Faith and Reason - Vanguard University
Transcription
Faith and Reason - Vanguard University
vanguard VANGUARD UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA winter 2007 Bridging Faith and Reason Alumnus Alan Padgett ’77 Class Notes 9 Promoting Kids 18 www.vanguard.edu truth ~ virtue ~ service 2 5 7 18 16 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.” 2 vanguard magazine winter 2007 In This Issue Contents Volume 7 number 111 • winter 2007 features Bridging Faith and Reason ..............................................2 Alan Padgett ’77 is a leading theologian who explores questions of faith in a way that scholars and laypeople can grasp. Homecoming 2006.........................................................16 Promoting Kids...............................................................18 Dave Peters II ’73 went from promoting popular Christian music acts to promoting charities for children. departments From the President...........................................................1 Class Notes ......................................................................9 Advancing Vision 2010...................................................14 Windows.........................................................................19 A Vine of His Own Planting ............................................21 On Campus ....................................................................22 Sports.............................................................................26 Calendar .........................................................................28 Postcards .......................................................................29 T he pursuit of academic excellence has always beena n outstanding feature of a Vanguard education. Our world-class faculty, high standards and rigorous expectations both academically and spiritually help us to produce some of the finest graduates in the country for a university our size. This was recognized again this year by The Princeton Review which quite remarkably placed Vanguard alongside UCLA, UC Berkeley and Cal Tech in its list of the ten best values in California. This kind of recognition, and the high rankings we receive from U.S. New & World Report annually, show that our reputation for quality continues to grow. But the real proof of a Vanguard education is in the lives of our alums. Alan Padgett ’77, the subject of our cover story, has become a leading theologian and one of those rare academics (he is on the faculty at Luther Seminary) whose books cross over to popular audiences. Recently, he received one of the most prestigious fellowships in the area of theology and was chosen to spend a year at the University of Notre Dame as a research fellow. He also founded one of the more important professional organizations in his field. You’ll enjoy meeting this joyful, profound thinker who has much to say about our faith. You’ll also meet a current Vanguard student named Afshin who escaped from Iran, came to study in the U.S. and now hosts a Christian television show that is beamed back to Iran and seen by millions there. His gripping story seems torn from the headlines, and you will be inspired by his personal journey of faith. Alum Dave Peters II ’73, who is profiled in this issue, made his mark as an early leader in the Christian music industry before switching careers to help run charities for children. Dave’s skills as a promoter and producer of events have helped him improve the lives of hundreds of children. Today he heads up Kids Konnected which serves kids whose families are affected by cancer. University Governance Chair, Board of Trustees T. Ray Rachels University Administration President Murray Dempster Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Russell Spittler Vice President for Advancement and Enrollment Management Rick Hardy Vice President for Business and Finance Jim Stilwell Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Ed Westbrook Editor Joel Kilpatrick Art Director Chauncey D. Bayes Director of Marketing and Communications Patti Ammerman Director of Alumni Relations Heather Clements This issue is full of your other favorite departments including Class Notes, more alumni profiles, columns and campus news. Our forensics team is one of the best in the nation this year, and our men’s and women’s soccer teams had terrific seasons. This and more are inside these pages. I trust that with every issue of vanguard magazine you experience the academic and spiritual richness of our institution again. Read and enjoy! 