Kids - Vanguard University

Transcription

Vanguard University of Southern California
vanguard
winter 2008
Building
Kids’
Character
Tony Salerno ’66, pioneering producer of family entertainment
From the White House to VU 5
Learning to Serve 7
Homecoming 2007 18
truth ~ virtue ~ service
Revival in the Bronx 20
www.vanguard.edu
truth ~ virtue ~ service
5
7
18
26
20
mission statement
As a Christian comprehensive university,“the purpose of Vanguard University is to pursue knowledge,
cultivate character, deepen faith, and equip each student for a life of leadership and service.”
vanguard magazine winter 2008
In This Issue
Contents
Volume 8 number 3 • winter 2008
features
Character Builder............................................................. 2
Tony Salerno ’66 has created some of the most popular character-building
entertainment for families, from the million-selling Music Machine and
Agapeland series, to Bibleman and the ABC’s of Success.
Musical Excellence........................................................... 5
From the White House to the Hollywood Bowl, VU professor of music Ken
Foerch has found continued success playing and teaching music.
Learning to Serve............................................................. 7
Student Dominica Scibetta came to VU with filmmaking in mind, but found
her passion was actually to help the poor.
Homecoming 2007......................................................... 18
Revival in the Bronx........................................................ 20
Fernando Cabrera ’86 is pastor of one of the few large churches in New York
City. With a large new facility and a relational approach to ministry, he and
his congregation are revolutionizing their borough.
departments
From the President........................................................... 1
Class Notes...................................................................... 9
Windows......................................................................... 15
Advancing Vision 2010................................................... 16
A Vine of His Own Planting............................................ 23
On Campus.................................................................... 24
Sports............................................................................. 26
Calendar......................................................................... 28
Postcards....................................................................... 29
University Governance
Chair, Board of Trustees
T. Ray Rachels
University Administration
President
Murray Dempster
Provost and Vice President for
Academic Affairs
Carol Taylor
Vice President for Business
and Finance
Bob Allison
Vice President for Enrollment
Management
Jessica Mireles
Vice President for Student Affairs
Ann Hamilton
Vice President for University
Advancement
Rick Hardy
Editor
Joel Kilpatrick
Art Director
Chauncey D. Bayes
Director of Marketing and
Communications
Patti Ammerman
A
t Vanguard we train our students to have an
extraordinary impact wherever they serve. This issue
of vanguard magazine showcases a few of the alums,
faculty and VU students who are doing just that,
serving others with excellence in fields from music, to books,
to ministry.
Our cover story is on Tony Salerno ’66 who produced the genredefining Music Machine series and created Bibleman and many
other well-known albums and characters. His albums have sold
millions of copies, but best of all, Tony and wife Kathy ’66 aim to
build kids’ character and enrich families with their creativity. You’ll
enjoy reading about their extraordinary career.
VU professor Ken Foerch came to Vanguard after spending
eight years at the White House playing saxophone in the U.S.
Marine Band. Foerch’s music skills have opened doors to play at
the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and in
recording sessions at Capitol Records. Vanguard is privileged to
have Ken here training our music students and taking them to even
higher levels of professionalism and musicianship.
Fernando Cabrera ’86 helped turn around a neighborhood in the
Bronx by starting a church there and growing it to hundreds of
people. The people in the church are focused outward on having
genuine relationships with the people in their community, and the
result is nothing short of a revolution in hearts and minds.
Student Dominica Scibetta’s path is probably familiar to other
VU students and alums: she came here thinking she wanted to
go into one line of work — filmmaking — but discovered that
her own skills and desires were actually leading her in another
direction: serving the poor and outcast. Her story inspires all of us
to remember that God’s heart is with the poor, and that when we
comfort and supply them we are doing his work.
Class Notes, alumni news and much more round out this issue.
Take a moment to enjoy reading about what other members of
the Vanguard community are doing, and let’s keep reaching for
the extraordinary.
Director of Alumni Relations
Heather Clements
Vanguard University of Southern California, in compliance with laws and
regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender,
age, disability, national origin, or status as a veteran in any of its policies,
practices, or procedures.
vanguard magazine is a free publication published quarterly by Vanguard
University of Southern California. All contents copyrighted, 2008,
Vanguard University of Southern California.
Bulk rate postage paid at Santa Ana, CA. POSTMASTER: Send address
changes to: VUSC Alumni Relations Office, 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa,
CA 92626.
1
Alumni Profile
Building
Kids’
T
Characte
ony Salerno ’66 has influenced generations of kids and
families through his dazzlingly creative music, videos
and book projects, which include Music Machine and
Bibleman. Albums he produced have sold millions of
copies, earned multiple Grammy nominations and re-defined kids
Christian entertainment. Today, Salerno continues to create projects
that, with the same sparkling creativity, teach kids to have good
character.
“Part of my goal in life is to see revival come to our country,” says
2
Salerno. “The things we’re doing are tools to get people to the Lord.”
Born to Italian immigrants, Salerno spent much of his childhood at
church, sometimes sleeping under the piano during all-night prayer
meetings. He well remembers watching young people pray into the
wee hours of the morning.
“I never forgot the dynamic youth group that impressed me as a kid
to serve God,” he says.
He soon had a chance to build his own youth group when his family
moved to Oregon to help establish a church. The 15-year-old Salerno
Alumni Profile
“I tried to do things that
were meaningful, that
had purpose. If we want
revival, first we have to
break up the hardened
ground. The way we’re
doing that is going in
[to schools] and talking
about character.”
er
grew the youth group from three to 65 kids in less than a year, before
moving back to southern California.
president, and Salerno won two years in a row. He and soon-to-bewife Kathy Vawter ’66 ministered together on evangelistic teams.
At age 20, Salerno devoted his life to the ministry. During a visit
to Israel he knelt in what was said to be Jesus’ tomb and “had this
tremendous experience with God,” he says. Realizing the sacrifice
Jesus had made for him, Salerno committed himself to God’s work.
After graduating, Tony turned down offers from large churches,
accepting instead a youth pastor position at a church with a youth
group of only four. Within a few years the youth group became the
largest in the Assemblies of God in southern California, with 300
kids and a 150-voice youth choir which Tony directed.
He returned home and enrolled at Vanguard. It was “the happiest
time in my life up to that time. I loved being there,” he says. He
worked his way through school, played sports and studied hard.
Though he was shy, a friend convinced him to run for student body
“Our kids really loved God,” he says. “We knew that if they were
touched once by Jesus, there’s nothing they would want that would
be better than that.”
Tony Salerno, continued on page 4
3
Alumni Profile
Salerno, continued from page 3
Tony Salerno, continued from page 3
The Jesus movement was just beginning,
and Tony began ministering to street youths
who were strung out on drugs. He opened
a coffee house in a little building in the
church parking lot and dozens of street kids
were saved. Local Christian artists like Love
Song and Andrae Crouch came to perform.
In 1972, Salerno founded Agape Force and
modeled it after the Salvation Army, to train
young believers for ministry and service.
Agape Force grew in size and scope along
with the Jesus movement and soon moved to
Tyler, Texas, where hundreds of people lived
and trained on its campus.
Salerno continued to use music and other
media to reach young people, and soon he
felt inspired to put together an album and
stage production called Music Machine.
earlier pop hit with “Eve of
Destruction” and had been
influenced by Tony’s ministry.
Bullfrogs and Butterflies sold
Calli Dye ’05 (left, with mic)
more than 900,000 copies.
at an ABCs of Character
public school assembly. Kathy
The albums were nominated
and Tony Salerno (above).
for eight Grammys and won
four Dove awards and two
Wonder, makers of the hugely successful
Billboard Music awards.
Teddy Ruxpin talking bear. Salerno created
Salerno went on to make two dozen albums
a series of toys, books and recordings for the
with Sparrow, including Nathaniel the
company, and also a children’s cartoon, Little
Grublet and Sir Oliver’s Song. His work
Clowns of Happytown, which aired on ABC
redefined kids Christian music.
for a season. In those years he also worked
“My talent is to come with the idea,” Salerno
with Nest Entertainment.
says. “I’d have other people write the songs.
“I was sitting there when the Lord dropped
in my heart the whole Music Machine idea,”
he says. “God gave me the title and told me
how to do it.”
It was a team effort. One thing I wanted was
quality. Everything God does is excellent.
We hired all live musicians — the best of
the best. I think God helped us to write
melodies. We didn’t treat it as a kids album
where you talk down to the kids. We made it
for everyone because there’s a kid in all of us.”
Christian record labels initially passed on the
idea, and some laughed when Salerno said
he believed it would sell a million copies.
Eventually, fledgling Sparrow Records put
out Music Machine on its Birdwing label,
and the album went on to sell more than 1
million copies worldwide. Salerno’s second
album with Sparrow, Bullfrogs and Butterflies,
featured songs and narration by former folk
singer Barry McGuire, who had scored an
Salerno had also put together a group
called Silverwind whose albums sold widely
in the Christian market. But as the Jesus
movement wound down in the early ’80s,
the Salernos realized they were spread too
thin with the 26 ministries at their training
center in Texas. They decided to pare back
to their core calling: creating media that
would influence kids for Christ. Soon
they were invited to work with Worlds of
In the mid-1990s, Salerno created a
character called Bibleman, hiring former
Eight is Enough star Willie Aames to play
the lead role in the video series. A young girl
named Calli Dye ’05, now a VU alum, acted
in the first Bibleman videos.
“The idea was that the word of God
transforms your life, and the hero of the
series was the word of God,” Salerno says.
“I meet kids all the time who just love
Bibleman.”
Bibleman remains one of the top Christian
kids properties, with a live touring show,
video series, books and action figures. In the
1990s, Salerno also created a book and CD
called Character Classics which put characterbuilding lyrics to classical music. It won a
Tony Salerno, continued on page 17
4
Faculty Profile
The Sound of
F
rom the White House to
the Hollywood Bowl to
Capitol Records Studio “A”,
VU professor Ken Foerch
has had many opportunities to use
his saxophone talents to entertain and
inspire. At Vanguard, he is helping
student musicians reach higher levels of
excellence.
