent Shellenberger ’75 whose sister, Susie, was also enrolling that fall. Both were aware of their siblings’ roommate quandaries and introduced the two.

“I didn’t even know her, and I said, ‘Sure…why not?’ It was potluck.” Jennifer deadpanned. They first met at the wedding rehearsal and bonded over pink cookies and “hit it off immediately,” Jennifer noted. “We’ve been best friends ever since,” Susie added.

In June of 1974 at the Nazarene World Youth Conference in Fiesch, Switzerland, Susie experienced a profound awakening when Nazarene General Superintendent Dr. Edward Lawlor challenged the hundreds of teen-aged attendees to not “go home with just memories of a beautiful country, go home mastered with God’s vision for your life.” That gripped Susie’s heart, and her prayer was, “Lord, I want to know what your vision is for me.”

This experience affirmed God’s calling to Susie to communicate His truth through speaking and writing. But this was the mid-70s, and there weren’t a lot of Christian female speakers in the spotlight. There were a few, however, and when Susie heard the legendary Ann Kiemel, she knew she had found her role model.

After graduation, the pastor of Conway (AR) Church of the Nazarene took a chance on this dynamic young woman, and Susie’s ministry career was launched. That was followed by youth positions in Colorado, Texas, and her home church, Bethany First Nazarene.

She was later hired by Focus on the Family to create a magazine for teen girls, and Brio was born. Susie spent the next twenty years writing and editing for the magazine and leading readers on yearly missions’ trips. However, when Focus restructured and ended Brio, Susie spent the ensuing years traveling, speaking and writing books.

“God led me to do something I didn’t know how to do in every phase of my life,” Susie says. “Jesus’ response was always, ‘It’s OK that you don’t know how to do this because I do, and I’ll teach you.’”

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Rev. Dr. Susie Shellenberger ‘78

“IT MADE ME COMPLETELY FALL IN LOVE WITH GOD’S WORD, UNLIKE ANY OTHER TIME.” Learn more about Lake View Park Church of the Nazarene - lakeviewpark.org 22

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MEANWHILE IN TEXAS Jennifer, who grew up in small churches in Texas, says she always wanted to be in full time Christian service, “but I had no idea what that looked like,” she recalls. “I never imagined it would be as a pastor. I loved being at church,” she continues. “Anytime the doors were open, we were there.”

She thought she’d be a pastor’s wife; however, in 1979, Jennifer married Dick Bergland, a football coach like her dad, and a life of lay ministry was launched. She lived out her ministry calling in various roles serving in missions, youth, drama ministry, Sunday school, and as a Bible study teacher.

Jennifer was “a faithful layman, and was very happy doing that.”

In 2003, Jennifer started a very serious Bible study, and it changed her life profoundly. “It made me completely fall in love with God’s Word, unlike any other time.” This educator of 44 years realized she was being called in another direction. Jennifer earned a master’s in biblical studies, to be a better Bible teacher.

About that time, Jennifer’s pastor and mentor, Joe Ibanez—as well as Susie—urged her to pursue ordination. “I laughed,” Jennifer says, “then like Sarah from the Old Testament, I questioned, ‘Aren’t I too old?’ ” Pastor Ibanez, however, dissuaded her of that notion. At that point, Jennifer thought she’d simply serve on staff at her local church.

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Rev. Jennifer (Green) Bergland ‘78

TRANSITIONS Things were changing for Susie as well.

After years of itinerant evangelism, Susie was called to the senior pastor position at Lake View Park Church of the Nazarene in Oklahoma City, just a few miles from where she grew up and first experienced the call to ministry.

Susie laughs when recounting what the Lake View Park leaders were looking for when she interviewed. They wanted a young male married with children and experienced in pastoral ministry.

In what could be called divine intervention, the church board set aside their preconceived notions, voted to extend the call to Susie, and the church body followed suit.

“I’m in my third year, and I’m having the time of my life,” she proclaims.

At Susie’s encouragement, Jennifer was put into the mix of church openings in the OKC area, and shortly after her ordination, accepted the call to Metroplex Nazarene in far northwest Oklahoma City. Now, these two college roommates, and forever friends, are loving and being

loved by two dynamic and growing congregations, who followed God’s leading, just as their pastors did.

