SUMMER 2018
NORTH PARKER
The magazine for alumni and friends of North Park University
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Viking athletes learn, compete, and train for lifelong success
VOLUME 78
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North Park welcomes 10th President: Mary K. Surridge
NORTH PARK ALUMNI GRANT Alumni who earned an undergraduate degree at North Park University can return for continued coursework with a 20 percent tuition reduction. Choose a graduate degree program or graduate-level certificate offered by: F School of Business and Nonprofit Administration F School of Education F School of Music, Art, and Theatre F School of Nursing and Health Sciences F School of Professional Studies F North Park Theological Seminary
Online, on-campus, or hybrid options available. For more information, visit www.northpark.edu/gradadmissions or call 773-244-4880 to schedule a personal appointment.
CONTENTS
FEATURES
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On a Winning Streak How the bonds of faith, friendship, and hard work make our student-athletes champions for life.
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The 10th President of North Park University Mary Karsten Surridge: Driven, strategic, and dedicated to the University’s future success.
22 Arts + Sciences
Studying the liberal arts means discovering what’s new, while developing solid skill sets to fully respond to a changing world.
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CONTENTS
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DEPARTMENTS 03 First Word
SUMMER 2018, VOLUME 78, NUMBER 2
04 Across Campus
EDITORIAL BOARD
Carl E. Balsam Interim President
28 Honors
Mary K. Surridge Vice President for Advancement
30 Alumni Notes & In Memoriam
Christopher Childers Assistant Vice President of University Marketing
Here’s what’s happening with North Parkers nationwide.
ON THE COVER
The Viking men’s soccer team enjoyed an exciting season, advancing all the way to the finals of the NCAA Division III Soccer Championship in Greensboro, N.C. Photo by Jeff Nelson
Melissa Vélez-Luce C’04 G’12 Director of Alumni Relations
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Commencement 2018
Degrees were awarded to 445 graduates at our 125th Spring Commencement.
Kristin Englund C’10 Assistant Director of Alumni Relations EDITORIAL STAFF
Mary Nowesnick Editor Ellen Almer C’94 Senior Writer Susannah Kim Lead Designer Laura Bencur C’15 Designer Caroline Patterson C’19 Student Designer Courtney Cimo Philip Dembinski Jeff Nelson C’78 Chris Padgett Jesse Schroeder C’17 Photographers Rebekah Putera C’13 Online Editor 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 Relations at 773-244-4750.
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Giving: Blue and Gold Day
Third Annual Giving Day 2018 successfully raises funds for North Park scholarships.
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FIRST WORD
North Park’s Commitment
Every day we teach, mentor, coach, befriend, and support our students: It all comes to fruition at Commencement. One of the most thrilling experiences as a president is to witness the joy of graduates receiving their diplomas. It’s especially poignant for me to see first-generation students receive their diplomas because they’re the first in their families to complete a college education. Commencement also concluded an academic year that’s been very significant for me: I have been so honored to have served this great University. Together, we’ve accomplished important work, reported throughout this North Parker. We launched new academic programs and debuted Catalyst 606_ _ to enable students to “see and learn what’s really happening in the world and especially our city,” to quote Dean Gregor Thuswaldner. We revamped our recruitment strategy, and with many of our alumni and donors alongside, we introduced new North Park Promise Scholarships to support top students representing the Covenant community, future majors in nursing, health sciences, and STEM-related fields, as well as high academic achievement across the curriculum. We enthusiastically cheered on our men’s soccer team in the NCAA championship finals. Our student-athletes, representing
“ALL OUR WINDOWS OPEN OUT ON HISTORY, AS WELL AS ON OUR SOCIETY, OUR CITY, AND OUR WORLD.” one-third of each incoming undergraduate class, contribute so much to our campus community and to student life, while building character, leadership, and lifelong friendships. Across our campus, we completed renovation projects, from installing new turf at Holmgren Athletic Complex (where we hosted the NCAA Division III regional soccer competition) to refurbishing Hanson Hall. Most important, we’ve ensured our University is well-prepared for new leadership, as this fall, Mary Karsten Surridge becomes our 10th president. A valued colleague, Mary has my strongest endorsement and heartfelt support. She will take this University to even greater success. At Commencement, we honor alumni in our Golden Circle—those who graduated 50 years ago. This year’s honorees graduated in 1968—a watershed year that “shaped a generation,” said Time magazine. I shared with these proud alumni some comments from their 1968 yearbook, The Cupola, by
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then President Karl Olsson who said: “I am writing this word to you April 9, 1968, the day of burial of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In a painful way the events of these days have married us to the tragedy of our time… There was a time not very long ago when a college campus was a cloistered place, far from the anguish of the world. Today, all our windows open out on history.” Fifty years later, these reflections still ring true: All our windows open out on history, as well as on our society, our city, and our world. It is why we remain dedicated to preparing our students for “God’s glory and neighbor’s good.” I welcome you to the pages of this North Parker, newly redesigned to tell our story even better. I thank you for your deep and abiding loyalty to our beloved University and for your devoted support of our students.
Carl E. Balsam Interim President
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Opera Students Stage a Classic Fairy Tale
When Janese Pentico stepped onto the stage as Cinderella in North Park’s spring production of Cendrillon, it took her breath away. “I felt as though I was standing on the stage of a traditional old opera house,” says Pentico, a graduate student in music. “It was so exciting.” North Park’s production of the Frenchlanguage opera took place in April at the Athenaeum Theatre, one of Chicago’s oldest and grandest theatres. “North Park was so generous in giving us this wonderful off-campus opportunity to perform on a proscenium stage,” says Nyela Basney, North Park’s artistic director of opera, referring to the Athenaeum’s stage, which features a dramatic overhead arch that essentially frames the performance. What’s more, the theatre, located in the city’s Lakeview neighborhood, has excellent acoustics for not-yet-mature voices. “The venue is young-singer friendly and didn’t force us to push and misuse our instruments,” says Kelsey Welch, an opera major who played one of the mean stepsisters (known as “the ugly sisters” in this production). More than 40 North Park musicians performed in this production.
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“NORTH PARK IS WIDELY CONSIDERED ONE OF THE TOP OPERA PROGRAMS IN CHICAGO.”
Rehearsals for Cendrillon took place in the newly renovated Hanson Hall, where classrooms were outfitted with new acoustics and climate control, and a new elevator installed as part of a six-month refurbishment that wrapped up in November 2017. A celebration of the renovated Hanson Hall, originally opened in 1947, took place in mid-February. Renovating Hanson was “a huge boost” for the music program at North Park, says School of Music, Art, and Theatre Dean Craig Johnson. “It’s a recognition of the historical importance of music and the arts in the North Park community.” High-profile productions such as Cendrillon, along with the Hanson Hall facelift, will ensure North Park attracts top-tier talent. “North Park is widely considered one of the top opera programs in Chicago,” Basney says. “We might not be as large as the other schools, but we provide a wonderful niche where our students receive high-level training with very personal attention from supertalented teachers.”
Renovated Hanson Hall now features new acoustics and climate control.
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Seminary Honors Retiring ECC President
New Nursing Doctorate Trains Nurses for Leadership Roles This fall, North Park will launch its new Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, created to train working nurses for leadership roles in private practices and healthcare systems. “Almost any chief nursing officer at a hospital, whether it’s Lurie Children’s or Swedish Covenant, has a doctorate in nursing,” says Linda Duncan, dean of the School of Nursing & Health Sciences. “This program is very much a practice-focused doctorate, designed to advance leadership in order to make systemic change.”
“The 100% online DNP program will encourage students to apply innovative leadership strategies within their current workplace,” Duncan says. Requirements for the two-year program include 39 total credit hours and the completion of a workplace-centered project. Students will meet on campus up to twice a semester and work in a cohort. “Students in this program are people who want to make change, make an impact, and improve patient outcomes,” Duncan says. Learn more at www.northpark.edu.
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Reverend Gary B. Walter was recognized with an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree during the Seminary Commencement Convocation in May. Walter, who has served as President of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) since 2008, will be retiring this summer. John Wenrich, 56, the executive minister of the ECC’s Start and Strengthen Churches mission priority, was recently elected President at the ECC’s Annual Meeting in June. During Walter’s tenure, the ECC continued to be a growing, multi-generational, multiethnic fellowship of churches, which now includes 850 congregations in the United States and Canada, with ministry partnerships in dozens of countries worldwide. Walter received his Master of Divinity degree from North Park Seminary. Walter and his wife Nancy are founding members of DeerGrove Covenant Church in Palatine, Ill. Wenrich helped develop the congregational vitality certificate for North Park Seminary, which allows pastors from all denominations to develop a biblical, theological, and historical perspective on congregational development. Wenrich earned a Master of Divinity degree from Denver Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Seminary. He has pastored churches in Denver, Colorado; Portland, Oregon; and in the Middle East. Wenrich and his wife, Julie, are members of Hope Covenant Church in Crystal Lake, Ill.
