The ConCepT Spring Arbor UniverSity iS A commUnity of leArnerS diStingUiShed by oUr lifelong involvement in the StUdy And ApplicAtion of the liberAl ArtS, totAl commitment to JeSUS chriSt AS the perSpective for leArning, And criticAl pArticipAtion in the contemporAry world. The ConCepT Spring Arbor UniverSity iS A commUnity of leArnerS diStingUiShed by oUr lifelong involvement in the StUdy And ApplicAtion of the liberAl ArtS, totAl commitment to JeSUS chriSt AS the perSpective for leArning, And criticAl pArticipAtion in the contemporAry world. The ConCepT Spring Arbor UniverSity iS A commUnity of leArnerS diStingUiShed by oUr lifelong involvement in the StUdy And ApplicAtion of the liberAl ArtS, totAl commitment to JeSUS chriSt AS the perSpective for leArning, And criticAl pArticipAtion in the contemporAry world. The ConCepT Spring Arbor UniverSity iS A commUnity of leArnerS diStingUiShed by oUr lifelong involvement in the StUdy And ApplicAtion of the liberAl ArtS, totAl commitment to JeSUS chriSt AS the perSpective for leArning, And criticAl pArticipAtion in the contemporAry world.

a S p r i n g a r b o r U n i v e r S i t y p U b l i c at i o n

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spring 2012 | volUme 35 iSSUe 2ournal

STRONGFOUNDATIONSEstablished through Graduate & Professional Studies

have a heartvideo student wins a pSa contest urging people to become organ donors

scholarly workthe mcKenna Scholars award assists outstanding faculty

redeemed livesread about two lives marked for service in the lord’s army

Spring 2012ournal

e d i to r Julie (spencer ’04) tisonjulie.tison@arbor.edu

d e S i g n

Keegan adriance ’12melissa biceaaron bragdon

w r i t e r S

lynne markiewiczKelly Skarritt-williams ’03Julie (Spencer ’04) tison

p h oto g r a p h y

Keegan adriance ’12 david buchanan ’03 Zachariah haske ’14 brandon mccarrell ’12Kelly Skarritt-williams ’03

U n i v e r S i t y c o m m U n i c at i o n S

robyn Florianassistant vice president

U n i v e r S i t y a d va n c e m e n t

brent ellisvice president

rhonda (davis ’94) Saurbekassistant vice president

the Journal (volume 35, issue 2) is published for the alumni and friends of Spring arbor University. SaU is a private, Christian liberal arts university, affiliated with the Free methodist church of north america.For information on alumni, annual fund, major gifts, planned giving, corporate partners program, external relations, church relations or to change contact information, please call or email Sherry Keeler in the Office of University advancement at 877.SaU.1873 or sherryk@arbor.edu.

journal@arbor.edu877.alUm.arbor

University admissions800.968.0011arbor.edu

t h e c o n c e p t

Spring arbor University is a community of learners distinguished by our lifelong involvement in the study and application of the liberal arts, total commitment to Jesus christ as the perspective for learning, and critical participation in the contemporary world.

office of the president

charles h. webb, ph.d.president

on october 20, 2011 , i entered the surgical room of the cleveland clinic for open heart surgery for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, a rare genetic heart condition. For the next two months, i was on medical leave from Spring arbor University. let me share with you some of my perceptions of your University as my heart was

mending during my time away from work.

Spring arbor University is blessed with a board of trustees, administrative team, faculty and staff who executed the responsibilities of running a major christian university without missing a beat. dr. betty overton-adkins, provost, was the executive in charge; damon seacott, chief of staff, along with greg schupra ’78, chairperson of the board of trustees, did an exemplary job in leading our University. Spring arbor University is a blessed community because of its people.

during the week of my surgery, there was a special time of prayer for me at one of our regularly-scheduled chapels. with over 1,000 students in attendance, the altar and aisle were lined with students praying. Since our founding 138 years ago, god has faithfully heard and answered the prayers of his people at SaU.

only a couple hours earlier, after having been released from intensive care and transported to my private room at the cleveland clinic, there was a gentle knock on my door and two Spring arbor University students appeared with the most beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers. Showering me with their love, they then quietly left through the doors they entered. gifts of encouragement are god’s gift of love.

back home in the voller house, i was recovering nicely until i passed out one evening and was rushed to Allegiance Health in Jackson. While there, I encountered five of our graduates. Four of these graduates were professionals who had completed or were completing one of our graduate and professional Studies programs. how proud i was to see our graduates in action and highly regarded by their colleagues. Spring arbor University is blessed with having three delivery systems: main campus, graduate and professional studies at 14 regional sites and online education.

For two months, god set me aside. this was a blessed time of healing for my heart, soul and mind. Sometimes we are set aside to receive His nourishment and His refinement.

“he knows the way he taketh,” even if for the moment we do not. — J.i. packer

cont

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presidential couple, chuck and philippa webb at the 2011 Family and Student brunch.

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4 steely determinationSpring arbor University’s School of graduate and professional Studies has turned out some remarkable professionals who have gone on to greatness.

redeemed for good worksalumni pat Seraydarian and homer Jackson share how god has called them to use their vocations to further his Kingdom.

energy drinks and the liberal artsStudents learned the importance of having a liberal arts perspective by studying the multi-faceted implication of energy drinks.

coaching for christmen’s basketball coach ryan cottingham shares about his road to becoming coach and talks about what motivates him on and off the court.

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i n t h i S i S S U e

14 by the numbers: see how things are stacking up at SaU

19 arbor today: read about the latest news coming out of the arbor

24 cougar zone: see how our coaches and athletes are making strides

28 sau photos: relive SaU events and happenings through this photo collage

31 alumni news: catch up on old friends, alumni news and notices

cover and feature photos by: brandon mccarrell ’12 alumna Sarah bates '97 uses the skills she gained in the bachelor’s of management and organizational development program to take her company to the top.

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drinks?21

strong foundations

lives, one degree at a time.

A TRANSF ORMING

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sarah bates ’97 spends a lot of time at her desk in holland, Ohio, where offices for her company, NuTek Steel, LLC, and her foundation, the norman and louise Jones Foundation of toledo, are both housed. bates wears many professional hats. on a typical Friday morning in early February, bates was pouring over a chart several columns both wide and long with products for her steel company. She is the ceo and founder of nutek and founder of the foundation named in honor of her parents.

her climb to success was earmarked with a lot of hard work and faith in the lord.

after her second baby turned 18 months old, bates decided she was ready to re-enter the workforce. after several years as a stay-at-home mom, she needed to brush up on her professional skills. bates completed an associate degree at mary crest college and found a job.

her rise to the top came after starting as a receptionist for heidtman Steel — a job she secured through a temp agency. at the time, bates was working full time, but she wanted to pursue a bachelor’s degree. She enrolled in Spring arbor University’s management and organizational development program at the metro-toledo site.

“through my classes, i enjoyed meeting people from different walks of life,” says bates. “i remember one of my professors telling me, ‘people who dine together like each other.’ i think that’s true. it was great to be able to dine with classmates each week as we shared our experiences and worked through the course.”

while working toward a bachelor’s degree at night, bates excelled at work during the day. She began working through heidtman Steel’s corporate management training program where she spent time learning the ins and outs of each department — from human resources to plant operations and more to get a complete picture of the steel industry.

By Julie Tison

“Everything I was learning in class, I was able to apply at work. It made my assignments easy.” sarah bates ’97

She was promoted to processing manager. three years later, she was named general manager of a new heidtman facility in butler, ind. From there, her career within the steel industry took off. “before i left there, it was the largest, most productive and most profitable facility in the Heidtman organization,” says bates.

in 2000, she purchased the assets from a detroit location that had filed bankruptcy. Bates rebuilt the company — regaining the confidence of its customers along the way.

today, bates’ company, nutek Steel, lcc, serves clients throughout the world and employs over 165 full-time workers. Under her direction and leadership, the company has received numerous awards including being named #1 Steel Supplier to daimlerchrysler and was ranked among the top 100 minority business enterprises in america by Minority Business News.

Even though Bates’ story has a fairytale-like flow, her journey has not been without the plague of some characteristic villains — most notably in the form of a changing economy. when the auto industry began to decline in 2008, it took a toll on bates’ company, but through faith, hard work and dedication, she prevailed using experience she learned through her Spring arbor education.

“in 2008, when the automobile industry started to decline with their production, i survived because i had faith that i would. Through prayer, I was determined to find a way. I had total faith in my partner who is also my husband,” says Sarah, who married fellow steel entrepreneur John bates. “i knew together we would find a way to make it all work out. It was

heartbreaking and painful in the sense that we had to lay a lot of employees off, which is something we never wanted to do because we love people and it was hurtful, but we had to do what we had to do to survive. we are back and so are the people,” says bates.

around the time the auto industry entered its struggling season, bates decided it was time to invest in the local community and its people. She founded the norman and louise Jones Foundation of toledo to help struggling families. “there were so many who lost jobs that will never come back,” says bates.

a friend suggested bates start a foundation, which she did in honor of her parents who instilled a caring and sharing attitude in bates and her eight siblings. the mission of the foundation is to reach out to help others through caring, sharing and giving. “after 2008 when the economy went south, there were a lot of young children and families who needed help. i wanted to reach out and help those who were in need to have a better quality of life. that is what my parents did for my siblings and me and that is how they raised us,” says bates.

during the foundation’s inaugural year, it provided school supplies for needy families, starting a tradition that continues to help students get the right start for school. the back to School drive allows students to pick out their own school supplies.

another initiative of the foundation is a summer arts program that has provided a positive setting for young children to learn creative and practical school skills. The five-day summer program provides young children and their parents a positive option to fill the void during the summer months.

Taught by certified teachers, the participants learn a variety of subjects from reading to science to art and more. They take field trips and listen to guest speakers who are successful professionals from various arenas. “the kids love it. parents have called and said teachers have said, ‘i don’t know what you did with your child, but they have come back as a totally

bates has received numerous prestigious awards over the years. She is a member of indiana avenue missionary baptist church, where she started a bible study.

bates continues to work hard to ensure her business and foundation will continue to make a positive impact. “i am working on a brand new fabrication service center in indiana next to a structural mill in columbia city — that is the business plan i am working on currently. my steel sales are growing every day,” says bates.

bates is one of several hundred who have completed bachelor’s degrees that have helped them excel in the workplace.

the reasons people enroll in Spring arbor University’s

different person. their study habits have improved.’ i hope we had an impact on that by teaching them to prepare for their future,” says bates.

other programs the foundation has provided to the community include toy and food drives during the holiday season, “warm Up lucas county,” which collected and disseminated hats, coats and gloves to the community, and a scholarship program that grants college scholarships.

the norman and louise Jones Foundation also provides family activities for the community. housed in holland, ohio, the foundation’s building is home to a card room, game room, library, conservatory, dining room, art room, gym and much more.

two of bates’ sisters are also SaU alumnae. flora Jones ’97 serves as president of bates’ companies. her youngest sister, kimberly sutton ’05, graduated from SaU as well. bates, who is also a Spring arbor University board member, gave the commencement speech the year Sutton walked.

bit eXtraScan this Qr code with

your smart phone to see an interview with

Sarah bates.

strong foundations

“After 2008 when the economy went south, there were a lot of young children and families who needed help. I wanted to reach out and help those who were in need to have a better quality of life. That’s what my parents did for my siblings and me and that is how they raised us.”

sarah bates ’97

Sarah bates enjoys one of the many amazing amenities and activities available to the community through the foundation.

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degree completion programs vary as much as the individuals and their career ambitions. Sometimes they are ready for a new challenge. Sometimes they want to finish the degree they started. Sometimes it is out of necessity to get a job or a promotion to help sustain their livelihood. Sometimes people make the decision because they want to move up in their career or switch careers all together.

whatever the reason, Spring arbor University has been making it possible through accelerated degree completion programs for more than 30 years. that tradition continues.

when denise dunn decided to return to college, she struggled to find one that would serve her needs. as a single mother with three children working full time during the day, she found few viable options. at least that was her plight until she found Spring arbor University.

dunn enrolled in the family life education degree completion program in lansing where she found camaraderie among her classmates. “it was nice to build up fellowship and friendship as i worked through the program with

the same group of people,” says dunn. that sense of rapport was likely attributed to the fact that SaU structured its degree completion programs to serve the students.

For most of the degree completion programs, classes meet one night a week and are set up in cohort-style, which allows students to learn with the same group throughout the entirety of the program.

The family life education program fit all of dunn’s needs. after working in the education field as an instructional aid for a local school district, dunn found the appeal in educating another population. today, as executive director of housing Services for eaton county (michigan), she continues to educate the individuals she serves through group classes, counseling in credit repair and insurance, and foreclosure prevention seminars. “i am able to help educate people so they acquire some of the basic needs to help them find the resources they need,” says dunn, who graduated in 1997.

She credits her SaU education with more than just the diploma hanging on her wall. “the

writing skills i learned were invaluable,” says dunn, who now writes grants that serve as the primary funding for her organization.

dunn also learned the value of understanding a wide variety of populations, which has helped as she works with many different kinds of people — from the elderly to young families. another important skill her family life education classes taught was interviewing. “that skill set of talking and listening has become important as I select employees who fit my needs. It has also helped me be a better co-worker as i listen to other peoples’ perspectives,” says dunn.

