MVNU NOW, Fall 2019 by Mount Vernon Nazarene University

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MOUNT VERNON NAZARENE UNIVERSIT Y Fa ll 2 019

NOW MVNU ATHLETICS:

Building Bodies and Character

EDITOR’S NOTE Samantha Scoles

Editor

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2

Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s history has been well established in this alumni magazine, particularly with editions in 2018 focused on our 50th anniversary. In the time leading up to our founding, the city and people of Mount Vernon were more than hospitable in their desire to make Mount Vernon the home of the Church of the Nazarene’s newest college. The land that is now MVNU also established the campuses of the Knox County Career Center and the Mount Vernon High School and Middle School. The founding board of the KCCC, known then as the Knox County Joint Vocational School, stated in September 1966, that the use of the land by the city schools, the college and the technical school would create “an educational park where educational, recreational and cultural facilities are clustered — and both youths and adults will be served.” Through collaborative efforts with the Mount Vernon City Schools, the City of Mount Vernon, youth sports programs and multiple philanthropic organizations, some of the fabric of Lakeholm Farm is being woven back together with our new Soccer and Lacrosse Stadium and Community Fields and the high school’s Community Field House. Through

this amazing community-wide effort, we are validating the statement made by the JVS board 53 years ago. It’s like coming back to our roots and being reminded of our civic responsibility to those who showed us true hospitality and encouraged us to be more than educators. We — MVNU, KCCC and MVCS — were vested to provide recreation and cultural opportunities to the community. Individually, we have lived up to our expectations, but together we are moving toward a more welcoming environment where we are able to fill a need in our recreational community that we expect to have a great impact on the future of the city. Speaking of warm receptions, this summer we welcomed Rev. Stephanie Lobdell as our new campus pastor. It has been a delight to speak with her and listen to her messages of hospitality in chapel — as if she has been a part of MVNU’s heritage from the beginning. She is a passionate speaker who gets right to the heart of her message to remind us that it is God’s will that we be generous and compassionate to others and recognize that we, too, have been welcomed into the Lord’s Kingdom. We are excited to introduce her to our alumni and friends on Page 35 in this edition of Mount Vernon NOW.

Email us at MVNU.Communications@mvnu.edu

DO EVERYTHING TO THE GLORY OF GOD . . .

He nr y W. Spaul di ng II, Ph. D. P re sident

President Henry W. Spaulding II, Ph.D. Vice President for University Relations Rev. James Smith

Assistant Vice President for Development Justin Nowicki Coordinator of Communications/PR Samantha Scoles

RE L AT I O N S H I P S RU L E

BUILDING FOR THE FUTUR E INDEX

Director of Creative Services and Marketing Production Tricia Bowles

Director of Web Development & Communications Carlos M. Serrao

NOW (USPS 761-980) is published twice a year by Mount Vernon Nazarene University, located at 800 Martinsburg Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050. Standard Postage Paid at Mount Vernon, OH 43050 and additional mailing ofďŹ ces. Campus Switchboard: 740-392-6868 Subscription Updates: MVNU.Communications@mvnu.edu

CO M M U N I T Y I M PAC T

NOW Fall 2019

Art Direction / Design Arthur Cherry

04 G R A P EV I N E 30

N EW S & N OT ES

Chaplain's Corner Esports News & Notes

Events Calendar

To The Glory

Commencement 2019

Relationships RULE

Bigger Than The Games

Building For The Future

Strategic Expansion

Records For MVNU

Q&A

Community Impact

The Grapevine

NEWS & NOTES

MVNU EARNS ABET ACCREDITATION FOR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT Five years after offering the first class in its undergraduate engineering program, Mount Vernon Nazarene University has been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). ABET accreditation assures that MVNU’s program meets standards to produce graduates ready to enter critical technical fields that are leading the way in innovation and emerging technologies, and anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public.

MVNU’S GPS SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM RANKED BEST IN OHIO

@MVNU1968

All engineering graduates are now qualified to sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, which is required to become a professional licensed engineer. According to Dr. LeeAnn Couts, Dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences, and faculty lead for the accreditation process, the accreditation is retroactive to MVNU’s first engineering graduates, which realized 100 percent employment in their field within one month of graduation. The Department of Engineering includes Dr. Richard Sutherland, Professor of Engineering, who is coming out of retirement to chair the program; Dr. Jose Oommen, Assistant Professor of Engineering; Dr. Jeongmoon Park, Assistant Professor of Engineering; and Dr. Qiuyan Li, Assistant Professor of Engineering; and Gregory Childers, Engineering Technician.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s Graduate and Professional Studies social work program was recently ranked in the top 15% of the country and No. 1 in the state of Ohio by College Factual. This ranking was based on factors including the student loan default rate, average graduate salaries, the availability of online and night/weekend classes, and other flexible learning options non-traditional students value.

MVNU1968

ThisIsMVNU

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VEALE MAKES NAIA HALL OF FAME Head Baseball Coach Keith Veale will be inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2020. “I have been privileged and blessed to spend my career at a Christian, NAIA university. To be able to coach baseball in an organization like the NAIA which values the development of character and honors institutions of faith has always made the NAIA appealing to me,” Veale said. The ceremony will take place during the American Baseball Coaches Association Convention, Jan. 2-5, 2020, in Nashville, Tennessee. He was honored March 27, 2019, for his 1,000th win with MVNU baseball. Coach Veale was joined by his wife, Toni,

SCOTT CAMPBELL NAMED VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE/CFO A Mount Vernon Nazarene University graduate has returned to his alma mater to serve as the Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Scott Campbell served on the MVNU Board of Trustees from 2014-2019, including as chairman of the Finance Committee.

Campbell earned his Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from MVNU in May 1986 (Magna Cum Laude), and went on to receive the Ohio Government Finance Officers Association’s 2017 Excellence in Government Award. He is a former board member and current treasurer of the Shepherd Church of the Nazarene, treasurer and board of trustees member of the Shepherd Christian School, and a board of trustees member for the Counsel of Infrastructure Financing Authorities.

For 30 seasons, Veale has been the head coach of MVNU baseball. His illustrious career includes nine conference championships, four conference tournament championships and five NCCAA World Series championships. Veale is one of eight active NAIA coaches to reach the milestone. He is currently the third-winningest active coach at a four-year institution in the state of Ohio.

STEPHANIE LOBDELL APPOINTED MVNU CAMPUS PASTOR Rev. Stephanie Lobdell has joined MVNU as the campus pastor, effective July 1. Lobdell relocated to Mount Vernon from Mountain Home, Idaho, where she and her husband, Tommy, co-pastored at Mountain Home Church of the Nazarene since 2015. They served in the same roles with the Kingston Church of the Nazarene in Kingston, Missouri, from 2009-2015. In addition, she served as a volunteer missionary in Palermo, Sicily from 2007-08. The campus pastor is charged with engaging the entire campus through chapel, pastoral counseling/care, leadership development, mission opportunities and theological education toward mature Christian character. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Christian Education and Spanish from MidAmerica Nazarene University and a Masters of Divinity from Nazarene Theological Seminary. She was presented the Corlett Holiness Sermon Award in 2012, and participated in the Christians for Biblical Equality Writing Contest in 2017 and Collegeville Writing Institute Workshop Invitation in 2018. Her book, “Signs of Life: Resurrecting Hope Out of Ordinary Losses,” was released Oct. 1.

To learn more about Rev. Lobdell, see page 35.

05 NOW Fall 2019

The new MVNU CFO collaborates with the president and Senior Leadership Team in the financial planning, operations, resourcing and stewardship of the university; assists in the development of the annual operating budget; oversees human resources, accounting, facilities, IT, risk management, auxiliaries and financial operations of the university; among other responsibilities.

to accept the award from Director of Athletics Chip Wilson. Former players were also in attendance to congratulate Veale on his success.