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Making a Difference by Making College Possible
Danielson (l.) and Dugan Bassett
KATE (VANDUSEN) DANIELSON C’03 is the founder and executive director of Foster Progress in Chicago. The nonprofit’s mission is to empower Illinois youth currently or formerly in foster care to attain a college degree and successfully transition into adulthood by providing mentorship, advocacy, and educational opportunities. Learn more at www.foster-progress.org.
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NORTH PARKER: Why did you start Foster
Progress?
DANIELSON: Going to college changed my life. When I was growing up, I watched my parents work, raise me and my siblings, and complete their degrees in the evenings. I got to see the difference higher education can make, and that is what I want to see for
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“I BELIEVE CONTINUED EDUCATION CAN LIFT YOUTH OUT OF POVERTY AND BREAK THE CYCLE OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT. IT’S NOT AN EASY JOURNEY, SO WE ARE OFFERING THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO GET THROUGH.“ youth from foster care. I believe continued education can lift them out of poverty and break the cycle of abuse and neglect. It’s not an easy journey, so we are offering the support they need to get through. I didn’t do it alone: Meegan Dugan Bassett C’99 has been one of my very best friends since our North Park days, and her expertise as a consultant to nonprofits is invaluable. Meegan was a founding board member and still serves as a trusted advisor. NP: How did North Park prepare you for your work? DANIELSON: North Park made me not only fall in love with Chicago, but also learn about the social injustices that exist here and how I could help change things. So many classes and teachers taught me about the intersection between science and faith, feminism and Christianity, justice and compassion. Understanding the overlap between those ideas is the greatest gift North Park gave me. NP: What’s next for Foster Progress? DANIELSON: Growth! We just received a $50,000 per year grant, and we’re excited about how many more youth we’ll be able to support in the coming years. We also just announced our first On Campus supportive program at Judson University. They have committed to offering full scholarships to up to 10 students per year along with a staff person to coordinate holistic services. We would love to duplicate this at more campuses across the state.
Outstanding Graduates Recognized for Leadership and Service
Renee Baker
Nicholas Canete
Renee Baker and Nicholas Canete were named recipients of the 2018 Distinguished Senior Awards, given annually to graduating seniors who display extraordinary leadership, dedicated service, and superior academic performance.
Chapman Award for Track (2017). Baker plans to pursue a career in alternative energy and biomimicry engineering, a field of science that seeks sustainable solutions to human-generated problems by copying patterns in nature.
RENEE BAKER C’18
NICHOLAS CANETE C’18
Baker, an environmental sciences major and physics minor, spent the summer before her senior year in California interning with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), tagging along on plane rides, collecting atmospheric data, and learning how various instruments work. Last spring, Baker was nominated for the prestigious Glenn T. Seaborg Science Scholarship, an honor bestowed upon an outstanding natural science major at one of the six colleges recognized by the Swedish Council of America as a Swedish Heritage College. “I was so incredibly honored to be nominated for this scholarship,” says Baker, of Carol Stream, Ill. Baker also participated in track and cross country during her four years at North Park, earning Athletic All-Conference in CrossCountry (2014–2018) and the CCIW Merle
Canete, a veteran of the U.S. Navy who hails from Northwest Indiana, earned his bachelor’s degree in politics and business. Last fall, he landed an internship with Governor Bruce Rauner’s reelection campaign. In addition, Canete was the president of Pi Sigma Alpha, North Park’s chapter of the national political honor society. He also organized events for the Student Veteran Association and was a resident assistant in one of the campus apartment buildings. Canete hopes to go into public relations, business operations, or law enforcement. His experience with Rauner also piqued his interest in politics. “I do hope to run for office someday, but if I do, I imagine it would be on the local or state level, such as a school board, town council, or as a state representative,” Canete says.
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Mari Andrew Turns Personal Instagrams into NY Times Best Seller
Summer Science Academy Introduces Students to Science and Campus Life This summer, dozens of high school students arrived on campus to take part in interactive, fun-focused science courses taught by North Park professors as part of North Park’s Summer Science Academy. Now in its third year, the Academy attracts area high school juniors and seniors to campus with six courses that offer new ways to learn about science. Most courses are capped at 16 students and take place in the state-of-the-art Johnson Center. Classes are designed to introduce students to college-level science programs. The Academy is led by Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Yoojin Choi. Current NPU science majors serve as mentors and provide insights on how to thrive in college Previous student participants “raved about how well-organized, interactive, and personalized the classes were,” says Dr. Choi. “For a student like my daughter, who learns best in a hands-on environment, it was a great insight into what awaits her beyond the constraints of high school,” said the parent of one participant. The Academy’s courses run for four weeks from the end of June through the beginning of August. For more information about the Academy and the 2019 program, visit: www. northpark.edu/summerscience.
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What started as an Instagram followed by just her mom in 2015 has turned into a best seller for writer and illustrator Mari Andrew C’08. Am I There Yet?: The Loop-de-loop, Zigzagging Journey to Adulthood, released in March, is a collection of Andrew’s Instagram posts, and the first of a four-book deal Andrew has inked with Penguin Random House. The posts, which combine raw, honest essays and thought bubbles (handwritten in a loopy script) with simple, childlike illustrations, pack a surprisingly potent emotional punch. At a June book signing, held at Low Res Studio in the West Loop, Andrew took questions from the rapt audience, including many young women like herself who laughed along with her anecdotes. In a 2016 interview with Nylon Magazine, Andrew, a Seattle native and New York City resident, recalled the moment she realized
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she could be a writer: “I remember sitting around envying other people’s lives and thinking, ‘I wish I could play the guitar. Wouldn’t it be cool if I could just salsa dance?’ It was around that time, when I was at rock bottom, that I thought… If you want to be a writer, you have to write.” North Park will honor Andrew this fall with the Distinguished Young Alumni Award.
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University Announces Nyvall Hall Renovations North Park is announcing renovation plans for North Park Theological Seminary’s iconic campus home, Nyvall Hall, including refurbishing Olsson Lounge, along with the kitchen and its equipment. The refurbishing will be funded by generous donors, along with University resources, as part of the recently launched campaign, Nyvall Hall: A Renewal.
Author Austin Channing Brown C’06 (center)
Austin Channing Brown Adds Powerful New Voice to Fight for Racial Justice Austin Channing Brown C’06 was purposely given a masculine name at birth so future employers would assume she was a white man, her parents told her when she was seven. In her new book, I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness, Channing Brown explores the realities of growing up black in a white world. The book, which shot to the top 20 on Amazon’s Best Sellers list within weeks of its release, even caught the attention of Chelsea Clinton who tweeted in May: “Just ordered @austinchannings #imstillhere and can’t wait to read it.” A business management major at North Park, Channing Brown also has a master’s degree in social justice from Marygrove College in Detroit, Michigan. During a recent interview with WTTW’s Chicago Tonight, Brown spoke about the message she hopes her book sends.
“I know what it is to be a black girl trying to navigate spaces that are predominantly white,” Channing Brown said. “I would be heartbroken if black women picked up this book and didn’t feel seen and heard, if they didn’t feel it was truthful, if they didn’t read it and think, ‘Yup, I’ve been in that situation.’”
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Future Olsson Lounge
“Choosing to revitalize our beloved Nyvall Hall demonstrates our commitment to good stewardship to restore this building to its full function as a center for learning, faith, and fellowship at North Park,” says Rev. Dr. David W. Kersten C’77 S’82 S’97, Seminary dean. Built in 1947, Nyvall Hall is named for David Nyvall, North Park’s first president, who also served as Seminary dean and professor. “Nyvall Hall is a vital center for educating future pastoral leaders for the Evangelical Covenant Church and for all Christian denominations. We are grateful to our donors who are dedicated to renewing and preserving this iconic facility, to honor its legacy, and ensure its future,” says Shena M. Keith, assistant vice president for advancement. For more information about supporting Nyvall Hall’s renewal, please email smkeith @northpark.edu or call 773-244-5790.
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VILDE OLVIN C’18 STABEKK, NORWAY PHYSICS MAJOR
ON A WINNING STREAK 12
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PITCH PERFECT: MEN’S SOCCER MAKES MEMORIES AT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Viking soccer teammates Peder Nalum Olsen (at l.) and Matias Warp.
When Colin Lake C’18 arrived on North Park’s campus four years ago, the Michigan native didn’t know a soul. That changed on the warm September day he walked into his first basketball “open gym.” “It was like family right away,” says Lake, of the instant bonding that happened with his Viking teammates. “It was great walking in the door and having connections from the start.” Lake, who has been working at a Lombard marketing firm since graduation, is far from the only North Parker to make instant friendships through sports. Athletes from the men’s soccer and football teams to the women’s volleyball and rowing squads share a bond that goes deeper than the playing field.
“This is about more than sports,” says Director of Athletics Dr. Jack Surridge, who oversees North Park’s eight women’s and eight men’s varsity sports. “It’s about caring beyond the pitch or the field. It’s about long-term success: Personally, academically, spiritually. Everything.” For student athletes like junior Michael Freeze, a baseball player, teammates become like brothers, and coaches become mentors. “For [Coach] Luke Johnson, it’s not strictly about baseball, but using baseball to make us better men, and eventually better husbands and fathers,” says Freeze of his coach, under whose watch the team has seen not only their record improve, but also their collective GPA.
