North Parker Spring 2011

North Parker The magazine for alumni and friends of North Park University

Profiles in Lives of Service Page 18

SPRING 2011 / Volume 71 / Number 2

GA Spotlight – 2

I Was There . . . – 12

People and Place People and place. These two, more than any others, shape student learning. We might call this the personality and geography of learning.

Whenever I meet North Park University graduates I hear a story or two of about their time on this campus. In listening to these stories I’ve discovered something interesting. When talking about their undergraduate years former students rarely discuss what they learned; rather they tell about who was present in their learning and where they learned. People and place.

People. We learn in large measure from the company we keep—teachers in the classroom, of course, but many others as well . . . coaches, counselors, custodians, mentors of every sort.

And we learn from our peers . . . fellow students, teammates, choir members, co-workers.

Place. Our learning is also shaped and reshaped, formed and transformed, by our environment—a specific laboratory, a campus bench, an internship site, a riverbank, a library nook.

At North Park the people and places which shape student learning are as broad and diverse as our great city itself. This is why we claim that “Chicago is our classroom and all Chicagoans are our teachers.”

NORTH PARKER STAFF EDITORIAL BOARD David Parkyn President Nate Mouttet Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing Joseph Jones Provost Charles Peterson C’73 Dean of the College Mary K. Surridge Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations Melissa Vélez–Luce C’2004 Alumni Relations Manager

In this issue of the North Parker we reflect on some of the people in our community and the places on our campus which have inspired learning for multiple generations of students. In reading this issue I imagine you’ll discover a place you’ve never visited or a person you’ve not met. But I’m also quite sure you’ll see yourself, and your own learning experience at North Park, reflected in some of these stories.

Marit (Johnson) Awes C’2003 Stewardship Coordinator

People and place. We celebrate both for their influence on student learning at North Park.

Nate Mouttet Senior Editor

EDITORIAL STAFF Rebecca Padgett Managing Editor Melissa Hamming Art Director Emily Wulff C’2009 Designer Eric Staswick C’2009 Principal Photographer Kendra Juskus Copy Editor

David L. Parkyn President, North Park University

The North Parker is published three times a year for alumni and friends of North Park University, 3225 West Foster Avenue, Chicago, Ill. 60625-4895. For mailing list adjustments and address changes, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (773) 244 -5273.

Questions, letters, or suggestions for the editor should be directed to the University Marketing and Communications office at the above address, or (773) 244 -5768.

Find the North Parker online, at: www.northpark.edu/northparker.

The magazine for alumni and friends of North Park University

SPRING 2011 / Volume 71 / Number 2

FEATURES GA Spotlight I Was There . . .

Classic Stories From Our Ever-Changing Campus

2 12

by Kris Carlson Bruckner C’79

The Significance of Science: Profiles in the Lives of Service

18

by Andrew Freeman C’2005 S’2009

Page 2

DEPARTMENTS News From Around Campus Faculty Essay

Kathmandu/Kathman-don’t/ Kathman-zoo/Kathman-glue

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by Chad Eric Bergman

Donor Profile

Taking Her Skills Abroad: An Interview with Dr. Calla Holmgren C’95

26

by Elizabeth Lamberti C’95 G’2009

Alumni Notes

27

Alumni Profile

31

Alumni Tribute

33

by Stan Friedman S’93

A North Park Family History

Page 12

Page 18

Byron Gustafson’s Lifetime of Music

by Charles Peterson C’73

News from around campus

Allison Koubsky

Sam Romanoski

Todd Winter

GA Spotlight

By Kevin Shepke

Our vision was to increase our competitiveness in

medals, including athletics by adding quality and numbers to our squads. three from the Dad Vail National Regatta—Koubsky began coaching as an assis- to acquire an advanced degree and practical With the implementation of the graduate assis- tant after graduating in 2007 and was named experience. We are now two and a half years tant (GA) program in 2009, North Park’s ath- the graduate assistant in 2009. into the five year plan and the results are very letic department is seeking to improve its comencouraging,” said Dr. Jack Surridge, Director petitive position in the nationally recognized “Starting the GA position under my previous of Athletics. “We are on pace to increase the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. coach Tim Grant was truly a pleasure. Coach total number of athletes at North Park by 150 The GA program has already produced three Grant and I had a successful rowing past to- in 2013.” college coaches: Sam Romanoski, who went on gether here at North Park, and having the to become the head cross country coach at Lake chance to not only row for him but to coach In addition to moving Koubsky and Romanoski Forest College, Todd Winter, the North Park under him was an extraordinary opportunity,” on to head coaching positions after their gradufootball offensive coordinator, and most nota- she says. “Coach Grant put me in charge of the ate assistant work, the program also proved to bly Allison Koubsky C’2007, who became the entire novice program and recruiting. Being a be successful for Todd Winter, current assistant head women’s rowing coach after succeeding GA for recruiting was one of my top priorities, head coach and offensive coordinator for the founding coach Tim Grant. and since rowing isn’t extremely popular in the football team. Since Winter has taken over the Midwest, we had to be creative in our efforts. position, the Viking football team has seen solid “Being a graduate assistant at North Park Uni- Within these expectations Coach Grant placed improvement, including a historic 70-7 victory versity prepared me for the position as a head a lot of trust in me.” over McMurray College last season, where the coach by expanding my coaching pedagogy. team scored the most points in a single game Through this I learned coaching strategies and Since it was first introduced, the objectives of since the 1968 season and accumulated 532 techniques that best fit my current athletes,” the graduate assistant program have been to yards of total offense, second most in North Koubsky says. “Every year a coach has a differ- demonstrate the need to make a stronger per- Park history. ent roster, and with that come different person- sonnel commitment to athletic recruitment over alities that make the team chemistry change. a five-year plan, to sustain growth in enroll- “(These) position(s) (have) made an enormous Through the GA position I learned how to ment, and to provide appropriate infrastructure. impact on the athletic department as a whole. adapt within different situations, push the rowHaving a GA coach on an athletic team is aners to their limits, and create a successful team “Our vision was to increase our competitiveness other tool for our current athletes so they can environment.” in athletics by adding quality and numbers to become more successful on and off the playing our squads. The method we chose was to imple- field,” Koubsky said. “The GA position helped As the most-decorated athlete the rowing ment the graduate assistant program. This me expand my coaching philosophy in ways I program has ever seen—having won over 22 program provides an avenue for young coaches never anticipated.”

It takes teamwork to be successful. And the North Park Vikings continue to make strides in being team players.

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North Parker | SPRING 2011

Photos by Steve Woltmann

News from around campus

Winter Sports Wrap–Up

By Kevin Shepke

Men’s Basketball The North Park men’s basketball team started the 2010-11 season winning six of its first seven games, which included a three-game winning streak. During their streak, the Vikings averaged just under 71 points per game and defeated their opponents by an average of 10 points.

North Park’s key victory was a solid 65-57 win over then-No. 16-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University behind a 12-point, five-rebound performance from Davone Robinson (Chicago, Ill./UW-Eau Claire) in 22 minutes of play. The junior’s output earned him his first-ever College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Player of the Week honor.

During the league season, junior Emanuel Crosby had a breakout game in North Park’s contest against Elmhurst College February 12.

In an 80-74 comeback overtime victory, he poured in a career-high 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting. He was a perfect 6-for-6 from the field in the second half and grabbed eight total rebounds. Crosby earned his second CCIW All-Conference selection in as many seasons as he was named to the conference’s third team.

He led the Vikings in numerous categories, including field goal percentage (56.6), field goals made (99), free throw attempts (56) and

rebounds. He was also second in rebounding average (5.2) and blocked shots (8). Junior Clayton Cahill also returned to the team for the 2010-11 campaign and led the Vikings in scoring average (10.5). He scored a career-high 25 points against CCIW rival Wheaton College February 5.

Women’s Basketball The North Park women’s basketball team showed great poise despite being a youthful team in the 2010-11 season. Junior transfer Roxxanne Jones put together one of the most impressive performances by a Vikings’ women’s basketball player in the last two years as she scored a career-high 34 points in a seasonopening loss to NAIA opponent Roosevelt University November 15. She was a perfect 9-for-9 from the field in the first half and knocked down 10-of-14 free throws, while grabbing eight total rebounds.

North Park went on to win six of its first nine games, including a 70-39 win over Kalamazoo College December 13, where the Vikings led by as many as 39 points. Sophomore Shaina Yalda also completed a solid second year, as she became the first North Park women’s basketball player to finish with 100 assists in the last eight seasons. She finished second in the CCIW in that category with 114 total assists.

In addition to Yalda’s performance, sophomore

Sarah Peterson had a strong campaign as well.

She led the team with 35 three-pointers and was the second-leading scorer with just under 10 points per game. She scored a career-high 18 points in a 69-62 win over Trinity International University December 9, and twice knocked down five three-pointers. Peterson was a perfect 5-for-5 from beyond the arc and scored 15 points in a 25-point win over Elmhurst February 12. She led the team in rebounding average with a 6.2 clip.

Track and Field The North Park track and field teams completed the 2010-11 indoor season with numerous personal records, and it set many individual top-ten school history marks. Most notable was freshman Gabe Nash, who broke his own school record three times in the 200 meters.

He had a third-place finish at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Championships in that event with a 22.41. Nash earned CCIW Track and Field Athlete of the Week honors January 18 after finishing second in the 200 meters at the Private College Invitational hosted by Carthage College, where he also earned a third-place finish with a personal record of 6.7 seconds in the 55 meters.

Freshman Dan Chalus notched a North Park school record of his own in the pole vault at the CCIW Championships, where he vaulted 14 feet, 10 inches.

North Parker | SPRING 2011

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News from around campus

Howard Named New Men’s Basketball Coach

his tenure, he guided the Cowboys’ program ranked number two in the conference in the in 2005 to their first-ever ASC tournament ap- 400-meter hurdles. pearance and he was named ASC “Coach of the After reviewing 139 applicants and interview- Year.” His team earned the number-two rank- North Park University men’s basketball fining five finalists in a national search, North ing in the NCAA South Region when they fin- ished the 2010-2011 season with an 11-14 Park University introduced Dylan Howard as ished with a school-record 19 wins, including overall record and a 4-10 mark in the CCIW its new head men’s basketball coach this week. 16 conference wins. In 2007 Hardin Simmons conference (for sixth place). reached the ASC tournament championship for Howard, who most recently served as an assis- the first time in school history. Among his other Center for Spiritual Direction’s New tant men’s basketball coach at NCAA Division accomplishments at Hardin Simmons, Howard Name Honors Influential Professor I Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) had 23 players named to the Academic Allfor the past three years, succeeds former head Conference team and 16 players voted to the The name change of the Center for Spiritual All-West Division team. Howard’s team GPA at Direction to the C. John Weborg Center for coach Paul Brenegan.