NEWS & NOTES

GROUNDBREAKING MARKS START OF PHASE 1 OF MVNU STADIUM CONSTRUCTION The future of Mount Vernon Nazarene University athletics turned a corner June 10, as university and community leaders broke ground to start the construction of the new Soccer and Lacrosse Stadium and Community Fields. MVNU President Dr. Henry W. Spaulding II used the words “competition,” “collaboration” and “grateful” to articulate his thoughts on the project and its impact on the community. He emphasized the importance of teaching students how to compete, that character rises through academic and athletic competition, and that the stadium project is bigger than MVNU.

SOUTH CENTRAL OHIO DISTRICT CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE CREATES ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

“I stand here today grateful for the community where we are, for the people that partner with us, for those who join in our mission and the privilege it is for us to be a part of what’s going on in this community. We join you, and you join us, in a way that other communities wish they had,” said Spaulding. Spaulding named the MVNU Board of Trustees, Mount Vernon City Schools, the City of Mount Vernon, The Ariel Foundation, First-Knox National Bank, Mark Ramser, Knox County Foundation, Strollo Architects, SoL Harris/Day Architecture, Denny Taylor and Tony Edwards as supporters and collaborators who are making this project possible for the betterment of the entire community. For more information on the Soccer and Lacrosse Stadium and Community Fields project, see Page 20.

The South Central Ohio Student Endowed Scholarship at Mount Vernon Nazarene University has been established by a $50,000 donation from the South Central Ohio District Church of the Nazarene. Undergraduate students from the South Central Ohio District who are enrolled in a traditional academic program will be eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Leroy Flowers spent 29 years as a painter for the campus facilities department. Over the years, Flowers has kept all campus buildings looking fresh and new — 75 structures, 800,000 square feet of building space. During the last 26 years as an HVAC technician at MVNU, Stanley Park has serviced and repaired everything from 100-ton roof-top units to 100,000 BTU gas furnaces. For 18 years, Paul Nixon was an assistant professor of library science and director of the campus library.

MVNU RECOGNIZES SEVEN RETIREES Mount Vernon Nazarene University honored seven retirees at a Recognition of Service and Retiree Reception on Thursday, May 2. Dr. Randy Cronk was a professor of psychology for 35 years at MVNU. Over the years, Dr. Cronk has used his love of traveling to impact more than 500 students on over 15 January bike trips, six trips to Papua New Guinea, and six spring break trips.

Dr. Pam Owen retired after 23 years as a professor of education. She is a 1972 alumna of MVNU and known as the “ultimate champion for young children.” Mary Lou Sinzinger spent 13 years as the Counseling Center and Student Health Services receptionist working with students. She was always there to listen, give kind words and pray. Denise Smith, coordinator of Student Health Services, retired after 22 years of service.

UNIVERSITY RELATIONS

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES

MVNU’s University Relations Division recently announced two hires with strong connections to the university.

English and History Departments Combine The English and Modern Languages Department and History and Political Science Department has combined to become the English and History Department. Dr. Dorothea Hawthorne is the chair of the new department, effective with the 2019-20 academic year.

Jill Ballenger has joined the team as Director of the University Fund and Community Relations. An MVNU alumna and former staff member, Ballenger is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the Annual Giving Program as well as nurturing partnerships with alumni and friends of the university.

English professor Dr. Dorothea Hawthorne presented at Calvin College’s Sacred Space Pedagogy Summit 2019 on-line May-June and on-site June 3-5. The summit offers advanced professional

Justin Sorensen, assistant professor of art at MVNU, recently had an essay, “A Quiet Orbit,” published on the Christians in the Visual Arts Blog site. His essay focused on his experience in China, where he studied contemporary Chinese art and religion. Additionally, he presented a new sculpture, Bucket of Juice, in the 2019 biennial CIVA conference juried exhibition. To see more, http://civa.org/civablog/a-quiet-orbit/ Laura Tabbut, Schnormeier Gallery administrator and adjunct faculty at MVNU, was recently awarded the Juror’s Choice Award for her piece Aural Fix at the biennial CIVA conference juried exhibition. Her work was selected from 300 entries to receive this award. In addition, her paper, “Scandinavian Pain: The Nostalgia of Now,” was selected for presentation at the biennial

07 NOW Fall 2019

Brad Kochis has accepted the position of Executive Director of Alumni and Advancement. Brad will continue to grow relationships with MVNU’s alumni community, developing a comprehensive approach to connect alumni with the university both near and far.

“To Like the Right Things for the Right Reasons” by English professor Dr. Brett Wiley was published in The Journal of Faith and the Academy XI, No. 2 (Fall 2018), a publication of the Institute of Faith and the Academy from Faulkner University.

development for higher education faculty to deepen contemplative, faith-shaped teaching practices that promote justice, diversity, and inclusion. See https://calvin.edu/events/ssp/.

conference. To see more, visit https://civa-conference.squarespace.com/ Professor of English Dr. David Wilkes recently recorded an Arts of Language podcast with the Institute for Excellence in Writing, a homeschool organization founded by Andrew Pudewa. He can be heard at https://iew.com/help-support/ podcast/episode-184-college-level-writingand-literary-analysis-interview-dr-david David Baker has been made Center for Innovative Education Coordinator, adding Moodle problem solving for students and full responsibility for some duties previously shared with the director to his job description. He continues to be the point person for Summer Learn, faculty Moodle solutions, and CIE walk-ins. Associate vice president for academic administration Dr. Yvonne Schultz attended the Advanced Leadership Institute sponsored by the CCCU and held in Sumas, Wash., June 9-13. Associate professor of graphic design Margaret Allotey-Pappoe participated in the Multi-Ethnic Leadership Development Institute sponsored by the CCCU and held in Sumas, Wash., June 13-17. Music Department adjunct professor Jim Puckett (MVNU '90, music performance) successfully defended his dissertation at Kent State University. The two-part work is entitled Part 1: Concerto for Percussion Quartet and Wind Ensemble and Part II: The Compositional Technique of Joseph Schwantner as presented in LUMINOSITY “Concerto for Wind Orchestra.” Puckett is the worship pastor in Richardson Church of the Nazarene, Richardson, Texas.

SCHOOL OF NATURAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES Lydia Radcliffe, 2021 biology graduate, was accepted into the Wheaton College Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts Symposium at Wheaton College, May 28-June 1, 2019. Ashley Brown, 2021 biology graduate, was accepted into the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Summer School at the University of Pittsburgh. Matias Malkamaki, 2021 biology and

chemistry graduate, was accepted into the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Summer School at the University of Pittsburgh and offered an 8-week internship. For the second year in row, MVNU’s computer science graduates have had 100% job or graduate school placement prior to graduation. Dr. John Noonan, Professor of Mathematics, presented “How the Government Shutdown Derailed My Plans for a Series of Introduction to Statistics Projects and How I got the Projects Back on Track” at the Mathematics Association of America meeting in Cincinnati on Aug. 3, 2019. Dr. John Bossley, Assistant Professor of Biology, co-authored the article “Impact of Student-induced Disturbance on Stream Macroinvertebrates Differs among Habitat Types” published in Scientific Reports. He also presented “Habitat for Biodiversity: Aquatic Insects” at the 2019 Ohio State University Museum of Biological Diversity open house. Dr. Zachary Graber, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, co-authored the articles “Soft Hyaluronic Gels Promote Cell Spreading, Stress Fibers, Focal Adhesion, and Membrane Tension by Phosphoinositide Signaling, Not Traction Force” published in ACS Nano and “Cell Membranes Resist Flow” published in Cell. Dr. Binyang Hou, Assistant Professor of Physics, co-authored the articles “Formation of Oriented Polar Crystals in Bulk Poly (vinylidene fluoride)/HighAspect-Ratio Organoclay Nanocomposites” published in Langmuir and “Correction: Surface induced smectic order in ionic liquids–an X-ray reflectivity study of [C22C1im]+[NTf2]−” in Physical Chemistry.