Excellence
“At Vanguard we’re serious about
making good music and teaching
students about the opportunities, goals
and ideas of what to do with their music
once they graduate,” he says. “We expose
students to the excellence of the arts.”
Foerch knows what it takes to succeed
at a high level. This summer he played
several concerts, which included
saxophone solos, with the Los Angeles
Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl.
He also spent eight years as a member
of the U.S. Marine Band, in which he
played “Hail to the Chief ” every time
the President made a public appearance,
and provided music and anthems for
state dinners, funerals and more.
Foerch took up the sax in sixth grade.
The school district where he lived in
Michigan had a strong band program,
and his father enrolled him in private
lessons.
“I had the drive to be good at it,” Foerch
says. “I saw that if you worked at it, you
got solos. The teacher saw I had drive.
When you work at something and get
moved up, that’s the reward. ... I knew
Ken Foerch, continued on page 6
5
Faculty Profile
Foerch has played concerts with the Los Angeles
Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. He also spent
eight years as a member of the U.S. Marine Band,
in which he played “Hail to the Chief” every time the
President made a public appearance.
Ken Foerch, continued from page 5
this was what God wanted me to do.”
By junior high he had decided to make
music for a living. He participated in
statewide music festivals and won a spot
on the state of Michigan’s honor band. At
Michigan State University he studied music
under internationally renowned faculty.
During a summer job playing at Disneyland
in the All American College Band in 1986,
he fell in love with California. He also
traveled to Japan to play in a featured group
at the World Saxophone Congress.
After receiving his master of music degree
at Eastman School of Music in Rochester,
New York, he started his doctoral program
at the University of Southern California.
Then one day a professor handed him a
flyer advertising auditions for the U.S.
Marine Band which was conducting a
national search. Foerch followed through
and participated in a rigorous tryout with
45 other musicians, which involved difficult
sight reading. The purpose of the Marine
Band is to play for White House events,
promote public art and support Marine
recruitment. It has a long history going back
to famous bandleader John Philip Sousa.
Foerch got the job and for the next eight
6
years, under two presidents, played “Hail to
the Chief ” thousands of times, along with
anthems from dozens of other countries to
announce the entrance of foreign dignitaries.
“The hardest part of the job was the
ceremonial aspect,” he says. “We did a lot
of funerals at Arlington and full dignitary
honors at the Pentagon and White House.
You had to stand at attention, play military
honors and various musical pieces, national
anthems of foreign countries. The nice thing
was we didn’t have to go through boot camp.
You get hired directly as a military musician.”
During his tenure there, the Marine Band
became the first ensemble to be inducted
into the Classical Music Hall of Fame in
Cincinnati, Ohio. They performed for the
induction ceremony.
“That was a major highlight,” Foerch says.
Foerch then left D.C. to finish his doctorate
in music at USC. He also began teaching
privately and in local colleges, and played
concerts with the Los Angeles Philharmonic,
the Los Angeles Master Chorale and a
rhythm and blues band to which he still
belongs. He finished his degree in 2003 and
came to VU in 2004.
“I heard about Vanguard
through a friend I’d
met at church gigs and
who was a member of a
Christian big band we
played in,” he says. “I
was newly married and
had just finished my
doctorate, so I thought
this would be a wonderful
opportunity.”
As assistant professor of
music Foerch teaches
a variety of classes,
from jazz band to basic
musicianship and aural
theory. His bands from VU perform in many
community events and church services. He is
also taking the groups to more festivals and
competitions. Recently, two VU students
earned soloist awards at the Reno Jazz
Festival.
“I want students to look at it competitively
and get to hear other good groups,” Foerch
says.
In April, VU’s jazz ensemble will travel by
invitation to a clinic and concert in New
York City where they will receive daily
coaching with some of the world’s top jazz
artists. The event will culminate with a
concert featuring VU’s jazz ensemble and
three other bands.
“To be one of four bands out of countless
great jazz programs chosen for this is
tremendous for us,” Foerch says.
Back in southern California, Foerch has
begun to work with filmmakers, and to
play sessions at major record labels. He
also directs the music for VU’s musicals,
and in the spring will direct the music for
Thoroughly Modern Millie with an all-VU
student orchestra.
“It’s been a thrilling fall semester and
summer, with all the opportunities,” he says.
Student Profile
Scibetta grew up in Long Island, New York,
where she was adopted from Korea into a
Christian family. She wanted to study film,
so after two years at Stony Brook University
she decided to venture west. A family friend
recommended Vanguard, so Scibetta visited,
loved the area and enrolled.
Touching
the Outcast
D
ominica Scibetta always felt drawn to help the less
fortunate, but didn’t know exactly how. When she came
to Vanguard her passion for social action flourished.
Today she leads teams of students to Skid Row in Los
Angeles, and to places like Seattle to help the homeless.
“Social action is all about realizing that people are more alike than we
are different,” Scibetta says. “We all deserve dignity. We all want to
be loved and noticed. It should be innate in everybody’s lifestyle to
offer that same courtesy to other people.”
At Vanguard, Scibetta also discovered a depth of relationships with
peers and mentors that helped her grow as a person and enriched her
ability to reach out to others.
“I was taken aback by how nice people were,”
she says. “I hadn’t seen that in New York,
and especially not at the larger university
I’d gone to. People at Vanguard cared that
I was there. That was very weird for me to
experience. I remember going into a class for
the first time and the professor writing his
cell phone number on the board and saying,
‘If you have question, call anytime except
for after ten.’ I was like, ‘He’s giving us his
number?’ That became an on-going theme.
The faculty really are here for us. They want
to mentor you.”
She also enjoyed how faith was such a central
part of campus life.
“I wasn’t used to people having chapel to
go to, or praying as a way of life,” she says.
“Even now I’m still so touched. This is a
special place. The community is close for the
right reasons.”
Though she came in as a film major, she
soon took a greater interest in social work.
As a child, she and her parents had always
volunteered at local charities. Now she went
with teams of students to help homeless
people in Los Angeles and Costa Mesa. A trip to Seattle to conduct
“night strikes” — delivering food, blankets and more to people living
on the streets — profoundly affected her.
“I knew I always felt sad and empathic for people, but I didn’t know
what to do,” she says. “Everything I had a passion for before coming
to Vanguard exploded once I was here. The people here work to
make sure the passion you have can be increased and used toward
something. There are things you can plug yourself into that will take
that little seed and make it bigger than you ever thought.”
She added a sociology minor and used her communication skills to
publicize service opportunities for students through the Outreach
Dominica Scibetta, continued on page 8
7
Student Profile
Dominica Scibetta, continued from page 7
Ministries office. She felt personally
challenged at a retreat for student body
leaders when the leader asked them all to
commit to serve God every day in their
personal lives and in their posts. Scibetta
realized then that “the jobs you take at VU
aren’t just jobs, and Vanguard is more than
an academic institution.”
Her approach to homeless ministry is
more than just delivering goods or sharing
the gospel. Often it means simply having
conversations with people who live on the
streets.
“Social action to me is about relationships,”
she says. “Building a friendship with
someone can speak more loudly than
handing them a Bible. That’s why I go up
there. Everyone needs a friend. I might as
well be that person.”
In her present position as intern and
publicity director of inner city ministries
with Vanguard’s Outreach Ministries office,
she creates opportunities for other students
to serve the less fortunate, by planning trips,
transportation and other practical matters.
“I work really hard to make sure I live
intentionally,” she says. “I feel that’s my job
to make venues for other students to do the
same.”
She is now starting an AIDS awareness
campaign and leading another team to
Seattle to serve the homeless.
“I’m learning about how to lead people
and to cast the vision and structure the
vision so it comes to fruition,” she says.
“Coming to VU has taught me so much
about relationships, and about who God is.
Much of that learning has come outside the
classroom. I have people surrounding me
who help me throughout life.”
Scibetta graduates in May.
One life-affirming
experience leads to another.
“Vanguard University set the direction for our lives and prepared us for our
careers. Because we believe in VU’s ability to transform lives through its mission
and values, we want to be a part of helping other students benefit from the same
experience. Remembering VU in our will is the perfect opportunity for us to
demonstrate our appreciation and help other students prepare for their future.”
John Campbell ’96
Rina (Taniguchi) Campbell ’00
If VU has impacted you in a meaningful way, consider how your legacy
can impact others. To learn more about our Wills and Bequest Program
and other giving opportunities, contact the Office of Planned Giving at
714-556-3610 ext. 4030.
Vanguard. Illuminating.
Vanguard University of Southern California
55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, California 92626, 714 556-3610 vanguard.edu
8
Class Notes
Let us know what’s going on with you! Email Heather Clements, director of alumni relations, at
[email protected], visit the Vanguard Connection at www.vanguard.edu/alumni or call 714-966-5494.
’40s
Joe Wright ’49 is retired from twenty-three
years as senior pastor of Calvary Temple
church in Modesto. There he established
Calvary Temple Christian School, founded a
three-year Bible institute and led five major
building programs, including the current
2,500-seat sanctuary. Wright was director of
men’s ministry for the Northern California
and Nevada District of the Assemblies
of God. He now works with God’s Door
Keepers, a ministry that provides prison
chaplains with an evangelistic book called
New Life in Christ.
’50s
Flora (Snow ’53) and Ollen Hardin ’66
met at SCBC and have been married fiftythree years. Both taught Sunday school for
thirty years and were teachers in several
school systems until their recent retirement.
They have two sons and four grandchildren
and live in Hemet.
Ron Hittenberger ’57 and wife Carolyn are
Assemblies of God missionaries and part of
the roving faculty of the Caribbean School
of Theology. They teach national ministry
leaders in that region.
Bob Jones ’52 leads Missionary Task Force,
a ministry that builds homes and churches
in South America and recently completed
the construction of an orphanage in Mexico.
While living in Torrance, he built a church
and high school, designed churches for
several congregations, and was a pastor. He
now lives in Auburn with wife Lolita.
