Category: Stories

Vikings Headed to Final Four

The Vikings outlasted the University of St. Thomas Sunday 1-0 in a penalty-filled match that secured the squad’s first trip to the NCAA Division III Final Four in program history.

The Vikings outlasted the University of St. Thomas Sunday 1-0 in a penalty-filled match that secured the squad’s first trip to the NCAA Division III Final Four in program history.

For the second game in a row, the winning goal was scored by freshman Shatil Khoury, off a pass from senior Jason Gonzalez. The Tommie’s and their defense dominated the opening minutes of the half. But with 15 minutes left in the first half, Khoury struck, and the momentum shifted to the Vikings.

Each team played their trademark physical games, with the Vikings earning 26 fouls and the Tommies 20.

The win means North Park will head to Greensboro, NC, where they will face division rival University of Chicago on Saturday. The Vikings defeated the Maroons 1-0 during their one regular-season matchup.

The winner of that all-Chicago game will go to the National Championship, where they will face either Brandeis University or Messiah College. Reigning champion Tufts University was eliminated in semi-final action Sunday by Brandeis.

Watch the North Park–St. Thomas game recap on North Park’s Facebook and on the Athletic Department’s website.

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories News, Stories

Vikings Advance to the Elite 8

North Park’s men’s soccer squad advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time in team history after cruising to a 6-1 victory against the Wis.-Platteville Pioneers Sunday.

Battling a stiff wind and driving rain, the North Park Vikings defeated Virginia’s Washington & Lee University 3-0 to advance to their first-ever NCAA Elite Eight soccer game Sunday.

Senior Shatil Khoury struck first for the Vikings, scoring just 1:47 minutes into the first half on a pass from sophomore Peder Nalum Olsen. The 25-mile-per-hour wind-whipped flags and made the ball difficult to pass, keeping the Vikings on the defense for most of the first half. But sophomore goalie Mathias Stulen was able to keep the ball out of the net the entire game, earning the shutout.

The Vikings scored on the Generals again with just 5 minutes left in the first half, when sophomore Gustav Ericsson deked a defender and passed to senior Mathias Warp, who booted the ball in. The Vikings final goal came in the second half off a sweet backward heel pass from Warp to senior Chase Lennartz.

Although the Generals had more shots on goal than the Vikings, they failed to capitalize on their best opportunity, with Stulen making a diving save on a line drive shot by the Generals with just 7:30 left in the game.

The Vikings will move on to the Elite Eight round of the tournament, where they will face the winner of Saturday’s matchup of Ohio’s Otterbein University v. University of St. Thomas of Minnesota. That game will also be hosted by North Park, at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Holmgren Athletic Complex.

If the Vikings win tomorrow, they will move into the Final Four, with a shot at the Division III National Championship in North Carolina in the beginning of December.

Sunday’s game will again be live streamed on North Park’s Facebook and on the Athletic Department’s website.

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories News, StoriesTags , , , , ,

North Park Serves as Case Study for Diversity

North Park University is cited for efforts to diversify its student body and faculty in a recent book that examines the populations of 150 Christian colleges and universities across the country.

North Park University has been cited for its efforts to diversify its student body and faculty in a recent book that examined the populations of 150 Christian colleges and universities across the country.

The book, Diversity Matters: Race, Ethnicity and the Future of Christian Higher Education, cited North Park’s specific mission to “use Chicago as a classroom, a strategic effort to connect with the faith communities” in the city.

Diversity Matters, edited by Karen A. Longman, features North Park as a case study. The book notes that North Park promotes its city-centered, intercultural academics by requiring faculty candidates to demonstrate how they would use Chicago as a classroom.

The book finds that the percentage of nonwhite students attending schools that are part of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities had increased by about 10 percentage points between 2004 and 2014. However, most of that growth was at urban-centered universities such as North Park. Such schools tend to be more inclusive.

“It should be noted that despite the media’s painting of evangelicals with a broad brush, the tent of Christian views is quite broad,” Longman said in an interview with Inside Higher Ed.

For instance, Longman noted, 68 percent of evangelical Christians support a legal path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Earlier this year, North Park’s then-president, David Parkyn, joined 600 public and private colleges and university presidents in signing a letter supporting its DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] students.