Since joining the housing Services for eaton county 13 years ago, dunn has helped oversee an expansion going from a few employees to 13 today with an operating budget of $1.6 million — up from $250,000 when she first started — all of which is grant funded.

Following her degree from Spring arbor University, dunn earned a master’s degree in family and consumer science from western michigan University. today, she serves as an adjunct professor for SaU’s family life education

program in lansing, in the same setting she was in 15 years ago.

As an expert in her field, Dunn was interviewed for a textbook specific to the family life education methodologies. this was no surprise since Spring arbor’s family life education program has produced 20 percent of the country’s total number of Certified Family Life educators who have received their credentials from national council on Family relations.

Denise Dunn at her Eaton County office, where she serves a wide variety of populations.

“It was nice to build up fellowship and friendship as I worked through the program with the same group of people.”

denise dunn ’97

the program — and the instructors — are teaching practical skills. “public speaking does generate some anxiety for me, but this program allows for plenty of experiences to work through this fear and to develop public speaking skills,” says reiniche.

“i have been very impressed by several instructors and their professionalism and knowledge base. i am proud to have been influenced by these individuals who are fully engaged with the SaU mission and in the mission of the nursing profession,” says reiniche. “cynthia thelen was great, ned mcgrady was very thorough and inspirational, and i looked forward to the great devotional al kauffman shared each week before class. i loved his christian approach.”

when reiniche is not caring for patients, she serves the community as a den leader for the boys Scouts of america hillsdale pack, as a representative for the great Start collaborative of hillsdale county, acts as a committee member and active participant (survivor) for american cancer Society’s “relay for life,” and attends hillsdale United brethren church. She is married to roger and they have four children.

the path louis borsheim took to Spring arbor University’s degree completion program during the early 1980s provided another unique example of how Spring arbor’s programs

help individuals pursue — and sometimes just finish — the degree they longed for during their youth.

after serving in world war ii, Borsheim first attended Spring arbor Junior college on its main campus courtesy of the gi bill, where he earned an associate degree in 1949. at Spring arbor, borsheim attended with well-known alumni, david mckenna Jc ’49 and James taylor iii hs ‘47, Jc ‘49, where he participated in field-service opportunities and a quartet music ministry during the 1940s.

because Spring arbor was not yet a four-year college, borsheim started working toward further

Spring Arbor University’s flexible, one-night-a-week format has proven to be one of many highlights as working adults seek the right fit to sustain their livelihood — often juggling full-time employment, family, and church and community involvement.

That flexibility was one of the reasons tressa reiniche selected Spring arbor University to complete a bachelor of Science in nursing degree. “i have many coworkers who attended Spring arbor University and they spoke highly of it. i also enjoy the absence of clinical requirement hours. the clinical requirement in the form of a senior project is more manageable with my busy professional and personal life, and it is more beneficial in application,” says reiniche.

a nurse since 1999, reiniche works at hillsdale community health center where her nursing roots are grounded in obstetrical nursing, an area she served in for 12 years. Just last year, reiniche made the switch to the medical surgical team to work as a clinical nurse manager of two medical-surgical units.

“i enjoy my role as a manager for a small hospital where I can be influential in improving patient care practices, but also still jump in and care for patients ‘hands on,’” says reiniche, who says nursing was a divine calling. “i participated in job shadowing as a high school student and fell in love with nursing. i gravitated toward this as a career choice and felt the work of a nurse fit well with my desire to help and care for others. i have always felt that this was a calling for me.”

halfway through the rn to bSn program, reiniche is using the knowledge she acquires in the classroom in her professional work. “the courses have ‘real life’ application and have helped prepare me to face challenges in the current healthcare climate. this program pushes its students to challenge themselves, and through various instructional methods, enhances the development of nurses as professionals.”

“this program has challenged me to grow professionally and to examine nursing theory and best practices that will be important as our profession progresses,” says reiniche. in addition to gaining skills and knowledge she can use immediately, reiniche also believes it is preparing her to pursue a master of Science in nursing program in the future.

strong foundations

“The courses have ‘real life’ application and have helped prepare me to face challenges in the current healthcare climate. This program pushes its students to challenge themselves, and through various instructional methods, enhances the development of nurses as professionals.”tressa reiniche,

current bsn student

tressa reiniche cares for an infant during her time as an obstetrical nurse.

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education at cleveland bible college before transferring to greenville college. before he could finish his bachelor’s degree requirements, his gi bill funds ran out. his path toward a bachelor’s degree was derailed for a few years.

as a young married man with two children, who needed to provide for his family, borsheim put his education aside and accepted a pastoral position in ohio. after one year pastoring, borsheim returned to his native state to work at general motors in Flint.

with a steady job in hand, borsheim’s focus shifted nearly completely away from education, but every once in a while he felt a small flickering desire to finish the degree that he was so close to finishing in his late twenties. “i felt bad i went all but one semester without graduating, but i couldn’t fuss over it too much,” says borsheim, who continued working for gm

while also pursuing a new desire to serve christ by running the book cart ministry part time at the genesee county Jail.“i thought i would be a pastor. god called me for this type of ministry,” says borsheim, who also served as chaplain during his time in the navy. in 1979, borsheim retired from gm, but immediately shifted his priorities toward the prison ministry full time.around the same time, Spring arbor began offering degree completion programs in Flint. at the time, SaU had a two-plus-two program arrangement with baker college. borsheim enrolled and graduated with the class of 1981. after more than 30 years, borsheim, with fond memories of junior college, returned to Spring arbor’s main campus to walk at his graduation. today, borsheim continues to serve as a chaplain for the genesee county Jail, as part of

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the Forgotten man ministry program. at 93, he has scaled his full-time ministry work down to three days a week. borsheim has successfully counseled many men over the years. Some have found the lord and continue to write letters to him on a regular basis. “i owe a lot to Spring arbor for their kindness over the years,” says borsheim.these are only a few examples of how Spring arbor University has been serving michigan and ohio through accelerated degree completion programs for the past 30 years. SaU’s commitment of christ as the perspective for learning is the foundation of the gpS program. natalie gianetti ’78, interim dean for the School of graduate and professional Studies says, “our years of experience coupled with a christian perspective and service to students sets us apart.”

Spring arbor began a prison ministry program.

that program quickly morphed to serve the public in the early 1980s.

the management of human resources program was the first accelerated degree completion program offered by SaU in Jackson.

1979

1980

The first cohort started Jan. 6, with 18 students.

due to great success in Jackson, SaU moved the program to Flint in February 1983, then to lansing in march 1984.

over the years more programs and sites were added.

1983 currently, SaU has 14 sites and offers programs at several other locations in michigan and ohio.

more than 12,000 people have completed accelerated degree completion programs.

as one of the early leaders in this type of higher education programming, today Spring arbor University competes with several other colleges.

2012

A progression of excellence in graduate and professional studies

the principles on which the accelerated degree program began continue to help the University stand out among its competition.

accelerated degree completion programs are designed for working adults who have 58 transferrable credits and want to finish a bachelor’s degree.

most classes meet one night a week.

degrees offered in business, education, human services, nursing & ministry.

Interested in seeing how SAU can help you take your career to that next level? classes are forming now at 14 locations across michigan and in northern ohio and online through SaU online.

For more information, visit arbor.edu/ignite.

GPS

[ above, top row right ] Louis Borsheim with other members of a field-service team. [ above ] today borsheim serves in the Forgotten man ministry.

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when the unexpected happens, a person’s true character and faith are tested. Sometimes the test happens early in life as the result of a worldwide tragedy like war, and sometimes the test happens much later for individuals seemingly in the blink of an eye.

These are the redeemed of the Lord and here are their stories.

when pat (mckenna Jc ’54) seraydarian woke up on July 16, 1996, on the fl oor of the Sun city, nev., home she shared with husband, Jim, she never imagined the journey she was about to encounter. home alone as her husband played his monday morning round of golf, Seraydarian quickly realized she could not get up. She managed to get herself into the bathroom before her husband returned home — earlier than normal. it became apparent to Seraydarian that her life would never be the same. She had suffered a stroke that would plague her livelihood. though it gave her reason to pause, she recovered and has spent each day since working to improve the lives of those around her. “it was a devastating experience, but the lord has been so good to me. i’m still here. my mind is clear. i have so many blessings,” says Seraydarian. with that perspective, it is easy to see how Seraydarian continues to touch the lives of so many through her written work, her philanthropy and her community and church involvement. a lifelong teacher and writer who offi cially retired in 1987, Seraydarian fi nds herself rejoicing in her blessings as she writes another book chapter or watches a sunrise or rings a bell for the Salvation army. So, it is no surprise that she credits her faith. “i would not have made it without my faith. my faith started at 12-years-old, when i went forward, as we did in those days, to an altar and committed myself to Jesus christ. that faith has carried me through my life and has never let me down.” that faith provided a solid foundation throughout Seraydarian’s life. She was born into the

by Julie tison

struggling family of loren and helen mcKenna. “our family was short on

material things, but long on love and values. the most infl uential person

in my life was my grandmother, cora balyeat mcKenna. grandma always

had time for a chattering, questioning little girl. while neither of my

parents had high school diplomas, they instilled in my brother and me a

love of learning.” her brother david mckenna Jc ’49, who served as SaU’s

21st president, attended college, but the same path was not encouraged

for Seraydarian. “while i was a good student, college was discouraged.

more emphasis was put on my having practical skills so i would always

have a job.” after high school, Seraydarian accepted a secretarial job. “a

summer behind a desk taught me there must be more to life. in 1952, i

followed my brother’s footsteps,” says Seraydarian. “we were raised in

an evangelical church where everything was a sin — everything. my mother

approved my going to Spring arbor because it was Free methodist.”

Seraydarian gained some freedom when she came to Spring arbor. “i

learned that the narrow path in which i had been raised was not

necessary. there were things far more important than the externals.

Spring arbor played a big role in that. i was a good student in high school,

but i wasn’t challenged. at Spring arbor, i learned to study. when i

transferred to the University of michigan, i did it with absolutely no

academic problems.” Seraydarian always enjoyed writing, but she never

gave much thought to turning it into a career — at least not until a few key

professors encouraged her.

tell us YOUR redemption story.redeemed@arbor.edu

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“i wrote a paper for dr. lucy maddox in my freshman english class. She said, ‘you need to review agreement.’ well that floored me because I had excellent grammar teachers and i didn’t think there was anything i didn’t know, but i followed her advice and i’ve learned so much. when i went to michigan, a sociology professor said, you have a real gift for writing. i began to think, maybe i can do something with this.”

after earning an associate degree from Spring arbor, Seraydarian earned a bachelor’s, a master’s and a doctoral degree from the University of michigan. She began a teaching career at taylor Schools (michigan), where she taught business courses for 14 years before moving on to teach at oakland community college for 18 years.

“i enjoyed every minute of my teaching career. i was able to influence students. I still have

pat’s storyScan this code to see Pat’s Redeemed video interview.

[continued]

letters from many, one of whom said, ‘pat, i wouldn’t be anything if it were not for you.’ that makes me happy.”

“Somewhere the lord had to be in it, because a gentleman from

Houghton-Mifflin heard of me, visited me and said we’d like you to join our author team. well that was a dream that i had, with no idea it would ever come true.” in 1970, Seraydarian joined the author team at Houghton-Mifflin. She has published 24 books, which includes 14 textbooks and five Christian books. The other ones are for the general market.

to say Seraydarian was an accomplished professional would be a severe understatement. in addition to teaching and authoring numerous books, Seraydarian consulted for the State of michigan education department and started her own company. despite receiving her education before computers were commonplace, she became an expert writing the word perfect manual for business educators. in 1973, she was named an “outstanding educator in america.”

after retiring, Seraydarian and her husband, also an educator, moved to nevada, where Seraydarian became involved in the local community. they joined mountain view presbyterian church, a small congregation of around 100, which grew to include 700 members in five years. Seraydarian served as an ordained elder in the church, as moderator for presbyterian women in Sun city, and led a bible study. She became active in the Salvation army and was elected as president of the women’s auxiliary.

“when i had my stroke, major maud Sullivan [Salvation army] decided she was going to be my chaplain. one day she came in, and said, ‘pat, i don’t know what it

is, but god has something yet for you to do. You’re going to be fine.’ i’ve never forgotten that because i’ve done more things since then than i ever did before. things that i never dreamed i could do.”

in the days, months and years following her stroke, Seraydarian experienced many additional illnesses that impacted her life.

From heart valve replacement and bypass surgery to shingles to unexplained blackouts, Seraydarian had to learn to navigate through her new life. though it was no longer carefree, she continued to see joy.

after regaining strength, physically and mentally, Seraydarian continues to bless others. “things fall into place. you begin to do something different, and yet you can see that god is in it. things just have a way of working out.”

Seraydarian re-established herself within the church and community. recently, she developed a children’s library at mountain view presbyterian church. She also continues to devote countless hours to the Salvation army, where she helped establish the celebration of life Fund, which helps women and children. the idea came to her as she read the paper one morning.

