CHICAGO (September 27, 2016) — Generations of North Park alumni returned to campus over the weekend to celebrate the University’s 125th Anniversary and to share in Homecoming 2016 festivities.
There were several Homecoming highlights, including an alumni art exhibit, the River Run 5K, and Homecoming Fest. Alumni were also treated to home games from both soccer teams, including a men’s 2-1 victory over conference rivals Carroll University, and a 2-2 tie against Carroll by the women’s team.
Photos: Relive the memories from the 125th anniversary and Homecoming.
At Homecoming Brunch, all past Distinguished Alumni Award recipients were invited to celebrate the accomplishments of this year’s designees. Four alumni were honored for their contributions to the North Park community and for leading lives of significance and service, exemplifying the University’s mission:
- Theodore Ernst A’51 C’54, U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame inductee, Distinguished Academy Alumnus
- Dr. Janice Phillips C’76, director of government and regulatory affairs for CGFNS International, Distinguished University Alumna
- Mary Helwig C’06, one of just over 115 women to finish the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, Distinguished Young Alumna
- Joanna (Ericson) Kanakis C’06, vice president and account executive at Societe Generale Americas Securities LLC, Distinguished Young Alumna
125th Anniversary Celebration
On Friday of Homecoming weekend, alumni, families, students, faculty, and staff came together to honor North Park’s 125-year legacy and to celebrate its future with events throughout the day.
A history and heritage exhibit, Cultivating Great Intellects & Great Hearts: North Park University’s Quasquicentennial, traced the evolution of the University through text by North Park historians and photographs from the F.M. Johnson Archives and Special Collections. The exhibit, displayed in the Johnson Center, also included University artifacts and publications from the Archives.
Three concurrent Alumni Panels featured North Park graduates sharing about their accomplishments in the fields of entrepreneurship, health professions, and the arts—in which chef Shanna Horner O’Hea performed a live cooking demonstration and distributed toasted s’mores to the audience. “Education is in my bones,” said O’Hea, daughter of former president Dr. David Horner. “My desire to continue to learn is something I absolutely got at North Park.”
Following the Alumni Panels, two Back-to-Class sessions were held, featuring three concurrent classes taught by current and former faculty members on their areas of expertise. “When we say we want to be the leading city-centered Christian university, it’s because the world desperately needs that,” said Provost Dr. Michael Emerson, describing North Park’s engagement with the city of Chicago, in the “Urban Sociology and Context” session.
The day concluded with an evening concert and program featuring performances by the Alumni Choir, under the direction of Associate Professor of Music Dr. Julia Davids, Professor Emeritus Gregory Athnos, and former professor Dr. Rollo Dillworth, respectively. Dr. Marvin Curtis also led the University Choir in a performance of his commissioned piece in honor of the 125th anniversary.
In addition to the musical performances, the David Nyvall Medallion for Distinguished Service to North Park University was presented to former board chair and two-time interim University president Bruce Bickner and former board chair Stanley Helwig. Former North Park presidents William Hausmann (1980–1986) and Horner (1987–2004) also shared remarks about their time serving the University.
“We are living in a global world, and it surrounds our campus,” said Hausmann. “I like to think that we started to build bridges to this world back in the 1980s. Our decision (in 1980) to stay in Chicago was the most important in North Park’s history, next to its founding.”
Follow North Park University on Twitter @NPU. Learn more about North Park University.