HSU was 2.9 and his graduation rate as a head Spiritual Direction will be celebrated at a dinner program July 30, 2011. The center is oper“This is a significant day in Viking athlet- coach over seven years was 100%. ated through North Park Theological Seminary. ics,” stated North Park University director of athletics Dr. Jack Surridge. “We are thrilled “North Park University has one of the richest that Coach Howard is joining our staff. He is Division III traditions in the nation with five Weborg is the professor emeritus of theology a proven recruiter and program builder with a national championships, and I am thrilled to at the seminary and has had a transformative wide range of experience as a coach and player. be in the Viking family. My dream has always impact on hundreds of pastors in the church.

We are confident that he will elevate the Viking been to get back to the Midwest where the best basketball in the nation is played, especially “We wanted to honor John for the leadership men’s basketball program.”

Chicago,” Howard stated. he has given in the Covenant Church in the area of spiritual direction,” says Linda CanPrior to his successful stint at Hardin Simmons, nell, academic dean at the seminary. The Howard served as an assistant men’s basketball school operates the center in cooperation coach at Robert Morris University, an NCAA with the departments of ordered ministry and Division I institution in a suburb of Pittsburgh, Christian formation.

Pennsylvania, from 2000 to 2001. There he was in charge of recruiting, post coaching, strength The dinner and program will be at 6 p.m. on and conditioning, and scheduling. In addition July 30, 2011, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Howard had a successful stint as the head as- in Rosemont, Illinois. Darrell Griffin, pastor sistant coach at the University of St. Francis of Oakdale Covenant Church in Chicago, will in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he helped host the event. turn the program from an eight-win team in 1997 to 31 wins in 2000 and a number-one Nicholas Wolterstorff will deliver the keynote New men’s basketball head coach, Dylan Howard national ranking. address. He taught philosophy for 30 years at Calvin College and for 13 years at Yale Divin“I am delighted that Coach Howard will be lead- Howard played for the University of Alabama- ity School, where he is the Noah Porter Profesing our men’s basketball program. He clearly Birmingham under the legendary Gene Bartow sor Emeritus of Philosophical Theology. understands the North Park mission and vision where as the team captain, he led the Blazers to and brings a great deal of successful experience the 1989 NIT Final Four as well as the 1986 The celebration in honor of Weborg will conto our team,” stated Dr. David Parkyn, North and 1987 NCAA tournaments. From there tinue on Sunday, July 31, 2011, during the conhe went on to play professionally in the Asian secration of the fifth class of graduates from the Park University’s president.

Professional Basketball Association in Taipei, center. The ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m.

Howard, a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, brings Taiwan, where he was a two-time All-League in the Isaacson Chapel at the seminary. a wide array of experience to the Viking pro- selection. In 2010 Howard was tapped for the gram. Before serving as an assistant at MVSU, “Silver Anniversary” team at the Indiana Bas- Claire Kingma Wolterstorff, an Episcopal he headed the men’s basketball program at ketball Hall of Fame. Coach Howard and his priest and former spiritual director at Yale Hardin-Simmons University, an NCAA Divi- wife, Nicole, have a daughter, Danielle Blanco, Divinity School, will give the commencement sion III institution in Abilene, Texas. During who attends Samford College and is currently address for graduates of the center.

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North Parker | SPRING 2011

News from around campus

Opportunities for cross-cultural collaboration will expand rapidly.

Beijing Union University Jianwen University Anhui University of Finance and Economics

New North Park Exchange Connects East and West New agreements between North Park University and five Chinese universities will establish cross-cultural learning and research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty.

Leshan Normal University

and exchange are Guangdong University valued ideals,” said of Foreign Studies The institutions will promote student and fac- President David ulty exchanges, make available degree comple- Parkyn. tion opportunities for Chinese students seeking to study at North Park, and identify programs Provost Joseph Jones added, of mutual interest for all students.

“North Park has hosted numerPark Professor Timothy Lin ous faculty exchanges and student ex- change visited Chinese universities.

The five Chinese institutions participating programs in the past, and we already have a Professor Al Kamienski and are Beijing Union University (College of Arts large number of Asian faculty and students.

Dean Rebecca Nelson lectured and Sciences) in Beijing, Jianwen University With the signing of the recent formal agree- at several of the universities during brief tours in Yantai, Anhui University of Finance and ments, the opportunities for cross-cultural col- this spring. Additionally, three Chinese faculty Economics in Bengbu, Guangdong University laboration will expand rapidly.” members have visited North Park in exchange of Foreign Studies in Guangzhou, and Leshan settings during the past two years.

Normal University in Leshan.

Wesley Lindahl, dean of the university’s School of Business and Nonprofit Management, Parkyn and Jones signed the memoranda of un“The program will enhance the learning oppor- taught an intensive change management course derstanding during an overseas trip. Details of tunities available to our students and prepare at Guangdong University in 2010. The school short-term and semester-long study programs these graduates for a world in which dialogue extended the invitation to Lindahl after North and other programs are being developed.

North Parker | SPRING 2011

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News from around campus

you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” In keepNearly 270 students received their degrees dur- ing with North Park tradition, it was delivered ing the Winter Commencement exercises held by several students in their native languages: December 17 in Carlson Gymnasium. Degrees English, Swedish, Korean, Spanish, Mandarin, were awarded to 111 graduate students and Polish, and Portuguese.

153 undergraduates.

Legacy Inspires at Black History In his commencement address, President David Month Celebrations Parkyn told the graduates that what they had learned at North Park was not simply to ad- As a child growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, vance careers or personal enrichment. While at Monica Haslip never saw African Americans the school, their charge had been to “discover depicted in works of art. She also never heard your voice, learn who you are, to identify the of any African-American artists. Her love for commitments which will guide your life, to all kinds of forms of creative expression develexplore the place and community in which you oped when she attended the Alabama School of will speak, to determine how you will make this Fine Arts. a better place and a more loving world.”

Haslip desired to become a painter but did not As they move beyond the university the gradu- believe she had the talent, so she put that dream ates’ responsibilities will change. “Now your aside and became a successful marketing execuobligation is to let your life speak—to live your tive. Her love for the arts never waned, however. voice, to tell your story, to change your world Spurred by the encouragement of her mother, by being present in it; to be significant, to Haslip merged her two loves and started Little serve,” Parkyn added. “While learning always Black Pearl Workshop in her basement on Chiis a noble endeavor, learning is most noble when cago’s South Side. She taught children how to used to benefit others.” create art, develop entrepreneurial skills, and use both to transform their communities.

The University Choir, under the direction of Assistant Professor of Music Julia Davids, per- Haslip said she started the organization beformed, “The Word Was God” by Rosephanye cause of the need for children to see people Powell. Davids, the Stephen J. Hendrickson who looked like themselves in the arts. Since its Endowed Chair of Music, also directed the birth in 1994, that basement project has grown choir in its performance of “Offertory” by John into a multimillion-dollar nonprofit organizaNess Beck. tion that has achieved national recognition and serves up to 1,500 children each year.

Another highlight of the evening was the recitation of the Aaronic Benediction, based Haslip was one of the speakers who engaged in on Numbers 6:24-26: “The Lord bless you and dialogue with North Park University students keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon during three events that were part of the school’s Black History Month activities in February.

Attendees were exhorted to pass on the rich legacies they have received to future generations. “All of the events were incredibly inspiring,” says Velda Love, director of justice and intercultural learning, explaining that the message was heard.

photo by Marcus Simmons C’2009

Winter Graduates Charged With Doing Good

Black History Month speaker, Maggie Brown

says Love. “They were eager to ask how they could help others.”

Dan Duster, the great-grandson of Ida B. Wells, an African-American journalist who was a pioneer for advancing the cause to abolish lynching and who pushed for civil and women’s rights, shared memories and stories about Wells and declared that her legacy must go on, because the fight for civil rights and justice for others continues.

Maggie Brown, the daughter of legendary jazz musician Oscar Brown Jr., highlighted the impact African-American music has had on all genres, ranging from country to opera. Brown has achieved critical acclaim for her one-woman show that describes the historical evolution of African-American music. Her performances have been inspired by her father, who made sure she knew and was proud of the history that had been passed on to her.

Brown told how, in the past, white musicians would play in whites-only clubs on the north side of Chicago and then visit the South Side, where they listened to performances and sat in on jam sessions. Even world-famous musicians visited the clubs: Brown noted that Rolling Stones front man Mick Jagger would make his way to the South Side venues whenever he was in the city.

All of the Black History Month sessions were “The students discussed dialogues. Relationships began to develop, says what those legacies Love, adding that students will be able to conmeant for their futures,” tinue connecting with the speakers in the future.

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North Parker | SPRING 2011

News from around campus

Faculty Publications In recent months North Park University professors have released books that focus on Christians living out their faith as individuals and citizens of the Kingdom of God. The faculty of North Park Theological Seminary worked together to author Living Faith: Reflections on Covenant Affirmations. The book is a series of reflections on the six affirmations that guide the life of The Evangelical Covenant Church: the centrality of the word of God, the necessity of new birth, a commitment to the whole mission of the church, the church as a fellowship of believers, a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit, and the reality of freedom in Christ.

“The book ultimately serves to call out the best in us for what it means to die to self and live instead with our hearts set on God,” writes denomination president Gary Walter in the book’s foreword.

“When we understand ‘living’ as an adjective, we are called beyond an intellectual acknowledgement of a set of theological propositions into an actual engagement of living with God,” Walter writes. “When we understand ‘living’ as a verb, we are called to put what we believe into practice as we live for God.” Living Faith is designed to be used by individuals and small groups. Questions for reflection and discussion are included for each chapter.

Covenant Publications published the book, which was funded through the Making Connections Initiative Grant. The initiative is designed to bring the seminary into closer contact with churches, pastors, youth groups, and North Park University students.

The North Park University professor of religious studies affirms the importance of personal salvation but wants Christians to balance that emphasis by also working to establish a world of justice, compassion, and peace. The book includes 14 chapters addressing different aspects of a believer’s life, such as church, love, Seminary professor Soong-Chan Rah re- and vocation. leased Many Colors: Cultural Intelligence for a Changing Church. Rah wrote the book to In the book, McKnight combines knowledgeequip evangelicals for ministry and outreach able scriptural exegesis with anecdotes drawn in a changing nation. from his own life and his experiences with college students in the North Park classroom to Rah writes that the United States is under- provide insight into Jesus’ life and message. going the most rapid demographic shift in its history—one in which white Americans Paul De Neui, associate professor of interculwill no longer comprise a majority of the tural studies at the seminary and director of the population. Instead, they will be the larg- Center for World Christian Studies, also has a est minority group in a country made up book out this year. He is the editor of Suffer‑ entirely of minorities. As in the past, the ing: Christian Reflections on Buddhist Dukkha, demographic shift will reshape the country’s in which Christians from Western and nonreligious landscape.