Social Work. Qiuyan Li was hired as Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Ruth Reynard was hired as Graduate and Professional Studies Assistant Vice President for Program Development and Innovation. ( Jessica) Lee Bjornsen was hired as Director of Student Success. Taylor McMarlin was hired as Admissions Counselor. Carissa Shannon was hired as Enrollment Events Assistant.

STAFF CHANGES Gina Blanchard, formerly Bookstore Manager, transitioned to Director of the Campus Store, Printing, and Postal Operations. Amy Dubusky, formerly Coordinator of Workshops and Continuing Education, transitioned to Assistant Professor of Education. Justin Nowicki, formerly Director of Development, transitioned to Assistant Vice President for Development. Tim Radcliffe, formerly Director of Student Success, transitioned to Director of the Library. Simon Taylor, formerly Assistant Coach, transitioned to Head Cross Country Coach. Cheryl Sharpes, formerly Admissions Office Assistant transitioned to Assistant Director of Admissions, Campus Visits, and Events. Krissta Hadsell has been hired as the Director of Institutional Research and Accountability. She has shifted into this role as part of a transition plan anticipating Dr. Randie Timpe’s retirement from MVNU early in 2020.

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATION

Michael Simmons, formerly Academic Specialist, transitioned to Assistant Director of Academic and Registration Services.

Ellis Gallion was hired as Head Track and Field Coach.

Dr. Hank Spaulding, formerly faculty adjunct, transitioned to Associate Campus Pastor.

Jennifer Jacobsen was hired as Instructor of

Events Calendar NOVEMBE R

DAVID SAPP: DRAWING AND STUDY, POEM AND DRAFT Schnormeier Gallery NOVEMBER 4 - DECEMBER 6

STEM VISIT DAY NOVEMBER 11

UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS FELLOWSHIP DAY NOVEMBER 21

homecoming.mvnu.edu

TRI STATE BIBLE QUIZ NOVEMBER 22-23

HOMECOMING 2019

THANKSGIVING BREAK

November 15-16

NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 1

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MVNYO U VISIT DAY DECEMBER 2

For a complete calendar, visit mvnu.edu/events

MESSIAH 7 P.M.

DECEMBER 8

LITTLE SIBS WEEKEND JANUARY 17-18

NOW NOW Fall Fall2019 2013

J A N U A RY

DECEMB E R

News & Notes

Events Calendar

To The Glory

Commencement 2019

Relationships RULE

Bigger Than The Games Building For The Future Strategic Expansion

Records For MVNU

Q&A Community Impact

The Grapevine

DO EVERYTHING TO THE GLORY OF GOD . . . I NC L U DI NG AT HLE TICS

H e n r y W. S p a u l d i n g I I , P h . D .

President

Esports

Chaplain's Corner

"The race we are running is about character, not acclaim in the eyes of others."

Do everything to the glory of God. This simple exhortation explains a good deal about Christians. Keeping this in mind resolves many questions that arise regarding behavior and attitude. If we honestly attempt to glorify God in our lives, the next step we take is much easier. During these days of increasing complexity, the desire to honor our faith provides a reliable compass for navigating life. MVNU seeks to “Shine Forth” in a confusing world by offering the resources to glorify God in all we do. For this reason, we have built a chapel, library, classrooms, and athletic facilities. These buildings join for one common purpose – to bring glory and honor to God.

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Plato, the seminal Greek philosopher, provides an ideal vision for education. He argues that one must train the body as well as the mind. He understood that no matter how much we seek to train our mind, the way we treat our bodies will ultimately determine our physical wellbeing and our mental health. No one should doubt Plato’s passion for the intellectual and rational; even he must logically join the body and the mind when he describes education. MVNU intends to do the same thing. Paul writes, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1).

NOW NOW Fall Fall2019 2013

MVNU has invested in athletics from the beginning. Our gymnasiums proudly display many championship banners. A few years ago, our women’s volleyball team competed in the final round of the Crossroads Athletic Conference. It was a hard fought game with a much larger university, but in the end in the fifth set, we prevailed. The students spilled out onto the floor in joyous celebration. Many of us who did not run onto the floor were equally thrilled. Yet, the most important goal of athletics at MVNU is to glorify God in all that we do, whether we win or lose the game. We offer the opportunity for intercollegiate competition as one very important dimension of our strategy for character development. Paul urges, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). This simple admonition reaches to every aspect of life. Whether we are in a classroom, laboratory, performance, art studio, library, or nursing/ teaching practicum we should seek to glorify God. The race we are running is about character, not acclaim in the eyes of others.

Holiness is central to the ethos of MVNU as well. As a partner with the Church of the Nazarene and God’s Church, we seek to embody the character of Christ. Winning a game is important, but in the grand scheme of life, our goal is much higher. The scripture teaches that God created the world. Everything that exists depends upon the graciousness of God. Life is a gift. We bear God’s image and it beckons us to reflect His glory. Jesus urges, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). Our faith is embodied. This means at least two things. First, our bodies become vehicles to serve God through faithful obedience. When we have the mind of Christ, we have the desire to reflect that with our bodies. Second, God’s grace determines the way we treat our bodies and honor the lives (bodies) of those who surround us. This makes the weight room a place of discipleship, faithfulness, and even worship. MVNU gladly participates in a full-bodied faith.

Our bodies are necessary in order to make an acceptable spiritual sacrifice. What we do with our bodies is important. God cares about our sexual behavior, the food we eat, and the way we treat others. This is why we not only have doctrinal convictions, but moral convictions as well. We can glorify God through athletics. Paul uses the model of an athlete to illustrate the Christian life, “And in the case of an athlete, no one is crowned without competing according to the rules” (2 Tim. 2:5). Living the Christian life requires discipline and effort. When I watch our athletes in action, it is evident that they have practiced in order to discipline their bodies for competition. Our coaches often stress that we win championships in practice. We compete because it tests our capacity and limits to the glory of God. I recently told one of our coaches, “You do not win every game on points, but you do win every game on character.” Our student athletes win in life because of the character they engender through competition. The game we are competing in is life. A quick look at the broader terrain of university and professional athletics is rather discouraging. The behavior on the field or court does not always suggest either discipline or character. MVNU seeks to offer the opportunity for young men and women to compete in an environment of mutual respect. One of the reasons for MVNU to compete is so that Christian values are embodied. There is nothing wrong with vigorous competition. Life requires that we set goals, work hard, and apply all of our skill to be successful. Winning is Christian along with the justified pride that comes with it. Yet, taunting or

violence takes the focus off the competition and places it on me. Athletics must be about the team in order to glorify God. There are many ways to use our bodies to glorify God. Some come to college with physical restrictions that make traditional athletic competition unrealistic or even impossible. Some will find that our new offerings in esports will provide an avenue for competition. Some will find other ways to honor God and participate in campus activities. Paul writes, “Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air, but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.” 1 Cor. 9:24-26 Ultimately, we all own our body in partnership with Christ and His church. As Christians, we play so that all might win. We have a responsibility to use what God has given us to worship Him. When we do this, we exist as an invitation to the world. This is at the root of all we do in athletics. It is one way that we honor our bodies and demonstrate character in the world to the glory of God.

Commencement 2019 Commencement is always a time of celebration to recognize accomplishments. It is also a time of hope for what lies ahead.

Just the beginning Mount Vernon Nazarene University celebrated its 433 traditional and Graduate Professional Studies graduates with commencement exercises on May 4. Graduates at both ceremonies were encouraged to serve their purpose without limitations and to be cognizant of the influence they will be in the world. Commencement speaker C. Todd Jones, J.D., president and general counsel of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio, spoke to graduates about the influence they will have in the world to generations to come.

As an example, Jones reflected on MVNU’s 50th anniversary in 2018, and how the university has prospered under the leadership of those who had no idea how many classes of students would be influenced by the pioneer spirit and dedication. To watch videos of commencement, visit mvnu.tv.

Col. Richard Stephen Fambro, superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol was presented his Master of Science in Management after testifying on his journey to complete his degree. It was through the encouragement of a coworker, he said, that he pushed through to the finish. Since then, Fambro has encouraged others within the OSHP to pursue their educational goals.

