2020 & 2021
GRADUATION Providence University College and Theological Seminary May 29th, 2021
Class of 2020 & 2021 | 1
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2020 & 2021
GRADUATION Providence University College and Theological Seminary May 29th, 2021
TO OUR GRADUATES, On behalf of the Board of Governors, President Johnson, the faculty and staff of Providence University College and Theological Seminary, I would like to congratulate each of you on your achievements. We celebrate you and acknowledge all your hard work and years of study. I think it is an understatement to say this has been a strange year. All of us, in our own ways and in our own places, have had to deal with circumstances, situations and limitations such as we have never faced before. We had hoped that this would be a year filled with students on campus and teaching face to face in classrooms. It turns out that that was not to be so. Many of you have spent your entire year staring through a camera lens into a virtual classroom. I want to begin by thanking you, our students, for the incredible level of faithfulness that you’ve shown over this past year in attending classes, interacting with your fellow students, completing assignments, and staying true to your vision and goals for your education. I want to say thank you to the faculty who over the last 18 months have had to reconfigure all their teaching just to make this graduation a possibility. A lot of that work has happened in the background. It has been done quietly in home offices in solitude. But it has been done with incredible faithfulness, skill, and creativity. I am grateful to them for that work.
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“I want to thank you, our students, for the incredible level of faithfulness that you’ve shown over this past year in attending classes, interacting with your fellow students, completing assignments, and staying true to your vision and goals for your education.”
I want to say thank you to the Student Life staff who made it possible for a small group of students who wished to live on campus to do so. It was challenging having to apply all the health orders and regulations relating to COVID-19. Again, I want to thank you for the grace, patience, and humility that you showed over this past year. This, of course, is not the graduation that you might have hoped for. It is certainly not the graduation that we wanted to plan. But God has been good to us. God has brought us safely this far. And for that, we will offer Him our thankfulness and worship for this graduation celebration.
Cameron McKenzie, MDiv Provost and Vice President Academic Providence University College and Theological Seminary
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ABOUT PROVIDENCE As a Christian academic community in the evangelical tradition, Providence teaches people to grow in knowledge and character for leadership and service. We are chartered by the province of Manitoba to offer bachelor, master and doctoral degrees. Institutions across Canada and the United States recognize these degrees for entry into post-baccalaureate and graduate studies programs. Many of our alumni make an impact as pastors, counsellors, pilots, healthcare workers, small business owners and teachers of English to speakers of other languages (etc.) in Canada and around the world.
OUR VALUES CHRIST FIRST: We value a personal and communal relationship with Christ that is based in scripture and touches every area of our lives. COMMUNITY: We support and strengthen one another in study and spirit, because we learn and grow better together. ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE: We hold all programs to rigorous academic standards. EXPLORATION: We recognize that faith is a journey. We encourage our students to explore and develop their faith perspective. DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT: We invite, encourage, and listen carefully to different voices and opinions, all in the service of strengthening and clarifying our faith.
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OUR CAMPUS Providence has existed since 1925 and moved to the 100-acre Otterburne campus in Fall 1970.
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY The Theological Seminary opened in 1972, offering graduate degrees to help meet Canada’s need for further, in-depth, evangelical ministry training.
HISTORY OF OUR NAME Our institution was renamed four times, and in 2011, the MB Legislature allowed our name to change to Providence University College and Theological Seminary.
OUR ALUMNI More than 10,000 Providence graduates are serving in churches, government, schools, businesses, hospitals, outreach centers, non-profits and humanitarian organizations.
IMPACT 2020 CAMPAIGN The Impact 2020 Campaign raised more than $14.7 million in Providence’s most ambitious and successful fundraising initiative to-date.
15TH PRESIDENT Dr. Kenton Anderson will succeed Dr. David Johnson in June 2021 as Providence’s 15th President.