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, 2007, 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. vanguard magazine winter 2007 1 Alumni Feature Bridging Faith and Reason “One of the callings of a theologian is to think through certain answers to problems, then present that to the community of Christian faith and see what they think about it. That’s how you get orthodoxy over the centuries.” — Alan Padgett s a philosopher, theologian and pastor Alan Padgett ’77 is training the next generation of church leaders to think critically about the big questions of life and faith, and to become better ministers as a result. His efforts have been widely recognized: his books have been published by InterVarsity Press and Oxford University Press, and he recently received one of the most prestigious fellowships in his discipline, a year-long post at the University of Notre Dame. A “The whole idea is to help Christians realize that part of being a disciple is loving God with your mind and learning to think as a 2 vanguard magazine winter 2007 Christian grounded in Christ and the gospel,” Padgett says. “Laypeople are very interested in theology, if you do it in a popular way and connect the Scriptures to their lives.” Winning the Notre Dame post “places Dr. Padgett into an elite fellowship of international scholars,” says Richard Bliese, president of Luther Seminary where Padgett is a faculty member. Padgett’s academic journey started at Vanguard where he enrolled as a recent Christian convert. “I had never heard of a Christian college, so they explained the Christian approach to learning,” he says. “I loved that.” Alumni Feature There he met and married Sally Bruyneel ’76-77. He graduated with honors but was torn between a career in law or ministry. After many conversations and prayers with professor Dennis McNutt ’59, Padgett was called to attend Drew Seminary, a United Methodist Church school in Madison, N.J., on a full scholarship. ted himself early on to pulpit ministry, in addition to theology, and is ordained with the United Methodist Church. Because Padgett’s views were more evangelical than the school’s, he went beyond the textbooks and “read the evangelical scholars to get a balance,” he says. “I did more work because I insisted on knowing the evangelical perspective.” After earning an M.Div from Drew, he served as a pastor in California, then headed to the University of Oxford in England to earn his doctor of philosophy degree on a full scholarship. He finished the doctorate in three years, an informal record for the program. He then taught philosophy at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota, taught theology and philosophy for ten years at Azusa Pacific University and joined the Luther Seminary faculty in 2001. He stayed in mainline colleges and churches because one of his life passions is for the renewal of the mainline church. He also commit- Along the way he was taught by some of the leading lights in theology including the present Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, Alan Padgett, continued on page 4 vanguard magazine winter 2007 3 Alumni Feature Alan Padgett (right) with Father Brian Daley, a renowned expert on early Christian theology in Greek and Latin. Padgett has written and edited many books, including Science and the Study of God (Eerdmans) which was published in paperback this year. Alan Padgett, continued from page 3 and Anglican apologist and pastor N.T. Wright. Lessons learned at Vanguard still inform him, too. “The number one thing I took away from Vanguard is that you can have a Christian spiritual approach to scholarship,” Padgett says. “I have kept that. I learned about the Holy Spirit. I’ve always insisted on giving equal time to the Spirit, not only to the Word.” Today Padgett engages students, congregations and fellow scholars in deep discussions with welcome levity. “My goal is to get them to think theologically about key issues,” he says. “To realize the value of the theory of what they’re doing and how that connects with Scripture. By doing that you end up being a better minister.” The right kind of theology “is always done in community,” he says. “One of the callings of a theologian is to think through certain answers to problems, then present that to the community of Christian faith and see what they think about it. That’s how you get orthodoxy over the centuries.” Through his writing and teaching Padgett is shaping tomorrow’s church leaders. “Alan is one of the brightest guys I have ever known and one of the most incredible scholars