The magazine for alumni and friends of North Park University
ACROSS CAMPUS 6 | North Park introduces new computer science major for fall 2024
| North Park’s 50-year partnership with SVF in Sweden provides an exchange of ideas and cultures
26 | A look at how North Park supports its Hispanic student population
Your Gift Builds Lifelong Connections
Your gift to the North Park Fund helps students like Justin Swanson BS ’24 build connections and thrive academically. Through financial aid and scholarships, academic support, and campus infrastructure, the North Park Fund supports every student, every day.
Summer 2024
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Sister Skola
North Park’s partnership with Södra Vätterbydens Folkhögskola is the longest exchange program between an American and Swedish institution.
22
Building an Intercultural Campus
North Park’s student cultural organizations play a vital role in campus life, reflecting the rich tapestry of the student body.
26
Honoring Our Roots, Embracing the Future
Continuing to honor its Swedish roots while fulfilling its original mission, today North Park supports a Hispanic student population.
North Parker
Editorial Board
Mary K. Surridge President
Michael Nevergall MNA ’13 Vice President for Advancement
Anthony Scola Vice President for Enrollment
Management and Marketing
Editorial Staff
Ana Funduk
Managing Editor
Ellen Almer BA ’94
Kennedy Murphy
Lindsey Post Robinson BS ’05
Editors
Ellen Almer
Ana Funduk
Megan Gilmore BA ’05, MNA ’13, MA ’13
Allyson Manzella
Andrew Meyer BA ’06, MA ’13
Kennedy Murphy
Eileen O’Gorman
Brett Ravitz BS ’25
Lindsey Post Robinson Writers
Design Staff
Susannah Kim Art Direction & Design
Karamel
Anthony
The North Parker is published twice a year for alumni and friends of North Park University, 3225 W. Foster Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625-4895. For mailing list adjustments, address changes, questions, or suggestions, please contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at (773) 244-4750.
First Word
What a glorious day! On a beautiful Saturday in early May, immersed in great joy and thanksgiving, North Park celebrated the Commencement of nearly 400 graduates. True for every generation of North Parkers, we are blessed by the treasured community of students who choose to make North Park their home. The rich intercultural environment of our campus gives us a collective identity that reflects nothing less than the Kingdom of God. We praise Him for our beloved community, for His presence and provision, and for the life-changing experience that is North Park.
In this issue of the North Parker, you will enjoy the third in a three-part series elevating our institution’s core distinctives: Christian, city-centered, and intercultural. You’ll read about the compelling way we are living into our historic and missional intercultural identity through the marvelous work of our outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
You will be encouraged by the ways North Park is celebrating and innovating around intercultural strength, from reinvigorating historic programs—such as our long-held relationship with Södra Vätterbygdens
Folkhögskola, our sister campus in Jönköping, Sweden—to developing compelling initiatives and opportunities for all students in the embrace of our Hispanic Serving Institution designation.
You will love meeting Viking student-athletes from around the world who have chosen to study and represent North Park on our fields and courts. Our students’ investment in leadership and service on campus through their engagement in our many cultural organizations will inspire you.
We’ll highlight the transformational work North Park alumni are demonstrating worldwide and learn about four inspiring members of our seminary community: three faculty scholars installed as endowed chairs and alumna Dr. Mae Elise Cannon MBA ’06, MDiv ’06 honored at the Evangelical Covenant Church’s Midwinter conference for her distinguished service in the Middle East.
As we turn our efforts toward the fall semester, we are driven by God’s call to advance our compelling mission and support the success of our students with all the energy we can bring. Their futures depend on it—and we are delighted to support their journey. Thank you for faithfully supporting the North Park students of today while honoring all that you loved during your days as a student in this beloved community.
We remain grateful for your love, prayers, and support!
In partnership,
Mary K. Surridge President
Graduates exit Helwig Recreation Center following Commencement through a tunnel of flags featuring the many countries represented by North Park’s students.
Across Campus
New Master of Music in Performance to Launch This Fall
In fall 2024, the School of Music, Art, and Theatre will introduce its new Master of Music in Performance degree, developed to prepare students for a professional musician’s multifaceted career. Students select a concentration from four different vocal or keyboard arts areas.
Midwinter 2024
North Park Theological Seminary (NPTS) alumni and faculty joined the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) at this year’s Midwinter conference. ECC President Tammy SwansonDraheim MDiv ’03, MM ’03 announc -ed new NPTS cohorts starting this fall. Dean Dennis Edwards spoke about his latest book, Humility Illuminated; and NPTS faculty members David Bjorlin, Michelle Dodson, and Dennis Edwards brought reflections to their lecture “Immeasurably More…with Less.”
Baseball Wins Share of CCIW Regular Season Title
North Park University men’s baseball finished with a 30-win season for the first time in 10 years, led by coach Luke Johnson. The Vikings earned a share of the CCIW regular season championship and hosted the CCIW tournament at Holmgren Athletic Complex. Seven players, as well as Coach Johnson, were honored on the 2024 All-Conference team.
Blue & Gold Day
The North Park community came together on April 18 for the ninth annual Blue & Gold Day. More than 800 donors gave a total of $334,983 in support of North Park students. North Parkers showed their school pride in blue and gold during a week of activities, with students gathering for photos, food trucks, and festivities.
North Park Introduces BA in Computer Science
Starting in fall 2024, undergraduate students can major in computer science. The program, made possible through the Lower Cost Models for Independent Colleges Consortium’s (LCMC) Rize program—in partnership with Google— allows students to take a combination of on-campus courses taught by North Park faculty and online courses through LCMC’s partner schools to complete their degree.
Alumnus Signs to Windy City ThunderBolts Baseball
North Park University (NPU) baseball’s all-time strikeout leader (256), Ethan Sund BS ’21, signed a contract for the 2024 season with the Windy City ThunderBolts, a professional team in the Frontier League.
Retiring Faculty
Wanda Burns
Associate Professor of Nursing 18 years at North Park
Trudi DeWaters
Associate Professor of Nursing 19 years at North Park
Terry McCreedy
Assistant Professor of Nursing 16 years at North Park
Lee Sundholm Professor of Economics
57 years at North Park
Faculty & Staff Awards
These awards were presented to faculty and staff at Honors Convocation.
Zenos Hawkinson Award for Teaching and Campus Leadership
Brian Vollmert
Staff Impact Award
Greg Neumarke
Adjunct Faculty of the Year
Recognition Award
Edyta Wydmanski
Student Government Association Service Awards
Tina Plafoutzis (staff)
Paul Janus (faculty)
Rev. Eugene Cho Presents at Second Annual Van Der Meid Lecture
Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World, spoke at the second annual Van Der Meid Lecture in American Politics, named in honor of Theodore Van Der Meid BA ’79. Cho discussed civility in politics and the pursuit the common good. He underscored the need for faith-based engagement in addressing societal changes.