Western contexts explore the relationship between Christian and Buddhist understandings Rah, who is the Milton B. Engebretson Asso- of suffering. ciate Professor of Church Growth and Evangelism, uses the business concept of “cultural In Buddhism, dukkha conveys a broad sense intelligence” to explore how God’s people of suffering, a subject that is central to Budcan become more multiculturally adept. dhism but is understood differently than it is in Christianity. This book, the eighth volume in In One.Life: Jesus Calls, We Follow, Scot the SEANET series of books published by and McKnight, Karl A. Olsson Professor in Re- for Christians ministering to Buddhists, tackligious Studies, writes that the Christianity les the conceptual differences and similarities he was taught in his youth was overly fixated between Christian and Buddhist perspectives on the personal piety of believers rather than on suffering and proposes Christian ministerial their influence on society. responses to suffering within Buddhist contexts.

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News from around campus

The Future is Fulbrights After just one semester, Michael Nelson dropped out of college in Bangor, Maine, where he was studying audio engineering. He wound up in what he calls “a miserable desk job.” Several months later, he decided there still was so much about the world he wanted to learn.

In April, the recent North Park University graduate, won a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program scholarship that will enable him to teach English in Poland, starting in October.

Nelson was traveling on a train in Germany when he learned by text message that he had won the scholarship. “I shut my phone immediately – just shocked. I double-checked and triple-checked,” Nelson said.

Nelson, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history, became the second North Park university student to win the award this year and the sixth in four years. “North Park students are proving to be very competitive in the challenging world of Fulbright awards,” Linda Parkyn, the professor of Spanish who has guided the students through the lengthy process and also a two-time Fulbright winner.

The Fulbright Scholarship Program is the Earlier this year, the recent North Park Uniflagship international educational exchange versity graduate spent three and a half months program sponsored by the U.S. government Oxford University in England, where his and is designed to increase mutual understand- coursework included several history classes. ing between the people of the United States “I really wanted to study abroad, but only if and the people of other countries. Recipients the experience was going to be very stimulatof Fulbright grants are selected on the basis ing intellectually,” he said. of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in Nilson taught English to refugees and imtheir fields. migrants through the Heartland Alliance, a Chicago-based human rights organization.

Aaron Nilson of Seattle, Washington, was the “As I helped newcomers transition to their first to receive a Fulbright scholarship this year. new culture, I discovered the importance of He learned in January that he would be able to being a gracious American.” teach English in Brazil and acquaint students there with American culture. He traveled to Both students say their North Park education Brazil in February and is teaching at a univer- was critical to their success. Nelson’s exposity in Araraquara. sure to Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Alexander Solzhenitsyn during his junior Long before they won their awards Nilson and year sparked his interest in Eastern Europe.

Nelson had been preparing for the possibility of His desire to teach in Poland developed while teaching internationally. Nelson taught English interning at the Polish-American Museum in to Nepali refugees at the Ethiopian Community Chicago. “Studying Eastern European histoAssociation of Chicago, and they inspired him ry and American immigrant history at North as well. “An older Nepali man name Tikaram Park gave depth and importance to what had Kafley, who even in his difficult circumstances been a curiosity.” always seemed jovial and eager to learn, became motivation for me to bike five sweaty miles up Nilson noted the varied experiences that were to Rogers Park every week to teach,” he said. available to him. “These programs at North Park University have afforded me the opportunity to learn Spanish and to study abroad in Mexico. They have also permitted me to consider broader themes uniting the different people of the world linguistically, religiously, economically, and politically.”

Previous Fulbright winners over the last four years are Riley Clark, Mexico; Ruth Blidar, Romania; Laura Johnson, Mexico, and Rebecca Miller, Indonesia.

Fulbright winner Michael Nelson 8

North Parker | SPRING 2011

Fulbright winner Aaron Nilson

Since its establishment in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program has given approximately 300,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and scientists the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

News from around campus

or third chance to complete their degrees. For someone already at the peak of their job, it’s a matter of completing unfinished business.”

School of Adult Learning Celebrates 20 Years Only a handful of students participated in the Gains of Adult Learning (GOAL) classes during the program’s first year in 1991. It was conceived a year before to serve the fledgling niche market of adults returning to school to complete their degrees.

Today that program has developed into the School of Adult Learning (SAL) and has served thousands of students completing their studies.

More than 250 students are enrolled at any one time to complete degrees in eight majors, says Jud Curry, SAL associate director.

‘SAL has become an integral part of the university in achieving its vision of helping students lead lives of significance and service.’

Plans are being made for a reunion in the fall for students to celebrate the “entrepreneurial decision” made 20 years ago, the school’s growth, and the accomplishments of its graduates.

“The School of Adult learning is no longer just a small program within North Park University,” Curry says. “It has become an integral part of the university in achieving its vision of helping students lead lives of significance and service.”

Students participate in SAL for a variety of reasons, says Curry. “It gives them a second

Line at Södra Vätterbygdens Folkhögskola (SVF) in Jönköping, Sweden. On May 7, President David Parkyn will honor Nilsson with the David Nyvall Medallion for distinguished service to the university.

The classes enable those students to put into a broader structure what they have tacitly learned through their job experience, says Curry. “It’s The medallion recognizes an individual for always fascinating to see the variety of experi- career-long service to North Park University ence people come with.” and support of the university’s mission. Nyvall, born in Sweden, was the first president of Some parents have their children in mind when North Park. enrolling in SAL. “Some want to get their degrees before their children do, or they want Roughly 500 North Park students have particito encourage their kids to finish their studies,” pated in the exchange program with SVF, says Curry says.

Charles Peterson, dean of university faculty.

Each fall, approximately 15 North Park stuIn a recent survey, SAL has exceeded national dents study at SVF with a cohort of 15 Swedish averages for student satisfaction, with nearly students. In the spring semester, all 30 students 90 percent of current students saying they are return to Chicago to continue studies at North “satisfied” or “very satisfied” and would recom- Park University. mend the school to others.

Nilsson was instrumental in making the pro“Students take an average of 2.5–3.5 years to gram successful. Tim B. Johnson, a former complete their degrees depending on the num- student of Nilsson’s and pastor of Bloomington ber of credits they began with and the number Covenant Church in Minnesota, wrote on Nilsof classes they take each semester,” says Curry. son’s Facebook page, “You were the ‘everyman’ Offered in seven-week segments, the course of travel, seemingly knowing everything about schedule enables students to earn up to 24 everything, from side streets to the best places hours of credit in a year. for coffee, how to negotiate airports, and why a certain statue or building was so important.

Curry says that 75 percent of students who The epitome of a teacher!” complete their first course continue taking classes a year later. The school continues to offer The influential role of Nilsson and his wife, expanding opportunities, with Katrine, has continued even more classes being offered online. though Nilsson no longer Curry says that since March, heads the program. Students SAL has received approval to interested in studying at SVF begin offer fully online degrees in Jönköping have benefited in January 2012. from the Hans NilssonKatrine Franke Scholarship Swedish Educator Recognized Fund, which was established for his Service to North Park in 2006.

Over the course of 30 years, two generations of North Park University students have experienced the rewards of the Swedish Exchange Program under the tutelage and friendship of Hans Nilsson, director of the College Hans Nilsson

“Hans taught me as much through his actions as he did through his words,” says Evangelical Covenant Church pastor Jim Black.

“He was above all else a gentleman.”

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News from around campus

to adolescents. Smith is a former Trustee member, Pacific Southwest Superintendent of the Covenant Church, and author of Raising Up Young Heroes and The Hip Hop Church.

Reloaded and Refreshed for Ministry

Workshops during the daylong event included “Bruises on the Soul: Healing for the Abused, Hopeless, and Helpless,” “When the Men are MIA (Missing in Action),” and “Becoming a Hope Dealer: Effective Street Youth Outreach.”

central campus. The new facility will offer state-of-the-art science labs, high-tech classrooms, new space for University Ministries, seminar and conference rooms, support space This was the seventh year that CYMS has part- for co-cirricular programs, as well as space for “I’ve been working with teenagers for 50 years,” nered with the Urban Youth Workers Institute dining and social interaction. said one participant. Others had been minister- to sponsor the event. The center is a unique ing among teens for nearly as long. partnership of North Park University and the Developed by North Park’s Office of DevelopEvangelical Covenant Church’s Department of ment, the website presents profiles of North That same love for teenagers led 380 people Christian Formation.

Park faculty and students, and features campaign from as far away as Virginia, Wisconsin, and leadership, including co-chairs and alumni Dr. Missouri to participate in Reload. Seventy of New Website Introduces G. Timothy Johnson and David S. Helwig, and the attenders were themselves youth who en- Campaign North Park North Park President David L. Parkyn. rolled in a track for teens.

North Park University’s website is now home “Over the past four months, we’ve been hosting “It truly was a reload for me,” one worker said. to a new micro-site for Campaign North Park momentum-building donor events across the “I desperately needed this. I was beginning to (www.northpark.edu/campaign), a $57 million country, and engaging our campus community think that I was the only one who was exhaust- fundraising initiative to advance science educa- in partnership with this important effort,” says ed and burnt out. I was so encouraged and can’t tion and the campus experience, and increase President Parkyn. “We’re now ready to speak wait to bring my team next year.” support for endowment and academic programs. more publicly about the campaign and the increased scope of our fundraising. This website “People kept saying how beneficial this experi- Underway during a recent “quiet” phase to is an important resource to enhance awareness ence was for them,” said Ginny Olson, co-di- build awareness and support, Campaign North throughout the North Park community in Chirector of the Center for Youth Ministry Studies Park will be publicly launched on campus on cago, nationally, and throughout the world.”

(CYMS) at the University.

June 4. The new website provides a comprehensive introduction to the campaign’s major fun- Site visitors can make secure online donations One of the attenders, Derrick Toye, posted on draising goals: $42 million for a new Science to Campaign North Park or contact North Facebook, “I loved the way that the teachers and Community Life Building, $8 million for Park gift officers for additional information. and the preachers contextualized God’s word the Annual Fund, $6 million for scholarships, and laid it out in a relevant urban context and $1 million for Chicago initiatives and “This new website is a dynamic way to commuaimed at the heart of youth ministry.” nicate the pressing needs addressed by this camenrichment. paign. It will also enable many of our alumni, Efrem Smith, a frequent speaker at national Campaign North Park visitors can explore in- donors, and partners to remain informed and events who has a long history in youth ministry, teractive floor plans for the proposed 90,000 involved in contributing to the University’s fuinspired the audience with his talk on preaching sq. ft. building to be located in the University’s ture,” says Dr. Parkyn.

It wasn’t only young people who showed up at April 2nd’s “Reload” conference for urban youth workers at North Park University.

Want to stay up-to-date on campus news? Scan the QR code with your smartphone to visit our news webpage.

Or visit www.northpark.edu/currentnews

10 North Parker | SPRING 2011

For more information on the purpose of “Campaign North Park” we invite you to read, “I Was There . . .” on page 12 to understand the impact of our facilities on campus life and “The Significance of Science” on page 18 for the impact of science on our institutional legacy.

