Messenger
Northwest Nazarene University
Winter 2023
Vol. 111, Num. 1
messenger | winter 2023
What’s In A Name?
Cover Photo by: Abby Knight, Class of ‘23
opening thoughts
We all have a name. In fact, we all have names. Some of us have two: first and last. Some have three: first, middle and last. Others may have four or five names. Whether it’s two, three, or more, each of the names within our name carries meaning and purpose. The ways our individual names are used in various combinations also has significance. As a child I knew that when my mom used my first and middle names in combination, it was not an invitation to a friendly conversation and I needed to proceed with caution. On the rare occasion that she used all three of my names, things were about to go nuclear and I needed to “duck and cover.” Names carry clues about our family story and suggest connections and relationships. Names point to our roots and our heritage. Names identify us. We’re usually known by our first and last names but commonly referred to by just our first name. Last names identify us with our family of origin, but in reality extend further. They tie us to a larger group or category who also share the same last name but don’t necessarily have a direct familial connection. Middle names often give clues to an obvious, or sometimes obscure, familial connection. My wife’s middle name is Audrey and those familiar with her family of origin quickly connect that name to her maternal grandmother. One of our grandsons carries the middle name of his great- great-grandfather. This clue, although obscure to the casual observer, points to a familial connection in a more refined way than just his last name. In both cases those middle names point to a connection to a certain tribe within a larger group. First names are more personal and may be completely unique to the individual within the family. I am the only person named Mark within our tribe, but it’s doubtful that I am the only Mark Cork within the larger Cork grouping. I assume your personal experience is similar. Northwest Nazarene University, like many people, also has three names. However, unlike people who are typically referred to by their first name or perhaps first and last, we use all three of our names. Or, in the tradition of academia, our three initials: NNU. Each of the three is essential to who we are and each tells part of our story. Our last name, University, identifies what we are first and foremost by associating us with the group or category we’re part of. By using the categorical term “university,” people have a high level understanding of what we are. The group we’re a part of. We are a university and as such we share commonalities with other institutions of higher education. But, university by itself is insufficient as an identifier. Our first name, Northwest, is narrower and more personal and provides people with an understanding of our location within the larger context. In our case the Northwest region of the United States. While it’s more personal it’s too common to stand on its own as an identifier. It connects us to a region but not much more. Our middle name, Nazarene, begins to zero in on our identity by connecting us to both the Christian tribe, and the more specific Nazarene tribe. This is an important identifier declaring that NNU is centered in Jesus Christ. It’s true that just because Nazarene is our middle name doesn’t mean it has to be everyone’s middle name. However, we believe it’s significant that the center of our focus and our “tribal connections” are represented in our middle name. Northwest Nazarene University: Centered in Jesus Christ.
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Mark B. Cork AVP Marketing & Communications
The Long Road Page 10 Dr. Catherine Becker’s journey to Christian higher education.
Living into god’s story Page 6 Why Christian Theology as a general education requirement is vital.
Uniquely Transformative in Thought & Deed Page 14 Two NNU alumni reflect on their transformation stories.
President \\ Joel K. Pearsall, ’80 V.P. for External relations \\ Mark Wheeler, ’94 A.V.P. for Marketing & Communications \\ Mark Cork Director of Alumni Relations \\ Darl Bruner, ’76 Managing Editor \\ Kendra Lubiens, ’96 Editorial Assistant \\ Carolyn St. Mary, ’05 Photographers \\ David Kohagan, ’20; Abby Knight, ‘23 Designer \\ David Kohagan, ’20 Contact Information \\ The Messenger 623 S. University Blvd. Nampa, Idaho 83686-5897 208.467.8021 \\ messenger@nnu.edu Main Number \\ 208.467.8011 Office of Admissions \\ 208.467.8000 Office of Alumni Relations \\ 208.467.8841 Office of University Advancement \\ 208.467.8423 www.nnu.edu www.facebook.com/northwestnazarene www.instagram.com/nwnazarene The Messenger is published biannually by the Office of Marketing & Communications at Northwest Nazarene University. Postmaster, send address changes to The Messenger, c/o Northwest Nazarene University, 623 S. University Boulevard, Nampa, ID 83686-5897.
Viola’s Story \\ 18 Spring Calendar \\ 19 Alumni News \\ 22 On Campus \\ 26 Athletic Feature \\ 28 Athletics highlights \\ 33 Profiles \\ 36 Meet this issue’s featured faculty, staff and students.
Aaron Murphy, New Student Orientation
Dr. Scott Daniels, Theology & Christian Ministries
Living Into God’s Story
Why a Theology Course Might Make All the Difference
By Dr. Scott Daniels
I’m in my 30th year of getting to teach Christian theology to general education students at NNU or other Christian universities. I love all my classes, but teaching Intro to Theology to a room full of diverse students from multiple majors and backgrounds is still my favorite course to teach. Why, when there are so many different classes and requirements to try to squeeze into a four-year education, are courses on theology, biblical literature and the Christian life so important? I start every new semester of theology with the same quote from the Christian ethicist Alasdair MacIntyre, out of his classic book After Virtue. MacIntyre writes, “I can only answer the question ‘What am I to do?’ if I can answer the prior question, ‘Of what story or stories do I find myself a part?’” That famous quote is meaningful to me for two reasons. First, it recognizes that we understand and interpret our lives in storied ways. We can’t help it. How we answer big questions like - How did the world get here? What does it mean to be human? What does the good life look like? Does life have meaning? Where is history headed? – are answered by us in ideas that are shaped like stories. That doesn’t mean those stories are made up or self-created, but it does mean that we, by nature, put things in sequential and connected order the way the plot of a great story progresses. The second implication of MacIntyre’s quote is that the stories we believe to be most true will shape the way we live. They can’t help but do that. Let me give you a couple of examples. In theology class, we often reflect on how the creation story in the Bible relates to the creation stories that were circulating in other cultures during the time of ancient Israel. What stories did people like the ancient Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians tell? Generally, I would lump their creation stories into a couple of categories. Some of their creation stories were about how the gods formed or made humans to be their slaves or workers. Others told stories about how the gods made humans to be warriors. It shouldn’t surprise us that cultures telling those origin stories also turned out to be both oppressive and violent. The biblical creation story is very different. Genesis reveals that humans were not created to be God’s slaves or soldiers; rather, humans were created in God’s image to live in a relationship of holy love and mutual responsibility with God and with one another. Therefore, according to the Christian story, we are most human, not when we are fighting or oppressing the vulnerable, but when we are living lives of holy love toward the Creator, toward one another and toward the creation. As another example, how people think the story ends also matters. If a person’s story is that the world began with a fortunate accident and will end with an unfortunate one, it is likely that they will live only for today and devote themselves to accumulating all the wealth and sensual experiences they can because you only live once; so eat, drink and be merry. If a person’s story is that the world is going to get darker and darker until Jesus can come and rescue his people out of the mess, then it is likely that this person will find a safe place to hide from the world and await the fireworks. But if a person’s story is that the Spirit of Christ is at work in the world redeeming all things until Christ returns to the world God loves and called “good,” the new Jerusalem descends from heaven to earth, and the new creation breaks in to heal the old, then there’s a good chance they will live courageously in the world for Christ bringing the divine light into dark places. One last insight into MacIntyre’s quote. He recognizes that there are multiple stories not only in the world but perhaps even in ourselves, and those stories compete for our allegiance and devotion. Whether the students in a theology course recognize it or not, there are many different stories (idolatries) inviting them to give their life away. Here are just a few of the most popular stories: The wealth story tells us that whoever dies with the most toys wins, and a person’s worth is equal to the size of their bank account. The sensuality story bluffs us into believing that life is primarily found in forms of physical pleasure and that our worth is connected to how attractive others find us. The nation or culture story convinces us that our ethnic, familial or cultural identity is the place where our ultimate purpose is found. There is also what I call the “no-story” story. This is a sad and nihilistic story about how life has no meaning or purpose other than what a person chooses to create and then hopes others accept. I could name a dozen more. So, back to the question, why should students in a university full of other important courses and subjects be required to wrestle with Scripture and theology? And why do I get so much joy out of teaching them those truths? Because ultimately, living a truthful story matters more than anything else. And the story of Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. I also believe having the chance to tell that story thoughtfully, carefully and passionately in all its complexities and mysteries matters. After opening the semester with the quote from MacIntyre, I tell students two things. First, your great temptation in life will be to try to live more than one story. You’ll try to combine Christ’s story with another. That won’t work for long. You can’t serve two masters. Second, you don’t get out of having a story. So, as you grow, mature and develop vocationally, if you choose not to live into the story Jesus offers, at least be honest about the story you have chosen. What’s so special and unique about NNU is that we get the chance to tell the great and truthful story of God and invite people headed toward all kinds of careers and professions to discover how to live meaningfully and joyfully because they have come to trust the divine story of which they are a part.