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Coach John Born will never forget his trip to last December’s NCAA Division III Soccer Championship in Greensboro, N.C. Although there were plenty of memorable moments on the field for the 20-year head coach, his favorite took place before a single game was played, at the pre-tournament NCAA-sponsored banquet honoring the eight men’s and women’s teams playing in the Final Four. At the last minute, the coaching staff learned about the dinner’s suit-and-tie dress code, and sprang into action. “We didn’t know what they’d wear given the chance to dress themselves,” Born jokes. So, Associate Head Coach Kris Grahn C’11 G’13 went to a discount tie shop and scooped up a couple dozen matching blue and gold striped ties, which the players wore with white shirts and dress pants. “As we walked into the ballroom, all eyes turned to us, and you could hear a pin drop,” recalls Born. “I looked out and saw individual athletes from the other schools, in their suits and dresses. Then I looked at our group, smiling and in matching ties. And I saw a team.” Alas, the Vikings would go on to drop the final 2-1 in a nail-biter against soccer powerhouse Messiah College, after defeating the University of Chicago in a dramatic shootout in their Final Four matchup. But the team’s appearance in the tournament was a high point for North Park University. President Carl Balsam was one of the many diehard Viking fans to make the trip to Greensboro. “At the end of the contest, when the crowd was silent and the natural feeling of disappointment was palpable, our students and alumni broke into song, singing “I’m North Park ‘til I die, North Park ‘til I die. I (continued on page 12) 11
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know I am, I’m sure I am, I’m North Park ‘til I die.” It was incredibly moving to sense the deep and abiding loyalty to this University,” Balsam recalls. Indeed, this group of Vikings was special, boasting a diverse, international roster, with players from as far away as Sweden, Germany, Norway, and England, and as close as neighboring Von Steuben Metro Science High School. Others hailed from Chicago, Michigan, and Minnesota. The team spoke 12 different languages. Despite the exotic mix of ingredients, the combination turned out to be the recipe for a perfect team. The Vikings entered Greensboro with an impressive 20-1-1 record, including a 19-game winning streak. “North Park was not on many radar screens in September,” said D3soccer. com, which closely follows NCAA Division III sports. “Over the course of the season, however, the Vikings went from being unranked to embarking on a run that saw them finish as Division III runner-up to Messiah.” D3soccer.com recently named Born Coach of the Year, and awarded senior midfielder Matias Warp Second Team All-America honors. Reflecting later on the final game, Warp believes the Vikings simply ran out of time. “If we’d had one more minute on the clock, I know we would have won,” says Warp. Still, with many players set to return for the 2018 season, the promise of another championship appearance is very much a possibility. “It’s one of those things where you get so far but not quite,” says North Park Director of Athletics Dr. Jack Surridge. “I don’t think they’ll be satisfied until they go all the way.”
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Viking Hall of Famer George Esplin C’69 (at l.) and Dr. Surridge
“THIS IS ABOUT MORE THAN SPORTS. IT’S ABOUT CARING BEYOND THE PITCH OR THE FIELD. IT’S ABOUT LONG-TERM SUCCESS...” —DR. JACK SURRIDGE, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Surridge says the influence coaches have on student athletes can be profound. “Coaches spend more time with these kids than almost anyone, so you really get some closeness there,” Surridge says. “We’re walking through life with them. And there’s a lot going on at this point in their lives. The wins are exciting, but for coaches, the most rewarding part is watching their players’ lives unfold.” Coaches and teammates also serve as motivation to keep up grades, since low GPAs mean less playing time. “The soccer team likes to take pride in having a high team GPA, so we hold each other accountable for not only our success on the field but in the classroom, as well,” says Ricky Pimental, a star defensive player who accompanied his team to Greensboro, N.C., for the National Championship last December [see page 11].
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Rather than distracting them from academics, many athletes say competing at the collegiate level has sharpened their organizational abilities and study skills. “A lot of it is time management,” says volleyball player Lauren Wiltsie. “My teammates and I all have planners and we literally write down everything—due dates, meetings, tests, even the times I’ll have to leave for an away game.” The discipline pays extra benefits postseason. “Once the season is over, you have a lot of free time!” says Wiltsie. It helps, too, that North Park has such small classes. It means “no hiding from professors,” says Lake. “At North Park, professors actually know who you are. And they will call us out if we’re not there.” And they’ll also provide invaluable guidance. Vilde Olvin C’18, a tennis player, says (continued on page 15)
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COLIN LAKE C’18 TEMPERANCE, MI BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS MAJOR Michigan native Colin Lake might not be too tall for a basketball player (he stands about 5’7”), but the impact he made during a game last year against rival Illinois Wesleyan left a huge impression on a former Chicago Tribune sports writer in attendance. The reporter, a former colleague of North Park Board Chair Owen Youngman C’75, told Youngman he had been reluctantly dragged to the game by his family. “But my reward was seeing the best performance I have ever seen on a basketball court at any level,” the reporter says of Lake’s 46-point performance. “Down the stretch he was repeatedly hitting shots from beyond the NBA 3-point line, getting hammered when he drove to the basket and either making his layup or getting up and sinking free throws.” Lake shrugs off the praise, saying his first priority was always having a high GPA. And his parents? They’re happy he landed a job after graduation at a suburban marketing firm.
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IT’S GOING TO BE OUR YEAR
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LAUREN WILTSIE C’19 ELGIN, IL EXERCISE SCIENCE MAJOR Lauren Wiltsie C’19 cherishes the closeness of North Park’s entire athletic community. “Seeing everyone in the athletic training room and in the gym, we all get along. And it’s fun talking to other athletes and supporting them at their game,” says Wiltsie. The exercise science major says most of the volleyball team has played together since freshman year. They will go into senior year as a solid, cohesive unit that will settle for nothing less than a CCIW championship. “It’s going to be our year,” says Wiltsie.
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Taking practice shots with a skyline backdrop at the Harborside Golf course.
it was Associate Professor of Physics Linda McDonald who convinced her to change her major from business to physics. “She was very inspiring in terms of seeing a woman in science,” says Olvin, who plans to pursue an advanced degree in oceanography.
INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE Olvin, a Norwegian, is one of many athletes from Scandinavia, not surprising considering North Park’s Swedish roots. But as part of a drive to increase international enrollment—in the last decade, the percentage of international students has increased from 2% to 5%—coaches have extended recruiting efforts to different parts of the globe. Take Vikings Football Coach Mike Conway, who has become known in the Polynesian nation of Samoa. While the tiny
island (population: 197,000) has long been a pipeline for talented football players like NFL star Junior Seau, Conway was the firstever college head coach to visit Samoa. Most Division I and II schools send recruiters instead. His visit caught the attention of the Samoan government, which rolled out the red carpet for Conway, inviting him to do radio and television interviews about his trip. In addition to recruiting several players, Conway, along with his family which includes North Park alums Dakota C’16 and T.D. C’17, returned to Samoa to run a training camp for some of the country’s poorest kids. “Seeing Dakota and T.D. lifting weights with those kids on their crude equipment was amazing. They were having so much
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fun,” Conway says. “It was North Park’s commitment to service in action.” The trip led to more recruitment in the South Pacific, with Conway taking a trip to nearby Guam in January 2018. Now, North Park has a thriving Pacific Cultural Association, which hosts an annual festival complete with native music and dance. “Part of that is because of the focus on family that North Park emphasizes,” says Surridge. “That certainly appeals to the family-centric people of Samoa and their neighboring islands.”
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MICHAEL FREEZE C’20 BOLINGBROOK, IL EXERCISE SCIENCE MAJOR
For Michael Freeze C’20 North Park is a perfect fit: A Christian institution in Chicago that was small enough to help him thrive as a student and an athlete. “My coaches push for excellence on and off the field,” says Freeze, who eventually plans to pursue a master’s in exercise science. Although he says it can be tough juggling classwork and practices, plus his duties as a resident assistant and student ambassador, his coaches and professors provide strong support, as has the discipline of playing baseball. “Sports have helped me to understand how to hold it together when I face adversity, and also how to remain grounded and humbled in times of success,” Freeze says.
MY COACHES PUSH FOR EXCELLENCE ON AND OFF THE FIELD 12
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Leaving the CWS Boathouse
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE Much has changed since Surridge arrived at North Park more than 20 years ago and was asked by then-President David Horner to run the athletic department. At the time, Surridge looked at the school’s facilities, which paled in comparison to many suburban high schools, and laid it out to Horner: The school simply would not be able to attract top athletic talent with its aging facilities. “I said ‘either we update our facilities, or we drop out of the CCIW [College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin] and compete at a different level,’” Surridge recalls. “Horner said ‘over my dead body are we dropping out of this conference.’” Fast forward a couple of decades, and North Park now boasts the Holmgren
Athletic Complex, a four-sport complex, recently resurfaced in time to host the NCAA Division III regional soccer tournament. The sprawling Helwig Recreation Center serves student athletes as well as fitness and intramural play for the entire student body. In partnership with the Chicago Park District, North Park has invested substantial funds into the creation of an NCAA-compliant track and practice soccer field, and the boathouse and rowing facility at Clark Park, recognized by the American Institute of Architects for “excellence in architecture.” Men’s and women’s locker rooms have been totally renovated and, this summer, new tennis courts are being constructed at River Park, again in partnership with the Park District, to support our women’s tennis team. All the investments have paid off, with
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North Park growing from 318 athletes in 2008 to 450 athletes in 2018, making them a force to be reckoned with in the CCIW. What’s more, each one of those athletes will go out into the world as a North Parker, notes Surridge. Many of these athletes also come back to campus as proud alumni to cheer on today’s teams, offer internships to our students, or enjoy recognition as inductees in the Viking Hall of Fame (see pages 28–29). For athletes like baseball player Freeze, being a North Park athlete makes all the difference in the world: “I thank God every day that I have the opportunity to wake up and play the game that I love and to be a part of a team full of outstanding young men.”