Photos on ThisIsMVNU

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“You matter to the future in ways you will never know,” Jones said. “In fact, those you change will never know it was you. The goodness of your life will benefit people you will never know. They will never know it was you that passed on traditions or created a life model that they are following.”

Assistant professor of psychology, Carla Swallow, was recognized with the Excellence in Teaching Award for her distinguished service to students, life of the university and the community. Bailey Phillips and Guillermo Morales were awarded the Service Above Self Award for their demonstration of leadership in academic and extra-curricular activities and exemplary service to the university, church and community.

Senior Class Motto

" Today is the tomorrow we dreamed about yesterday." Dale Carnegie

Chaplain's Corner Esports The Grapevine Community Impact Q&A Bigger Than The Games

Building For The Future

Strategic Expansion

Records For MVNU

Relationships RULE Cougar Men's Basketball Jared Ronai

Coach Ronai spoke recently to the Knox Network of Christian Ministries. The following are excerpts from that engagement, which have been edited for space:

News & Notes

Commencement 2019 To The Glory

The 2018-19 men’s basketball season was one of the most successful in school history. With 27 wins, the team tied the school’s single season win record, went on to play in its first Crossroads League championship game, and advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NAIA tournament. Head Coach Jared Ronai credits the success of the program on maintaining the appropriate balance of priorities and creating a culture that instills Christlikeness in each player and in everything they do.

Events Calendar

Relationships RULE

Men's Basketball Coach

mvnucougars.com

“We really believe that as leaders, whether you know it or not or like it or not, you’re creating and developing culture every single day. We feel that when we are intentional about that culture, then we’re going to infuse life into our program. New levels of potential are going to be unlocked and unleashed — not only from players but from coaches alike. My No. 1 ministry is my wife, Kristin; my son, Kyler; and daughter, Kamryn Joy. Our players in our program, they know that for me, it’s faith, family, program.

It’s the first part of our Cougar Culture. We have program priorities and we have personal priorities. Our program priorities are God, family, teammates, self. Our personal priorities are God, family, academics, basketball. We talk about these consistently. They really, really have to be in order. For me, if any of these are out of order, then they are all going to suffer.

"The outcome we achieve is how we show Christ-like character in all that we do."

Before our core values, we wanted to be a process-driven program, and a program that focuses on relationships — relationships unended. Every core value — Relentless effort, Unbreakable spirit, servant Leadership and competitive Excellence — is connected to one of those two. We knew we had to have both of them together. We talk about the process of getting better every single day. We get so focused on that particular thing, we feel that selfishness kind of comes to the surface a little bit. We have to put the focus on others. We have to be relationship focused. We have to really dig into the relationships in our program. We don’t want to have surface level relationships with our players or our coaches. We want to peel back layers and really dig into the relationship within our program.

serve our teammates. We’re a program that when they’re coming over to eat at the house, we’re not “freshmen last” or freshmen you carry my bag. No, we want seniors to carry bags or do those things. We feel it’s an honor to serve our teammates. Competitive excellence. Obviously, that goes back to that processdriven mindset. A constant focus on the process of improvement and growth every single day and through that we are going to fall in love with that process and become the best at which we are capable of becoming. We don’t throw out a bunch of goals … the most important thing is we want to max out our ability as a team. We want to max out our potential. We want to be the best of which we are capable of becoming. This has become our advantage we feel. prayerhood and playerhood. This year – I went to a Christian coaches’ retreat. We talked about discipleship and how we really need to keep Christ at the center of our programs and prayer is such a big, big thing. For us, our prayer life as a program went to a different dimension. Before with our prayer, we pray all the time, I’m praying or

Relentless effort — this is a process-driven core value. We work as hard as we possibly can for 30 seconds, 94 feet. That’s one possession of basketball where a team is focusing on one possession of basketball, one time on the floor. We feel that how we do anything is how we do everything. If we focus on that, if that’s the behavior, the outcome we achieve is on the floor and we’re hoping our opponents dislike playing against us, but that they really respect how we play the game and how hard we play the game.

Servant leadership. How we behave — a humble, selfless mindset to always put others first. Obviously, that’s connected to relationship focused. The outcome we achieve is how we show Christ-like character in all that we do. We become servant leaders. Obviously, we feel the best leadership is servant leadership so we want to really be able to

an assistant coach is praying, normally we ask someone to pray who is comfortable praying in front of others. Now, we’ve really forced our players to be vulnerable. We’ve gone on prayer walks with our team. We had prayer groups as a team. We sat like this and prayed. Then everybody will pray in front of the program before practice or games. The second thing is playerhood. The best organizations in professional to college sports are player-led programs. For us, this past year, Brett Viperman, Jeremiah Roberts, Jordi Mas … they took their leadership to a different dimension. We want them to almost become player coaches, that’s the type of ownership they took to another dimension.

To listen to Coach Ronai’s entire presentation, visit mvnu.edu/alumni/publications.

17 NOW Fall 2019

Unbreakable spirit is our second core value. This past year’s team embodied this core value the most. It’s an uncommon commitment to building relationships and maintaining an attitude of gratitude. We feel if we do those things, we’re going to become great teams. Positive energy is never going to allow us to give in. We’ve played in some unbelievable games this year — two triple overtime games, multiple double overtime games. I think when people came to watch us play, they thought, “Man, those guys just never give up. They’re going to continue to fight until the final buzzer.” This is hopefully, and obviously, through recruitment, through what we’re trying to build with this core value that our guys develop that unbreakable spirit.

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Dave Parsons Sports Information Director 1994-2014

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It’s Bigger Than the Games

As someone who was blessed to be the primary storyteller for MVNU athletics for 21 of the university’s first 50 years and researched a good part of the 25 years before I arrived on campus, I am often asked to share my thoughts on what the best sports moments in school history were. Yes, there have been National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) national titles, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Tournament and NAIA World Series trips; and plenty of conference titles. We’ve had national players of the year and All-Americans, and even a few NAIA and NCCAA Hall of Fame inductees. There have been thrilling buzzer beaters, dramatic upsets, disappointing losses and plenty of incredible individual performances. While all of those have been incredibly memorable, they are not really the first ones that come to mind. For me, it was senior day and reflecting on each player’s career as I would reminisce on how far they had come from the first time I had met them. One specific memory was the basketball senior day when four-year team manager Logan Ellyson, who had survived a bad car accident, learned during the pre-game ceremony that he was going to dress for the game and later got to play. It’s the determination and perseverance of so many of the student-athletes who battled through injuries to find a way to play the game they loved. I’ll never forget Libby Kalanquin missing her first two seasons of soccer with ACL injuries and then finally getting to play as a junior and scoring her first career goal in overtime to beat Urbana 1-0. It’s Jessi Gates of the women’s soccer team leaving school to go to Iraq for 15 months to serve as a member of the Ohio Army National Guard after the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

It’s the Cougar Crazies making MVNU one of the toughest places for opposing teams to play thanks to their boisterous support. Games were always fun whether it was winning free fries because the Cougars scored 100 points, the halftime contest where a fan dressed as baby Jesus hit a half-court shot at the buzzer to win free tanning for a year or the Toga Night when photos ended up on the Sports Illustrated website. MVNU sports always brought the entire campus together. We had many opportunities to celebrate success over the years, but some of my favorite celebrations were listening to players and coaches share their testimonies during Athletes Chapel or when teams held their own church services while traveling together. We have had plenty of times of laughter whether it was during the many hours of riding in buses and vans or watching the Cougar mascot attempt to dunk during a timeout by jumping off an exercise ball and instead ending up on America’s Funniest Videos for his epic fail. There have also been times of immense sadness, too, as we’ve lost a few members of our family along the way. I’ll never forget Ron Holmes, Darren Brooks or Matt Rice and the impact they had on our campus community. For me, it really was all about the relationships built with coaches, student-athletes, parents and alumni. We are blessed to have so many amazing people associated with MVNU through the years. Coaches who have left lasting legacies by investing in the lives of hundreds of players and teaching them not just fundamentals and how to win, but how to be successful in life and strong in their faith. Student-athletes who could have played at higher levels

Through everything, Cougar Nation has stood together. I am extremely proud to have had the opportunity to share the story of the first 50 years of MVNU athletics and I cannot wait to see what the future holds.