FEATURE
I can only answer the question if I can answer the prior question,
‘Of what story or stories do I find myself a part?’
After Virtue, 1981
‘What am I to do?’
Alasdair MacIntyre
Dr. Scott Daniels, second from the left, “Rejoice” Summer Travel Group, 1986
Living a truthful story matters more than anything else. And the story of Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.”
feature
A Journey to Christian Higher Ed
The Long Road
Nazarene higher education is part of my heritage. My grandparents graduated from Point Loma, and my parents, aunts and uncles graduated from Northwest Nazarene University. Both my parents worked for NNU when I was a kid. I basically grew up on campus. I attended athletic events, participated in sports camps and worked various summer jobs. When I began considering colleges in 2004, my sister was a homecoming princess in her junior year as an English major at NNU. Despite this legacy, attending NNU held little appeal for me. It was too familiar. I wanted something different for my life. When I considered colleges, NNU was not high on my list of options. At the time, what I could not articulate was that I struggled with faith. A few years before my senior year of high school, a bad experience with our family church left me bitter and angry toward God and organized religion. Christian higher education was too closely linked to painful memories. I thought attending a state school would provide literal and figurative distance from my past. Also contributing to my college choice was the fact that I was a gymnast and competitive cheerleader. I had been on nationally-ranked teams and was told I could make a division-one college team. I wanted to fulfill my potential as an athlete, so I applied to several large state schools in the west. One was the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In April of my senior year, I attended the UNLV cheerleading tryouts and was thrilled to make the first cut and the second. At the end of tryout week, I had achieved my goal—I made the co-ed cheerleading team as a first-year student. I was excited to participate in the athletic program. The basketball team, in particular, had a storied history, and after my high school graduation, I spent the summer imagining the electric atmosphere during basketball season. In mid-August, I showed up for training camp. It was not long before I recognized the only warm part of the experience was the 120-degree weather. My imaginary big-school experience was a mirage, nothing more than the fancy of a young idealist. I had a terrible experience with my roommate; the coach was intense, the team lacked cohesion and the campus was cold and impersonal. I had one friend. In short, I was desperately alone. It was in this time of desolation that the Lord found me. I felt the Holy Spirit urging me to release the image of myself as a college athlete. It was devastatingly difficult. Because I was angry with the Church and with God, my only discernible identity was wrapped up in athletics. I didn’t know who I was otherwise. However, the Spirit was insistent, inviting me into a relationship and telling me it was time to move on. At that point, I began to consider NNU. I knew I was in deep need of the community NNU offered. The Lord started to demonstrate how badly I needed spiritual guidance. So, I applied to NNU and arrived as a transfer student shortly afterward. It wasn’t long before I recognized the transformative nature of NNU. The liberal arts taught me what it meant to be an educated Christian person. In the classroom, I was shown Christ in ways I hadn’t experienced before. My professors held me to high standards and encouraged my intellectual potential. Through this experience, I realized that I was gifted in more than athletics. In particular, I noticed a difference in how literary texts were treated in Christian higher education. At NNU, works like Beowulf and The Pilgrim’s Progress were deeply enriched by the perspective of Christian professors. Studying the Great Awakening in history classes revealed fascinating links to my Nazarene heritage. At UNLV, Christian themes in early American and British texts were tolerated and, at times, disdained. The professors at NNU honored the Christian nature of the texts, explaining how reformation theology impacted authors like John Milton and the Great Awakening shaped the American evangelical ethos. In addition, as a part of the liberal arts core, I learned about classical philosophy, rhetoric and biblical interpretation. I joined the University’s choir and became close friends with other choir members. I grew closer to the Lord and began considering whether I was being called to a career in academia. My identity became richer than I imagined as a high school senior. I was more than an athlete. I recognized that I was made in the image of God, called to a life of Christian service. I graduated from NNU in 2009 with a degree in English and a minor in history. When I was offered a position on campus four years later, I quickly accepted the job. I didn’t know what the Lord had planned for me at the time, but I knew I was supposed to be at NNU. In the ten years I have worked at NNU, I completed an MA and Ph.D. in English and joined the faculty. I know that the Lord led me here, and I am humbled to have an opportunity to contribute to the transformative power of Christian higher education in the lives of my students.
By Dr. Catherine Becker
Dr. Catherine Becker, Associate Professor of Language & Literature
At NNU, works like Beowulf and The Pilgrim’s Progress were deeply enriched by the perspective of Christian professors.
Catherine Becker, bottom right, NNU Cheerleaders, 2019
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Uniquely Transformative in Thought & Deed
Franklin Cook, 1955
There are many facets of Christian higher education, and at NNU, nuances of faith and learning play out in the classroom, in chapel and in the dining and residence halls. NNU’s beauty is in its various shades of experience—worldview shaping; faculty and staff with integrity and kindness; safety to explore thought and belief; a warm place of compassion, community and belonging. NNU is unique in its steadfastness to a foundation built on Jesus Christ and over a century of tradition and excellence. As evidenced in the testimony of two alumni, Franklin Cook and Bre Sheldon, NNU is uniquely transformative as students are challenged in their thinking or offered a place of reprieve.