Paul Raymond ’56 of Shasta was recognized
by the Northern California and Nevada
District of the Assemblies of God for fifty
years of ministry in the pulpit and to his
community.
National Latino
leader named
VU Alumnus of
the Year
Jesse Miranda ’66 was
chosen as the 2007
Alumnus of the Year by the
Vanguard University Alumni
Association.
“To receive this award was a
big surprise,” says Miranda.
“Vanguard University is
the home where my life began to take
shape and where I hope to leave a lasting
contribution. It is indeed an honor.”
Miranda has ministered to the church, in
academics and to the community for fifty
years. He is renowned for his leadership
in Latino civic engagement and his work
in social ethics, racial reconciliation and
theological education. His wife Susan is his
longtime partner in ministry.
After serving as a pastor, Miranda became
an instructor and later interim president at
Latin American Bible Institute. He spent
ten years as the district superintendent for
the Pacific Latin American District Council
before becoming associate dean of Urban
and Ethnic Affairs of the Haggard School of
Theology at Azusa Pacific University.
Miranda returned to Vanguard in 2000
to launch and direct the Center for
Urban Studies and Ethnic Leadership,
now known as the Jesse Miranda Center
for Hispanic Leadership, and to serve
as the Distinguished Professor of Urban
and Hispanic Leadership. He was also
president of AMEN, a national association
of Hispanic evangelicals, and co-researcher
in a Pew-sponsored study of the role of
Hispanic churches in American public life.
While at Vanguard, Miranda’s influence was
recognized by President George Bush, who
appointed him to the advisory committee
of the Presidential Initiative on Race
Reconciliation and brought him to the
White House on various occasions as an
advisor on Hispanic issues and concerns.
Miranda has higher degrees from Talbot
Theological Seminary, California State
University at Fullerton, and a doctoral
degree from Fuller Seminary. He also did
doctoral work in social ethics at USC.
’60s
William Black ’68 is a retired pastor who
ministers with the senior men’s group at
Covina Assemblies of God. He lives in
Glendora.
Timothy Brown ’68 earned an
MA in education/biology from
Pacific Union College, an
administrative credential from
Portland State University and a counseling
credential from University of Redlands. He is
a guidance counselor at Canyon Springs
High School in Moreno Valley. Timothy and
wife Linda have been married thirty years
and have four grown children: Tim II,
Kristen, Ron and Chris. They live in
Banning.
Neal ’60 and Yvonne (Hill)
Pirolo ’60 live in San Diego
and have thirteen
grandchildren, five greatgrandchildren and four grown
children: Kevin, Greg, Byron and Tamara.
Neal was a public school teacher in Las Vegas
and Torrance and earned an MA in
Class Notes, continued on page 10
9
Class Notes
‘Rising star’ attorney
named VU Young
Alumnus of the Year
Darren Cottriel ’91 was named the
2007 Young Alumnus of the Year by the
Vanguard University Alumni Association.
Cottriel is an accomplished attorney with
Jones Day in Irvine. Los Angeles Magazine
and Law & Politics called him a “Rising
Star” for business litigation in Southern
California in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Cottriel’s practice focuses on business
litigation and prelitigation disputes for
private and public companies and financial
institutions. He has tried many cases in
federal and state courts. Before joining
Jones Day he was a managing partner of
the Orange County office of Pillsbury
Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP and chair
of that firm’s Orange County litigation
practice.
the Young Alumnus of the
Year award,” Cottriel says.
“Many Vanguard alums in
business, ministry, medicine,
law, education, family and
other life pursuits deserve
this same recognition. All of
us owe a lot to Vanguard for equipping us
to accomplish our life pursuits. I personally
owe a lot to Vanguard — not only did I
receive a great education that prepared me
for the academic rigors of law school and
my legal career, but I also met my wife
Kimberly (Petersen ’93) there. Vanguard
continues to be a big part of our lives.”
Cottriel is a member of the Orange County
Bar Association and serves on the business
and finance committee of the Vanguard
University board of trustees.
“There are a lot of exciting things
happening at Vanguard right now, and the
next several years will bring new campus
facilities and significant growth of the
student body,” he says. “It is a real privilege
for me to give back to Vanguard, to be
involved in these developments and to see
how Vanguard will continue to impact the
lives of students for generations to come.”
“It is a real honor to be recognized with
Class Notes, continued from page 9
educational administration from Pepperdine
University. He was the principal of
Westminster Christian School before serving
in the Wycliffe Center in Peru. Neal
established Maranatha Christian Academy
for Chuck Smith at Calvary Chapel, then
was principal and superintendent of schools
for Wycliffe in Cuiaba, Brazil. The Pirolos
returned to San Diego to direct a ministry
school focused on cross-cultural outreach.
Neal has written four books including
Serving as Senders, The Reentry Team and I
Think God Wants Me to be a Missionary. The
Pirolos’ schedule for 2008 includes ministry
in Asia, Spain and Eastern Europe. Learn
more at www.eri.org.
10
’70s
Cary Cook ’77 lives in Tustin and selfpublished the book Abram that can be found
at www.sanityquestpublishing.com.
Jeff Hamilton ’76 lives in Escondido and
has two sons. He’s involved in the men’s and
prayer ministries at his church and has served
for eight years at Camp Ellendale, a grade
4-12 camp for foster kids.
James Higgins ’73 founded the The Higgy
Foundation, a mentoring organization that
promotes youth, family and community
development in Fillmore, Moorpark, Santa
Clarita and Santa Paula. More than 15,000
public school students are involved and the
programs have been nationally recognized.
Lynell (Marshall 1974-1976) and Victor
Hoffer ’76 live in Mount Angel, Ore. Victor
was recently awarded a community service
medal by the Oregon Department of Human
Services, Emergency Medical Services and
Trauma Systems for his contributions to
the public as a career emergency medical
technician (EMT) and for his efforts to
enhance Oregon’s laws protecting the elderly
and disabled. Victor has worked for Metro
West Ambulance since 1982 and is now
employed as a senior paramedic and field
training officer. He is a member of attorney
general Hardy Myers’ Elder Abuse Task
Force and has received other community
service awards for his work.
Steven McCredie ’76 is an
executive partner with
Procurement Services
Associates, a job placement and
consulting firm. He has twentyfive years of advanced experience in
purchasing and supply chain management.
Steven is a member of Trinity Life Center in
Sacramento. He and wife Sandra are proud
parents of Rebecca Siobhan, 1.
Linda (Bailey) Morrow ’72 was in the Army
for two years, then served as a substitute
teacher. Today she works for Carlsbad
Medical Center and is a proud mother to
two grown children, Kimberly and Japheth.
Linda has five grandchildren.
David Seidman ’77 is a middle school
principal for Santa Fe Christian Schools.
He and wife Nina are proud parents of two
children and live in Encinitas.
Judy (Benson ’73) Whittinghill received
another BA in art history from UCI in
1977. She and husband Gerge, an aerospace
engineer at Whittinghill Aerospace LLC,
have been married twenty-nine years. They
have two grown children, Ian and Catherine.
’80s
Jacob Abshire ’81 is a high school business
teacher at Alexandria-Monro High School in
Indiana.
Ronald Adcock ’82 and wife Leslie celebrate
twenty years of marriage and have three
children, Philip, 19, Catherine, 10, and
Class Notes
April, 7. Leslie is a teacher and Ronald
is the owner of Travel of Orange (www.
traveloforange.com). They are also proud
of their nieces Charlene ’00 and Christine,
daughter of the late Karen (Adcock ’76)
Floyd.
Dan Alexander ’86 recently relocated to
Jacksonville, Fla., after living seventeen years
in Virginia.
Jeanette Beland ’89 is a former social
worker and child advocate with twentytwo years of experience in child and family
relations. She is transitioning into full-time
ministry and is pursuing an MDiv at Fuller
Theological Seminary. She lives in San
Ramon.
Robert and Lorri (Tipton) Bradford ’89
have been married eighteen years. They live
in Santa Fe, N.M., with their three children,
RJ, 17, Jessica, 12, and Mariah, 11. They
recently attended Pre-VU with their son and
were excited to reconnect with their former
professor Jerry Camery-Hoggatt ’75.
Janice (Wilson) Duhan ’84 has spent
seventeen years in production and art
direction for an Orange County news
station. She lives in Anaheim with husband
Eddy.
Roxanne (Anguiano ’85) and Walter
Eilers ’82 pioneered a church and are proud
parents of son Joseph, 14. Roxanne has
written two Bible studies and Walter is a
manager at Marriot. The Eilers live in Indio.
Tamara (Carter) Guiso ’87
and husband Brad, a business
analyst, have been married
eighteen years. Tammy is a stayat-home mom to their two
children Elliott, 14, and Lauren, 11. The
Guisos live in Keller, Texas.
Larry and Diane (Miller) Howard ’86 have
been married twenty-one years and have
two daughters, Leslie, 9, and Damaris, 6.
They live in Lancaster where Larry is a junior
high and high school teacher, and Diane is a
daycare staff worker.
Jonathan Kudla ’85 and wife Jill live in
Trabuco Canyon with their three sons, Jack,
11, Joe, 10, and Josh, 6.
Jonathan and Annette (Rzepa) Reed
’85 live in Claremont. Jonathan is an
Saddleback youth
pastor receives VU
Career Achievement
Award
Doug Fields ’84 received the 2007
Career Achievement Award from the
Vanguard University Alumni Association.
Fields is one of the most influential
youth pastors in America. He has served
as youth pastor at Saddleback Church
since 1992, and hosts a weekly podcast
with 50,000 listeners. Before coming
to Saddleback he served at South Coast
Community Church (now Mariners
Church) for eleven years.
Fields is also a global youth ministry leader
through his books, speaking and youth
ministry resources. His forty books have
sold far more copies than books by any
other youth ministry author. Seven of
his books have been nominated for the
prestigious Gold Medallion Book Award,
which he has won twice.
Achievement Award,” says Fields. “I felt like
it should have been the other way around
— I should have been awarding VU for
preparing me to speak, write and minister.
I count it one of the great privileges of my
life to have had such a strong, personalized
and empowered education at Vanguard.”