Ron Holmes Ron was regarded by some as the best basketball player in MVNU history. He was killed in an automobile accident in 1991, just prior to his senior year at MVNU.

Dave Parsons has a long history with MVNU athletics starting from his freshman year in 1990. He worked his way through the ranks and became the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ rst full-time Sports Information Director in 1998. Throughout his time documenting MVNU athletics, he earned many awards including the Clarence "Ik" Pearson Award as the NAIA SID of the Year in 2008. In 2017, he was inducted into the MVNU Wall of Fame for 21 years of service to the university.

19 N NOW Falll 2019

or those who made the most of a walk-on opportunity and gave their all. Parents who sacrificed so their sons and daughters could attend a private Christian college and then found ways to attend seemingly every game they played no matter where it was. There are passionate alumni all around the world who love to cheer on their teams.

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NEW SOCCER AND LACROSSE STADIUM BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

R e v. J a m e s S m i t h Vice President for University Relations

It has been an incredible 11 months since plans were first formed to construct a Soccer and Lacrosse Stadium for MVNU. We continue to expand our athletic offerings in an effort to fulfill our mission and draw more students to MVNU. As part of this exciting growth, we realized last fall that we had a desperate need for a lighted turf field to accommodate our teams. Conversations began across our community and that dialogue quickly turned to action. On June 10, we held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the beginning of construction on Phase 1, which includes the turf field and lighting. It was amazing to see so many donors, coaches, players, community members, and friends of MVNU gathered under a tent, even on a rainy spring day. They joined us

to celebrate this important moment in the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history. Dr. Henry W. Spaulding II, shared words of inspiration and gratitude as we reflected on all the Lord has done to make this project a reality in such a short amount of time. The excavators, bulldozers and earth movers arrived earlier this summer and dirt was moved. We cleared out the corner of our property that is surrounded by the Mount Vernon City Schools, making it evident that big things are happening in this section of Mount Vernon. The construction pad has been laid for our shared field house with the Mount Vernon City Schools, just across the fence line from our stadium site.

mvnu.edu/future

" Later kickoffs will give us opportunities to focus on our studies more, because we won’t have to miss as many classes. … To play at a school, and be able to wear the crest on your jersey, you’re playing under the lights on your own stadium, and to see the logo in the middle of the ﬁeld — that would really mean the world to me." Connor Davis M e n ’s S o c c e r p l a y e r

As Dr. Spaulding noted at the groundbreaking ceremony, “I stand here today grateful for the community where we are, for the people that partner with us, for those who join in our mission, and the privilege it is to be a part of what’s going on in this community.” The Soccer

and Lacrosse Stadium will be, without question, a game-changer for MVNU’s Soccer and Lacrosse programs. However, it is much bigger than that. It also symbolizes our commitment to teaching students how to compete, about forming character through competition, and about providing opportunities to better the community we call home. To those who have already joined with us in this project, THANK YOU! To those who have not yet made a gift, we invite you to join us as we take a bold step into the future. The final portion of fundraising for this project will ensure that we have the necessary funds to construct the stadium building itself, the parking area, and amenities that will make this facility a space we can all take pride in and enjoy for years to come. Fifty years ago, our Pioneers planted the seed that became MVNU. Many have watered it, and many more will continue to water it. God is making it grow. Please join us once again as we seek God’s best for MVNU.

Visit mvnu.edu/future for project updates and your opportunity to get involved.

21 NOW Fall 2019

Great progress has been made in the fundraising efforts for this important addition to campus. An initial matching gift of $1 million was pledged that led the way for our fundraising efforts. Since that time, the matching gift has been increased to $1.25 million! Thanks to generous community members, trustees, alumni, and friends, over $775,000 has been raised toward the match, and an additional $100,000 has been raised specifically for the community fields. Including the matching dollars for which we are currently eligible, $1,656,025 has been pledged or donated in just 10 months (as of Sept. 3, 2019). We are more than halfway to our goal of $2.7 million. The Lord has been faithful! We are incredibly grateful for the 701 individuals, companies, and foundations that have partnered with us on this project to date!

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Strategic Expansion Samantha Scoles Coordinator of Communications and Public Relations

These are new and exciting days at MVNU. Yet, they are a continuation of a pioneering tradition going back 50 years. A New Sports Task Force was established to explore which sports would be beneficial additions to the Mount Vernon Nazarene University Athletics program. Their assignment was to determine which sports provide opportunity for us to grow our student enrollment and increase revenue. “We looked at every sport on the board. We researched any sport that any college anywhere might have,” said Tracy Waal, Vice President for Student Life. The group evaluated sports on three criteria — roster size, cost and demand — to find the best fits. When evaluating the potential roster size, Waal stated it became clear that sports generating small teams would not be financially feasible. “What we quickly discovered is adding a small sport with six to 10 members, does not bring in enough revenue to offset the expense of the sport,” Waal said. “The last thing we would want to do is add a program that would be a drain on resources and actually add more expense than revenue.”

To determine these factors, the group evaluated Ohio High School Athletic Association statistics including the number of high schools offering the sport; number of current players, graduating seniors and predicted number who plan to attend four-year college; and the number of Ohio colleges with teams. Lacrosse is a great illustration of how this research directs the New Sports Task Force in selecting new athletic programs. The most recent statistics show 148 high schools in Ohio offer lacrosse with over 600 senior players. Lacrosse is considered a rapid growth sport and we have been able to take advantage of this pool of potential students by adding a men’s team that grows our enrollment figures. “Esports and lacrosse have been the best so far at finding new students,” said Waal. “They are a bit more of a niche that we had no presence in before. Justin (Nowicki) and Tony (Stemen) found esports competitors that weren’t even considering MVNU.” “All the coaches are working hard,” said Director of Athletics Chip Wilson. “Ryan (Farr, men’s lacrosse coach), is tapping into an area that has never been tapped before. It’s exploding right

"Athletics is not the only piece. It is a single piece of a larger picture. It’s an avenue to get students into the doors and then we can speak into their lives. Ultimately, we want to build our students up to be leaders for Christ." Chip Wilson, Director of Athletics

now for men’s lacrosse. It’s growing in popularity at the high school and college level.” Waal added Farr is recruiting outside the box and has found former football players with athletic skills that are transferable to lacrosse. It is this new approach to recruiting that will help expand the prestige of the university’s athletic programs and open the door to increased enrollment.

Club and reserve teams are also adding to our overall enrollment. We currently offer reserve teams for men’s and women’s soccer and basketball and women’s volleyball. Reserve teams provide a means for student-athletes to continue to compete in a sport they have a passion for, without the demands of year-round commitment of varsity programs. A men’s volleyball club team will start this fall as a way to grow the sport into a varsity program. The club sport model is versatile,

While athletic expansion is still a fluid concept, leadership continues to strive for the perfect balance of athletes, coaches and resources to make each sport successful. We continue to see athletics as one of the core elements in the life of our campus community. “Athletics is not the only piece,” Wilson said. “It is a single piece of a larger picture. It’s an avenue to get students into the doors and then we can speak into their lives. Ultimately, we want to build our students up to be leaders for Christ.” Athletics has been a part of the MVNU story since our beginning. Our athletic alumni continue to do incredible things around the world. We are excited to add new athletic offerings to make MVNU a possibility for students and families who would not have considered us before.

23 NOW Fall 2019

The task force will continue to follow athletic trends and is keeping a close eye on sports such as women's lacrosse and wrestling.

allowing some sports to evolve into varsity sports without the pressure to compete against programs that are more fully developed.