A Reflection on Landscape
Graduation itself may have been anticlimactic, but NNC was where I began to learn how to think. It started in my philosophy class with Francis Reeves. Before that class, I never gave much thought to why I thought or what I thought. I just thought. But Reeves pushed us again and again to analyze, to consider options, to think about other ways of thinking about what we assumed was true. This was a new exercise for most of us; actually, for all of us. Although I had been raised in India, a culture vastly different from the U.S., I had no way of predicting that for most of my life I would also work in other cultures. I understood how to get inside a person’s head and values because I had learned to think—thanks to what I learned at NNC. Never assume what you hear is true until it is in sync with what you already know is true. Run your theory through the funnel of reality as you know it. Only in looking back did I understand that my education was divided into two parts. First was what I learned in class: from professors, in lectures, in books, reading from others. Some of this was how I learned to pass tests, to pass classes, to graduate. Which was, after all, the main point. Second was what I learned when I did not know I was learning. Only years later, in my jobs, looking back, making decisions, would my mind float back through the years and connect the dots with something I had learned at NNC. What you learn in class is important. What you learn out of class may be more important. It is your landscape and you need to see it, try to understand it. You must also remember there are actually two landscapes. There is the one you see with your eyes. There is also the one you see with your mind, your dreams and hopes and goals and objectives. Those too are part of your landscape. NNC gave me an intellectual framework for my values and beliefs. It is all well and good to believe this or that, or to feel this or that, but at the end of the day, you need some kind of a framework to hang your beliefs on. It needs to make sense. And the same goes for values. You believe in honesty? Why? And what is honesty? You believe in truth? What is truth? Whose truth? You believe in transparency? How do you define it? You believe in integrity? How do you judge it? Think about it. If you are a hungry refugee in Somalia who has known only terror and war, what is your view of truth? If you are a 21-year-old guy in Damascus, Syria—not in school but with an AK-47 in your hands—how do you view integrity and honesty? If you are a girl, kidnapped and locked in a house in Cleveland and raped over and over for 10 years, what is your view of transparency? Think about it. I have always wanted to know how to get from Point A to Point B. But God doesn’t give us the ability to see the end game. So we have to look for markers along the way, taking steps one at a time with only an occasional “leap of faith.” I believe my years at NNC put some of those markers in place. Gave me some important steps to take along the journey. And what undergirded those was a value system inside an intellectual framework. This became part of my landscape.
History & Philosophy & Ph.D. in Missiology Franklin served the Church of the Nazarene as pastor, writer, administrator, professor and missions strategist, and was Regional Director for Eurasia from 1989-2004.
*Adapted from “Tadpole: An Enigmatic Life” by R Franklin Cook with Jacquelyn Cork. Used with Permission.
Dr. Franklin Cook, Class of 1955
Franklin Cook, top right, Senior Class Officers, 1955
Regarding Change
Bre Sheldon, 2018
Communication & Public Relations Bre is currently the Communication Director at Midtown Church in Boise, Idaho.
FEATURE cont.
I will never forget my friends’ faces when I told them I was moving to Idaho. “Where even is Idaho?!” they asked. Not only that, they wondered why I would leave the sunny, sandy and beautiful central coast of California for a rural state I had barely heard of that definitely had a winter season. It was a valid question. Growing up in California, I didn’t even know what “Nazarene” meant. And I definitely didn’t know there was a denomination identified by the name. My childhood was spent in the California mountains surrounded by a family that simply couldn’t be defined without Jesus. Jesus was who we prayed to, looked to for guidance and whose presence we felt in the conversations we shared around our warped wooden dinner table. I was raised to love and follow Jesus, but I didn’t ever consider attending a Christian university. Sure, college was always my plan, but I had my hopes set on the central coast. I think my visions of attending Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, stemmed from the same reason many students choose NNU. My mom was a student-athlete on campus and my grandfather was an English professor there for many years before I was born. It was in my blood; its green and gold school spirit practically coursed through my veins. And so, in the fall of 2013, I took my first steps on campus alongside approximately 20,000 other undergraduate students who already called Cal Poly home. As I look back, Cal Poly truly changed my life. It was a large campus with great diversity of thought, rigorous classes and hundreds of events meant to broaden my thinking and immerse me in the greater community. I had the opportunity to push back and to disagree. Not only was it a space to grow my intellect but also my leadership and interpersonal skills. For two years, I was a Resident Advisor for on-campus apartments that housed around 1,000 students, and through that experience gained friends from different countries, religious backgrounds and walks of life. And while there was a considerable Christian representation on campus, Cal Poly opened my mind to a world without Jesus as its compass. It was instrumental in my development of self and offered a judgment-free space to figure out who I was and what I believed. Cal Poly helped me realize that if we never question our beliefs, are they ever truly ours? After three incredible years, I decided to transfer. While I had countless memories of campus fun and late-night trips to the beach (a whopping 7-minute drive away), I was also coping with losing my dad to stage four lung cancer. My entire life, my dad was my best friend; he was a beautiful depiction of what a follower of Jesus should be. Unfortunately, cancer does not care about the state of a person’s heart—it is too intently focused on stopping its rhythm. When I lost my dad, I knew I could no longer stay at Cal Poly surrounded by all the memories; I needed time to heal. And NNU opened her loving arms at just the right time, coaxing me to a place of rest and recovery. So yes, I was a transfer student. And I didn’t choose Christian higher ed until halfway through college. But after over six months of prayer, my mom and I agreed that NNU was where I was supposed to be. And if I am honest, I don’t know that I really did choose NNU. As silly as this might sound, I like to think the campus beckoned me. She was magnetic—drawing me in like a tattered childhood blanket and a warm cup of cocoa after a long walk in the rain. And she made quite the first impression. I remember visiting one weekend in early February to see what this Boise (pronounced boy-see) place was all about. I was instantly enamored with the beauty silently reverberating off the old brick buildings. I felt like I had gone back in time—and as if I had found the place where I belonged. That is why I chose Christian higher education and, more specifically, NNU. From its band of welcoming students and professors that are the lifeblood of campus to its unyielding peace amidst the seasons of change, NNU is a place that pulls people in and becomes exactly what they need for that season. NNU is where I met my husband (and believe me, I was not hoping that would happen); it’s where I found my best friend. It gave me professors who are still mentors and peers, and it was a soft landing when I needed it most—a place to protect me as I healed and grew. My time at Cal Poly was incredibly impactful, but it didn’t fully transform me from the inside out. For me, NNU was the great role model, pushing me ever closer to becoming more like Jesus. I needed her community, her guidance, and her warmth…even if I didn’t fully realize it until I no longer walked through her seasoned halls. Without a doubt, I am better because of the time I spent on NNU’s campus and the people it brought into my life. And while Christian higher education is a good option for some people, NNU—with its deeply rooted love for Christ, transformation and community—is a great option for many. It absolutely was for me.
Bre Sheldon, top middle, Brick House party, 2017
Bre Sheldon, Class of 2018
By: Viola Nhapi, Ph.D.