Fields also received his MDiv from Fuller
Theological Seminary in 1986. Doug and
Cathy, his wife of 23 years, have three
teenage children.
“It was a total honor to receive the Career
archeologist who has done research on Jesus
and Paul, and has been featured on the
History Channel.
Sue (Williams) Haber ’84 and husband
Rudy have been married ten years and live in
Cathedral City. Sue received her RN license
in 1994.
Margot (Bobgan ’85) and David
Woodworth ’85, ’93 MA are returning
to Colombia to work with missions and
missionary training programs. They will
be a part of the annual School of Missions
and Colombian Assemblies of God General
Council. They have enjoyed their rest and
fellowship this past year. Their children are
Davis, Marcus and Lucas.
’90s
Steven Buehler ’96 lives in
Lakeland, Fla., and is a
volunteer leader with the
Celebrate Recovery ministry at
Bell Shoals Baptist Church in
Brandon. He is working as a freelance
multimedia presentation designer. He and
wife Cherissa have been married nine years
and have one son, Samuel, 3.
Susan (Bailey) Busch ’96 has
been married to husband David
for eight years. David is an
assistant pastor at Church of
the Open Door and is
attending Golden Gate Baptist Theological
Seminary. Susan worked at the St. Vincent
School for Boys residential treatment center
for nine years before becoming a stay-atClass Notes, continued on page 12
11
Class Notes
International author,
missionary receives
VU Distinguished
Service Award
pray. She makes her home in Santa Ana.
William and Libby O’Linger ’90 have been
married twenty-five years. They homeschool
their three children, Erin, 17, Caitlin, 13,
and Liam, 5. They also mentor women
who are going through drug and alcohol
rehabilitation. The O’Linger family lives in
Coeur D’Alene, Idaho.
Janice (Cunningham ’63) Rogers
received the 2007 Distinguished Service
Award from the Vanguard University
Alumni Association.
While still in college, Rogers began
working with her brother, Loren, who
had recently founded Youth With A
Mission (YWAM). Janice and husband
Jimmy soon went into full-time service
with YWAM, ministering in 64 countries
during 41 years of missionary service.
They started YWAM centers in New
Zealand, Australia, Denmark, Korea, and
Texas. During those years YWAM grew
to become one of the largest missionary
organizations in the world with 20,000 fulltime staff from 126 countries.
Janice also pioneered media and publishing
ministries within YWAM, and has trained
writers from many countries. She coauthored Loren’s first book, Is That Really
You, God? which has been translated
into 100 languages, with more than 2
million copies in print. Her latest book,
co-authored with Loren, is The Book That
’00s
Transforms Nations: The Power of the Bible to
Change Any Country.
“Vanguard has an unusually nurturing
environment,” she said in her acceptance
remarks. “I think that’s why so many
leaders and exceptional people in various
careers and walks of life have come out of
this school. I can’t imagine my life without
the foundation of faith and learning I
received here. I received a sense of the high
calling from faculty, administrators, and my
fellow students. I’m deeply grateful for my
years at SCC.”
Janice and Jimmy have three children and
six grandchildren.
home mom to daughters Moriah Elizabeth,
3, and Abigail Karyss-Renee, 1. The Busch
family lives in Petaluma.
Marlyn (Lamsen) De Mesa ’93 and
husband Anthony live in Chula Vista.
Marlyn is a financial aid officer at Point
Loma Nazarene University.
Anna Ferraro ’99 recently moved to the
Columbus, Ga., area. She is a budget
analyst at the Army’s Infantry School at Fort
Benning.
Claudia (Dean) Gleason ’99 and husband
Eric have been married for three years. They
live in Glendale.
12
Martin Lippens ’98 played and coached
professional soccer with the Orange County
Waves for several years before becoming
more involved with coaching youth soccer.
He established the men’s soccer program
at Santiago Canyon College and currently
coaches a girls under-16 soccer team with the
SoCal Blues in San Juan Capistrano. He and
wife Elizabeth work and live at their home in
Ladera Ranch where they opened Elizabeth’s
hair salon, Textures Hair Studio. Martin
operates a real estate business.
Sheryl McGrew ’99 leads a Character Club
at Mariners Church that equips children to
Christin Anaya ’06 lives in Santa Maria and
directs the children’s ministry at the Village
Chapel in Vandenberg Village.
David Blackman ’03, ’06 MA
is the vice president for First
American Title Insurance
Company in Santa Ana where
he manages the corporate
software development group. He is pursuing
a PhD in organization and management
information at Capella University. He and
wife Mindy have been married twenty years
and have three children. They live in Moreno
Valley. More information on Dave’s latest
adventures can be found at http://www.
daveblackman.com.
Veronica Castaneda ’06 is a student at
Fuller Theological Seminary pursuing an
MDiv and specializing in Hispanic church
studies. She lives in Alhambra.
Laura (Deeter ’00) and
Anthony Cota ’07 live in
Tulare with their three
daughters, Lily, 5, Evie, 3, and
Megan, 1. Tony is a manager at
Best Western Tulare and Laura is a stay-athome mom and homeschool teacher to their
oldest daughter. They attend Visalia First
Assembly where they volunteer in various
ministries.
Jesse Gallegos ’06 is a music teacher and
worship leader at an Assemblies of God
church. He has worked in juvenile hall and
makes his home in Rubidoux.
Brenda (Dreier) Gesell ’02
MS is on the faculty at
Vanguard. She and husband
Jeff, an attorney, have been
married three years and live in
Huntington Beach with their dog Dakota.
Class Notes
Kanani Grover ’05 just bought
and moved into her brand new
home in Sahuarita, Ariz. She is
a group home leader at The
Centers for Habilitation that
assists adults with developmental disabilities.
Rob Josefsson ’03 completed nearly eight
years of schooling at VU and recently
opened his own chiropractic office. He lives
in Torrance.
Amy (Bennett ’04) and Brian Lay ’04
live in Irvine. Amy works in the office of
the registrar at Vanguard while Brian is a
research biologist at Allergan.
Nick Smith ’05, ’07 MA and
Jessica Pasquale ’07 will be
married May 24, 2008. Jessica
is pursuing her teaching
credential at VU. Nick is a
youth pastor at Life Church in Whittier and
ministers to urban teens. Nick and Jessica
introduced these youth to youth
conventions, camps, service projects and
participation in the National Fine Arts
Festival, where they advanced from state
to national competition.
Nolan Steputis ’06 is the
associate athletic director at
VU. He lives in Costa
Mesa, attends Shorelife
Church in Huntington
Beach, and loves welcoming alumni back
to campus at every home game.
Jeremiah Taylor ’00 received an MBA
from Seattle University and is a regional
sales director at Cogent Desing (www.
iwanttops.com), a small software
company that sells practice management
software to orthodontists. He and
wife Kelly, an orthodontist, have been
married four years and live in Carlsbad.
Sarah (Christensen ’02) and Thomas
Taylor ’03 live in Costa Mesa. Thomas
recently received his MBA in finance
from Pepperdine University.
Michael Teague ’06 works in Newport
Beach with animal control and is a selfemployed distributor of Xango, a health
juice product and network marketing
business (www.xango.com). He lives in
Huntington Beach and has a son, 20.
Carlee Trautman ’07 is pursuing a
credential to be an Assemblies of God
minister and will begin the application
process to be a missionary in training and
work with Youth Alive. She makes her home
in Portland, Ore.
Future Alumni
Karissa (LeFavre ’05) and
Micah Adams ’07 welcomed
their son Micah Elijah on
September 26, 2007. Karissa is
a teacher. Micah works at His
Life Woodworks. They started a youth-led
worship team at The Harbor church in
Lomita. The Adams live in Torrance.
Jennifer (Cannon ’00) and
Peter Johnston ’97 added a
third son to their family on
June 15, 2007. He joins big
brothers Mark, 15, and Alex, 4.
Jennifer is the owner of Mammoth Front
Desk, a vacation rental business that
manages, markets and rents properties in
Mammoth Lakes (www.mammothfrontdesk.
com). Peter is the pastor of Mammoth
Lighthouse Church.
Stephanie (Jacobson ’03) and
Jared Ekizian ’04 are proud
parents to Gavin Thomas, born
August 24, 2007, and Isabella
Grace, 3. The Ekizians live in
Kingsburg where Stephanie teaches at Sierra
Charter School.
Ann-Marie (Jones) Soltwedel
’95, and her husband
welcomed their first child,
Caleb Robert, on July 5, 2007.
They live in Quartz Hill.
Elizabeth (Whitlow) Pickens ’03 and
husband Mark have been married two
years. Elizabeth recently graduated from the
University of Oklahoma Law School and
took the bar exam this summer. They are
expecting their first child in January 2008.
Class Notes, continued on page 14
13
Class Notes
Just Married
Megan (Borges) Aguirre ’05 married Jose
on September 22, 2007. She is an assistant
planner for the transportation planning
division of San Joaquin County’s Public
Works department. Jose is pursuing a degree
in nursing. They attend Primera Iglesia
Bautista in Stockton where Jose is on the
worship team and Megan is in the choir.
Julie (Hernandez) Atkinson ’05 married
Brad in March 2006. Julie works for Procter
and Gamble as a fragrance model. Brad is an
air traffic controller. They live in Mesa, Ariz.
Ralph and Glynnis (Ellis) Gideon ’90
were married April 21, 2007. Glynnis is an
eighth grade teacher. Ralph is an executive
salesman. They live in Moreno Valley.
Jeremy and Kristen (Heath)
Riley ’07 were married
October 2007. Jeremy works
for Congressman John
Campbell. The newlyweds
live in Laguna Hills.
Briana (Helmick ’04) and
James Moore ’05 were married
September 6, 2007, in Dublin,
Ireland. Briana is a freelance
photographer and the assistant childcare
director at a local YMCA. James works for
Cambridge Tutoring & Test Prep. He will
teach Old Testament survey at VU in the
spring, and recently completed post-graduate
studies in Haifa, Israel. The Moores live in
Costa Mesa.