“there was a picture of a woman at a bus stop holding her son’s hand. the little boy said, ‘where are we gonna sleep tonight, momma?’ i thought this shouldn’t be happening in our city. we have too many resources. So the idea of a program, where the funds would go exclusively to women and children, came to mind.”

her dedication to the community was demonstrated again as she worked a table for the angel tree program. a woman came up and Seraydarian began asking her some questions. “i asked for clothes sizes and she gave me that. i said, ‘now how about a toy?’

One day she came in, and said, ‘Pat, I don’t know what it is, but God has something yet for you to do. You’re going to be fine.’ I’’ve never forgotten that because I’’ve done more things since then than I ever did before. Things that I never dreamed I could do.”

pat Seraydarian [right] with maJor rhonda lloyd

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gives god the glory for keeping him strong and helping him to abstain from activities that were not god-honoring.

“it was during some of those experiences when my faith was tested. i can honestly say that i never had any temptation to either smoke or drink, as most of the guys did. they just pressured me and it didn’t bother me at all,” says Jackson. that witness followed him into combat, when the men went from persecuting Jackson to following his lead.

“when we got into some pretty tough situations, some of my crew would come to me. i would try to get to chapel every Sunday if we weren’t flying.” Many of the crew followed him.

Jackson’s faith was tested regularly, especially when flying missions from guam to Japan. he experienced many close calls from

december 7, 1941, is a day that lives in infamy for homer Jackson. not only was it the day the Japanese attacked pearl harbor, hawaii, ushering the United States into the Second world war, but it is also the day that god set Jackson’s life on a divinely-directed course that has led him beyond U.S. borders to places around the world and to people living in distant lands. this journey has led him to where he is today and, in many respects, has shaped who he is today.

on that fateful day, Jackson was a freshman studying at Spring arbor Junior college. after receiving news about the attack, Jackson, like many other young men, decided to enlist and chose to train at the aviation cadet flying program with the army air corp.

putting his studies on hold at Spring arbor, Jackson began studying how to fly planes and eventually joined the Pacific Theater.

almost immediately, Jackson faced temptation to succumb to the various vices many other cadets enjoyed while on base. Jackson

let the redeemed

She said, ‘no toys, no toys!’ i said, ‘wait a minute, they’re kids. they need toys.’ She said, ‘no, i need shoes.’ She went on to tell me that she had three children, and each child was attending school every third day, sharing one pair of shoes. now if that doesn’t keep you involved, nothing will.”

last year alone, the program Seraydarian helped establish as a result of this encounter gave 141 shoe certificates to needy children. her dedication continues to receive respect. She was chosen as the 2011 western territory of the Salvation army volunteer of the year. “it’s a big point of pride in my life,” says Seraydarian, who was nominated by rhonda lloyd, the Salvation army’s major in las vegas.

her triumphs are not without momentary setbacks. “i woke up one morning totally depressed. i went to my office and when I came out, i looked out the window. the sunrise was gorgeous. i stood there in awe, literally in awe. and it was as if a voice said to me, Pat, the God who is directing that beautiful sunrise is the same God who is taking care of you. it restored my confidence, my depression was gone, and i was able to go through my day with no problems.”

that renewing experience helps Seraydarian through those rare hard days. “many times if i get up and i’m wobbly, I say Lord, you take over. Help me with this step. he does and i’m able to continue.”

She continues to write and publish books. “i like to be busy and god gives me the strength. my aim now is to learn to write for the Kindle. Some people say you are too old to start over and i say no way. i’ve got to keep going.”

“the lord just has blessed me immensely, and i am very pleased. i would not have made it without my faith.”

LET THE

H O M E R J A C K S O N

SAY SO

H H H H H H H H H H H H H H

OF THE

REDEEMED

LORD

“We were shot up pretty bad. We finally landed on a different island than our homebase and the base engineer just looked at me and said, ‘you shouldn’t even be here. that wing should never have stayed on.’”

By Kelly Skarritt-Williams

[continued from page 11]

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angus code here

copy

homer’s storyScan this code to see Homer’s Redeemed video interview.

for the full story, visit arbor.edu/Journal

which he could have only emerged unscathed because god’s hand was on him and his fellow pilots. Jackson recalls one such incident:

“we were shot up pretty bad. we finally landed on a different island than our homebase and the base engineer just looked at me and said, ‘you shouldn’t even be here. that wing should never have stayed on.’ we’d already lost one engine and this was a second one. these were times when there was no question that god had his hand over us and brought us in.”

Jackson fought in the war right up until the atom bombs were dropped over hiroshima and nagasaki. after the war, Jackson remained in active reserves for many years. as soon as he could, Jackson returned to Spring arbor to complete his junior college education in 1946. in that same year, he married allene (bouck Jc ’46) and, together, they had three children, all who eventually attended Spring arbor University.

he then enrolled at general motors tech in Flint, studying there for three semesters. From there, Jackson began teaching and coaching at otisville high School (michigan). after two years he went to greenville college, where

he earned his bachelor’s degree, as well as a teaching certificate. immediately out of college, he taught for two more years at otisville.

he then traveled back to his hometown of davison, mich., where he taught and coached at the high school for five years. in 1957 god led him back to Spring arbor.

“One of my first cousins, roderick smith, came as president and needed a dean of men and a coach,” says Jackson, who coached basketball, track and eventually baseball. he also served as the athletic director.

Jackson served in that role and then as dean of students, before taking the newly-created position of director of admissions in 1963.

“For the next 24 years, i traveled quite a few miles by land, sea and air,” says Jackson. Just as he had

flown around the world for the Air Force, he now flew for Spring Arbor.

Jackson’s recruitment efforts included those from many different backgrounds. he often traveled with coaches to help recruit athletes, he sought out students of color, and even traveled overseas to reach out to international students.

Just as when he felt the call to fight in world war ii, despite the danger he knew he’d encounter, Jackson never backed down from a call to go into dangerous places if it meant bringing new students to Spring arbor. wherever he went, god also went, keeping him safe.

during the detroit riots of 1968, a time of violence and turmoil, then-president david mckenna Jc ’49 wanted to help students in detroit. he felt for those students whose parents had lost their livelihood in the riots and might not be able to afford college. he

asked Jackson to go into detroit and recruit students to come to Spring arbor, tuition-free. although violence was still erupting, Jackson responded to the call. ten students expressed interest and seven eventually enrolled.

Jackson’s interactions with students of color also led him toward reconciliation with the land he had once helped bomb. it started with this son, barry ’70, and daughter-in-law, linda (bonnie ’71), who were looking for a place they could serve after graduating from Spring arbor. Jackson encouraged them to look into asia. Jackson, accompanied by his wife, went to visit them in Japan — in the land he had once considered enemy territory.

“Although I had flown over it many times, i had never stepped foot on it. and, i can tell you, it was one of the weirdest feelings i’d ever had in my life — actually putting foot down on soil that we had bombed.”

he later returned to Japan to recruit students. he made connections, not just with prospective students, but with the Japanese living there. and, with every trip, god showed him he still had his hand on Jackson.

Although he officially retired in 1987, Jackson has not stopped recruiting for Spring arbor. he has traveled to Japan to continue his recruiting efforts, and also volunteered with the east west Foundation and a christian kindergarten operated out of tokyo. Since retiring, Jackson also travels to the light and life park in lakeland, Fla., every winter. but, unlike many retirees who go there to relax, Jackson, along with a crew of retired professionals, travels throughout the southern states helping with various construction and renovation projects.

today, as Jackson continues to do the work of god, he marvels at what has been accomplished in and around him, especially in regards to the progress of Spring arbor University, his beloved alma mater.

“to see the progression of the campus and programs has been just phenomenal. i still pinch myself to have to make myself believe it, that this has all happened.”

homer JacKSon at hiS alma mater

“Although I had flown over it many times, I had never stepped foot on it. and, i can tell you, it was one of the weirdest feelings i’d ever had in my life — actually putting foot down on soil that we had bombed.”

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sally (reed ’94) ingles, associate professor of education, received the inaugural mcKenna Scholars endowment award, which was established through an endowment fund within the life and estate plan of david l. Jc ’49 and Janet r. (voorheis hs ’48, Jc ’50, ’74) mckenna. the goal of the award is to highlight the Spring arbor University concept through the encouragement, support and

stimulation of the scholarly contributions of the Spring arbor University faculty, especially those in the early stages of their career.

david mcKenna served as SaU’s 21st president from 1961-68, where he guided the University

through significant growth, including the progression of Spring arbor from a junior college to a four-year college. mcKenna is also credited, along with a select host of faculty-scholars, with authoring the Spring arbor University concept.

he remembers being a young professional trying to live out the principles of lifelong learning and critical participation. “we wanted to do something to honor

faculty who had seen that same vision to continue research as their professional careers grow,” says mcKenna.

after reading a study that showed new faculty who do not participate in research and other growth opportunities within the first five years of teaching never get

involved with research, mcKenna decided to take action. “we wanted to give scholars an incentive to continue the pursuit of lifelong learning as they sacrifice during the early years in their profession,” says mcKenna. “Several faculty choose to teach at Spring arbor over much larger institutions, which shows a strong faith and calling commitment. these scholars will become the future of the institution.”

the mcKenna Scholars endowment Fund was established in honor of david mcKenna’s sister, patricia (mckenna Jc ’54) seraydarian. dr. Seraydarian is distinguished by her radiant christian witness, scholarly achievements, and national recognition in the field of business education. She has authored over 23 books and is a charter member and elder leader of mountain view presbyterian church in Sun city, nev. based on her leadership, Seraydarian was chosen for the women’s auxiliary award of excellence for the Salvation army western territory. “She is an exemplar of the scholarship

integration of faith and learning,” says University president charles webb.

ingles was selected by a committee of faculty peers appointed by the provost. the award includes $10,000 to fund research or a scholarly project. ingles is working on publishing a book that will be a valuable resource for teacher preparation programs across the nation. “it will provide a synthesis of contemporary research on the predictive validity of traditional teacher candidate selection criteria, as well as more contemporary research on less traditional selection criteria, which measure prospective candidates’ social and emotional intelligence (soft skills),” says ingles.

this book will also include tools that will be of practical value to teacher preparation programs. among those practical resources will be activity descriptions, skill-development exercises, and related rubrics by which to assess and develop teacher candidates’ “soft skills.”

dr. ingleS receiveS $10,000 checK For mcKenna ScholarShip

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community of learners

the goal of the mcKenna Scholars endowment award is to highlight the Spring arbor University concept through the encouragement, support and stimulation of the scholarly contributions of the Spring arbor University faculty...

InAuGurAl McKenna ScholarS award PrESEntEd to EducAtIon ProfESSor

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hernandez named second andrews chair recipientlast october, Spring arbor University named wilfredo “wil” c. hernandez, ph.d., the e.a. and bessie andrews endowed chair for Spiritual Formation — the second recipient of this honor. the chair was first established in 2009 to embed the concepts of spiritual formation within the evangelical

christian community, as well as to honor the doctrines and beliefs of the Free methodist church.

hernandez came to SaU in early 2011 to serve as director of the master of arts in Spiritual Formation and leadership program. he says being named the andrews chair, as well as taking the helm of the spiritual formation program, is like a dream come true. “i am challenged to be

immersed in the very things i always imagine myself being involved in — something that i know impacts people in ways that are so rewarding,” says hernandez.

along with a heart for spiritual formation, hernandez brings extensive ministry and teaching experience and academic scholarship to his role as spiritual formation expert and guide. hernandez received a bachelor of Fine arts at the University of the philippines, a diploma in christian counseling from the alliance biblical Seminary, a master of theology from dallas theological Seminary, and in 2005 he earned a doctorate from Fuller theological Seminary in practical theology with a concentration in spirituality.

hernandez is a trained counselor and certified spiritual director who devotes part of his time “companioning” others in their spiritual journey. a nouwen scholar, he regularly conducts retreats, workshops, seminars, and lectures across the United States and abroad focusing on the teachings of henri nouwen, an internationally renowned priest, author, professor and pastor who wrote over 40 books on the spiritual life.

hernandez also teaches courses on the spirituality of nouwen at various catholic and protestant seminaries and universities including Fuller theological Seminary, Azusa Pacific University, loyola marymount University, hope international University, oblate School of theology and tyndale Seminary. hernandez authored Henri Nouwen: A Spirituality of Imperfection and Henri Nouwen and Soul Care: A Ministry of

Integration. a third book, which rounds out the trilogy, is titled Henri Nouwen and Spiritual Polarities: A Life of Tension, and was released in February.

prior to his work in higher education, hernandez worked with campus crusade for christ for 18 years and served as a part-time volunteer with the center for christian leadership at dallas theological Seminary. he later acted as director of the Southern california postmodern mission project under the leadership institute in orange, calif., and served as coordinator of Spiritual Formation partners with the Spiritual Formation alliance of Southern california.

“i am honored to be the recipient of the andrews chair because i feel passionate about the field of spiritual formation and how SaU, as an institution, can be on the cutting edge of this burgeoning and evolving arena. i am a natural networker and it’s gratifying to invest in something that i truly enjoy — extending our influence to the broader spectrum of the body of christ.”

hernandez resides in arcadia, calif., and is married to Juliet. together, they have two sons, Jonathan and david.