working at any level at any university,” says Gayle D. Beebe, president of Spring 4 vanguard magazine winter 2007 Arbor University and Padgett’s former colleague at APU. “His reputation continues to grow and his leadership and scholarship have taken him around the globe as an academic ambassador for Christianity.” first-year college students to the Christian faith. His latest book, But Is It All True?: The Bible and the Question of Truth (Eerdmans), is written to pastors, students and theologians. This year Padgett received the Frederick J. Crosson Fellowship from the Center for the Philosophy of Religion at the University of Notre Dame. As a Crosson fellow, Padgett will spend a year at the Center and work alongside some of the country’s most distinguished philosophy and religion scholars such as Alvin Plantinga. Padgett’s other major career work has been to co-found the Christian Theological Research Fellowship (CTRF) which now counts 450 Christian theology scholars as members. CTRF brings them together annually for fellowship and scholarship. CTRF also publishes books and an online journal which Padgett edits. “It’s one of the most prestigious fellowships we offer,” says Thomas Flint, director of the Center. “We look for someone ... who could contribute significantly to our discussions and who could also benefit from spending a year interacting with our other fellows working in philosophy of religion, philosophical theology, Christian philosophy and related fields.” The organization “has really been blessed by the Lord,” Padgett says. “It’s struck a cord. It’s still growing after all these years.” Padgett plans to work on issues surrounding God, science and the laws of nature and hopes his time there will result in a book. His recent writings include the first article in a book called For Faith and Clarity (Baker Academic, 2006) about the relationship between theology and philosophy. Padgett and his wife also wrote a book together called Introducing Christianity to introduce Padgett’s wife is a professor of church history and teaches in Minneapolis/St. Paul where they live. They have one child, Luke. Alan continues to speak at churches and conferences, and enjoys his post at Luther Seminary because the school is “evangelical and oriented toward Christ and the gospel,” he says. “I encourage people to follow God’s call on their lives and to use their head for Jesus, not just their feet and their hands,” Padgett says. “I want to add this other dimension of richness to their lives.” 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 Mary Ann (Canada 1949-1952) and Norman Campbell ’52 of Bakersfield have been missionaries to Costa Rica, Columbia, Argentina and Ecuador for most of their lives. They are still fully appointed missionaries in the U.S. and raise money for mission budgets of local churches. The Campbells have four grown children, Kathryn, Dan ’97, John ’96, and Jeff ’81, and seven grandchildren that include VU alums Andrew ’03 and Scott ’06. Mary (Grisham ’48) and Raymond Schiek ’51 have been married fifty-seven years and have four grown children and eight grandchildren. The Schieks are retired from fulltime ministry as administrators of Christian preschools and staff pastors. They enjoy their new condo in Fair Oaks and traveling to see their growing family. ’50s Anta (Mgrdichian ’51) Saroyan lives in Whittier and has been involved in children’s ministry, Sunday school and leading small group Bible studies. She is especially grateful for her two married sons and four grandchildren. Peggy Sue Tillman 1958-1960 worked as a bookkeeper for forty years before retiring. She lives at Portofino Villas in Pomona where she teaches handcrafts and a Bible class for fellow residents. She has fond memories of the choir and French Club at SCC and is a proud auntie to her nieces and nephews. ’60s Marian Gladys Rose ’62 of North Egremont, N.H., works at the Option Institute in Sheffield, Mass. (www.option.org). Clyde Gonzales ’63 was a church pastor and worked in public health before retiring. He lives in La Puente and is involved in small groups at his church. Robert Goodman ’65 and wife Orlynda recently celebrated their fortieth wedding anniversary. They are both retired. Bob taught middle school in public schools for forty years; Orlynda was a registered nurse. Their sons Rob and Ron work for the City of Whitefish and as a middle school principal, respectively. Bob and Orlynda have four grandchildren, attend Christian Center in Kalispell and enjoy snowmobiling, motorcycling and riding horses. They