My name is Viola. I am a woman of African descent. I am currently a doctoral student at Northwest Nazarene University, a higher education Wesleyan Christian institution. I am grateful for the opportunity to attend a Christian university. Choosing to go to NNU was a great decision. After I completed my bachelor’s degree, I started seeking opportunities to pursue my career with God’s guidance. I wanted to do so at an institution that integrates my passions and my faith and would give guidance to professionals/students who are not only seeking their passions but seeking passion with purpose to offer their fruits to the Treasure Valley and beyond. I learned that NNU is an institution that helps professionals integrate their faith in Christ into my career to ensure the best patient care and service provision. When I began my search for a graduate institution that would foster my needs and provide me with the best education, I found that NNU had a unique way of standing out. I was attracted to the Doctor of Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) program chaired by Dr. List. Like many other undergraduate and graduate programs, the Psy.D. program has a wonderful community. I chose NNU for its sense of community, challenging education and support. The Psy.D. program is run by truly dedicated professionals who, from the day I started enquiring to date, have demonstrated nothing but kindness, timelines and a desire to propel students to become the next generation of leaders. NNU offers services in such a timely manner it exceeded my expectations. I have enjoyed the great warmth that comes with being at NNU. Members of NNU value living together as a community, and I am surrounded by students that seek and are eager to work together. This allows and encourages me to be more curious and make more connections; to ask questions. This can only make the educational experience enriching and engaging. The values a Christian institution has are very useful for professionals learning the ethics of holding themselves to a standard of care. I am looking forward to being transformed over the time I have here, to be a passionate, purposeful professional exemplary when I get done. NNU has the most giving and supportive staff. They ensure that students are cared for and supported in their quest for education. The faculty members are engaging with an amazing work ethic. The Psy.D. program has a licensed and practicing neuropsychologist, clinical psychologist and psycho-pharmacologists. Being a young woman from a different situation in my village, I am inspired by the work ethic displayed by my female teachers. One of the main reasons I chose NNU was that I wanted to learn from the best professionals. I wanted to change the narrative of my life as a young woman who has come this far only by God’s grace. Given where I am coming from, my lack of resources and my inability to afford education, this was a difficult decision to make. I am grateful I am at getting transformative education in a supportive and God-fearing community. I still have moments of anxiety about being at NNU because of tuition and other costs. I often remind myself of the positive side of attending; that this is where my niche is and that God watches over me all the time.
Viola Nhapi is a refugee from Zimbabwe who enrolled in NNU’s Doctor of Clinical Psychology program in August 2022. She is excited to integrate her faith with her career to provide the best patient care she can as she lives out NNU’s mission to be God’s creative and redemptive agent in the world.
The values a Christian institution has are very useful for professionals learning the ethics of holding themselves to a standard of care.
Integrating Christ in Higher Education
March 16-19
Commencement
Scholarship Luncheon
May 5
Nazarene Youth Conference
Board of Trustees
Baccalaureate
Spring Musical: The Sound of Music
General Assembly
May 5-6
august 26
New Student Orientation
july 5-9
To stay up to date on all things music and theatre, visit nnu.edu/music.
april 23
Foundation Board
Golden Grad Weekend
Great Hymns of Our Faith
Spring Break
March 8-10
Spring Calendar Events
March 27-31
Don’t miss a single opportunity to cheer on your Nighthawks! Keep track of games at nnusports.com.
june 9-16
May 6
april 13
Tru Allen shoots a contested layup to close out the first half of the men’s Homecoming basketball game.
Alumni Mitch Burnel and Justin Quinn finishing the Homecoming 5k.
Getting up close and personal with the Creepy Crawlies at Homecoming.
GOING TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY? MEET US THERE! ALUMNI & FRIENDS LUNCHEON: Sunday, June 11, 12:00 p.m. at the Indiana Convention Center. Be watching your email and nnu.edu for more information and how to purchase tickets.
Alumni News Catch up on classmate updates and accomplishments
Alumni News
In Memory Michael Archibald -09- on October 15, 2022 in Wewahitchka, Florida Leslie Back -80- on June 22, 2022 in Sublimity, Oregon Marvin Bloomquist -53- on December 7, 2022 in Nampa, Idaho Diane Bolles -68- on January 16, 2022 in Nampa, Idaho Wendell Bowes -67- on February 4, 2023 in Nampa, Idaho Dorothy Farrand -51- on November 18, 2022 in Pinedale, Wyoming Lynda Fitzsimons -61- on November 13, 2022 in Salem, Oregon Mary Hempel (43) on September 2, 2022 in Meridian, Idaho Double E. Hill -48- on July 26, 2022 in Nampa, Idaho Helen Hill -Friend of NNU- on December 7, 2022 in Nampa, Idaho Barbara Hull -60- on January 11, 2022 in Nampa, Idaho Darlene Imel -74- on September 24, 2022 in Boise, Idaho Burke Jones -76- on February 5, 2022 in Boise, Idaho Eleanor Piehl (41) on January 4, 2023 in Bismarck, North Dakota Leon Powers -64- on July 20, 2022 in Nampa, Idaho John Pryor -68- on September 5, 2022 in Mobile, Alabama Josh Rast -12- on October 6, 2022 in Bozeman, Montana Janis Woolbright -80- on January 6, 2023 in Woodland, Idaho Loyd Smith -52- on October 19, 2022 in Pueblo, Colorado Marvin Stallcop -65- on October 9, 2022 in Nampa, Idaho Jerry Wilson -63- on September 18, 2022 in Pasco, Washington Robert Woodward -51- on December 11, 2022 in Boise, Idaho Steven Woolery -91- on June 28, 2022 in Lake Tapps, Washington Dan Yancey -66- on September 7, 2022 in Nampa, Idaho Janice Rooklidge (57) on January 11, 2023 in Bountiful, Utah Accomplishments Graduate of NNU’s MBA Business Administration program, Kate Fowler -12- has recently been named fourth chief financial officer (CFO) for St. Luke’s Health System. She views her work as a calling to serve: “I feel compelled to help, to do what I can to help further our mission to ensure Idahoans have top-notch care when they need it, where they need it and at a cost that is affordable.” We are proud to have been a part of Kate’s journey; congratulations from the NNU family! Congratulations to Erica Clemens -15- on her recent promotion to Program Director for Mental Health Services at West Valley Medical Center. Erica earned her master’s degree in Social Work from NNU in 2015. Congratulations to Dr. Rupak Gandhi -19- for this accomplishment! Rupak got his doctorate in Educational Leadership from NNU in 2019. Fun fact, his wife Britney also received her doctorate in Educational Leadership from NNU at the same time. What a duo! Congratulations to English Education alum Allen Johnson -68- on the publication of his sixth novel, Athena’s Piano. Upcoming Alumni Events COMMENCEMENT & GOLDEN GRAD WEEKEND: May 5 - 6 NNU ALUMNI & FRIENDS LUNCHEON AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY: June 11 NNU ALUMNI & FRIENDS EVENT IN SAN DIEGO: July 7 NNU AT NAZARENE YOUTH CONFERENCE (NYC): July 5 - 9 NNU AT THE SEATTLE MARINERS: August 25 & September 29 Don’t miss a single event! Sign up for the alumni newsletter at nnu.edu/alumni.
Dr. Marvin R. Bloomquist
Double E. Hill, founder and director of NNC’s choral ensemble Northwesterners, and his wife and lifetime partner Helen Louise (Robertson) Hill, passed away in July and December 2022 respectively. The two met at Bethany Peniel College (now Southern Nazarene University) in Bethany, Oklahoma, and married in 1946 in Newton, Kansas. Dr. Hill’s undergraduate studies were done at Southern Nazarene University, Bethany, Oklahoma, the Guildhall School of Music, London, England, and Northwest Nazarene University, Nampa, Idaho. He graduated from NNU with a Bachelor of Music in 1948. He also did graduate studies at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Idaho where he received a Master of Music in Music History in 1954 and a Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology from the University of Illinois in 1962. He served three years in the U.S. Army in the 99th Infantry Division (Germany and Belgium) and was awarded three battle stars (Battle of the Bulge, Remagen Bridgehead and the Ruhr Pocket). Dr. Hill was on the faculty of NNU for 38 years (1948-86) where he was a professor of music history and literature, music and art, church music, founder and director of the choral ensemble Northwesterners for twenty-seven years. He served as Chairman of the Division of Fine Arts (1954-86) and Head of the Music Department (1954-1980) and was elected to NNU’s Faculty Emeriti in 1986. Helen graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1945 and worked for a year at Braniff Airways in Wichita, Kansas, until Double E. was discharged from military service after World War II. As Double E. was finishing college and graduate school, Helen worked at First National Bank in Bethany, Oklahoma, Idaho First National Bank in Nampa, Idaho, and the University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois. She was employed at Northwest Nazarene College (now University) for 26 years where she served as executive secretary for three of NNU’s presidents and partnered with her husband as he served on the faculty. Helen accompanied Double E. on ten overseas mission tours with the Northwesterners to Europe, the South Pacific, South Africa and South America, and participated actively in campus life. She especially enjoyed interacting with the students, often entertaining them in their home.
