ALUMNI UPDATES

Rachel (Maki ’10) Lindner and her husband Bryan welcomed a son, Owen, on Apr. 25, 2021.

Dr. Hannah Orem ’10 married Jonathan Mendez in July 2018. They welcomed their daughter, Savannah Lee, in July 2019 and their son, Owen Douglas, in Mar. 2021. The family resides in Rockford, Illinois. Hannah recently celebrated nine years at Upper Cervical Care Center, where she is a NUCCA (National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association) chiropractor. Hannah is the only woman in the state of Illinois to be a Level 3 candidate in NUCCA.

Cody Wilde ’10 was recently promoted to Vice President of Academy Programs at Prison Fellowship. He oversees the most intensive in-prison program (Prison Fellowship Academy) for the entire country.

Brittany (Werner ’11) Culp and her husband Brandon welcomed their second son, Everett James, on May 2, 2021. Delta, age 3, enjoys being a big brother. Brittany and Brandon just announced they are expecting another baby in May 2023.

Krista Kastle ’11 moved from Maple Grove, Minnesota to Lakeland, Florida in 2016 and currently works in the technology field for Publix Supermarkets.

Katherine “Katie” (Promnitz ’12) McCauley and her husband Bryce welcomed their fourth child and second girl, Eliana Kate, on Feb. 7, 2022.

Josh Beck ’13 left his job to become a fulltime freelance artist and internet missionary, someone whose mission field is online instead of a physical location.

Chris Smalley ’94, M’14 became a freelance content writer and named his business “Eagle Writing Services” in honor of his time at Northwestern.

Isaac Swanson ’15 and Brittney Holt were married Feb. 27, 2021 in Denton, Texas. As the son of Dennis M’08 and Sharon ’94 Swanson, the grandson of Phyllis ’53 and Don Swanson, and the great-grandson of F. Albert ’26 and Laura ’27 Swanson, Isaac is a fourth generation UNW alumnus.

Brittany (Bennett ’15) Berndt married Andy Berndt on June 19th, 2022 in Pipestone, Minnesota. They now reside in Slayton, Minnesota. Spencer Larsen ’16 graduated with his M.A. of Ministry Leadership while working as Pastor of Youth Ministries at Oakwood Community Church in Waconia, Minnesota.

Elizabeth “Betsy” (Boggs ’16) Platter married Avery Platter on Aug. 29, 2021.

Melody Rossiter ’16 is working towards her master’s in Clinical Counseling and Art Therapy—the career path for which she got her Interdisciplinary Studies degree at UNW.

Salena (Berger ’16) Unitt married Joshua Unitt on Jan. 1, 2022. Salena has been working at Christian Encounter Ranch, a residential ministry for at-risk teens in Northern California, since graduation.

Mitchell Hennen ’17 served as a missionary from 2018–2021 in Zanzibar, Tanzania, serving an unreached people group in an Islamic region. He is currently fundraising to return for a second term.

Shepherd Randall Christenberry was born to Katie (Eckard) ‘17 Christenberry and Collin Christenberry ‘18 on May 10, 2022.

Alexander Bauer ’18 went home to be with the Lord in Mar. 2021 after a lifetime fighting Myotubular Myopathy (MTM). He had a fierce love for the Lord and brought many to Jesus. Despite expectations that he would not live even one year, he lived to age 27. He passed away at home with his family caring for him in South Dakota, as was his wish.

Rue Norman ‘19 is took as position as a Performing Apprentice at Children’s Theatre Center in Minneapolis, Minn. She was seen last in Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Something Happened in our Town, and Annie.

Amanda Vanderzee '15 and her husband Mark welcomed their third child, Zion Samuel, on December 14, 2021. Amanda also recently accepted a call to serve as Women’s Ministry Director for Bethel Church in Cedar Lake, Ind.

Beth (Oesterlin) '12 married Jordan Syverson on July 9, 2022.

2020s

Darren Halvorson ’20 and Abigail Halvorson were married on June 7, 2019 at Redeemed Farm in Scandia, Minnesota. They welcomed Asher Zion Halvorson on July 31, 2022.

Emma Blum ’21 successfully began her career as a nurse at University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital.

Hubert Ngabriano ’21 and Kathryn (von Edeskuty ’20) Ngabirano married on July 10, 2021.

IN CLOSING...

Like many of you, as a Northwestern alumnus, I attended class sessions that consistently began with prayer. I participated in daily chapel, although in hindsight, sometimes I wish I would have engaged—not just participated—in those offerings to a greater degree. At Northwestern, I met lifelong friends and, upon graduation, left campus with a community of Christian believers at my side.

As a UNW employee, I’ve watched waves of new students and their families move their belongings on campus each year as they begin their formal college journey. With each cycle comes new (or recycled) approaches to hairstyles and clothing, technology, and parent engagement. But no matter the trends, when the initial student welcome session begins, followed by the first chapel of the year, it all comes back to the same place: a community of faith that is rooted in scripture and open to what the Lord has in store for them.

You’ve read about Dr. Corbin Hoornbeek, who started as Northwestern’s ninth president in August after Dr. Alan Cureton served in the same role for more than 20 years. Just like presidents past, such as Drs. Berntsen, Ericksen, and all the way back to William Riley and Billy Graham, their commitment to the Scriptures and equipping the next generation of leaders in the home, church, community, and world has never wavered.

Whether you pursued a Bible certificate as a student at Northwestern Bible and Missionary Training School at the Loring Park campus, an Engineering degree at the University of Northwestern in suburban St. Paul, or earned an M.B.A. online, each generation of Northwestern has its own stories to share. And yet, God’s goodness and faithfulness remains a constant throughout.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:14–16 (NIV)

Northwestern, let your light shine! Soli Deo gloria.

GREG JOHNSON, Ph.D. ’05, M’09 Editor-in-Chief