Kelsey (Harvey ’06) and
Marcus Zimmer ’04 were
married July 20, 2007, at
Doheny State Beach in Dana
Point. They honeymooned in
Maui and reside in Laguna Hills. They both
teach at Saddleback Valley Christian School
and are youth leaders at Newport Mesa
Church.
In Memory
Allan Berg ’47 passed away
October 19, 2007.
Elmer Bradley 1948-1950 passed away
January 24, 2007.
Allen Joe Brown ’49 passed away
September 1, 2007.
Kenneth Clewett ’83 passed away
March 3, 2007.
Thank You
ANOTHER SPECTACULAR SUCCESS...
TO ALL WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE!
Vanguard University kindly thanks all the Christmas Fantasia Sponsors for
partnering with us in our mission to pursue knowledge, cultivate character,
deepen faith and equip each student for a life of leadership and service.
Karen (Adcock) Floyd ’76 passed away
July 26, 2004.
Lydia Graner ’29 passed away
October 5, 2007.
Esther (Graner ’29) Griffin passed away
October 5, 2007.
Marguerite Hawley ’56 passed away
May 30, 2007.
Roger Wesley Jobe 1966-1969 passed away
October 6, 2006.
Jeanette (Ferguson ’54) Lee passed away
March 9, 2006.
Charles Opie ’44 passed away
October 15, 2007.
Joseph Opperman ’46 passed away
October 15, 2006.
George Perkins ’52 passed away
January 20, 2007.
David Schliebe ’54 passed away
October 17, 2007.
Albert Stavish ’43 passed away
October 25, 2007.
Lola (Braden ’74) Tapia passed away
November 13, 2007.
Linda (Irwin ’75) Tonnochy passed away
September 12, 2007.
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h ow yo u c a n p a r t n e r w i t h Va n g u a rd U n i ve r s i t y, p l e a s e c a l l ( 7 1 4 ) 5 5 6 - 3 6 1 0 x 2 0 0 0 .
14 F vanguard
Windows
Editor’s note: This column gives a view
into student and university life from a
different perspective in each issue.
Reginald Scott
Senior communications major
The Scariest Class I Ever Took
“W
atch out for media crit.”
That was the warning I’d
heard many times from
seniors in communication studies. As the
day approached for me to take this capstone
class, which was required to graduate, I got
more concerned. I’d heard horror stories of
50-page papers and tough grading.
was passionate about: “Jesus Walks” by
Kanye West. I analyzed the metaphors in
the song and argued that West used them in
the same way that black leaders have done
for centuries to gain the respect of their
audiences. I argued that West was placing
himself in the line of social prophets by using
metaphor in the same way great orators like
Martin Luther King, Jr., had done. I even
communication labs.
When I finally printed out my 60-page
paper, I felt as proud as a new father. I
walked to class carrying it in two hands, as
if it were too big to carry with one hand.
I wanted everybody to see it. One of the
traditions of the class is that when a person
walks in with a completed paper, the class
gives him or her a round of applause. Then
On the first day of class, all the rumors
Professor Carmody does
seemed to be confirmed.
something scary. He thumbs
Professor Tom Carmody
walked in wearing all black,
When I finally printed out my 60-page paper, through each paper with a big
green marker and checks for
with not even a hint of a
I felt as proud as a new father. I walked to
formatting errors. If he finds
smile. He didn’t seem to
any, he hands the paper back
want to establish rapport
class carrying it in two hands, as if it were
to you and gives you 24 hours
with us. Rather, he told us
too
big
to
carry
with
one
hand.
I
wanted
to correct them. You also
he would offer no grace to
are docked one letter grade.
underperforming students.
everybody to see it.
Fortunately, after a nerveWe would either excel or
racking period of watching
fail in his class. “You’ll work
him go through each paper, none of us got
harder than you’ve ever worked in your
discussed the history of metaphors going
our papers back. We had passed the first
life,” he promised. “I won’t give anyone any
back
to
Aristotle.
hurdle.
grace whatsoever. You have to excel, and if
It took months to research and write, but
you don’t, I’ll see you next semester.” Our
Without having received my final grade yet,
as the semester wore on, my classmates and
reactions were grim. The classroom was as
I can still say with confidence that media crit
I found ourselves carried away by our big
quiet as a church sanctuary on Monday
changed the way I see the world. It turned
project. The moaning and complaining we’d
morning.
me into a rhetorical critic. If I’m in church or
done at the beginning turned to excited
watching a movie or watching the president
The purpose of media criticism is to teach
conversations
about
how
our
papers
were
give a speech, I see things I never saw before.
students how to become rhetorical critics,
coming along. Soon, the most important
I examine things more deeply, and I know
able to analyze what is being communicated
part
of
our
day
was
sitting
together
over
how to make a better argument about what
in a variety of media, from movies to
lunch talking about our papers. We stayed
I believe.
speeches to music. The other purpose is to
up
late
and
worked.
We
ordered
pizza
and
teach students how to make an effective,
Now I have the pleasure of warning those
helped each other with our Turabian style
sustained argument. We did this through
students under me, “Watch out for media
(if you don’t know what Turabian style is,
plenty of small- and medium-sized
crit.” I mean it as a warning. But I also know
clearly you’ve never taken media crit). On
assignments, and one huge one: that 50-page
now that, as scary as it seems, media crit can
the night before the due date, many of us
paper.
change your life for the better.
stayed up all night in the computer and
I decided to write my paper on a song I
15
Advancing Vision 2010
President’s
Medallion
Club
members make VU education
possible for students
R
ick ’79 and Margaret (Harris ’79) Quisenberry have
spent nearly 30 years in the software industry, working
for companies like Charles Schwab, Volt Delta, Isuzu
and Sybase. They also regularly contribute to Vanguard,
and are members of the President’s Medallion Club (PMC), a
distinguished group of donors that supports the University Excellence
Fund by giving more than $1,000 annually. PMC members are
leaders in helping to provide opportunities for today’s students to
become community leaders and world changers.
“I want to support Vanguard because it has a Christian emphasis,”
says Rick from their home in Oakland, California. “It’s very much
part of our faith to develop ourselves intellectually and academically.
I’ve always thought Vanguard is an excellent place for that to happen.
... I want to see Vanguard succeed and continue. I have such respect
for the leadership of the University.”
When Rick came to VU, he was the only person in his entire family
to ever attend college. He met Margaret on her first night there. The
education they received at VU shaped their lives.
“I became aware how valuable critical thinking about our faith
and worldview was,” says Rick. “The relationships with professors
at Vanguard were really encouraging. It was the first time I’d
been encouraged to pursue academics. It gave me a sense that the
Christian community is a very special place. That’s never left me.”
16
The experience also taught him “to seek truth, to really grow
spiritually and intellectually and creatively,” he says. “I came into
school thinking I’d have to get good grades and learn a bunch of
stuff, but I left with an interest in pursuing knowledge and trying to
see God in everything.”
Margaret appreciated the “involvement of the professors. We would
eat with them in the cafeteria and sometimes they’d have Bible
studies at their home. They were godly people and human people,”
she says. She also enjoyed how “God was brought into every class.
That was unique for me. It was not done in a stuffy way, but was part
of the exploration. It’s a dimension you don’t get in a state college.”
Rick and Margaret married the day after they graduated and entered
the then-new computer industry. Margaret had flourished in writing
and the social sciences at Vanguard, and she quickly gravitated to
technical writing for telecommunications companies. Rick became a
mainframe programmer for companies including Mazda, Arco and
Northrop, where he worked on the program for the Stealth Bomber.
“Computers were just coming into the mainstream at that time and
there had been no training in it, but our general education prepared
us for it,” Margaret says. “We had a background in finding out
what you don’t know. That speaks highly of the education we got at
Vanguard.”
Advancing Vision 2010
“Vanguard offers a wonderful platform for young
adults to identify what is true and important in life
and to give them a sense of direction. If we didn’t
have Vanguard, where would these people go? ...
If we don’t support it, who will?”
In 1997 the Quisenberrys moved to the
San Francisco Bay Area where Rick now
works for Charles Schwab, helping write the
software that makes Schwab.com function
smoothly for Internet users. Margaret
continues to work as a technical writer. The
couple has donated regularly to Vanguard for
a number of years. As PMC members, they
are among VU’s most generous philanthropic
donors, whose generosity sets an example for
others. Each year, PMC members are invited
to a special luncheon with VU president
Murray Dempster, are offered VIP seating
at Christmas Fantasia and are acknowledged
in the annual report publication of vanguard
magazine. People may join the PMC at a
variety of levels, from the Medallion level
— $1,000 to $2,499 annually — to the
Platinum level of $25,000 or more, and all
levels in between. Gifts to the President’s
Medallion Club ensure that future business
leaders, doctors, pastors, teachers, athletes
and social workers are all offered an
education marked by excellence and spiritual
vitality regardless of background or need.
Margaret says they began giving as they
reflected on how important VU had been in
their life development.
“You start appreciating things, re-assessing
and realizing the value of the Christian
education we got there,” she says.
Rick says one of his goals is to be “an
encouragement to students who don’t have
scholarships or any other way [to help pay
for school].” He also wants to encourage
the kind of growth that took place in his
own life while there. Recently, he returned
to his original field of study, psychology,
and enrolled in graduate school to earn
his master’s degree in psychology, with
encouragement and recommendations from
Vince Gil and other VU professors. He is
considering pursuing counseling as a second
career. The Quisenberrys also have a 21-yearold son.
“We are so grateful for Rick and Margaret’s
generosity, and the generosity of all
Vanguard PMC members,” says President
Murray Dempster. “PMC members are a
vital part of our community because they
make it possible for Vanguard to continue to
offer students the kind of personalized, highquality education that equips them to go out
and change the world for the better.”
Rick agrees.
“Vanguard offers a wonderful platform for
young adults to identify what is true and
important in life and to give them a sense
of direction,” Rick says. “If we didn’t have
Vanguard, where would these people go?
How would we train people to be Christian
leaders? ... Vanguard is a great place to
develop those characteristics in young
people. If we don’t support it, who will?”