make their home in Columbia Falls, Mont. Muriel (Theissen ’67) Turner recently celebrated her eighty-ninth birthday. She is retired from thirty-three years of mission work in Africa and is on the women’s missionary council at her church, First Assembly of God in Bakersfield. Muriel has two great-grandchildren, three granddaughters, and two grown sons, Wayne Turner, Jr. ’70 and Roy. Velvet Moore ’68 of Winslow, Ariz., is retired from thirty years teaching in elementary schools. She has owned an antique store called Home Sweet Home for nine years. Velvet and husband William have two grown children. ’70s Lynn (Epperson ’73) Morgan teaches high school mathematics at the Ukarumpa International School in Papua, New Guinea, and is a Wycliffe missionary. The Morgan family includes children Matt, 24, Nathan, 21, and Liz, 19. Lavonn (Adney ’74) Bormuth and husband Jeff celebrated their twenty-third wedding anniversary. Lavonn is a field editor for Taste of Home magazine and has had several recipes published. The Bormuths have been personally building their own home for several years. In recent years they have traveled to Hawaii and Europe to commemorate major World War II events. Vera (Linzey ’74) Clark has taught for thirty years and is now an elementary special education teacher in public schools. She attends Cornerstone Community Church with husband Timothy, a high school teacher. In addition to Carolyn Dillinger ’00 and April Moore ’98, their family includes Katie, 15, and Eric, 13. A highlight for Vera was when she, Carolyn, and April received their graduate degrees in the same weekend. The Clarks live in Lake Elsinore. Carol Coleman ’77 of Redwood City is a fitness and wellness coordinator in a corporate health center. Dawn (Joseph ’77) Ferguson and husband Jerry live in San Bernardino. Their son Jared, 5, is active in many sports. Anne (Wood ’74) Perez lives in Pomona and has three children, Mike, 24, Doug, 21, and Kris, 13. ’80s Janelle (Juhala) and Terrell Abbott ’84 of Hood River, Ore., celebrated their twentythird wedding anniversary. They have three children, Jennifer 20, Jamie, 18, and Jeremy, 16. Candi Calkins ’81 of Garden Grove earned a master’s degree in journalism from Regent University in 1989. Class Notes, continued on page 10 vanguard magazine winter 2007 9 Class Notes uncles had a gift for cooking. Farrar and his business partners opened the first Dinners Ready store near Seattle in 2003. They also opened up Dinner University to train franchisees. The company now has 34 stores in eight states, including one in Huntington Beach, California. Customers spend two hours a month preparing beef stroganoff, glazed pork chops and other dishes under the direction of the staff. Customers then take the food home for freezing and eating throughout the month. Farrar serves as company president. On the menu Scott Farrar ’73 made a late career change and founded Dinners Ready, a franchise which helps people prepare meals for freezing and eating. “Our food is the best in the industry,” says Farrar. “We have some of the best chefs.” Farrar entered the meal preparation business in 2003 after studying the competition and concluding “we could do this a whole lot better, and it could be very lucrative,” Farrar says. His family had owned restaurants in the Seattle area for years and his father and Farrar came to VU at the request of his Tustin High School wrestling coach who was starting a wrestling team at VU. Farrar and his teammates won the NAIA regional championship that year. But the school’s most lasting impact on him was spiritual, he says. After college he worked as a landlord and property manager for 25 years before founding Dinners Ready. “Usually you work hard to retire,” says Farrar. “I was almost retired and all of a sudden I’m working harder than ever. But I like it much better this way. It’s like a second chance.” Class Notes, continued from page 9 David Fagnilli ’80 is an attorney with Davis & Young law firm. Wife Sara of twenty years is a fellow attorney. They live in Lakewood, Ohio, with children Catherine, 15, Joey, 13, and Vincent, 2. Craig Froman ’88 is a financial aid loan advisor at Evangel University in Springfield, Mo. He and wife Michelle celebrate eighteen years of marriage and have two children, Chelsea and Andrew. Denise (McNutt ’81) and Frank Heinrichs ’82 of Costa Mesa celebrated their twentyseventh wedding anniversary. Denise is pursuing a master’s degree in nursing education at CSU Long Beach while Frank is a computer consultant for Sound Advice. They have three children, Denee ’05, Danny, and Diann. 