“What God did was qualify the call,” Susie says. “He didn’t choose two qualified people but wove the threads of our life experiences together to qualify these two that He has called.” “We’re just walking in obedience,” Jennifer concludes. ⬛

Learn more about Metroplex Church of the Nazarene - metronazokc.org SNU MAGAZINE | SPRING 2024 23

www.snu.edu/sims

Complete your NEXT degree at SNU, online or in person, and graduate in as little as 18 months! Scan to Apply

pgs.snu.edu 1- 888-SNU-GRAD

M.A. Administration of Special Education M.S. Counseling Psychology M.A. Applied Psychology M.A. Educational Leadership M.A. Organizational Leadership M.A. Sports Management & Administration MBA MBA Healthcare M.A. Teaching M.S. Exercise Science M. S. Physician Assistant Studies M.S. Instructional Design & Technology M.S. Management Doctor of Education in Administration & Leadership

E D U C AT I O N

SERVING THROUGH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

BY G R ACE E AD E S ' 2 3

BORN IN OKLAHOMA AND HAVING GROWN up in the Oklahoma City public school system, Dr. Carma Barlow '23 was fortunate enough to have an incredibly rich experience with education, in spite of socioeconomic and systemic obstacles she faced. Looking back, this ignited much of her passion for accessible education that would shape and define her career moving forward.

Carma graduated from Oklahoma Christian University, pursuing a degree in English Writing.

However, following her graduation she struggled with what she wanted to do next. These were the

circumstances under which she decided to sign up for Teach For America, a nonprofit organization that trains and places teachers in underprivileged communities in order to combat educational inequity. Carma was sent to Houston, where she discovered just how life changing the program was, not only for the students, but for her own life as well.

“In those two years that I committed to Teach For America, I really fell in love with teaching,” said Carma. “It was the first time that I was aware of gaps in education for underserved communities and students.”

Carma spent six years teaching at schools in Houston, Texas, before returning to Oklahoma in order to start a family with her husband. However, her passion for educational equity never waned. She began to work on staff at Teach For America, helping to open a branch in Oklahoma City. She did this for five years before recognizing that she longed to be back in a school environment.

At that point, Carma worked to open an elementary school for the Santa Fe South charter in Oklahoma City. She stayed there for eight years, but seeing its success, realized her desire to shift focus.

“The things that were happening in the school that I was in and the district that I was in with Santa Fe South were really good. We were getting really strong outcomes for students, and I just kept thinking that someone should be doing this in my neighborhood.”

Students and parents experience a typical RISE lesson during a STEAM night at the library.

Learn more at risesteamacadmey.weebly.com

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"I HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AND EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE GOOD THAT CAN COME..."

Dr. Carma Barlow '23

With a career so focused on education, Carma considered pursuing her own advanced degree. An email advertising SNU’s Doctorate in Education Administration and Leadership program finally prompted her to take the next step to enroll, and she graduated with her doctorate in 2023.

“The thing that I really appreciated about my experience at SNU is, obviously, getting to study all of the things in education that I geek out on. But getting to think about those things through a Christian lens was especially refreshing for me. It helped me think through how I’m approaching my work, and where my identities are intersecting, and how those things play out in my work a lot. And so I think it gave me another

perspective that really aligned to my own values in ways that also allowed me professional growth.”

When reflecting on the way God’s will has been done in her life and how faith has played a role in her journey, Carma stated that faith is absolutely everything.

“Faith has allowed me to make it to this point. Faith is what has fueled me in getting through the SNU program, and in getting to this point. I started the SNU program two months after my mom had died, and so it was a really hard time for me. I think faith is what brought me through that time, and the faith that my cohort members had also carried me through that time, as I was also able to lean on their faith as well.”

After graduating from SNU’s Educational Leadership program, Carma has continued her educational work. She is currently working to open a science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (or STEAM) focused elementary school called RISE STEAM Academy in Northeast Oklahoma City.