“i feel profound gratitude for receiving such a prestigious award and generous gift,” says ingles. “it is humbling to be selected by a committee of my peers whose scholarly works i esteem highly and to receive an award endowed in honor of dr. patricia Seraydarian, a Christian scholar, prolific author, and devoted follower of christ who has a legacy of critical participation in the world.”

the mcKenna Scholars award helped fund ingles’ travel to national conferences and helped her hire a literary agent to secure a publishing contract. in october, ingles presented her research findings at the fall conference of the illinois association of teacher preparation in private colleges at the University of illinois. in may, ingles will again present her mcKenna Scholars research at the international christian community for teacher education at azusa Pacific University.

“the dissemination of this research should prompt leaders in the field of education (governmental bodies, accrediting agencies, and teacher preparation programs) to re-evaluate the emphasis placed upon commonly used teacher candidate selection criteria, and to instate more effective, research-based selection criteria,” says ingles.

“It is affirming to know that this research possesses scholarly merit and ‘kingdom value.’ it also is indicative that now is the time to publish and share this research project with a national audience.”

“this research project results in numerous publications that critically impact the field of education and touch hearts and lives for god’s glory,” says ingles.

proFeSSor wil hernandeZ

“i am honored to be the recipient of the andrews Chair because I feel passionate about the field of spiritual formation and how SaU, as an institution, can be on the cutting edge of this burgeoning and evolving arena.”

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faculty accomplishments

bruce baldwin and tom kuntzleman, professors of chemistry, published a paper titled “adventures in coaching young chemists” in the Journal of Chemical Education.

michael buratovich, professor of biochemistry, wrote 10 articles for scholarly journals such as Salem Health and Reports of the national center for Science education, and contributed a chapter to the book, Biochemical Engineering.

Jim coe, dean of the gainey School of business, founded the immanuel vocational and technical institute in hyderabad, india.

Jonathan garn, assistant professor of art, was the visiting artist to the campus of georgia Southwestern State University, department of visual arts. this included speaking to multiple art classes, a gallery talk and a solo exhibition, “objects and metaphors,” in the James earl carter library gallery.

wil hernandez, associate professor of christian spirituality, director of spiritual formation and leadership, and andrews chair in Spiritual Formation, published three dictionary entries for the recently released Dictionary of Christian Spirituality (Zondervan, 2011) on the topics of “Soul,” “care of Souls,” and “perfection.” he also led three separate henri nouwen retreats across the United States.

matthew hill, assistant professor of philosophy, wrote two articles for the medical journal, JAAPA. the articles are titled, “when mother wants a Script: the ethics of treating Family members” and “moral coding: are you committing Fraud?”

amber lange, master’s in counseling adjunct, received the don dinkmeyer Social interest award. the american counseling association award recognizes an individual or organization that has

made a significant contribution in the counseling field in support of families and family members.

dale linton, assistant professor of education, karen parsons, librarian, and affiliate faculty, sue pederson and diane crosley acted as consultants to vicki Kloosterhouse, dean of the School of education at africa bible college University (abcU) in liberia. this University was literally destroyed in the 14-year civil war and has been able to rebuild through the efforts of Samaritan’s purse. the rebuilt abcU is entering its fourth year and will be getting ready to send out its first group of student teachers this fall. the Soe freely shared its expertise, forms, manuals, policies and procedures with abcU when Kloosterhouse came to SaU for a day in may.

becky veydt, adjunct communication faculty, authored multiple chapters in Elements of Spiritual Formation, part of the lenten book Series by dr. david mcdonald.

charles white, professor of christian thought and history, completed the exegetical checking on three chapters of John’s gospel in the mbula language and taught at Summit ministry’s worldview camp in wisconsin.

kathy wilcox, assistant professor of education, along with colleagues from the University of texas, San antonio, had a manuscript, “Just-in-time pedagogy: teachers’ perspectives on the response to intervention Framework” approved for publication in the Journal of Research in Reading.

dan runyon, associate professor of english, completed the book, The Holy War: Annotated Companion to The Pilgrim’s Progress, after taking a sabbatical in Fall 2011. pickwick press will publish the book, though a definite date of publication has not been released.

this book is a follow-up to the dissertation runyon wrote on John bunyan and his battle allegory, The Holy War, when he was completing a doctorate in 17th century english literature. The Holy War is a relatively unknown sequel to the very famous The Pilgrim’s Progress. according to runyon, the most recent scholarly edition of The Holy War was published by

oxford University press some 30 years ago and does not contain recent research. it is out of print and almost impossible to find. As the recognized authority on this book by Bunyan, Runyon was invited to write the introduction and provide the annotations to a new scholarly edition useful as a university text for those studying bunyan.

runyon is scheduled to teach an english literature class in the spring of 2013 called major authors: John Bunyan. The entire course will be devoted to this one author, his sermons, autobiography, poetry and fiction.

education and nursing programs receive accreditation

in Fall 2011, two academic programs at Spring arbor University received accreditation from prestigious accrediting bodies within their respective fields.

the School of education’s teacher certification program received five years of accreditation from the teacher

education accreditation council (teac), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving academic degree programs for professional educators, those who will teach and lead in schools, pre-K through 12. teac’s goal is to support the preparation of competent, caring and qualified professional educators.

the master of Science in nursing program received accreditation from the commission on collegiate nursing

education, the same organization that has accredited SaU’s bachelor of Science in nursing program. the ccne is an autonomous accrediting agency whose mission includes the assessment and identification of nursing programs that engage in effective educational practices.

toda

y

senior violinist plays with Jackson symphony orchestra rico gonzalez (San antonio) has been a musician for as long as he can remember. “i started playing the piano at three and music has always been a big part of my life,” says gonzalez, who used to play in his family’s mariachi band.

gonzalez credits his parents for introducing him to music. after learning to play the piano, gonzalez continued to pick up other instruments and his love for music grew. today, gonzalez is a senior worship arts major and his instrument of choice these days switches between the violin and the guitar.

this fall, gonzalez also began playing for the local Jackson Symphony orchestra after bruce brown, professor of music and chair of the music department, encouraged him to try out. brown serves as composer in

residence for the Jackson Symphony orchestra.

“rico is certainly a dynamic performer, and he plays with a lot

of flair,” says Brown. “Rico performed in a competitive audition earlier this year and was selected based on doing well in that audition.”

gonzalez transferred to Spring arbor University from the University of texas at austin, and although he is heavily involved in musical groups on campus, he missed playing with a bigger orchestra.

playing in this type of setting is nothing new for gonzalez. after getting his start in the performance world through his family’s mariachi band, he also played in the

arbor90-piece San antonio youth Symphony as a teenager. during that stint, gonzalez toured europe.

as the youngest member of the Jackson Symphony orchestra, gonzalez does not take his role for granted. “when i am on stage using my talents, it keeps my fire burning,” said gonzalez, who is poised to graduate in may. “my music is god’s gift to me, and i know he will keep blessing me if i continue to use it.”

in his performances with the Jackson Symphony orchestra, Gonzalez is among the first violins. “rico has played in two concerts with the JSo so far this year, and has done very well,” says brown.

gonzalez also credits his parents for encouraging his musical talents even when it interfered with other interests. in high school, gonzalez was captain of his soccer team and concertmaster of orchestra. at times, he had to choose between his two loves, but his parents were always supportive.

at Spring arbor, gonzalez is a member of chapel band where he plays guitar, has played solos with the string orchestra and serves as concertmaster (student leader) of the string group. in addition, gonzalez does studio recording at Sonar Studios in tecumseh, mich. he is also involved in his church at bandera road community church in San antonio.

“music is my passion. not very many people get to do work they truly enjoy, and i don’t take that for granted,” said gonzalez.

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according to brown, gonzalez has a goal to combine his musical gifts with ministry.

Some of his work can be viewed on youtube, at youtube.com/user/ricogonzalezmusic. after college, gonzalez plans to head to nashville to pursue studio recording.

while he is the youngest member of JSo, according to brown, Gonzalez is not the first University student to perform with JSo. “we have had other students involved in the JSo. Senior matthew polson (Jackson) played in the JSo before he transferred to Spring arbor, and he is currently involved in leading one of the JSo string groups for children. matt is graduating with a degree in teacher education,” says brown.

For more information about the music department at Spring arbor University, visit arbor.edu/majors.

sau and Jcc offer higher education in downtown Jackson to over 500Spring arbor University and Jackson community college recently joined together to allow more students in the area to take classes in downtown Jackson. Jcc is leasing space from Spring arbor University’s downtown location at 113 w. michigan ave. Spring arbor University has utilized this location since 2005, and has offered classes in Jackson at other locations since 1980. currently, between the two higher education institutions, more than 500 students are utilizing the classroom space in downtown Jackson.

“this is a win-win for Spring arbor University and Jackson community college as we strive to offer more opportunities for those in the

rico gonZaleZ playing at SaU’S hanging oF the greenS

“ my music is god’s gift to me, and i know he will keep blessing me if i continue to use it.”

arborJackson community,” says charles webb, SaU president. “it shows the commitment of both institutions toward the Jackson community and we are pleased to help make this a reality.”

plans for this venture began in november and the process moved quickly as Jcc began to offer classes on monday, Jan. 9. more than 300 students are currently attending Jcc classes downtown this semester. Jcc is currently offering a variety of classes including english, mathematics, business administration, accounting, psychology, sociology, computer information systems, communications and more.

“Jackson community college is pleased with this new initiative to

offer classes in downtown Jackson. this is yet one more way Jackson’s institutions of higher education are working together to offer more opportunities for individuals interested in furthering their education,” says Jcc president daniel J. phelan.

the building has six classrooms and Jcc will utilize the space from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the week, since Spring arbor University’s classes in downtown Jackson meet in the evenings.

dan vainner will serve as Jcc’s downtown center manager. “we’ve had a very warm reception in this location, and many students have left with smiles. Some have said they would like more classes here,” says vainner.

Spring arbor University’s Jackson site offers bachelor’s degree completion programs in business, family life education, organizational management, nursing and social work, as well as master’s degree programs in family studies and management. currently, 206 students are enrolled in Spring arbor University programs at the downtown Jackson site.

in addition to its main campus in Spring arbor, the Jackson location is one of 14 sites throughout michigan and ohio where Spring arbor University offers classes. For more than 30 years, Spring arbor University has provided convenient classes for working adults who desire to continue their education in evening and weekend formats. the academics are integrally linked to the University’s mission and concept.

more higher education opportunities are available through SaU online to accommodate individuals throughout the country, and, in growing numbers, the world. For more information about Spring arbor University and its downtown Jackson site, visit arbor.edu.

in addition to college classes, Jcc’s corporate and continuing Education office will use the downtown space to offer workshops and training for employers and the community. to learn more, visit Jcc’s website at jccmi.edu.

video major produces winning psa for new york organ donor networkSpring arbor University’s katelyn wheeler (owosso) recently won a contest the new york organ donor network sponsored to produce a public service announcement promoting organ donation. nearly 10,000 people in new york city alone are awaiting organ donation, and wheeler’s pSa may be used in their newest ad campaign.

“this pSa is about organ donation and promoting the need for people to sign up to be organ donors. when there are unexpected

accidents in someone’s life, there are opportunities to save other people lives. there are over 10,000 people on a waitlist for an organ in new york alone,” says wheeler, a junior video film major with a global missions minor.

wheeler’s video was one of 13 reviewed by a panel of judges, who narrowed the selection to five and

then posted the videos online and opened the contest up to public voting. wheeler launched a Facebook and email campaign to encourage friends and supporters to check out the finalist videos and cast a vote. according to the judges, wheeler’s entry was the top vote-getter, but also the judges’ favorite.

Wheeler created the video to fulfill an assignment in her advanced video production class, taught by dorie shelby ’92, associate professor of communication. all students in Shelby’s class are required to search for a national level contest and produce a video

project for entry. “Katelyn chose the organ donor pSa contest and i approved it,” says Shelby.

wheeler came up with the idea after brainstorming with her roommate. “i wanted to create a video that would be compelling to people as well as inspiring. i wanted to give people something to think about rather than just listening to people talk about it,” says wheeler, who produced a

a Scene From wheeler’S award-winning video

SaU and Jcc leaderShip

“I didn’t know what to think at first. God really took the video i made and did what he wanted with it, because he gave me the inspiration and ideas for the video and all i could do was create the video and turn it in,” says wheeler.

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state can prepare for the next economic storm. the speaker series was established to foster dialogue among community members and key leaders concerning contemporary issues related to social justice, culture and economics.

the leadership speaker series is funded through a gift by thomas cobb, a michigan philanthropist and banking industry professional. cobb had a vision for bringing in speakers who could speak to relevant issues of the day that complemented the mission of Spring arbor University, as detailed by the SaU concept. Ron Griffith, special assistant to the president, says, “i see the importance of this speaker series because we are enabling the last component of our concept statement, which calls its community of learners to be critical participants in the contemporary world, to be fulfilled.”

the University plans to hold one speaker engagement a year with a different topic highlighted each year. while the location for the event will change on an annual

basis, the inaugural event was held at the Jackson country club and drew approximately 120 people from around Jackson and neighboring communities.