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MARY KARSTEN SURRIDGE
North Park’s 10th President: Driven, Strategic, and Dedicated to the University’s Future Success As the chair of the 2017-2018 presidential search committee and the incoming chair of the Board of Trustees, I am delighted to introduce North Park University’s 10th president, Mary Karsten Surridge. Most of you know Mary as our vice president for advancement and integral to University leadership. She is the outstanding choice to lead North Park—and our comprehensive search process confirmed this.
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Our 15-person presidential search committee, comprising nine trustees and six members of the campus community—faculty, staff, and students—met 13 times in a year’s time. Of the field of 133 people who were nominated or suggested to us, 52 highly qualified individuals submitted formal applications. Included among them were current and former college presidents; seminary and university vice presidents,
NORTH PARKER
MARY KARSTEN SURRIDGE
“THE BOARD SOUGHT A CANDIDATE WHO COMBINES KNOWLEDGE OF HIGHER EDUCATION, AN ABIDING BELIEF IN THE MISSION OF NORTH PARK, AND A DEEP AND ONGOING CONNECTION TO THE COVENANT CHURCH.” —DR. KRISTINE STRAND, IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES
deans, and department heads; and business executives with distinguished careers in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. The committee winnowed this list of Christian leaders through a multi-stage interview process that brought the leading candidates to Chicago on multiple occasions during the winter. This thorough, prayerful work led us to present Mary K. Surridge to the Board of Trustees, who unanimously agreed that she was the best candidate to lead North Park as we seek to be recognized as the nation’s leading city-centered Christian university. We are gratified that both the Executive Board and the delegation at the Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church concurred. Mary’s accomplishments as vice president for advancement include leading the $63 million Campaign North Park that funded our spectacular Nancy and G. Timothy Johnson Center for Science and Community Life. She also established our innovative
Promise Scholarships that help the University recruit outstanding undergraduate scholars, particularly from among Covenant high school students and those interested in the STEM disciplines. Additionally, over the past year, Mary has successfully led an overall redesign of our strategy for undergraduate recruitment and admissions, with an emphasis on accountability and measurable results. I know that you join me in thanking Carl E. Balsam for his leadership during the interim period, and in praising God for providing Mary to continue to lead us forward. Carl says he has heard far too often over the last 30 years that North Park is one of the bestkept secrets in Christian higher education; he shares our belief that Mary Surridge can help us put an end to the secrecy. Owen R. Youngman C’75 Chair, Board of Trustees
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ACROSS CAMPUS
Students mingle in the shadow of the city’s skyline following baccalaureate services at Fourth Presbyterian Church on North Michigan Avenue.
Commencement 2018 North Park University honored 445 undergraduate, graduate, and Seminary students at its 125th Spring Commencement Convocations on campus May 12. The 2018 graduating class of 295 undergraduates is the largest in North Park history. The David Nyvall Medallion for Distinguished Service to North Park University was conferred on Dr. Kristine E. Strand,
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immediate past chair, Board of Trustees. The Ahnfeldt Medallion was awarded to undergraduate Eunhye So and to Seminary graduates Nate Salinas and Alicia Reese: All earned perfect 4.0 GPAs. The North Park Academy, College, and Seminary graduates of 1968 were honored on the 50th anniversary of their graduation and inducted into the Golden Circle.
NORTH PARKER
COMMENCEMENT 2018
International graduates led a procession of flags representing the 22 countries in which the class of ’18 were born or resided.
Graduates of the class of 1968 celebrate their 50th reunion and join the Golden Circle.
An excited graduate joins the commencement line entering the Gym.
Interim President Carl Balsam, flanked by 2018 graduates who are both veterans and active duty military personnel. The Nyvall Medallion was awarded to Dr. Kristine E. Strand. NORTH PARKER
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ACROSS CAMPUS
Arts + Sciences The beauty of the liberal arts, says Dean Gregor Thuswaldner, is “exposing students to many things they didn’t know existed.” The College of Arts and Sciences also ensures students prepare for life after North Park. In a recent talk with the North Parker, Thuswaldner describes the College’s commitment to campus and city learning, student-centered experiences, and focus on flexible skill sets for lifelong success.
NORTH PARKER: What’s distinctive about the College of Arts and Sciences at North Park? DEAN GREGOR THUSWALDNER:
Location, location, location. To be in the middle of Chicago is exceptional. Our campus is a nexus where students can learn, study, and relax. And they also have access to Chicago’s world-class facilities and experiences, thanks to our innovative Catalyst 606_ _ program. North Park and our College offer a fantastic combination of campus and city learning. 22
A very visible distinction for our College is at the heart of campus: the Johnson Center for Science and Community Life with state-of-the-art labs and classrooms, and beautiful, inviting spaces for students to gather. This facility offers our students so much. Our faculty is student-centered and always available to work with and support our students. Opportunities for research collaborations between students and faculty are outstanding. The North Park Research Experience for Summer Students (NPRESS) program is a great example of a NORTH PARKER
mentor-mentee model, enabling students to do hands-on research side-by-side with faculty. Faith at North Park is essential. We are Christian, and we are very hospitable to students from all faiths and all walks of life. No one is taken for granted here. We are in constant and rich dialogue with one another, even when we disagree. North Park is intercultural and interfaith, and this is important, especially in today’s world. We also think about life after North Park for our students. That’s why we put a strong emphasis on experiential and civic learning.
ARTS + SCIENCES
It’s vital that students have real experiences that can enrich them both professionally We are Christian, and we are very hospita- that’s the beauty of the liberal arts, which and personally—and prepare them for the future.ble to students from all faiths and all walks expose students to many things they didn’t of life. No one is taken for granted here. know existed. Students are on a journey to We are constant rich dialogue NP: What doinyou say toand students and with discover themselves. Our job is to provide one another, even when we disagree. parents who ask: What’s a liberal artsNorth diverse opportunities to show them how Park is intercultural andisinterfaith, and this they can best use their talents. education good for? How it relevant is important, especially in today’s world. It’s important to see how the classroom to today’s world? We also think about life after North Park connects with the rest of life. Classes aren’t for our students. That’s why we put a strong something to just check off. Our professors GT: It’s important to know what employers emphasis on experiential and civic learning. help to connect lessons to real life. That’s look for in graduates and future employees. It’s vital that students have real experiences why programs like Catalyst 606_ _ are so And their list has not changed in recent that can enrich them both personally and “It’s vital tovital teach students experiences thatthrough students years: Still at the top are communication professionally—and prepare them for the outside the classroom. skills, critical-thinking skills, the ability to have realaexperiences future. For instance, recent Catalyst experience work in teams. This is exactly what a liberal took sociology students to Chicago’s that can enrich themSouth arts education provide: transferable NP: What can do you say to students and parents Side where they interviewed both former professionally and skills. who ask: What’s a liberal arts education good both gang members and community leaders. Things changing so rapidly. So, world? you personally—and prepare for?are How is it relevant to today’s Confronted with real challenges in different need a strong skill set to adapt well. If you them for the future.” focus only on specific jobtopreparation, that GT: It’s important know what employers IT’S VITAL THAT job may notfor beinthere in theand future. Inemployees. fact, look graduates future DEAN GREGOR THUSWALDNER today’sAnd college graduates will change jobsyears: STUDENTS HAVE REAL their list has not changed in recent an average of the fourtop times age 30. Inskills, Still at are before communication critical-thinking thebeability to work EXPERIENCES THAT order to succeed, you skills, need to flexible in teams. Thismove is exactly with skills that can with what you. a liberal artssomething to just check off. Our professors education can provide: transferable ENRICH We’ve invited business leaders to speakskills. helpCAN to connect lessons toTHEM real life. That’s areand changing so rapidly. So, youwhy programs like Catalyst 606_ _ are so with our Things students, their advice is that PERSONALLY need a strong adaptcan well. students who do wellskillset in anytomajor doIf youvitalBOTH to teaching students through experifocus only on specific job preparation, that well in the workplace. We also know that ences outside the classroom. AND PROFESSIONALLY— may employers not be therehire in the future. In fact, For Siliconjob Valley liberal arts instance, a recent Catalyst experience today’s college graduates will change jobs majors because they can think outside the took sociology students to Chicago’s South PREPARE THEM four times before age 30. Intoorder to succeed,SideAND box to bring a fresh perspective problems where they interviewed both former you need be flexible with ways. skills that cangang members and community leaders. and connect thetodots in different FOR THE FUTURE. move with you. Our added advantage as a Christian uniConfronted with real challenges in different We’ve invited business leaders to speak versity is that we also focus on ethical quescommunities, the students’ perspectives with our students, and their advice is that communities, the students’ perspectives