“We recently have been approved for sponsorship with Oklahoma City public schools, so we are working to secure facilities and funding so that we can open in the fall of 2025. She stated that she is looking forward to “the partnerships I’m able to develop for RISE STEAM Academy through my connections with SNU. I have a lot of faith in those partnerships and excitement about the good that can come from that.” ⬛

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A DIFFERENT CALLING: FINDING MINISTRY THROUGH STORYTELLING

BY DR . K IMBERLY E ADE S

Camden Goff ‘24

CAMDEN GOFF GREW UP IN BENTONVILLE, Arkansas. Although his parents were never able to attend college, they worked hard to make sure that their children could have the opportunity. Because of their encouragement and support, today Camden is a senior Pastoral Ministry and Commercial Music Productions major who will graduate this May and is following the passion and ministry God has called him to.

Growing up in the Bentonville Community Church, Camden heard a lot about Southern Nazarene University. His youth group attended Extravaganza each year, and there were several SNU graduates who attended his church. He shared, “Pastors and people in the church who attended SNU displayed the feel and mission of the school well and made it more of a reality to attend.” However, they were not the only ones to influence his choice to come to SNU. His brother, Preston, was also influential.

“Preston came to SNU after feeling a call to ministry. He also was involved in the ministry intern department and graduated with degrees in Pastoral Ministry and Spanish in 2014. Seeing the path that my brother took had a huge impact on me. It showed me that furthering my education was not only an option but a very viable one at that!

Seeing how much Preston enjoyed his time with intern churches, serving as a

campus leader, and finding friends to go through college with at SNU, choosing to attend here was very appealing.”

It also helped that the ministry program was one that he was familiar with, and that the professors cared about all aspects of the student’s life, both personally and academically.

“Without my professors and SNU staff, I would not have been pushed to change my major during my freshman year or join the ministerial intern program at the start of my sophomore year. The staff who have invested in me through conversations in and outside of the class made a huge impact in how I have discerned my calling and how I know it fits into the church today.”

Taking part in the ministry internship program gave him many opportunities he otherwise may not have had. In January, he began working at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene as the Digital Media Developer. This position allowed him to use his passion of storytelling to minister in a different way.

As he shared, “This role incorporates a lot of storytelling in visually creative ways. My passion is fueled by this… as I tell the story of God through the ways that He is working through communities in the local church. I get to meet with people and hear the ways that their lives have been changed because of the grace and love of God!” Looking back at his college experience, Camden believes that much of his growth was because of the community surrounding him. He spent two years on Remedy, the worship band which travels to churches, camps and traveled to Nazarene Youth Conference this past July. He recalls, “Those two years gave me a lot of memories, experience, and friends that I take with me leaving SNU.” Sharing life with the community at SNU has left a mark on him. As he shared, “I wouldn’t have been able to grow as much as I have if it weren’t for the people who I was growing with!” ⬛

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H E A LT H C A R E

THE JOURNEY TO SERVING

BY C YN D I (BURR OWS) L AMB ' 74

LIFE EXPERIENCES OFTEN SHAPE WHO WE are and who we become. For Jeannie Halsey Gunter ‘89, this couldn’t be more true. Enrolling at Southern Nazarene University in the fall of 1985, the young girl from Anadarko, Oklahoma arrived on campus knowing no one. Jeannie shared, “My first semester was a rocky time for me, yet it eventually led me into my future.”

When Jeannie left home that fall, her stepdad, the man who had raised her, had re-entered alcohol rehab for the third time. Then two days before Thanksgiving, her mom arrived unexpectedly on campus to drive her back home as her biological dad had been diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer.

He died three months later. While she acknowledges the turbulent start to her college experience, Jeannie also remembers with gratitude the love and support she felt from her RA, fellow Chorale members, and professors, especially Dr. Rex Tullis.

Like many students, Jeannie struggled to decide on a major. Her main interests were music, nursing, and early childhood education. She felt drawn to nursing, yet most of the classes were in the afternoon. That posed a problem since Jeannie knew she had to find a job. Because of that, she made the decision to pursue early childhood education.

