Alumni BENIN LEE NEW WAU ALUMNI PRESIDENT

My first experience with Washington Adventist University, then known as Columbia Union College (CUC), was during an eighth-grade graduation trip organized by the principal, Dr. Iola Brown (Class of 1971). While touring the capital attractions, we made a stop over to see the college campus. Four years later, two students from that trip would decide to attend the college.

I attended Blue Mountain Academy and was part of the large 1986 CUC freshmen class recruited by Wayne Judd. The university granted me a four-year music scholarship, which helped me grow with the talented members of the band and brass choir.

Here, I witnessed the transformation of many lives, formed lifelong bonds and was made aware of combining my passion with my interests. Deans like Betty Howard, Joe Dent and others gave that extra encouragement in academic and leadership pursuits. This university and those I met here had an irreplaceable influence on my life. Here

WE NEED “UNITY OF PURPOSE”

Singspiration worship services on Friday night gave me an opportunity to worship and praise with other students and allowed me to meet my future wife on campus. The best thing is that my faith grew, and I learned to interpret the gospel as a BIG TENT where inclusion and grace are reflected.

My BIG TENT philosophy is the way I see the gospel: it is open to all, free, and it takes time to ensure that people are engaged. It is where you want to be because you are valued.

As Alumni President, my primary goal is to build bridges with all our alumni, staff, students and surrounding communities. We are part of a treasured and successful university at a time when we have the opportunity to transform the whole campus.

Washington Adventist University is the BIG TENT. It is in need of some repair, and as we repair it, we are making it bigger to accommodate everyone!

Alumni Goals

n To expand our alumni outreach to 6,000 participants and 1,000 friends of the university.

n To create a membership with benefits for our alumni staff, students and community.

is where my love of the sciences gave me many opportunities to explore. I worked in the hospital lab in microbiology as a phlebotomist and in the medical library. These hands-on experiences created even more job opportunities for me later on. The diversity of the students and the city allowed me to thrive and explore diverse cultures, attending events with my friends’ families, visiting several area churches and discovering Indian cuisine for the first time.

n To create a showcase to honor the professional successes of alumni, staff and students.

n To triple the percentage of alumni supporters to 9%.

In order to accomplish these goals we need “Unity of Purpose.” There are many ways to help. I’m asking that you support the school with your hearts and wallets to extend this excellent opportunity to more young people to accept the mission of service.

Praying believers who will pray for all those who are and will be influenced by this university ministry (Eph. 1:15-23).

Cheerleaders like Hur who will lift up the leaders and bare some of the burdens (Ex. 17:12-13).

Evangelists like Paul to travel write and share the word that Christian education at Washington Adventist University is life-changing (1 Cor. 9:19-23).