Accent Magazine - Fall 2015

ACCENT MidAmerica Nazarene University

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Six Alumni Put Education to Work at FCA

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Homecoming & Family Weekend 2015 photo gallery

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Fall 2015

Refugee Crisis on Her Doorstep A first-hand account

PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Come and Follow Me GPS devices have dramatically changed how we plan a trip. We can enter our destination and “magically” it plots the best route. A gentle voice then gives turn-by-turn directions, corrects our mistakes and warns us of dangers or delays along the way. There are times I am confident I know a better route only to discover stalled traffic or obstacles I could have avoided if I had just listened to that voice.

Jeremiah 6:16 records God’s warning to Israel and a crossroad that demands a decision. They were about to be attacked and their choice would mean either life or death. One path was the way of the Lord, which led to assurance and blessing. The other was the lesser path that led to despair and destruction. Israel chose poorly and defied the voice of God. Israel’s choices provide an excellent metaphor for our own encounters with God. I enjoy hearing students share their plans for the future. Their dreams are often perfectly aligned with their education and career goals. A plan is important at any age, but God often confronts our best-prepared plans with these crossroads. His plan challenges our comfort zone and can even seem illogical. Similar to Israel, the Lord says, “When you encounter me at these crossing places, stand still, seek the good way, ask for directions; then confidently walk in the way of the Lord with peace and assurance.”

For almost 50 years, this university has been a crossroad for thousands of students whose lives have been transformed by a God who called out to them.

This issue of ACCENT includes stories of those who responded to his call and are witnesses of an amazing adventure of faith. Just as Jesus called his disciples, God’s quiet voice still invites us: “Come and follow me!”

Dr. David J. Spittal President

Volume 39, Number 2 MANAGING MANAGING EDITOR EDITOR Carol (Knight '81, Carol (Knight '81, MAMA '08)'08) BestBest CONTRIBUTING CONTRIBUTING EDITOR EDITOR Kim (Suderman '05) Campbell Kim (Suderman, '05) Campbell

CONTRIBUTORS April (Loomis '96) Hansen Rachel Phelps ('09)

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Accent is published

by MidAmerica ART AND DESIGN ART AND DESIGN CONTRIBUTORS PHOTOGRAPHERS Nazarene University and mailed free to Josh Klekamp ('10)Daniel Hawkins ('06) Chad Jenkins Daniel Hawkins ('06) andVidetich supporters of MNU. It Russell Kelly ThayerLawler ('17) ('11) Kelly (Lawler '11) Chesleyalumni, friends Dan Jeremy Hoffpauir

is produced forLindsay University Advancement by Willmer

PHOTOGRAPHERS the MNU Marketing and Communications Pete Brumbaugh ('90, MBA '04) Hannah Bostic ('18) Jen Christenson ('07) Office. Postage is paid at Olathe, Nicole Lavine ('15) Kan., and Josh Klekamp ('10) additional mailing offices.

Josiah Crandall ('14) Josh McCullock News or comments: accent@mnu.edu

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The MNU Experience

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Six different majors, six different jobs, same mission

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Campus News

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We Got Google Fiber!

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MNU to become a Google campus

Learn While You Play Center for Games & Learning Becomes Resource for Educators

Homecoming & Family Weekend

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Photo gallery

Quality Product, Solid Strategy, Engaged Culture

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

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Ervin Cash ('81) outlines a formula for business success

When Europe's Refugee Crisis Hits Home

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Alum Teanna Sunberg's ('91) first-hand account

Dewey's New Look

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Makeover for Campus Coffee Shop

News or comments: accent@mnu.edu

» View photo galleries and even more stories online at www.mnu.edu/accent.

HELPFUL LINKS

STAY CONNECTED On The Cover

Between classes, www.mnu.edu/alumni 02 freshmen President’s Message Abby Hansen, Joy Randle and www.mnu.edu/give 06 Campus News Alexis Braaten enjoy one of www.mnu.edu/student-referral 13 places Faculty News the most beautiful on (Undergrad) 20 Athletics campus. www.mnu.edu/referral 22 Advancing MNU (Grad & Adult) 24 Alumni News

ARTICLES HELPFUL LINKS 04 The MNU Experience www.mnu.edu/alumni 10 Why I Teach www.mnu.edu/give 14 Commencement www.mnu.edu/newsroom 17 Student Profile www.mnusports.com 18 With Purpose

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Many Faces of Ministry at FCA

By Carol Knight (’81, MAOA ’08) Best

Photo (left to right) Issac Yamamoto, Nick Hill, Quinten Johnson, Zach Johnson, Fred Olson and Steve Beckerle.

MNU alumni serving at the FCA National Support Center.

THE MNU EXPERIENCE

FCA's Mission To present to coaches and athletes, and all whom they influence, the challenge and adventure of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, serving Him in their relationships and in the fellowship of the church

There’s a common theme among six diverse current and former MNU students and alumni who work for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes National Support Center in Kansas City, Missouri. They all say they were led to work there and they have passion, not only for their jobs, but for the mission of their organization.

FCA unites faith and sports to impact others for Christ. With more than 11,900 certified huddles (clubs) in 47 countries and 86,500 youth attending FCA camps, the organization makes a global difference for Christ. The National Support Center in Kansas City resources the thousands of FCA field representatives, athletes and coaches who are boots-on-the-ground in this mission.

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Nick Hill ('15), FCA’s technology support consultant, majored in interdisciplinary studies in communication and design at MNU. Hill always gets involved in a big way. As a student, he was a cofounder of MNU Productions (audio/ video), a member of Associated Student Government, Residence Hall Government and Heritage Choir, as well as a yell leader and football team manager. He also used his love for technology as a res-tech, providing student IT help. Not surprisingly he belonged to an FCA huddle in high school. Now he puts that enthusiasm to work at FCA. “I get to support, train and troubleshoot for staff nationally and internationally with a variety of technology and

software questions,” Hill says. “I use technology in new ways to support our field staff who are actively serving their communities and spreading the Gospel. It’s a big team!”

Hill was referred to work at FCA

by Zach Johnson (FS ’07), the organization’s Apple product support and online events coordinator. Both Hill and Johnson wanted to work for FCA for several years before an opportunity presented itself.

“Another alum, youth ministry major Steve Beckerle (’05) worked at FCA as intranet manager and loved it,” Johnson says. “When I decided I might be a good fit here, it was actually another four years before I came on staff. God was working out the details

during that time. I am a servant by nature, so behind-the-scenes support fits the gifts God has given me.”

Hill and Johnson interact daily with other MNU alums including Beckerle, FCA accountant and intercultural studies major Quinten Johnson (’09), and Fred Olson (’83), the ministry’s director of finance.

although he was preparing to be a playby-play announcer – he was KMNU’s general manager and the “voice” of Pioneer athletics – working at FCA full time became a “longing.”