tions that help to build character. This is changed and they started relating what they students who do well in any major can do changed and they started relating what they important for our students as they become learned to what’s really happening. This hapwell in the workplace. We also know that learned to what’s really happening. Another employees and leaders. with many other Catalyst experiences, Silicon Valley employers hire liberal artspensCatalyst experience introduced students to We have a great track record: We don’t which offer a range of opportunities for our majors because they can think outside the an ESL class where recent immigrants were create box unemployable graduates. students from visiting the Chicago Board to bring a fresh perspective to problems learning English. For one student, this of was to learninghe on-site at Northwestern and connect the dots in different ways. Trade eye-opening; said, now I know what I NP: WhatOur do today’s students Feinberg School oflife. Medicine added CAS advantage as expect a ChristianUniversity want to do for the rest of my from their North Park education? in the Mesulam Cognitive Neurology and University is that we also focus on ethical Disease Center. questions that help to build character. ThisAlzheimer’s NP: North Park seeks to be the foremost GT: When students in, they don’t is important for come our students as they become city-centered university: How is the College alwaysemployees know what want to do. But NP:supporting North Park seeks andthey leaders. this goal?to be the foremost that’s theWe beauty the liberal arts, which have of a great track record: We don’tcity-centered university: How is the College unemployable graduates. GT: Our College and the entire University supporting this goal? exposecreate students to many things they didn’t are truly pioneers in bringing about the know existed. Students are on a journey to NP: What do today’s CAS students program our commitment discover themselves. Our job is to provideexpectGT: Catalyst Our College and and the entire Universityto their Northto Park education? using Chicago as our classroom. diversefrom opportunities show them how are actively truly pioneers in bringing about the Making Catalyst required us they can best use their talents. Catalyst program and possible our commitment toto GT: When students come in, they don’t radically revamp the curriculum campus-wide It’s important to see how the classroom actively using Chicago as our classroom. always what they want aren’t to do. But Making to free Catalyst up Wednesday afternoons connects with know the rest of life. Classes possible required from us NORTH PARKER
to radically revamp the curriculum campus-wide to free up Wednesday afternoons scheduled classes. As As a result, from scheduled classes. a result,students students can get get out out into the city can city for for aa wide widerange range ofexperiences. experiences. Or they can of can participate participateinin Catalystprograms programs on Catalyst on campus campusto tohear hearfrom from community and business leaders who community and business leaders whospeak speak tothe thevalue value of of aa liberal liberal arts to arts education. education. I’ve been at many academic I’ve been at many academicconferences conferences across the the country, country, and across and other other schools schoolsand and deans are surprised by what we’ve done—and deans are surprised by what we’ve done— how quickly. Duke University tried to change and how quickly. Duke University tried to its undergraduate curriculum which took change its undergraduate curriculum, which several years of planning. And when the new took several years of planning. And when the curriculum was proposed to the faculty, it new curriculum was proposed to the faculty, was voted down. It took us two years and the itfaculty was voted down. took us two years and approved it.ItWe hoped for 15 classes the faculty approved it. We hoped for in the Catalyst program, and because of the15 classes in theamong Catalyst because enthusiasm ourprogram, faculty, weand have more of the enthusiasm among our faculty, we than 100 this year. have more than 100 this year. NP: What else sets apart the faculty in the NP: Whatofelse the faculty in the College Artssets andapart Sciences? College of Arts and Sciences? GT: All of our faculty reflect the North Park GT: Ourand faculty reflect the North ethos bringmembers a social justice component to learning. Theirfocus focusisisalways alwaysGod’s for God’s Park ethos. Their glory gloryneighbor’s and neighbor’s good. committedto and good. We We areare committed to preparing studentsfor forlives lives of significance preparing students significance andservice: service: It’s It’s in in the and the DNA DNA of ofthis thisschool. school. Wehave have many many faculty truly We facultymembers memberswho who trustand out for their innovative teaching, ly stand out for their innovative teaching, scholarship, and and research research to scholarship, to benefit benefitour our students. For instance, Dr. Peter students. For instance, Dr. Peter St. St.Jean, Jean, professorof of sociology sociology and professor and criminal criminaljustice, justice, is the founder of a new field of study called is the founder of a new field of study called peaceology. He and his students explore peaceology. He and his students explore ways of making peace profitable and an ways of making peace profitable and an asset for communities to counter what is asset for communities to counter what is an industry of violence, drugs, weapons an industry of violence, drugs, weapons, and so on. He’s established a Peace Lab in and so on. He’s established a Peace Lab in Magnuson Center that promotes research Magnuson Center that promotes research and applied Christian faith. andDr. applied Christian faith. professor of Stephen Ray, assistant Dr. Stephen Ray, assistant physics and engineering, and professor director ofof physics and engineering, and director of sustainability, spearheads our mechanical engineering program.
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ARTS + SCIENCES
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NORTH PARKER
ARTS + SCIENCES
New CAS Alumni Advisory Board Starting in fall 2018, the following alumni will be part of a new advisory board. They will serve as resources for faculty and students and assist in enhancing the mission and vision of the College of Arts and Sciences. Deyanira Cardenas C’06 Mathematics Teacher Glenview District 34 Tyler D. Gaastra C’08 Chief Operating Officer Tekton, Inc. Britta Heintzelman Johnson C’05 Senior Associate Director of Development, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University sustainability, spearheads our mechanical engineering program. These are just a few. We are fortunate to have so many excellent, talented faculty members in this College. NP: How does being a Christian university contribute to a liberal arts education at North Park? GT: It’s a huge plus. We are part of the
Evangelical Covenant Church, but we also have faculty and staff who are Orthodox, Catholic, Pietist, Lutheran, on and on. This is an extremely rich asset. Many traditions are represented at North Park University. Students here don’t feel indoctrinated. They know their classes are informed by faith, and they appreciate it. They value the faith environment as very diverse and where there can be open dialogue. Students feel free to explore their faith and they really grow in this open-minded atmosphere. NP: What’s ahead for the College of Arts
and Sciences?
GT: In terms of academic programs, we are looking at a possible urban studies interdisciplinary major. We have many advantages in this area already: Our provost,
Dr. Michael Emerson, is one of the country’s leading urban sociologists, and we offer many courses on urban health, environmental issues, and more. Designing this program can draw on so many of our strengths. I am eager for more collaborations between the Seminary and our schools at North Park. For instance, medical humanities can enable a student who wants to go into medicine or nursing to gain different and richer perspectives by also studying history. In the future, it will be even more vital for our students to be able to gather insights from other fields to think differently about problems we’re facing. We’ve just created a College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board that will convene in September. The board members are alumni who will help us find new ways to enhance the mission and vision of the College. I anticipate they will assist our faculty and students, helping them to network and branch out to meet and learn from others. We’ll benefit from alumni advice about our curriculum and about majors we should think about offering. I’m proud of our dedicated faculty and administrators here and across the campus who share mutual trust and a common vision. This is not always the case at many schools. We are very fortunate. NORTH PARKER
Laura Johnson, MD C’10 Family Practice Physician Advocate Clinic, Logan Square Karen Kelly C’12 Senior Outreach Officer Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, Institute of International Education Deborah McPherson C’12 Analyst, Duff & Phelps, Legal Management Consulting Christina Phillip C’15 Legal Investigations Associate Google LLC Robert Robertson C’87 Founding Partner Robertson Duric Law Firm Mark Safstrom, PhD C’02 Assistant Professor of Scandinavian Studies Augustana College Zachary Verley C’17 Patient Coordinator Alliance Healthcare Services
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GIVING
Annual Giving Day 2018
Students, faculty, and staff shaped themselves into a visual reference to North Park’s Catalyst 606_ _ program.
On May 2, North Park held its Third Annual #NPUBlueandGoldDay and successfully raised nearly $82,000. The goal of achieving 606 donors topped off instead at 679. Gifts came from 35 states and 13 countries including American Samoa, Brazil, India, Nicaragua, Spain, and Sweden. Alumni accounted for 47% of donors, along with parents (23%), faculty and staff (14%), students (11%), and friends (5%).
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Following a challenge to attract 60 new donors during the 6:06 pm–7:06 pm Power Hour, Joan Bickner C’65 made a $10,000 gift—along with 88 other donors who responded to the challenge. More than 500 North Parkers formed this year’s 606_ _ outdoor group photo to celebrate North Park’s successful Catalyst program.
NORTH PARKER
GIVING
Multiple generations of North Parkers display their Viking spirit.
Interim President Carl E. Balsam and newly elected North Park President Mary K. Surridge celebrate with students and Ragnar the Viking, the student body mascot.
North Parkers celebrate Catalyst 606_ _ outside the Johnson Center.
