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Dr. Michelle Clifton-Soderstrom and David Bjorlin's project emerged out of a Seminary workshop while Bjorlin was still a student at North Park Theological Seminary.
Dr. Michelle Clifton-Soderstrom and David Bjorlin collaborate for book on children in worship
CHICAGO (August 7, 2014) — North Park Theological Seminary professor Dr. Michelle Clifton-Soderstrom and alumnus David Bjorlin began a collaborative book project three years ago with a simple motto: Children are not cute.
The project originated while Bjorlin was a Seminary student in his last semester of the master of divinity program. Bjorlin, also a 2006 graduate of North Park University, was assisting Clifton-Soderstrom in teaching a series of workshops for Seminary students, one of which was on children in worship. The workshop attempted to instill the idea that children must be central to a vibrant worshipping community, not just a five-minute time slot and then off for juice and snacks. Near the end of the series, Clifton-Soderstrom approached Bjorlin with an idea to continue the discussion and co-write a book.
“If I see people that have potential, I want to do whatever I can to give them opportunities to take risks, try new things, and excel,” Clifton-Soderstrom says. “Dave was such a strong student and was so confident, and our working relationship was already positive.”
Clifton-Soderstrom brought her expertise in theology and ethics to the project, while Bjorlin brought his emerging expertise in liturgical studies. They also brought different experiences, with Clifton-Soderstrom as a mother guiding two children through worship, and Bjorlin as a worship pastor. The result was the June publication of Incorporating Children in Worship: Mark of the Kingdom. It is a theological text that provides a foundational argument about not how children can be active in worship, but why it is absolutely necessary that they are involved.
“In this field, you either get practical books giving you ideas for specific tasks for children, or historical books showing how communities have incorporated children in the past,” Clifton-Soderstrom says. “We wanted to present a rich theological accounting of incorporating children as they are, not who they will eventually become.”
The book weaves together personal stories of children in worship with traditional theological and ethical sources. “Michelle is a fine scholar and great thinker, but one of her greatest qualities is she is passionate about the average person gaining theological understanding,” Bjorlin says. “I am convinced story is the best way to understand God.” Both scholars point to one story featured in the book that was particularly meaningful.
In the spring of 2004 Dr. F. Burton Nelson, long-time North Park Theological Seminary professor and close friend and mentor of Clifton-Soderstrom, passed away. At the time, Clifton-Soderstrom’s son, Johannes, was two years old and she was working on a memorization project with him to help instill a sense of faith and tradition at an early age. They practiced the Apostles' Creed, along with other hymns and lists of saints. About six months after Nelson’s passing, the two were in Johannes’ room one night before bed. They began the back and forth of the Creed:
Dr. Clifton-Soderstrom: I believe in God… Johannes: …the Father almighty. Dr. Clifton-Soderstrom: Maker of… Johannes: …heaven and earth.
And on they went as normal. They got to the end, and Clifton-Soderstrom gave her last line: “…the communion of…”
And instead of “saints,” the normal ending, her young boy responded, “Burton.”
As she writes in the book, “We stopped. I was surprised and moved. I do not know why he thought of it then, but he inserted the name of my dear friend in the right place, in the right way, at the right time. Eight years later, I still remember the rich way my son embodied faith, hope, and love—by speaking a single word.”
“Children surprise you in so many ways,” she says. “You take an activity that a child does and you assume the best of it. Seeing the best in what children do, and not seeing them as cute objects or a source of humor, is key to this project.”
Much of the actual book writing process occurred while Bjorlin began a doctoral program in liturgical studies at Boston University School of Theology. The two would send drafts back and forth, have brainstorming sessions over the phone, and when Bjorlin occasionally came back into town, they would meet in person. Both Clifton-Soderstrom and Bjorlin say the transition from the faculty/student relationship to colleagues was simple.
“In a seminary context, it’s not as hierarchical,” Clifton-Soderstrom says. “We are all doing ministry together. There were moments when Dave would say, ‘I don’t want to change that.’ I had to stand back and say, ‘That’s good. He’s assertive and finding his voice.’ The transition was very natural.”
Bjorlin says, “Michelle never made that transition strange. She actively sought out what I thought in certain passages and really respected my voice.”
In a few weeks’ time, Bjorlin will have another opportunity to reconnect with Clifton-Soderstrom as a colleague, when he joins the Seminary as an adjunct faculty member for the coming year. It’s a similar path to Clifton-Soderstrom, who completed her MATS at North Park and later returned to teach.
“One of the strengths of North Park Theological Seminary is the faculty has always been approachable,” Bjorlin says. “My education was about more than just academics. It was about building relationships and personal formation. Michelle is a good example: people who went to North Park found a certain way of life, and they want to come back and be a part of this community again.”
Largest Graduating Class Ever at Nonprofit CEO BootCamp
Thirty-eight nonprofit leaders gathered at this year's BootCamp to discuss ways to expand their organizations' capacity and positive impact on the communities they serve.
Three-day program equips new executive directors with knowledge and skills for organizational success
CHICAGO (July 18, 2014) — A record-breaking number of nonprofit leaders graduated from the Axelson Center’s 2014 BootCamp for New Nonprofit Executive Directors and CEOs. This year’s cohort included 38 executive directors coming from as far away as South Carolina and Florida, and representing all types of organizations from animal welfare and housing services to faith-based nonprofits and education-focused organizations.
The Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management, a nonprofit capacity-building academic center at North Park University, hosts the annual three-day BootCamp program to educate and train new nonprofit leaders in a broad scope of topics relevant to the effective management and mission fulfillment of their organizations. Participants hear from experts in financial management, strategic planning, human resource management, resource development, and other key areas of nonprofit management. BootCamp equips its participants to implement effective nonprofit management practices and, ultimately, expand their organizations' capacity and positive impact on the communities they serve.
"BootCamp has been incredibly valuable," said Mollie Dowling, who took on the role of executive director at Chicago-based nonprofit OAI, Inc. at the beginning of July. "It's helpful to look at timely information on topics like strategic planning, fiscal management, board management, conflict resolution and organizational planning from lots of different perspectives. BootCamp also reinforces the importance of planning, and validates the need to step back and spend the time to do that planning at all levels of the organization, from strategy to daily work."
Corey Harris, executive director at Neighborhood Housing and Development Corporation in Gainesville, Fla., has recently begun to transition to the role of executive director after six years on staff at his organization. "BootCamp has armed me with the tools to do a better job leading our organization in the executive director role," Harris said. "For me personally, I now have a better understanding of the board's role. As an employee, you don't have a lot of interaction with the board, but now they're my key partners and I have to make sure that my board is aware of their responsibility."
"I like how the BootCamp program content is set up," said R.J. McMahon, chief executive officer for Robert Crown Center for Health Education in Hinsdale, Ill. "We're not going deep, we're going wide. It's lit fires under me and helped me identify areas where I need to continue my work and better equip myself for the pieces of the puzzle I need to know better. BootCamp has reaffirmed what I need to do and where the focus areas need to be."
"My experience at this year's BootCamp was excellent," said Sheldon Smith, head of The Dovetail Project in Chicago. "As a 25-year old executive director and founder of an agency, I've been trying to wrap my hands around what my duties are so that I can push my agency forward."
Executive Director Bernie Steiger of Literacy DuPage, based in Naperville, Ill., praised the opportunities BootCamp offered to connect with other leaders. "It can be lonely sometimes when you think you're the only person who struggles with a particular issue or challenge," Steiger said, "but as it turns out, we're all going through the same struggles. I've gotten so much out of connecting with other executive directors who face these same challenges."
The next BootCamp will be held in late summer 2015, and applications will be available in early 2015. Join the Axelson Center's e-mail list to receive updates on this and other programs and events throughout the year.
North Park University Earns Two National Fundraising Awards
From left to right: Mary Surridge, vice president for development and alumni relations, Dr. G. Timothy Johnson and David S. Helwig, co-chairs of Campaign North Park, and Dr. David L. Parkyn, president of North Park University.
CASE recognizes efforts of Campaign North Park
CHICAGO (June 26, 2014) — In response to tremendous efforts from alumni, donors, and staff, North Park University has been recognized by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) with two 2014 Educational Fundraising awards. Using data gathered over a three-year span, CASE awarded North Park with national honors in Overall Fundraising Performance and Overall Fundraising Improvement for private comprehensive institutions.
CASE is an international organization comprised of more than 3,600 universities and nonprofit organizations in 82 countries serving over 74,000 advancement professionals. The award for Fundraising Performance “recognizes institutions that show solid program growth, breadth in the base of support and other indications of a mature, well-maintained program.” The award for Fundraising Improvement identifies institutions with “significant program growth across the three years of data.”
“Our success is defined by the deep generosity of the alumni and friends of North Park,” said Mary Surridge, vice president for development and alumni relations. “We remain ever grateful for their inspiring support. We are honored to have the generosity of our constituency noted by this respected national organization.”
A panel of judges select CASE award recipients based on a number of factors, including a pattern of growth in total support, the overall breadth in program areas, the impact of the 12 largest gifts on total support, and the pattern of growth among alumni and other individual donors.
“The awards from CASE provide recognition for the deep generosity of North Park's alumni and friends, and offer evidence of the gifted leadership and dedicated work by members of the University’s Development Office,” said North Park University President Dr. David Parkyn. “We’re deeply grateful for their loyal support and dedicated service, and are very pleased with the recognition brought to North Park from CASE.”
Recent fundraising efforts at North Park University have focused on Campaign North Park, a $63 million multi-faceted campaign that has seen the construction of the Nancy and G. Timothy Johnson Center for Science and Community Life, the solidification of North Park’s Annual Fund, an increased endowment for student scholarships, and the expansion of Chicago-based academic programs and faculty development.
“We launched Campaign North Park, the first comprehensive campaign in the University’s history, in July 2008,” Surridge said. “Immediately after we launched we found ourselves in a severely challenged economic environment. Our generous donors stepped forward at a time when their own resources were compromised to provide a record level of support. They understood that the future of North Park, and our ability to provide for our students, depended on them and they responded in a magnificent manner.”
Students Extend College Experience into Summer With Camping Ministry
Joel Brand, a 2013 University graduate with a degree in youth ministry, says about his camp experiences: “I wanted to continue to work at a Covenant camp after my graduation because it is such a life-giving thing to me for being in ministry.”
Summer positions in Covenant camps give students hands-on job skills, lasting friendships
CHICAGO (June 20, 2014) — Hannah Hawkinson spends nearly every hour of the day with her cabin group, leading activities, getting to know her campers, and helping out wherever she’s needed. This is her first summer working as a counselor at Covenant Point Bible Camp in Iron River, Mich., but her connection to the camp runs deep.