Seminary Celebrates Three Endowed Chairs
NPTS community gathered on February 15 to celebrate the installation of three endowed faculty chairs: Michelle Dodson as the Milton B. Engebretson Chair in Evangelism and Justice, Max Lee as the Paul W. Brandel Chair of Biblical Studies, and Hauna Ondrey as the Wilma E. Peterson Chair in Church History. The installation was followed by a faculty colloquy on February 16.
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling to Become Fully Online
The School of Professional Studies will begin offering its Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling entirely online in fall 2024. The new format will allow students across Illinois to earn a faith-based counseling degree from North Park’s expert faculty.
Gilman Scholarship Winners
Four North Park students recently won the prestigious Gilman Scholarship, which provides students with funds to study abroad. Tahira Javed studied in Nepal as part of The GREEN Program in summer 2023. Jesus Hernandez studied in Germany at the Philipps University of Marburg in summer 2023. Erika Ver Beek studied in Greece at the American College of Greece in spring 2024 and Ubaydullah Kromwell studied in Italy in spring 2024. Since 2014, 22 NPU students have won a Gilman Scholarship— totaling $85,500.
Faculty Fulbright Awardee
Sociology Professor Lida Nedilsky was awarded a Fulbright grant to teach at the University of Warsaw in Poland during the 2023–24 academic year. She taught a graduate-level seminar and an undergraduate course, “Civil Society in Post-communist Ukraine and Pre-communist Hong Kong.”
Honoring Our Advocates for Diversity
The Office of Diversity and Intercultural Life recognized three North Parkers for their commitment to promoting interculturalism at its annual awards ceremony. Dr. Rev. Terence Gadsden, DMin ’23 received the Champion of Diversity Award, Sonia Lizardo, BA ’07, received the Outstanding Intercultural Alumni Award, and graduating senior Hannah Wetzel received the Honors Convocation Diversity Award.
Renovated Viking Market & Café Opened
In March, the NPU community celebrated the grand opening of the Viking Market & Café. The space includes an improved layout for students to gather and a new state-ofthe-art Amazon Just Walk Out store. Student Government Association members Estrella Almendras and Andrea Hernandez championed this project, which Campus Dining and the Division of Student Engagement facilitated.
From left to right: University Dean Liza Ann Acosta, alumna Sonia Lizardo, and Director of Student Engagement Operations Leah Blanchfield
MEET THE STAFF
Nurturing Intercultural Connections
Tessa Zanoni and Ruby Benigno, leaders of North Park University’s (NPU) Office of International Affairs, play pivotal roles in embodying the university’s commitment to its intercultural distinctive. With their combined expertise and passion, they guide more than 300 international students from 55 countries through the complexities of international education, ensuring a holistic and enriching experience.
Zanoni, who has served as the office’s director for the past two years and previously as its assistant director, leads international student visa advising and manages the university’s study abroad portfolio.
“Our office is responsible for helping international students navigate the complexities of their student visa, academics, work authorization, and life in the U.S.,” she said.
Their collaboration extends beyond administrative tasks as they engage with the international community at NPU.
“We recognize the importance of intersectionality when it comes to addressing the needs of our students, as they come with diverse experiences and backgrounds that enrich the culture of North Park. They also remind us that there is so much we still need to do to truly live out the university’s intercultural mission.” said Benigno.
Collaborating with other offices within the Division of Student Engagement, Benigno and Zanoni work to ensure that international students receive the necessary support to be academically successful at NPU and after graduation. Through events like international student orientation, sessions on acclimating to Chicago winters, and workshops on internship and work authorization, the intercultural distinctive comes alive on campus.
Both Zanoni and Benigno are most proud when they share success stories of their international students, such as those who go on to pursue graduate degrees or receive employment sponsorship upon graduation.
“We spend so much of our day-today advising students on complex visa regulations, so it’s really rewarding to be able to take a step back and celebrate our students’ many accomplishments,” said Zanoni.
Looking to the future, the Office of International Affairs plans to further enhance the intercultural environment at North Park. Initiatives include expanding scholarship opportunities to support equity and access to study abroad programs. As NPU grows its international community, Zanoni and Benigno are there to meet the evolving needs of the diverse student body.
From left to right: Tessa Zanoni and Ruby Benigno
MEET THE FACULTY
Everything Is Related
North Park University (NPU) biology
Professor Timothy Lin tells the same story to each new class he teaches. After welcoming his students, he brings out a photo that looks like it could be decades old. It shows a group of Chinese students taking a test inside of a warehouse just days after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.
“This is the culture; this is what they do after losing everything. The first thing they do to recover is study,” Lin said. “So, I ask my students, ‘In a country where you can have anything, are you willing to pour your heart and your effort into your education?’”
Lin, a Taiwan native, came to North Park in 2008 from the University of Iowa. Under then-Dean of Diversity and Intercultural Programs Terry Lindsay, Lin helped advocate for more programming geared toward Asian Americans and their experiences at NPU.
As a result of that advocacy, Lin runs a biannual program that takes students to Taiwan for “The Culture and Ecology of Asia,” a biology course. The class focuses on biodiversity in Asia but goes deeper into the manmade differences that impact Taiwanese plant and animal life. Lin said the overarching goal is to show students their choices don’t exist in a vacuum.
“Everything is related. That’s something I bring into this course. From a cultural and an ecological perspective, everything affects something else.”
In the coming years, Lin wants to increase interest in and accessibility to studying abroad. He said there’s still work to be done for students who can’t
experience other countries during their college years and encourages professors to bring the world to those students through classroom discussions.
Lin especially hopes other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professors feel comfortable leading with their identities.
While the subject matter may not lend itself to multiculturalism, Lin said professors can’t separate their identities from their passions and should look for opportunities to bring both into the classroom.
“It’s not only part of the intentional curriculum at North Park,” Lin said, “But it is who I am.”
SEMINARY SPOTLIGHT
An Intercultural Approach to Faith
Growing up as a pastor’s child in Albuquerque, New Mexico, North Park Theological Seminary Teaching Fellow Armida Belmonte Stephens was part of a thriving Mexican American faith community.
While her youth group often conversed in English, services at her immigrant church were primarily conducted in Spanish. Everything,
she said, reflected the Latino American experience. She didn’t have her first experience in a white-majority church until she attended college.
“Being a bicultural person, it’s been an interesting journey to make sense of what faith looks like in both contexts,” said Belmonte Stephens, who teaches “Christian Ethics” and “Latinx Theology,” courses she
I see them making connections with their faith, and the familiarity of their stories and challenges inspired me to be part of bringing their experiences forward.
brought to North Park.
“Teaching the Latinx class is deeply satisfying on a personal level,” she said. “I was really encouraged about the possibility of bringing my faith community’s culture to the table.”