November 5, 1923 — July 26, 2022
Dr. Marvin R. Bloomquist, beloved NNU voice professor and director of Crusader Choir, passed away on December 7, 2022. Marvin was born on April 17,1930 in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, to Johann Albin and Amy Adeline Bloomquist, immigrants from Sweden. After graduating from Fergus Falls High School in 1948, he graduated from Northwest Nazarene College with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Theory and a Bachelor of Arts in Voice in 1953. Marvin joined the Air Force that same year and was stationed at Perrin Field in Texas, where he met his wife Wanda Mae Nesmith at church. They were married August 28, 1956, in Cushing Oklahoma. Shortly after the wedding the couple moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Marvin began his graduate work at the University of Minnesota; he also served as minister of music at First Church of the Nazarene. In 1958 they made their way back to Nampa, Idaho, where Marvin began his career at Northwest Nazarene College, teaching voice, directing the men’s Glee Club and directing music at Nampa First Church of the Nazarene. Later, the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri, so that Marvin could complete his Ph.D. in Voice and Vocal Performance. Marvin served as a professor at NNU for 35 years. During these years he led several trips abroad with Crusader Choir. He retired as Emeritus Professor of Choral Music.
In Memoriam
Dr. Double E. Hill & Helen Louise Hill
Submit updates, announcements and photos at nnu.edu/update
April 17, 1930 — December 7, 2022
March 26, 1923 — December 7, 2022
February 14, 1943 — October 9, 2022
messenger | Winter 2023
Dr. Marvin E. Stallcop
Dr. Marvin E. Stallcop, NNU faculty and professor of music history and literature, passed away on October 9, 2022. Dr. Stallcop was the son of the local Pepsi Cola bottler and grandson of a Norwegian farmer. He attended school in Havre, Montana, and graduated with honors from Havre High School. He attended his first two years of college at Evangel University, Springfield, Missouri, but after hearing a traveling quartet from NNU perform in Havre, he transferred to Northwest Nazarene University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Music in 1965. He was immediately hired as a music faculty member while working on his master’s degree at the University of Montana, and a doctorate in Music Education at Arizona State University in 1976. Dr. Stallcop served as a faculty member at NNU for 41 years (1965-2006) where he was a professor of music history and literature, music and art, conducting, forms and analysis and director of almost all the choral ensembles. One of the great Homecoming traditions at NNU was Dr. Stallcop conducting Handel’s Messiah. For 38 years he shared his passion for this great work of music with students and the community. In addition, he taught numerous private voice and piano lessons, served as department chair, adjudicated countless choral contests and festivals across the West and took students on two overseas educational trips. He was elected to NNU’s Faculty Emeriti in 2006. Following his retirement from NNU, Dr. Stallcop continued to engage his love of music and was a member of the Boise Master Chorale for several years. He sang in numerous Boise Master Chorale and Philharmonic performances. He also served as one of the conductors of The Hymns of Thanksgiving in Boise, Idaho. He married Judy Harmon in 1964 and was a devoted husband and father. They adopted two children, Gregg and LeAnn.
April 26, 1926 — December 11, 2022
Dr. A. Wendell Bowes, Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Northwest Nazarene University, passed away on February 4, 2023. He was born to Rev. Alpin and Betty Bowes in San Francisco, CA, moving shortly afterwards to Kansas City, where Wendell graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School in Prairie Village, KS. He then attended NNC (now University), graduating with a BA in 1967. There he met his wife, Virginia “Ginger” Miller, and was married shortly after graduation. He attended Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO where he received his M.Div., and then Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ, receiving a Th.M. After seminary, he pastored three churches on the Church of the Nazarene Philadelphia District, becoming ordained in 1973. While pastoring, he began doctoral studies at Dropsie College in Philadelphia, PA and received his Ph.D. in 1987 with a major in Ancient Near Eastern Studies. In 1982, the family moved to Nampa, ID, where Dr. Bowes became Professor of Old Testament at NNU for 29 years. He served as Chair of the Religion Department for eighteen years, Director of the M.Min. Program for eleven years and Chair of the Faculty for two years. He lectured on archaeology and the Bible at NNU and in area churches. After retiring from NNU in 2011, Dr. Bowes wrote several book chapters, over twenty-five articles for Sunday School curriculum, a full-length commentary on the book of Job and two other books on the Wisdom Literature.
Dr. Robert Charles Woodward
Dr. Wendell Bowes
November 6, 1945 — February 4, 2023
Dr. Robert Charles Woodward, NNU history faculty for over 30 years, passed away on December 11, 2022. Dr. Woodward was born in Endicott, New York on a farm. When he graduated from Whitney Point High School in 1944 at barely 18, he enlisted in the Army Air Force and was sent to Italy to serve until the end of the war. After returning, and with the help of the G.I. Bill, Dr. Woodward attended Eastern Nazarene College for one year before marrying Belle Christensen. The newlyweds headed West for Northwest Nazarene College and began their lives together. Dr. Woodward graduated from NNC in 1952 and got his first job teaching literature at Boise High School. In 1958, after finishing his master’s degree, he was asked to join the faculty at Northwest Nazarene College. In 1960, Dr. Woodward was granted a leave of absence from NNC to study Pacific Northwest history with a Ford Fellowship that allowed him to work on his Ph.D. at the University of Oregon. He received his doctorate in 1963 and returned to teach at NNC for the next 33 years.. Throughout his years at NNC, Dr. Woodward enjoyed keeping score at school basketball games and never missed a game if he could help it. In 2004, he was named to the NNU Athletic Hall of Fame for his decades of scorekeeping for NNC/U basketball games. Bob retired in 1991 but continued working as the NNC archivist.
On campus
New Engineering Concentration Launched NNU has announced that a new program in Semiconductor Engineering is now open for enrollment as part of its ABET-accredited Engineering program. This new concentration will begin classes Fall 2023, alongside NNU’s existing concentrations in Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics and Mechanical Engineering. Congress recently passed the $52 billion CHIPS Act, reinvigorating the semiconductor manufacturing industry in the U.S. This has already resulted in the startup of major new U.S. “fabs,” such as Micron’s recent $15 billion fab groundbreaking in Boise, which will generate thousands of jobs in the next few years. “The Boise Valley and greater Northwest is home to several growing semiconductor engineering companies,” said Dr. Stephen Parke, NNU’s professor of Semiconductor Engineering. “NNU’s new Semiconductor Engineering BSE will equip our students to enter this exciting career path right here in the Boise Valley and throughout the United States.” NNU’s Semiconductor Engineering track will provide specialized education, internship and fab experience in the areas of semiconductor materials and devices, microelectronic circuit design, process fabrication and advanced packaging and testing. More information can be found at nnu.edu/semiconductor-engineering.