“FCA has been the main channel of spiritual growth and fellowship in my Christian walk,” Stillman says. “It’s where I was saved, strengthened and encouraged in my walk during high

considered working in sports ministry.

But having joined MNU’s new FCA huddle last spring, Yamamoto learned about the opportunity to work at FCA summer camps. Placed in three Missouri camps from Table Rock Lake to St. Louis and Excelsior Springs, Yamamoto discovered a new calling.

“I wasn’t sure what my response would be to sports ministry,” he says, “but I

We’re like the coaches of the coaches, regarding spiritual leadership. Athletes spend so much time with their coaches. What better way to spread the Gospel?”

--Issac Yamamoto

An accounting major, Olson spent six years in the field of public accounting.

After taking a year off to study at a Bible school, he got the opportunity to assist FCA’s chief financial officer.

Promoted to his current position in 2000, Olson now has 25 years of service at the organization.

“I oversee day-to-day financial operations of the FCA ministry,” Olson says. “Serving with FCA has been a real privilege for me, and has allowed me to utilize my professional background.”

Though not at the National Support Center, Brett Stillman (’12), a field associate in St. Louis, also works for FCA. The mass communications major interned in St. Louis the summer before his senior year and says

school. It challenged me to serve in college, and now it’s my calling and vocation.”

Like the others, Stillman has no plans to work elsewhere.

“Honestly, [in five years I see myself] still serving the coaches and athletes of St. Louis and North County,” he says. “God is working in some tough environments and it's awesome to be on the front lines of it!”

Pioneer linebacker Isaac Yamamoto ('16), a senior from Sequim, Washington, landed an FCA internship this summer. A transfer student from Lower Columbia College, Yamamoto came to MNU to play football and major in kinesiology and had not

realized I have a calling for it. We’re like the coaches of the coaches, regarding spiritual leadership. Athletes spend so much time with their coaches. What better way to spread the Gospel?”

Yamamoto intends to complete his degree and work in some area of strength and conditioning for athletes.

He knows that God will lead him to an opportunity to use his education and calling for His glory.

Whether behind the scenes or on the front lines, each of these Pioneers have found their calling and passion at FCA.

»

See more photos online www.mnu.edu/accent

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S C H O O L O F P R O F E S S I O N A L & G R A D U AT E S T U D I E S

P U R P O S E F U L LY D I F F E R E N T

A fully online MBA & AA At MNU, two of our most popular programs are now available entirely online.

Earn your Associate of Arts in Business or your Master of Business Administration in a fully online program. You’ll learn from the same expert faculty in a convenient format that fits into your life.

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

www.mnu.edu/online

CAMPUS NEWS

Passion to Serve returns to Haiti In 2013, 21 MNU students—in partnership with Heart to Heart International—traveled to the mountains of southeast Haiti to help construct a new school. The journey to the site was long, and the work often difficult, but those involved were united by “Dégagé”—a common Creole term meaning “make do with what you have." Dégagé was adopted as the title of the entire project that year, made possible by MNU’s annual studentorganized relief and outreach effort called “Passion to Serve.” By the end of the year, Dégagé had raised nearly $60,000 for the project, and the school in Haiti now educates hundreds of children in the small village of Cascade Pichon.

The success of the project and the students’ experiences in Haiti made a lasting impression on the Pioneer community. So much so that this year’s Passion to Serve project returns to Haiti, in partnership again with Heart to Heart International. “LQVE Haiti” is the name of this year’s project, created in honor of nursing student Quincy Foster—nicknamed Q—who passed away January 1, 2015, in a tragic

automobile accident. An avid soccer player, Foster had traveled to Haiti in 2013 as part of Dégagé, and there developed a love for the Haitian people, as well as a newfound conviction to return to the country for missions work in the future.

the Dominican Republic. Additionally, senior nursing students from MNU will travel to the Southeast region and assist local clinics by providing basic medical care.

Passion to Serve organizers will send four teams of volunteers to Haiti throughout the 2015-2016 academic year. The first group traveled in June and included Quincy’s parents, Jonathan (’91) and Johnna (Palmer, ’89) Foster and students Shay Foster (Quincy’s brother), Annie Huff, and Dylan Aebersold ('15)—all of whom helped make further improvements to the school in Cascade Pichon.

Three additional teams will serve the communities of Anse-a-Pitres, Thiotte, Grand-Gosier, and Belle-Anse in 2016.

In these villages, Pioneers will work alongside the Haitian people to build a soccer field, organize leagues and tournaments and provide assistance in the escalating Haitian refugee crisis on the southeast border between Haiti and

Alumni and friends can support the LQVE Haiti project and help students reach the $50,000, goal by donating online on the Passion to Serve website mnu.edu/passion-to-serve-project.

More information on volunteer work can be obtained by contacting MNU ServiceCorps at mnuservicecorps1@mnu.edu.

Brigadoon MNU's fall musical

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CAMPUS NEWS

Building Strong Foundations Helping students succeed through early intervention is the goal of the new Student Success Network directed

by Rick Hanson (’88), associate vice president for academic and professional success. The group of administration, staff and faculty from student development, wellness, residential life and academic support, meets weekly to determine which students need assistance and what kind of support should be offered.

“We aren’t waiting for students to come to us,” Hanson says. “We have systems in place to help identify those who may be having academic difficulty for a variety of reasons.”

In addition, anyone can contact a member of the network to refer a student. Hanson says first-time and transfer students can find the transition to university life challenging.

“We really want to help (students) succeed. Sometimes they don’t know there are resources available or they don’t know how to connect to them.”

Several resources for students are either new or enhanced this year. One such area is counseling. Elizabeth (Eudaley,’94) Diddle, director for counseling and wellness, provides resources surrounding healthy life choices. Through residence life and other programs, Diddle provides education on healthy sleep and mental health topics, as well as support groups for issues like grief. Two new counselors provide options for students seeking professional therapy.

Academic support has been enhanced at the Kresge Center as well. Expanded services include full-time specialists in writing and mathematics. Testing for admissions and placement, as well as proctoring, are offered along with free tutoring for all students – both in person and through the live online tutoring service Smarthinking.

Providing assistance when a student needs it is necessary and admirable.

But how much better would it be to solve many problems before they happen? Such is the goal of a related, comprehensive study taking place this year to evaluate the first-year experience. The Foundations of Excellence task force is a group of staff, administration and faculty charged with re-evaluating every touch point between the university and a first-time or transfer student.

Hanson says this exercise has the potential to “revolutionize” the firstyear experience for MNU students.

“The goal is a seamless hand off from admissions to orientation to the classroom,” Hanson says. “If we improve student success and satisfaction, remove the barriers and enhance the process, students are more likely to remain at MNU.” These activities are supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Title III Strengthening Institutions Program; 78% is federally-funded and 22% is non-federally funded over the five-year project period.