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V I R T UA L G R A D UAT I O N E V E N T
ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS S AT U R D AY , M AY 2 9 , 2 0 1 9
Presiding - President David Johnson, PhD Invocation / Blessing and Welcome Cameron McKenzie, Provost and VP Academic Scripture and Introduction of Speaker Joan Franz, Chair of Board of Governors Graduation Address President David Johnson, PhD University College Valedictorian Address William Dueck, BA Conferral of University College Degrees Various Faculty Seminary Valedictorian Address Egon Sawatzky, MA Conferral of Seminary Degrees Various Faculty School Hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness” Howard Jolly, MDiv & Joel Jolly, BA Commissioning / Prayer of Dedication Dr. Stan Hamm, Seminary Dean Outro Congratulatory Messages from Faculty
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PROVIDENCE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DEGREES
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CONGRATULATIONS
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Sohyun Kim
Muhammad Ashraf
Bryce Klassen
Thomas Copland Jeffrey Dueck Jameslee Louis Hamza Waheed
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Morgan Krogstad Leighton Krogstad Karla Lane Seungho Lee Yein Lee Dylan Lind Naomi McMillan
Maksym Borodin
Donna Meikle
Keegan Braun
Scot Moir
Randolph Choez Lucas
Clark Nachtigall
Yeonjun Choi
Noble Okonkwo
Yujin Choi
Hyunjin Park
Alena Collier
Marigold Peters
Rebecca Desarmenien
Tyson Plett
Kyle Dueck
Amelia Reimer
William Dueck
Daehoon Seok
Jenna Enns
Celina Skorobohach
Kyla Fast
Kyle Smith
Laura Friesen
Jiyeon Song
Isaac Ginter
Shin Seok Song
Julia Goertzen
Rebekah Stevenson
Alexandra Grafe
Jay Thielmann
Carin Fernanda Hall Venzke
Bethani Toet
Orianna Hensersky
Hannah Van Schie
Crystal Heppner
Devin Vermette
Rianna Hodges
Bethany Visser
Ethan Hoekstra
Meagan Wiebe
Joshua Hoogerdijk
Madison Will
Ara Jo
Ryan Wirch
Daphne Kehler
Thokozani Zimba
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CLASS OF 2020 AND CLASS OF 2021!
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
BACHELOR OF THEOLOGY
Charisma Ginter
Ryan McMahon
Darby Holden Marissa Nociar Esther Ruchegeza
MASTER OF ARTS
Kaitlyn Warkentine
Sana Abdul Salam
Claire Yager
Ayanna Cooper Marcia Leite Hyang-mi Lim
BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Kaleena McGillivray
Pierce Dresser
Tamra Peters
Lindsey Dueck Cody Erickson Zachary Friesen Jonathan Fulford
Mee Hee Park Rene Schulz Cristiane Simari Teixeira De Lima Priscila Voloshyn Gillian Wiewel
Carlos Octavio Herrera Legaria Curtis Hofer Braeden Owen Jordan Peters Chantelle Reimer
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CONGRATULATIONS
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE AWARDS 2020 1st Year Class Award.....................................................................................................Emily Wiebe 2nd/3rd Year Class Award...................................................................................William Dueck A.B.H.E. Honor Society Delta Epsilon Chi............................................Charisma Ginter A.B.H.E. Honor Society Delta Epsilon Chi................................................ Julia Goertzen A.B.H.E. Honor Society Delta Epsilon Chi.........................................Morgan Krogstad Biblical Studies Award.................................................................................................Isaac Ginter Charles and Irene Christian Memorial Award............................................ Jenna Enns Chris Derksen Memorial Award.......................................................................Jeongah Park Clyde Krant Memorial Business Award.................................................Zachary Friesen Communications Award...................................................................................... Keegan Braun C.W. Hiebert Memorial Award for Graduate Studies............................Isaac Ginter H.H. Janson Memorial Award........................................................................ Ryan McMahon History Award....................................................................................................................... Sean Wake International Student Achievement Award...............................................Sohyun Kim Jesse F. Lynn Memorial Award......................................................................... Mee Hee Park Mary Hiebert Memorial Award for Humanitarian Service......... Keegan Braun Music Performance Award...................................................................................Jeongah Park R. Wesley Affleck Graduate Award...........................................................Charisma Ginter Sheil’s Memorial Award for Missions................................................................. Jenna Enns Social Sciences Award............................................................................................ Donna Meikle Stewart and Elizabeth Battram Scholarship Award..................Charisma Ginter Student Life Leadership Award......................................................................... Laura Friesen Student Life Leadership Award....................................................................Ethan Hoekstra Theatre Award.............................................................................................................. Julia Goertzen Valedictorian Award............................................................................................ Clark Nachtigall Youth Leadership Award........................................................................... Leighton Krogstad
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CLASS OF 2020 AND CLASS OF 2021!