She continues to pursue this mission as a Latina professor of theology, an identity that remains underrepresented at seminaries and churches. Last year, Belmonte Stephens worked with North Park’s Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) committee and met many first-generation Latina college students who reminded her of herself.
“They said to me, ‘You’re at the seminary? I’m interested in that, too.’ I see them making connections with their faith, and the familiarity of their stories and challenges inspired me to be part of bringing their experiences forward,” she said.
As an HSI, North Park is uniquely positioned to act as a feeder school for Latino students from undergraduate education into the seminary. From there, Belmonte Stephens sees a new generation of Latino pastors and theologians.
She recently overheard students chatting, switching fluidly between Spanish and English. It warmed her heart, as she had never experienced such camaraderie in college.
“I’m hopeful this new generation will come up and interculturally approach their faith as a community.”
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Distinguished Seniors
Each year, North Park University (NPU) celebrates the exceptional achievements of two students with the Distinguished Senior Awards. This year, the spotlight shines on Mandisa Timba, a molecular biology and biotechnology major, and Maggie Buss, a psychology major on the pre-law track.
Timba, nominated by biology Professor Drew Rholl BS ’04, has distinguished herself through her research and dedication. Her passion for science is evident in her roles as a lab assistant and supplemental instructor. She also mentors high school girls at her alma mater in Zimbabwe about STEM careers.
Her research has garnered recognition on a national scale, culminating
in a presentation at the Tiny Earth Symposium and an internship with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Planetary Protection Program. She also finds the time to serve on the Tri-Beta Biology Honor Society, Women in STEM, the Black Student Union, and the African Cultural Club.
“Mandy observed that building on the work of previous researchers aligns with the African word and idea Ubuntu, meaning ‘I am because you are.’ She acknowledges her success is a result of the contributions of those before her, and future generations will use her work to grow even more,” said Rholl. This fall, Timba will begin a PhD program at the University of Illinois Chicago’s College of Pharmacy. Commended for her intellectual curiosity and critical thinking skills, Maggie Buss was nominated by the entire Department of Psychology faculty and Department of Politics and Government’s Professor Jon Peterson.
Buss has earned recognition in both fields. In April, she presented her work at the Midwestern Psychological Association Conference and won a regional research award from Psi Chi. She was also the first non-major nominated into the Department of Politics and Government’s honor society.
As founder and president of NPU’s Pre-Law Society (PLS), Buss has developed a thriving community for aspiring legal professionals. Peterson said, “PLS will be Maggie’s legacy at North Park for years to come.”
Whether serving as a Student Government Association senator, singing in the University Choir, or volunteering for a mental health crisis counseling hotline, Buss strives to make a positive impact. She will be attending George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia School of Law as a dean’s scholar this fall.
Mandisa Timba
Maggie Buss
VIKING STRONG
Connecting Cultures through Competition
From left to right: Victoria Perry, Agnes Bäck, and Jereme Ombogo
Vikings have many reasons for committing to North Park, one of the most common being the people they meet on and off the court.
Viking student-athletes come from many backgrounds, some traveling thousands of miles from home to attend North Park University (NPU). Embracing their differences, they work together to achieve success in the classroom and their sports. Jereme Ombogo, a junior from Houston, Texas, came to North Park because of his recruiting experiences with the Viking football coaching staff and players. He has stayed because of the bonds he has formed with his teammates.
“I had a senior teammate from Sweden my first year. When we first met, we disagreed on many things, so we decided one day to sit in the dining hall together and talk it out. We discovered we had much more in common than we thought, and he is now one of my close friends,” he said.
Ombogo is also the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at North Park, where he works with other Viking leaders to create events where athletes from different teams, nationalities, and ethnicities can meet and connect.
North Park is a fitting place for student-athletes to meet new people, as senior Agnes Bäck of the women’s soccer team knows. “I’m from Sweden,
and some Scandinavians living in the U.S. primarily spend time with other Scandinavians. But some of my closest North Park friends are from different countries, and I wouldn’t have been able to meet them if I hadn’t stepped out of my comfort zone.”
It’s not always easy to adjust to a new place. Being from Hawaii, men’s baseball student-athlete and captain Reece Arakaki had some guidance for those from far away.
“Anyone coming to North Park from a long distance should remember to be themselves. I was so worried about being different that I even changed how I spoke. After moving, I realized my teammates supported me no matter what, and I didn’t need to worry,” said the junior.
Vikings have many reasons for committing to North Park, one of the most common being the people they can meet on and off the court.
Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, women’s basketball student-athlete Victoria Perry reflected on the impact that having teammates from other countries has on her game. “Having a Norwegian teammate has been great because she has taught me new things about basketball that I otherwise wouldn’t have ever known.”
Perry, a senior, has put that knowledge to work. The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selected her to its Women’s Basketball All-Conference teams in 2023 and 2024 and as its 2023 First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year.
The diverse and inclusive community at North Park, brought together within NPU Athletics by a shared passion for sports, exemplifies the transformative power of athletics and the intercultural distinctive of our institution.
Regardless of background or origin, student-athletes like Ombogo, Bäck, Arakaki, and Perry find common ground, break down barriers, and form lasting connections at our shared Chicago campus.
Anyone coming to North Park from a long distance should remember to be themselves. I was so worried about being different that I even changed how I spoke. After moving, I realized my teammates supported me no matter what, and I didn’t need to worry.
—REECE ARAKAKI
Sister
North Park’s 50-year relationship with Sweden’s SVF gets a modern makeover.
By Ellen Almer BA ’94
North Park University’s (NPU) ties to Sweden have been strong since its founding in 1891, but the relationship deepened about 50 years ago with the addition of an intimate exchange program with a small school called Södra Vätterbygdens Folkhögskola (SVF). SVF partnered with NPU to provide an experience where Swedish students and North Parkers swapped time on each other’s campuses.
The resulting program is now the longest exchange program between an American and Swedish institution and remains an iconic North Park tradition.
“We have legacy Covenant students coming to North Park just to attend SVF,” said Chad Eric Bergman, interim co-dean of North Park’s College of Arts and Sciences.
Indeed, multiple generations of parents and students have cycled through the unique program, which has evolved over the years but fundamentally remains a cohort exchange in which Swedish and American students live and learn together on both campuses.
The arrangement has resulted in lifelong friendships and even international marriages. Ida (a Swede) BA ’12, MOL ’17 and Josh (an American) Hiben BA ’12, MDiv ’18 met through the SVF program.
Pictured on this page: North Park and SVF students during the 1970s–80s
“It was my first time abroad...From architecture to language to culture to how the entire way of being and seeing the world can be widely different from how I grew up in Minnesota. And just being outdoors. It still feels like the air is so fresh and crisp in Jönköping.”