“the thomas h. cobb president’s leadership Speaker Series provides our community the opportunity to hear and learn from world-renowned speakers while at the same time providing a significant service to our region and state. hearing and dialoguing with world leaders allows us unique insights into these issues and ideologies so that we are better prepared to engage the world in manners that are constructive and consistent with our mission,” says brent ellis, vice president for university advancement.

students energized by liberal arts exercise most students know that, in applying to liberal arts institutions, they will take classes that span a wide range of topics. but, explaining the intent behind a liberal arts education can often be hard to convey, especially for those questioning the usefulness of studying topics outside their major. Few get the opportunity to see all those disciplines working together to bring comprehensive meaning to a single topic.

recognizing this need, and anxious to broaden students’ minds about the critical importance of having a liberal arts perspective, mary (bock ’72, ’99) hayward, professor of computer science and director of the e.p. hart honors program, decided to try something new. it all started with a presentation by roger varland, professor of art and interim dean for the School of arts and Sciences, who used a pop can to demonstrate how the liberal arts were integrated into the

silent video. “actions speak louder than words, and i wanted the expressions on the faces of those in the video to express what someone would feel like if they needed an organ. life threatening diseases take the lives of great people every day.”

“i have had friends who have gotten sick and needed or will eventually need organs later in life, and i don’t want them to have to wait. i am an organ donor as well as a blood donor. as a healthy person, i believe that it is my duty to do all that i can in order to help those who are in need,” says wheeler, who credits Shelby for challenging her in class.

“dorie took the desire and passion that she saw in some of my work and started to train me and push me in a direction that she knew i would succeed,” says wheeler, who remembers going to Shelby just after her freshman year and sharing her professional goals. “She knew how to help me better reach those goals. dorie would critique all of my pieces in class with a kind, but critical eye. She knew exactly what would have made each piece better, and explained it to me in a way that i would understand and be able to apply to the rest of my projects. She is an amazing professor and i wouldn’t trade her for anything in the world,” says wheeler.

“Katelyn is a very conscientious student who has worked hard to learn both the tools and techniques of video production,” says Shelby.

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“anytime a student’s work is recognized by outside judges and viewed by the general public, it’s a significant honor. The work moves beyond a class assignment, to a piece that meets industry standards. that’s when it becomes resume-building, real world experience” says Shelby.

along with the recognition, wheeler also won an all-expense paid trip to the rose bowl and six days, five nights in Pasedena, calif., for her and a guest. wheeler plans to take her father.

wheeler’s initial reaction to her win was shock. “i didn’t know what to think at first. God really took the video i made and did what he wanted with it, because he gave me the inspiration and ideas for the video and all i could do was create the video and turn it in,” says wheeler.

“after graduation, i plan on going where god leads, but what i see myself doing is working for a non profit mission organization making videos to promote the needs of others in foreign and third-world countries. i desire to help people see that there is more need out there than just their own,” says wheeler.

to view wheeler’s award-winning video, go to youtube.com and search for “Save a life” by Katelyn wheeler.

speaker series examines key issuesin Fall 2011, Spring arbor University held the first event for its Thomas h. cobb president’s leadership Speaker Series, featuring david l. littmann, a senior economist at mackinac center for public policy. littmann focused on examining michigan’s current economic situation and discussed how the

david l. littmann

katelyn’s videoScan this code to see Katelyn’s award-winning video.

arborproduction and marketing of that product. hayward said that presentation really resonated with her and it planted a seed within her to do something similar for her group of honors students.

intrigued by a research article about the dangerous influence of energy drinks on athletes, hayward organized an event in which SaU honors students came together to examine the issue of energy drinks by engaging different academic disciplines — thus illustrating in a practical way how the liberal arts helps students see a single issue in a multi-faceted way.

“energy drinks and their use present a contemporary challenge for students. Students must understand how energy drinks impact them prior to making a decision to use them,” says hayward.

the students divided into small groups and began engaging in round-table discussions with professors from a wide range of departments and disciplines. the objective was to look at the issue of energy drinks from the viewpoint of that particular discipline. in one corner, students discussed the possible strategies behind marketing energy drinks, while at another table, students considered the psychology behind the sale and consumption of energy drinks. other students looked at the issue from a theological point of view, while others considered the long-lasting health impacts of consuming energy drinks. every few minutes, students would switch tables. at the conclusion of the event, students walked away with a definitively liberal arts perspective about energy drinks and a better understanding about the role of the liberal arts on their overall educational experience.

“i think that my understanding of the liberal arts has changed mainly because you never really think about how something simple like an energy drink has ripples in every area of study and work. theology and energy drinks? that’s crazy, and yet, it was connected quite well to the whole concept of the conference,” said freshman honors student, ron ullrich (hermitage, tenn.)

hayward was pleased that her brainchild had produced such revelations in the students, as well as the professors who said the event had left them feeling invigorated.

“overall, students were able to see that decisions they make on a routine basis require understanding of multiple disciplines,” says hayward, who hopes to continue this event annually.

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in 1920, olive Johnson, a bright, ambitious young woman from brantford, ontario, arrived at Spring arbor Seminary with $50 in her pocket and faith and courage in her heart. Johnson is long considered to be Spring arbor’s first black student.

having been raised in a christian home, and having attended a Free methodist church, Johnson decided to complete her high school education at Spring arbor.

She had dropped out of school at 14 to help support her family, but with their blessing, she decided it was time to return to school to earn her diploma at age 19.

Johnson’s father had encouraged his children to be overcomers, despite the disadvantages and discrimination that the black community often met with in those days. he had tried to instill a great sense of pride and hope in his children by teaching them about his three heroes: Frederick douglas, booker t. washington and abraham lincoln. among those, he revered washington the most. She recalled carrying her father’s words with her to school: “if booker t. washington could overcome poverty, ostracism and ridicule and achieve so much, so can you. remember, so can you,” Johnson said, recalling her father’s words, in an article from the June 5, 1983, issue of Evangel magazine.

armed with his challenge to make something of herself, Johnson decided she would answer that call. Johnson knew it would take a lot of hard work for her to not only succeed in her studies, but to also afford to remain at the seminary. To earn money, Johnson first worked in the school laundry, and later in one of the teacher’s homes. it was not easy for Johnson, but she persevered — determined to go the distance.

even though Spring arbor Seminary embraced the spirit of equality by making its christian educational experience accessible to all, Johnson’s experience of being the only black student at Spring arbor did not come without adversity. but she rose above the turmoil and overcame stereotypes and discrimination to become a well-respected and beloved student at Spring arbor Seminary.

in her senior year, a wealthy woman living in Jackson became Johnson’s benefactor — paying for all of her tuition that year so that Johnson only had to focus on her studies. it was such a blessing to Johnson, who had begun to suffer from poor health. with the help of her benefactors, Johnson would go on to pursue her bachelor’s at greenville college, and later, a master’s degree at University of michigan. although she continued to encounter discrimination and

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embracing the spirit of equality

A look BACK

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insults, she continued to overcome and excel. “with god’s help and papa’s challenge prodding me, i graduated.”

She would later live in the detroit area and, despite early difficulties finding a job because of her race, she eventually secured a job as a teacher for the inkster School district and later as a school social worker in 1948. She had gained much of her social work experience during her work at the Jackson Y.W.C.A. as the first Negro Girl reserve advisor. Since graduating from high school in 1924, Johnson went on to distinguish herself as a professional and an activist — inspiring countless people, especially those of her race.

in 1971, Johnson was honored by Spring arbor as the alumna of the year. at the time, her niece, marilyn (Johnson ’66) hayes had this to say, “you were always a source of inspiration to me; a person to whom i could turn for both spiritual guidance and for encouragement to make the most of my life. you always gave freely of your time and your good advice. during the years when i was growing up, i could look to your life

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when i needed an example of courage, kindness, resourcefulness, warmth, or any of the other qualities that are so essential for making a whole person. part of what i am, i owe to you.”

hayes’ brother, stephen Johnson, who taught in Spring arbor’s adult Studies program in the mid 80s, also found his aunt to be a great source of inspiration and motivation. “my aunt olive was one of those iconic persons in the whole Johnson family who every family wishes they had,” says Stephen. he remembers his aunt olive encouraging him to not become distracted, but rather to stay the course since, from her perspective, education was the key to achieving excellence. She wanted everyone to realize their own potential and be determined to succeed at whatever they were called to in life.

olive Johnson passed away in brantford, ontario, on may 21, 1982.

olive JohnSon in 1923

“ if booker t. washington could overcome poverty, ostracism and ridicule and achieve so much, so can you. remember, so can you,” Johnson said, recalling her father’s words.

By Kelly SKArrITT-WIllIAMS

cottingham accepted a teaching position at merrill alternative School in St. Johns, mich., where he taught for two years, after which cottingham felt god pulling him away to something else. about that time, he met up with an old teammate in Spring arbor. while there, they stopped in to see professor dave hamilton, a supporter of the cougar basketball program.

he asked hamilton, or dh, as they liked to call him, if he would keep his eye out for teaching positions in the area. “i thought if i could get a teaching job down here i could move this way and be an assistant coach. during my time in alma, i began to think, ‘i like this small college level.’ i believed that you could maintain balance with your life and family; you’re not gone around the clock,” says cottingham.

a week later, he received a call from the principal of nearby western high School, who said hamilton had recommended him for a math teacher position. cottingham interviewed and was offered the job. Shortly thereafter, he was also back at his alma mater serving as an assistant coach.

cottingham learned what it meant to be a godly mentor from his coaches. after high school, cottingham attended Kalamazoo valley community college, where he played under dick Schultz, whose coaching style and example as a strong, christian man inspired cottingham. “he’s rock solid: he’s just done things the right way for a very long time. because of that my appreciation for him has grown,” says cottingham.

after playing two years for Schultz, cottingham

decided to transfer to a four-year college. that’s when he became acquainted with a small Free methodist college in south-central michigan. cottingham transferred and finished his collegiate career at SaU.

at Spring arbor, cottingham began to develop a desire to teach and coach. after graduation, cottingham began seeking a K-12 teaching job. he moved to alma, mich., to serve as an assistant coach at alma college where he realized his coaching path might lie at the collegiate level. Still, he continued seeking high school teaching positions.

ryan cottingham ’94 has always had a passion for sports. the consummate jock, he played basketball, football and ran track at his high school in three rivers, mich. cottingham’s focus shifted almost entirely to basketball after he blew out his knee. Fast forward more than 20 years, and cottingham has distinguished himself as a successful head coach, both on and off the court, and a godly mentor whose love for the game has only been surpassed by his love for his players, his colleagues, his alma mater and his lord.

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that spring, doug noll, Spring arbor’s head coach, accepted the men’s head coach position at indiana University-purdue University Fort wayne. in 1999, cottingham stepped into the role of head coach at Spring arbor; a role he has thrived in for 13 years. “here i was, at age 27, thinking i’m ready, i want this chance. when i made the decision to try the college route, Spring arbor was where i wanted to be,” says cottingham. “it’s just been a phenomenal experience, a great blessing. i feel so fortunate to be a part of a great community.”

when cottingham inherited the men’s basketball program, there was some room for improvement. two years prior, the cougars had gone to the elite 8 in the naia tournament, and had set the school record for most wins. Unfortunately, the program couldn’t maintain the momentum. the year cottingham served as assistant coach, the team only knocked out seven wins. he knew it would take some work to make the program consistently competitive.

in addition to the goals he set for the team on the court, cottingham soon began to set priorities that had more to do with what happened off of it. mentorship and leadership training became as important as winning.

“you talk about conference and national championships and you think it’s all about winning on the

court. but, the longer you are in it, the more you realize what’s really important. you play to win, but it really becomes more about impacting lives and making a difference in young people,” says cottingham.

his coaching style began to have an impact on the young men. “coach cottingham is hands-down the best coach i have ever had. he not only teaches basketball; he teaches about life,” says junior matt howe (richland).

“he lives what he preaches and puts other people first. Coach cottingham sets an example for his players by playing an active role on campus, in the community, and, most importantly, as a christian,” says Jared list ’10, who played small forward and now works as a corporate accountant at air advantage.

one of cottingham’s greatest joys is seeing his players mature. “i love watching them come in as these naïve 18-year-olds, but leaving with a much different perspective and, i think, a better grasp of humility,”

says cottingham, who treasures the deep and lasting friendships he often develops with players.

Since taking the men’s basketball helm, cottingham has led the cougars to back-to-back nccaa national championships in 2005 and 2006. they were nccaa runners-up in 2008 and again in 2011, and made it to the naia

Sweet 16 in 2010. while these achievements certainly make cottingham’s chest swell with pride, he says season records and national championships are not the only things that matter.

“being highly competitive on the playing field just gives us a great platform. it allows us the visibility, i think, to impact more lives. but, ultimately, it’s about the Kingdom.

it’s about doing work for christ and honoring god in everything. we hope to use the sport to make a difference in the lives of people, and i don’t know what could be more important,” says cottingham, who also serves as the assistant athletic director and runs summer youth basketball camps for the community.

and, that commitment to modeling godliness is evident throughout the entire SaU athletic program. cottingham knows not all of his basketball players come in with strong christian backgrounds. he sees it as his job to show christ’s love to each player, knowing he might be planting seeds that grow and mature into a relationship with christ.

“it’s about loving people and exposing them to christ. we’ve seen young people come to know christ here. and at times, it doesn’t happen until later in their lives,” says cottingham, who says his own life and spiritual walk have been strengthened over the years. “i think my ability to connect and relate with people has improved. Spring arbor University is a very special place. it was special when i was a student, and that’s why my ultimate goal was to get back here. it continues to be a special place.”