10 vanguard magazine winter 2007 Kevin Johnsen ’83 is pursuing a doctorate in humanities. He worked eight years as a teacher in Los Angeles and four years as an administrator. For the last five years, Kevin has worked with real estate and restaurant businesses. He, his wife and their five children live in Tyler, Texas. Pamela (Titus ’86) and Terence Mang ’85 have been married twenty years. Terence is a PC specialist and systems analyst for BAX Global, a freight forwarding company (www.baxglobal.com). The Mangs live in Fountain Valley with children Dorri, 15, Jedidiah, 12, and Glorry Faith, 8. Joseph McCarthy ’89 earned a master’s degree in organizational development from Pepperdine University in 2002 and is an associate pastor at North Hills Church (www.NorthHillsChurch.us). He and wife Elizabeth “Libby” have been married for eight years. They live in Brea. Lynette (Way) and David Salkeld ’89 recently celebrated their sixteenth wedding anniversary. After sixteen years at as a senior recording engineer at Focus on the Family, he has taken a position as director of broadcasting at the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C. The Salkelds have four children and live in Falls Church, Va. Stacy (Van Es) and Michael Tuccillo ’89 live in Chico. Michael has worked for EDS information technology company since he graduated. He is now the information specialist senior and designs health care systems for insurance companies. Stacy home schools their seven children. ’90s Sarah (Gillis ’01) and Aaron Adams ’99 live in West Sussex, England, with son Solomon Nathaniel, 3, and daughter Elisha Eve, 1. Aaron teaches at a local secondary school and is pursuing his PhD in Victorian literature at the University of Sussex. Jocelyn (Sievers ’93) Bailey and husband Justin live in Everett, Wash. Jocelyn teaches fifth grade for the Everett School District and teaches driver’s education at Monrow High School. They have a daughter Anika, 1, and attend New Life Center Foursquare Church. Gidelyn (Banez) Bonine ’96 and husband Kevin of Westminster have been married six years. Kevin works for Security Solutions while Gidelyn is a stay-at-home mom to their son Devin, 4. The Bonines serve in ministry at Coastview Christian Fellowship in Huntington Beach. April Bjornstad ’94 is senior manager of strategic finance at Broadcom Corp. She received her MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management in 1999 and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts. She lives in Santa Monica. Gretchen (Brandt ’98) and Dan Clements ’00 live in Salem, Ore. Dan spent four years in management with Jeld-Wen Windows before becoming a full-time pastor of membership care and assimilation for Peoples Church (www.peo- Class Notes pleschurch.com). They have been married seven years and have three children, Elijah Richard, 5, Micah Daniel, 4, and Leah Elizabeth, 1. Timothy Erickson ’95 and wife Jessica have been married eleven years and are proud parents to Jilian and Jacqueline. They live in Sun Valley. Alexis Gelder ’98 lives in Minnesota where she is the owner of Watermark Fine Stationery, Inc. (www.watermarkstationery.com). She is a member of the Twin City Bridal Association and the Association of Bridal Consultants. Naliana (Duncan ’97) and Stephen Harper ’98 of Irvine have been married eight years. Stephen is the early childhood programming director for Mariners Church (www.marinerschurch.org). Tamera (Smith ’99) Henken and husband Arlyn of Santa Ana are two years married. Tamera is a stay-at-home mom to their son Timothy, 1, while Arlyn is a licensing administrator for Veterinary Pet Insurance. Frank Howell ’92 lives in Vacaville and is a correctional officer for the Solano County Sheriff ’s Department. Laura (Rediger ’98) and Stephen Larson ’95 recently celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary. Laura earned a master’s degree in physical chemistry from CSU Fullerton in 2001. Steve is an attorney. They just moved back to Aliso Viejo with children Anna, 3, and Jonathan, 1. Patrina (Osborn ’96) and Xavier Limon ’00 of Costa Mesa have been married eight years. Patrina works with Professional Staffing while Xavier is an accountant for Oakley (www.oakley.com). Sherry (Enos) and Charles “Brian” McGibbon ’95 live in Rancho Santa Margarita and have been married eleven years. Sherry is a teacher at Belmont Oaks Academy, and Brian is a youth and children’s pastor at Mount Hope Community Church (www.ourlifealive.org). They have two daughters, Alyssa Lyn, 8, and Alyson Kennedy, 