SEEDS Program Success Leads to Grant Extension MNU’s “Students Engaged In Exploring and Designing Solutions” (SEEDS) project has made considerable progress, says Dr. Nancy (Humo, ’95, MEd ’98) Damron, dean of the School of Education. In fact, the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR), provider of the initial funding for the project, has granted a temporary, no-cost extension of the grant so grade school students can demonstrate their progress in one of the four STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) disciplines.

This exciting turn of events is due to the significant progress made by SEEDS participants—48 teachers from the Turner and Kansas City Public Schools districts—in their professional development and teaching practices in STEM courses. The purpose is to improve instructional methods and ultimately boost student achievement.

The grant also provides training in how to use the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), a set of academic

By Russell Thayer ('17)

standards and content organization practices developed by the National Research Council. For educators teaching in one of the four STEM disciplines, Damron says knowledge of these standards is essential.

“Both data and feedback from teachers demonstrates that a strong impact has been made through the SEEDS program,” Damron says Dr. Brandon Gillette, director of

CAMPUS NEWS

American Heritage Week Rekindled In preparation for MNU’s 50th anniversary in 2016, the university is reintroducing programs and traditions that hold significant value to its students, alumni, staff and faculty. The Donald S. Metz American Heritage Week is one such program and was held September 15-17, 2015.

• Economic Inequality in American Society, presented by Bo Cassell, moderated by Abby Hodges, PhD.

American Heritage Week was originally introduced in 1968 by the university’s first academic dean, Dr. Donald S. Metz, to celebrate and honor the American heritage. This year’s event included a Convocation featuring special guest Allen Brown (’72), attorney and member of the first graduating class. Brown spoke on the unique nature of our democracy and the importance of engaging as Christians and U.S. citizens to preserve and protect our civil liberties.

• Terrorism and the Privacy/Security Debate, presented by Todd Hiestand, JD, moderated by Andrew Overholt, PhD.

Brown and his wife, Saralyn (Schmidt, ’72), also spoke at the MNU Tuesday Luncheon following the Convocation.

• The Confederate Flag and the Power of Symbols, presented by Elizabeth George, PhD, moderated by Jordan Mantha, PhD.

Reinstituting American Heritage Week is one way in which the university is honoring its roots and the commitment of MNU founders to uphold and honor this heritage. At the time of its founding, then Mid-America Nazarene College adopted the theme of “American Heritage Education” to emphasize the ideals of racial tolerance, compassion, service and patriotism through its curriculum and activities.

Later that week three forums were held to explore how Christians can respond to current issues facing society today.

Faculty members presented on the three topics. Student panels posed questions and audience members were then invited to interact with questions and comments. The forums included:

“Today, the principles of American heritage education still ring true,” MNU President David Spittal says.

“By offering varying perspectives on the many social and civil struggles we face as Christian citizens, we are creating the opportunity for better understanding of one another and our individual responsibilities.”

secondary science curriculum for the Kansas City, Kansas School District, says employing a less traditional style of exploring content in more authentic ways takes time, but puts the emphasis on learning through context rather than memorizing scientific facts. One practical example currently used in the classroom is about Newton's laws.

a collision of a compact car or a semi-tractor trailer, students explore those collisions using balls of different masses while they predict, observe and explain those collisions,” Gillette says.

“From this single activity, students then generate questions and construct models to help explain their questions and observations.”

“Instead of lecturing about equal and opposite reactions or what the mathematical relationship is between

Gillette says MNU’s program has been helpful to teachers making these important changes in how they

teach STEM courses. “Collectively, the NGSS involve a number of significant instructional shifts. The SEEDS program has provided a learning space for teachers to engage in the discussion and practice for how to address these shifts.”

More information on teacher education and the School of Education at MNU is available at www.mnu.edu/learn.

CAMPUS NEWS

Electronic Transcripts Now Available

By Russell Thayer ('17) The convenience of ordering a transcript online and having it delivered digitally is now a reality for MNU students and alumni. According to MNU Registrar James Garrison (’90), his office’s work to implement electronic transcript ordering and delivery will save valuable time for students and alumni.

If a student or alumnus needs a transcript sent to another authorized institution that participates in the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) program, a certified digital copy in the form of a PDF can be made available through their secure server regardless of the time or day. In fact, a digital copy of the transcript can be sent to anyone as long as the recipient has Internet access.

requests are processed within one hour, as long as the form is completed correctly and the system is not experiencing a high volume of requests.

For those still wanting to mail or pick up a paper transcript, Garrison says those requests will always be honored, although he believes those requests will become less common as the digital option gains popularity.

“We still allow for holding a paper transcript,” Garrison said.

“However, close to half our students — maybe in the 40 percent range — have decided to send it electronically in the past month, and that’s a very good thing. It’s very fast, and helps the students and alumni in so many ways.”

According to MNU’s official transcript ordering page (located under the “Resources” tab on MNU’s main website), most

Olathe Campus Enters Phase Two of Technology Renewal

Becoming a Google Campus Whether in the dorm, the classroom, out on the campus mall or at a desk, MNU students and employees will soon enjoy significantly faster Internet speeds and greatly enhanced bandwidth with phase two of MNU’s primary campus technology renewal.

Phase one was completed in September with the installation of new fiber optic cable across campus.

As Vice President for Finance Kevin Gilmore (’84) says, “Phase one was fiber in the ground; phase two is the local area network which includes new equipment, switches and routers within the buildings connecting to the fiber.”

The new local area network is an extensive upgrade according to Mark Leinwetter, information technology services manager.

“It’s a new local area network that includes hardware that extends the signal to all new internal and external Wi-Fi,” Leinwetter says. “Users will notice a remarkable, tangible difference in speed and bandwidth.”

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Another benefit is the new comprehensive network management system that will allow IT to monitor the system 24/7 and make changes and new configurations as needed, resulting in less down time for users.

Phase two completion is scheduled for the first half of 2016.

Grant funding for this project has allowed project directors to be even more forward thinking in their planning for redundancies and future replacement contingencies.

“We have conduit in place parallel to the conduit in use so that when the fiber needs replacement, it can be done without disrupting service,” Gilmore says. “This was suggested by our consultants and further aided by access to the grant funding.”

Enhancing user experience exponentially will be the addition of Internet service provider Google Fiber. The lightning fast

1G speed of Google fiber is at least 10 times faster than current speed.

Google approached MNU with their ultrafast service for select businesses that is currently available only in Austin, Texas, Kansas City and Provo, Utah. The installation of Google Fiber will require a build out to the campus and Santa Fe Commons and should be complete within the next three to six months.

These activities are supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Title III Strengthening Institutions Program; 100% is federallyfunded .

Center for Games & Learning Becomes Community Resource Since its inception last fall, MNU’s Center for Games & Learning has moved beyond researching the use of games to enhance learning and has become a resource for educators in Kansas and for the local community itself. Nearly 200 Olathe School District teachers attended training this summer to learn how to implement games in the classroom. The Center’s professionals are teaching Johnson County Juvenile Justice staff how to implement games in curriculum used with juveniles in the system, and in November, they will present to the faculty at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. In all they will make 16 presentations this year on behalf of the Center.