To join Rick and Margaret as members of
this leadership group of donors, please call
714.556.3610 x2026 or visit www.vanguard.
edu/pmc
Tony Salerno, continued from page 4
Teacher’s Choice Award from Learning magazine.
Mark Bell, a thirty-year Christian music veteran and producer of live
Christian shows and tours, calls Salerno “a visionary.”
“It’s amazing how God has blessed the products that Tony has
produced over the years,” says Bell. “He’s very much an idea guy, very
creative. He has an enormous wealth of material. The biggest things
are yet to come.”
Tony credits wife Kathy for much of his success.
“Without Kathy, none of this would have happened,” he says. “She
has covered all my mistakes and does a lot of the work herself. God
really gave me a Proverbs 31 wife.”
school kids about good character through music and story. His
vision is “to give every kid a chance to live a life of character,” and to
give the book free to every elementary school child in the U.S. The
response in Los Angeles-area schools has been strong. Salerno’s son
is part of the music group that performs in the ABCs of Character
school assemblies, and a member of Sempiternity, the ‘tween music
group Salerno is now developing.
“I never thought I’d spend my life on kids character-building,” says
Salerno. “As a producer I tried to do things that were meaningful,
that had purpose, some reason behind them. If we want revival, first
we have to break up the hardened ground. The way we’re doing that
is going in and talking about character.”
Salerno’s latest book and production, the ABCs of Character, teaches
17
Homecoming 2007
Homecoming
H
2007
omecoming 2007 offered a fun and varied schedule of events,
including athletic competition, an art show and plenty of time to
socialize with friends old and new. Lewis Wilson (above, left) spoke at Homecoming
chapel on Saturday morning in Needham Chapel. Visitors then attended the Alumni Awards
luncheon at Newport Mesa Church, where the Golden Vanguard Society (above) inducted the
class of ’57 into the group. Faculty and staff squared off against alums in an afternoon softball
game (below, left). The evening was capped off with men’s and women’s Blue-Gold games, in
which alumni players competed against the current teams (right, and facing page on middle
right). During the men’s game halftime, the court of The Pit was dedicated in honor of former
VU men’s coach Bill Reynolds and his wife Shirley in a moving ceremony (see Sports on page 26).
Former players Greg Ward ’85, Dave Corsi ’84 and many others attended.
18
vanguard magazine
magazine winter
winter 2008
2008
18 vanguard
Homecoming 2007
Attendees at the Alumni Awards luncheon enjoyed the Vanguard Concert
Choir (top left). Alumni artist John Doughty ’82 held an art show in the
Heath building (top right, with VU president Murray Dempster). Young
alums had dinner together at a nearby restaurant (above left, one table
shown). The ’74-’75 wrestling team (bottom left), former cross-country
champ Sheri (Hall ’91) Curl (left, with Bob Wilson, VU athletics director)
and 20-year VU track and field and cross-country coach Bryan Wilkins
(below, right) were inducted into the Vanguard University Athletic Hall of
Fame. Virgil Ziegler (right), perhaps the greatest Vanguard sports fan in the
University’s history, and a longtime VU employee, was named an honorary
inductee into the hall of fame.
“Homecoming this year was another great week of activities and events that
connected our alums from all generations back to Vanguard,” says alumni
director Heather (Rachels ’02) Clements. “There was a wide spectrum of
activities throughout the week and a real welcome-home spirit.”
19
VU Profile
Revolution
Bronx
in the
F
ernando Cabrera ’86 is pastor of one of the Bronx’s
largest and most vibrant churches, New Life Outreach
International, which he founded 19 years ago after
graduating from Vanguard.
“We’re having a revival here,” he says. “We want to win this city for
the Lord.”
New Life Outreach began to grow exponentially when, several years
ago, Cabrera made home groups the heart of the church’s ministry
and put the ministry in the hands of the people. Now the church is
constructing a $3.5 million facility in what used to be a dangerous
and drug-infested neighborhood.
Cabrera’s career in ministry began at a church retreat in southern
California where a choir from Vanguard was performing. During a
time of prayer, Cabrera “had an encounter with God. It was really
powerful,” he says. “I was called to the ministry that night.”
He felt such a connection with the students in the choir that he
enrolled at Vanguard. There, the student missions trips to Costa
Rica, Mexico and the streets of Orange County gave him “a mission-
20
focused mentality,” he says. The professors shaped his life, too.
“I met some really awesome professors and students,” he says.
“Professor Nancy Heidebrecht was an inspired teacher. Professor Bill
Williams took me under his wing. He was the first person who asked
me if I had ever thought about getting a doctorate. I thought, ‘This
man believes in me.’ He planted that seed. ... The prayer meetings,
the speakers that came to chapel, the presence of the Lord in those
chapel meetings — those times were very uplifting.”
His twin brother, Angelo, also enrolled and graduated from VU three
years later.
VU Profile
Fernando soon felt called to start a church in the Bronx. After
running a rehabilitation program in Virginia for three years, he and
his wife moved to New York and started holding meetings in his
aunt’s living room in the northeast part of the Bronx, which has a
largely Hispanic population. As the meetings drew more people, they
rented a storefront and then a former car generator repair shop to
meet in.
“We felt like missionaries,” he says. “People said, ‘Why did you come
here?’ We said, ‘Because this is where the souls are.’”
The Bronx then was dangerous. Many people wouldn’t venture
outside their buildings past dark. Special units of police were assigned
to the church’s neighborhood because both ends of the block
were known as drug markets. Cabrera calls the atmosphere then
“horrible.”
But the church started winning people to the Lord, including many
young people. In one service the congregation faced in the direction
of the worst drug dealer hang-out and asked God to “throw the
enemy into confusion.” That week a drug dealer from another area
came against the local drug dealer and both were not seen again.
Fernando Cabrera, continued on page 22
21
VU Profile
“Our approach became very relational.
There are a lot of lonely and hurting
people. Without relationships you
become an anonymous Christian, and
in a city of 8 million that’s a big deal.
... We’ve taken the gospel out of the
church building into the neighborhood.
It’s been a major breakthrough.”
The church’s new three-story facility, now
under construction, will offer a variety of
ministries, from Sunday services to daycare.
Cabrera likens it to a cultural center. The
sanctuary will seat 1,000, making it one of
the largest church sanctuaries in New York.
Amazingly, in nearly 20 years at the church,
Cabrera has never taken a salary. Instead,
he works full time as the director of two
graduate programs at nearby Mercy College.
“I’m living proof you can still work and have
a church of 400,” he says.
He had taken Professor Williams’ advice and
earned a doctorate in counseling. For years
he worked as a school counselor, but always
wanted to teach at the college level.
“I love the college scene,” he says. “You can
have such an influence on students. I’ve
been able to lead students to the Lord and
transmit biblical principles to my profession,
and prepare future counselors with integrity.
Many come back and thank me for helping
them gain practical skills so they can have a
good profession as school, mental health or
drug counselors.”
Student attendance has more than doubled
in his program since he took the helm.
Mercy College graduates more minorities
than any other college in the state with the
exception of Syracuse University.
Fernando Cabrera, continued from page 21
But it wasn’t until the church created small
groups that met in homes during the week
that the church’s ministry was revolutionized.
The congregation grew quickly from 85 to
400 — a large church for New York City,
given the city’s space limitations.
“Our approach became very relational,”
Cabrera says. “There are a lot of lonely
and hurting people. Without relationships
you become an anonymous Christian,
22
and in a city of 8 million that’s a big
deal. Now, as soon as you walk in, people
start a relationship with you. We train
everyone to open a cell group. We’ve taken
the gospel out of the church building
into the neighborhood. It’s been a major
breakthrough. Now the people carry out the
ministry of the church instead of leaving
it to the pastor. You grow a church full of
pastors.”
Cabrera’s children are now in leadership
positions within the church. His twin
brother is a missionary in Ghana. With the
church growing so quickly, Cabrera says
that one day he’ll have to become a full-time
pastor. The Bronx is still needy and has New
York City’s highest incidence of homicide,
suicide, asthma and poverty.
But the area around the church is much safer
than it was when Cabrera first arrived.
“People are moving in,” he says. “Now they
call it a good block.”
A Vine of His Own Planting
Editor’s note: This column looks at major
episodes in Vanguard University’s history.
Lewis Wilson
Academic Dean Emeritus
A culinary blessing
early in VU’s history
O
ver its history Vanguard has
been blessed by talented,
dedicated staff who have served
God through serving students.
Probably the first was Christine Olson,
whose career at the school extended over
thirty years and to all three campuses.
Her name was actually Sophia though she
preferred Christine, her middle name, and
to most students she was “Mother Olson.”
Born in Sweden in 1869, she had emigrated
to Chicago where her culinary skill won her
employment as the
principal cook for
the Busch family
of beverage fame.
though it required getting up at four o’clock
in the morning and many times working
until midnight. When the college moved to
Pasadena, she used her life’s savings to equip
the kitchen with tables, stoves and a variety
of utensils.
Limited budgets, particularly during the
Great Depression, made providing balanced,
nutritious meals a challenge. During the
summer months she would can hundreds
of quarts of fresh fruit and vegetables to be
used during the school year. Though bread
earliest days, wrote “I have never seen nor
heard of a person with any more fervent
love for God and His work, nor a more
dedicated Christian.” The 1955 college
yearbook carried a tribute asserting that
“Mother Olson has been to the school a real
source of inspiration. She has maintained a
serenity that comes only from living daily in
the presence of the Lord. . . Her great love to
God and people. . . have taught rich lessons
to students.”
She early felt a strong compulsion to
evangelize and would
obtain boxes of gospel
tracts which she
delivered door to door
through the greater Los
Angeles area. In her last
years spent on the Costa
Mesa campus when
she could no longer
personally distribute the
tracts, she would send
them by mail.
Mother Olson’s culinary skill won her
employment as the principal cook for the Busch
family of beverage fame ... but after a remarkable
healing from cancer, she volunteered at the new
Southern California Bible School in the Echo
Park section of Los Angeles.