Chaplain's Corner Esports

Points 1,016 - 525 MVNU baseball head coach Keith Veale’s career record. 8GCNG DGECOG VJG ƂTUV /807 baseball coach to reach 1,000 career wins and is one of three active collegiate baseball coaches at a fouryear institution to have 1,000 career wins.

81 Blocks for Taylor Gregory this past season, which shattered the MVNU women’s basketball record set in 2012-13 by Courtney Swart. Gregory has 111 career blocks and is only 29 shy of Swart’s career record of 140.

Ben Falkenberg’s career points total for men’s basketball, nearly 300 points ahead of the next-highest player.

18.31 Meters

70 Consecutive home-court wins for MVNU volleyball, the third-most in NAIA history. That run began in 1991 and ended in 1997, and is the longest-such streak by an NAIA school from Ohio.

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Distance of Mitchell Soviak’s best shot put throw at the 2019 NAIA National Championships on May 25, 2019.

7 Home runs hit by Mackenzie Huey in 2019, a freshman record for MVNU softball.

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2,616

Number of times a MVNU softball player has hit two home runs in a game. Hannah Shaffer hit two home runs in a game a record of four times.

@MVNU_Cougars

mvnu_Cougars

Mount Vernon Nazarene University Cougars

20 Number of varsity sports MVNU currently sponsors, a record high. That number will climb to 21 in 2020-21 with the addition of men’s volleyball.

19.33

2018-19

Don Eads’ single-game scoring record for MVNU men’s basketball, set on December 16, 1969, against Spring Arbor; this record still stands 50 years later.

Meters NAIA National Champion Mitchell Soviak’s schoolrecord shot put throw, set at the Jesse Owens Classic at Ohio State on April 27, 2019.

marked the ﬁrst time MVNU earned the NAIA’s Champions of Character Five-Star Gold Institution award for our sportsmanship, community work and focus on character. MVNU scored a perfect 100 out of 100 on the NAIA’s Champions of Character scorecard, one of only 15 schools to do so this year.

6 Marty McLeary 1995-97

.935 MVNU baseball’s schoolrecord winning percentage, set in 1996 with a 43-3 record.

Records compiled by Jonathon Loughridge, MVNU Sports Information Director

25 NOW Fall 2019

Number of sports former MVNU Athletics Director and NAIA Hall of Famer Lora Donoho coached at MVNU, including men’s tennis and men’s soccer. Donoho was instrumental in developing women’s athletics at MVNU during her 15-year tenure from 1975 to 1990.

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At MVNU, athletics is a bridge to a stronger relationship with God. From prayer to character building and sport fundamentals, coaches connect with studentathletes to transform body, mind and spirit.

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Q &A CHIP W I LSON Director of Athletics

Why did you decide to attend MVNU after high school? I was familiar with MVNC (at the time) as my dad was a pastor in the North Central Ohio District. It wasn't until I was given the opportunity to play basketball and vwV > Þ Û Ã Ìi` Ì i Õ ÛiÀÃ ÌÞ Ì >Ì Þ decision was made. The environment on the team and on campus was something I wanted to be a part of. The professors, and other students, on my visit day were welcoming, and there was a unique spirit that I could feel on the campus. What did you experience as a student? My experience at MVNU was lifechanging. The personal growth and maturity in my faith I experienced came from challenging experiences and professors that actually made me think about my belief system. I was given a safe i Û À i Ì Ì >Ì > Üi` i Ì w}ÕÀi ÕÌ what I believed and why, while discovering who God created me to be. This thought process was largely due to the caring nature of my coaches and professors on campus. They cared about me more than just as a basketball player or a student. I felt valued.

The opportunity to play basketball gave me experiences that I will never forget. Our coach, Scott Flemming, developed a culture within the program that helped me develop as a person and gave me opportunities to experience growth in my faith through the game of basketball.

chip.wilson@mvnu.edu

The decision to attend MVNU and play basketball opened doors for God to work in my life through athletics. What brought you back to MVNU? The people. I have always been impressed with the welcoming and kind nature of the people at MVNU. This is a great place to work, and I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the campus community. As an MVNU athlete, what lessons did you learn from your coaches that you were able to incorporate into your own coaching/mentoring style? There are a number of lessons I could discuss, but I will limit myself to three. One of the most important lessons I learned is that everyone has value. Regardless of what role a person plays on the team, everyone is important. I also learned the importance of preparedness. When an opportunity is given, you must be ready for it. Finally, the importance of a team mindset is crucial to building anything worth being a part of. Doing nothing out v Ãi wÃ > L Ì ] LÕÌ À>Ì iÀ] Ü >Ì Ã LiÃÌ for the team. How does the role of a coach impact MVNU athletes? Coaches have the opportunity to bring out the best in their student-athletes. Coaches can develop their team members’ talents, ÃÌÀi }Ì Ã] Ã Ã > ` V w`i Vi° " i v the major roles of coaches is developing a culture and environment within the team that student-athletes want to be a part of. A contributing piece to a positive team environment is trust. When coaches earn trust, that is when they can really have an impact.

Athletics is an avenue to a larger discussion on faith development and personal growth. Our coaches invest in the lives of young men and women who have chosen MVNU largely for the sport, but that is just the beginning of the conversation. We want all of our student-athletes to experience maturity in their faith. Colossians 3:17 states: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Athletics is a branch of the mission of MVNU, and we are striving to be intentional about our efforts in honoring Christ. We also want to express thankfulness for his gifts. Earlier this year, you were appointed Director of Athletics. How is the transition going? The transition has been going well. I have the privilege to work with great coaches and staff members who have been encouraging throughout the process. I am thankful for the relationships that have developed during this transition. After 13 years of coaching at MVNU, I do miss the direct interaction with my team, but we have fantastic young coaches in place that will continue to develop our cross country and track programs. MVNU athletics is evolving with the addition of expansion teams and the collaboration with Mount Vernon City Schools for facilities. How does this set VJG VQPG HQT [QWT ƂTUV HGY [GCTU CU #&! It is amazing to me what can happen when people work together. Collaboration is challenging, but we have great minds Ü À } Ì }iÌ iÀ Ì Li iwÌ > }À Õ«Ã involved. I believe this is the beginning of great things to come, and I look forward to what God will do through MVNU and our Athletic Department.

27 NOW Fall 2019

What role did athletics play in your MVNU Experience?

Athletics is not just about physical abilities and game statistics. How does MVNU incorporate faith and serving )QF ƂTUV KPVQ KVU RTQITCOU!

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Samantha Scoles Coordinator of Communications and Public Relations

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Collaboration Yields Positive Community Impact

It’s not unusual for two entities to join together to pursue a common goal. It’s also not out of the ordinary for them to recruit another partner. However, when the collaboration grows to include educational institutions, a municipality, multiple philanthropic foundations, public and private sector groups, as well as members of the community, you have a truly unique situation. From initial conversations between Mount Vernon Nazarene University and Mount Vernon City Schools, an elaborate plan of cooperation unfolded that will forever change the most northern section of the former Lakeholm Farm and the city of Mount Vernon’s recreation district. “Our two institutions discussed multiple ideas throughout the years of existing side by side,” said Rev. James Smith,

MVNU’s Vice President for University Relations. “I think what moved us into action was a combination of timing, needs and the right people at the table. During conversations in the fall of 2018, we quickly realized that there were excellent opportunities for us to help enhance each other’s athletic and student wellness offerings. We also caught the larger vision of what this could mean for the community of Mount Vernon. Once we approached the city and the Knox County Foundation, we realized that there were several partners thrilled to help invest in our community through these projects.” The endeavor would solidify the shared use of our new Soccer and Lacrosse Stadium, and MVCS’s new Community Field House would become the home of our Indoor Track and Field Program. “The plan to share facilities is yet another expression of the organic relationship between MVNU, MVCS, the City of Mount Vernon, and the community,” said Dr. Henry W. Spaulding II, MVNU president. “It will allow us to expand our programs and enhance the experience of our athletes. Hosting indoor meets will help us showcase our university and the city.” It is the addition of the Community Fields to the stadium project, however, that pulls in the greatest community significance. The Community Fields, partially funded by

" I think what moved us into action was a combination of timing, needs and the right people at the table." R e v. J a m e s S m i t h , Vice President for University Relations

a $100,000 grant from the Knox County Foundation, will include five grass fields with the capabilities to be reconfigured for age-specific competition. The project will be home to Mount Vernon’s two youth soccer programs. The YMCA facilitates a recreation league that teaches the fundamentals and encourages physical activity of more than 325 preschool to 8th-grade students each fall and spring. The Mount Vernon Soccer Association manages a twoseason competition league for youth from 9 to 15 years old, and a recreation league for younger players. Prior to this collaboration, both programs worked separately toward similar goals. After some facilitation, the two programs are now talking and working toward mutually beneficial goals.