Partnership with NW Field District Superintendents This fall, the seven District Superintendents of the Northwest Field met with the Dean and two faculty members of the College of Theology and Christian Ministries (CTCM) for a 3-day retreat to discuss how the Church and University could better partner in a shared mission of making Christlike disciples. “This time together was vital as we continue to find ways for our District Superintendents and CTCM to partner together, encouraging, inspiring and equipping our churches across the Northwest Field,” noted Brent Peterson, Dean of the CTCM. “We emerged from this meeting in agreement regarding our Articles of Faith, the Covenant of Christian Conduct and the Nazarene statement on Human Sexuality,” said Scott Shaw, District Superintendent of the Intermountain District. “We were drawn to the final statement of the Covenant of Christian Conduct which states, ‘As the global church receives and ministers to the people of our world, the faithful outworking of these statements as congregations is complex and must be navigated with care, humility, courage and discernment.’” “The importance of our collaboration and partnership is essential in these wonderful but challenging days of ministry,” affirmed Peterson. The District Superintendents and the CTCM faculty look forward to continued conversation in the future.
Robotics Lab Awarded Grant In September 2022, NNU’s Robotics Vision Lab was notified that they had been awarded a $101,000 grant by the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation. This specialty crop grant, presented by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), will allow the University’s faculty and student researchers to continue working on a project they have been developing for the past several years. “This grant will help our engineering students continue to improve the performance of OrBot, the fruit harvesting robot we have designed and built,” said Duke Bulanon, NNU Professor of Engineering. “It will be beneficial in helping us continue this project as we strive to meet the agricultural needs in our area.” This cutting-edge technology generated in NNU’s Physics and Engineering program allows undergraduate students to get revolutionary, hands-on experience applying what they’re learning in the classroom. The OrBot, now gaining national attention, has the potential to change how fruit is harvested. The Idaho State Department of Agriculture sponsors the research and promotion of projects that aid specialty crop growers in Idaho. Since the program was created in 2009, the ISDA has awarded 181 projects a total of $18.35 million. To find out more about this project, go to nnu.edu/engineering.
New Faculty Introduced NNU welcomed 13 new faculty members for the 2022-2023 academic year, including Mark Michaelson, Assistant Professor of Academic Success & Advising; Heidi Zickefoose, University Registrar; Xiaoya Liu, Assistant Professor of Music; Luis Palacios, Assistant Professor of Music; Nikki Bodenstab Lee, Assistant Professor of Social Work; Kevin Mokhtarian, Associate Professor of Business; Jennifer Cornell, Associate Professor of Education, Director of Clinical Practice in Education; Robin Gilbert, Associate Professor of Education, Educational Leadership Program Director; Michelle Van Beek, Assistant Professor of Education; Tomás Álvarez, Professor of Theology, Special Assistant to the President; Timothy Hahn, Assistant Professor of Theology; Marty Michelson, Interim Professor of Theology & Christian Ministries; Mary Schmitt, Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies. Read more about each faculty member at nnu.edu/new-faculty-for-2022-2023. These faculty members join a committed NNU community dedicated to investing in the academic, spiritual and social growth of students.
Community Partners Honored On September 15, 2022, NNU honored the Consulate of Mexico and the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, instrumental partners of NNU for several decades. “Community and Service are core values at NNU, and our community partners have significantly impacted the University’s ability to live into those values,” said President Joel Pearsall. “Through their generosity and partnership, the Mexican Consulate and the Murdock Charitable Trust have played key roles in helping us pursue our mission as we provide a transformative education that prepares our students to change the world for good.” The Consulate of Mexico in Boise was named a 2022 Eugene Emerson Award recipient for its faithful partnership with NNU since 2014, supporting students with scholarships and providing internship opportunities. Most importantly, the Consulate assists the University in serving its Latino students and community. The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust was also honored for its 45 years of generosity during which they have donated roughly 26 grants to NNU, totaling over $4.2 million, to support student research in the sciences, capital projects, developmental initiatives and other enterprises. Since 1985, Northwest Nazarene University has honored individuals and organizations that have partnered with the University in exceptional ways by awarding them the Eugene Emerson Medal.
2022 Sciences Summer Research Each year, students in NNU’s sciences departments are invited to participate in summer research. This year, students were involved in 11 projects. “Summer research projects provide the perfect opportunity for our students to get hands-on experience and dive deeper into topics they’re interested in,” said Duke Bulanon, Associate Professor of Engineering & Physics. This year’s summer research project offerings were: Bioacoustics of Anurans in the Neotropics with Dr. Cossel FireMAP: Monitoring Wildland Fires Remotely with Dr. Hamilton Metal Nanoparticles as Antibacterial Agents with Dr. Nixon Nightjar Biology and Conservation with Professor Hille OrBot and App Development for Agriculture Production with Dr. Bulanon Programming in Python without C++ with Dr. McCarty Regulation of Carbohydrate Metabolism in Uterine Cell Lines with Dr. Chase RockSAT-X Program with Drs. Lawrence & Pratt Sagebrush Volatile Organic Compound Emissions with Drs. Pearson & Griffin Synthesis and Characterization of ZnO Nanoparticles with Dr. Harris Understanding Uterine Physiology from Breeding to Pregnancy with Dr. Hodonu To read full descriptions of the 2022 Sciences Summer Research Projects, visit nnu.edu/news/2022-sciences-summer- research
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Coach Powell
By Josh Burkholder, director of athletics communication
The decision to become a coach at NNU was an easy one for head men’s soccer coach John Powell. He had played soccer for most of his life, including four years as a collegiate student-athlete at Cal State Stanislaus, where he was named the school’s Male Student-Athlete of the Year in 2010-11. During his playing days, two major factors stood out to him that were key in influencing his decision to become a coach once his playing career was finished. The first was a classic component for most coaches in any sport—he had a love for the game and a passion for teaching and sharing it with others who had a similar love for the sport. The second had to do with great leaders he had seen in his life and wanting to keep their mission and philosophies alive for the next generation. “A big influence in my decision to become a coach was my evaluation of the good and bad leaders I had experienced in my life,” said Powell. “The best leaders I observed were those who chose to lead by love. They took every opportunity they had to serve those they were tasked with leading. I truly believed in their example and decided to model my philosophy after them.” At the same time, Powell knew he wanted to be able to integrate his Christian faith into his coaching philosophy. For the first seven years of his collegiate coaching career, he was not on staff at a Christian university. The time he spent in those roles was memorable, and he wouldn’t trade it for anything, but aspects of those positions didn’t allow for speaking about his faith. “Religion always seemed to be a topic that was not discussed,” said Powell. “When I applied for, and accepted, the job at NNU, I was thrilled to be going into a Christian higher education environment because I felt it would allow me to coach and teach in the way I was called to lead.” “When coaching for a Christian higher education institution, you are allowed to speak about your own personal walk with Christ and how your faith has guided you through all the ups and downs in life. I am also able to fully speak about servant leadership—with Jesus Christ being the perfect example.” Something about NNU specifically had drawn Powell’s interest, as he had also applied for the head men’s coaching job when it had been open two years prior. “Both times I applied for the open