—Josh Hiben
Skola
Among their favorite memories of the program: cooking and taking walks with fellow students; Josh eventually becoming a coffee addict thanks to daily fikas; and a class Ida took with Bergman, which strengthened her English skills.
Josh said his first reaction to landing in Sweden was revelatory.
“It was my first time abroad,” Josh said. “From architecture to language to culture to how the entire way of being and seeing the world can be widely different from how I grew up in Minnesota. And just being outdoors. It still feels like the air is so fresh and crisp in Jönköping.”
Sister Skola
Pictured on this page: NPU and SVF students from the early 2000s
The SVF-North Park partnership is now the longest exchange program between an American and Swedish institution and remains an iconic North Park tradition.
The partnership has succeeded despite the elemental differences between the institutions. While North Park is a traditional four-year university, SVF is known in Sweden as a “folk high school,” an option for students who don’t enroll in university but seek more life skills.
According to John Ahlström, the Swedish director of SVF’s exchange program with North Park, the program proved extremely popular when it started because very few such exchanges existed in the 1970s.
During the program’s heyday about 20 years ago, the school had 100 applicants for just 12 spots.
Then, in the early 2000s, things slowly began to change. Exchange programs became extremely
“If you are lucky enough to have those opportunities at a younger age, then you can enter adulthood already knowing yourself better, knowing your values and perhaps how you want to live your life.”
—Marit Johnson Awes
popular, and soon, Swedish students had many options for studying in America. At the same time, North Park’s student population diversified, with fewer Swedish Covenant students enrolling. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, and international programs halted, Ahlström and Bergman feared the partnership might not survive.
“For the past four years, we’ve had to reenvision how this could work,” said Bergman, who has
worked closely with Ahlström on redesigning the program. Last winter, President Mary Surridge and Provost Michael Carr accompanied Bergman on a trip to SVF in part to reinvigorate the North Park-SVF connection.
The group soon determined the schools could easily reimagine the program to focus on modern topics.
“We have so much more to offer than people just coming to explore their roots,” Ahlström said. “Sweden
Sister Skola
Pictured on this page and opposite: Current SVF students
“Sweden is known for its progressive policies. Students who come here learn about how we dealt with our refugee crisis in 2015, and how we handle climate change and recycling. There’s so much to learn here.”
—John Ahlström
is known for its progressive policies. Students who come here learn about how we dealt with our refugee crisis in 2015, and how we handle climate change and recycling. There’s so much to learn here.”
Similarly, SVF students who come to North Park learn about life in a large, intercultural city such as Chicago.
Once the pandemic receded, Bergman found North Parkers were still interested in going abroad.
“We found that students wanted international experience, but maybe not for an entire semester,” Bergman said. “We haven’t necessarily retained the traditional exchange, but we’ve creatively kept it going.”
Bergman and Ahlström’s teams developed a new program structure. In the fall, Bergman teaches an online course about Chicago to the SVF students before the group comes to North Park’s campus for the second semester. Then, in May, the SVF students and a group of North Parkers return to Sweden for a threeweek residency.
The residency focuses on a single topic, such as Bergman’s seminar on the lost art of letter-writing a couple of years ago.
While the look and feel of the program have evolved over the decades, it still breeds deep devotion among its participants.
Marit Johnson Awes BA ’03, MA ’11 participated in the program her sophomore year, as most students do.
“My friends and I took the train all over Europe and would play hacky sack as we waited in long lines at museums or castles,” recalled Awes,
Sister Skola
Pictured on this page and opposite: SVF campus
who still travels to Sweden to visit friends she made there. “We slept on each other’s shoulders on the train and packed lunches together in the hostel kitchens each morning to save money as we explored the city we were in that day.”
Bergman and Ahlström hope to capitalize on such sentimental fondness with a 50th-anniversary trip, planned for May 2025.
Awes’ advice to young people is to take advantage of all travel opportunities.
“If you are lucky enough to have those opportunities at a younger age, then you can enter adulthood already knowing yourself better,
knowing your values and perhaps how you want to live your life.”
For the Hibens, their decision to participate was life-changing.
“It altered the trajectory of our lives and gave us both lifelong friends and a true chance to immerse ourselves in a new culture,”
Ida said. “The partnership provides exchanges of ideas and cultures in a very formative time of a student’s life.”
TRAVEL WITH NORTH PARK
NPU alumni and friends will tour Denmark and Sweden together in May 2025, including a three-night stay at SVF. For more information or to express your interest, contact alumni@northpark.edu.
Sister Skola
Intercultural Campus Building an
“We want to create an environment that is welcoming and feels like home away from home for international students.”
—MAHNOOR UDDIN, SASA PRESIDENT
North Park’s student cultural organizations provide connection and education.
By Megan Gilmore BA ’05, MA ’13, MNA ’13
For nearly 70 years, student cultural groups at North Park University (NPU) have provided connection and education on campus, embodying the university’s intercultural distinctive. From the Black Student Union (BSU) founded in 1956, to more recent additions like the Latin American Student Organization (LASO) and the Middle Eastern Student Association, to the Scandinavian Student Association that ties closely to the university’s roots, these groups play a vital role in campus life, reflecting the rich tapestry of the student body.
There are 10 currently active cultural organizations supported by the Office of Diversity and Intercultural Life, each growing out of student desire to connect their cultural heritage with their educational community. Hundreds of students participate in these groups, from casual get-togethers to large events highlighting important cultural and religious celebrations. Many events are open to the broader campus community, like the recent Lunar New Year celebration led by the East Asian Student Association or BSU’s February celebrations for Black History Month.
EASA student members
LASO student members
WEAVING NORTH PARK’S INTERCULTURAL TAPESTRY
To kick off each semester, student cultural organizations are introduced as a central part of campus life at Viking Fair, where each student club can interact with others looking for a place to plug in.
BSU is the oldest active cultural group on campus. Its legacy of advocacy and education has carried through to its current membership. “We’re committed to building a community,” said current BSU President David Wortham. “We want to provide not only fun and social events but also educational ones that focus on Black excellence.”
NPU earned the designation of a Hispanic Serving Institution in 2020, which recognizes that at least 25% of the university’s undergraduate student body is Hispanic. LASO leads the celebration of many cultures in ways that are accessible to the entire student body, from music, food, and dance to history and current social events.
“LASO has played a significant role in promoting awareness and appreciation of Latin American culture,” current President Yamileth Gonzalez said. “We serve as an advocate for the needs of Latin American students. The organization works to amplify voices, address issues, and fight for inclusivity.”
Many of the Asian-focused organizations are more recent additions to the community, reflecting the changing student body demographics. Professor Boaz Johnson helped students create the South Asian Student Association (SASA) in 2007 as the country was healing from the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Muslims, many of them from South Asian countries, faced hostilities in their daily lives.