Richard Kohng, director of civic engagement and head of Catalyst 606_ _, shared commemorative cookies with students. North Park staff proudly wear blue and gold to support Annual Giving Day 2018. NORTH PARKER
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HONORS
Viking Hall of Fame Honors 2017 Inductees Six outstanding athletes were inducted into the Viking Hall of Fame. The late Rick Alspach C’00, Matt Bond C’08 G’17, Mike Giovenco C’10, Kris Grahn C’11 G’13, Shandrel (Young) Starks C’06, and Dr. Jack Surridge, Director of Athletics, were honored at the induction ceremony in Hamming Hall in February.
RICK ALSPACH C’00
A four-year letter winner in basketball, the late Rick Alspach was named a team captain for 1999-2000. He was awarded 2nd Team All-CCIW in 1998 and 3rd Team All-CCIW in 2000. His 1,562 career points solidify a seventh-best all-time mark. Following his sudden death in 2009, the North Park alumni basketball game was named in his honor. Tim Alspach received his brother’s induction.
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DR. JACK SURRIDGE
Dr. Jack Surridge has served as the Director of Athletics at North Park University since 1996. During his tenure, he has focused on the improvement of facilities, staff, and programs (see page 10). Dr. Surridge served as the North Park women’s basketball head coach from 1996–2008 and led his teams to eight tournament championships.
NORTH PARKER
HONORS
MIKE GIOVENCO C’10
A three-year starter as a right-handed pitcher, Mike Giovenco was a 1st Team All-CCIW selection in 2009 and 2010. Giovenco was also recognized in multiple years as a CCIW All-Academic selection. He earned Rawlings American Baseball Coaches Association honors as a 1st Team selection in 2009 and 2010. An MLB draft selection in 2009 and 2010, Giovenco’s best season was in 2012 with the Kane County Cougars where he was 5-3 as a relief pitcher. He has since served as a police officer, earning recognition for his outstanding service.
MATT BOND C’08 G’17
Throughout Matt Bond’s four years as a Viking, the men’s soccer team was 48-20-5 and won CCIW titles in 2004, 2005, and 2006. A three-time CCIW champion, Bond was honored with 2nd Team All-CCIW recognition in 2005 and 1st Team All-CCIW recognition in 2006 and 2007. He was named a team captain and MVP and earned National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Region honors. Bond is now an assistant coach for the men’s soccer program.
KRIS GRAHN C’11 G’13
Kris Grahn was part of the 2010 CCIW men’s soccer championship and was named the CCIW Player of the Year. Grahn was named a CCIW 1st-Team selection in each of his four seasons. During his junior and senior years, he was selected by D3soccer.com as All American and a 2011 NSCAA All-American. Grahn was a four-time All-District Player and a four-time All-Region selection. Grahn is the associate head men’s soccer coach and helped lead the 2017 team to a second place finish in the NCAA championship.
SHANDREL (YOUNG) STARKS C’06
Shandrel (Young) Starks was a four-year starter for Dr. Jack Surridge’s women’s basketball team. She is 6th all-time in career points (1,200), 8th all-time in steals (151), 1st in free throws made (487), and 11th all-time in free throw percentage (.693). She was a 3rd Team CCIW selection in 2005 and a CCIW Player of the Week in the same year. Starks is now a Center Manager for the Chicago Park District.
NORTH PARKER
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ALUMNI NOTES
Covenant Gathering in Florida
On March 3, 2018, a group of 150 Covenant friends (and many North Park alumni, pictured above) came together in Venice, Fla., for the annual gathering of SW Florida. The festivities included a reception, greetings from Covenant and North Park leaders, a luncheon, and an afternoon program with a singalong led by Bob Dvorak. This tradition was started in the 1970s by the late Woody Metcalf and Mildred (Newman) Metcalf C’40, and now involves the work of a host committee: Paul Aley and Barb (Applequist) Aley C’67, Stan Edin C’56 and Rose (Anderson) Edin C’55 S’57, Paul and Jane Hoden, Ted Lind and Diane (Dahlin) Lind C’61, and Dan Thyreen C’62 and Ann Louise (Johnson) Thyreen C’63. The next Covenant Gathering will take place on March 2, 2019.
1940s
Cliff Zalay C’47, a professional harmonica player for more than 60 years, recently performed at the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey game. Find more performances by Cliff Barnett (his stage name) on YouTube.
The Rotary Club of Chicago recently honored Jim Hollensteiner A’49 as its longest serving active member with more than 50 years of service. Rotary, which started in Chicago in 1905, is recognized as the world’s first service club. Jim is also very active with a Rotary Club in Montana, where he spends much of each year.
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1950s
North Park Academy Class of 1953 got together for a reunion at Hackney’s on Lake, Glenview, Ill., on November 2, 2017. Back row, left to right: Marilyn (Marx) Adelman, Marilyn (Longo) Rice, Bill Seawall, Sonya (Ottoson) Cowen, Donna (Peterson) Davajon. Front row, left to right: Ruth (Anderson) Houdek, Leona (Schweikert) Dirr, and Adrienne (Nelson) Langtry. NORTH PARKER
North Park alumni and friends gathered in Bradenton, Fla., on February 25, 2018, for a post-church lunch after a service at Trailer Estates Covenant Church. Left to right: Carole (Johansson) Johnson C’60, Rev. LeRoy Johnson C’54 S’60, Rev. Dick Peterson C’50 S’59, Geri (Bevan) Peterson C’54, L. Jerome “Jerry” Johnson C’54, Marge (Gustafson) Elowson C’55, and Rev. Dave Elowson C’54 S’60.
ALUMNI NOTES
During spring break in Florida, North Parkers Jessie Rosell C’18 and her sister Courtney Rosell C’21 visited their grandparents, Rev. LeRoy Johnson C’54 S’60 and Carole (Johansson) Johnson C’60. Other North Parkers at the gathering included, from left to right: Tobiah Agurkis C’21, Katie Gustafson C’21, Annika Nyquist C’18, Kysa Sager C’21, Jessie, LeRoy, Carole, Courtney, Daria Johnson C’18, Julie Spencer C’18, Jessica Sardar C’18, and Erin Staurseth C’18. LeRoy reports he was at North Park Junior College with seven of their grandparents!
Warrenton resident and The Infidels author Joe David C’56 greeted Empress Farah Pahlavi of Iran at a black-tie, private tribute dinner in her honor at the Potomac, Md., home of philanthropist Annie Totah. (Photo by Gedalia Vera, celebrity photographer)
Several North Park alumni gathered in Iron Mountain, Mich., on July 19, 2017. The reunion included singing The Alma Mater
during an enjoyable afternoon visiting and reminiscing. The group hopes to continue annual gatherings. Front row, left to right: Marion Anderson-Peat C’57, Ruth Olson Blohm A’61 C’54, Kari Peterson C’90, Renee Johnson C’93, and Kathi (Peterson) Meyer C’90. Second row, left to right: Lois (Thornbloom) Sundberg A’61 C’65, Marcia (Anderson) McGregor A’61 C’65, Vernice (Erickson) Peterson C’63, Bev (Peterson) Erickson A’56 C’60, Martha (Johnson) Nagel C’63, Terry (Hjerpe) Sovey C’63, Corene (Erickson) Johnson C’57 C’61, and Susan (Nilson) Francisco A’62.
1960s
Randall Miller A’63, professor of history, at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, published his 25th book, The Northern Home Front During the Civil War (Praeger, 2017). The book focuses on the ways the Civil War affected civilians and the conduct of war.
experience hosting Somali Muslim refugees; September 11; and God’s love. Cathy and her husband, Joel, live in Kirkland, Wash., and enjoy serving in their church, spending time with their children and grandchildren, and traveling.
1970s
Marvin Curtis C’72 was commissioned to compose the music for the Sesquicentennial of Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, N.C. Marvin, who is dean of the Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts at Indiana University, South Bend, wrote “Deeds Not Words” for choir, brass, and timpani. The work was performed at the 150th anniversary convocation ceremony on September 15, 2017, and sung by the Fayetteville State University Concert Choir. Marvin was choir director at Fayetteville State for 12 years before moving to Indiana University. The anthem includes a new hymn that will be sung throughout the academic year. The work was placed in the University’s time capsule in spring 2018 and will be reopened in 25 years.
1980s
Several North Park Academy alumni got a head start on the 2018 All-Academy Reunion (October 12, 2018) with a gathering in Prospect Heights, Ill. Left to right: Linda (Karsted) Newton A’64, Susan (Green) Gost A’64, Nancy (Giannetti) Bang A’64, and Irene Stoesser A’64.
Cathleen Johnson C’69 wrote a book entitled Adam’s Grief. Cathy, a retired pastor, writes about such topics as her NORTH PARKER
Rus Bradburd C’80, a member of the 1979 NCAA championship basketball team, is an English professor at New Mexico State University and lives in Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood every summer. His fourth book, All the Dreams We’ve Dreamed, released in May 2018, deals with gun violence in Chicago’s basketball community. Shawn Harrington, the book’s main subject, has been featured in The New York Times and twice on HBO’s “Real Sports.” Rus is the author of three other books.