7. Donna (Buchan ’96) and Jeremy Moser ’97, ’04 MA of Fountain Valley have been mar- ried nine years. They have two children, Ethan, 7, and Kaden, 5. Annamarie (Solano ’87) and Thomas Olson ’94 live in Porterville where Annamarie is a library assistant and Thomas is pursuing his MAT at Fuller Theological Seminary. They have been married nine years. James Phillips ’93 received a master’s degree in secondary education from George Mason University in 2003. He and wife Jill have been married seven years and have two children, Noah, 4, and Jordan, 2. They live in Centreville, Va. James Shaw ’90 is a teacher, webmaster and academic liaison for the after-school intervention program for students at Wheatland Elementary School. He and his wife of twenty-one years have two daughters, Andrea, 15, and Caylin, 12. They live in Lincoln. Verity (Boes ’95) Sturdavant lives in Eagle Creek, Ore., with husband John, an engineer, and children Cody, 9, and Jaydyn, 2. Brad Switzer ’99 received his doctorate of medicine from St. George’s University School of Medicine in 2005 and is pursuing a specialization in internal medicine from the University of Massachusetts, where he is also a career resident. He worked in the bio-tech industry for several years and is a member of the American Medical Association. He lives in Worcester, Mass. Marla (Vincent ’98) Welson and husband Darren, a chemical engineer, have been married eight years. They have two daughters, Valerie Anne and Madelyn Renee, and live in Foothill Ranch. Christin (Stephens ’98, ’02 MA) and Todd Williams ’06 have been married two years. Christin taught first grade in Santa Ana for six years and now teaches Kindergarten. They live in Ladera Ranch. Keven Winder ’91, ’98 MA and wife Kimberly of Castle Rock, Colo., have been married ten years. Keven works in medical sales with Myriad Genetic Labs where he provides genetic testing for hereditary cancer syndromes. The Winders have two children, Karley Grace, 3, and Kalvin Michael, 1. ’00s Tara (Spaid ’01) Arreguin and husband Alex recently celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary. They live in Phoenix with daughter Alexis, 1. Claudia Aguilar ’06 is earning a bachelor’s degree in biology at San Francisco State University. She lives in Hanford and works in a group home. Tahara Akmal-Kariem ’06 is pursuing a graduate degree in interdisciplinary/comparative religious studies at Claremont School of Theology. She is a bereavement coordinator at Odyssey Healthcare Los Angeles (www.odsyhealth.com) and lives in Pasadena. Sarah Brown ’06 is a library assistant for Montgomery public schools near her home in Montgomery, Ala. Stacy Bruneau ’00 lives in Jacksonville, Ore., where she is a special education teacher at Griffin Creek Elementary School. Kelly Channing ’04 is a legislative analyst for the County of Orange and resides in Costa Mesa with friends. Courtney Clark ’05 of Laguna Hills is a media coordinator for FrontGate Media and attends Church by the Sea in Laguna Beach. She enjoys going to the theater and local concerts. Tiffany Clark ’00 earned a master’s degree in occupational therapy from University of Southern California in 2006. She is a pediatric occupational therapist at Saddleback Pediatric Therapy and lives in Laguna Hills. Dan Ford ’06 and Matt Meyer ’06 have spent the year traveling to twenty-six countries. They backpacked through Europe for three months, spent three weeks in Uganda volunteering at local schools, a children’s home, and organizations that include Invisible Children, and rested in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji before returning to the U.S. Michelle Friesen ’02 lives in Long Beach and is a program director for the non-profit organization called Leadership Long Beach. Edward Godinez ’02 of Baldwin Park is pursuing a graduate degree in recovery ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary and is a Class Notes, continued on page 12 vanguard magazine winter 2007 11 Class Notes She finished her master’s degree in church leadership from VU while in Costa Rica. Family takes good news to thousands Jason Frenn ’88 (MA ’96) came to VU because he wanted to plant churches in Latin America. Today he speaks to thousands of people at public evangelism events in Latin America and the U.S. In May he spoke to 10,000 people at a bi-lingual event at the Anaheim Convention Center. “If you’d have told me while I was at SCC that I’d be holding an event like the Anaheim Crusade, I’d have said you’re crazy,” Frenn says. Frenn and wife Cindee (Larson ’86, MA ’98) came