“We serve as an advocate for the needs of Latin American students. The organization works to amplify voices, address issues, and fight for inclusivity.”
—YAMILETH GONZALEZ, LASO PRESIDENT
BSU student members
SASA student members
Johnson wanted to provide a place for students to interact with their religion, culture, history, and current events while engaging in peace and reconciliation experiences.
“SASA has organized and celebrated religious and cultural festivals of Sikhs, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and Christians. It has enabled newly immigrated students and second-generation immigrant students to celebrate each other, irrespective of religious and linguistic differences,” Johnson said.
“All of our events are always open to the entire campus. Everyone is welcome,” added SASA President Mahnoor Uddin.
CREATING A HOME AWAY FROM HOME
North Park’s student cultural organizations provide a welcome landing spot for students during their college experience. The groups gather regularly for organized events, but members also organically build support networks and lifelong friendships. Faculty and staff advisors provide
guidance, a listening ear, and encouragement.
“We want to create an environment that is welcoming and feels like home away from home for international students and a new experience for students who don’t know about South Asian culture,” Uddin said.
“We try to support members by checking in at our biweekly meetings, making sure they know they’re cared for,” Wortham said of BSU members. “If an issue does arise for one of our members, we offer help to get them the resources they need.”
The East Asian Student Association (EASA) was formed in 2008, creating a new sense of community for many students. Co-Presidents Vy Pham and Melissa Vinluan were drawn to the group because it felt like home. “I’m a commuter student, and I first heard of EASA through social media. I saw ‘East Asian’ and thought, ‘It’s me!’” Vinluan said.
Pham discovered EASA through Viking Fair. “I didn’t have a lot of Asian friends when I first came to North Park, which made me feel lonely. I went to Viking Fair the first week and
looked specifically for Asian student associations. It was in 2020, so lots of changes were happening in the world, and it was comforting to know there was a group for me.”
“We see each other every day on campus for casual get-togethers. We study together…it’s like family,” she added.
“Our community is so welcoming to people whether you’re Asian or not,” Vinluan said. “It’s part of our culture to be welcoming to people who want to join.”
“LASO creates a safe environment for students to make new connections…and find a voice on campus,” Gonzalez said. “LASO at North Park has opened opportunities for students to create skills that will prepare them for the workforce and encourage students to stand up as Latinos.”
Ultimately, fostering this sense of belonging and community is vital in how North Park’s cultural organizations help shape lives on campus and prepare students for the next steps on their journeys after graduation.
From left to right: Professors and student organization advisors Jong-Hoon Yu, Boaz Johnson, and Angelica Ahlman
HONORING OUR ROOTS, EMBRACING THE FUTURE
Founded by Swedes, North Park’s educational mission has grown to serve Hispanic students.
By Ellen Almer BA ’94
In 1891, a group of Swedes founded North Park to help immigrants like themselves adapt to their new home. The goal was to teach them English and other skills to help them thrive in the United States while not forfeiting their beloved ethnic customs.
More than 130 years later, North Park University (NPU) continues to honor its Swedish roots while fulfilling its original mission for a new ethnic group: Hispanic students. In 2020, North Park gained recognition as one of about 500 Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), a federal designation given to colleges and universities with a 25% population of Hispanic/
As for Swedes and Latinos, Frank Gaytán, vice president for student engagement, said: “It’s a big tent, there’s room for all.”
The HSI designation was created in the 1990s to give more support to the urban, underresourced institutions to which Hispanic students often applied. Those schools could, in turn, apply for grants to help support their students.
“Colleges were originally created for white, upper-class males, and not even women,” said Evelyn AponteAucutt, senior director of Academic Engagement and Student Success.
“The HSI designation is the government’s way of recognizing the need
in 2022, supports minority student success in STEM majors.
Another grant, for $166K, was awarded by NASA in 2023 to install atmospheric weather sensors on the roof of the Johnson Center for Science and Community Life. North Park is one of only 10 schools to receive the grant, which provides students with access to the NASA-collected data to perform their own experiments.
NPU also secured an additional $155K grant from the state of Illinois for COVID-19 relief. North Park’s next goal is to apply for and receive a $3 million grant under Title V, the U.S. Department of Education’s Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions Pro -
“The HSI designation is the government’s way of recognizing the need to address achievement gaps, equity gaps, and systems of inequality.”
—EVELYN APONTE-AUCUTT,
SENIOR
DIRECTOR
OF ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT AND STUDENT SUCCESS
Latinx students, with a significant portion coming from underresourced backgrounds.
Richard Kohng, North Park’s assistant vice president for Civic Engagement, frequently refers to David Nyvall, North Park’s first president, when discussing the HSI designation. He noted that when North Park welcomed its first Swedish American students, they attended college so their children would not face the same financial hardship and social barriers they endured.
Welcomed by what President Nyvall called “harmony in the midst of diversity,” these students were greeted with “hospitality...especially insisted upon.”
to address achievement gaps, equity gaps, and systems of inequality.”
“Part of the work is developing a new culture, shifting how we treat students of color,” Aponte-Aucutt said. “The HSI designation incentivizes us to access the funds to think more creatively and see where our gaps are.”
Rather than guarantee federal funds, however, the HSI designation increases North Park’s eligibility for specific grants that benefit Hispanic students. And despite COVID-19 snarling the application process, North Park has secured several vital grants.
The first, a $413K grant from the National Science Foundation received
gram, to expand educational opportunities for Hispanic and low-income students pursuing post-secondary degrees.
In addition to the opportunities created by the grants, Aponte-Aucutt formed an HSI Student Advisory Board to capture student input about issues paramount to them. She also inaugurated a First-Generation Celebration Day to honor students, alumni, staff, and faculty who were the first in their families to attend college.
Loribeth Godinez, a nursing student and Chicago native, chose North Park so she could have a true college experience while staying close to her Mexican and Puerto Rican family in the Belmont-Cragin area. She also
received generous financial aid in the form of the Lighthouse Scholarship given to qualifying first-generation college students.
“To be a true ‘serving’ institution, North Park must know the needs and desires of the students,” said Godinez,
a member of the HSI Student Advisory Board. “Since receiving the HSI designation, I truly believe North Park has been trying to hold true to being a serving institution by creating a board to hear the voices of students.”
More work remains to be done, she
said, such as helping connect students to scholarships, fellowships, and internships. But she feels North Park will “continue to not only hold safe spaces for students to participate in conversations and decisions that affect them but continue to celebrate their accomplishments.”
Seminary Teaching Fellow Armida Belmonte Stephens was invited to participate in an HSI community panel last year on North Park’s campus, in which students, faculty, and staff discussed issues affecting HSI students and institutions.