In 1910 she moved
to California with
the family, but
after a remarkable
healing from
cancer, volunteered
her services
to President
Needham at the
new Southern California Bible School in the
Echo Park section of Los Angeles. His goal
was to make the school one of excellence in
every way, and he recognized this quiet, able
and deeply committed lady as a gift from
God.
Contemporary reports and the alumni who
knew her agree that she was an excellent
cook, loved the students and was totally
committed to God. Some have called her “a
saint.” In the early years she prepared three
meals a day for the entire student body
pudding was served more often than some
would have liked, at least one alumnus
insists, “her cooking was delicious and
I never heard a complaint from a fellow
student.” On special occasions her skill
was particularly demonstrated. A student
publication describes a Thanksgiving dinner
as one which would “gladden the heart of the
most painstaking chef.” To further enhance
the meals, she spent hours growing flowers
for the dining tables.
Her profound faith would influence many
students. One, who knew her from her
She cared nothing for
money. Any gift, unless it was specified that
she must use it for herself, would be sent
to a missionary or other Christian worker.
When on February 28, 1955, she died in
the Orange County Hospital, her assets were
$200 to be used for her burial and a long
owned plot at the Inglewood Park Cemetery
where she was buried.
Her brief obituary published in the local
papers described her as “a cook,” but to all
who knew her, Christine Olson was much,
much more.
23
On Campus
VU president and
others named to list of
influential people in the
Newport-Mesa area
VU president Murray Dempster and other
members of the VU community were
recognized as some of the most influential
people in the Newport-Mesa area, according
to an annual list published by the Daily Pilot
newspaper.
The list, know as the DP 103, identifies
people — ranging from congressmen to
educators to athletes and business-owners
— who play key roles in community
development. Dempster was honored for
his work at Vanguard. Since becoming
the president of the University in 2000,
Dempster has worked to increase name
recognition for VU, landing it in the annual
rankings by U.S. News and World Report,
and the Princeton Review. The article also
applauds Dempster for maintaining a “close
relationship policy between students and
faculty, with a 15-to-1 ratio on the campus,
where there are slightly more than 2,000
enrolled.”
VU women’s basketball coach Russ
Davis was also named to the list, an
acknowledgement of his teams’ on-going
success and his record of 289-75 in eleven
seasons at VU. Davis’s teams have topped
the national rankings and won major
awards within the National Association of
Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). He has
coached NAIA National Player of the Year
honorees each of the last three seasons and
has guided the Lions to two straight NAIA
semifinal appearances.
Other notable honorees include Mary
Hornbuckle ’96, former Costa Mesa mayor;
and two members of the VU Foundation
board, Jeff Teller, president of the Orange
County Marketplace, and Martin Diedrich,
owner of Kean’s Coffee.
24
“It’s gratifying to see
Vanguard’s president,
its outstanding
women’s basketball
head coach, and many
of the University’s
supporters and
friends recognized
as influential
difference-makers
in contributing to
the quality of our
life together as a
community,” says
Dave Elliott, associate
vice president for
University relations
and executive director
of the Vanguard University Foundation.
Vanguard 5K supports
women’s causes
The Vanguard 5K run, dubbed the Rocka-thon this year, raised more than $3,000
for local women’s causes and drew 100
participants, including students, faculty and
staff, in November.
The 5K was run on the Vanguard campus
for the second year in a row. Music groups
were stationed along the course to encourage
runners. The course began at the Heath
building, went past the Cove, around
Huntington, through the baseball and soccer
fields, through the Catalina lobby, around
Balboa and Newport, around the campus
mall and eventually finished at the Heath
building after two laps. The fastest runner
finished in about 20 minutes. Winners in
each category received an iPod Shuffle.
The money this year went to support
Pathways for Independence, a non-profit
organization that helps women who are
leaving abusive situations by giving them
free counseling, child care, rent assistance,
medical care and a four-year education at
a state college. Proceeds also benefited VU
adjunct professor Olivia Klaus’s documentary
film “Sin By Silence.” The film tells the
stories of five women who are in prison
for killing their abusers. It is based on the
research of VU sociology professor Elizabeth
Leonard.
“I’d love to see the event continue to grow
and benefit more people,” says Jeremey King,
resident director and 5K organizer. “It’s fun
and raises money for a really good cause.
We’re investing not only in our present but
our future when you think about all the
families that are affected by domestic abuse.”
Learn more at www.vanguard5k.com
Pre-VU draws
interested students
In November, Vanguard held its fall Pre-VU,
a campus-wide open house for high school
students and transfer students who are
considering attending Vanguard University.
Nearly 300 students and parents attended
Pre-VU this fall.
“They come to our campus and get to know
the Vanguard community, the academic
On Campus
Photo courtesy of Christian Kaysen
experience and the spiritual experience we
have to offer, to see if Vanguard might be
a good fit for them,” says Amberley Wolf,
director of undergraduate admissions.
“We try to help them see all aspects of the
University.”
A lot was packed into students’ 24-hour stay:
they ate in the cafeteria, attended a class and
a chapel service, spent a night in dorms,
met professors, went to a financial aid
meeting and watched the Delivery Boys and
Entourage perform. In past years, about half
the students who came to Pre-VU became
VU students.
Pre-VU also offers a track for parents to get
to know the VU faculty and staff. Parents
attended a dinner where they heard from
President Murray Dempster, vice presidents
and faculty members. They also attended a
financial aid seminar and a panel on student
life, ate in the cafeteria and attended a chapel
service.
“We know that choosing a college is not just
a student decision but a parent decision,”
says Wolf. “Everyone really enjoyed it. A lot
of students said they can’t wait to come or
apply. Parents were thankful they had the
opportunity to get to know our community
as well.”
Spring Pre-VU will be held Monday,
April 7. Parents can call 800 722-6279 or
visit www.vanguard.edu/admissions for
more information.
Jeremiah Project
introduces local kids to
college experience
In December, VU hosted fifteen junior high
and high school students from disadvantaged
neighborhoods in Costa Mesa, introducing
them to campus life and encouraging them
to attend college.
“A lot of kids have no idea how to get to
college and what the whole experience is
like,” says VU junior Shaun Blaylock, who
developed the event and is the team leader
for the At Risk ministries arm of Vanguard’s
student outreach program. “We hope to
show them the amazing future God has for
them whether it be at Vanguard or another
institution.”
The event, called the Jeremiah Project,
included taking students on a campus tour
and having them meet representatives from
various academic departments. The group
also ate in the cafeteria and attended a Lions
basketball game.
Many of the young students came from one
of VU’s local ministry partners, MIKA’s
Center Street Learning Center, which serves
local youth through tutoring. VU is already
planning an expanded second event for the
spring semester and plans to host 100 young
people for a sports event.
“The students had an awesome time and got
to see a lot of aspects of college life,” says
Blaylock. “I hope they left knowing that
college is in their future.”
For more information on involvement
with the Jeremiah Project, contact atrisk@
vanguard.edu. Also visit www.vanguard.edu/
outreachministries.
VU observes
International Human
Rights Day
VU students observed International Human
Rights Day in December with two seminars
led by human rights experts, faculty and
students.
The morning seminar, which drew 90
students, featured Reverend Richard Fenn, a
Seventh-Day Adventist Church liaison to the
United Nations. Fenn has monitored human
rights for two decades, and spoke about the
persecution of Christians around the world.
The seminar also featured presentations
by six students of Sharon Linzey, associate
provost for special projects and organizer of
the Human Rights Day events. Her students
gave brief but powerful analysis and facts
about troubled spots around the world,
including Darfur and Albania.
“The students who attended were impressed
at hearing their fellow students talk, because
it showed them what they could do if they
were interested,” says Linzey.
On Campus, continued on page 28
25
Sports
VU court dedicated in honor of
former coach Bill Reynolds
and wife Shirley
A
t the Vanguard homecoming
men’s basketball game in
November, a special ceremony
was held at halftime to dedicate
the floor of the gym in honor of former
VU coach Bill Reynolds and wife Shirley.
The newly named Bill and Shirley Reynolds
Court honors their long-time legacy at
Vanguard, where Bill was coach of the men’s
basketball team for 17 years.
“The halftime ceremony was phenomenal,”
says Dave Corsi ’84, who played for
26
Reynolds and is now vice president of sales
for Pony International, a footwear company.
“To be out there on the court with all the
players and their families and kids, and to see
the legacy that coach created and left with us
was really a moving experience.”
year, 1989, the team went 29-5. In 1990,
the team won the district title and advanced
to the NAIA “sweet 16” at Kemper Arena
in Kansas City. It was the first time in VU
history that the men’s basketball team had
gone to the national tournament.
Reynolds passed away in 2006 from cancer.
From 1981 to 1998 he established himself
as one of the most beloved and successful
coaches in VU’s history. His teams made
the playoffs every year and won an average
of twenty games a season. In Reynolds’ best
More important, during his coaching career
Reynolds shaped the lives of dozens of young
men and prepared them to be productive,
successful people after they graduated. Many
of those former players returned to Vanguard
and The Pit to honor the Reynolds in
Sports
Many former players stood with Shirley
during the ceremony.
“We were all there because of her and Bill,”
says Eric Walker ’97, who played for the
Washington Generals, the team that plays
against the Harlem Globetrotters. “She had
to sacrifice a lot for Bill to live out his dream
as a college basketball coach, and all of Bill’s
former players benefited from her sacrifice.
We’ll never forget her or him.”
Today, a remarkable number of former
players are carrying the Reynolds’ legacy
onto courts in Orange County and beyond.
Dozens of former players have coached at
all levels, from grade school through college.
More than a few have made a career of
coaching and built highly successful teams.
November. A special reception was held in
the Heath building before the game, where
President Murray Dempster talked about
the impact Bill and Shirley had had on the
University. Former players including Robert
Aviles ’86 spoke, as did Tina Witmer ’91,
the Reynolds’ daughter.
“It was very emotional, like a family
reunion,” says Larry Hirst ’84, who now
coaches basketball at Newport Harbor high
school.