from vastly different backgrounds, she from a missionary family in Latin America and he from a “highly dysfunctional” and unchurched family. But both had decided at young ages to become missionaries. The Frenns met at VU and married in 1988, then moved to the mission field in 1991 where they were mentored by Doug Petersen ’76. “Vanguard was a great experience, great school, very good education,” says Cindee. “VU taught me how to learn, and taught me the importance of developing the gift God gave me,” says Jason. “In my masters program Dr. Heuser, Dr. Camery-Hoggatt and Doug Petersen poured a lot into my life.” Elizabeth (Whitlow ’03) Pickens and husband Mark have been married one year. They live in Edmond, Okla. Jason began holding revival conferences in churches in Costa Rica. Then the Frenns decided to present the gospel at larger public meetings. Jeremiah Taylor ’00 and wife Kelly of Seattle recently celebrated three years of marriage. Jeremiah is an account manager for Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics. “Wherever you saw a vacant lot, there we were,” Jason says. Ten years later Jason preaches to thousands at inter-denominational events meant “to reach people who don’t know the Lord and plug them into a local church,” he says. His next major event is in Mexico City in April 2007. Early on, Cindee saw the need to reach children, too. Today she leads a team of young people who put on lively gospelthemed services for kids. “It’s been incredibly well received,” she says. “We solve a problem every night that revolves around our clubhouse theme. We use music and puppets.” The Frenns’ daughters, 16, 14 and 11, help produce and create the events. “I’ve been careful not to push the performing family thing, but it’s exciting to see that they enjoy having a part of people coming to know the Lord,” says Cindee. Class Notes, continued from page 11 case manager at Pacific Clinics, a mental health service. He is also a certified alcohol and drug abuse counselor and conducts trainings for churches, schools and drug treatment centers through www.streetchoices.com. Jenny Jacobs ’06 lives in San Dimas and is pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy from Chapman University. David Lyke ’01 is a youth pastor at Epic Student ministries in Missoula, Mont. He 12 vanguard magazine winter 2007 and wife Megan love Missoula’s climate and small city vibe. Nicole (Thorn ’03, ’06 MA) and David Miller ’02 of Midway City have been married three years. Nicole is a first and second grade teacher at Prince of Peace School in Costa Mesa. David works at AbleStik. Stephanie (Ricardo) and Nicholas Mulcock ’05 live in Maspeth, N.Y., where Stephanie is pursuing a law degree and Nicholas is an audio/video technician. They recently cele- brated their first wedding anniversary. Jonathan Primrose ’06 is a Scion customer specialist with Toyota Motor Sales, USA. He lives in Irvine. Sara VanNatta ’04 lives in Portland, Ore., where she is a staff accountant at the public accounting firm Aldrich, Kilbride & Tatone LLC (www.aktcpa.com). Randy Wallen ’02, ’05 MA of Newport Beach is a broker with Wallen Brokerage Group, a commercial real estate brokerage (www.wallenbrokeragegroup.com). He is a member of the Southern California Mediation Association. Julie (James ’02) Woods and husband Timothy, an information technology manager, have been married three years. They live with son Thomas, 2, in Garden Grove. Future Alumni Angela (Brink ’04) and Michael Bridgford ’05 of Placentia welcomed daughter Ellie on August 23, 2006. After working as a student worker and full-time staff member in the financial aid office at VU for six years, Angela is now a stay-athome mom. Michael works with Bridgford Foods. Nicole (Baker ’98) Cote and husband Brad, an engineer, are proud parents to Christian Rory, born in August 2006. They live in Canada. Marlyn (Lamsen) De Mesa ’93 and Anthony of Chula Vista are proud parents to Gabriella Nicole, born July 9, 2006. Kimberly (Battle-Walters ’89) Denu and husband Yohannes were married in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2006 and are parents to Joshua Yohannes, born November 18, 2006. Kim is a faculty moderator at Azusa Pacific University. Jaime (Brigman ’00) and Ryan Donovan 1996-1997 welcomed daughter Katelyn Ryanne on February 22, 2006. Ryan is a deputy sheriff for San Bernardino County. Jaime is a stay-at-home mom. Tamar (Mariano 1996-1998) and Steve Gronowski ’97 of Glendale, Ariz., have been married eight years. Steve is the area manager for the Boot Barn while Tamar