Longman noted that many Christian universities, North Park included, are naturally inclined to see social justice issues as a Biblical imperative.

“Because of their mission and theological heritage, [Christian colleges] emphasize the practice of social justice and are intrinsically motivated to work for racial harmony and interethnic healing,” Longman said.

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories News, StoriesTags

Catalyst On Campus: Health in the City

At a Catalyst on Campus event, representatives from the Lawndale Christian Health Center (LCHC) spoke on the importance of providing health care that is accessible to everyone, especially those who can’t afford insurance.

As part of the Catalyst 606__ program, North Park University hosts on-campus presentations and lectures in addition to classroom excursions. Catalyst on Campus events aim to broaden students’ experience of the city and enrich campus culture with relevant dialogue. This past week, the Catalyst on Campus event was sponsored by the School of Nursing and entitled “Health in the City.” Representatives from the Lawndale Christian Health Center (LCHC) spoke on the importance of providing health care that is accessible to everyone, especially those who can’t afford insurance.

Heather Duncan, Assistant Professor of Nursing, opened the Catalyst event analyzing what poverty means, and its cause and effect on healthcare. “Poverty is both a cause and consequence of poor health,” she described as the latest statistics on the correlation between wealth and health rolled on the screen. The stability of a neighborhood depends on the resources available. When those with resources leave neighborhoods, they take with them the resources which aid in the stability of that neighborhood.

Lawndale Christian Health Center’s mission is to bring some stability and resources back into neighborhoods where these are not present. In addition to providing health care, LCHC provides other services such as Christian Life leadership and, through partnerships, aquaponics. These services are especially impactful as over 30% of LCHC’s patients are uninsured. In total LCHC provides 12 different services to communities across their five locations in Chicago.

During the seminar, the three representatives were able to speak about their different experiences from in-clinic care to assisting patients and others acquire affordable insurance. Two of the representatives, Stacy Atkins and Bennett Csukor are North Park Alums who began working at LCHC for several reasons. Both described their journeys to working at LCHC and their most impactful memories. For Stacy, it was her mom who won bingo games to pay for Stacy’s education to get her in the position she is in now. For Bennett, it was one of the first times he witnessed what it was like for people to truly live without healthcare; he now works to insure as many patients as possible.

LCHC has worked to provide affordable healthcare to those who don’t have access to it, and has been doing so for over 30 years. LCHC keeps its doors open and serves the public through donors and staff who uphold their values and work to provide the healthcare everyone deserves. Lawndale Christian Health Center has opportunities for students and recent graduates in the form of internships and jobs for both students in the medical field and those who are not. Working in healthcare isn’t only about being a nurse or doctor—something the representatives emphasized—but places like LCHC need marketers, technicians, and more. Contacting LCHC for internships is as easy as emailing Jeffery Chen.

Learn more about Catalyst on Campus and other Catalyst events on the Catalyst home page. Catalyst on Campus happens every week on Wednesdays.

Learn More about Catalyst 606__   Video on LCHC

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Stories

Vikings Make Sweet 16

North Park’s men’s soccer squad advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time in team history after cruising to a 6-1 victory against the Wis.-Platteville Pioneers Sunday.

North Park’s men’s soccer squad advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time in team history after cruising to a 6-1 victory against the Wis.-Platteville Pioneers Sunday.

Led by CCIW Coach of the Year John Born, the Vikings dominated the Pioneers, with goals by Gustav Ericsson, Carel Kuzona, Erlend Kemkers and Ricky Pimentel. Those players join Jason Gonzalez, Peder Nalum Olsen, and Matias Warp in being named Monday as All-Conference Players, with Warp being named Player of the Year and Olsen Newcomer of the Year.

Born called Sunday’s victory a huge relief. “Getting our first NCAA victory under our belt sure felt good,” Born said. “We were excited and thankful to be able to play in front of a great home crowd.”

Scoring in the opening minute of the game, the Vikings swiftly put to rest any concerns they might be rusty after a bye round.