Explore North Park University’s  Virtual Campus Tour

With over 100 stops, our new virtual campus tour takes you into every corner of campus in 360 degrees of high resolution.

(Rumor has it, there are even secret locations to repay the curiosity of those who might like a rooftop view.)

Take a turn at www.northpark.edu/tour.

North Parker | SPRING 2011 11

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I was There . . .

by Kris Bruckner C’79 Illustrated by Dan Johnson C’2009

12 North Parker | SPRING 2011

Classic Stories From Our Ever-Changing Campus

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All alumni have tales to tell. During any given year, there are hundreds, or even thousands of stories unfolding across the North Park campus. Teams compete; friendships are made; life-changing lessons are learned in the classroom or in the residence hall, on a park bench or in a library carrel. Some stories are quirky or notorious and are retold at reunions with relish. Some are shared with children or with a recent graduate over a networking lunch. The campus provides the setting for these memories. North Park’s physical location on an urban corner, its structures, and its landscape give visceral particularity to the stories of the past and the present. The five stories that follow zoom in on the ever-changing campus we call North Park.

Student-Worker-Bees Move Books The year was 1958 and North Park head librarian Betty Jane Highfield had a problem to solve. Her tiny, crowded library on the third floor of Old Main held the burgeoning collection of both the academy and the college. The college books, some 20,000 of them, needed to be moved to the newly finished Wallgren Library on Spaulding Avenue.

The campus was humming that fall, as North Park rounded the corner from junior college to four-year liberal arts institution. The first four-year class members were eager sophomores, and total institutional enrollment was 1,857. Not only was there a brand-new, four-story building for classrooms and the library, but campus also featured newly completed athletic fields. A modern gymnasium, with seating for 1,400 spectators, was under construction.

Highfield tapped into all the positive energy and found an ingenious solution to her book-moving dilemma. It began with summoning several hundred willing and able students from the seminary,

college, and academy to Old Main. As they poured in, Highfield moved 10 to 15 books at a time directly off the shelves, in order, into the arms of the waiting “worker bees,” including members of the first four-year class (C’1960) Mel Soderstrom and Fern (Swanson) Katter. They walked with the books, single file, a contiguous line of call numbers, over to the new library. When the students arrived at Wallgren Library, they were met by assistant librarian Dorothy Vann, who received the books and saw to it that they were lined up properly in their new home. The line continued, repeating the process over the course of several days.

Mel Soderstrom says the enterprise was well organized and successful, but also a good time. “The students felt ownership and felt they were part of the process. It Old Main (1894) was the first building on the North was exciting.” Fern Park campus. The library was originally located on (Swanson) Katter the first floor, moved to the second floor in 1915 recalls, “It was an and the third floor in 1922. important symbol of the fact that the campus was expanding to a four-year school. The new library was something everyone saw as a promise of the future. . . . It was an important step for the school to be taking and a very creative way to move the books.”

History professor Zenos Hawkinson A’41 C’43 spoke at the September 21, 1958 dedication of the new Wallgren Library building, referring to it as the “heart of the campus.” It began with 70,000 volumes and contained classrooms, offices, labs, and lounges as well as three floors of library space. Wallgren was replaced by the Brandel Library in 2001, with a greatly expanded capacity of 300,000 volumes. In 2002 the old library building was torn down, making way for the radical transformation of the campus green space.

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Zoo Stories Down in the belly of Wikholm labs, in a storeroom-turned-zoo, there once lived an Amazon grey parrot, some exotic chickens, a ferret, caimans, spiders, a rattlesnake, a boa constrictor, and several giant pythons. Pedro the parrot, according to biology professor Linda Vick, was often free to range in the space and was clearly annoyed by the sound of the ringing telephone. On several occasions he bit the telephone cord in two, putting a temporary end to the racket.

The zoo was the “baby” of biology professor Robert Tofte. He and A.T. Johnson initially gathered most of the animals during the 1970’s, on spring break/project period trips to the Sonoran desert.

Wikholm Labs (1967) was named Tofte, also known as “T,” was the for Chemistry Professor Donald caretaker, and Johnson and a team “Doc” Wikholm. of student workers helped him to feed and care for the animals. Vick recalls that one of the students, David Bernier, went on to work at the Lincoln Park Zoo as curator of mammals.

The animals were used to support various courses, including Desert Ecology and Animal Behavior. Vick remembers doing imprinting studies with newly hatched chicks. Students would stroll down the basement halls of Wikholm labs, clucking as the fuzzy peeps “cheeped and ran after them. . . . Some of the chickens became so 14 North Parker | SPRING 2011

tame and so imprinted on their handlers that they would perch on a student’s arm and make contented chirping sounds.”

Students from local public schools, Boy Scout troops, and many others were frequent visitors. Vick says, “during the early 1980s the science division would have faculty potluck dinners where we would gather with our families. Several of us had young children who were often eager to visit the zoo. Once I shepherded a group of about 8 children, three to six years old. When the kids heard the rattlesnakes rattle, they froze in their tracks and slowly backed out the door.”

“My son was particularly enchanted by the ferret, Ralphie. When [he] came to visit campus he was allowed to take Ralphie for walks using a harness and leash. Ralphie was a male ferret with a habit of scent-marking near male students. [My small son] nearly burst with pride the first time Ralphie ‘recognized’ him as a mature male . . .”

On occasion, the zoo animals escaped. “Although the poisonous snakes were securely latched into double cages, others were more simply held. On a number of occasions a snake would ‘break free.’ One that was particularly adept at escaping was Connie the boa constrictor. She managed to get up into the ductwork of the ventilation system and maneuvered through the building. Eventually she came down into the chemistry lab.” Hopefully, for those who don’t like surprises, after 20 years all the snakes have vacated the ductwork.

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Revolution at the Top of the Tower In 1979, Carlson Tower was 12 years old. Up on the 6th floor, a group of 12 determined history majors spent the winter and spring quarters literally taking over the seminar/conference room for their senior seminar on revolution.

Tim J. Johnson C’79, now curator of the Sherlock Holmes Collection at the University of Minnesota, was a member of the cohort, and claims to still have the folder of his “Revolution” seminar notes somewhere in a file cabinet. He says C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien inspired the close-knit group to turn the space into a “common room” similar to those at Oxford or Cambridge. “Once we had the faculty OK, it was a matter of scaring up a few sofas and tables. We scrounged a couple of lamps so that we could turn off the harsh overhead fluorescent lights.” It was “quiet enough for reading, writing, and studying; secluded enough so that if we wished, we could get into a good (and sometimes heated) discussion.”

The seminar, led by history professor Zenos Hawkinson, happened just as events were unfolding in the real-time revolution in Iran.

Students watched the MacNeil /Lehrer NewsHour in the evenings for updates in addition to reading their texts and writing their papers, analyzing historical revolutions in concert with a contemporary one. Their primary text, Crane Brinton’s Anatomy of Revolution, provided the road map for their studies.

Johnson says, “Brinton’s categories and his description of the revolutionary process, combined with the PBS interviews and other news reports, allowed us to predict, with a very high degree of accuracy, what was going to happen next in Iran. It was, as you can tell, a memory that has lasted and will be with me for the remainder of my days.”

Last year Johnson had the chance to cap off his formative experience from 32 years ago. “The Friends of the Libraries at the University of Minnesota arranged to have Jim Lehrer speak at one Carlson Tower was built in 1967. It was named for Dr. Paul Carlson, a Covenant of their dinners. Durmedical missionary martyred in a revolution ing the book signing in the Congo in 1964.

I told him what an impact his and MacNeil’s Iranian coverage had meant to me while in my revolutionary college seminar. He remembered the time and was very appreciative of the observation.”

Finally, it is the relationship of the group that Johnson remembers with gratitude. “It is simply the expression of an historical fact, that in the good grace and providence of God, we were brought together and molded as a group—yet each character distinct—by remarkable and amazing members of the faculty, with Zenos leading the way.

North Parker | SRPING 2011 15

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Creative Use of (Green) Space In 2002 North Park unveiled a new green space, designed by landscape architect Douglas Hoerr. The north side of campus was opened up by the removal of Wallgren Library and the closing of Spaulding Avenue. The reconfigured streets, buried wires, abundant plantings, and new walkways formed a new outdoor center.

The refurbished open area is a great leisure space for students to play, and a group of imaginative students did just that. Using only their wits and some round discs, they created a disc golf course complete with 18 virtual holes, water features (the North Branch), and a complex web of rules. The course is still passed down from person to person, a firmly oral tradition.

Mike Mirza C’2010 describes what it is like to play a round: “Most [holes] are par three, but there are some fours and one five, which starts on Sohlberg’s steps and goes to the emergency pole between Wilson Hall and Old Main. There are five holes where throwing your disc into the river is a serious risk. Sometimes, on one of the tricky river holes, the first thrower will play all the way through before the other golfers will throw, so that the first person can stand guard by the river’s edge as “river duty,” to stop any overthrown discs if necessary.”

As the oral rules of the course were passed down, it became more than just a game. Mirza says, “The course was certainly a lot of fun, with its tricky obstacles and potential adventures with the river 16 North Parker | SPRING 2011

and pedestrians, but the real value was not the activity itself. ‘Playing a round’ was the perfect arbitrary activity for us to be able to spend time outside and explore the intricacies of our campus in a unique way. We’d let go of time, ignore our cell phones, and enjoy simple conversation. . . .”

“After the 17th hole (green space to the planter circle by the bridge), it’s tradition for groups to sit at the circle and share a “thought,” which could be anything from a thought-provoking question, a toast, a funny memory, or anything else. This must be done before the 18th hole, which is from the circle to a large tree at the north end of Burgh.”

How safe is all this for the passersby who may be studying or walking across campus? Mirza assures us, “disc golfers are (usually) very respectful of pedestrians and will wait for anyone to pass before throwing. Thus, most people play rounds at night, when fewer pedestrians are out around campus.”

Field of Dreams In 2004 the North Park men’s soccer team began playing games on the brand-new Hedstrand Field in the Holmgren Athletic Complex. The field, in addition to its other amenities, boasted seating for thousands of fans. Team captain Adam Sinovic, who is now assistant coach of the North Park men’s team and head coach of the reserve soccer team, remembers the impact of the field and the throngs of fans on the teams’ level of play:

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“The bigger stadium made a huge difference. Rather than temporary bleachers and a severely worn down field, we had a top-class environment and brand-new field turf. . . . The fans were a game changer. There were times when I would look at the size of the crowd or listen to the chants and think ‘Man, I’m pretty lucky to be a part of this.’ Even opposing teams and players would comment on how great the atmosphere was. I can’t tell you how many times I was able to tackle a little bit harder and jump a little bit higher because of those fans pushing us along.”

The Wheaton home game near the end of the 2006 season was a particular highlight, coming on the heels of two championship seasons and high expectations. “The Wheaton game stands above the rest. That year we had an incredible fan base. They would travel to away games, create unique chants, and, most importantly, show up in huge numbers to home games. I still to this day vividly remember the flags waving, fans screaming, and the buzz of anticipation for the game to begin.”