Hawkinson, an English literature and biblical and theological studies major at North Park University, wanted to spend her break working in a summer position that she found meaningful. “Covenant camps, and Covenant Point particularly, have played such a huge role in shaping my life and faith,” she says, “and I want to give back to them in any capacity possible.”
Like many North Park University students and alumni, Hawkinson has been significantly impacted by her experiences attending and serving at camps affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church. Each year, the University hosts a Camp Fair for students to meet representatives from each Covenant camp, learn more about their ministries, and find their best potential fit as a summer staff member.
The University partners with the Association of Covenant Camps and Conference Centers, an affiliated ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church, to connect students to summer positions. Once hired, University undergraduate students can earn a Camp Grant by working on summer staff at a Covenant camp. Approximately 70 students will receive a Camp Grant this year.
Through camping ministry opportunities, North Park students travel, make connections with peers and mentors, and learn a variety of valuable skills. Students excel in positions as camp counselors, program directors, kitchen supervisors, and marketers, regardless of their major.
As Hawkinson is finding as a first-time counselor, the broad set of opportunities that camp ministry offers students allows for a truly unique summer job. “Working at Covenant Point has already led me to immense growth in all facets of my life,” she says. “I’m learning more about myself each day, growing in and wrestling with my faith more than I ever have before, and getting some amazing work experience while I’m at it. What more could you ask for?”
“Take what I know and live it out”
North Park University alumni have found Covenant summer camp positions helpful in clarifying career paths. Claudia Fisher first served as a counselor at Cascades Camp and Conference Center in Yelm, Wash., just after graduating from high school in 2002. She worked there each summer of her four years at the University. “In a lot of ways, my experiences at Cascades and North Park impacted each other,” Fisher says. “I took what I learned from both unique environments and applied it to the other.”
Fisher earned a degree in biblical and theological studies in 2006, then returned to Cascades. “I interned in the program department the year after I graduated, and haven’t left since!” she says. Today, Fisher serves as program director at Cascades, overseeing a staff of more than 70 total, and managing the program staff of more than 40 each summer.
“I wanted to work at Cascades in particular because of the impact that it had in my life,” Fisher says. “I met God here as a camper, and I deeply believe in the work that’s been done here.” In her role as program director, Fisher enjoys working in church relations, marketing and promotion, and year-round retreat-planning. “I’ve grown in leadership, responsibility, humility, and faithfulness,” she says. “Cascades has become a second home, a second family to me.”
Joel Brand, a 2013 University graduate with a degree in youth ministry, feels similarly about his camp experiences. “I wanted to continue to work at a Covenant camp after my graduation because it is such a life-giving thing to me for being in ministry,” he says.
Brand served as a counselor at Covenant Pines Bible Camp in McGregor, Minn., in 2010 and 2011, then as summer program director in 2012 and 2013. “My North Park education took place on multiple campuses,” Brand says. “From September to May, it was on North Park’s campus, and from May to August, it was at Covenant Pines.” In September 2013, he was hired on the ministry staff of Pilgrim Pines Conference Center in Swanzey, N.H., where he currently serves as program director.
For Brand, the academic instruction received in University coursework was bolstered by the service and discipleship of students and staff experienced at camp. This combination offered Brand a “holistic education” which allowed him to “take what I know and live it out.” He felt strengthened throughout the school year by professors, peers, and University Ministries, and would then share that by building into campers through chapel services, devotionals, and friendship.
“At Pilgrim Pines, I’ve gotten to learn more about who I am, in a supportive community that has helped me process it,” says Brand. This experience has reinforced his commitment to the values of the Evangelical Covenant Church, he says. “My desire is not to be great, but to be faithful, so that God can be great. This had been a theme throughout my college career that has extended into my time at Pilgrim Pines.” This fall, Brand will return to campus to attend North Park Theological Seminary.
“How to truly serve others”
Students find that through the hands-on experience they gain in camp positions, they acquire skills that will better enable them to pursue their chosen careers. Kristin Theilen, a history and secondary education major, took a position at Covenant Pines this summer in hopes that the experience would confirm her desire to work with youth after graduation.
“I wanted to work in a formal setting for the summer, and Covenant Pines is the camp I grew up at and have loved for a long time,” Theilen says. She has found that her primary responsibility as a counselor is to serve her campers and encourage their relationships with God. “The values I’ve experienced through University Ministries have really applied at camp,” she says.
These values are further enforced as students grow in servant leadership, says Joel Rude, president of the Association of Covenant Camps and Conference Centers. “Many summer staff go on to be influential in their local churches, either in obvious leadership roles or essential support roles,” he says. “The experience deepens understanding of personal giftedness, builds self-confidence, and plants and waters seeds of disciple-making.”
In her position, Lund is able to gain valuable nursing experience, and feels responsible for ensuring that campers are safe and healthy throughout their stay. “Camp has shown me how to truly serve others, and that true service is done in selflessness and humility,” she says. “Professionally, camp has taught me how to address difficult situations efficiently and effectively, with as much grace as possible.”
North Park and Covenant Harbor are Lund’s “two homes away from home,” she says. “My time at North Park and Covenant Harbor feel so intertwined not only because of the people I live with and serve alongside, but the lessons and situations God has brought into my life through both of these places,” says Lund. “I have been able to develop extremely close friendships with people year-round, experience ministry in a tangible way, and take ownership of my faith.”