According to Lauren Hays, program co-director, being a resource for educators and the community is how the Center integrates itself with the mission of the university.

“Expanding the work of the Center through community outreach is how we are looking for ways to serve the community,” says Hays. “Holding a conference for teachers this summer

allowed us to make connections for many of the presentations we are doing now.”

Hays says the Center has many more activities planned. This year it will support a board game club in the Spring Hill, Kansas School District.

Using pre-service teachers from the School of Education will give MNU students valuable experience while assisting the school district with a positive activity that increases their students’ confidence and academic achievement. On November 21 the Library and the Center will be a site for International Game Day (IGD15), a global, free event for the public in which anyone can use the Center’s games.

Additionally, Hays says that using games in the classroom has spread beyond the initial research cohort at MNU. Professors are finding more ways to enhance learning with games in a variety of courses and the results of the research will soon be available.

The Center also hosts community game nights that are open to the public, and patrons can check out

games with their community patron cards.

MNU's Center for Games & Learning is funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums.

Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls. gov and follow IMLS on Facebook and Twitter.

The Center for Games and Learning at MidAmerica Nazarene University is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services; grant number (SP-02-14-0038-14).

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New Student Orientation

Welcome Week

Rootbeer Fest. Service Projects. White Light Event. Pioneer Prayer Walk.

It’s one of our favorite weeks of the year.

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ARTICLE TITLE

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1. The Class of 1975 celebrates their 40th reunion

5. Senior Zach Relf cheers on the men’s soccer team

2. Students cheer on the Pioneer football team

6. Freshman Bailey Fimreite samples some barbeque

3. Pioneers dominate Evangel, winning 31-14

7. Senior Nick Syrie and Navia Palu ('14) enjoy the Big Tent

4. Homecoming queen and king, Seniors Addie Limmex and Josh Woodward

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4.

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5.

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ARTICLE TITLE

7.

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8. Students have fun during one of the many Pioneer athletic events 9. Future Pioneers hang out in the Kids Zone

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11. Men’s soccer beats Evangel, 8-0 12. Mike ('76) and Denise ('78) Cork, and Don ('78) and Sheila (Vandervoort, '79) Byrd

10. The BBQ contest offers great smells and samples

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13. Alumni award winners (L-R): Chaplain, CPT Pete Robinson (’04), Dr. Kelly (Ryman, '98) Mattix and Mr. Britt Mattix (’99), and Molly (Frei, '05) Latchaw 14. Captain Pete Robinson accepts his Alumnus of the Year award from Dr. David Spittal and Alumni Director, Kevin Garber 15. Ken Medema leads an incredible chapel service 16. The Pioneer Pathways 5k had runners of all ages 17. MNU Athletics Hall of Fame 2015 inductees (L-R) include Matt Schneider (’07), Danny Hawkins (’09), Penny (Eastman, '10) Morin, Justen Wack (’06) and Mike Birge (’97).

18.

18. Freshman Shay Foster and junior Garret Stalder participate in the Heritage Choir Meet & Sing with alumni 19. The bonfire crowd included current students and alumni 20. Alumni and friends reconnect on Saturday morning 21. Professor Abby Hodges moderates a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) panel featuring alumni working in those fields.

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IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT PEOPLE

By Carol Knight (’81, MAOA ’08) Best

H

e travels the world, comes home to the 32nd floor of a Manhattan skyscraper, runs an international company, enjoys world-class cuisine and writes an insightful travel log for his friends on Facebook, all while keeping his Kansas City ties intact. Ervin Cash (’81) is the president and CEO of AERCO International, the originator of semi-instantaneous water heating for commercial application.

Nearly a third of the buildings in Manhattan use his company’s systems. His success could make Cash intimidating, but a brief conversation with this MNU alumnus puts one immediately at ease.

Cash is humble and personable. He has nothing to prove, and his résumé speaks for itself. He has marketed highend products, led new business development, engineered manufacturing solutions in several industries, managed quality assurance programs and driven strategy and competitive growth for an energy technology producer.

Through it all, he says he wouldn’t change a thing about his choices at MidAmerica where he majored in communication and human relations and minored in math and physics.

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“I knew no matter what I was going to do, I was going to work with people,” Cash says. “That’s the most important part of anything you do. My paradigm is people skills, technical skills, business skills and on top of that, strategy.”

Throughout his career in manufacturing, operations, marketing and beyond, Cash’s approach to success is problem solving with the customer’s needs at the center of the equation. Having gained much of his knowledge about people in his undergraduate studies, Cash then pursued a mechanical engineering degree at the University of Kansas, an MBA at Xavier University and post-graduate study at Harvard Business School in strategy and competitive advantage.

From his work on the factory floor programming micronaccuracy inspection equipment at then Allied Signal (now Honeywell) in Kansas City, to engineering and quality assurance, Cash’s employers have asked him to start new things. He created the quality assurance program for Makino Inc., a manufacturer of machine tools for applications worldwide. The Japanese-owned company sent him for

A new position at Gardner Denver Inc., “The biggest concerns in the NFL a company in Georgia specializing in right now are concussions and player pump technology for industrial, mobile, safety,” Cash says. “A lot is being done energy and environmental markets, with helmets, but we are making the led Cash to the energy technology surface they fall on softer,” he says, industry. Then a Japanese company referring to the football field. called Rinnai tapped Cash for his strategic business leadership skills.

His turf-warming project will require His experience in Japan, along with installing heated water lines 12-15 his marketing, manufacturing and inches below the surface. Cash says energy background, dovetailed nicely this will “trick the turf into thinking it in his new job. In 2002, the company is 70 degrees all year round.” The field sold 6,500 units. By 2008, Cash led will not be rock hard in the winter and Rinnai to 170,000 units in sales with an grass will grow year round. aggressive marketing and advertising effort. Using radio, television and “The real driver behind this is player Internet, along with Major League safety,” Cash says. “It’s interesting Baseball, the NFL when you can take and NASCAR, Cash technology and use employed ads to it to solve every day, introduce his product important problems.”

“I was asked to start a to the market. Now business unit from a clean Rinnai has the topsheet of paper; developing What would Cash say selling tankless water is the most important strategy, marketing, heater in the U.S. takeaway from his everything about sales; I career experience? got a new perspective.”