“you talk about conference and national championships and you think it’s all about winning on the court. but, the longer you are in it, the more you realize what’s really important. you play to win, but it really becomes more about impacting lives and making a difference in young people,” says cottingham.

coach cottingham and hiS team

women’s soccer makes naia sweet 16the 2011 season for the women’s soccer team was, arguably, the best in its history. SaU not only competed in the national association of intercollegiate athletics national tournament, they made the Sweet 16.

ninth-ranked SaU was one of 16 sites in the country to host an naia opening round match-up. the cougars faced Siena heights University in front of a record crowd of over 1,100 fans in SaU’s new soccer complex.

Junior maegan smith (hickory corners) scored her 25th goal midway through the first half to seal the 1-0 win thanks to an assist from junior megan wegener (auburn). Sophomore karly linton (midland) registered a game-high six shots.

the cougars’ back four of freshman becca lynn (holland), juniors hannah adams (Westfield, ind.) and cheyenne martinez-trevino (Santa maria, calif.) and senior alyssa curtis (brighton) limited Siena heights’ chances throughout the night, while

sophomore goalkeeper brooklyn morgan (Spring arbor) picked up three saves.

after the opening round win, SaU advanced to the Sweet 16 round where they faced the eighth seed, concordia (ore.), in decatur, ala. after a tough-fought game, SaU fell 0-2 to end its 2011 season.

“i am very proud of this group,” says SaU head coach Jason crist (’90-’93, ’96-’01). “we had a tough draw. concordia was the #1 seed in this tournament last year and their experience was evident. i believe we can play with any team in the country at our level.”

postseason awards the national Soccer coaches of america association honored three cougars as nScaa/naia all americans. linton earned second team all-american honors, the highest honor of any cougar, while junior braydan wiles (pendleton, ind.) and Smith both earned third team all-american.

linton, wiles and Smith all received several more awards after the season (for a complete list, visit arbor.edu/journal).

women’S Soccer action Shot

adams, wegener and wiles were named as naia daktronics Scholar-athletes. the mcc named Smith player of the year, while linton, wiles, adams and martinez-trevino were each mcc all-conference honorees.

Spring Arbor finished the year with a 19-3-1 mark and the deepest run ever in the naia national championship tournament. Spring arbor will return 20 players in 2012 including 10 starters.

men’s tennis heads to naia championship after 15-year hiatusin Fall 2011, men’s tennis accomplished a feat that had not been witnessed since 1997. after finishing the fall season with an 11-0 record and the mid-central college conference title, the Cougars qualified for the National association of intercollegiate athletic national tournament, which will be this may in mobile, ala.

head coach terry darling ’78 believes having a well-balanced team, which featured some highly-talented players, has been the secret to the cougars’ success. “we knew we were going to be a talented team this year. we only lost one player to graduation and we had some good new recruits coming in,” says darling.

one recruit in particular, junior thomas calderone (grass lake), helped make a difference. the son of women’s tennis head coach, peggy calderone, he transferred from western michigan University, where he had played for two years on wmU’s tennis team. he now plays at no. 2 singles and at no. 1 doubles for SaU. calderone and partner, junior aaron mayes (elk rapids), are currently ranked 11th in the nation in the naia.

“adding a talented ncaa division i transfer to an already good team helped push us to the top,” says darling. but darling knows their

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“the team demonstrated two integral components of a successful team: chemistry and work-rate. the staff was worried about the team meshing with 19 new players. to our surprise, the team became cohesive. we knew program success was going to be a direct correlation to our work-rate,” says rudland.

throughout the season, the Cougars found themselves in five overtime matches. they showed poise, never coming up on the losing end: winning twice and tying three times. the outlook for next year is strong as they return 28.

Following the winning season, musambi was named mcc First team, hill was named nccaa regional First team, and senior Jordan williams (linden) was named nccaa regional honorable mention.

sau named five star champions of character institutionin Fall 2011, Spring arbor University was recognized by the naia as a 2010-11 Five Star champions of character institution. this program was created to reinforce the naia’s mission to promote the education and development of students through athletic participation.

“it is an honor for SaU to be recognized. the distinctives from the program match well with the mission statement of SaU athletics,” says sam riggleman ’74, athletic director and head baseball coach.

hudson races to conference titleSenior carissa hudson (romeo)took first in the 2011 women’s cross country mid-central college conference meet to lead the Cougars to a second place finish and qualify for naia nationals in vancouver, wash. She ran at the Fort vancouver national historic Site among the top 323 runners in the nation. Hudson finished 43rd.

the cross country program at SaU was also recognized by the naia national office as the fifth best active cross country in naia history.

“the girls ran with a passion throughout the year, truly honoring god with the gifts he has blessed them with,” says bill bippes ’93, head coach.

sophomore andrew hill (mason) scored off a pass from freshman Joel musambi (ottawa, ontario) to give SaU the lead.

iwU then scored twice to take the lead with 4:32 remaining. SaU refused to give up, and their efforts paid off when musambi scored with 21 seconds left. in overtime, SaU drove the ball down the field where senior Jason klepal (lansing) scored a sudden-death game winner.

In the MCC semi-finals, SAU fell behind to bethel, 0-1, halfway through the game. in the 38th minute, hill scored on a free kick to tie the game going into the half. in the second half, SaU again took advantage of a free kick as hill scored for the 2-1 lead and game-winner.

In the MCC finale, SAU lost to taylor. SaU’s postseason play continued into the first round of the national christian college athletic association regional tournament where they met familiar opponent, iwU. SaU was unable to defeat them for the third straight time.

success cannot be attributed to any single recruit. “we have many talented players.”

rather than one or two strong areas, the cougars’ strength was widespread. “Some of our opponents are good at the top of their lineups and some are good because they have depth. this 2011 SaU team was strong at every position,” says darling. “when you don’t have any soft spots, it makes it difficult for other teams to beat you.”

For darling, making it back to the naia is gratifying, especially since he will be able to share this experience with his two sons, david, a junior (Spring arbor), and michael, a freshman (Spring arbor), both men’s tennis team members. currently, david plays at no. 1 singles and is ranked 33rd in the nation in the naia.

men’s soccer turns corner in 2011men’s soccer garnered success under first-year coach eric rudland in 2011. SAU finished with an 11-8-3 record, an improvement from last year’s 2-16-1 record. perhaps the most notable achievement was advancing to the mid-central college conference tournament finale before falling to taylor University, 0-3.

heading into mcc tournament play, the cougars were riding a four-game win streak. determined to extend it, SaU fought hard against indiana wesleyan University. after falling behind, 0-1, SaU opened the second half with a goal by sophomore giovanni sturla (novi). eleven minutes later,

for the latest news and scores for spring arbor universit y athletics, visit the cougar

website at arbor.edu/athletics.

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[ 1 ] A first look at the new campus bookstore located on the main level of the Kresge Student Center, the first completed portion of the renovation and expansion. [ 2 ] Junior david darling, a member of the conference championship men’s tennis team. [ 3 ] Freshmen get acquainted with their core 100 groups during the first week of classes. [ 4 ] charlie carey, 2011 athletic hall of Fame inductee, with president webb. [ 5 ] Students enjoy a movie in University hall’s theater room. [ 6 ] Sophomore Stephen white assisting young refugees in athens during his semester abroad in greece. [ 7 ] david ’75 and yvonne (Johnston ’75) roller, 2011 alumni of the year at the annual alumni awards banquet. [ 8 ] the men’s soccer team in prayer during the dedication of the new soccer complex. [ 9 ] Students sprint to the finish during Homecoming’s 5K run. [ 10 ] a student checks out material promoting the lecture series, “the Spirituality of psalms and memory,” which featured John goldingay, professor of old testament at Fuller theological Seminary. [ 11 ] Junior Kyle anderson conducts during the hanging of the greens celebration. [ 12 ] life trustees present at the fall board of trustees dinner: front row from left to right, paul baker ’72, babbie mason ’78, robert bell, lloyd ganton hS ’54, Jc ’56; back row from left to right, Fred whims hS ’55, Jc ’57, pat (gallagher hS ’54) Short, gerald bates Jc ’53, Jim buick. [ 13 ] at the next Steps Fair, part of the University’s FocUS series, a variety of organizations provided information on how to get involved in the modern day abolition movement. [ 14 ] an advertisement on whiteman-gibbs Science center promoting “week of love,” a campus-wide activity in February in which students volunteered over 365 hours to 10 Jackson county organizations. [ 15 ] Future of Forestry, a band from southern california, plays in white auditorium. [ 16 ] SaU trustees, administration and students participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation and expansion of the Kresge Student center. [ 17 ] miroslav volf, professor of theology at yale divinity School, addresses the crowd during the lecture series titled, “Faiths and globalization.” [ 18 ] ray bakke, executive director of international Urban associates, speaks to students in the poling center lobby.

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Keegan adriance ’12david buchanan ’03Zachariah haske ’14

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SaU’s Flickr page.

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Advance your career at Michigan’s largest evangelical christian universitySpring Arbor University offers undergraduate, graduate and certification programs designed to fit your personal and professional life.

• 14locationsthroughoutMichiganandNorthernOhio&online

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gold sponsorscp federal credit uniondawlen corporationeecu – a community credit unionlloyd ganton retirement centers inc.

silver sponsorsAmerican Office Solutions (AOS)county national bankfree methodist foundation the craft agency inc.ladwig’s culligan water conditioningmarcoux, allen, schomer, bower, nichols, kendall & lindsey, pcmark s. mcferran, ddsorthopaedic rehabilitation specialists inc.professional communications services inc.sharp & soltis construction co., llcwalton insurance agency inc.

Support the businesses that support the university!make

an impact. partnersamerican 1 credit union allegiance health systemamerican resources groupauto merchants inc.b&i name plate incbond & company, plcchristoff & sons floor covering inc.comerica bankconsumers energy foundationcunningham construction companydalon realtydbi business interiorseradico pest services inc.eye services of Jackson, llcfolk oil (ps food mart) gilbert chocolatesgregory optical co./william J. buckingham odh & s service co., llcimagecraft engraving & awardsJackson automatic sprinkler, ltdKentwood Office Furnituremay’s furniture storemelling tool co.northwest refusenorthstar capital, llc orbitformrecovery technology, llcspring arbor lumber and home centertri-star trust bank

corporate partners

join our network. the SaU corporate partner network brings together businesses and organizations with a commonality: their love for SaU and their desire to support the University.

as a corporate partner, you are investing directly in the lives of SAU students because your financial contribution provides much-needed scholarship money. there are three levels of sponsorship available: partner, Silver or gold.

to learn more about SaU’s corporate partners program, contact malachi crane, executive director of donor relations, at 517.750.6543 or malachi@arbor.edu.

alumni todayalumni news + information

1958howard snyder hs ’58, Jc ’60 and Joel Scandrett have written Salvation Means Creation Healed. howard is currently serving as professor of wesley Studies at tyndale Seminary in toronto, ontario, and resides in wilmore, Ky., with his wife, Janice (lucas Jc 1960-61).haS@wineskins.netwww.wineskins.net

1967the book Hiram’s Honor, written by max terman ’67, was recently included in “the 25 best books for Studying the civil war” compiled by online colleges. the book follows max’s ancestor, private hiram terman, through his experiences in the camps, battlegrounds and prisons during the civil war.max is a professor emeritus for tabor college and resides in hillsboro, Kan., with his wife, Janet (carpenter ’68).

1972merv webb ’72 has been elected as secretary-treasurer of the association for healthcare Philanthropy, a not-for-profit organization whose members direct philanthropic programs in 2,000 of North America’s nonprofit health care providers. merv is currently the vice president for the rockingham memorial hospital Foundation and resides in harrisonburg, va., with his wife, marlene.mervwebb@comcast.net

1978in november 2011, keith brewer ’78, of hillsborough, n.J., was named vice president of academic affairs and dean of Somerset christian college in newark, n.J. prior to this appointment, he served as interim chief academic officer, chair of the department and professor of biblical studies. Keith is also a lecturer in both the department of religion and the University center for human values at princeton University, as well as an adjunct professor of inductive biblical studies in the extended learning program of asbury theological Seminary.bkbrewer@princeton.edu

1993ryan ’96 and dawn (foster ’93) berkaw welcomed a son, logan tate, [ 1 ] on Jan. 23. he joins big brother, Jared, 3. ryan works for logicalis, inc. as a senior account executive and dawn is a stay-at-home mom. they reside in dewitt.rd@berkaw.com

1996alan demlow ’96 was recently awarded a Simons Foundation Fellowship for the 2012-13 academic year. he is professor of mathematics at the University of Kentucky. the fellowship extends his upcoming sabbatical to an entire year giving him additional time for research and funds for travel. the inaugural Simons Foundation Fellowship was awarded to 77 outstanding mathematicians and theoretical

physicists. alan is also included in the list of distinguished scientists whose names were recently published in The New York Times. he is married to christina (hayward ’97), who is a stay-at-home mom. they reside in lexington, Ky., with their three daughters, lydia, 7, miriam, 5, and elsa, 3.

andrew and kim (cliffe ’96) stave welcomed a daughter, greta louise, [ 2 ] on oct. 6, 2010. She joined siblings ieva, 6, and isak, 2. they reside in Klaipeda, lithuania, where Kim and andrew are both employed by lcc international University. Kim is the student life vice president and andrew is the athletic director.kimstave@gmail.com

1997Joel and angela (Zimmerman ’97) beachkofsky welcomed a son, chase daniel, [ 3 ] on aug. 25, 2011. they reside in hickory, n.c., where angela is a licensed psychologist and Joel is an anesthesiologist.abeachkofsky@hotmail.com

paul buchholz ’97 was recently named president of lloyd ganton retirement centers. he has been serving as the chief financial officer for the last seven years and will retain that position as well. he resides in Spring arbor with his wife, karol (anderson 1993-97), who is also employed by lloyd ganton retirement centers. they have four children, victoria, 13,

nathaniel, 12, paul Jr., 10, and olivia, 8.