As the game progressed, the two teams were locked in a 0-0 tie.

“We hit the post a couple times but couldn’t find the back of the net.

Regular time ran out. At this point you could feel the tension in the air. Finally . . . Kurt Roberts fired in a volley that . . . landed on the foot of a sliding Isaac Lee, who tapped in the game-winning goal.

The next thing I know, I’m sprinting up the sideline waving my jersey in the air. The entire team was right on my heels. The crowd was jumping up and down in excitement. . . . It was one of the best moments of my life.”

For Sinovic, the experience of North Park Soccer has extended into the way he understands family. “It is difficult to put into words how special the teams and the relationships have been.

Hedstrand Field was named for long time From day one, Coach North Park coach Ted Hedstrand. The original Born preaches about fostering a family environHedstrand Field was completed in 1958. ment. . . . We supported each other on and off the field. When my Grandpa passed away I was given the option to skip practice Friday and go home a day earlier, but . . . I just wanted to go to practice and be with the guys. . . . They were not only my best friends, but an extension of my family.”

The North Park campus has seen many changes in its long history, a history tied to its setting. The stories and memories of future students will continue to be impacted by the generous people who provide the buildings and the landscapes, the locations of the next generation’s stories.

What’s your story? Scan the QR code with your smartphone or visit www.northpark.edu/iwasthere to contribute your tale by July 15 and enter a drawing for $75 in Amazon.com gift certificates. We’ll publish our picks online, so stay tuned!

North Parker | SRPING 2011 17

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Profiles in Lives of Service

by Andrew Freeman C’2005 S’2009

18 North Parker | SPRING 2011

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James Mastaler C’2004

Talk with Professor of Chemistry Liland Horten C’65, and it doesn’t take long to discover that he has a deep love for both science and music—dual passions that come through in his teaching. Even as he explains the increase in sensitivity of instrumentation in his field, he can’t help but draw comparisons to the faint piccolo line, in the first movement of Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3, that only the more sensitive stereos can produce without static.

It comes as no surprise, then, that Horten describes himself as an advocate of the liberal arts. “I minored in German, and the music appreciation course I took changed my life,” he recalls, “but I would suggest that taking a two-hour course in the sciences could change someone’s life, too.”

James Mastaler C’2004 would agree. Mastaler came to North Park with a strong desire to serve the common good. Faculty took note and encouraged and nurtured this desire. Inspired by the science department faculty members’ passion for their field and dedication to his success, Mastaler soon chose the sciences as his vehicle for service. “I felt as though my professors really wanted me to succeed,” he says. “Their commitment to me became my commitment to the sciences.”

Mastaler constructed an environmental science degree before it became an official major at the university, weaving science and service together through every stitch of his custom-tailored education. From studying aquatic biology aboard the Shedd Aquarium’s research vessel in the Bahamas to crisscrossing southern India to learn ecological principals, Mastaler learned to think of himself as a global citizen.

On these trips Mastaler saw the world’s greatest ecosystems up close and realized he wanted to spend the rest of his life trying to protect them. He also saw some of the world’s poorest and most marginalized people struggling to make a living from these natural resources. Mastaler recognized a relationship between protecting ecological integrity and promoting human flourishing; North Park faculty taught him that it is nearly impossible to separate one from the other.

“My education equipped me with a foundational understanding of how the world works: a scientific lens and a sense of compassion that continues to filter my research to this day.” Mastaler is now a doctoral student at Loyola University Chicago, where he also serves as a graduate assistant for the University’s Center for Urban Environmental Research & Policy.

North Parker | SPRING 2011 19

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Mastaler’s story would make any professor proud. It is what happens when science is integrated into the liberal arts with an emphasis on service and compassion.

Scientific advancements at North Park Scientific technologies are advancing, forcing scientists to encounter an increasing number of serious ethical questions in their field. North Park’s science program is well poised to equip students to respond to these challenges. When a dedicated and experienced faculty meets bright and eager students, you can expect significance. The human resources are already in place. North Park’s science program is expanding its other resources as well.

When Liland Horten arrived on North Park’s campus as a college freshman in 1961, Wickholm Laboratories did not even exist. Neither did Carlson Tower. When Dr. Horten returned to campus to begin his teaching career in 1970, these science labs were barely a few years old. Now, over 40 years later, as Dr. Horten prepares to complete his final semester of teaching, the labs are likewise ready for retirement.

As he sits in his office, tucked away in the basement of Carlson Tower with the Chicago River flowing directly outside his window, Horten remarks, “I’ve spent my life in this building.”

20 North Parker | SPRING 2011

But Horten is ready to see students move into new facilities that can serve them as they deserve. “I’m excited for what’s going to happen,” he says of the university’s commitment to equipping the science department with more advanced tools and facilities. With state-of-the-art laboratories, Horten hopes the sciences will be even more attractive to students than they already are.

“It should draw more students, and it should draw top students,” he says: students passionate about science and committed to service. Students a lot like Mastaler.

Simulate now, save a life later Upstairs on Carlson Tower’s fifth floor, Director of Undergraduate Nursing Dr. Linda Duncan C’69’s cell phone rings.

“Excuse me a moment, it’s Dr. Duncan.”

There’s a glow of maternal pride in her face as she says this. As it turns out, she could be referring to either of her two children, Mark C’2000, now a psychiatrist doing a second residency at the University of Washington, or Darlene C’2001, a Pulmonary Critical Care Fellow at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. This is a family with a rich North Park legacy: a deep, lasting commitment to the significance of science in lives of service.

Classroom Staging Area Classroom Conference Room

Simulation RepairFeature Article Restrooms Control Room

Classroom Staging Area

Classroom Lobby

Professor Duncan was a member of the second class to graduate from the School of Nursing in 1969, the same year that the three-year program at nearby Swedish Covenant Hospital closed. “The Evangelical Covenant Church had been in nursing education since the 1800s,” Duncan explains, “so they shifted their emphasis and moved from a hospital-based program to an academic-based program.” The denomination understood that nursing education needed to be in a school of higher learning—a cutting-edge decision at the time, according to Duncan. But North Park’s nursing program has never ceased to be forward thinking.

Since her return to North Park in 1973, Duncan has witnessed and played a key role in the growth of the nursing program.

In the last five years enrollment has grown significantly. With a move to double admissions—admitting students both in the fall and spring semesters—and a recent increase in cohort group numbers, the program now admits 80 new students to the major each year.

Health care education is moving in a new direction, Duncan observes, and North Park will not be left behind. “The old adage in all the health care environments was, ‘see one, do one, teach one.’ That is no longer appropriate because of the level and type of care we’re giving in acute-care facilities today.”

With the ever-evolving demands in the field, health care

education has now adopted an aeronautics model for training students: Simulated environments provide a safe context for practicing skills until they become almost second nature to students before they move into the acute-care environment.

North Park got on board and began its own simulation program. Through grant funding, new equipment purchased over the past three years will launch the program. Faculty and students quickly embraced these new opportunities, but the program faced significant space constraints. Those limitations were lifted when a 3,000 square-foot, ground level space on Foster Avenue became available.

Professor Duncan now reaches to her bookcase and pulls the architect’s renderings of the new nursing simulation lab. Along with vice president Carl Balsam and the project architect, Duncan had the opportunity to tour a state-of-the-art facility at the Mayo Clinic. “They really laid out the red carpet for us and gave us tremendous ideas. We’re benchmarking our facility off of Mayo’s.” Currently under construction with plans for student use in the Fall 2011 semester, this new simulation lab is going to “move the school forward on all levels. It’s an exciting venture for us.” Duncan is beaming.

The new facility will include four simulation rooms and a debriefing room. The debriefing process is crucial to simulation North Parker | SPRING 2011 21

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learning. As students interview simulated patients, faculty will be observing and videotaping from a control room. Video playback allows for careful review of the training scenario, so that students can see the strengths and weaknesses of their performance and highlight areas for improvement. Students interact with and can take blood pressure readings from high-fidelity dummies that can breathe and talk. Baby dummies kick and move their arms and legs.

Simulation is a powerful learning tool: high-risk scenarios can be simulated in a safe, low-risk environment. Take, for example, the following situation: a woman delivers a baby and develops a postpartum hemorrhage. Any registered nurse working in obstetrics must have competency in responding quickly to this critical situation. In simulation, one of the high-fidelity dummies gives birth and develops a post-partum hemorrhage. Students can then respond with the ability to safely learn, and make mistakes, in a controlled environment. The opportunity to walk through a wide spectrum of situations will prepare students for what they will experience later in clinical work and in their field of practice over time.

“You can kill the dummy, and you can resurrect the dummy,” Duncan quips. “I hope that none of my students ever sees a post-partum hemorrhage in life, but if they do, and they’ve gone through a simulation, they have some idea of what to do first. And that’s important.”

Simulated learning is ultimately about enriching the students’ experience to best prepare students for work in the field. That fieldwork is also about caring and compassion, about coming alongside patients and families at times of great need.

Duncan notes, “It’s the nurse that’s at the bedside 24/7, it’s the nurse that’s there when the patients are in pain experiencing suffering, or tjoy when things go well.” In other words, nurses model lives of service. And that’s something that can’t be simulated.

Our legacy in science Although their experiences differ, Horton, Mastaller, and Duncan share the same passion for the sciences and are committed to serving students. North Park has also made a commitment to the sciences through the upcoming launch of Campaign North Park.

As future students consider North Park, this campaign will help ensure that science and service continue to be a part of the legacy in our students’ lives.

Linda Duncan C’69 22 North Parker | SPRING 2011

Campaign North Park is the next step in providing excellent facilities and important resources to support the University’s educational mission. Learn more about the announcement of this campaign and follow the updates online.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone or visit www.northpark.edu/campaign North Parker | SPRING 2011 23

Faculty ESSAY

24 North Parker | SPRING 2011

Faculty ESSAY

Kathmandu/Kathman–don’t/ Kathman–zoo/Kathman–glue

by Chad Eric Bergman

Kathmandu My wife Celia and I decided over 15 years ago to create a family through adoption, and it was about five years ago when we put it all in motion, first with our even-now pending application to China.

Adoption made theological sense to me. If we are adopted into the family of God, then I wanted to reflect the kingdom here on earth. In addition, if that kingdom is multinational and multiracial, my wife and I wanted to reflect that in our family as well. In this way, we are trying to live our faith honestly and genuinely. So when a promising new-and-improved international adoption program became available to prospective parents worldwide over a year ago, we applied.

that we got from US Citizenship and Immigration Services about Karina’s orphan status. This brief, close to 300 pages, thoroughly addressed the issues that the embassy questioned in our daughter’s case. While there is no possible way to find the birth parents and get a signed statement of release, what we tried to establish was a clear and clean (free of fraud) timeline that goes from where she was found at 10 days old, to the policeman who received her at the police station, to the hand-off to the orphanage for her protection.