Nonprofit Management Awards Announced at Annual Axelson Center Symposium
Representatives from the Chicago Community Loan Fund were on hand to receive the 2014 Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence, Large Category from Axelson Center Director Pier Rogers (center).
Honors given to Chicago Community Loan Fund, Literature for All of Us, and Waukegan to College
The 2014 Alford-Axelson Awards, given for exemplary nonprofit management practices, were presented to Chicago Community Loan Fund (Large Category; budget exceeds $1.7 million) and Literature for All of Us (Small Category; budget under $1.7 million), with an honorable mention awarded to La Casa Norte. The 2014 Excellent Emerging Organization Award, presented to an up-and-coming Chicago-area nonprofit, was presented to Waukegan to College.
The Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence recognizes nonprofits serving the seven-county Chicago region that exemplify outstanding nonprofit management practices. This year’s Large Category award winner, Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF), demonstrated effective management through its in-depth strategic planning process, cultivation and relationship building with volunteers, effective resource management, and transparency with stakeholders. The award review committee believes the effectiveness of these practices will fuel the expansion of CCLF’s economic impact, and directly enable the individuals, families, and communities it serves to thrive. Literature for All of Us was selected as this year’s winner in the Small Category. In making this selection, award review committee members praised Literature for All of Us’s well-defined mission, inventive programs, strong volunteer and client engagement, and strong commitment from the Literature for All of Us board of directors.
Award-winning organizations (top to bottom): Literature for All of Us, La Casa Norte, and Waukegan to College.
Winners of this year’s Alford-Axelson Award, sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, received a $7,500 cash prize and commemorative award symbolizing the organization’s dedication to modeling nonprofit managerial excellence. This award honors and continues the legacies of Nils G. Axelson, a devoted community healthcare leader and visionary, and Jimmie R. Alford, a leading contemporary thinker and practitioner in the nonprofit arena.
Waukegan to College (W2C), the 2014 Excellent Emerging Organization Award winner, has had a profound impact on the young people and families of Wakuegan, Ill. Since 2009, W2C has nearly tripled its capacity from 25 students at its founding to 70 students served in 2014, and 100% of the high school seniors participating in W2C programming have matriculated to college. Their success is fueled by close monitoring of programming outcomes; a diverse funding base; and sustained partnerships with corporations, high schools, and universities. W2C received a $2,500 cash prize, a commemorative award, and a capacity-building package that will support improvement of services and efficiency. The Excellent Emerging Organization award is generously sponsored by MB Financial Bank.
“Effective nonprofit management is a vital part of an organization’s success,” said Axelson Center Director Pier Rogers. “These awards highlight the outstanding management work of all four honored organizations—Chicago Community Loan Fund, Literature for All of Us, La Casa Norte, and Waukegan to College—and also demonstrate how these practices fuel greater impact on the communities these nonprofits serve.”
The application period for the 2015 awards will open in Fall 2014. Learn more about both the Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence and the Excellent Emerging Organization Award, and review lists of past award winners at the Axelson Center website.
The Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management at North Park University is the source for informative and engaging nonprofit professional development in the Chicago region. Through regular workshops, webinars and an annual two-day conference, the Axelson Center delivers a superior educational experience for nonprofit managers, leaders and frontline staff, covering a vast array of topics from program evaluation to strategic planning, and communications to financial management. The valuable information presented through these programs enhances the impact of both the nonprofit sector and its professional staff. Visit www.northpark.edu/axelson for more information, including a full schedule of upcoming events.
Nancy Berggren's famed wall of photos was a prominent feature in her North Park office.
Nancy Berggren served as assistant professor of education and coordinator of clinical experiences
CHICAGO (May 30, 2014) — Nancy Berggren, a longtime faculty member of North Park University’s School of Education, died May 21 in Skokie, Ill., after an extended illness. Berggren, 63, began teaching at the University in 1985 as a lecturer in education and became assistant professor of education in 1990.
A North Park alumna, Berggren also served as coordinator of clinical experiences, and enjoyed helping students find a school clinical placement that was right for them. “Every student who graduated from the School of Education was placed by Nancy in clinical experiences, and she supported each one to become an effective teacher,” said Dr. Rebecca Nelson, dean of the School of Education. “Nancy Berggren leaves a legacy of significance and service at North Park and in schools throughout the country.”
The University celebrated Berggren, who had been scheduled to retire in August, at a gathering of faculty and staff May 13. “Nancy, we often hear you say, ‘I love North Park,’” North Park University President Dr. David L. Parkyn said at the event. “We want you to hear today us say to you, ‘North Park loves Nancy.’”
As he presented Berggren with a gift, Parkyn continued, “In Nancy’s office, there’s a large board that’s filled with pictures of students, faculty and staff, friends, and family. If you’re a friend of Nancy, you’re a friend for life.”
When the School of Education shared the news of Berggren’s death via social media, it received an outpouring of memories from former students whose lives had been touched by her as a professor, mentor, and friend.
“It was a privilege for the faculty and staff of the School of Education to work with Nancy,” Nelson said. “As our graduates serve as teachers in schools in Chicagoland and beyond, Nancy’s influence will impact students of the twenty-first century for decades.”
“Nancy worked with hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of students who were preparing to be teachers,” Parkyn agreed. “She had her arms around the world as an outcome of her work at North Park and in the classrooms of students who studied here.”