1999david ’99 and wendy page welcomed twin sons, Jacob Shaun and luke daniel, on nov. 25, 2011. they reside in Jackson where david is cpa and senior manager for rehmann robson.

2001eric miller ’01 was named bainbridge public safety director in bainbridge, ga. he previously served as chief of the public safety department for six years in albion, mich. he resides in bainbridge with his wife, barbara.

2002trevor ’02 and destiny (friday ’02) eldred reside in port huron with their daughter, andrea, 4. [ 4 ]trevor earned a master’s degree from eastern michigan University and works as an agricultural specialist and destiny is a stay-at-home mom. they are expecting their second child, a son, in april.destinyeldred@yahoo.com

2003kelle (cryderman ’03) hampton, of naples, Fla., has written the book, Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected, [ 5 ] which will be released by harper collins on april 3. Bloom is a memoir chronicling the first year of life of her daughter nella, who was born with down Syndrome. Kelle is scheduled to appear on The Today Show in april to discuss the book. She also

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>>>>>> send us your news and help us keep our alumni family updated >> go to arbor.edu/alumni to submit your updates.

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>>>>>> send us your news and help us keep our alumni family updated >> go to arbor.edu/alumni to submit your updates.

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blogs full time and is a freelance writer and photographer. Kelle is married to brett, who is a sales representative for transworld Services. She is a stepmom to brent’s two sons, austyn, 17, and brandyn, 13, and together they have two daughters, lainey, 4, and nella, 2.www.kellehampton.com

kelly skarritt-williams ’03 and chris williams welcomed their first child, McKinley Joseph williams, [ 6 ] on Jan. 27. Kelly works for Spring arbor University in the University communications office as a writer. Chris works as a staff writer/editor for brtrc in warren, a company that provides professional, creative and technical services for the U.S. army. they reside in ann arbor.

2004denny and Julie (spencer ’04) tison welcomed colt william [ 7 ]on Feb. 27. he joins big sister,

emma, 2. Julie works for Spring arbor University in the University Communications office. Denny works for the nature conservancy of michigan. they reside in cement city.

2005daniel bentle ’05 is in the olin business School mba program at washington University (mo.). he was recently elected president of olin net impact, a prestigious student-led business club. daniel also works for the university and resides in affton, mo., with his wife, heidi.

nathan ’05 and beth (haskins ’06) henderson welcomed a daughter, haylee Jane, [ 8 ] on nov. 27, 2011. they reside in madison, wis., where nathan is an equities analyst for the State of wisconsin investment board and beth recently left her job at Sva professional Services to be a stay-at-home mom.

kayla stevens ’05 married adam mickler on may 19, 2010. they reside in midland, where Kayla is a flight coordinator for Dow Chemical company and adam works for Fabiano brothers. on dec. 20, 2011, they welcomed a son, brantley eugene [ 9 ].ks38509@yahoo.com

matthew swanson ’05 graduated magna cum laude with his doctorate in material science and engineering from michigan technological University. he is employed by cerl, an army corps of engineers lab. matthew resides in St. Joseph, ill., with his wife, anna (hall 2001-04), and their children, christian, 4, and elizabeth, 2. [ 10 ]mmswanso@mtu.eduannaswanson22@yahoo.com

sara (macaluso ’05) wallace, of battle creek, was named the executive director of the miller Foundation in december 2011. prior to that appointment, she held the positions of director of housing and support services for community action, community coordinator for the michigan prisoner reentry initiative, and domestic violence systems coordinator for the calhoun county Prosecutor’s Office.

2006Kolin and brianna (minalga ’06) dothager welcomed a daughter, Kaylee lynn, [ 11 ] on oct. 27, 2011. they reside in greenville, Ill., where Kolin teaches fifth grade

and coaches basketball and track at greenville elementary, and brianna is the sales manager at nevco integrated display and Scoring company.

amy nelson ’06, of Jackson, moved to the republic of georgia in June 2010 to teach conversational english in the public schools. She resides with a host family and works alongside georgian teachers in several grade levels.

2007aaron hundley ’07 married Kanisha beachum [ 12 ] on dec. 3, 2011. aaron is the territory sales leader for Schwan’s home Service, inc. and Kanisha is a student at the University of new mexico studying pre-med and Spanish. on Sept. 19, 2011, they welcomed a daughter, lydia arynn. they reside in rio rancho, n.m.masonelite425@gmail.com

cameron ’07 and wendy (hirdes ’07) moore, of waco, texas, welcomed a daughter, evelyn Kyung, [ 13 ] on aug. 18, 2011. cameron is currently studying for his doctorate in english and teaching composition at baylor University. wendy resigned from her position as the coordinator of semester abroad programs at baylor to be a stay-at-home mom.John_c_moore@baylor.edukadogo.wendy@gmail.com

scholarship initiative

5 0 b y ’1 5 16newly endowed scholarships to date

contact danny lacy at danny.lacy@arbor.edu or 877.sau.legacy to learn more about supporting SaU student scholarship initiatives.

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in memoriamsusan burk ’97, of versailles, Ky., passed away on Jan. 4. She was 60. Susan was the academic advisor for midway college in midway, Ky., and is survived by three daughters; a sister; two brothers; and four grandchildren.

louis diehl ’69, of hudson, ohio, passed away on oct. 2, 2011. he was 63. louis served 37 years as a United methodist minister, retiring in 2009. he was active in his community as a member of the hudson clocktower rotary club and part-time visitation minister at the hudson congregational church. louis is survived by his wife, Judy (morris ’68); two sons; a daughter; and one grandchild.

welby foster ’68, of parma, passed away on Sept. 20, 2011. he was 65. welby taught math in the northwest School district for 26 years, owned and operated Foster tax & Financial Services for over 25 years, and served as a retirement counselor with educators preferred corporation for 10 years. he is survived by his wife of 44 years, Sharon; daughters, dawn berkaw ’94 and gina frederick ’96; one grandson; two sisters; and a brother.

arnold fritz hs ’48, Jc ’50, of massillon, ohio, passed away on aug. 14, 2011. he was 80. arnold was a biology professor at malone University for 37 years and was very active in the Free methodist church on the local and regional levels. he was also the founding president of both the wilderness center in wilmot, ohio, and the canton audubon Society. arnold was preceded in death by one daughter; is survived by his

wife, Jean; two sons; and four grandchildren.

kathleen (gaddis hs ’39) hicks, of Spring arbor, passed away on december 5, 2011. She was 92. She was a member of the Spring arbor Free methodist church and worked in the food service at Spring arbor University for many years. Kathleen was married for 19 years to george whiteman until his death in 1959, and then to John

STAyConneCTedto yoUr claSSmateS and SaU aFter gradUation USing the alUmni online commUnity! mysau.arbor.edu/alumni

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flickr.com/SpringArborU>> see friends and recent events captured at

• 25th and 40th Class Reunions• Family/Student Brunch• 5K Run/Walk and Kids’ Fun Run• Kids’ Carnival • 2nd Annual Arbor Arts Festival

featuring over 50 artist booths• Athletic Events• SAU Spirit Tent• Alumni Awards Banquet• Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet• Campus Tours

homecoming & family weekend 2012 october 5-7

SAU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

FOREVER

look in the next issue of the Journal for all of the final details and registration form for homecoming & Family weekend 2012.

mark your calendar!

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2008kevin ’08 and melanie (fish ’08) eccles have moved to albion, n.y., where Kevin was appointed discipleship pastor at the albion Free methodist church. he is also working toward his master of divinity at northeastern Seminary. melanie is involved in the youth ministry at the church and operates a private piano studio out of their home.kevineccles@gmail.commelanieeccles@gmail.comwww.kevinandmel.com

2010brian ’10 and kelly (granger ’10) meagher welcomed a daughter, aurora elise, [ 14 ] on Jan. 12. they reside in livonia.

2011patrick drake ’11 and bridgett duffey ’11 [ 15 ] were married on July 30, 2011. they reside in monroe, where patrick is a pension and insurance analyst at pilkington north america in toledo, ohio, and bridgett is a music teacher at brookstone christian academy. She also teaches private piano and voice lessons.patrick.drake@nsg.combridgett.drake@hotmail.com

hicks from 1968 until his death in 1990. She is survived by her three children, donalee (whiteman hs ’61) thomas, darrell whiteman (1965-67), and lowell whiteman; and seven grandchildren.

laura (willis 1967-68) Johnson, of lakeview, passed away on Feb. 6, after a two-year battle with brain cancer. She was 65. laura was an rn and worked in pediatrics, coronary care, nicU, urology, chemotherapy, dermatology and senior care over the course of her career. She was also a devoted pastor’s wife, serving at the lakeview Free methodist church. laura is survived by her husband, ted ’70, a life trustee of SaU; daughters, michelle ray ’99 and mary mallo (1998-99); and six grandchildren.

carl koerner Jc ’37, of roscommon, passed away on nov. 19, 2011. he was 96. carl ministered in the east michigan conference of the Free methodist church for 41 years, nine years as a conference superintendent. carl was preceded in death by wives, l. June (Scott) Koerner, arletha

(robart) Koerner and dorothy (Kersker) Koerner; and daughter, Joyce erickson ’66. he is survived by his daughter, carol ’68; and stepchildren, ron robart hs ’52, Jc ’55, paul robart hs ’56, Jc ’58, and darwin robart hs ’58, Jc ’60.

lois landry hs ’50, of grand rapids, passed away on aug. 24, 2011. after retiring from gmac in 1979 with 25 years of service, she did secretarial work at grand rapids First Free methodist church (now known as lifestream Free methodist church) and was also involved in the women’s, children’s and music ministries.

vincent myers Jc ’42, of davisburg, passed away on Jan. 7. he was 91. vincent was a minister with the Free methodist church serving with his wife, laura, in numerous cities in the Southern michigan conference as well as a full-time chaplain at beaumont hospital. he also oversaw the building of several churches and organized project missions which provided funds for missions to haiti. vincent was preceded in [ continUed on page 36 ]

>> become a fan on facebook.com/Spring Arbor University >> follow us @sau

MAPMENTORING alumni program

looking to relocate, or searching for a mentor? access the SAU Mentoring Alumni Program (MAP). map is a professional networking tool available to all SaU students and alumni. Simply go to arbor.edu/mentoring and choose a state or profession you are interested in to find alumni professionals in that area. The listing page will include the name, email, phone and occupation of the professionals who have volunteered. this program provides students and alumni with an invaluable opportunity to gain information from contacts who have first-hand experience in that region or field.

To be a contact in your region or field, go to arbor.edu/mentoring or submit your name, title, career field and contact information to lynne markiewicz at lynnem@arbor.edu or 517.750.6687.

a group of 50s, 60s and 70s SaU alumni are planning a second reunion you won’t want to miss. Start planning now! August 15-18, 2013, are the dates; Michindoh Conference Center is the place. located on 250 acres that are now part of SaU’s campus, it includes a small hotel, rv site, cabins, dorm and an atrium dining room and center that overlook weatherwood lake.

casual and comfortable is the tone, with fun and laughter the order of the days that will include many options in addition to reuniting and

alumni today

reminiscing: swimming, archery, paddleboats, hayrides, table games, nature center, ski-boat rides, waterslide, golf, basketball, fishing, bonfires, and many other activities. Bus tours will be offered to Spring arbor University’s main campus featuring the many new buildings and beautiful landscaping that will make you proud of our alma mater. babbie mason, renowned vocalist and 1978 SaU alum, will perform in concert on Friday evening.

we’re also excited to be able to offer this event at a reasonable price. the total cost per person for four days, three nights’ lodging and nine meals is between $160 - $210 depending on the type of accommodations you choose and are available. calls are being made to those with whom we lived and learned, played and prayed while at SaU. in early February, email or snail mail will be used to send registration forms, maps, and other relevant information to you. get ready for a blast from the past, fun in the sun, and a ball for all!

Questions? contact irene price greiner at iprice@arbor.edu or 517.750.6725.

ThaT 60s & 70s GeneraTionThe Fabulous 50ssave the date

Memories are Made of ThisSAU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

FOREVER

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“Thank you”Senior Josiah williams affirms, “These two words are never strong enough to fully express the deep sense of gratitude i, or anyone else attending Spring arbor University, feel as a scholarship recipient. Ultimately it boils down to

this — i could not be here, without the provision of the white Family’s Scholarship for Free methodist missionary children. this is my story, however, countless others could be told by fellow SaU students who have received endowed scholarships.