Jeannie Gunter ‘89

“MY FIRST SEMESTER WAS A ROCKY TIME FOR ME, YET IT EVENTUALLY LED ME INTO MY FUTURE.” SNU MAGAZINE | SPRING 2024 29

...SHE ALSO MADE IT HER GOAL TO DISPENSE INFORMATION, WARMTH AND ENCOURAGEMENT...

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At the end of her sophomore year, Jeannie married Michael Gunter ‘85, and the couple moved to Stillwater so her new husband could finish his engineering degree at OSU. His first job took them to Atlanta. During this time, the desire to go into nursing only increased for Jeannie, and she continued to acquire her prerequisites. Two years later, they returned to Oklahoma City, and she entered the nursing program at SNU coming full circle.

Following her graduation, Jeannie went to work at Mercy Hospital in oncology. She had never forgotten her experience as an 18-year-old trying to make sense of her father’s illness. “I had so many questions back then. No one talked to me about what was going on with his cancer. It was such a confusing time. I think it [was] watching my dad die and having no one to explain what was happening that solidified my decision to be a nurse.”

For the next 18 years, along with raising a family, Jeannie worked part-time on the cancer floor. Every day, part of her job was to dispense medication.

However, she also made it her goal to dispense information, warmth and encouragement, things she had never received when dealing with her father’s diagnosis.

In 2008, in a stunning turn of events, Jeannie’s husband was diagnosed with stage IV kidney cancer. As his health declined and he could no longer work, Jeannie moved into full-time nursing.

Although a difficult time, this experience took her abilities to connect with patients to a new level, allowing her to share a unique perspective with them - as a cancer-patient caregiver.

Today, Jeannie is a lead nurse at Mercy Coletta Cancer Center in Oklahoma City and helps shepherd younger nurses, passing on her experience, wisdom and compassion to the next generation.

While Jeannie believes she received a superior education at SNU, she also believes she received a greater gift, a commission. “There are many places you can learn to start an IV or drop an NG tube, but it takes a special place to instill in you the idea to approach your work as a mission.” This is a mission Jeannie carries out each and every day. ⬛

WWW.SNU.EDU/ALUMNI

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SAVE THE DATE • NOVEMBER 8-9 DON'T MISS Academic Open Houses Crimson Storm Basketball Games

SNU Musical Reunions Tailgating

Football Game Main Event & Alumni Awards

Special Recognition of the 60th Anniversary of Intercollegiate Sports Celebration of 125 Years for SNU! Acknowledgement of the two Women’s Basketball National Title Teams of 1994 & 2004

C LAS S R E U N I O N S 1974(50th), 1984(40th), 1994(30th), 1999(25th), 2004(20th), 2014(10th), 2019(5th) LEARN MORE

W W W. S N U . E D U / H O M E C O M I N G

AL UM N I N E W S & U P DATES

PROFESSIONAL UPDATES

CANDACE KADE’s (’12) YA sci-fi novel, Enhanced, was published on March 14th, 2023 with Enclave Publishing. Her newest book, Hybrid, was released this month.

JUSTIN KENDRICK (’04) (Pictured fifth from left) - Interfaith of The Woodlands is honored to announce that Justin Kendrick and 3 others were awarded the 2024 Hometown Heroes.

DR. DELILAH JOINER MARTIN (’81) is Oklahoma's 2024 American Mother of the Year and will represent Oklahoma at the American Mothers National Convention this April 25-27 in Omaha, Nebraska.

REN REYES (’18 & ’20) was elected as President of Oklahoma Dental Hygienist Association. She took office October 1, 2023

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JAKE (’14) AND COURTNEY REDWINE (’14 & ’20) GARRETT recently moved to Meridian, ID, to serve at Stonehill Church. Stonehill is a church plant that was founded 7 years ago. Jake is the Executive Director of Adult Ministries.

WWW.SNU.EDU/ALUMNI

MARRIAGES CAMDEN COUGHRAN (‘22) AND MOLLY PETTIT (‘23) were married

ANDY ISAACS (‘22) AND BRITTANY JENKINS (’20) were married

December 10, 2022.