Mount Vernon Soccer Association President Kevin Peterson is equally excited about not only the developing partnership with the YMCA, but what the Community Fields will mean

“We’re really excited about the Community Fields,” Peterson said. “We currently host four games a season, but we are anxious for a complex with dedicated soccer fields. We will be more visible and hopefully that allows us to grow our girls teams.” Both Clark and Peterson are keeping watchful eyes on the project construction as both are eager to share the facility and see how youth soccer in the community grows. The Community Fields were excavated and seeded this fall. It is anticipated they will be ready for practice and games by the spring of 2020.

29 17 NOW NOW Fall Fall2019 2013

“When James first brought this to me, it was an exciting idea — a pretty ambitious project to merge stadium and Community Fields,” said Nick Clark, executive director of the YMCA of Mount Vernon. “A partnership (with Mount Vernon Soccer Association) will provide a continuation of soccer where rec ball and competition meet in a more efficient manner. We are better off trying to partner rather than compete, and have a home for the long term.”

to the program which scrambles for enough practice and game space.

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The GRAPEVINE Sandra Cappel (’82, ’13) completed her Master of Divinity from the Ashland Seminary. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master of Ministsry from MVNU. She is the pastor of Lakeland Parrish of the United Methodist Church. She also owns and operates Cappel Bookkeeping and Tax and Fallentimber Farm. Bruce Oldham served as the President of Asia-Paciﬁc Nazarene Theological Seminary in the Philippines from 201619 and became Lead Pastor at Winter Haven First Church of the Nazarene in May 2019. Peggy (Jenkins) was Assistant Professor of Christian Leadership at APNTS during 2016-19, while also teaching online for Trevecca Nazarene University where she served as an adjunct faculty member in nontraditional programs since 2014. The couple served at MVNU from 1991-2010 and earned their bachelor's degrees from Trevecca Nazarene University, master's degrees from Trevecca (Bruce) and Tennessee State University (Peggy), and doctor of education degrees from Vanderbilt University (Bruce) and Spaulding University (Peggy). They now reside in Florida. Julie Dreifaldt (’90) has been named the special event and donor relations specialist for Smart Colorado. Smart Colorado is a partisan non-proﬁt that protects the health, safety and wellbeing of Colorado youth as marijuana becomes increasingly available and commercialized. She advocates for children regarding the dangerous risks of underage marijuana use through legislative efforts, parent and trusted adult education and public engagement. She lives in Englewood, Colorado, with her husband, Ian.

70s-90s

Aaron Sullivan, Ph.D. (’97), associate professor and chair of Houghton College’s biology department, was presented the Excellence in Teaching award, on March 20, 2019. The Faculty Development Committee (FDC) chooses the recipient from a pool of highly regarded educators based on nominations from faculty, staff and students. Professor Sullivan has taught at Houghton since 2004. He earned a B.S. from Mount Vernon Nazarene College, a M.S. from Southwest Missouri State University, and a Ph.D. from Binghamton University. He regularly writes and publishes his ﬁndings in scholarly journals. Major James Betts (’00, ’19) served as the Celebration Speaker during The Salvation Army of Mount Vernon’s Annual Dinner on May 17, 2019. Betts, who received his master’s degree in Business Administration/Practical Theology at MVNU on May 4, 2019, also earned his bachelor’s degree in Communications from MVNU. Betts served the Mount Vernon Salvation Army as an ofﬁcer from 1996-2001. He is the current divisional commander of The Salvation Army’s New Jersey Headquarters. Casey Tygrett (’00) recently published his second book with IVP entitled “As I Recall: Discovering the Place of Memories in Our Spiritual Life.” Casey is a writer, speaker and spiritual director. He serves as Theologian in Residence at Parkview Christian Church and hosts the Otherwise podcast. He resides in the Chicago suburbs with his wife, Holley (Bente, '99), and their daughter, Bailey Harp. To read more or to listen to his podcast, visit caseytygrett.com.

90s-00s

Mark Glenn (’01) is currently serving the Summit Baptist Church in Pataskala, Ohio, as the senior pastor. He served as youth pastor, college pastor, school principal and school chaplain at the Church at Chapel Hill in Bangs, Ohio, for 10 years. He earned his bachelor's degree in Education from MVNU and a Master of Art in Religion from Liberty University. Glenn and his wife, Mary, have ﬁve children. Gregory Reynolds (’02) spoke at Google Cloud Next on April 9, 2019, about Case Western Reserve University's chatbot Spartan Answers. He is the lead developer for that project. The session can be viewed at: youtube.com/ watch?v=tGwhO08v0UY. Gregory and his wife, Christian, reside in Willowick, Ohio. Nicole Blakley (’05) was appointed by the Richland County Commissioners to serve out the remaining term of former board member Stacy Jackson-Johnson. The term runs through Dec. 31, 2021. Nicole graduated Magna Cum Laude from Mount Vernon Nazarene University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She is the former director of Crossroads City

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@MVNUAlumni

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RESPOND. REFLECT. RECONNEC T. If you are an MVNU alumni, we want to hear from you. Update your information online or text “MVNU” to 91999 to stay upto-date on MVNU events and to reconnect with other alumni.

Mary Jane (Underwood ’76) Barnell, 66, of Sturgis, Michigan, passed away Friday, April 19, 2019. Surviving are her husband, Brad Barnell, of Sturgis, Michigan, son, Jack (Ashley) Barnell; grandsons, Joshua and Elijah; siblings and other family members.

Visit mvnu.edu/alumni In Memoriam Please submit updates and photos for publication by email to alumni@mvnu.edu or online at mvnu.edu/alumni/publications

New Arrivals Leighton Grace Ganzberg was born to Zach (Men’s Soccer Coach) and Rebekah Ganzberg on Jan. 8, 2019.

Anniston Elisabeth Flanagan was born on Jan. 24, 2019, to Bethany (Smith ‘13) (Marketing) and Kendrick (‘17) Flanagan. Dr. Binyang Hou and his family welcomed a new baby boy, Mark, on Feb. 24, 2019.

New Arrivals

Eugene Allen Rhodes, of Beavercreek, Ohio, passed away Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at the age of 66. He is survived by his mother, Dorothy Rhodes (Campbell); his wife of 32 years, Deborah "Rudy" Rhodes; and his children, Robert (Deborah) Rhodes, Ernest “Chip” (Megan) Rhodes, Angela (Brad Schweikert) Williams, Kelci Rhodes, and Jacqueline Rhodes; grandchildren, siblings and special friends. Fern Marie Medley-Forsythe, 62, of Scott Depot, West Virginia, passed away, Jan. 16, 2019. Fern earned her associate degree from Mount Vernon Nazarene University, her bachelor's degree from University of Maryland-Baltimore County, and her master's degree from Marshall University. Eugene "Gene" Raymond Chappell, Jr., 55, of Fort Mill, South Carolina, passed away suddenly Saturday, April 13, 2019, at home. Gene received his bachelor’s degree in Media and Communications from Mount Vernon Nazarene University and worked at Wells Fargo as the Vice President of Business Excellence Team. He is survived by his mother, Doris Marie Chappell, his wife, Kristie "Kris" Chappell; children, Noah Chappell, Ericca Chappell, Ashley Davis, and Alli Baucum; step-children, Payton Conner, Abby Montgomery, and Chris Hodges; four grandchildren and additional family and friends.