Kathman-zoo Kathmandu is a complicated, frenetic city. When you mention Nepal to people, most conjure up images of Mount Everest and idyllic “getting back to nature” treks. This is profoundly deceptive. Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world, and Kathmandu has an urban density that constantly challenged our western thinking. We lived by the 10/2 rule: What takes ten minutes to do in the States takes two hours to do in Kathmandu.

In order for a country to be Hague-compliant, the adoption process needs a clear and transparent protocol that eliminates the potential for child trafficking. Nepal had done adoptions in the past, but now wanted I could have easily played the stereotype to eliminate any opportunities of fraud and work towards being compliant with When people ask me what Kathmandu was of a Swede and kept the struggle to international laws and standards. The like, I respond by asking them to imagine myself, but this experience has forced Nepal program looked good based on the most wonderful dream they could conme to consider the call of community. our research, so we started the long apceive contrasted with the worst dream they plication process, and, after a year of could ever envision—the kind of dream waiting, Nepal’s Ministry of Women and Child Welfare matched us that, no matter how much effort you give to waking up, you return to with our daughter, Karina Kanya. into another layer of dream. Then I ask them to wire their left eye and right ear to one of those dreams and the other eye and ear to the other Kathman-don’t dream, wait a moment, and then switch on the brain. At that moment, when all that cross-wired experience engages and your brain tries, in a But we hit a snag. As Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn flash, to make sense of it all, that is Kathmandu. It is in that craziness sings, “Sometimes the best map will not guide you / You can’t see that our family met and bonded, the three of us for two months and what’s round the bend.” then Celia and Karina for an additional two months.

On August 6, 2010, the US Government closed down adoptions in Nepal for fear of fraud (later found to be unsubstantiated), leaving about 80 families, called pipeline families, with matched children but with no opportunity to secure a visa to bring the children home. Complicating the issue was that the Nepal government, at the time, was only allowing a 60-day window of opportunity to officially adopt your matched child. Having seen Karina’s picture, we came to understand that this was where God wanted us, so we made the leap of faith to go to Nepal and, according to Nepali law, adopted her on November 23, 2010, without knowing if we would ever be granted a visa to bring her back to the US. After months of living in this liminal space with our daughter in Kathmandu, we assembled evidence in order to have our attorney write a rebuttal that addressed the Request for Further Evidence (RFE) memo

Kathman-glue What has been the glue? A mantra of Proverbs 3:5-6: trusting in the Lord with all our hearts and leaning not on our own understanding as we humanly and humbly try to acknowledge God as our path unfolds.

This unfolding path has brought me to a greater sense of understanding communal relationship. I could have easily played the stereotype of a Swede and kept the struggle to myself, but this experience has forced me to consider the call of community. Oddly enough, the more I opened myself to the North Park family and made myself vulnerable, the more I realized how much community is a blessing. This is one of life’s paradoxes, it seems. The more we let go, the stronger the glue holds. Rejoicing with our North Park community, we received our approval to apply for Karina Kanya’s visa on March 4 and our whole family arrived home on March 20, 2011.

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DONOR Profile

Taking Her Skills Abroad An Interview with Dr. Calla Holmgren C’95

by Elizabeth Lamberti G’2009

C

alla Holmgren C’95, a medical doctor specializing in obstetrics and safe labor practices, is a fourth generation North Parker, but she almost opted to remain in her home state of California for college. She credits her twin sister Jenny with encouraging her to come along on a campus visit to North Park; the eventual decision to move to Chicago and attend North Park is one she never regretted. Today, Dr. Holmgren is a physician at Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City, Utah, and says North Park remains a very special place for her and her family.

During her time on campus, Holmgren majored in biology and pursued a minor in chemistry. Taking classes from longtime North Park professors Lee Horten, Frank DeBoer, and Pete Pearson, she found her way into a pre-med program that culminated with an internship at the University of Illinois in Chicago. From there she went on to perform research in the areas of fetal heart rate tracings, labor, and C-section rates in the United States. In addition to her position at Intermountain Healthcare, Holmgren also holds a position as assistant professor of medicine at the University of Utah.

North Park have the best facilities, laboratories, and classrooms in which to learn. Her financial support of her alma mater reflects this commitment: “My family feels strongly that North Park must continue to be a place of excellence. When I was studying at North Park, we made good use of the facilities we had, and the faculty prepared us well, but science moves very quickly, and we need to focus on the future. We need to make sure we are providing the latest and greatest technologies for our students.”

Most of all, Holmgren encourages students to get the most out of every moment of their education. “The more you get into education, the more you realize it’s about self-learning,” says Holmgren. “You get out what you put into it, and it’s not just about ‘getting through’ college or a residency. Your own personal motivation is key. My hope is that North Park students will immerse themselves in their studies and get everything they can out of this unique and nurturing learning environment.”

“The science department at North Park—all of the professors—did a great job in helping me set realistic goals,” says Holmgren. “They helped me prepare for my MCAT and did practice interviews with the students. Most of all, they challenged me to think about the diligence it would take to get through medical school. Pursuing a career in medicine is such a big commitment in terms of years of study and delayed professional gratification. But my advisor, Dr. Pete Pearson C’65, really helped me focus on my goals and supported me in my decision to go to medical school.” Holmgren also cites her mother, Kathy Holmgren C’69, a North Park nursing graduate, as an inspiration in her pursuit of a medical career.

In the spirit of service, Dr. Holmgren has taken her skills abroad, working with Medical Teams International in The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, and Haiti. As recently as January 2011, she was in Port au Prince providing medical services to earthquake victims, many of them suffering from cholera. She performed labor and delivery services in a tent village where Haitian refugees had no other access to healthcare. Holmgren feels her experience at North Park inspired her with a good work ethic and a desire to do something more. States Holmgren, “My North Park education also taught me to go out and make the world a better place. That’s part of the mission of the school: Make a contribution and do something useful with your life.”

Holmgren notes that North Park has produced generations of talented doctors and scientists who are working in communities across the globe today, and wants to make sure that future graduates of

26 North Parker | SPRING 2011

Dr. Calla Holmgren provides medical care to patients in Haiti.

alumni@northpark.edu

Photo by Chris Padgett

Alumni Notes Spring 2011

alumni@northpark.edu

| SPRING | Fall 2006 North North Parker Parker 2011 27

Alumni Notes

John Sorensen C’51 has lived in Solvang,

1940s A fish fry was hosted at the backyard cabin of Bob Johnson A’44 C’47 to plan an Academy get-together. Pictured L–R, back row: Harold “Hal” Richter A’44, Jim Carsten A’46 C’49, Ray Wallgren A’45 C’48, Len Benson (golf coach), Walte Silge A’43; middle row: Harriet “Hattie” (Krell) Jones A’44, Jean (Kramer) Ernsting A’45, Bob Johnson A’44 C’47; front row: Marilyn Johnson A’44 (English teacher at North Park, 1950-55).

little bit of travel and a lot of hanging out Calif. while working at Vandenburg AFB; in restaurants, visiting with a group of good San Bernardino, Calif. while at Norton friends who helped him after the death of AFB; and Cheyenne, Wy. while at F.E. War- his wife, Marilyn. He reports that “My life ren AFB as a Martin Denver civilian con- is stress-free, and I’m feeling the best I’ve tractor. He jokes, “No wonder folks could felt in several decades. Life is good, and not find me for years!”

God has blessed me with a wonderful local chosen family!”

North Park Academy Class of 1959 classmates held a mini-reunion at the Renais- Thomas Hershberger C’64 graduated with sance Hotel in Northbrook, Ill. on January a M.Div. from Andover Newton Theologi30, 2011. Still havin’ fun after all these cal School in 1968 and went on to serve as a years! Pictured are: Darlene Johnson, Doro- pastor for the United Church of Christ. In thy (Sternaman) Zeman, Jinny (Lundbom) 2007, he retired. Thomas is married to Joan Larson, Jan (Hanson) Sirabian, Linda (Erickson) Hershberger C’62.

(Bowman) Voges and Ken Steiner.

1970s

Ernest Guntermann III C’73 is now retired

from Delta Airlines after more than 32 years of service. He stays active doing motorcyclerelated charity volunteer work.

1950s Members of the North Park Academy Class of 1950 who reunited in the fall at a Homecoming banquet are photographed L–R. Back row: Joan (Freshwater) Melahn, Marian (Crono) Sandberg, Marlene (Dahlstrom) Magnuson, John Pippinger, Alice (Dahl) Ehlert, Fred Johnson, Marion (Stone) King, Louise (Shumaker) Woodier, John Sieben, Glen Pirrong, Bob Matlick, Bob Gustafson, and Tom Hovdek. Front row: Wanda (Peterson) Hollensteiner, Judy (Erickson) Anderson, Vivian (Anderson) Johnson, Judy (Rasmusson) Chavis, 1960s Helen (Paulsreed) Cornwell, and Dorothy A group of North Parkers who recently met (Cleuver) Klefstad. at the John and Mable Museum of Art in Sarasota, Fla. are pictured L–R. Front row: Dave Johnson C’56 S’62, Diane (Dahlin) Lind C’61, Ruth (Hanson) Johnson C’67, and

Joy Huston C’78 is a clinical psychologist

with a private practice in Upper Montclair and Summit, N.J. She has a 14–year–old son, Noah.

Jeffrey Martin C’78 is proud to announce

that his daughter Shauna was sworn in as a member of the Illinois bar in November 2010.

1980s

Attorney Kerry Lavelle C’81 recently had an article published in Construction Equipment Distribution magazine. The article, Barbara (Applequist) Aley “Why Every Employer Should Adopt a Social C’67. Back row: Kay Johnson, Media Networking Policy,” provides extenTed Lind, Dan Johnson C’68, sive findings on social media and electronic and Paul Aley C’66. communication behavior in the workplace.

Bruce Whisler A’61 C’66

retired for the third time in February 2009. He does a

28 North Parker | SPRING 2011

Karen Hinz C’86 S’98 became pastor of United Evangelical Covenant Church in Ishpeming, Mich. in December. She and her

alumni@northpark.edu

Alumni Notes

husband David have two kids, Alan (11) and Laura (9).

Mike C’93 and Megan (Streedain) Tamte C’95 were recently featured in Fast Com-

pany magazine for their Minneapolis-based chain of clothing boutiques, Hot Mama.

Hot Mama opened six new stores in 2010, bringing the chain to 17 locations in seven states. The entire article can be viewed online at www.fastcompany.com/magazine/152/mums-the-word.html.

1990s Commander Tom Nelson C’91 and Lieutenant Kyle Gadbois C’2001 operated together at Naval Medical Center San Diego, where Kyle is completing his year as a Chief Resident in General Surgery. Tom is an attending surgeon specializing in minimally invasive surgery. He is currently deployed to Afghanistan with the Marines in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Heidi (Haarstad) Hung C’94 and her husband Ching welcomed their first son, Jonas Martin Hung, on December 13, 2010.