The generous giving of the White family has been a confirmation to the call god has placed on my life to become a minister of the gospel to young people. The Whites will share in the first fruits of whatever ministry god does in and through my life, because they provided a way for me to be equipped with a christ-centered education. i will never forget the generosity of the white Family. may god bless them all more abundantly.

hank and pat burbridge came to Spring arbor in 1964, and together they committed 40 years to Spring arbor University. in 2005, hank passed away just prior to retiring. later, pat decided to endow a scholarship to honor her husband. She expresses, “i was challenged and motivated to begin

this process because our daughters and many friends wanted to help preserve hank’s legacy. because he gave so much to Spring arbor, i felt i needed to do this to honor hank and the University he loved. my daughters, patti and lesley, helped me structure the scholarship to benefit future baseball players. Thus far, seven young men have received hank’s scholarship.”

along with improving the students’ athletic skills, she knows that the young men are receiving a quality education, plus christian mentoring. pat continues to receive correspondence from former athletes applauding the positive impact hank and SaU have made on their lives.

She faithfully builds the fund because she realizes that today’s tuition costs will increase and she wants this scholarship to provide the greatest benefit to the athletes who will receive it in the future. Pat concludes, “i can think of no downside to establishing an endowed

scholarship. Spring arbor University students are financially helped, encouraged and are growing in life-changing ways.”

if you would like to honor someone through an endowed scholarship, please contact danny lacy, director of planned giving, at danny.lacy@arbor.edu or 877.sau.legacy.

Spring Arbor University is not engaged in giving legal or tax advice. You may wish to seek the advice of your own advisor for specifics in your situation.

planningTodaY

fortoMorroW

watch us on YouTube.com/SpringArborU

serving uganda through northern lights ministrieswhen kate (carey ’03) walugembe, a social work major from mackinaw city, selected Kenya/Uganda as her cross cultural studies destination, she had no idea what impact it would have on her life. “i chose it because it was the place where i would ‘least likely go back alone,’” says walugembe.

the experience coupled with christ’s guidance, stirred a new desire in walugembe’s heart. “traveling to east africa gave me what my heart was longing for — discoveries with something completely new. throughout the three weeks, i felt that god was speaking to me in very specific ways. as i sought him daily to wrestle through my thoughts about these new cultures, amazing people, beautiful landscapes — god showed up,”

“god made this trip and my month or so afterward in Uganda the pivotal experience in my life. he drew my heart to the orphans of Uganda. he spoke to me about his vision for them, taking the human blinders off my eyes so i could see the hope he sees. i didn’t feel hopeless when we walked through the Kibera Slums of nairobi or down wanyama road, bugembe — i felt rejuvenated. i wanted to come alongside people who god cares for so much. i wanted them to know my Savior — who made them, who loves them,” says walugembe.

From this experience, the idea for northern lights ministries was born. Five months after her cross cultural experience, walugembe made a survey trip to Uganda by herself, and within a year, she was a resident. “this ministry started out of the visions god gave me during my time in Uganda,” says walugembe. exactly two years after her cross cultural trip, northern lights ministries was registered with the Ugandan government. the following month, she married Ugandan native, peter. today, they are the parents of two sons, levi and aiden, and together lead nlm.

Seeking out the neediest-of-the-needy in rural Uganda, the organization helps orphans with their education and health needs, offers counseling to children and widows in the area and much more. today, nlm thrives in the city of budumbuli currently assisting over 50 orphans and over 40 widows. “my social work education at SaU has given me an edge in seeing the big picture. it has helped me see my role in empowering the orphans and widows of budumbuli to help themselves and their families. peter and i continue to work together on the vision god has put on our hearts,” says walugembe. “Sitting and connecting with a widow and the children in her care, in a small mud-hut over a cup of chai is my perfect day of work. i love sharing the bible with them in a way that makes the same stories Jesus told real to them.”

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alum profile

alumni chapter event recapsSOUThEAST MIChIGAN ChRISTMAS PARTy | kim Jones ’96, chairperson of the Southeast michigan alumni chapter and president of the alumni board of directors, welcomed alumni to the gazebo banquet hall in warren on Sunday, dec. 4. guests participated in the theme of this year’s event by sharing their family christmas traditions. after a buffet dinner, brent ellis, vice president for university advancement, delivered a christmas message, and caroling was led by lynne markiewicz, assistant to the director of alumni relations.

get involved with the Southeast michigan alumni chapter by contacting kim Jones at kdj43560@hotmail.com

JACkSON ChRISTMAS PARTy | the annual alumni chapter christmas event was held at the cascades manor house on Saturday,

dec. 10, with over 150 in attendance. wade wilson ’67 served as master of ceremonies for a program that included a christmas message from brent ellis, vice president for university advancement; music selections by the rienzi Quartet comprised of current students, rico gonzalez,

Janae nelson, hannah baker and chelsea Johnson; christmas readings presented by paul patton ’74, associate professor of communication, media and theatre; and caroling led by wade wilson and pianist danny lacy, director of planned giving.

get involved with the Jackson alumni chapter by contacting wade and marge (stark ’69) wilson at hiwadeandmarge@gmail.com.

LAkELANd, FLORIdA | approximately 200 alumni and friends attended the Jan. 14 reunion where the tables were decorated with globe centerpieces to carry out this year’s theme, “SaU around the world!” in recognition and celebration of the many alumni serving globally. guests were welcomed with a punch reception highlighted by a presentation of the video “this is SaU.” John williams, associate professor in teacher education, attended the event with a group of current students who were in Florida completing a course for the January term.

homer Jackson Jc ’46 was master of ceremonies and kept the event moving along with the introduction of president chuck webb ’69, who shared University updates and an inspirational presentation titled “life lessons from a mending heart.” Senior cassandra kramer gave a presentation centered on the “SaU around the world” theme. Doris Scofield led an a cappella choir of alumni in “We’ve a Story to tell the nations.”

get involved with the lakeland alumni chapter by contacting lois (close hs ’54) crandell at jalocrandell@juno.com.

alumni today

death by his first wife, laura (carter Jc ’41); his second wife, virginia (young hs ’39) mcdonald myers; brothers, lawrence hs ’52, and raymond Jc ’37; three sisters; a grandchild; and a great-grandchild. he is survived by his children, gary (1965-67), annete evans, and david; step-children, patricia (mcdonald Jc ’58) paton, gail (mcdonald ’67) mccloughlan, and wayne mcdonald ’66; 11 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and his brother, John Jc ’50.

karen ritchie-hovey ’84, of traverse city, passed away on July 2, 2011. She was 49. while working toward her master’s in early childhood development, she worked as a teacher and preschool administrator. Karen is survived by her husband, doug; three daughters; three sisters; and a brother.

kay (mccolley hs ’59, Jc ’61) slocum, of Sun city, ariz., passed away on Jan. 18. She was 69. Kay was an english teacher at phoenix christian high School for 33 years. She is survived by her husband,

duane; a daughter; four step-children; 11 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

cheryl (evoy 1978-81) stevens, of tallahassee, Fla., passed away on dec. 10, 2011, after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 51. cheryl taught elementary school in michigan and indiana and was active in her church, leading bible studies, singing in the choir and teaching Sunday school. She was preceded in death by her parents, larry Jc ’56 and carol evoy. cheryl is survived by her husband, douglas ’81; a daughter; two grandchildren; and sisters, connie evoy (1980-87), and lariann hortop (1985-87).

James webb hs ’59, Jc ’61, of mt. morris township, passed away on aug. 10, 2011. he was 69. James taught school for 40 years, including two years in taiwan and one year in china. he was a member of new covenant Free methodist church and the gideons international. James is survived by his wife, bethany (euler ’66); two sons; two daughters; brothers, david hs ’56, Jc ’59, don ’88 and phil ’96; and sister, ruth erickson.

SAU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

FOREVER

360° network is a nationwide association of recent graduates from Spring arbor University who have come full circle and want to empower current students. individuals form groups, known as “loops,” that raise $2,500 a year over three years for one scholarship to impact the education of a current or prospective student.

For more information, please contact malachi crane at 517.750.6543 or visit us online at arbor.edu/360network.

>>>>>> send us your news and help us keep our alumni family updated >> go to arbor.edu/alumni to submit your updates.

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alumni [ eventS ]

sau alumni board of directorsa call to Join

a strong alumni board is the cornerstone to a strong alumni association. membership on the board requires consideration of personal time and talent. our alumni board of directors is an exciting group of alumni committed to serving Spring arbor University and the alumni association.

the mission of the Spring arbor University alumni Association is to nurture the beneficial relationship between the University, its alumni and future graduates and a lifelong commitment to Spring arbor University. membership on the alumni board reflects the global body of our three delivery systems – campus, graduate & professional Studies and online. the board meets twice a year and requires a commitment and involvement in association and University initiatives.

if you would like to be considered for board membership, please contact lynne markiewicz at lynnem@arbor.edu for a nomination profile. nominations are accepted throughout the year. Nominees and officers are considered by the leadership committee at their winter meeting and approved at the alumni board’s spring meeting. Officers’ terms commence with the new year on June 1.

your consideration and interest in serving Spring arbor University and the alumni association is very much appreciated. together we can make a difference. if you have any questions, or would like to discuss board membership in greater detail, please feel free to call me directly at 517.750.6725.

from the desk of…irene price greiner Director, Office of Alumni Relations

Spring has arrived and with it comes heritage alumni celebration week. here is the exciting lineup of events for the high school and junior college classes of 1961 and 1962 and earlier, along with other exciting events for alumni and friends. visit www.arbor.edu/alumni for more details on all SaU alumni excursions and events.

heritage alumni celebrationwednesday, may 9 - Saturday, may 12Spring arbor, main campus

wednesday, may 9 Golden Anniversary DinnerFor the high school and junior college classes of 1961 and 1962.ralph carey Forum

thursday, may 10 E.P. Hart Luncheonclasses of 1961 and 1962 will be inducted into the e.p. hart club.Fellowship hall Spring arbor Free methodist church

1961 and 1962 Reunion Receptionye ole carriage Shop

Friday, may 11 SAU BaccalaureateSpring arbor Free methodist church

Saturday, may 12SAU Commencementscampus - 10:00 a.m.graduate & professional Studies - 2:30 p.m.Fieldhouse

southeast michigan chapter eventSaturday, July 28a day at the detroit Zoo

chicago alumni & friends reunionSaturday, august 18Frankie’s Scaloppine restaurantOne Magnificent Mile, Chicago

lansing lugnuts gameSunday, august 26christian Family daycooley law School Stadium, lansing

new york cit y theatre eXcursionthursday, September 27 - Sunday, September 30Experience four fun-filled days of shopping, sightseeing and theatre.new york

homecoming & family weekendFriday, october 5 - Sunday, october 7enjoy a michigan autumn weekend with family and friends.Spring arbor, main campus

F E S T I V A LA R B O R A R TS

Now sEEkiNG arTisT applicaTioNs!

More than 50 artist boothsfeaturing the Ganton Art Gallery Artist Award Show & reception

for more information, visit arbor.edu/AAF or call 517.750.6348.

oct 5-6, 2012

800.968.0011Visit@arbor.edu

We’ll continue What you started.

SAU-10001_ParentPostcards.indd 1 8/23/10 11:03 AM

You provided a home and love and values and time and faith and understanding, and we could go on and on. Which is why we are so sure of this: You’d do it all again. that’s the reason we connect so well with great parents like you. We give your kids what you never want to stop giving them: The chance to succeed at a life worth living. We’re here to continue what you started. We’re Spring Arbor university. not just great values; a great value.

think you have to “dig deep” to afford Spring Arbor university? When the numbers are crunched, our total cost is usually far closer to state schools (and sometimes less). So…do the math, look at the difference and ask yourself this: what’s the value of a school with values? what’s the value of a school that values you?

The bottom line: Spring arbor University is affordable for families like yours! We work hard to keep it that way. let us show you just how affordable SAu is for you! Get an estimate of your Spring Arbor financial aid by visiting arbor.edu/estimate.

think we can’t compete with state school prices?

dig deeper.Find YoUr calling.

SPrInG Arbor unIvErSItYGrEAt School. Your vAluES.Your PrIcE rAnGE.

Think again. dig deeper at sauspace.com Click on the parent link.

Think again. dig deeper at sauspace.com Click on the parent link.

the kresge student center at spring arbor university is slated for completion in december 2012.

this project will be a tool in the transformation of students’ lives. will you partner with us to complete this new living and learning space?

arbor.edu/give

an atmosphere that will enhance student relationships as they support each other in pursuing god’s calling

additional space for students and faculty to engage in mentoring relationships

expanded health care facility (wellness and counseling)

VISIon BeCoMInG reAlITyexpanded career services to better assist students in structuring a resumé, preparing for job interviews and overall career planning

Ariana

Spring Arbor is a place where I feel confident...

106 e. main Street Spring arbor, mi 49283-9701

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I would not be able to attend a private, Christian school such as this without scholarships. It’s not a surprise to any of us that college is EXPENSIVE! Receiving scholarships has helped me succeed because I am able to learn in an environment in which I feel comfortable and accepted, which may not have been the case if I had chosen a larger university.”

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Ariana WilcoxHometown Lansing, MIMajor Health & Exercise ScienceExpected graduation May 2014Career goal To be a personal trainerWhat Ariana l about SAU I love the community, Chapel,

making new friends, and the campus-wide activities that SAU offers.