“I was encouraged to meet these students and am glad we’re seeing so many more Latino students going to college—and we’re seeing more retention,” said Belmonte Stephens, a first-generation college graduate whose parents immigrated from Mexico. “At the same time, so much of what they told me was familiar. The challenges they face are so similar to my own.”
It spurred in her a desire to continue building community among North Park’s growing Hispanic student population.
By strengthening one community, we strengthen the entire school, Gaytán and Aponte-Aucutt agreed.
Supporting our Hispanic students is directly supporting North Park’s heritage—being an institution for immigrants and children of immigrants that encourages all to uphold and celebrate their culture, whether it be Swedish or Hispanic.
“The work requires intentionality, institutional buy-in, and a commitment to learning and understanding,” Aponte-Aucutt said. “When you support many underrepresented students, all students at the institution will benefit.”
HSI Council (from left to right): Frank Gaytán, Evelyn Aponte-Aucutt, Matthew Van Duzor, Angelica Ahlman, and Jasmine Alcala
“Since
receiving the HSI designation, I truly believe North Park has been trying to hold true to being a serving institution by creating a board to hear the voices of students.”
—LORIBETH GODINEZ, HSI STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
HSI Student Advisory Board (from left to right): Loribeth Godinez, Aaron Gonzalez, and Andrea Hernandez
SNAPSHOT
Commencement
1 | A class of 2024 graduate waves to loved ones while exiting Helwig Recreation Center following the Commencement ceremony.
2 | Two graduates pose together in stoles, which showcase their achievements at North Park University.
3 | A group of recent graduates smiles in front of the balloon arch outside of Old Main.
4 | Graduates exit Helwig Recreation Center following Commencement. Faculty and staff line the sides of the path for the graduates to pass through.
5 | Students celebrate the moment the class of 2024 is announced.
6 | A graduate carries the flag of her home country during the procession of flags.
7 | The class of 1974 smiles in their Golden Circle robes. Each Golden Circle class is celebrated 50 years after their undergraduate graduation.
8 | Family and loved ones gather on North Park’s campus to take photos following Commencement.
9 | President Mary Surridge and Vice President of Student Engagement Frank Gaytán applaud graduates at the exit processional.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Breaking Barriers and Bridging Cultures
Melanie Fitzsimmons’ BA ’04 path after North Park University led her to the Dominican Republic, first as a church volunteer, then to her current role as director of Fundación Futuro Lleno de Esperanza, a faith-based foundation. It comprises a school, partnerships with churches in rural communities, and an evangelical seminary for Haitian-Creole-speaking pastors and lay leaders.
“North Park’s intercultural focus, including my mission trips to Guatemala and Mexico, helped me discover the importance of the work I do today,” said Fitzsimmons. She believes her college experiences laid the foundation for her ability to tailor services to the community’s unique needs.
In 2011, Fitzsimmons and partners Hyun Jae Shin and Ji Hye Kang established the foundation’s first project, a school for pre-kindergarten-aged children. In addition to providing early childhood education, the school
serves as a community center, hosting extracurricular art, English, and dance classes; collaborating with local volunteer organizations for weekend activities; and running a program for teenage girls called Chicas Poderosas.
My critical thinking skills, honed at North Park, allow me to navigate complex conversations with students, parents, and fellow educators and contribute to transformation in education.
North Park faculty also influenced Fitzsimmons’ path of service. She remembers University Dean Liza Ann Acosta mentoring her as a student and later as a fellow educator. “Dr. Acosta left an indelible mark on my journey as an educator. Her workshops on teacher training in the Dominican Republic not only educate but inspire,” she said.
Education in the Dominican Repub -
lic has faced significant challenges, consistently ranking below other Latin American countries. Fitzsimmons has helped transform that with changes she initiated in student, parent, and community education—as well as teacher development—turning the tide in 2018.
“My critical thinking skills, honed at North Park, allow me to navigate complex conversations with students, parents, and fellow educators and contribute to transformation in education,” said Fitzsimmons. Her work illustrates the power of education, faith, and community rooted in interculturalism.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
North Park at the Heart
For Ida Hiben BA ’12, MOL ’17 and Josh Hiben BA ’12, MDiv ’18, North Park University (NPU) has been at the heart of their personal and professional paths. They first met at Södra Vätterbygdens Folkhögskola (SVF) in Jönköping, Sweden, in 2009 when Josh was an exchange student.
The following semester, Ida came to study at NPU, where she stayed until 2018 when the couple returned to Jönköping to settle.
Maturing in NPU’s intercultural environment expanded the couple’s worldviews. For Josh, experiences like University Ministries’ Sankofa and Zambia trips—and the SVF program—helped form much of the way he continues to see the world. “I began thinking about how to move forward as a person and what it means to be part of a diverse community,” said Josh.
Today, Josh, who serves as asso -
I find purpose in providing our international students with a meaningful experience, one that will influence their trajectory and give them new insights.
—IDA HIBEN
ciate pastor of Immanuel Church in Jönköping, continues that intercultural journey. “My whole life is in Swedish, but there are always nuances within a language, especially when talking with worshippers who are grappling with questions on life, death, and birth. That has been a wonderful challenge,” he said.
“North Park instilled in me the value of building community. In my work, we value coming together, sharing meals, and doing it in a grounded way with the story of God behind it,” Josh said.
As international relations manager at Jönköping University, Ida helps exchange students from around the world navigate Swedish culture and academic life. “I find purpose in providing our international students with a meaningful experience, one that will influence their trajectory and give them new insights,” she said.
Josh described NPU as their guiding light. “We grew up here, and it continues to be foundational. From being open and curious to thinking critically and being reflective, all these qualities were founded early on at North Park,” he said.
HONORS
Viking Hall of Fame
North Park University (NPU) Athletics welcomed five alumni into the Viking Hall of Fame 2023 class last December: James (Jim) Bergquist BA ’90, MDiv ’98; Fredrik Greiff BS ’14, MBA ’15; Gregory Sager BA ’83; Nick Soldano BA ’13; and Lauren Wiltsie BS ’18
Bergquist was a multi-sport Viking. In football, he was a two-season AllConference lineman and earned AllAmerican accolades. In track and field, he was a five-time All-Conference selection, holding the North Park discus record for 25 years.
A four-time All-Conference pick
for men’s soccer, Greiff earned three first-team accolades, three United Soccer Coaches All-Region selections, and competed in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament all four seasons.
Serving as “the voice of the Vikings” for nine sports, Sager began commentating at Viking events in 2008. He also works behind the scenes as the NPU Athletics historian, maintaining record books and assisting in curating press releases.
The most decorated pitcher in North Park baseball history, Soldano was a two-time All-CCIW and All-Region selection and was the D3baseball.com Central Region Pitcher of the Year in 2012. That same season, the American Baseball Coaches Association and D3baseball.com named
Soldano an All-American.