“When we scored 40 seconds into the game, there was no doubt in my mind that we were ready to play at a high level,” said Athletic Director Jack Surridge.

The NCAA National committee also announced the Vikings will also host their matchup against Virginia’s Washington & Lee University at noon Saturday, as well as the other regional semifinal, Minnesota’s St. Thomas v. Otterbein University of Westerville, Ohio, at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Previously, the farthest the Vikings had advanced in the NCAA tournament was to the second round, in 2010, 2011, and 2012. With their latest victory, the Vikings have now won 18 games in a row.

Going forward, Surridge believes the team is in a great position to go all the way.

“We are a formidable opponent when we play at this high level,” Surridge said.

Saturday’s games will again be live streamed on North Park’s Facebook and on the Athletic Department’s website.

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories News, StoriesTags , , , , ,

Honoring Veterans Day

Students, faculty, and special guest honor the service and memory of our veterans.

“My friend has been gone for 47 years. Those are 47 years that I have been given and he has not. That is a sobering thought,” began Interim President Carl Balsam during his opening remarks at yesterday’s Annual Veterans Day Commemoration Service, which took place in Anderson Chapel. “One comment left on my friend’s site caught my eye; it said: ‘Save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they no longer can go.’ In other words, remember them.”

This year’s Veterans Day Service was organized by student-veterans Nico Canete and Roberto Martinez in conjunction with Dr. John Laukaitis and Renee Martinez. The guest speaker for the service was a friend of Nico’s, Weston Polaski, who served in the United States Marine Corps from 2005-2009.

Polaski shared his story on his road to enlistment and proceeded to give an account of what life was like throughout boot camp and into his first deployment. Polaski described some of the desperate living conditions he encountered during his initial time of deployment. He also described an encounter on the phone with his father where Polaski asked him “what am I doing here?” to which Polaski’s father replied, “you probably should have gone to class, huh?” Polaski described how this one call spurred him on to the next adventure back home in America where he returned to school to finish his degree.

Since his arrival back home, Polaski has made efforts to connect with Veterans and create connections for returning Veterans. Polaski began as the President of the Student Veteran Club at his alma mater and has since moved on to aiding the transition of returning veterans by connecting them with local businesses and veterans. “Every year over the next 5 years, 250,000 service members will exit the military,” Polaski said—all of whom will need jobs, education, and communities.

After the service, Nico Canete commented on why events like these at North Park are important to him and other veterans on campus: “It demonstrates the University’s commitment to those who have served. It reaffirms that the University supports veterans, supports them in their transition from military to academic life, and that it is proud to have them on campus.” Roberto Martinez also added that “It shows me that I’m welcome here as a US Army veteran; it shows me that we honor the sacrifice of those who went before us, and shows me that veterans are welcome here. It also gives us a sense of brotherhood and a place to share our experiences whether in combat or not.”

Dr. John Laukaitis had this to say in his closing remarks to conclude the Annual Veterans Day Service, “Our country has depended on veterans to stand strong against the threats to our liberty and way of life. They serve without expectation of recognition; they are humble servants. We thank you, the men and women, who have courageously put their lives in harm’s way for the sake of our country; today we thank the veterans of our country.”

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories StoriesTags , , , , ,

Men’s Soccer: Championship Bound

North Park University and the Vikings host their first NCAA Tournament games ever, as the team seeks a trip to the Sweet 16.

This weekend, North Park University and the Vikings will host their first NCAA Tournament games ever, as the team seeks a trip to the Sweet 16.

After dominating their conference all season, North Park and its top-ranked Men’s Soccer team will host the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Tournament this Sunday.

Having earned the top seed in their bracket after a 17-1-1 season, the Vikings will enjoy a bye round as UW-Platteville faces off Saturday against Fulton, Mo.-based Westminster College. The Vikings will take on the winner of that game Sunday evening for a shot at the Sweet 16 and the possibility of hosting another round of the tourney.

The only other team to receive a first-round bye is #1-ranked Tufts University, winners of the 2016 NCAA DIII championship.

This year’s Viking team boasts a diverse, international roster, with players from as far as Sweden, Norway, Germany, and England, and as close as Chicago, Michigan, and Minnesota. One player hails from neighboring Von Stuben Metro Science High School. Among them, the team speaks 12 different languages.