2021 1st Year Class Award............................................................................................. Madison Franks 2nd/3rd Year Class Award.................................................................................Waedon Dueck A.B.H.E. Honor Society Delta Epsilon Chi................................................William Dueck A.B.H.E. Honor Society Delta Epsilon Chi....................................................... Jenna Enns A.B.H.E. Honor Society Delta Epsilon Chi.............................................Marigold Peters Biblical Studies Award........................................................................................Ethan Hoekstra Clyde Krant Memorial Business Award............................................................Kyle Dueck C.W. Hiebert Memorial Award for Graduate Studies..........Kaitlyn Warkentine George Sinderson Award for Field Education.................................Marigold Peters H.H. Janson Memorial Award.................................................................Joshua Hoogerdijk International Student Achievement Award............................................Yeonjun Choi Mary Hiebert Memorial Award for Humanitarian Service......Marigold Peters R. Wesley Affleck Graduate Award............................................................Marigold Peters Sheil’s Memorial Award for Missions................................................................. Jenna Enns Social Sciences Award..............................................................................Rebekah Stevenson Stewart and Elizabeth Battram Scholarship Award..............................Kyle Dueck Student Life Leadership Award.........................................................................Yeonjun Choi Student Life Leadership Award............................................................................ Curtis Hofer Valedictorian Award................................................................................................William Dueck
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PROVIDENCE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY DEGREES
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CONGRATULATIONS
MASTER OF ARTS Babatunde Adebayo Brenda Allen Monica Benitez Friesen Gillian Blomsma Rosie Boskoyous Juanita Burchby-Martin Heather Campbell Angela Chan Sylvia Chan Kelly Cochrane Isaac Daniel Cheryl Dirks Rhonda Dornn Dielle Driedger Adam Dyck Michael Fischer
Ridima Pinto Brad Robertson Lucienne Sawatzky Egon Sawatzky Friesen Timothy Schellenberg Alexandra Scivoletto Lu Lu Seng Ja Kari Siewert Nicole Steffens Amelia Tamlin Brent Thiessen Derek Van Dalen Kyrillos Younan SooJung Yun Pei Zhang Jenna Zhao
Alyssa Giesbrecht
MASTER OF DIVINITY
Lori Giesbrecht
Troy Dearborn
Marlowe Hiebert
Andrew Dyck
Ram Hmun
Sang Taek Jang
Youn Ho Jang
Philip Mantler
Darren Jones
Christopher Smith
Elizabeth Kahle
Brian Wiebe
Melissa Kroker Rolf Kruse Jacqueline Loates
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY
Daniel Lundy
Esther Boschmann
Sharayah Moroz
Walter Johnson
Stephen Neil
Michèle Keijzer
Sheryl Neville Cox
Agatha Ko
Marie Olson
John Telman
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CLASS OF 2020 AND CLASS OF 2021!
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY DISSERTATIONS Esther H. X. Boschmann: The Best Practices for Female Pastors and Ministry Leaders Navigating the Dangerous Complementarian and Egalitarian Waters. W. J. Edward Johnson: Jesus’ Questions and Imparting the Gospel. Michèle M. Keijzer: Spirit, Body, and Mind: A Christian Anxiety Workbook for the Whole Child. Agatha Ko: Creating a Christian Education Program for an Effective Children’s Ministry in a Small Chinese Church in Toronto. John William Telman: Examining Ethnic Inclusiveness in the Iowa Assemblies of God in Light of Scriptural Guidelines.