Wiltsie is the only Viking women’s volleyball player to become a fourtime All-CCIW selection and the first to receive first-team honors. During her senior season, the outside hitter guided the program to its first-ever CCIW Tournament appearance, leading the league in kills per set.
Reflecting on the awardees’ achievements, Campus Pastor and Athletic Chaplain Terence Gadsden said, “We are truly grateful for the many ways you have represented this university. Our current student-athletes look at the Viking Hall of Fame and see your accomplishments as encouragement. Know that what you’ve done lives on with our student-athletes today.”
From left to right: Nick Soldano, Fredrik Greiff, Gregory Sager, Lauren Wiltsie, and James Bergquist
HONORS
North Park Theological Seminary Distinguished Alumna
At the Evangelical Covenant Church’s (ECC) Midwinter conference in January, North Park Theological Seminary (NPTS) awarded Mae Elise Cannon MBA ’06, MDiv ’06 its Distinguished Alumni Award.
Cannon is an ordained ECC pastor and holds two doctorates, one in American history from the University of California, Davis—centering on the history of the American Protestant
church in Israel and Palestine—and the second in ministry in spiritual formation from Northern Theological Seminary.
She has authored several books, including the award-winning Social Justice Handbook: Small Steps for a Better World, and edited A Land Full of God: Christian Perspectives on the Holy Land Cannon’s extensive education and
The Lord calls us to be agents of peace...to love across divides, to speak out against injustice, and to be willing to have difficult conversations.
experience guide her as the executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP). Founded in 1984, CMEP is a coalition of more than 30 Christian organizations that believe their perspectives and experience in the Middle East should directly influence U.S. foreign policy. Its goal is to affect holistic policy to achieve just and stable relationships in the Middle East.
NPTS presented Cannon with the award on campus a few weeks before Midwinter, but she addressed the conference via video due to her being in Jerusalem.
From Dominus Flevit Church, she expressed her gratitude for the recognition and her transformational time at NPTS. She reflected on how it influenced her current ministry and said, “In a time when the world is so incredibly broken...the Lord calls us to be agents of peace...to love across divides, to speak out against injustice, and to be willing to have difficult conversations.”
Cannon also shared that one of her favorite things about the ECC is “the willingness to walk hand-in-hand without seeing eye-to-eye,” and urged all to hope and pray for peace in the Middle East and worldwide, while also seeking to do the same as a denomination.
GIVING
A Passion for Seminary Education
Jenna (Brand) Frost BA ’09, MDiv ’13 and Brad Frost MDiv ’13 credit their time in ministry to a robust seminary education. The couple met at North Park Theological Seminary (NPTS) and are now co-pastors at Monadnock Covenant Church in Keene, New Hampshire. There, they enjoy exploring the outdoors, hosting dinners, and baking with their two kids. Both knew growing up that seminary might be in their future. A fifth-generation Covenanter, Jenna received a call to ministry when she was in confirmation class at First Covenant Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. She also knew from a young age that she wanted to attend North Park.
Brad comes from a family of pastors, including his parents and brother, who are pastors in the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC). Brad said, “I attended Colorado State University for my bachelor’s. When I finished and was praying about what to do next, God made it clear that seminary was the right option. And the reason I was able to attend was because I received the Presidential Scholarship.”
The Presidential Scholarship at NPTS helps degree-seeking students prepare for vocational ministry in the
ECC. “One reason we’ve been able to pursue ministry is because of our lack of debt, which is a direct result of the scholarships we received,” said Jenna.
Seminary education is a passion for the couple. Brad expressed, “Nothing can teach you how to be a pastor except being a pastor. However, you need the seminary training to learn how to manage what ministry has in store for you.”
They both spoke fondly of professors like Klyne Snodgrass, Max Lee, Jim Bruckner, and Richard Carlson. “There have been many times we’ve emailed a professor—or even someone in the denomination—with a question on a sermon or a book series we’re starting. We are so thankful for the relationships and connections that North Park has brought to our lives,” Jenna said. “Ministry can be isolating, so it is a gift to have these connections and friends who we can talk to, be accountable with, and process ministry with.”
And they agree that supporting the next generation of pastors is fulfilling. “Being able to make a Master of Divinity accessible to people is a Kingdom value for us,” said Brad.
The Frosts are regular monthly donors to North Park. “It is important for us to invest in the next generation of pastors, just as North Park invested in us,” said Jenna.
Want to support North Park like Jenna and Brad? Set up a recurring monthly gift today to provide consistent support to North Park students. Gifts to the North Park Fund support students through financial aid and scholarships, academic support, student experience, and campus infrastructure.
Set up your monthly gift at northpark.edu/give or contact the Office of Advancement for more information at advancement@northpark.edu or (773) 244-5890.
1940s
Dorothy (Carlson) Dahlstrom C ’47 and Warren “Cully” Dahlstrom C ’48 celebrated 75 years of marriage on September 11, 2023. They have two children, four grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
1960s
Randall Miller A ’63 co-authored an updated paperback edition of The Northern Home Front during the Civil War, his 25th book on American history. Miller recently retired from Saint Joseph’s University, where he was a history professor.
1970s
Gordon Edes BA ’76, who was in Chicago when North Park won three straight men’s basketball national championships and spent 40 years writing about sports, started a blog about the NPU men’s basketball team: The North Park Hoops Experience. Follow along at gordonedes.substack. com.
Bruce Erling BA ’71 and his wife Susana (Willemsen) BA ’76, both retired Chicago Public School teachers, now reside in New Mexico. Their daughter, a middle school teacher, also resides in New Mexico. Currently, Bruce trades stock option contracts, and Susana is an artist.
Alumni Notes
1980s
From left to right: Lori Gustafson Plude BA ’83, Anita Olson Gustafson BA ’82, Emily Olson BA ’09, Heidi Anderson Gustafson BA ’82, Linda Sanberg Gorman BA ’82, and President Mary Surridge.
Anita Olson Gustafson BA ’82 was inaugurated as Presbyterian College’s 20th president. Fellow NPU alumnae and President Mary Surridge were there to celebrate Gustafson’s achievements on this momentous occasion.
Caron (Igoe) Lazo BA ’89 and husband, Russ, are thrilled to announce the birth of their first grandchild, Mabel Wiwo’ole Igoe, born on March 17. In Hawaiian, Wiwo’ole means fearless, brave, bold, and courageous.
Richard Nuccio BA ’86 earned a roster spot on Team USA Sport Stacking, for which he competed at the World Sport Stacking Championships in March.
1990s
David Greenwood BA ’90 and Jennifer Swanson BA ’95 were married on June 10, 2023. They celebrated in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, with their children standing up with them and surrounded by family.
Elbert Kern BA ’92, MA ’03 was named Midway University’s new sprint football coach.