He weighed 6 lbs and 14 oz and was 20 inches long.

Reginald Mortha S’95 served as a pastor within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for five years. He has just joined the Sinai Health System as a chaplain.

Polly (Gerber) Zimmermann G’95 G’96

recently received the Illinois Board of Higher Education Nurse Educator Fellowship Nate C’97 and Jessica (Warner) Karasek for 2011. Polly is an associate professor in C’97 welcomed Linnea Brynn to their famnursing at Harry S. Truman College and a ily on October 18, 2010. She is adored by Maren (Billington) Carey C’93 married contributing editor to the American Journal her three big brothers, Dane (7), Austin Christopher Carey in December 2010. Their of Nursing.

(6) and Will (3). The Karasek family lives family includes Jameson and Robert (both in Antioch, Ill. Nate is an administrator at 15), Andrew and Caroline (both 12) and Steven and Laurie (Olson) Rizzo C’95 were Warren Township High School in Gurnee, Julia (10). They live in the metro Detroit married on November 13, 2010. North Ill. and Jessica stays home. area, where Maren works as an interior de- Parkers in the wedding included Ann-Marie signer and general building contractor, and (Olson) Frisk C’96 and Anna (Kallin) Leeo Carmela (Coniglione) C’97 and Jon HeintChristopher runs a legal practice.

C’95 as well as ring bearers Anders and Axel zelman C’98 joyfully announce the birth Olson-Brady (sons of Krista Olson-Brady of their son, Jonathan Rex Heintzelman ‘92) and Jack Foley (son of Amy Olson). III. Born on December 8, 2010, Jonathan Laurie is the daughter of Donald Olson, weighed 8 lbs. 6 oz. and measured 20.25 Academy and University instructor, and inches. He joins big sisters Madison (6) and Kathlyn (Larson) Olson C’63.

Gabriella (3).

| SPRING | Fall 2006 North North Parker Parker 2011 29

Alumni Notes

a variety of sales positions within the sports field.

Most recently, he worked at International Speedway Corp. (ISC) as manager of partnership sales.

While there, Edwards was responsible for sales in Cathy and Tim Dykes C’99 welcomed their all aspects of the business, including media, first little White Sox fan into the world on race entitlements, experiential marketing Amy Cassidy C’98 and Simon Ward were June 11, 2010. Jillian Alaina Dykes was 8 lbs. displays, and hospitality. Edwards has also married on August 7, 2010 in West Hartford, 4 oz. and 21 inches at birth. worked in collegiate sports and at the team Conn. Amy is a special education teacher in level in the NBA, NFL, Major League Basethe Kenosha Unified School District. Simon Kristian Werling C’99 was recently promot- ball, and the Arena Football League. is coaching youth soccer in Illinois and Wis- ed to partnership in McGuireWoods LLP. consin. The couple lives in Kenosha, Wis. Krist concentrates in corporate healthcare Michelle (Ness) C’2002 and Brad Klaver transactional work and regulatory matters were married on September 25, 2009 in Kevin C’98 and Alison (Schiller) McKer- for all participants in the healthcare and Grand Rapids, Mich. North Parkers in the wedding included Aimee (Johnson) Balnan C’98 proudly announce the arrival of Linnea Leslee, sam C’2002 and Kelly (Winkler) Seybert born October 29, 2010. LinC’2002. The Klavers reside in Grand Rapnea joins big brother Emmett ids, Mich.

Joseph, born April 30, 2007.

Phil Cannon C’99 S’2005 and Kate (Mylander) Cannon C’2001 moved to

Alaska five years ago when Phil accepted a call to pastor at First Covenant Church in Anchorage. Phil and Kate are the proud parents of Madeleine (born March 1, 2006), Isaac (born March 23, 2009 and adopted August 20, 2010) and Wyatt (born August 8, 2010).

life sciences industry. He counsels life sciences clients in transactional and regulatory issues, with a particular focus in negotiating licensing and partnership agreements, contract manufacturing agreements, and distribution agreements. He also represents private equity and venture capital investors in healthcare and life sciences companies.

2000s Shannon (Hampton) Bleek C’2001 and

her husband Brandon welcomed their daughter Caitlyn Grace on June 13, 2009.

The future Viking and her parents reside in the Seattle area.

Leonard Edwards C’2001 G’2002 has been hired as director of sales for the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), based in NHRA’s Charlotte, N.C. office. Leonard has more than seven years of experience in

30 North Parker | SPRING 2011

alumni@northpark.edu

Alumni Profile

A North Park Family History

by Stan Friedman S’93

M

ore than 100 years ago, Oscar and Hannah Bengtson immi- Other family members have left their mark on society as judges, grated to the United States from Sweden looking for religious journalists, educators, ministers, and artists. The latest Bengtson defreedom and economic opportunity. They made sure their children scendent to attend North Park, Anders, is traveling with a musical and descendants found both at North Park. production and will return to complete his studies in the fall.

Oscar’s two brothers, David and Albin, wound up marrying Hannah’s two sisters, Esther and Jennie. The three families have had 55 members attend North Park Academy, Junior College, College, University, and/or Theological Seminary. The number increases when considering that 19 of the attendees met their spouses North Park institutions.

The Bengtsons’ father purchased a Bible in 1838 in Sweden, which was among the reasons his family eventually emigrated to the United States, and his descendants wound up at North Park.

North Park’s urban location has led some family members to attend, including Mark’s adopted Korean son. When Mark attended North Park, the surrounding neighborhood was largely Greek and Jewish.

He had no idea the area had transitioned to having a significant Korean population.

To that end, Mark says, only half-joking, “You might say it is Providence that has led us to North Park.”

The family didn’t realize so many descendants had attended North Park until it held a family reunion in honor of the centennial an“They were ambitious and smart but did not have the opportunities in niversary of Hannah and Oscar’s arrival in the country. Experiences Sweden,” says Karen Kettleson, granddaughter of Oscar and Hannah. at North Park kept coming up in discussions, so attendees passed around a paper on which they listed all their relatives who had maAt the time, the state Lutheran Church of Sweden forbade lay reli- triculated at the school. gious activities, arguing that lay people could not properly interpret Scripture or hold the Lord’s Supper in their homes. Dissention from “We were amazed,” says Kettleson. She is the unofficial family histothis dogmatism led to the revivalist movement that became known rian and did further research to find the other relatives with a North as Mission Friends.

Park history; she continued to be astonished. “It took a while to track down their names.”

Oscar and Hannah began looking for a church with the Swedish Evangelical Mission Covenant in America when they arrived in Mark sums up for the families, “North Park has continued to have a Minnesota, because the denomination had been born out of the deep and rich meaning for us.”

Mission Friends movement. The three Bengtson families sent their children to North Park initially because of its academic offerings, but also because of its religious affiliation with what eventually would be known as the Evangelical Covenant Church.

“I think it was important for our parents,” says Kettleson. She adds, “We went in part because we wanted to make them happy, but we also went because it was a good school.”

Mark Bengtson C’75 S’79 says the school has always been an example of what a Christian university should be. “They hold to the wonders of the faith while looking at the wonders of the world God created without losing their faith.”

Mark points to the importance North Park’s science programs have had on his family members. After graduating, many have gone on to careers as chemists, dentists, medical physicists, physicians, nurses, and other health 1947 Bengston Family portrait. Front row (L‑R): Arvid, Goldie, Oscar, Hannah, Ruth, and John. Back row (L‑R)” Roy, Lawrence, Gordon, Bethel, Harry, and Ted. practitioners.

| SPRING | Fall 2006 North North Parker Parker 2011 31

Alumni Notes

Diane (Timmer) North C’2003 proudly announces the birth of her daughter Abigail Nicole on July 22, 2009. Abigail joins older sister Lauren.

Beth Allina C’2003 and Mark Wegner were married in Spring Grove, Ill. on July 10, 2010. The bride’s attendants included Jessica (Turner) Herrick C’2003. Beth works as a property manager, and Mark is a financial analyst. The Wegners live in Niles, Ill.

C’2004 alumnae reunited in California for a long weekend in February. Pictured from L–R, back row: Stacy (Dolan) Peterson, (weighing 8 lbs. 10.5 oz.) on December 5, Greta (Wallgren) Bailey, Lori (Kubitschek) 2007 and Henrik James (weighing 8 lbs. 2 Plucker, Bethanie (Dwight) Hakanson, and oz.) on October 31, 2009. The Johnson fam- Annie (Jensen) Engleman. Front row: Britta ily resides in Duluth, Minn.

Johnson and Annie (Hawkinson) McCullah.

Jeff C’2001 and Anna (Nyberg) Johnson C’2004 welcomed sons Grant Jeffrey

John Robinson C’2004 and Lindsay Post C’2005 were married on May 29, 2010

at First Evangelical Covenant Church in Grand Rapids, Mi. North Parkers in the wedding included Luke Halvorsen C’2004, Matt Wehrmann C’2004, Carissa Esmon C’2005, Marie (Robinson) Carlson C’2006, and Betsy Hobbs C’2006. John is the son of Don Robinson S’80, who officiated the ceremony, and Judy (Hanstad) Robinson C’75. John works for Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group (NMPG), and Lindsay is responsible for purchasing and inventory at Snow & Graham, a letterpress stationery company. The Robinsons live in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago.

Joshua C’2005 G’2009 and Kirsten (Sundberg) Havens proudly C’2008

announce the birth of their daughter, Matilda Claire.

Matilda was born February 1, 2011, at 11:30 p.m.

David John Sharkey was born to Stephen C’2001 S’2007 and Kathleen (Ek) Sharkey C’2002 on November 28, 2010. His brother Tyler is 2½ years old. Tyler loves trains and Baby David.

C’2003 alumnae Ingrid (Bowman) Adams, Marit Johnson Awes, Rachel (Bondor) Winer, and Kindra Voorhies met in Napa Valley, Calif. in January 2011 to celebrate the year they all turn 30.

32 North Parker | SPRING 2011

alumni@northpark.edu

Alumni Tribute

Alumni Tribute: Byron Gustafson’s Lifetime of Music

by Charles Peterson C’73, Dean of the College

U

niversities are challenged to show evidence they are achieving the lofty goals contained in their beautifully crafted mission statements. “Preparing students for lives of significance and service” is part of the North Park University mission statement. North Park University now pays its respects to one shining examples of success in achieving our mission.

Wynton Marsalis, violist Yuri Bashmet, and pianist Jeremy Denk.

In 2006 Gustafson played a significant role in the creation of Opus 3 Artists, of which he was managing partner until his retirement in November 2009.

