Like Mother, Like Daughter
A L L I S ON TA S H ’13
WHEN ALLISON TASH ’13 BEGAN THE PROCESS OF CHOOSING WHERE TO EMBARK ON HER COLLEGE CAREER, SHE WAS INITIALLY DETERMINED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE VANGUARD UNIVERSITY. This wasn’t because she had any
the student government association (SGA). She was SGA
misapprehensions about the school or
president this last year, an experience that she says plugged
the education it could provide her—on
her into the community of Vanguard in powerful ways. “It
the contrary, her mother, Catherine
was a fantastic opportunity to invest in Vanguard. It gave
(Turpin ’77) Tash, was a proud alumna who had made
me a chance to be involved with the vision and dreams of
lifelong friends at the college and was constantly extolling
the administration, as well as letting me hear the incredible
the virtues of Vanguard. Allison instead wanted to strike out
stories of so many other people.”
on her own, and while she valued her mother’s experience, she also felt it necessary to fashion for herself a completely unique journey.
Allison also credits Vanguard with equipping her to love Jesus even more. “In addition to a great liberal arts education, I gained a solid foundation for my faith,” she
One visit to the campus, however, and Vanguard’s beautiful
says. In the department of religion, Allison cultivated her
grounds and warm community reeled her in. “I decided
passion for ministry, and she will employ this passion in
to take a tour,” says Allison, “and I fell in love with it
her plans to establish a church in Portland, Oregon. She
immediately. I knew I was supposed to be here.” Her
and three of her close friends will spend the next year in a
choice was affirmed by the largesse of Vanguard’s financial
church-planting residency in preparation for fulfilling that
aid department; Allison received a number of scholarships
dream.
for her academic excellence. Naturally, her mother was overjoyed. It’s a decision that Allison hasn’t regretted for even a moment. By the time she graduated this year with her religion degree, Allison had been involved in the theatre department, Women’s Chorus, as the student representative on the presidential search committee, and most prominently,
The love of Vanguard that Allison’s mother initially shared with her was returned in abundance at Allison’s graduation party this spring. In addition to her own friends, Allison also invited all of her mother’s friends from Vanguard. The result was a party that celebrated not just Allison’s achievement, but also the legacy of her family and the friends they made in the singular community of Vanguard University.
I N V E S T I N G I N VA N G U A R D .
ALLISON WITH HER FATHER, GARY, AND MOTHER, CATHERINE
ISSUE 5 / SUMMER 2013
WE CELEBRATED WITH OVER 500 GRADUATING VANGUARD UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AT THIS YEAR’S
EQUIPPED FOR THEIR NEXT CHAPTER
COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES.
On May 10, 2013, Vanguard University held its annual commencement ceremonies, honoring the hard work of 530 students. The event officially marked the point at which graduates will apply the experience of their education – and the Christ-centered development of their emotional and academic maturity encompassed therein—to known and unknown adventures. The following three graduates represent just a small number of the many students empowered by their time at Vanguard.
As we welcome this newest class to the alumni community, I reflect on the ways God uses this University for building His kingdom. The years that students spend on this campus and the networks that go with them following graduation are part of a story God is writing in each of their lives. It is a story of Spirit-empowered lives of Christcentered leadership and service. Because of your generosity and support, there is space and resources for those stories to be written. Thanks to you, we continue to
REBEKAH KILLAM (PICTURED ABOVE RIGHT)
organizations, Vanguard grounded him in his faith, setting him
Rebekah Killam ’13 began her time at Vanguard with the
free from the concerns that can dominate individuals in the
intention of pursuing a career in broadcast journalism, but the
attract outstanding professor-mentors, improve facilities, and provide much needed
required film classes in her communication major diverted her
scholarships. Please join me in prayer for these graduates as new doors open for
passion and opened up a new world of creative possibilities.
them in business, ministry, postgraduate degrees, and community life.
Work on student films interested her in the specific area of production design. In that discipline, Rebekah found an ideal
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and challenging mix of design and collaboration. She took
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business world. “I loved my internship, and learned so much,” he says of his experience working with a wealth management firm. “But I also saw how money can rule over people’s hearts. And I saw how I can be the light of Christ even there.” JORI SMITH
as many design classes as she could in the Department of
Jori Smith’s ’13 emphasis as a cultural anthropology major
Communication and the Department of Theatre Arts, hungry
was in Asian studies, and she’ll be taking her education in
for experiences that would give her practical knowledge. “As
that field directly to Asia. This summer she will volunteer at kids
soon as Professor Sue Berkompas knew I was interested in
camps in South Korea, teaching English as a Second Language
production design,” says Rebekah, “she went out of her way
(ESL), and allowing God to use her to reach the people there.
and found specific crew assignments that would prepare me for
She first became involved with teaching ESL in high school,
the graduate level and a professional career.” Rebekah’s hard
and found that when she got to Vanguard, the school grew and
work and Vanguard’s creative opportunities have paid off; in the
nurtured her interest. She is particularly grateful for the way the
fall, she will begin classes in the graduate program at Chapman
Department of Anthropology was tailored to her specific goals.
University’s prestigious Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.
“One of my favorite classes was called Applied Anthropology,” she says. “The whole purpose of the class was to show us how
CLINTON MUNOZ
our major could be applicable to exactly what we wanted to do
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As a business major planning to go into the field of wealth
in our careers. It also showed us that we were capable of doing
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aware of the potential pitfalls of the trade, which is why
management and beyond, Clinton Munoz ’13 is wellhe is so grateful to have attended a university with such a strong Christian mission. In addition to a practical education that prepared him for internships with high-level financial
so much more than we first thought!” To invest in the lives of Vanguard students visit give.vanguard.edu or donate via the VU mobile app for iPhone or Android.