“I have had the pleasure of coaching some amazing teams at North Park,” Head Coach John Born said. “However, the 2017 team is unparalleled in their talent as well as team chemistry.”

Tthe NCAA National committee announced the tournament seeding and hosting sites earlier this week.

“Being selected as a host site and rewarded with a first-round bye is a phenomenal honor,” Born said. “We’ll do our very best to represent North Park throughout the tournament. We certainly know that the entire North Park community is behind us, and we appreciate the tremendous support.”

The team has clearly benefited from North Park’s “strong cultural heritage”  tying it to Sweden and Norway since the school’s founding over 125 years ago, said NPU Athletic Director Jack Surridge. Scandinavians feel comfortable and welcome here, as each year NPU hosts dozens of them as students. It also doesn’t hurt that Assistant Coach Kris Grahn is a Swede. “He can pick up the phone or FaceTime with recruits in their native language,” Surridge said.

One of those is Norwegian senior midfielder Matias Warp, whose leg injury kept him off the highly competitive European and American Division I teams. Instead, he chose North Park, and other players followed.

Fellow Norwegian and goalkeeper Mathias Stulen has nine shutouts this season, and five of the CCIW’s top-10 scorers are Vikings, including Swede Carel Kawale and Norwegian Peder Nalum Olsen, who hold the number one and two spots, respectively.

The defense has been an iron curtain, led by defensive back Ricky Pimental, of Franklin Park, IL.

North Park will be live-streaming this weekend’s games on our Facebook page as well as athletics.northpark.edu.

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories News, Stories

North Park Students Selected to Present to Illinois Sociological Association

Nineteen North Park students enrolled in Methods in Social Research will attend the 2017 Illinois Sociological Association, seven of whom will present original research.

Nineteen North Park students enrolled in Methods in Social Research are heading to the 2017 Illinois Sociological Association meeting on November 17th, 2017. The students will share seven presentations based on original research ideas developed in the course and as part of activities conducted through the Urban Peace Lab— established and run by their instructor, Dr. Peter K. B. St. Jean, Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of Criminal Justice at North Park. Seven research abstracts were accepted for presentation on one panel and one roundtable.

On the panel, Dr. St. Jean will present a paper entitled, “Conducting Better News Research,” which will provide the general conceptual framework for the students’ research. Dr. St. Jean will also introduce the students presenting on the following topics:

  • I AM NOT GOING BACK: Recidivism and Social Environment in Chicago
  • REVENGE WITHOUT VIOLENCE: How Residents of Chicago’s High Crime Neighborhoods Avenge Victimization Without Violence
  • PEACE WITHOUT GUNS: How Chicago Residents Within High Gun Violence Neighborhoods Resolve Conflicts Without the Use of Guns
  • THE UPRISE: Youth and Gang Avoidance in Chicago
  • POVERTY AND PEACE IN CHICAGO: Voices on the Ground
  • IN SPITE OF IT ALL: Triumph After Human Trafficking

Also attending and presenting papers on Visual Urban Peaceology are North Park alumnus and current University of Chicago graduate student, Eirik J. Berger, and current NPU Theatre and Communications student, Seanna Wong. The panel will be led by Dr. St. Jean’s presentation entitled “Introduction to Peaceology and Urban Peaceology: Findings from Multi-methods Research in Chicago.” Eirik J. Berger and Seanna Wong will then present their papers respectively:

  • VISUAL URBAN PEACEOLOGY: Understanding and Amplifying Peace Intelligence in the Urban Context Through the Use of Visual Tools, Ethnography, Qualitative Data, and Media Research
  • THE ROLE OF THEATRE IN VISUAL URBAN PEACEOLOGY: Findings from Ground-Breaking Ethnographic Research and Activism in Chicago

“I’m happy that these students get this opportunity to make history by being part of the research team that collectively introduces Peaceology, Urban Peaceology, and Better News Research for the first time to an academic conference. They have been working hard to conduct the best presentations, and I am confident that they will do well,” said Professor St. Jean, chairperson of the Sociology Department at North Park.