Continuing in the energy industry, and “It’s always been about always gravitating strategy and culture,” to companies that he says. “I spend a lot utilized green technology, Cash became of time on the business strategy – how president and CEO of Robert Bosch to compete, how to win – and right in Thermotechnology North America the middle of that is setting a culture in 2009. In 2012 he was recruited for where people like to work, people are his current position of president and engaged, they’re teammates, they’re CEO of AERCO. AERCO high-efficiency people who want to take responsibility, commercial boilers and water heaters and where people get recognition. are in Hilton and Marriott hotels, It’s about how to get people in the numerous universities and schools, organization excited about the business and major commercial buildings so you have all the energy of the people throughout the U.S. Cash says a typical focused on one mission.” week in his job includes two to three days in the office and the rest at 35,000 If that philosophy sounds good, feet, traveling to places like Italy, China, consider visiting MNU this spring to Korea and Germany where AERCO’s hear more. Cash will be the featured suppliers are located. speaker at the April 19, 2016, MNU Tuesday Luncheon for alumni and But an exciting new project Cash is friends. working on is much closer to home – MNU’s home that is. AERCO’s equipment is already running at Arrowhead Stadium and a new project Check out more photos will begin after the current football www.mnu.edu/accent season.

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training in Japan.

“It was intriguing,” he says. “I like different cultures and languages.”

Soon, Cash was the plant manager.

The company president noticed that when Cash interacted with customers touring the plant, he always asked the same thing, “How are you going to use this equipment?”

“I would get an idea from how they were going to use it, of how to build the quality assurance into the equipment,” Cash said. “The president said, ‘I want you to move that process over to the business side.’ This is how we would win business.”

That move became a turning point in Cash’s career.

»

21 ACCENT MAGAZINE / FALL 2015

September 2015 saw the unprecedented arrival of thousands of refugees from the Middle East at the Hungarian border near Budapest. Missionary Teanna Sunberg traveled daily to the Keleti train station from her home just 45 minutes away from the turmoil. Sunberg ministered to the refugees who were not allowed to continue on to other European Union countries where they hoped for a safe haven. This is Sunberg’s story of one such refugee family.

22 ACCENT MAGAZINE / FALL 2015

Families make their way from Serbia into Hungary along an old WWII train track

Two Syrian girls share their dream: a house with peace in the streets

By Teanna (Matz, '91) Sunberg There, at the foot of their tent, I took a seat on a pink tablecloth that shielded me from the dirty ground. I received the offered tea, sweet and hot, and we talked about a once beautiful Syria, about their family who came and those who stayed behind, and about the baby that is on the way.

Muhammad hoped that they would reach Germany before his first child was born. This is the sort of concern any normal father expresses, but in their current context, the stress was intensified by the fact that he and his wife are refugees.

I looked around Keleti train station at more than 3,000 people who made up the first significant wave of refugees into the European Union (EU). Though their journeys have started in various parts of the Middle East – Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan – the paths that brings them to Europe converged in Turkey. From that last Muslim nation, they embarked upon a dangerous journey across choppy seas to the coast of Greece. They walked and took buses, taxis and trains to move through Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary and on to Croatia, then Slovenia. They hope to finally settle in Denmark, Sweden or Germany.

Their journey, and that of those still coming, is fraught with danger, disappointment and a heroic determination to keep moving in spite of obstacles. Smugglers have demanded nearly $2,000 per person for the dangerously over-crowded boats. Taxi drivers have charged upwards of $700 per person for an hour-long journey, and buses help them complete only a portion of the thousands of kilometers they must travel. By the time Muhammad’s family reached Budapest’s international train station, Keleti, and bought their train tickets to Germany, they realized their plight had become a topic of international political debate. As leaders argued, discussed and disagreed, Muhammad and his family waited.

“It has been a long hard journey for my wife, so I wanted to take her to a hotel. But, when I gave the man our documents, he said, ‘You are Syrian, go away.’”

Muhammad’s family were some of the lucky ones who had a tent, but their six-day wait in Keleti was intensified by a famine of information and made miserable by a lack of privacy, no showers, no possibility to cook a meal and crude bathroom options. No one understood why Eastern European governments were prohibiting their transit and when or if they would ultimately be allowed to continue their trek towards a new home.

The month of September brought a refugee crisis that cut a human swath through the heart of Eastern Europe.

Some estimates are that more than 300,000 Middle Eastern people left their war-torn homes, their devastating economic situations, and their systemically volatile political and social landscapes to find a new place of peace in Western Europe. Each of their stories has elements of desperation and courage. Most Syrian children have not been able to attend school for the last two to three years, people show photos of rubble that were once streets and everyone has a story marred by fear.

As we spoke, Muhammad’s mother called from Syria, where she is waiting for them to finish their journey. She cannot travel due to a weakened heart condition.

“Do you want to talk to my mother?” Muhammad asks, giving me his phone. “She is an English teacher and quite fluent. She will be happy to practice her English with you.”

The voice that reached from Aleppo to Budapest was clear and beautifully accented. I reassured her that the children were well, and that I could see their healthy faces before me at the opening of their tent.

“Thank you. Thank you for telling me this. I am worrying a lot,” she says, “but, you see, in Syria there is no life anymore. Our children cannot die. They must live. They must find a way to live.”

About Teanna ('91) and Jay ('90) Sunberg They have been missionaries to Russia, Bulgaria and Hungary for nearly 22 years. They have four daughters: Lexi (19), Sophia (16), Lydia (14) and Jenna (13).

Sunberg says her daily focus in September was on the refugees, first at Keleti, then at the border crossing near the village of Röszke. The crisis has since moved to Serbia and Croatia. Now the Hungarian refugee camps are the Sunbergs’ focus as they seek ways to be accepted as volunteers in the camps. To learn more, read Sunberg’s blog at centraleuropenaz.org. Want to help teams assisting the refugees? Visit Nazarene Compassionate Ministries at NCM.org.

The feet tell the story of kilometers walked and the pain of the journey 23 ACCENT MAGAZINE / FALL 2015

MNU ATHLETICS

Volleyball Takes Conference — Proceeds to Nationals After an up-and-down start, the MNU volleyball team captured its fourth straight conference title and tournament to qualify for Nationals for the fifth year in a row. The Pioneers started 6-5, but won 16 of their next 20 matches to finish strong. Sophomore Rachel Kater earned a National Setter of the Week honor along with three conference weekly honors. The Pioneers were 25-9 moving on to the Opening Round of Nationals on Nov. 21.

MNU athletes make the grade.

The NAIA named 20 MNU students Scholar Athletes and 8 teams Scholar Teams in 2014-15.

Women’s Soccer The MNU women’s soccer team enjoyed one of its best seasons in program history, going 12-5-3 (8-2-2) heading into postseason play. The Pioneers earned the #3 seed in the tournament and garnered six All-Conference honorees (Taryn McClendon, Sarah Schmidt, Kalyn Pfaff, Anesa Curic, Kelli Reid and Hannah Benedict). The team ended their post season earning a first-ever #25 ranking.

24 ACCENT MAGAZINE / FALL 2015

MNU ATHLETICS

Men’s Soccer Goes to Nationals Men’s soccer enjoyed another fine season in one of the toughest conferences in the NAIA. With two HAAC teams ranked in the top 5 and MNU sitting at #11, an 8-2 conference record is impressive. Six Pioneers earned All-Conference honors (Alvaro Beltran, Eduardo Heringer, Lucas Machado, Bryce McClanahan, Stephane Philippe and Eddie Morales). A win over Benedictine at the conference tournament sent the team to Nationals to face Roosevelt (Ill.) on Nov. 21.