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ALUMNI NOTES
Mike McAdams C’98 started a new job as the manager of ticket marketing and strategy at PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. He and his wife Laura (Anderson) McAdams C’02 live in Florida with their three children.
A North Park team, led by Keith Bakken C’85 G’06, associate professor of health sciences, participated in the 2018 Fight for Air on March 11, 2018, at the Presidential Towers Downtown. Climbers participated for those who can’t climb stairs due to lung disease. The team climbed four towers of 45 floors each, for a total of 180 flights or 2,340 steps! The team consisted of 31 climbers (15 alumni, 11 students, and five friends) and 31 North Park students who volunteered for the event. Kristin Downs C’99 was named National Heritage Academies’ best teacher of the year for the second time in three years. Kristin has taught 8th grade English Language Arts at Chandler Woods Charter Academy in Grand Rapids, Mich., for 19 years.
2000s 1990s
Kenneth D. Smith G’02 S’10 accepted the position of tax manager at Abrix Group LLP, an accounting firm in Northbrook, Ill.
Fadil Lee C’95 S’04 married Megan Zahn on February 24, 2018, in Ft. Morgan, Ala. North Parkers present for the wedding included Steve Milton C’96, Ann Louise Thyreen C’63, Dan Thyreen C’62, and Rev. Gregory Livingston S’97.
Zach Danielson C’02 and Kate (VanDusen) Danielson C’03 are happy to announce the adoption of their son, Michael, which was finalized in December, 2017 after six long years in foster care. Michael (6) joins big brothers Isaac (10) and Anders (8). Joining in the celebration were grandparents
Dominic Nuccio, son of Richard Nuccio C’90, received the Ad Altare Dei Boy Scout Award on February 28 2018, at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago.
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NORTH PARKER
David Danielson C’74 and Karen Danielson C’73, and uncle Josh Danielson S’11.
Breanna (Walker) Coe C’03 and husband Todd welcomed their first child, Charles Henry, on January 12, 2018. “Charlie” was 7lbs 6oz and 21.5 inches long, and he loves when mom and dad sing to him.
On June 17, 2017, Jeff Hanson C’04 married Katie Atkinson of Sacramento, Calif., in an outdoor ceremony in Granite Bay, Calif. Many North Park grads attended, including immediate family members Dave and Janet (Lundberg) Hanson C’77, Scott and Megan (Van Essendelft) Hanson C’06, Kim Hanson C’14, former NPU baseball teammates Justin Conner C’05 and Jim Nelsen C’04, plus many more Hanson and Lundberg family members.
Matthew and Jenny (Phillips) Borba C’05 welcomed Miles Elias on March 25, 2017. Miles required four surgeries before he was nine months old, but today is healthy and strong. The Borbas reside in Salinas, Calif., where they moved from Los Angeles a few years ago.
ALUMNI NOTES
Justin Schwan C’07 had a breakout performance in the feature film Guys Reading Poems. The film investigates a protagonist who teeters between violence as vengeance and creative expression as psychic salve. It includes five passages from the Bible, including 1 Corinthians 13, performed by Justin. The film has been described as “essential viewing” by the Los Angeles Blade.
Trevor Nicholas C’08 and Renee (Lick) Nicholas S’12, who live in Chicago, welcomed Ethan Loren on September 1, 2017.
Alicia (Tilson) Boock C’11 and Aaron Boock C’13 welcomed their first child, Jeffrey Daniel Boock, on December 4, 2016. Alicia, Aaron, Jeffrey, and their two dogs moved in summer 2017 from Evanston, Ill., to University Place, Wash. Aaron is a government account manager for Grainger Industrial and Alicia works as a home fitness coach.
Dominique DuBois Gilliard S’12 is the director of racial righteousness and reconciliation for the Evangelical Covenant Church and serves on the board of directors for the Christian Community Development Association and Evangelicals for Justice. Dominique’s new book, Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating for Justice that Restores, explores the history and foundation of mass incarceration, examining Christianity’s role in its evolution and expansion.
Ben Wickstrom C’08 and Emily Bourne C’13 were married on May 27, 2017, in the Seminary’s Isaacson Chapel, with a reception at the North Park Conservancy. North Parkers in the wedding party included Elin Wickstrom C’10, Lauren (Bourne) Butkevich C’16, and Peter Butkevich C’11.
2010s
Atiyya (Joseph) Johnson C’13 and Donnell Johnson C’13, who were married in 2016, welcomed their daughter on December 6, 2016. They currently live in Vacaville, Calif., where Donnell is serving in the military at Travis Air Force Base. Atiyya works for American Airlines as a flight attendant.
NORTH PARKER
Mike Mullenix C’14 earned his master’s degree in prosthetics and orthotics from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in 2018. The next step in Mike’s professional career is completing his residency in prosthetics and orthotics. While at North Park, Mike studied exercise science and played baseball and golf.
Josee Weigand C’14 graduated from North Park with a degree in violin performance and now performs in a professional string quartet called La Vie Quartet in Nashville, Tenn. The quartet is touring with well-known husband and wife duo Johnnyswim. Her original musical “Falling Out” was selected to be performed in the NY Winterfest Festival in New York City at the Hudson Guild Theatre in March 2018.
Michelle Carrillo C’16 and Adam Land were married on April 28, 2018, at an outdoor ceremony in Merced, Calif. North Parkers in the wedding party included Katie Vanderklok C’16, Sam Fowkes C’16, Hannah Critchfield C’16, Bailey Barfield C’16, Katie Bast C’16, Katie Comfort C’16, Patrick Walls C’15, Quincy Cochran C’16, Emmanuel Carrillo C’21, Miguel Barrera C’16 and Anthony Johnson C’17. Michelle and Adam live in Chicago where Michelle is an admissions counselor at North Park University and Adam is a freelance musician. They are both so excited for this new chapter in their lives! 33
ALUMNI NOTES
2018 Seminary Alumni Award for Distinguished Service Gwyn Tacchi C’17 and Blake Thomas C’16 were married in North Park Covenant Church on April 14, 2018. North Park alumni in the wedding party included, from left to right: Miranda Gomez C’17, Sarah Jackson C’17, Cortney (Tomczak) Pearson C’17, Hayley (Sheaff) Larson C’17, Nella Hogberg C’17, Matthew Calandra-Davis C’15, Isaac Bauer C’16, Michael Piccard C’15, Brent Huse C’17, Eric Pearson C’17, and Caleb Frank C’17. Novak (l.) and Dean Kersten
Tamara Tomic C’17 and husband Dejan welcomed their beautiful new daughter, Princess Teodora Tomic, born October 20, 2017, weighing 9lbs 10oz.
North Park Theological Seminary honored Rev. Dr. Mark A. Novak S’79 with the 2018 Seminary Alumni Award for Distinguished Service, which recognizes Seminary alumni who have made significant contributions in their field while living a life that reflects the Seminary’s core values and mission.
Seminary Dean Rev. Dr. David W. Kersten C’77 S’82 S’97 presented the award to Novak during the ECC’s 2018 Midwinter Conference in January in Chicago. Novak graduated from the Seminary in 1979, and subsequently served several local Covenant congregations in the Northwest as a youth pastor, church planter, and revitalization pastor. He was the superintendent of the Pacific Northwest Conference (19992012), before being elected the executive minister of Develop Leaders in 2012, where he served until 2017. He currently is interim director of Cascades Camp and Conference Center in Yelm, Wash. He and his wife Marilyn live in Gig Harbor, Wash., and have three married children and five grandchildren. Kersten described Novak as “a pastor’s pastor, a leader’s leader, and a friend’s friend, helping the church face the challenges of ministering in today’s world while continuing to inspire others to answer God’s call.” “I am deeply honored to receive this award from my Seminary, which so profoundly formed me as a person and a pastor,” said Novak. “I am also humbled to join with such distinguished past honorees.”
AlumniConnection in Arizona The Fifth Annual AlumniConnection in Mesa, Ariz., brought together 79 alumni and friends in March for a spring training version of Chicago’s Crosstown Classic between the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox. North Parkers enjoyed socializing from the third base party deck. The Cubs and Sox tied the game with four runs each.
Cortney Tomczak C’17 and Eric Pearson C’17 were married on December 9, 2017, at the Evangelical Covenant Church of Hinsdale with a reception following at Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club. North Parkers in the wedding party were Gwyn (Tacchi) Thomas C’17, Nella Hogberg C’17, Liz Bridgeman C’17, Sarah Jackson C’17, Blake Thomas C’16, Andrew Byars C’16, Tommy Bakken C’17, and Jason Baird C’17.
Coming together with Clark, the official mascot of the Chicago Cubs.
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ALUMNI NOTES
In Memoriam Howard G. Nelson, CDR USNR C’48 (Ret.), age 91, of Oconomowoc, Wis., passed away at home on October 27, 2017. Howard is preceded in death by his parents and his granddaughter. Howard is survived by his wife of 63 years, Freda, and his sons and daughter, five grandchildren, his brother, many nieces and nephews, relatives, and friends. Born in Chicago, Howard was a lifelong Cubs fan and seeing them win the 2016 World Series was one of his greatest joys. He was a WWII veteran who served in the Pacific Theatre and in China with the U.S. Navy and then retired as a full Commander after serving his country from 1944 to 1986. Howard became a certified public accountant and was employed for 38 years until his retirement in 1990. In addition, Howard served as a director and treasurer of Christ the King Lutheran Church. He will be remembered for his high standards of integrity, honesty, financial expertise, and his strong Christian beliefs.