In Memoriam

Stephen J. Sutton, 64, of Wheelersburg, Ohio, passed away Friday, June 7, 2019. He was a 1973 graduate of Wheelersburg High School and attended Mount Vernon Nazarene University where he played baseball as a walk-on without ever having played high school baseball. Steve is survived by his wife of 40 years, Barb (Young) Sutton; sons, Steve (Erin) and Dan (Miranda); a granddaughter, Paisley; a grandson, Lane; siblings and other family members. Cherry Lynn Richey, 51, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, passed away on Tuesday, June 11, 2019. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Spanish Education. She is survived by her mother, Ora Aline Richey; a brother, Jack Lewis (Linda) Richey Jr; sisters, Annie (Robert) Morrison, Karol Glee (Steven) Smith, Deborah (Jeff) Belt, Judith (Randy) Owens; and many nieces and nephews. Dr. Pamela M. Owen, 67, passed away at home on Sept. 30, 2019, after a prolonged illness, surrounded by family and loved ones. She was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, growing up on her family’s farm in Gambier in her youth. She earned her doctorate at Ball State University in Indiana and was a professor of Early Childhood Education at Mount Vernon Nazarene University for 23 years. Pamela is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, Dean Owen; children, Meredith (Jason) Reece and Mark (Kamela) Owen; grandchildren and extended family and friends.

With your graduate degree from MVNU, you can make a difference in the lives of students.

WANT TO EARN A GRADUATE DEGREE THAT WILL EQUIP YOU TO TEACH?

LOOKING TO EXPAND YOUR EXISTING TEACHING LICENSE?

MVNU offers graduate education programs Ã«iV wV> Þ `iÃ } i` v À > L Ì ÕÃ >`Õ ÌÃ Ài>`Þ OR Ì V > }i Ì i À V>ÀiiÀ LÞ i>À } > >ÃÌiÀ½Ã `i}Àii > ` Vi Ãi Ì i Ã> i «À }À> °

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• Intervention Specialist: Initial License • Professional Educator’s License

"I absolutely believe had I not pursued my master’s degree from MVNU, I would not be in this role."

Ta s h a B o o k e r Executive Director of

Ì Þ 9i > À Õ L Õ Ã — 2012 Master of Art in Education from MVNU

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Chaplain's Corner Esports The Grapevine Community Impact

Justin Nowicki Assistant Vice President for Development / Head Coach Esports

If a student is interested in esports at MVNU, they should visit mvnucougars.com, click the recruits tab, CPF ƂNN QWV VJG %QGF 'URQTVU TGETWKVOGPV HQTO

Strategic Expansion

Esports is short for electronic sports. Esports is a category of competition that has multiple events that comprise the larger category. Esports consists of several distinct video games that are played competitively.

News & Notes

Events Calendar

To The Glory

Commencement 2019

Relationships RULE

Bigger Than The Games

What is Esports?

Building For The Future

Records For MVNU

Q&A

Esports: Expanding the world of MVNU athletics

According to the Entertainment Software Association, more than 150 million Americans play video games. MVNU is capitalizing on the opportunity to develop an esports program that is committed to the education of the whole student athlete, Christ-like character development, and lifelong learning. How will the program work? MVNU’s coed program will help develop students in several games. In this first year, we plan to field teams for the following games: Overwatch, League of Legends, Fortnite, Rocket League, Hearthstone, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. With one exception (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, played on Nintendo Switch), all of the games will be played on gaming PCs. These games will be played against students from

other universities. For the most part, every esports match is a “home” match played from our facility in Ariel Arena. We will have some travel as we participate in various live tournaments. How does the recruitment process work and what do you look for in a recruit? Recruiting for the 2020-21 academic year is well underway. We are still actively recruiting for players of all skill levels. The main thing that I look for in a student is someone who’s a good fit for MVNU. They’re looking for a distinctly Christian, liberal arts college experience in a community that really cares about them as a person. Additionally, we’re looking for those who are committed to growing academically, emotionally, and spiritually; not just growing in their esports skill level. What are the goals for the 2019-20 season? My goals are for the teams to grow in size, but more so for our players to learn how to work together in a cohesive way and for the teams to experience success in terms of wins. Ultimately, my goal is that our student-athletes will grow in their

understanding of how gaming fits into a healthy lifestyle and how they can be positive, Christ-like voices in the gaming community. How do you think adding an Esports program will benefit MVNU Athletics? I think it adds a whole new audience and a new pool of prospective students. Esports is one of the fastest growing competitive categories in the world and collegiate esports are taking off across the country. From what we’re seeing so far in our recruiting, it’s bringing students to campus who are very bright and very motivated to be successful. It’s a win-win. The general benefits of traditional sports are there: improved communication, learning how to work as a team, strategic thinking. Esports provides added benefits including cognitive abilities, spatial reasoning, and executive functioning skills. Because of these factors and more, I’m really excited for MVNU to be one of the first-movers in terms of Christian colleges adding esports.

MEET THE CAMPUS PASTOR Rev. Stephanie Lobdell

Ca mpus Pastor

Rev. Stephanie Lobdell became MVNU's Campus Pastor on July 1. We are blessed to have her on campus providing spiritual guidance to students, faculty and staff.

Tell us about you and your family. I met my husband, Tommy, in our youth group growing up. We both ended up attending MidAmerica Nazarene University, pursuing degrees in Christian Ministry. We have been married for 13 years. We have served together overseas for the Church of the Nazarene in Italy for a year and co-pastored for 10 1/2 years. He is currently caring for our children at home and developing his company, Mountain Man Marketing. We have two children, Josephine, 6, and Jack, 3. Why is your faith important to you? Faith has been an essential part of my life from my earliest memories. I felt welcomed into the family of God and loved by Jesus at a very young age. My family nurtured faith practice in our home and lived that faith with integrity privately and publicly. The faith of my 4-year-old heart has obviously changed. It has expanded and shifted. But I still feel the eternal welcome of God and the love of Jesus inviting me into deeper intimacy. Faith is not a tangential aspect of our life; it is the hub from which true Kingdom of God life emerges!

The majority of my time was spent interviewing candidates for my staff positions and creating a fall chapel schedule around this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theme, Hospitality. I also drank a lot of coffee and ate a lot of lunches with new colleagues and even a few students already on campus. Now that your team is assembled, what can students, faculty and staff expect from our new Campus Pastor and Campus Ministries Office? You can expect to see us all over campus! We plan to engage in the daily life of our students through shared meals and attending sporting and student life events. We are working hard to make the Campus Ministries office a warm, hospitable place, so we hope you will come and visit us! What goals have you set for your first year at MVNU and how will that impact campus life?

My first month at MVNU was a hard start with no staff in the Campus Ministries Office. But, everyone on campus was supportive and encouraging. Many people checked in with me in my office and over email, just to make sure I was okay. Dr. Spaulding was particularly encouraging and attentive in his support. Coffee dates and lunches made me feel like I was truly a part of the family. Through Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s provision and a lot of hustle on my end, I was able to fully staff my office with three wonderful, well-qualified individuals by the end of my first month.

During my first year at MVNU, I plan to listen, learn, and love. MVNU has been blessed with godly, visionary chaplains. These men and their teams have created meaningful and important systems for spiritual formation on this campus. I intend to learn from those systems. But I will also be evaluating those systems to determine how effectively they are serving our outcomes in this ever-changing world. But far more importantly, I will be immersing myself in the life of campus and fully expect to build meaningful relationships with students, faculty and staff.

Want to connect with Stephanie Lobdell? @srdlobdell / stephanie.lobdell@mvnu.edu

35 NOW Fall 2019

Describe your first month on campus.

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