Want to learn more? Visit mnusports.com

Football After making the playoffs last year, the Pioneers got off to a tough start in 2015, losing four of their road games. Running back Javon Taylor averaged over 100 yards rushing per game and tied a national record with a 99-yard touchdown run in Week 9. MNU finished the season 6-5 overall and 4-1 in the Heart of America South earning them second place in the division.

Cross Country MNU Cross Country started their first season with high expectations and a small squad of dedicated runners. Early individual wins on the women’s side, along with a team win at Johnson County Community College bolstered the team. The men started strong, winning the William Jewell invitational. As competition grew stronger, Pioneer times have gotten faster, and training seems to be working. Both teams placed in the top five post season. Kaylee Shanley, Halley Dean, Jac Chelman and George Robinson qualified for Nationals Nov. 21.

25 ACCENT MAGAZINE / FALL 2015

The University Fund

Give.

So our students can prepare to change the world.

Make a difference.

Give today.

MNU students are working actively to transform the world through service and Christ-centered career preparation.

www.mnu.edu/give-online 877.496.8668

Be part of the transformation by giving to the University Fund. Your support directly equips students to change the world, both now and in the future.

Be part of the change. Support the University Fund.

Servant-Leader Personified A true Pioneer, Otto William Theel, Jr., MD, 92, passed away October 26, 2015. A great supporter and friend of the university since its inception, Dr. Theel created the Mid-America Nazarene College Honorary Alumni Association in 1969 when the newly opened college had no alumni. Ninety-five charter members assisted with student recruitment and fundraising. As a result Dr. Theel was honored by the college with the Layman of the Year Award. The group would go on to raise thousands of dollars through the years with varied activities and an annual banquet. Dr. Theel also served on the MANC and MNU board of trustees and the MNU Foundation board of directors.

A faithful member of Nall Avenue Church of the Nazarene, Dr. Theel served on the boards of his church, the Church of the Nazarene’s Kansas City District Layman’s League, and the district’s advisory board.

He also served as treasurer of the Kansas City Rescue Mission.

Dr. Theel was known for encouraging others to give to MNU through his matching gift challenges.

Surviving Dr. Theel are his wife Beulah, three children, nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

A Little Planning Can Make a Big Difference A planned gift to MNU makes a difference in the lives of students, as well as your own: •

Charitable Gift Annuity: Receive a tax deduction and fixed income for life.

•

Securities: Receive a tax deduction and tax avoidance on the gain.

•

Bequest: Name MNU as a beneficiary of your will, trust, retirement plan, or life insurance policy.

•

Real Estate: Receive a tax deduction and tax avoidance on the gain.

If you have already included MNU in your estate plans, please contact us so we can welcome you to the Cornerstone Society.

877.496.8668

giftplanning@mnu.edu

www.mnugiving.org

28 ACCENT MAGAZINE / FALL 2015

Coffee and fresh pastries?

Soup and salad?

In the library?

Dewey’s Book & Bean, one of the most enjoyable spots on campus, has been in operation since 2009.

Tucked into a corner on the first floor of Mabee Library, it’s become a popular spot for students to grab a coffee and a snack between classes. With additional student services and a variety of new library-sponsored events, Pioneer Food Service director Steven Richmond partnered with several groups on campus to complete a mini renovation of the physical space and the menu itself.

“We saw a need to combine some of our other grab-and-go food offerings from around campus and create longer hours of operation to better serve students,” says Richmond.

He’s not joking. Dewey’s is now open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. until midnight, from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Friday and from 6 p.m. to midnight on Sunday. A fresh paint job, new logo and greatly expanded menu are additional improvements that have taken place this fall.

members, the university marketing office and facility services pitched in to help with the idea, construction and design and create a new menu.

It’s no secret to the campus community that students have wished for a café-style eatery on campus for quite some time. Several library staff

While the library staff dream about expanding Dewey’s even further, students are pretty excited about the recent changes.

So are we – check them out!

Fresh bakery items like this cinnamon roll, have been a huge hit. So has the Harvest Cup – a Nutella mocha with caramel and hazelnut.

Students can now choose from a variety of fresh salads.

The Pioneer Pete is a new addition to several gourmet sandwiches.

29 ACCENT MAGAZINE / FALL 2015

Loyal Layman Leaves Significant Legacy He never set foot on MNU’s campus.

In fact, he rarely left his birthplace of Lipscomb County, Texas. But David Jesse Hostutler loved the Lord, believed in supporting his church and through his extended family of nieces, nephews and cousins, found value in a small Christian college in the Midwest.

Hostutler, a farmer, rancher and – later in life – an oil man, made a bequest of $1.3 million to MNU. Upon his death in July 2013, the university received the unexpected gift and set out to learn more about this quiet, Christian man who gave so generously to further the mission of MNU. As it turned out, Hostutler had many ties to MNU. Dr. Randy Cloud, chair of Christian Ministry and Formation, is his great nephew. The Clouds and the Hostutlers are large families with deep roots in Texas and the Church of the Nazarene. Growing up in the panhandle of Texas, Hostutler was close to his nephew, Cloud’s father. Cloud remembers visiting his Uncle David every summer for family reunions.

“He lived a plain and simple life,” Cloud says. “He was married and had no children, but all the nieces, nephews and cousins called him Uncle David.

He was the family patriarch in a sense.

Everyone wanted to hang out with him.

He was the fun uncle who was always doing something interesting.”

Eileen Walker of Olathe is Hostutler’s niece. She remembers the Hostutler farm was always fun for the children.

“Jumping in the hay, playing with the cousins, they were a relaxed Texas family and all the children thought the world of Uncle David,” she recalls.

30 ACCENT MAGAZINE / FALL 2015

His homestead was near Higgins, Texas, an important cattle-shipping point in the late 1800s that developed when the railroad came through. The town is quite small now, under 500 in population. Born in 1919, Hostutler became a rancher and loved his life on the Texas grasslands caring for his cattle and farming. Walker says the outdoorsman’s hobby was fishing, and he kept a boat at a nearby lake.

Hostutler was a loyal layman and staunch supporter of Higgins Church of the Nazarene his entire life, serving on the church board and as an usher. Even after he moved to a nursing home 30 minutes from Higgins, he still attended whenever the weather was good.

..................

“He just saw the influence of MNU through his family and for that we are blessed now and far into the future.”

..................

Rev. Wes Harper, Hostutler’s former pastor, says the layman was largely responsible for keeping the church going financially.

“As is typical of many farmers and ranchers who had spent years scratching out a living in West Texas, they gained the means to be supportive of others financially when the oil and gas wells came through,” Harper says.