Ruth Tinzmann Armstrong, Berggren’s mother, had been a faculty member in North Park College’s psychology department for many years, making Berggren a “legacy professor.” Berggren’s children, Kristofer and Jennifer, are also North Park alumni.
Berggren graduated from North Park College in 1972 with a bachelor of arts in psychology and a certificate in elementary teaching. She received a master’s degree and K–12 special education certification from Northeastern Illinois University.
Berggren is survived by her husband, Richard; children Kristofer and Jennifer; brother James Tinzmann (Sue); and two nieces.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 21, at 1:00 pm in North Park University’s Anderson Chapel. A reception following the service will take place in Hamming Hall from 2:30 to 3:30 pm.
Messages of condolences may be sent to Mr. Richard Berggren, 7444 Kilbourn Ave., Skokie, IL 60076.
University Awards Degrees to 458 Students at Spring Commencement Ceremonies
Students recess out of North Park University's commencement ceremonies through a lineup of flags and faculty. See more photos from graduation.
Nyvall Medallion presented to Hon. Lynne Kawamoto and Hon. Joan Humphrey Lefkow
CHICAGO (May 13, 2014) — North Park University culminated the 2013–2014 academic year last weekend by awarding degrees to 458 students, including 295 bachelor’s degrees.
Three commencement ceremonies were held Saturday, May 10, for students from all undergraduate and graduate programs, including North Park Theological Seminary. Combined with the winter commencement held last December, degrees were presented to 727 North Park University graduates this academic year.
The weekend began with a baccalaureate service for all graduates, their families, and friends Friday, May 9, at Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago. In a deeply personal address, Dr. David L. Parkyn, president of North Park University, shared with graduating students advice from his mother and father, who each passed away this academic year. “Here’s the most important lesson my parents taught me,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who or where you are: When you see a need, step toward it and your feet will become the very feet of Jesus.”
“May God protect you as you walk through this door”
At its undergraduate commencement Saturday morning, the University presented its David Nyvall Medallion to Hon. Lynne Kawamoto, associate judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County Probate Division, and Hon. Joan Humphrey Lefkow, U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. Named for the first president of North Park University, the medallion is presented for distinguished service to the people of Chicago.
The first Asian American judge appointed in Illinois, Kawamoto is herself a North Park graduate, having received a degree in education and biology in 1972. “I am overwhelmed at being on this side of the podium for a North Park graduation. The unique blend of educational experiences offered here gives North Park graduates the tools to reach their dreams,” Kawamoto told graduating students.
“No one knows where their life’s journey will take them,” Kawamoto said. “My own uncharted journey started with being the first college graduate in my family.” After graduating from North Park, she enrolled in law school night classes while working full-time. Kawamoto encouraged graduates to share with others the education and character they gained as students, to benefit their own communities. “Whatever you do, do it well, and enjoy yourself,” she said. “God bless, good luck to you, and go, Vikings!”
Pres. David Parkyn presents graduate Greta Englund with a gift from her grandparents who graduated from North Park in 1944. See more photos from graduation.
Lefkow, the first woman—and the second person in the United States—to have served as a federal magistrate judge, a bankruptcy judge, and an Article III judge, challenged graduates to achieve success through civic engagement. “Perhaps more than ever, society needs educated people like you to get involved in our democracy,” she told graduates. “North Park has a distinguished tradition that has evolved with the society around us. I admire that willingness to embrace our rapidly changing world,” Lefkow said. “I am deeply humbled and honored by being recognized today. May God protect you as you walk through this door and each new door on your life’s journey.”
The Ahnfeldt Medallion, given to the senior with the highest grade point average, was presented to Deanna Breitbarth, Milwaukee, Wis., bachelor of arts in elementary education with an ESL endorsement. North Park's 2014 Fulbright Student Award winner Kendra Pearson, Portland, Maine, and 2014 Fulbright Scholar Dr. Dennis Bricault, professor of Spanish, were also recognized.
Twenty-six students from the North Park College (now University), Academy, and Seminary classes of 1964 marched in gold caps and gowns and were recognized for celebrating the 50th anniversary of their graduation. President Parkyn presented graduating senior Greta Englund, Sawyer, Mich., with a card from her grandparents, Elvira and Luther, who graduated from the University 70 years ago.
“Walk and love humanity with dignity and honor”
Four graduates addressed the afternoon commencement ceremony for graduate programs, the School of Adult Learning, and the BSN completion program, sharing the ways in which their North Park education shaped their lives and careers. Princess Kasune Zulu, Chicago, a School of Business and Nonprofit Management graduate with a master of nonprofit administration and a master of divinity, shared her powerful story of overcoming the challenges of HIV and poverty in Kabwe, Zambia, to establish a successful career in advocacy.
“It’s not just important to do your work,” Zulu said, “but to walk and love humanity with dignity and honor and with the right kind of ethics.” She said she hopes to “make this world a better place for humanity” after graduation. Other speakers were Ashley Edwardson, Prairie View, Ill., bachelor of arts in counseling psychology, School of Adult Learning; Francis Agyei, Chicago, master of arts in education, School of Education; and Verenice Velazquez, Mundelein, Ill., master of science in nursing, School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
“It’s a miracle that any of us are used by God”
Michael Bingeman, Chicago, celebrates the completion of his master of divinity and master of nonprofit administration dual degree from North Park Theological Seminary. See more photos from graduation.