August 5, 2023.

JASON MORRIS (‘22) AND BAILEY SPINDLE (‘23) were married

CALEB DOBRINKSKI AND JACI WISE (‘18) were married

December 17, 2022.

November 17, 2023.

CALEB (‘21) AND KIAH GRAY were

married May 5, 2023.

AUSTIN SLATE (‘22) AND JACY BRAZIEL (‘22) were married

November 2, 2023.

BRAYDEN (‘21) AND KEELY LOVELACE were married

June 2, 2023.

BRIXTON SCHMITT (’23) AND GRACIE WIMMER (’22) were married

November 5, 2023.

JODEN (‘22) AND LILY JACKSON

were married June 2, 2023.

SYDNEY OLIVER (‘23) AND ALLISON MEANS (‘24) were

married July 15, 2023.

SNU MAGAZINE | SPRING 2024 33

AL UM N I N E W S & U P DATES

FAMILY ADDITIONS

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STELLA ANN MATHIS (DAUGHTER) Born: October 4, 2022 Parents: Jeff and Becca Hollon (’07) Mathis

LEO BENJAMIN HEPLER (SON) Born: June 18, 2023 Parents: Herschel (‘11) and Jordan Sloan (’13) Hepler

SAWYER WARREN FOSTER (SON) Born: January 5, 2023 Parents: Quinten (‘18) and Sybree Williams (‘18) Foster

ADALINE ROSE WRIGHT (DAUGHTER) Born: July 11, 2023 Parents: Maxx and Malorie Faulk (’17) Wright

EZRA JEWEL HANSON (DAUGHTER) Born: January 18, 2023 Parents: Jake (‘20) and Victoria Williams (’20) Hanson

JUDAH CUMMINS MYERS (SON) Born: July 20, 2023 Parents: Casey (‘15) and Kate Miller (‘17) Myers

CHARLIE GENE CHERRYHOLMES (SON) Born: February 28, 2023 Parents: Tyler and Bethany Spindle (’19) Cherryholmes

LANDRY TATE GORTER (SON) Born: August 3, 2023 Parents: Brandon (‘17) and Brie Evans (’18) Gorter

JULIET MAE SIMONDS (DAUGHTER) Born: March 13, 2023 Parents: Caleb Simonds (‘16) and Jean Moore (’17) Simonds

MARLIE RENEE STELTING (DAUGHTER) Born: August 24, 2023 Parents: Tyler (‘16) and Dannah Jo White (’17) Stelting

TRUETT JAMES GARRETT (SON) Born: March 16, 2023 Parents: Jake (‘14) and Courtney Redwine (’14 & ’20) Garrett

JACK SUTTON FRANKS (SON) Born: October 12, 2023 Parents: Clay (‘06) and Tillanie Dyer (’07) Franks

IRIS OAKES FALKNER (DAUGHTER) Born: March 23, 2023 Parents: Trey (‘10) and Allie Oakes (’14) Falkner

AUBREE MICHELLE CUMMINGS (DAUGHTER) Born: November 2, 2023 Parents: Chris (‘14) and Brittany Mullens (’14) Cummings

ADILYNN MARGARET LUKER (DAUGHTER) Born: April 19, 2023 Parents: Logan (‘19) and Audrey Hamm (’18) Luker

LUCA FINLEY DWYER (SON) Born: November 15, 2023 Parents: Daniel (‘22) and Valentina Kusanovic (’20) Dwyer

WYATT SCOTT SEITZ (SON) Born: May 7, 2023 Parents: Jared (‘17) & Anna Parkhurst (’18) Seitz

CHAPMAN WILDE RIGGS (SON) Born: January 12, 2024 Parents: Timmy (‘16) and Emma Krottinger (’15) Riggs

RHODES BECK LUCERO (SON) Born: May 28, 2023 Parents: Zach (‘14) and Natalie LeMay (’16) Lucero

KIYOMI SIMONE BERKLEY (DAUGHTER) Born: January 22, 2024 Parents: Spencer ('10) and Nicole (Tanizawa) Berkley ('13)