“It wasn’t uncommon for David to hand me a check for the church or Nazarene Compassionate Ministries when I visited him in the nursing home. And he supported many other projects in Higgins.”

Through his financial support, his loyal attendance and his solid Christian example, Hostutler had a hand in shepherding church members who would be launched from the town of 500 to become ministers, missionaries, chaplains and committed laypeople.

In this way, his influence in the world is much larger than he probably ever knew.

Among his extended family are several ministers and many others who chose a Christian education at colleges such as Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Okla., and MidAmerica Nazarene University. According to Cloud, more than 20 former students and alumni of MNU are relatives of Hostutler.

Upon receipt of the unrestricted gift, MNU wanted to direct a portion to an area for which Hostutler would have had an affinity. A portion was set aside to form the David Hostutler Memorial Scholarship Fund. As a part of the endowment for ministerial scholarships for students, the fund will grow and benefit students for years to come.

“There are quite a few pastors from our family, so it’s a good fit. He would be pleased,” Cloud says. “This surprise gift is proof that one never knows how far one’s influence will go. It also shows that we never know where God’s blessings will come from.”

Cloud says though his uncle never visited MNU, he was able to see the value of a place like this.

»

For information on how you can leave a legacy at MNU visit mnugiving.org

31 ACCENT MAGAZINE / FALL 2014

ALUMNI & FRIENDS

ALUMNI NEWS Jeremi (Heiney, ’88, MEd '05) Wonch was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (Kansas), by the National Science Foundation.

Below,” was named CD of the Year by the Rural Roots Music Commission.

He’s also a four-time nominee for the Academy of Western Artists’ Western Artist of the Year award.

Catherine (Brunet, ’89) Brandt was appointed assistant principal at Northeast Elementary School in Montgomery County, Tennessee.

Michael Downs (’95) accepted the assignment of lead pastor at Cross Pointe Church of the Nazarene in Salisbury, Maryland.

Rev. Jonathan Foster (’91) has written and published a book inspired by the loss of his daughter Quincy Foster (FS, ’16). “This artistic story is born out of sorrow and joy, pain and love. It offers a simple but extraordinary answer to the question, ‘Where Was God on the Worst Day of My Life,’” Foster says.

Monica Smith ('00) graduated from the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association's Bar Leadership Academy and was selected as an “Up & Coming Lawyer” for Missouri Lawyers Weekly.

She attended the National Association for Drug Court Professionals conference in Washington, where she met with U.S. Senator for Missouri, Roy Blunt, to discuss Kansas City’s specialty courts. Monica currently serves on the Police Athletic League Junior Board.

A portion of the proceeds from each book will go to a project in Haiti through Heart to Heart International.

The project is related to MNU’s Passion to Serve Project in Haiti. See the book at www.LQVE.org.

John D. Thexton (’92) earned a PhD at Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University in August 2014. His degree is in Pastoral Theology and Counseling and his dissertation is titled “Neighborlove from a margin: a pastoral theological construction employing class analysis.”

Gregory Hager (’94) has recorded seven albums since 2009. He performs at more than 100 concerts each year, drawing impressive crowds to churches, rodeos and Christmas events. His latest album, “In the Valley 32 ACCENT MAGAZINE / FALL 2015

Luke Johnson (’03) earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in wind conducting at the University of Kansas in May 2015.

He is currently assistant professor of music and director of bands and music education at MNU. Martin Kelsey (’04) was hired to host a middle school science show called “STEM in 30” at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. So Choi (’07) was awarded the 20152016 Kansas Art Education Association Outstanding Overall Educator of the Year. An art instructor at Leawood Middle School, So works closely with her colleagues and members of the community to implement integrated learning across subject areas. An example of these opportunities include entering students in the Scholastic Art Awards as well as local events such as the Johnson County Library Bookmark Contest. She has been a professional

development presenter in her district and at the Kansas Art Education Association Conferences.

Sarah (Rowland, ’09, MSN ’10) Miller graduated with an EdD in interdisciplinary leadership from Creighton University in May 2015. Her dissertation research, “Nurses’ Faith and Its Impact on the Provision of the Spiritual Component of Holistic Care” has been accepted for poster presentations at Nurse Educators at The Rockies Conference in Breckenridge, Colorado, in July and Sigma Theta Tau International’s 32rd Biennial Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, in November of this year.

Mike Snider ('10) serves as fire chief in Liberty, Missouri, and was recently elected vice president at the Missouri Valley Division of the International Association of Fire Chiefs conference.

In addition, he will serve as president in 2017.

Julian Vaughn’s (’10) 2015 single “Ride Along” reached #1 on the Jazz Billboard charts. Julian is a smooth jazz musician from Kansas City, Missouri, who performs in concerts worldwide.

Liza Zumbrunnen (’11) was hired as high school band director at Heritage Christian Academy in Olathe, Kansas.

Andra Kee ('13) was awarded the Stewardship Sermon Scholarship by Stewardship Ministries of the Church of the Nazarene. Funds for this scholarship are awarded annually to up to five pastoral ministry students enrolled in either a religion or Christian education program at a USA or Canada Nazarene institution of higher education. Andra attends Nazarene Theological Seminary.

ALUMNI & FRIENDS

Alumni Directory to be Published MNU alumni can expect to be contacted soon by PCI of Dallas, Texas, to update their contact information for inclusion in a new alumni directory which will publish in October 2016. MNU has partnered with PCI, publisher of directories for many colleges and universities such as Texas A&M, Georgetown and Rutgers, to verify alumni data and obtain information such as field of occupation.

Two area alumnae are using their MNU education to live their passion every day at work.

Megan McGee (’12), is director of donor cultivation for Great Plains SPCA, one of the largest no-kill animal shelters in the Kansas City area. As a student in MNU’s bachelor’s-degree completion program, McGee conducted research on ways to raise money for animal welfare as one of her course projects. After graduation she decided to volunteer at a local animal shelter. What she calls a random visit to the Pet Adoption Center of Great Plains SPCA turned into a job in 2013.

Emily (Lefler, ’06) Hawkins is a social marketing manager for Great Plains SPCA. Managing the highly engaged audiences on the organization’s Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, blog and Snapchat platforms, Hawkins’ creativity has helped the Great Plains SPCA Facebook page grow from 1,500 to 50,000 fans.

“Behind every pet is a person, so when we are helping a pet in need, we are also directly helping that person or family who may otherwise not have had a place to turn,” Hawkins says.

- Need a "cute" fix? Check out a video filled with adoptable puppies and kitties at mnu.edu/accent.

HAVE NEWS? Want to share births, marriages, new jobs and accomplishments with Accent? Please send to alumni@mnu.edu or connect with us on social media.

It doesn't matter how you connect with us, we just want to hear from you!

According to Kevin Garber, director of alumni relations, alumni can be certain that their contact information will not be sold to any third parties.

Additionally, alumni can purchase the directory for $100 through PCI. “We hope this new directory will be very useful to our alumni and help them keep in touch or reconnect with friends and classmates,” Garber said.