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CONGRATULATIONS
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AWARDS 2020 Dave Deschenes Counselling Award.......................................................................Tobi Jolly Expository Preaching Award (Clifford C. Dick)..............................Ruth Malinowski Joseph MacAulay Scholarship (Master of Arts)............................ Derek Van Dalen Joseph MacAulay Scholarship Award (Master of Divinity).......................................................................................... Christopher Smith Myrna Gordon Award........................................................................ Egon Sawatzky Friesen Oral Communication Award (Gertrude McCance).............................Victoria Miles Student Life Award................................................................................................. Brent Thiessen Student Life Award...............................................................................................Elizabeth Kahle Valedictorian Award.................................................................................................Troy Dearborn
2021 Biblical and Theological Studies Research Award....................... Sarah Barkman Dave Deschenes Counselling Award..............................................Jon Van Koughnett Expository Preaching Award (Clifford C. Dyck)......................................Barry Maurer Joseph MacAulay Scholarship Award (Master of Arts).....................Angela Chan Myrna Gordon Award........................................................................................... Dion Gingerich Oral Communications Award (Gertrude McCance).....................Kirsten Kroeker Student Life Award..................................................................................................... Shelley Burry Student Life Award............................................................................. Randell Toews Rempel Valedictorian Award........................................................................... Egon Sawatzky Friesen
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GRADUATION HONOUREES
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PRESIDENT DAVID JOHNSON, BSc, MTh, PhD Graduation Speaker
Dr. David Johnson was installed as Providence’s 14th President in 2013. He began his education at the University of Minnesota where he earned a Bachelor of Science. In 1980, he graduated with his Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Theological Studies in 1992 from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His history with Providence stems back to 1990 when he came to teach New Testament and Greek in the Seminary. Throughout his tenure, President Johnson held the positions of Professor, Dean of the Seminary, Provost, and now President. He has served Providence faithfully for more than 30 years, the last nine as President. During his time as President, Providence launched the Buller School of Business, started the Bachelor of Science degree program, built Muriel Taylor Hall, and completed the $14.5M Impact 2020 Campaign. President Johnson’s passion for the Gospel message and love for Christian higher education leave a lasting impact on this institution and will be remembered as he enters his retirement in June 2021. President Johnson and his wife Barb have three children and eight grandchildren. He enjoys reading, watching sports, gardening, travelling and spending time with his family.
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WILLIAM DUECK, BA University College Valedictorian
Wiliam Dueck (BA) came to Providence from his hometown of Carman, Manitoba. He originally attended the one-year Mile Two Discipleship Program in hopes of gaining a solid Christian foundation for his future education and career. He ended up enjoying the experience and decided to continue his education at Providence. He graduates with a degree in Social Sciences and a certificate in Biblical and Theological Studies. During his time at the University, he spent one year as a resident assistant (RA) and student leader, and then two years as a member of the men’s basketball team. He also volunteered and became a member of a variety of Student Council committees during his four years at Providence. In the Fall (2021), he is planning to enter the workforce to save money to pursue a Bachelor of Education degree and become a teacher. “Our time here as students has been filled with many ups and downs, and the rest of our life will be too. There will be times of celebration and times of struggle. In all times, I challenge you with the words of Paul the Apostle to commit whatever you do to God and to trust in Him fully. As Paul writes, ‘Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain’” (1 Corinthians 15:58). 22 | Providence Graduation
EGON SAWATZKY FRIESEN, MA Theological Seminary Valedictorian
Egon Sawatzky Friesen (MA) graduates from the two-year Master of Arts in Counselling degree program at Providence Seminary. Prior to coming to Providence, he finished a four-year Bachelor degree program at a Bible School in Asunción, Paraguay – his city of origin. Egon also participated in a one-year discipleship program in Switzerland and has pioneered a new discipleship program in his home conference, having pastored young adults in his home church for a period of time. With his degree in Counselling, Egon wants to help people in need, improving their mental health and spirituality, especially in areas of his home country where these services are rare and often inadequate. “The counselling program at Providence helped me grow spiritually, mentally and emotionally. These changes inspire me to be an agent of change wherever I am so that transformation may be multiplied. The Russian writer Leo Tolstoy once said, ‘Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.’”
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PROVIDENCE 10 College Crescent Otterburne, MB R0A 1G0 1-800-668-7768 PROV.CA