The reception was followed by alumni
basketball games. During the halftime
ceremony of the men’s game, people who had
been impacted by the Reynolds were invited
onto the court. Hundreds of people flooded
the floor as Dempster spoke of the Reynolds’
achievements. Academic dean emeritus Lewis
Wilson prayed a dedicatory prayer over the
court, and an original painting of Coach
Reynolds by VU artist-in-residence Keith
Ewing was presented to Shirley.
After playing for Reynolds and serving as his
assistant for two years, Hirst coached for nine
years at Edison High School, taking the team
to its only appearance in the CIF finals. At
Newport Harbor High School for the past
thirteen years, he holds the record for wins,
with more than 200, and averages 18 wins
a year. He still uses the coaching system he
learned under Reynolds. He even named the
school’s annual basketball tournament the
Bill Reynolds Classic.
“Great coaches like Coach Reynolds don’t
only coach but teach young men about life,”
he says. “I had a great foundation that Coach
Reynolds started for me when I was 19.
Coaching as a career came out of that time.”
Dave Corsi recently founded a private
basketball club for grade-school boys which
now has more than 100 players competing
against other club teams in the San Diego
area.
Another former player, Todd Dixon ’88, has
coached in Orange County for 19 years, and
now coaches at El Toro High School. He was
Reynolds’ assistant for two years and traveled
with Reynolds’ all-star teams to Hong Kong,
Denmark and London. At El Toro, Dixon
turned the boys’ program around. His teams
consistently rank in the top five in Orange
County and have averaged 21 wins per season
for eleven years. They have competed in two
CIF title games and earned six league titles.
Dixon has retained not only the style of
play but the sense of family that Reynolds
cultivated in his teams. Like Reynolds, Dixon
and his players say “Family!” on the count of
three before breaking their huddles.
“Bill was known for creating a family
atmosphere among his teams, and Shirley was
a huge part of that,” says former player Justin
McIntee ’98, who headed up the effort to
dedicate the court to the Reynolds. McIntee
is VU’s associate director of donor relations.
“She was as much a part of the success Bill
had as he was.”
The Reynolds were known for taking in
players for meals, or even to live with them
during the summer or school year. Hirst says
Shirley “was like a mom to some of us.”
Walker, who was often at the Reynolds’
home, says “[Bill] Reynolds was the best
thing to happen to me. I had the raw talent
but not the fundamentals. Reynolds taught
us the fundamentals. It was crazy the impact
he had on me. He knew what he was doing,
and it was more than basketball.”
Mike Roberts ’83 has been an assistant
coach at a private school in Irvine for ten
years. He played for and later assisted
Reynolds’ teams. He calls Reynolds “one of
the best coaches that ever coached in Orange
County. I’m convinced I could go anywhere
on the planet and teach young boys to play
basketball and be successful. That’s all due to
Coach Reynolds.”
McIntee says the homecoming alumni games
this year were “the perfect opportunity to
bring former players back on campus and
honor Shirley and Coach Reynolds the way
they deserved to be honored.”
27
Calendar
Athletics
Theatre
Music Ensembles
The Crucible
February 22 – March 2
April 18 & 20
Spring Concert
Men’s & Women’s Tennis Season begins February 2
Thoroughly Modern Millie
March 28 – April 13
For more information on performances please
contact the music events office at 714.662.522 or
[email protected]
For additional information on game dates and times,
visit www.vanguard.edu/athletics.
For box office information and show synopses
please visit www.vanguard.edu/theatrearts.
Women’s Softball
Season begins February 2
Men’s Baseball
Season begins February 2
University Events
February 8 & 9
Family Weekend
Celebrate the 12th Annual
April 2
Ethics in America Awards
Honoring Individuals of Ethical Excellence
Featuring 2008 National Honoree Dennis Prager
May 8
Graduate Hooding Ceremony
May 9
Baccalaureate
May 10
Commencement
On Campus, continued from page 25
Join university, community and business leaders in honoring
the 2008 American Heritage Award of Ethical Distinction
recipient Dennis Prager.
The Vanguard Pillar Award will also be presented to four individuals who exemplify
outstanding ethical leadership in the areas of:
•
•
•
•
Business – Hilary Kaye, Hilary Kaye Associates, Inc.
Education – Erin Gruwell, Freedom Writers Foundation
Social/Community – Augie Nieto, Augie’s Quest
Sports/Entertainment – John Speraw, UCI Men’s Volleyball
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
The Grove of Anaheim
Presented by Vanguard University of Southern California
in partnership with Passkey’s Foundation
To purchase tickets call 714.556.3610 ext. 2021.
To sponsor this event call 714.556-3610 ext. 2000.
For more information visit www.vanguard.edu/eiaa.
National Honoree Sponsor
Presenting Media Sponsor
The second seminar, which drew 150 students,
featured Len Bartlotti, an expert on Muslim
culture who lived in Pakistan for fourteen
years with the largest Muslim tribal society
in the world. He is now a consultant to
faith-based non-governmental orgaizations
conducting humanitarian work in Afghanistan
and central Asia. Following his presentation,
Bartlotti was joined by VU faculty members
Elizabeth Leonard, Ed Rybarczyk and John
Wilson who spoke further about issues raised
by the presentation.
Both sessions offered an opportunity to gain a
clearer understanding of human rights issues
that are at stake around the globe.
“It was the first time Vanguard has tried to
draw attention to Human Rights Day, and
it was quite successful,” says Linzey, who is a
human rights lawyer and has presented her
findings on religious persecution to the United
Nations. She teaches world civilization and
sociology of religion at VU.
“It was an awareness-creating opportunity for
students to apply what they’re learning, and
to open their eyes and make a connection
to what’s going on in real political terms
regarding our religious interests around the
world,” she says.
Postcards
Editor’s note: This column features an essay
by a different alum in each issue.
Another Chance at Life
Sacramento, Ca.
D
uring my fourth year at VU, a friend called me from a call
box on the 57 freeway one night. His car was broken down,
he and his fiancé were stranded and needed someone to
pick them up. I grabbed my keys and
headed out the door. That was the last
thing I remember for the next twelve
days.
the inside, too. Students comforted my family. They decorated my
room with posters, pictures and Bible verses. People at the hospital
wondered how there could be such joy amidst such tragedy, and thus
they encountered the presence of Jesus.
After twenty-three days in the hospital, my
recovery was already remarkable. I had never
experienced such a strong presence of the Holy
Spirit in my life. Having come so close to death,
I appreciated everything, from what I ate, to
relationships, to even just breathing. I got out
of the hospital and the miracle began to become
evident. Two months later I was well enough to
make the Delivery Boys and begin to tour with
them. We were the first team to travel coast to
coast. My facial reconstruction had not been
completed, and my retainer with six false teeth
made a great prop in skits. I also got to share
my testimony and a slideshow of how God had
miraculously preserved my life from the accident.
On the way there, my car rounded a
bend on the freeway and ran into a
stalled 22-foot flatbed construction
trailer. The other passenger in my car,
a close friend from VU, suffered only
minor scrapes, but I was in very bad
shape. Every bone on my face from my
eyes down was pulverized. My left
While the surgeons rebuilt my
arm — my throwing arm, because
I was a varsity baseball player and
face ... people from VU were
NAIA scholar-athlete — was almost
there daily to make sure I was
By the following spring, I had decided to do the
severed. My brain was bleeding;
impossible: return to the baseball field for my
several vertebrae were crushed, and
healing on the inside, too.
final season with the Lions. That spring I took
I slipped into a coma. It took a long
my position at first base and finished out my baseball career. KTLA
time for emergency personnel just to get me out of the car.
channel 5, USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County
I had come to VU on a baseball scholarship in 1994, and though I
Register and various magazines heard about my amazing recovery and
was successful on the field, my first year was pretty lonely. I didn’t
ran news stories on me.
make real friends. Baseball was the “god” of my life. But in my
sophomore year a sports injury had forced me to step back and take
stock of my priorities. I realized I was empty inside; that’s when God
brought me to my knees, and I made him the center of my life. From
that point on I began to develop great friendships with a group of
five other guys, all VU students. They became my accountability
partners and encouragers for the next three years. Because of their
influence I began to volunteer for various ministries. I became a
Delivery Boy and co-founder and president of the VU chapter of
the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Suddenly, I belonged to a
community of people who cared about me.
Little did I know that I would need that community so much after
my life-threatening accident. Vanguard students, staff and faculty
rallied around me while I was in the hospital. After the initial
stabilization, the surgeons rebuilt my face with bones from my skull
and hip, and titanium plates, screws and wires. During this time,
people from VU were there daily to make sure I was healing on
I graduated from VU in ’99 as valedictorian, then I traveled
and spoke at churches and elsewhere on the topic of adversity
and suffering. Today I am the college pastor at a church in the
Sacramento area. Interestingly, all five of my close friends from VU
are now in full-time ministry, though only one of us entered college
as a ministry major.
Today, most of my scars have faded and I don’t look much different
than I did before the accident. What hasn’t faded is my appreciation
for Vanguard, where I spent the greatest years of my life. The
relationships I made there changed me from being a self-centered
baseball player to being others-centered. And at my darkest hour,
when I stood between life and death, those relationships helped
sustain me.
Matt Newton ’99 is a pastor at
First Covenant Church of Sacramento
29
Editor. A nalyst. Leader. Servant.
Nathan
G onzales,
class
of
’00
Incorporating academic excellence with biblical
truth is a key focus at Vanguard University. By helping students cultivate character while pursuing
knowledge, they learn that being a light to the world also means being a light to the workforce.
Nathan is a respected political editor and analyst in Washington, D.C. For him, being a leader in
his church also means being a groundskeeper and servant for an inner city kids baseball league.
Doing Good.
Find out how your gift to the University Excellence Fund can inspire today’s students
to make a difference in their community, our country and the world, just like Nathan.
Call 714-556-3610, ext 2026 or visit www.vanguard.edu/excellencefund.
Vanguard University of Southern California. Illuminating.
Vanguard University
55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Change Service Requested
Non Profit
Organization
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Vanguard University
of Southern California

Kids - Vanguard University

Transcription

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