position at NNU, I was attracted to the University because it appeared to be a very close community that valued the same things I did. It was clear that the Christian faith, a great education and high-level athletic performance were of great value at NNU. Then, after my interview in 2021, I was blown away by the leadership from President Joel and Kelli, the Athletic Director, and believed in their mission after just one day on campus.” While many of his interactions with members of the team occur on the field in a competitive and fast-paced environment, Powell enjoys ministering to his athletes off the field as well. He wants every player that comes through the program, regardless of background, to be affected in a positive way and benefit from his Christ-centered example during their time in Nampa. “Working at NNU allows me to share my whole self, including my relationship with Christ,” said Powell. “My team comes from all different backgrounds when it comes to their faith, so we are able to connect on many different levels. Some young people come from families who were very active in the church their whole lives, while some haven’t spent much time at all committed to their faith.” “My approach is to just focus on the core values of my faith, which are now the core values of the soccer program. My coaching staff and I value and prioritize servant leadership, selflessness and love above all else.” In just two seasons with the Nighthawks, Powell’s philosophy has paid off tremendously in the men’s soccer program. This past season in the fall of 2022, NNU achieved greater heights than any other team in the history of men’s soccer at Northwest Nazarene University. The Nighthawks went 15-4-3 overall and 9-2-1 in GNAC play, earning the GNAC Regular Season Championship, and won three NCAA Tournament games to make it all the way to the NCAA Super Region 4 Final (Elite 8). They were only the second athletics team in school history to make it that far in the NCAA Tournament, joining the 2021 baseball squad that made it to the final six at the College World Series. NNU earned a program-record nine All-GNAC honors, including Powell himself as Coach of the Year and Nestor Serrano as Newcomer of the Year. Four different players received All-Region honors, including consensus First Team pick Lorenzo Valentini, who, along with teammate Sawyer Price, was also named an Academic All-American. During the season, NNU was ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 once at No. 22 before finishing the season sixth in the nation following their deep postseason run. The Nighthawks also set a new program record for wins in a season in 2022 with 15, eclipsing the mark of 14 set by the 2014 team, the only other group in program history to reach the NCAA postseason. NNU was extremely resilient all season, never going two games in a row without a win as they followed up every loss or draw with a victory. Powell is quick to point out that it was not all his doing that led to the team’s success. “I was blessed with a fantastic team and a tremendous coaching staff when I arrived in Nampa,” said Powell. “The boys worked extremely hard for a full calendar year to be prepared to achieve what they did this year. It was not by chance or by coincidence.” “I believe there were a number of keys to their success this year, but the leadership within the team and their relationships as young men are the first two that stand out to me. We had the best captain and vice captains I have ever coached, and they were able to serve their teammates and put the team before themselves on numerous occasions. That type of selflessness is contagious, and I believe the culture of the team was almost as perfect as it could be.” That strong and positive culture was evident to those outside the program as well, as many people expressed that the team appeared to be very close off the field, which contributed in huge ways to their success. That closeness and love for one another was evident to Powell as well when he first stepped on campus. “I noticed how close the group appeared to be right away when I came for my interview, and I remember thinking, ‘It’s either exactly as it seems, or it’s an act.’ It was clearly the former as this group truly loved each other and had a lot of respect for each other,” said Powell. “I cannot take the credit for that as I was lucky to inherit it, but one of my initial goals was to keep that going, and I believe we were able to do that extremely well this year.” “The team’s bonds and love for one another played a massive part in their success. There were so many occasions where most teams simply would have given up, yet my boys dug even deeper and persevered. I don’t think it is possible to achieve all they did this year without those close relationships built from the right foundations. I pray that this has now become a staple of our program going forward.” If what Powell has been able to achieve in his short time in Nampa thus far is any indication, the program is in very good hands and will look to continue that success in the future. He hopes to persist in finding ways to combine his faith and his knowledge of soccer to create a championship tradition within the program. He knows that with its mission and philosophy, NNU is a fantastic place to do so. “In my opinion, Christian higher education is so important. It allows the educators and leaders of the institution to serve and love our students as Christ did,” said Powell. “Here at NNU, we can pour into these young men and women and prioritize faith and the spiritual component of our lives, which often feels neglected in today’s society, and be critical agents of hope and change in the lives of our student-athletes.”
athletic feature
A Philosophy of Love and Selflessness
Coach John Powell, NNU Head Men’s Soccer Coach
The best leaders I observed were those who chose to lead by love. They took every opportunity they had to serve those they were tasked with leading.
Coach Powell on the soccer field
There were so many occasions where most teams simply would have given up, yet my boys dug even deeper and persevered.”
Braden Anderson NNU vs. Los Angeles
NNU Midfielder Alejandra Jaramillo at the GNAC final
Men’s Basketball As of Jan. 10, the Nighthawks are off to a 6-8 start to the 2022-23 season and 3-3 mark in GNAC play, having played the toughest schedule in the West Region thus far. They are currently coming off back-to-back wins over the Alaska programs to open the 2023 portion of the schedule. Before the season, NNU was selected second in the GNAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, with both Tru Allen and Gabe Murphy earning Preseason All-Conference recognition.
Athletics
Nighthawks Season Highlights
Women’s Basketball As of Jan. 10, the Nighthawks are even at 7-7 overall and 3-3 in conference action. Before the season, NNU was picked sixth in the GNAC Preseason Poll, with Jordan Pinson receiving Preseason All-GNAC honors.
Men’s Soccer NNU men’s soccer enjoyed the best finish in program history in 2022, going 15-4-3 overall and 9-2-1 in GNAC play, earning the GNAC Regular Season Championship, and winning three NCAA Tournament games to make it to the NCAA Super Region 4 Final (Elite 8). NNU earned a program-record nine All-GNAC honors, including Powell as Coach of the Year and Serrano as Newcomer of the Year. During the season, NNU ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 once at No. 22 before finishing the season sixth in the nation. The Nighthawks set a new program record for wins in a season with 15, eclipsing the 14 set in 2014, the only other group in program history to reach the NCAA postseason.
Women’s Soccer The 2022 season was the best yet for NNU women’s soccer, earning the program’s highest-ever GNAC finish of second with a 9-2-3 conference record and 12-4-4 overall. NNU was the 2-seed in the GNAC tournament and reached the conference title game for the first time in program history before falling to national champion Western Washington. During the season, the Nighthawks were ranked 25th once by the United Soccer Coaches and received votes in the national poll five other times, including final rankings. Seven Nighthawks were named to the All-GNAC teams, led by the program’s first-ever GNAC Player of the Year, senior Ashley Parton. NNU’s 12 wins were the second-most in program history and most ever against an entirely NCAA DII schedule.
Volleyball The Nighthawks finished 16-10 overall and 9-9 in conference play, marking an impressive nine-win improvement overall and five-win improvement in the GNAC. NNU was in the mix for the NCAA postseason all season, earning spots in the first two regional rankings before just missing out on an at-large bid. Three Nighthawks earned All-GNAC honors, led by the GNAC Newcomer of the Year, Olivia Wright. Wright was also named an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American.