2000s
Beau Desherow BGS ’00, head football coach at Loyola Academy, led his team to an undefeated state championship this season and was named Chicago Catholic League Coach of the Year.
2010s
Jim Eaton MNA ’16, MA ’16 and his wife, Amber, who received a certificate in foundational courses from North Park Theological Seminary, have been called as permanent pastors of The Well Covenant Church in Iowa, which they replanted in 2021. Jim also serves as director of youth ministry for the Evangelical Covenant Church’s (ECC) Midwest Conference and on the ECC Interim Youth Ministry Team.
Taylor Erexson BA ’19 married Christopher Carlson on October 7, 2023, in Harlan, Indiana.
Linnea Anderson Kole BA ’16 and her husband, Ben, welcomed their daughter, Kajsa Lucille Anderson Kole, on January 9, 2024. Her big brother, Magnus, is smitten.
Julia Styles MA ’13 began publishing for Prayerful Reflections, a free daily devotional for Lent and Advent, written by diverse women worldwide, including NPU alumni, NPTS students, and ECC clergy. Download a free copy at spiritualdirectionwithjulia.com/ prayerful-reflections.
2020s
Katie Gustafson BA ’21, an event and communications manager at Spark Ventures, traveled to Zambia to visit the organization’s founding partner, Hope Community School.
Hannah (Lewis) Werling BA ’20 and Nate Werling BA ’20 were married in August 2023. They met at North Park in 2017 while working on the technology team and playing ultimate frisbee.
John Anderson AA ’57
John Anderson AA ’57 passed away on September 13, 2023. He is survived by his wife, Lucy Anderson and cousin, David Erickson.
Byron Thomas Bekiares A ’57
Byron Thomas Bekiares A ’57 passed away on February 10, 2024. After North Park Academy, he graduated from the University of Illinois in 1961. In 1967, Byron and his brother Wayne A ’59, C ’63 married two sisters, Christine and Susan. Christine and Byron raised two children, Nell and Tyrone, and had two grandchildren, David and Lucy. Bekiares was a high school teacher who established himself as a pioneer of educational technology when he successfully launched a program providing remote classroom instruction via two-way interactive television in the 1970s.
In Memoriam
David Good A ’60
David Good A ’60 passed away on January 27, 2024, at 82. He was a United States Marine Corps helicopter and jet pilot, a retired Northwest Airlines pilot, and a realtor for 25 years. Good is survived by son Michael and grandson Austin, brother William “Bill” A. Good A ’63 and sister-inlaw Leslie, sister Lori and family, stepmother Vivian, and girlfriend Jackie and her son Todd.
Kylee Larson A ’68
Kylee Larson A ’68 passed away on March 21, 2023. She was the sister of Barry Larson A ’57; Dallas Larson A ’60, BA ’64; and Randy Larson A ’64, BA ’68. She leaves children Chad, Jordan (Brittany), and Arial (Greg), and grandchildren Haley and James.
Covenant Church. She is survived by her children Gabe BA ’20 and current North Park student Chloe, and her husband Timothy L. Johnson.
Stanley Eaton Nilson A ’60
Stanley Eaton Nilson A ’60 passed away on December 24, 2023. He was captain of the football team, class vice president, and key club president. He is survived by his wife, Sherri; children Kristin, Erik (Heather), and Kim (Ryan); seven grandchildren; and his sister, Susan Nilson Francisco A ’62.
E. Neil Peterson AA ’53, MDiv ’60
David AA ’47
Evelyn David AA ’47 passed away on September 15, 2023. David was a child prodigy under the private tutelage of Harold Reever, a prominent piano teacher at the American Conservatory of Music. She continued her education at Northwestern University, the University of Mexico, and the Latin American Institute, then joined Pan Am. She is survived by her brother, author Joe David C ’56.
Kari Lindholm-Johnson BA ’20, MDiv ’91
Kari Lindholm-Johnson BA ’20, MDiv ’91, passed away on April 20, 2024. She was a beloved educator, artist, mother, spouse, and friend. Lindholm-Johnson served most recently as interim pastor at Urban Village Church, and as a chaplain, minister, and spiritual director for many institutions including Swedish Covenant Hospital and Immanuel
E. Neil Peterson AA ’53, MDiv ’60, passed away on December 2, 2023, at 95. He touched many people through his ministry and served faithfully as a Covenant pastor until his retirement. He is survived by his wife Rosemarie, her daughter Cheryl “Cheri” BA ’75, and their sons Jeff and Tom BA ’77.
Evelyn
From the Archives
The F.M. Johnson Archives and Special Collections at North Park University’s (NPU) Brandel Library supports three major archival repositories: the Covenant Archives and Historical Library, the NPU Archives, and the Swedish-American Archives of Greater Chicago (SAAGC).
Selma Jacobson (pictured above), a Chicago Public Schools teacher, was the driving force behind the effort that would eventually become the SAAGC. The SAAGC documents the experiences of Swedish immigrants in Chicago, tying closely to North Park’s heritage; Swedish immigrants established the Evangelical Covenant Church and NPU. The SAAGC is an international research destination with resources documenting various
topics, including Swedish food traditions; St. Ansgarius Episcopal Church, the oldest Scandinavian church in Chicago; and accounts of women who maintained social ties to Sweden after immigrating.
These resources are available to individuals—including academic researchers, students, and reporters— interested in learning more about Chicago’s intercultural makeup.
The Swedish-American Historical Society owns the archival collections that comprise the SAAGC. Both grew from the 1948 Swedish Pioneer Centennial, a celebration honoring the Swedish immigrants who settled in the Midwest.
North Park has supported the SAAGC since its inception. In
collaboration with the Brandel Library and the Center for Scandinavian Studies, NPU has provided the SAAGC with the necessary archival infrastructure within the Brandel Library, ensuring preservation and public access to its collections.
In addition to housing the SAAGC, North Park is a member of the Chicago Collections Consortium and the Black Metropolis Research Consortium, groups seeking to empower and connect researchers with archival resources focused on understanding Chicago.
This history, these records, and these relationships have allowed NPU to contribute to Chicago’s rich tapestry of cultural institutions, fully living its intercultural distinctive.
North Park Alumni Grant
Alumni who completed an undergraduate degree at North Park University can enroll in graduate coursework with a 20% tuition reduction thanks to the Alumni Grant. Alumni may use this grant for individual courses or a whole program. It cannot be combined with other scholarships or tuition reductions North Park University may offer.
Choose a graduate degree program or graduate-level certificate from the:
• School of Business and Nonprofit Management
• School of Education
• School of Music, Art, and Theatre
• School of Nursing and Health Sciences*
• School of Professional Studies
• North Park Theological Seminary
Online, on-campus, and hybrid options available.
For more information, visit northpark.edu/gradadmissions or call (773) 244-4880 to schedule an appointment.
*Does not apply to the Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing program.