Dean of North Park Theological Seminary Rev. David W. Kersten presided at the Seminary commencement, which honored 41 graduates. The Ahnfeldt Medallion was presented to two graduates with perfect 4.0 grade point averages, Alicia Reese, Chicago, master of arts in theological studies and master of nonprofit administration, and P. Markus Nikkanen, master of divinity. Nikkanen watched the ceremony live online from his home in Turku, Finland. In addition, academic awards were presented to several students.
After the awarding of the Ahnfeldt Medallion, Senior Professor of Theological Studies Dr. Jay E. Phelan surprised Dr. Klyne Snodgrass, Paul W. Brandel Professor of New Testament Studies, with a special presentation. Phelan announced that he, along with Seminary alumna Dr. Rebekah Eklund, has been working on a collection of essays in honor of Snodgrass, Doing Theology for the Church, to be published by Covenant Publications and Wipf and Stock this fall.
An honorary doctor of divinity was conferred to retired Evangelical Covenant Church pastor Rev. Dr. Linnea Carnes. The honorary degree was presented by Academic Dean and Professor of New Testament Dr. Stephen Chester, one of Carnes’s former parishioners at Immanuel Evangelical Covenant Church, Chicago. In his introduction of Carnes, Chester characterized her ministry with three words: “Love, faith, and hope.” Carnes “has the ability to discern what the Holy Spirit is doing, to embrace it, and to follow,” Chester said.
Rev. Edward Delgado, president of the Hispanic Center for Theological Studies (CHET), delivered the commencement address, in which he challenged graduates to not forget underserved and under-resourced populations in their ministry. Citing his own history of encountering hardship, Delgado said, “I’m the son and grandson of copper miners, the product of a small mining town with one small Hispanic church. I’m an example of how God uses little things and small people to do big things for the kingdom.”
Delgado encouraged graduates that their loved ones will be there to witness their journeys and cheer them on as they “fly to greater heights” and to unforeseen work. “Graduates of the class of 2014, it’s a miracle that any of us are used by God to join him in his ministry,” he said. “I pray that as a result of your journey of faith, people of all nations shall see and experience the salvation of God.”
Shelby Switzer, Phoenix, Ariz., and Nathan Lawler, Oakley, Ill., were named 2014 North Park University Distinguished Seniors.
CHICAGO (May 9, 2014) — Students’ academic achievement and community involvement were honored at several events as North Park University’s 2013–2014 academic year concluded. The school’s graduation ceremonies will officially close the year on Saturday, May 10, at 10:00 am, 3:00 pm, and 7:00 pm.
On April 28, the University’s undergraduate community gathered for the annual Honors Convocation, recognizing students who demonstrated excellence in the classroom and community.
The 2014 Distinguished Senior Awards were given to Shelby Switzer, Phoenix, Ariz., and Nathan Lawler, Oakley, Ill., at Honors Convocation. This annual honor is bestowed each year to one male and one female from the graduating class, recognizing extraordinary leadership, dedicated service, superior academic performance, and embodiment of the University’s mission of living lives of significance and service.
Switzer, who was also recognized as the outstanding senior in the biology major, distinguished herself in the classroom and on the volleyball court. She graduated as “the best athlete to have ever played volleyball at North Park,” according to Head Volleyball Coach Tim Walenga, breaking and setting school records and ranking among the top national players in Division III volleyball. Switzer also maintained a 3.9 grade point average, was a member of the TriBeta National Biological Honor Society, served with University Ministries on the chapel planning and Thailand Global Partnerships teams, and volunteered as a tutor. To close out her undergraduate career, along with being named a Distinguished Senior, Switzer she earned a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship in recognition of her academic achievement as a student athlete and was named the 2014 Viking Female Athlete of the Year.
Lawler earned honors though his athletic participation, service, and academic achievement while at North Park; the history and secondary education major earned a 3.9 grade point average and played four years on the Viking football team. He was awarded the 2013 Outstanding History Student scholarship by the history department, and also earned CCIW Academic All-Conference honors from 2011 through 2014. Outside the classroom, Lawler volunteered for four years at the University’s Service Day and Kids Day. “I’m not sure if I can remember in my 26 years of coaching a more dedicated, motivated, and respected student athlete than Nathan,” said Head Football Coach Michael Conway.
In addition to the Distinguished Senior Awards, Honors Convocation noted the top graduating students from each department and school, and service and leadership awards were given to seniors embodying excellence in co- and extracurricular activities.
Education student honored as Golden Apple Pathway Scholar
Richard Barajas is a sophomore Spanish and education major and a Golden Apple Pathway Scholar.
Richard Barajas, a sophomore Spanish and education major, earned the prestigious honor of becoming North Park University’s first Golden Apple Pathway Scholar. The Golden Apple Foundation aims to inspire, develop, and support teaching excellence in Illinois, especially in schools of need. Barajas’s strong classroom performance and dedication to serving young students helped him earn this recognition.
Barajas chose to study education in part because of the example of his own high school teachers and coaches. The Aurora, Ill., native attended a school that is classified as a “school of need” by the Golden Apple Foundation, and wants to be a mentor and role model for young people with a similar experience. “My teachers inspired me to become the person that I am today. They are the people that really pushed me forward to do the things I know I can do,” he said.