Author onlinemediaPosted on Categories StoriesTags , , , , , , , , , ,

Life Groups at North Park

Life Groups at North Park are sponsored by University Ministries and are a great way to learn about what it means to walk with Christ.

LifeGroups at North Park are sponsored and resourced by University Ministries. What are LifeGroups? They are groups of four to ten students who gather weekly to intentionally walk with or toward Christ together. LifeGroups are for anyone who has an interest in the Christian faith. This can include a spectrum of people from those who want to know more about faith and the Christian life, to those who are actively following Christ. LifeGroups are also a great way to explore what it means to follow Christ individually and in a group setting.

When Amber Jipp, CollegeLife and Spiritual Formation Coordinator for University Ministries, started at North Park in the fall of 2016, there were no current University Ministries (UMin) sponsored Small Groups. “I am very passionate about small groups and really empowering the visions that students have,” says Amber. Currently, there are around 14 LifeGroups resourced by University Ministries which are open to all students. Sponsored LifeGroups have access to resources such as printing flyers, creating events, spiritual guidance and coaching from UMin leaders, and use of UMin facilities.

LifeGroups take all different shapes and sizes as their student leader enters into the discernment process. Some are focused on discipleship, some are centered in one book of the bible, while others are for creative worship practices. LifeGroups are for those who know and desire to grow in Christ in an intentional community.

Jomarie Perlas, a previous student leader, found extreme joy in leading and walking alongside other women in her group while they “learn how to be young adults, daughters in Christ, and college students, while also navigating a broken world.” Her group times are spaces where she and others have been able to share personal stories, ask difficult questions about their frustrations and causes of anger, but also receive encouragement and hope. “We’re not meant to do this messy thing called life alone. This is the significance of being with our brothers and sister in a committed way,” said Jomarie.

LifeGroups are started by students who see a need for prayer groups, Bible studies, book studies, or other shared practices. LifeGroups are expressions and visions of communities working together, moving towards Christ or learning more about Christ at North Park. Starting a LifeGroup sponsored or resourced by North Park University Ministries is as easy as sending Amber an email and meeting with her about the LifeGroup’s vision. LifeGroup leaders can also choose how involved UMin is in their groups.

Joining an existing LifeGroup is also easy. Sign-ups are available during the first few Chapel and CollegeLife services, as well as campus events such as the Ice-cream Social and Viking fair. Getting plugged in to a LifeGroup at any time in the semester can be easily done by emailing Amber Jipp.

Email Amber

Learn More about UMIN and LifeGroups

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Blog, StoriesTags , , , , , , , ,

North Park University’s Men’s Soccer Squad Ranked No.1 in Region

The red-hot North Park Men’s Soccer team is now the number-one ranked team in the region, thanks to some recent wins, including a 3-0 shutout over division foe North Central College on Wednesday evening.

SATURDAY, October 28—2017

The red-hot North Park Men’s Soccer team is now the number-one ranked team in the region, thanks to some recent wins, including a 3-0 shutout over division foe North Central College on Wednesday evening.

The Vikings are ranked 8th in the latest NCAA poll of Division III United Soccer Coaches. The team has also broken into D3Soccer.com’s rankings, notching the 18th spot nationally. North Park is part of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW).

“This is the best team that we’ve had at North Park in my 21 years here,” said Jack Surridge, North Park University’s Director of Athletics. “They have balance in scoring and depth at all positions. They are fit, unselfish, and well-coached.”

This year’s team boasts a diverse, international roster, with players from as far as Sweden, Norway, Germany, and England, and as close as Chicago, Michigan, and Minnesota. One player hails from the neighboring Von Steuben Metro Science High School.

This week, the NCAA regional committee will rank the region again and seed the national tournament.

But first, the Vikings face a key contest, tonight, against Elmhurst College on the road. The team will then face the #4 ranked CCIW team at home. If they win, they will face the winner of the #2 v #3 CCIW game.

The winner of that game receives an automatic qualifier berth in the tournament. A win would also put the Vikings in a strong position to host the first two rounds of the NCAA National Tournament the following week, according to Surridge.

Learn more about the team and Wednesday’s game.
Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories News, Stories