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IN MEMORY SHERI GILLILAND ‘77 July 19, 1955 – March 9, 2023 Bethany, OK

KATHLEEN (MCANALLY) GREINER ‘43 Sept. 29, 1922 – July 1, 2023 Campbellsville, KY

ROBERT BOLTON ‘57 Oct. 10, 1935 – Aug. 30, 2023 Tampa, FL

REV. DONALD E CRENSHAW ‘51 Nov. 24, 1928 – May 4, 2023 Olathe, KS

IVA (TYSON) TAZELLAR ‘52 Oct. 4, 1929 – July 14, 2023 Dover, DE

ANGELA (MANGERS) KOCHER ‘94 Sept. 28, 1972 – Sept. 1, 2023 Wichita, KS

REV. LOWELL D. ARNDT ‘55 Aug. 15, 1928 – May 9, 2023 Willmar, MN

MARY (PIERCE) STALEY ‘62 March 11, 1939 – July 17, 2023 Lindsay, OK

GILBERT “GIB” MILES ‘ 78 Nov. 24, 1955 – Sept. 4, 2023 Geary, OK

GARY LANCE ‘64 May 28,1942 – May 11, 2023 Bethany, OK

DALE HUDSON ‘73 July 13, 1951 – July 19, 2023 San Diego, CA

REV. JAMES IRWIN ‘61 Nov. 30, 1929 – Sept. 6, 2023 Canonsburg, PA

REV. GEORGE MILLER ‘72 Oct.10, 1950 – May 28, 2023 Carnegie, OK

RONALD “BUDDY” EMMERT ‘58 May 13, 1936 – July 21, 2023 Bridge City, TX

ROBERT PARKER ‘56 March 9, 1934 – Sept. 10, 2023 Sweetwater, TN

BOB SIMMS ‘68 Dec. 2, 1944 – May 31, 2023 Yukon, OK

MONA (SMITHSON) WHITE ‘58 Sept. 8, 1930 – July 25, 2023 Laredo, TX

DR. ROY DORRIS ‘59 Oct. 2, 1932 – Sept. 23, 2023 Bethany, OK

ROBERT WADE POWERS ‘53 Sept. 18, 1931 – June 11, 2023 Gallatin, TN

ROBERT BUMPUS ‘56 April 4, 1933 – July 26, 2023 Oklahoma City, OK

JOHN JENSEN ‘80 June 23, 1957 – Sept. 24, 2023 Oklahoma City, OK

RICHARD TAKEN ‘67 May 2, 1944 – June 16, 2023 Sun City Center, FL

KAREN (CAGLE) POWERS ‘83 April 8. 1961 – Aug. 2, 2023 Yukon, OK

SHARON (GRASS) GRIFFIN ‘62 Dec. 2, 1940 – Sept. 24, 2023 Yukon, OK

ALICE (ANDERSON) GARBER ‘52 June 8, 1931 – June 16, 2023 Fayetteville, AR

TERRY HOBBS '95 April 17, 1951 – Aug. 8, 2023 Broken Arrow, OK

LOUISE (DEAN) BROWN ‘61 May 19, 1934 – Sept. 24, 2023 Aransas Pass, TX

DR. HAL CAUTHRON ‘67 Jan. 7, 1945 – June 18, 2023 Bethany, OK

EVELYN (CAROTHERS) DOWNS ‘52 Aug. 15, 1930 – Aug. 10, 2023 Oklahoma City, OK

ROBERT GAUT ‘77 April 30, 1929 – Sept. 27, 2023 Olathe, KS

REV. DR. JAMES ELTON WOOD ‘52 June 1, 1926 – June 22, 2023 Riverside, RI

BETTY (MCFARLAND) BLOOMER ‘54 March 19, 1931 – Aug. 18, 2023 Oklahoma City, OK

CHESTER NARAMOR ‘61 March 19, 1938 – Sept. 28, 2023 Fayetteville, AR

GLEN SCHEIERN ‘56 March 24, 1933 – June 25, 2023 Quinlan, TX

ROBERT HALE ‘55 Aug. 22, 1933 – Aug. 23, 2023 Temecula, CA

WILDA (EATON) AUBREY ‘53 July 8, 1930 – Sept. 30, 2023 Bethany, OK

BECKY (MILLER) VAUGHAN ‘73 March 15, 1940 – June 25, 2023 Oklahoma City, OK

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A L UM N I N E W S & U P DATES