David V. Foster, President and CEO of Opus 3 Artists, states, “Byron Gustafson was well known, extremely well liked, and highly respectByron Gustafson passed away on November 22, 2010, at his home in ed in the field of performing arts. During his long and fruitful career, New York City after a brave and dignified battle with Amyotrophic he came to be closely associated with a number of world-renowned Lateral Sclerosis. Gustafson graduated from North Park University artists and performing ensembles. Byron also played a central role in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts in piano performance. His first pro- in fostering and developing the careers of many young artists and fessional appointment was at the Auditorium Theatre Council in ensembles who, under his guidance, went on to major international Chicago. He moved to New York in 1978 when he was hired by the careers in the performing arts. His role in the founding of Opus 3 artist management company ICM Artists. While at ICM he held Artists was critical. He is sorely missed by those of us who worked a variety of positions, including Booking Representative, Manager, closely with him and knew him well.”

Vice President, Senior Vice President, Executive Vice President, and Managing Partner. He managed the touring activities of the world’s Gustafson took his love of music and performance into a life-long leading orchestras, including the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Or- career of significant management support to the finest musicians chestra, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic in the world. During his career Gustafson remained loyal to North Orchestra, the NHK Symphony, the Oslo Philharmonic, and the Park University, making possible performances and master classes at Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, as well as those of the Alvin North Park by many of the artists in his portfolio.

Ailey American Dance Theater, the Vienna Boys Choir and other The Association of Performing Arts Presenters honored Gustafson famous groups. with the 2010 Fan Taylor Distinguished Service Award for exemAs a manager Gustafson guided the careers of many distinguished plary service to the field of professional presenting. artists, including violinist Midori, flutist James Galway, trumpeter Elizabeth Buccheri, assistant conductor at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, senior lecturer at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, and a faculty member at North Park University from 1969 to 2000 writes, “Byron Gustafson, a North Park piano student of mine in the ‘70’s, was a graduate of whom North Park could be extremely proud. He rose to the top in the competitive field of arts management and was beloved by all who knew him. As a friend, he was loyal, honest, and funloving. I will forever mourn his passing.”

Pianist Jeremy Denk (left) and Byron Gustafson

Friends and colleagues, including a delegation of six North Park University alumni, gathered at Jazz at Lincoln Center, on Columbus Circle in New York City, to honor the memory of Gustafson. The memorial service was designed by two of Byron’s artists, Wynton Marsalis and Midori, with the participation of Judith Jamison and dancers Renee Robinson and Matthew Rushing (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre), and comments

by David V. Foster, President of Opus 3 Artists, and Gustafson’s partner of 26 years, Gustave Fleury.

| SPRING | Fall 2006 North North Parker Parker 2011 33

Alumni Notes

Maria (Elde) C’2005 and Brian Ward C’2006 welcomed their

(Robinson) Carlson C’2007, Emma Covington C’2007, Susan Frazier C’2007, Lani Lappinga C’2007, Krista Lindwall C’2007, Alicia (Hanson) Sturdy C’2007, Ruth Wise C’2009, and Brianne Aswege.

son, Erik Steven, on February 1, 2011. He weighed 6 lbs. 14 oz., was 19.75 inches long, and thankfully arrived just before the Blizzard of 2011 began. The Wards live in Chicago, Ill.

In May 2009, Esther received a Masters in Counseling and Gavin a Masters of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Mo. The Ortlunds live in Sierra Madre, Calif., where Gavin is the youth pastor at Sierra Madre Congregational Church.

Beth Cooper C’2006 is en-

gaged to be married to David Richard on July 9, 2011. They both serve as social science teachers and met at their home church, Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, Calif.

Josh Eloge C’2007 and Hannah Leman C’2009 were married on July 3, 2010 in

Chautauqua, N.Y. North Parkers in the

wedding included Krissy Leman O’Reilly C’96, Brady Josephson C’2007, Dan Williams C’2008, Laura Hebden C’2009, Amy Swanson C’2009, and father of the bride, Dr. Kevin Leman (who received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from North Park in 2010). Aaron Johnson C’96 S’2006 officiated. The Eloges live in Colorado Springs, were Hannah is the creative manager for a global orphan care organization and Josh is a mental health case manager.

Esther

Wise

C’2007

and Gavin Ortlund were married on July 7, 2007 in Nashville, Tenn.

North Parkers in the wedding included Carri Behal C’2007, Marie

34 North Parker | SPRING 2011

Peter Johnson C’2008 was married to Katie (Anderson) Johnson C’2008 on August 6,

2010, at Libertyville Covenant Church. In attendance were over 100 North Parkers, including the bride’s parents, Bill Anderson C’77 and Marti (Englund) Anderson C’76. North Parkers in the wedding party included Jon Anderson C’2004, Anne (Clausen) Anderson C’2008, Erica (Print) Carlson C’2008, Katie Ekstrom C’2008, Brad Rosengren C’2008, Nick Wells C’2008, Jake Anderson C’2009, Anna Eldebo C’2009,

Doug Camphouse C’2010, and Kristin Englund C’2010. Offi-

ciating the wedding was the bride’s grandfather,

Rev. Luther Englund C’45 S’49, married to Elvira (Carlson) Englund C’47.

alumni@northpark.edu

Alumni Notes

son, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Lars Hellberg A’47 C’49, born in Chicago in 1930 to Swedish immigrants, died February 8, 2011. Nicknamed “High Pockets” for his extraordinary height, Lars chose a career in chemistry. This choice led to 40-plus years of work as an organic chemistry professor in the San Diego region, including 36 years at San Diego State University. A memorial service was held on February 19, 2011 in La Mesa, Calif. His wife of 51 years, three adult children, and six grandchildren survive him.

Stina Peterson C’2008 earned an MA in International Education from New York University this January and was promoted to Program Manager in the Office of Academic Initiatives and Global Programs at NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. As Program Manager, Stina assists with course development and manages several study abroad programs and conferences hosted at John Benson A’49 of Island Lake, Ill. passed NYU. Stina is the daughter of Charles C’73 away on June 26, 2010. He is survived by and Sharon (Rich) Peterson C’79 and the his wife, Carolyn, and their daughter, Lynn. sister of current North Parker Kaj Peterson At North Park, John was active athletically as a member of the football, basketball (coC’2011. captain), and swim teams. Professionally, Stacey Ernvall C’2009 is currently teaching John was a construction executive and projpreschool and kindergarten on the South ect manager for many of Chicago’s largest Side of Chicago at Lots of Love Academy. high-rise buildings. His last major building was the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

Obituaries Carol (Wynne) Haeger C’39 died on March 6, 2010. She turned 90 on December 25, 2009. Her family misses her greatly.

Eleanor (Hassman) Rives C’40, a longtime,

award-winning Daily Herald writer who forged her entire journalism career after 18 years as a stay-at-home mom, died at the age of 89 on August 2, 2010. Rives began writing poetry at the age of 9, a pursuit she would maintain throughout her life, before and after the start of her professional writing. In 1967 she began working part-time at a small local newspaper before moving on to Paddock Publications three years later. She became a multiple award-winning feature writer and later women’s news editor. She focused on women’s issues as well as the welfare of the mentally ill and the elderly.

Eleanor is survived by two daughters and a

Evangelical Covenant churches in Lyford, Texas, Warren and Scandia, Pa., and Venice, Fl. He also served as Protestant chaplain at the Warren State Hospital in the late 1960s and, together with the Catholic and Jewish chaplains, was instrumental in designing and overseeing the building of the Inter-Faith Chapel on the hospital campus.

Franklin’s wife, Mercedes (“Teedie”), predeceased him in 2007. He is survived by his six children, including North Parkers

Franklin G. Hagberg C’49 S’56 died February 12, 2011, at the age of 84. Franklin was ordained in the Evangelical Covenant Church in 1961 and went on to serve Becki Hagberg-Cohen C’72 and Chris Hagberg C’84, 11 grandchildren,

and 5 great-grandchildren.

Richard H. Bengtson A’54 of Bedford, Mass.

passed away on July 19, 2010. Rick was an active member of Trinity Covenant Church in Lexington, Mass. He is survived by his wife Delores, daughter Deborah (Mitch) Gustafson C’79

and son Steven Bengtson (Jacqueline Freese), as well as 5 grandchildren.

| SPRING | Fall 2006 North North Parker Parker 2011 35

Alumni Notes

his wife Sandy, daughters Kathryn C’79 and Elizabeth (Lemke) Nomura C’82, son Michael, and three grandchildren. Born in Berlin, Germany, in 1933, Werner’s distinguished career in teaching included almost 40 years at CRCDS in addition to affiliations with North Park Theological Seminary, Harvard, Princeton, and McCormick seminaries. He was ordained by the Evangelical Covenant Church Joan (Anderson) Matson C’54 died on in 1959. He contributed to many religious October 31, 2010. She was born September and scholarly publications and was one of 14, 1934, in Chicago, Ill. After attending the contributing editors to several commenNorth Park College, she enrolled at Swedish taries, study Bibles, and dictionaries. He Covenant Hospital’s School of Nursing and also was a team captain at an archaeologigraduated in 1956, becoming a registered cal excavation at Tel Gezer, Israel. Werner nurse that same year. Joan always said that was very active in local neighborhood and her most enjoyable times as a nurse were church organizations, such as the food panwhen she worked for 20 years at North try at New Life Presbyterian Church and Park and eventually headed up the Student Habitat for Humanity. A memorial and celHealth Office. Joan completed her four-year ebration of Dr. Lemke’s life was celebrated degree at the College of St. Francis. In re- on July 16 at New Life Presbyterian Church tirement, she began a parish nurse ministry. in Rochester, N.Y. Joan is survived by her husband Bill C’52, son Steve C’83, daughter-in-law Kathy Inger Larson C’88 passed away on February (Reed) C’83, daughter Laura (Pete), and 8, 2010. For the previous 16 years she was four grandchildren. employed at Crate&Barrel, most recently as a West coast region inventory manager in Werner Lemke S’59 died unexpectedly Seattle, Wash. A memorial service was held on July 5, 2010 at age 77. He is survived by in Escalon, Calif. on February 15, 2010.

The North Parker welcomes updates for the Alumni Notes, including wedding, birth, reunion and professional announcements.

Submissions can be sent via email to alumni@northpark.edu or mailed to: North Park University, 3225 W. Foster Ave., Box 37, Chicago, Ill. 60625. Please keep submissions to 100 words or less and ensure that photographs are high resolution. Due to space limitations, announcements are subject to editing.

36 North Parker | SPRING 2011

Friend of North Park William C. Mays died September 28, 2010.

He was married to Martha E. Dunlap for 65 years and Marie Hane for five years. Bill started his working life as a carpenter but felt called to the ministry and became a pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church.

He is survived by his second wife, seven children, seven grandchildren, and 16 greatgrandchildren. A memorial service was held on October 2, 2010.

For more information on how to stay in touch with alumni, visit www.northpark.edu/alumni. Or scan the QR code with your smartphone.

alumni@northpark.edu

They Can’t Wait They can’t wait to use their God-given talent and passion to make a difference in the world. Help North Park University continue this great, 120 year-old mission by making a gift to the Annual Fund today.

Make a gift. Make a difference.

Visit www.northpark.edu/giving, or call (866) 366-8096.

North Parker | SPRING 2011 37

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