Dr. Ida Maduram, professor of education and North Park’s Golden Apple liaison, is sure that Barajas will benefit from the resources the program provides and become an excellent teacher. “I am positive that he will be a teacher we will be very proud of. This is one of those golden opportunities we have for students, and I’m so glad he took it. We are very proud of him.”
Swedish Council of America honors students
Representatives from the Swedish Council of America joined student award winners and North Park administrators on campus in early May.
This May, three University students were honored by the Swedish Council of America (SCA) for their dedication to connecting with their Swedish heritage. Senior Krista Briedis, a chemistry and biology double major from East Troy, Wis., received the Glenn T. Seaborg Science Scholarship, which funds her participation in the Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar and attendance at the 2014 Nobel Prize Ceremonies and Banquet in Stockholm. “I am deeply honored to receive this award, and feel very blessed to have been given this opportunity,” Briedis said. “I truly hope it gives me even further incentive to pursue research as a career.” She has been accepted into Ohio State University’s molecular, cellular, and developmental biology graduate program.
Senior Kellie Carstensen, a communication studies and creative writing double major from San Diego, Calif., received the SCA Humanities Scholarship to support her study of Nordic indigenous literature. Carstensen will attend a conference in Kautokeino, Norway, and then visit Uppsala and Umeå universities in Sweden for further exploration and conversations with professors who study the Sami indigenous people. “It is a great honor to get this award,” she said. “I can’t wait to explore Sweden and learn about the Nordic culture.”
Junior Linnea Anderson is the recipient of the SCA Swedish Language Scholarship to further her study of the language. She will be participating in North Park’s annual study abroad exchange program with Södra Vätterbygdens Folkhögskola (SVF) in Jönköping, Sweden, for the fall 2014 semester.
“Along with these student awards, the Gospel Choir Touring Ensemble received a generous grant for their upcoming tour to Sweden,” said Dean of the College Dr. Charles Peterson. “We are grateful for the recognition and support of the Swedish Council of America for our deserving students and our excellent Gospel Choir.”
North Park University Student, Spanish Professor Selected for 2014 Fulbright Awards
Kendra Pearson, who studied Spanish and education at North Park, will begin an assignment as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Mexico this fall.
Pearson to teach English in Mexico; Bricault to train English teachers in Guatemala
CHICAGO (May 7, 2014) — The U.S. Fulbright Program awarded overseas teaching opportunities to two members of the North Park University community this spring. Senior Kendra Pearson was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Mexico, and Dr. Dennis Bricault, professor of Spanish, was named a U.S. Fulbright Scholar, and will train English teachers at a university in Guatemala.
Combined with previous awards, 12 University students and three University faculty members in the past six years have earned Fulbright grants. The University was among the colleges and universities that yielded the most U.S. Fulbright students in 2013–2014, according to a list announced by the U.S. Department of State. The list of top-producing institutions was published in the October 28 edition of the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Pearson will graduate this week from the University with a bachelor of arts in Spanish and a K–12 teaching license. Beginning this fall, she will serve as an English Teaching Assistant (ETA) for a placement in Mexico of nine months to one year. “I think it’s phenomenal that I will be part of a program in which a core idea is that both languages and cultures be exchanged to cultivate a deeper appreciation for each,” Pearson says. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to actively participate in this new experience as a teacher, and simultaneously, a learner.” She feels she owes that passion for other people and cultures, in part, to North Park.
“In my four years here, I have had the support of so many professors,” Pearson says. “They’ve helped me to foster a love of people, and deepened and challenged my ideas of what it means to learn.” Pearson finds herself prepared to teach in Mexico because of the investment her professors have made in her, and the feedback she’s received from them. “Not only have they modeled how to do that, but they have given me insights into my strengths and weaknesses,” she says. “This better understanding of myself will allow me to be more effective in the ETA position.”
Fulbright Program Faculty Associate and Professor of Spanish Dr. Linda Parkyn believes Pearson is “fully prepared” to undertake the role of an ETA in Mexico. “She is student-teaching now, and did so regularly last fall in an intermediate Spanish classroom at North Park for practice,” Parkyn says. “Her classroom will flourish with her attention to detail and her gift for making activities interesting. Kendra will thrive living, learning, and sharing knowledge of her native language and culture with Mexican students.”
Pearson first came to the University from Portland, Maine, looking for a liberal arts education within a Christian context. As she approaches graduation, Pearson believes she has identified her vocation and grown stronger in her faith. “When I visited North Park, I loved how it was intentionally Christian, but didn’t shy away from striving to be a diverse campus in terms of students’ beliefs,” she says. “To be challenged to see new perspectives while being grounded in my faith was something I saw as being very beneficial.”
Pearon’s desire to put her faith into action prompted her involvement in several University groups and organizations, including University Ministries’ Urban Outreach, as well as the Gospel Choir and its Touring Ensemble. “I am so thankful to have been a part of a group that consistently reminded me that true service is done out of a genuine love for God and others, with humility and dedication,” Pearson says of Urban Outreach. Similarly, “Gospel Choir not only provided a means of support and community for me, but it was a place where each week, I could pause and focus on praising God.”
As an ETA, Pearson will act as an “authentic addition” to the instruction that takes place in an English classroom in Mexico, she says. “I am very much looking forward to expanding my experiences in teaching, but more important, to serving others within the context of learning or bettering their understanding of the English language and American culture.” After her program, Pearson hopes to return to Chicago to teach.