IN MEMORY KENNETH WOLF ‘11 Dec. 29, 1956 – Oct. 5, 2023 Edmond, OK

TWILA (SCHMIDT) STAPLETON ‘65 Aug. 21, 1943 – Oct. 30, 2023 Wichita, KS

JACK DELL ‘47 Dec. 24, 1926 – Dec. 25, 2023 Santa Monica, CA

DR. ROGER HAHN ‘72 Feb. 8, 1950 – Oct. 6, 2023 Spring Hill, KS

CHRISTIANA (HEAP) PICKENS ‘66 May 28, 1945 – Nov. 8, 2023 Olathe, KS

WANDA (WILLIAMS) HOLMES ‘57 Jan. 24, 1932 – Dec. 28, 2023 Pace, FL

CHRISTINA (KLEA) SLOAN '99 Oct. 2, 1977 – Oct. 10, 2023 Mustang, OK

ESTHER “POLLY” HAMMER ‘61 Nov. 13, 1940 – Nov. 13, 2023 Claremore, OK

OPAL HOPPE ‘61 March 3, 1939 – Dec. 29, 2023 Cheyenne, WY

BEVERLY (LUNDY) JONES ‘56 Nov. 25, 1935 – Oct. 12, 2023 Oklahoma City, OK

SUE (EAGAN) IRWIN ‘71 Oct. 8, 1949 – Nov. 14, 2023 McKinney, TX

LOIS (MORTON) CASEY ‘81 March 18, 1930 – Jan. 3, 2024 Oklahoma City, OK

JERRY KESTER ‘77 May 27, 1954 – Oct. 13, 2023 Olympia, WA

ALFREDA (HUHNKE) HANNA ‘55 April 28, 1932 – Nov. 18, 2023 Centennial, CO

ROBERTA (COLE) BLALOCK ‘82 Feb. 9, 1960 – Jan. 8, 2024 Baytown, TX

REV. PAUL SOTO ‘71 April 2, 1938 – Oct. 21, 2023 Yuma, AZ

LAVETA (BEEL) SARGENT ‘59 Jan. 4, 1934 – Nov. 18, 2023 Lincoln, NE

JANE (ROBERTS) BOWERS ‘66 March 31, 1944 – Oct. 23, 2023 Fort Worth, TX

SUSAN (PEARCE) SCHMIDT ‘02 Nov. 20, 1952 – Nov. 26, 2023 Elk City, OK

EDWIN ABLA ‘61 March 18, 1939 – Oct. 24, 2023 Decatur, IL

DR. WALKER TALMADGE JOHNSON ‘58 Feb. 26, 1937 – Dec. 6, 2023 Mount Juliet, TN

BONITA (SMITH) FARROW ‘62 Oct. 5, 1940 – Oct. 27, 2023 Spokane Valley, WA

REV. JACK HAMILTON ‘42 March 8, 1921 – Dec. 8, 2023 Grand Junction, CO

JOANNA (CASEY) MOORE ‘59 Dec. 2, 1937 – Oct. 27, 2023 Temple, TX

BRANCE MOYER ‘66 June 5, 1942 – Dec. 10, 2023 Oklahoma City, OK

JIM MCCOLLOUGH ‘74 Oct. 10, 1952 – Oct. 27, 2023 Oklahoma City, OK

CARMEN (STARR) EPPLER ‘1971 May 25, 1949 – Dec. 16, 2023 Norman, OK

VICKI (FLYNN) SACKET ‘69 June 7, 1947 – Jan. 11, 2024 Oklahoma City, OK JIM EISENHARDT ‘71 Dec. 2, 1948 – Jan. 12, 2024 Omaha, NE DIANA (JONES) SEATON ‘70 July 14, 1948 – Jan. 13, 2024 Oklahoma City, OK

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