2016 Calendar Help MNU’s graphic design program with your purchase of a 2016 desk calendar featuring the art of 10 MNU alumni. All proceeds go to the graphic design program. Available online at themerc.mnu.edu.

CONNECT ONLINE facebook.com/MNUAlumniandFriends twitter.com/mnu_alumni youtube.com/MNUAlumni linkedin.com

33 ACCENT MAGAZINE / FALL 2015

ALUMNI ARTICLE & FRIENDS TITLE

(1)

Help us welcome our newest PIONEERS

→ BIRTHS 1) Brody (’08) and Jenae (Jakobitz, ’09) Bell, a daughter: Tory Hope, born Apr. 10, 2015.

2) John (’04) and Christina Booth, a son: Asher Munro, born June 10, 2015.

3) Cole (’10) and Rachelle (Warren, ’10) Branstetter, a son: Malachi, born Sept. 21, 2015.

4) Ashford (’12) and Cary (Hayes, ’11) Collins, a daughter: Avery Monroe, born Aug. 31, 2015.

5) Sidney (’01) and Deena (Moore, ’01) Dement, a daughter: Maya Sunanda, born Mar. 13, 2015.

6) Kevin and Miranda (Barnes, ’09) Edwards, a daughter: Elizabeth Grace, born May 21, 2015.

7) Travis (’04) and Melissa (McKellips, ’06) Emerson, a daughter: Arabella LeeAnne, born June 4, 2015.

(10)

(14)

(15)

(21)

(23)

(24)

(26)

(27)

34 ACCENT MAGAZINE / FALL 2015

ALUMNI & FRIENDS

→ MARRIAGES 8) Christopher (’09) and Jennifer (Kirk, ’10) Godwin, a son: Jacob Brooks, born Sept. 3, 2015.

19) Cory (’02) and Michelle (Myers, ’03) Maxwell, a son: CJ, born Aug. 20, 2015.

Christopher and Amanda (Adams, ’11) Fuller, June 6, 2015.

9) Zach and Kelli (Harris, ’09) Haeffner, a daughter: Hadley Jo, born Sept. 8, 2015.

20) Derek (’13) and Becky (Wieczorek, ’13) McGowen, a daughter: Madison Lynn, born Sept. 5, 2015.

Matt (’15) and Brenna (Bohlman, ’15) Selden, June 27, 2015.

10) Brad (’01) and Lori (DeBord, ’02) Hewitt, a daughter: Kayley Jo, born April 30, 2015.

11) Jeremiah (’04) and Kristin (Breuklander, ’04) Higgins, a son: Miles Eugene, born June 4, 2015.

12) Lynn (’08) and Melissa (Weidert, ’07) Hoffman, a son: Nash Nicholas, born June 4, 2015.

13) Bradley (’10) and Brittney (Thornton, ’09) Jonker, a daughter: Harlee Jane, born Aug. 29, 2015.

21) Ryan (’08) and Rebekah Means, a daughter: Naomi Gene, born May 21, 2015.

22) Jonathan and Alicia (Godwin, ’05) Parker, a son: Landon, born Mar. 2, 2015.

23) David (’06) and Jennifer (O'Neill, ’06) Platter, a daughter: Jori Beth, born Aug. 27, 2015 24) Dave (’08) and Lauren Richards, a son: Beau David, born July 8, 2015.

14) Corey (’99) and Jill (Bachman, ’98) Kenney, a daughter: Alice Mae, born May 29, 2015.

25) Geoff (’11) and Whitney (Jenkins, ’01) Rodden, a daughter: Harper Kay, born May 5, 2015.

15) Cody (’09) and Christina (Summers, ’08) Kraemer, a daughter: Kinsley Marie, born July 24, 2015.

26) Eli (’10) and Ashley (Kyle, ’11) Stewart, a son: Creighton Eli, born June 15, 2015.

Daniel and Cherith (Campbell, ’15) Boone, May 23, 2015.

Richard and Sara (Glass, ’12) Wise, June 14, 2015.

Justin and Laura (Miller, ’13) Schaper, October 18, 2014.

Matthew (’14) and Amanda (Neufeld, ’13) Comfort, September 4, 2015.

Al and Sandra (Pierson, ’79) Ehrhardt, November 24, 2014.

Spenser and Maddison (Pippert, ’12) Bennett, August 1, 2015.

Douglas (’15) and Morgan (Sands, ’15) Eichman, June 1, 2015.

16) Cameron (FS ’92) and DaVonne (Wright, ’93) Lee, a son: Bodhi Ray, born July 1, 2015.

27) Ashley (’09) and Sarah (Worthington, ’09) Thompson, a son: Travell Alexander, born Apr. 28, 2015.

17) Kevin (’12) and Ashley (Mackey, ’12) Liddle, a son: Carter Jason, born June 12, 2015.

28) Mark (’07) and Heidi (Veldhuizen, ’10) Van Sickle, a daughter: Rylie Mae, born July 29, 2015.

Brady (’10) and Tara Yantis, October 11, 2014.

18) Ethan and Amanda (Edwards, ’08) Lowry, a daughter: Madison “Maddie” Sueann, born June 29, 2015.

29) Evan and Taylor (Ford, ’09) Zimmerman, a daughter: Erika Catherine, born Aug. 20, 2015.

Corey and Micah (Yantis, ’07) Fischer, July 31, 2015.

Rob and Rachel (Schillie, ’09) Bevins, August 15, 2015.

→ CONDOLENCES Delmira “Delmy” DeBow (FS ’76), July 22, 2015.

Rachel (Weigelt, ’95) Maxwell, October 12, 2015.

Daniel Hertweck (’76), June 15, 2015.

Teresa Kay Anderson (’00), July 16, 2015.

Rev. Larry Lott (’76), July 13, 2015.

Spencer Dixon (FS ’11), October 10, 2015.

Craig Crenshaw (FS ’80), August 19, 2015.

James W. Ackerson, Sr., MNU faculty emeritus, October 30, 2015.

Garry Rush (’83), August 10, 2015.

Dr. B.J. Garber (MNU Board of Trustees 1975-83), July 24, 2015.

Rev. Bryon L. Wixom (’87), August 1, 2015.

Otto William Theel, Jr., MD, October 26, 2015. (See pg. 27)

35 ACCENT MAGAZINE / FALL 2105

University Advancement 2030 E. College Way Olathe KS 66062-1899 Change Service Requested

Friday, April 8, 6:30 p.m.

MNU Cook Center

Join us for an inspiring evening of exquisite food, live and silent auctions, and special entertainment. This signature event has raised nearly $2 million with all proceeds benefiting student scholarships at MNU. Plan now to be part of the 2016 President’s Honors, a night to celebrate God’s faithfulness and donor generosity. Be sure to reserve your tickets early!

LEARN MORE AND PURCHASE TICKETS AT WWW.PRESIDENTSHONORS.ORG