Spanish Professor Dennis Bricault to train English teachers in Guatemala
Dr. Dennis Bricault is one of only three U.S. Fulbright Scholars in the program’s Western Hemisphere region to be awarded a position in Guatemala this year. Beginning in late August, he will spend the fall 2014 semester training English teachers at a university in Guatemala.
When Bricault applied for the program, he was fully aware of the region’s highly competitive acceptance rate. “There are a lot of countries in the program’s Western Hemisphere region, but there are fewer awards to go around,” he says. He advanced to the first round last October, and was eventually chosen for one of the handful of Guatemalan placements.
Bricault will conduct teacher training and teach and observe students studying to become English teachers. A member of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, Bricault is eager to experience a variety of classroom settings while in Guatemala. “During my time there, I want to visit other schools in the area to exchange ideas and see how they’re doing it,” he says.
“Dennis is a model department chair, and his organizational skills help all of us teaching languages and cultures here to thrive,” says Parkyn. “His classes will prepare his Guatemalan students for further interaction and study with their U.S. neighbors. Our entire department is proud of Dennis, and we look forward to all he will learn as a Fulbright Scholar and bring back to share with us and our students.”
For his part, Bricault stresses the importance of what Parkyn has done for the University’s involvement with the Fulbright Program. “She’s been invaluable in terms of her information and experiences as a Fulbright Scholar and Fulbright Specialist,” he says of Parkyn. “It’s great to have her on campus as a resource for anyone who wants to do the program.”
While this is Bricault’s first teaching trip to Guatemala, he has previously worked with two programs training English teachers in Latin America. “Prior to beginning my placement in Guatemala, I’ll be returning to co-lead a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) teacher-training program with CEDEI, the Centers for Interamerican Studies, in Cuenca, Ecuador, where I taught last summer,” he says. Bricault spent the second half of last summer in Santiago, Chile, working with English teachers in the graduate TEFL program at the Universidad Pontífica Católica.
The Fulbright Program was established by the U.S. Congress in 1946, and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. It is the largest U.S. international exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide.
Zeke Dixon, diagnosed with infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia at nine months old, has been a staple at North Park athletic events all year.
North Park athletes team with Dixon family to support cancer research
CHICAGO (May 5, 2014) — Four games into her senior season, Kristin Gibbs, defender on North Park’s women’s soccer team and Student Athletic Advisory Council president, tore her ACL. It meant the end of her soccer career, but not the end of her commitment to North Park and its athletics department.
“When you build an athletic program you are not just building athletes,” says Gibbs, a biology major completing the pre-professional medicine track. “You are building people and communities. One of the reasons I chose to come to North Park and compete in athletics is that in programs like this, it is about more than the games.”
Over the course of the year, Gibbs helped spearhead an initiative that connected different people on campus to support a North Park family. “Of course we care about our record and how we play. But we also learn that there is so much more to life,” Gibbs says. “You have to give back to your community and support people who are so full of life and need that extra push.”
The project started with a phone call in the fall to women’s basketball coach Amanda Crockett from Eric Dixon, a graduate student at North Park Theological Seminary. Dixon’s two-year-old son, Zeke, was diagnosed with infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at nine months, a high-risk form of cancer. While Zeke underwent chemotherapy treatment, Eric and his wife, Shelby, pursued opportunities to bring people together in support of cancer research. With the recommendation of a friend, they turned to North Park athletics.
Crockett began coordinating with other North Park coaches on how different teams could contribute. She also turned to Gibbs, whose grandfather passed away from leukemia. The different groups organized a series of fundraisers at sporting events over the course of the year—at women’s and men’s soccer in the fall, women’s basketball in the winter, and most recently, a softball game this spring. Players from each team volunteered for the different events, including selling raffle tickets and apparel. Neighborhood restaurants Golden Crust Pizza and Tap and Chili’s contributed gift cards. Overall the project raised several thousand dollars for the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Research Center, the hospital that continues to care for Zeke.
But it wasn’t just money raised; it was also the spirits of a young boy and his family. Throughout the year, Zeke was invited to practices, joined teams on the field for the playing of the national anthem, brought out the basketball to center court for tip-off, and was even named honorary captain for a game.
For Dixon, these connections helped his family feel at home at North Park. “I would have loved to spend more time with my classmates, but Zeke’s health just didn’t allow that,” says Dixon, who will graduate in May with a master of arts in Christian formation and a certificate in intercultural studies. "We felt more connected with the University and the fact that they wanted to be there for us. There was real feeling from my wife and I that we are not just flying under the radar here. People have heard our story and they want to contribute to our life, but more important, to our son’s life.”
Zeke is healthier than he was a year ago, and will be finishing chemotherapy in July. After graduation, Zeke, Eric, and Shelby will head to Oregon to be near family and for some much needed rest. “You take one look at Zeke and you think this is just a normal two-year old kid,” Dixon says. “You’d have no idea what he went through the last couple of years.”
For Gibbs, who has spent extra time with the family babysitting Zeke, this project has a lasting impact. “It has shown me the importance of who you work with and how you treat people. I want to go into rural family medicine because I want to work with people long-term and build communities,” Gibbs says. Her next step towards that future is medical school starting in August. “I want to build programs for kids where they otherwise wouldn’t have many opportunities. Each little event like this builds the type of person you are and what you want to do with your life.”
Author Mireille GallegosPosted on Categories Stories