Bert Erickson C’48 died on October 25, 2016. Bert was born in Jamestown, N.Y., on August 26, 1920. After serving in the Army during WWII, he came to North Park where he met Gloria Johnson C’48 in Swedish class on his first day of classes. Bert and Gloria were married September 3, 1948. Gloria preceded him in death in 2008. Bert performed in the North Park College Choir, singing in the very first choir concert at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall and again in the reunion choir at the 50th anniversary NPU Orchestra Hall concert. They had four daughters, two of whom are North Park graduates: Joan (Erickson) Wallgren C’76 and Lois (Erickson) Olson C’80. The Ericksons had nine grandchildren, three of whom are North Park graduates, and eight great-grandchildren.
Delwyn Ziegler C’51 was born in Creighton, Neb., on April 25, 1932. After attending North Park College and Northwestern University, he joined the Army as a statistics analyst. He earned his MBA at USC, became a CPA, and worked for a national CPA firm. With his wife Claire and family, he joined the Peace Corps (1970-1972) and served in Colombia, South America, for what he called the “best two years of his life.” He worked as a controller and CFO for various hospitals and HMOs, and managed his own consulting firm in Dallas, Tex. Del enjoyed cheering on the Diamondbacks and the Cardinals during spring training in Phoenix as well as travelling in Europe with Claire during his retirement. He was active at St. Stevens and enjoyed being a lector. Readings from St. Paul moved his spirit. Del passed away on December 23, 2017, at the age of 85. He is survived by Claire, his wife of 35 years, daughter and son, two grandchildren, sister, brothers Billy Ziegler C’65 and Orlen Ziegler C’65, and many nieces and nephews.
Dr. Ronald L. Magnuson C’52 S’58, 86, of Harbert, Mich., passed away February 6, 2018. Ronald was born July 8, 1931, in New Britain, Conn., the son of the late Philip and Edith (Olson) Magnuson. Ronald graduated NORTH PARKER
from North Park Junior College and earned his Master of Divinity at North Park Seminary and received his Doctorate of Ministry at McCormick Theological Seminary. He served as chaplain and Bible teacher at North Park Academy, and was the pastor at Harbert Community Church for 26 years. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Marlene A. Dahlstrom A’50 C’52, son Mark Magnuson C’83, daughter-in-law Eileen (Justice) Magnuson C’84, daughter Lisa Magnuson C’86, three grandchildren Kyle, Sara, and Claire Magnuson; and brother Philip (Arline) Magnuson. Ronald was preceded in death by his sister Dorothy Magnuson.
Donald M. Diersen C’54 died February 13, 2018, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Shirley (Lindskoog) Diersen C’54. They loved their time at North Park and have been generous supporters over the years.
Roger Nathaniel Pohl C’60, born September 10, 1942, in Chicago, Ill., to T. Nathan and Doris (Norberg) Pohl, passed away on August 20, 2017. Roger graduated from North Park University with a BS degree in pre-med studies, then earned an MA in literature at Indiana University, Master of Divinity at Yale University, and an honorary doctorate from Olivet College. He served churches as a seminary student and as pastor in United Church of Christ congregations in St. Louis Park, Minn.; and St. Clair Shores and Lansing, Mich. 35
ACROSS ALUMNICAMPUS NOTES
Over a 35-year period, he led groups from churches as well as university students on service-learning experiences throughout the United States, the Philippines, Honduras, and Brazil. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Joanne, and their children Amy and David; three grandsons, siblings, and close friends.
Susan (Moss) Ewald A’64 of Roswell, Ga., passed away on November 13, 2017. Born April 25, 1946, in Chicago, she was the youngest daughter of Allen and Marguerite Moss. She was a graduate of North Park Academy and Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. A resident of Roswell for nearly 40 years, she was a teacher in the Fulton County School System and later the director of the Cotillion Group, instructing teens in ballroom dance and etiquette. Susan was an avid tennis player, participating at high levels in both ALTA and USTA leagues. A woman of strong faith, she was a long-time member of Roswell Presbyterian Church. She is preceded in death by her parents and sister, Pam Moss. She is survived by her husband, Gerald Ewald A’63, stepmother Mary Moss, cousin Terry Schaede, sons Geoffrey Macdonald and Mark Macdonald, and stepchildren Stephen Ewald and Christine Ewald. She was blessed with four grandchildren and two stepgrandchildren.
Richard A. Peterson C’64, 75, of Wildwood, Ill., passed away on January 3, 2018, at home surrounded by his family. He was born on October 13, 1942, in Red Oak, Iowa. Richard was a member of the University Club of Chicago and Harvard University Club. He served in the Judge Advocate’s General Corps of the U.S. Army and was stationed at the Pentagon. He was a partner in the law firm of Winston & Strawn; and co-owner of the company that made 36
Sno-Caps, Raisinets, Goobers, Bit-O-Honey, and Chunkies. He served as CEO of Richdale Ltd.; as an arbitration judge for workmen’s compensation; and as a best-ever grandfather. Richard is survived by his wife of 48 years, Darlene (Woywot) C’68; his children, Elizabeth (Kevin Cashmore) and KK; his grandchildren, brother, sister, and many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carroll and Doris Peterson.
Thomas R. Heilig A’67 C’71, 67, of Lake Tomahawk, Wis., and Chicago, Ill., died on October 25, 2017, at the Seasons of Life Hospice House in Woodruff, Wis. Tom is survived by his wife, Virginia “Ginger” Davis, stepson, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Tom was preceded in death by his parents. Tom grew up in Chicago and graduated from North Park Academy where he participated in the wrestling and football teams. Tom graduated from North Park College, majoring in physical education. He worked for his parents’ business, Emilie Mae’s, and began working at Roadway Trucking in 1976 in Chicago. After 24 years at Roadway, Tom accepted a position at Tax-Air Freight in Milwaukee, where he met his wife Ginger. In retirement, they settled in the Village of Lake Tomahawk, Wis. Tom was able to launch the Lake Tomahawk Handicapped Fishing Pier in 2015, and he enjoyed it on his last fishing trip after being diagnosed with ALS.
Carol “Kim” Kimball C’70 passed away in Stockton, Calif., on January 31, 2018. After graduation from North Park, she worked for the Social Security Administration in Chicago, Ill., then in Modesto and Stockton, Calif. Because of her love for pet cats and dogs, she returned to school, earned a degree in NORTH PARKER
veterinary technology from Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, Calif., and worked for a veterinary practice in Stockton. She is survived by brothers Richard Kimball C’70 and Charles, a nephew Jason, and a niece Nicole.
Ted Van Der Meid C’79 lived every day with kindness, empathy, and dedication to causes greater than himself. He died on March 19, 2018, at the age of 61. Ted was born in Rochester, N.Y., in 1957 to Thomas and Virginia (predeceased) Van Der Meid. Ted attended Brighton High School in Rochester, N.Y., and North Park University where he earned a BA in political science. Ted returned to New York and earned a JD from Syracuse University College of Law in 1983. He served as the general counsel for House Republican Leader Robert Michel of Illinois and earned an MPA degree from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Ted also became counsel and director of floor operations for the Speaker of the House. Perhaps the best testament to Ted’s professional legacy was his work on the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) in Washington, DC. One of its principal purposes was safeguarding the well-being of U.S. Capitol visitors, and Ted played an integral role in ensuring the facility was built as securely as possible. Ted worked for McKenna, Long and Aldridge, LLP, before joining The Pew Charitable Trusts as director of government relations. Ted served on numerous boards, including North Park’s Board of Trustees. Ted is survived by his sister, Ginny Newberg (Richard predeceased), brothers Tom (Mary) and Tim (Elaine) Van Der Meid, and father, Thomas Van Der Meid. His cherished nieces and nephews include: Jeremy, Jami, Jonathan, Justin, Amy, and Matt Van Der Meid, and Alyssa and Thomas Newberg.
MAKE IT POSSIBLE. AGAIN. AND AGAIN. Joshua K. Naseri C’19 travelled more than 6,500 miles from his home in Apua, Samoa, to get a quality college education and experience the city of Chicago, while keeping grounded in his Christian beliefs.
Joshua is a North Parker because of you. Your support makes financial aid possible for him— and for 95% of our undergraduates and 78% of North Park Seminary students. Your gift means we can: F Meet students’ highest need for financial assistance to make college affordable. F Award more than $13 million annually in scholarships.
“My journey to North Park has challenged me to become a better student—and a better person. Thank you for this incredible opportunity!” Joshua K. Naseri C’19 Bachelor of Science Health Sciences: Systems Management
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SAVE THE DATE!
Celebrate our distinguished alumni honorees:
Homecoming & All-Academy Reunion
Betty Nelson C’44 Roy Applequist C’68 Mari Andrew C’08
October 12–14, 2018
www.northpark.edu/homecoming