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Finals week Professors bring their dogs for students to meet and de-stress
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name: R. Paul Kinsman (Richard Paul Kinsman) (When I was a kid, my uncles called me Richard Paul Kinsman dirt-dirt-fink stink-oil can-rubber nose-pinky-mudface-hermit...but that’s a story for a longer article. Haha!) Profession: Professor of Visual Art + Art History, and Freelance Graphic Designer Hometown: Easton, MA (Between Boston and Cape Cod) (Born in Quincy, MA...home of Eastern Nazarene College)
FACULTY
Paul Kinsman
Fun Fact About You: I’m a Leap Day baby! Next year, I’ll be 14! Woohoo! Also, I met my wife at General Assembly in Indianapolis, 1989! (Nazarene enough for you? Haha!) Favorite NNU Memory So Far: This is such a tough question because every day seems to be filled with amazing interactions with colleagues and students. Every day, I make memories I’ll cherish! If I have to pick ONE: A few years ago, Dr. Peterson and I took a group of students to Europe. One day, we visited the National Gallery in London, and I remember walking up behind a student, Kenzie Felzien, as she was looking at Vincent van Gogh’s, “Sunflowers.” As I got closer, I realized she was crying! “What’s wrong!?” She said she was crying because she’d never seen a van Gogh painting in person, and it was really moving for her. Through the painting, she could feel van Gogh’s brilliance, but also his pain. It was a moment of realizing how powerfully and deeply students were absorbing all that we were doing and teaching in the Visual Arts program. Proudest Accomplishment From Your Time at NNU: In 2018, I was honored to win “Professor of the Year” at NNU. I absolutely love what I get to do every day in the classroom, and I work hard at it, so to receive that award meant more to me than any award I’ve received in my entire life. (I’m also proud of the growth in our program, the development of the curriculum, and the success our graduates have enjoyed.) (Oh, and I’m always proud when we come back from Europe with the same number of students we left with!) Why You Chose Christian Higher Education: There was a point in my design career when I started to feel like part of who God made me to be was being left on the sidelines. When I started teaching, I felt more whole. Every day, everything God made me to be is called upon. My faith, my love of people, my love of art and art history, my love of design, my love of learning, my love of travel—all of it, all of who God made me to be is called upon each and every day. It can be exhausting, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. There’s truly nothing I’d rather do with my life than what I get to do here at NNU, and I thank God every day for it. And I know I’m not the only person at NNU who would say the same thing!
STAFF
Fun Fact About You: I was the youngest in a local Idaho singing competition at 10. Favorite Thing About NNU: One of my favorite things would be how caring people can be. There is always someone that makes themselves available to help. Something Valuable You Learned At NNU: The thing you’ll remember the most is how someone made you feel. I may not remember every lecture or event I attended at NNU, but I do remember all the times I felt extremely cared for by professors and staff. I also remember all the times I bent over laughing at silly shenanigans that would go on. Someone will always remember how you made them feel. Proudest Accomplishment From Your Time At NNU: Graduating with my master’s in Social Work. Favorite Quote: “In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.”—Mother Teresa Advice You’d Offer To Future Students: Always ask questions, and don’t create barriers for yourself that could have been solved by asking a question. Why You Chose Christian Higher Education: Faith has always been a big part of my life. While I considered how 18-year-old Maggie needed to set herself up for the rest of her life, I wanted to ensure that faith was always included. When I could tour the campus, I felt like I was already a part of the community and felt a calling that I couldn’t process at the time. The reason I stayed after I graduated was that NNU became my home. It was hard to consider leaving the community here and God showed me that there was still a reason I should stay. So I consider being a part of Christian higher education a calling.
Maggie Alcaraz
name: Margarita (Maggie) Alcaraz profession: Director of Multicultural Engagement and Belonging Hometown: Caldwell, ID
GRADUATE STUDENT
Major: Doctor in Education (Ed.D.) future plans: To continue to serve vulnerable populations with sincerity and honor. Grad Year: 2021 hometown: Lapwai, Idaho
Fun Fact About You: I enjoy gardening and creating art. Favorite NNU Memory: My favorite NNU memory is of Dr. Poe. Dr. Poe recruited me to NNU and provided me with timely advice along my journey to obtain three graduate degrees from NNU. He helped me to stay the course for each of my graduate degrees. Favorite Thing About NNU: One of my favorite professors (I had many favorites) was Dr. Bohecker. She provided me the support to complete my dissertation by asking critical questions about my research, challenging me to keep a writing schedule and encouraging me as a Christian to become transformed into a vessel of service to others. Something Valuable You Learned At NNU: NNU provided many valuable lessons over the years while attending courses. My greatest lesson learned was not to give up. Persevering over the challenges and obstacles propelled me to the finish line. Proudest Accomplishment From Your Time At NNU: My proudest accomplishment was walking across the graduation stage to receive my doctoral hood from Dr. Bohecker and then receiving my third signed NNU degree in the mail. Favorite Quote: “God is keenly aware of you and your life and its needs and loves you deeply.”— NNU Graduate Chaplain Fred Fullerton Advice You’d Offer To Future Students: Stick in there when the coursework is hard and ask for help understanding what is not yet clear. Why You Chose Christian Higher Education: As a believer in Christ, I chose NNU because of the biblical foundation and mission. The biblical principles in each of my courses kept my focus on what really mattered to me in higher education—a transformed life.
Dr. Bernadette Anderson
Major: I’m double-majoring in Mathematics & Secondary Math Education Activities/Clubs: Intramurals, Johnson Sports Center Staff future plans: I plan on obtaining a master’s degree in Natural Resources (Fire Ecology & Management) from the University of Idaho and then begin my career at the National Interagency Fire Research Center in Boise, ID, or the USFS Fire Lab in Missoula, MT. After that, I want to teach math to high school students. At some point, I would also love to be a youth pastor or worship pastor. Grad Year: 2024 hometown: Oroville, California
Fun Fact About You: I have caught a duck with my bare hands. Favorite Thing About NNU: Everyone says it, but it’s true. The community here at NNU is unmatched. I’ve made the closest friendships I’ve ever had, and have been involved in the best spiritual community I’ve ever experienced. There is no better place to pursue the heart of Jesus than here at NNU. Proudest Accomplishment At NNU: In February of 2022, Computer Science Professor Dr. Hamilton informed me about a summer internship at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, that would focus on wildfire prevention and mitigation. As someone who has been affected by wildfire and wildfire evacuations, I was intrigued. I applied and was accepted into the program. I became a project manager along with one of my colleagues, and our team developed a novel communications technology for firefighters in extremely rural areas while fighting wildfire. We are publishing one paper internally to NASA, and are in the process of making the project officially “public” so NASA and firefighter organizations can continue the development of our technology. NASA now considers our project a new technology, so we will know within the next few months if NASA will pursue a patent. The approval is good news because this means our project will be able to help real people, even if NASA does not pursue a patent. All this would not have been possible if God did not both shut and open doors for me. The Lord truly blessed my socks off. He is faithful, even when we do not see Him working behind the scenes. Advice You’d Offer To Future Students: Ask yourself what you are looking for when applying to college. Are you wanting to not spend a lot of money? Are you wanting a quality education? What experiences do you want to have? How do you want to grow relationally and spiritually while at college? I may be biased, but NNU is the best option!!!! Why You Chose Christian Higher Education: I had no idea just how much I was going to grow in my walk with the Lord while here at NNU. I have discovered why I believe what I believe, and am so much more passionate about my faith than before coming to NNU. Not to mention, the quality of education is excellent, and I am feeling excited and prepared to step out into the world and use what God has given me to make a difference.
Tucker Friberg
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
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A LEGACY Tradition
Longstanding generational legacy is a tradition at NNU, with hundreds of students following in the footsteps of family members that have gone before them.
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