is a stay-athome mom and works at the Coffee Beanery. Their children include Hailey, 7, Jeremiah, 5, William, 2, and Annabelle, born in March 2006. Amaris (Mattox ’97) Hossli and husband Christian welcomed son Caleb on September 25, 2006. They live in Rancho Santa Margarita. Alison (Singer ’89) and Steve Lasley ’86 of Sonoma are proud parents to Luke, 12, Jadon & Jesse, 9, and Judah Nathaniel, born April 21, 2006. Steve is a carpenter. Alison is a home school teacher. Alison (O’Leary ’97) and Nathan Miller ’99 live in Modesto where Nathan is a CPA with Grimbleby-Coleman while Alison enjoys being a full-time mom to Kate, 5, Claire, 3, and Jack Andrew, born on September 21, 2006. Mike Slagle ’92 and wife Miranda announce the birth of their daughters Kate Hanna and Emma Rebecca, born October 16, 2006. The Slagle family lives in Santa Ana. Cherish (Miller ’96) and David Steinbach ’97 are excited about their new addition, Madeline Kelly, born November 1, 2006. She joins Conor David, 2. The family lives in San Pedro. Just Married Susan (Nylander ’01) Benton and husband James were married September 29, 2006. James is a church administrator at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church while Susan is the assistant director of the church’s high school department staff (www.mppc.org). They live in Menlo Park. Rachel (Laverty ’06) married Daniel Lindburg on August 6, 2006. Daniel is a sixth grade teacher. Rachel works at VU as the Student Life secretary. They Class Notes, continued on page 15 {Legacy} our “Much of our lives have been dedicated to education, with the last few years at Vanguard University. Including the university in our will gives us much pleasure and satisfaction. We can think of no better legacy than investing in Vanguard’s future leaders and world-changers with this bequest.” Dr. Klaude and Mable Kendrick You can create your own lasting legacy with a bequest to Vanguard University. By designating Vanguard as a beneficiary in your will or living trust, you can help students achieve their academic goals and dreams. To learn more about our Wills and Bequest Program and other giving opportunities, contact the Office of Planned Giving at 714-556-3610 ex.2022. 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, California 92626 Advancing Vision 2010 Alum dona original film television s “We are thrilled with Ralph’s continuing support of Vanguard University and our department of music with this donation,” says James Melton dean of VU’s School of Communication and the Arts. “It’s a wonderful tie to contemporary music history of which Ralph has been a forerunner and trend-setter. This will be a wonderful historiography for our students to look at and a centerpiece for our music department’s future efforts.” alph Carmichael ’44-48, renowned composer and arranger, and his wife Mar have made a generous donation of seventy-eight musical scores to Vanguard University’s department of music, giving students invaluable access to his original works. R “My hope was that someday they might have a use for these if they started a film scoring class,” Carmichael says. “To teach young arrangers and composers they might look at my scores.” VU’s music department jumped at the opportunity to receive the scores, which showcase Carmichael’s remarkably wide range. The collection includes a score written for Nat King Cole’s appearance on the Bing Crosby Show, scores for I Love Lucy, the Roy Rogers Show and the Oral Roberts dramatic Easter special from 1972. They also include the scores Carmichael wrote for Billy Graham films, including Joni (1979), The Restless Ones (1965) and For Pete’s Sake (1966). Also in the mix are Carmichael’s score for The Cross and the Switchblade (1970), The Blob (1958) starring Steve McQueen, and scores for television commercials for Bonanza, Pepsodent, Sunsweet Prunes, Chevrolet and the United Way. 14 vanguard magazine winter 2007 Ralph credits wife Mar for maintaining his library of handwritten scores for decades. At one point she rescued his arrangements from a garage flood and worked assiduously to catalog them. “Every time I pull something out of the library I thank God for her special gift,” Ralph says. Film and television scores have been a major part of Carmichael’s career. His first job writing background music and cues for a dramatic program was with the Far East Broadcasting Company’s radio program when Carmichael was 18 and still a student at VU. (FEBC was founded by VU alums Bob Bowman ’36, John Broger ’39 and Bill Roberts ’30.) He discovered that each score is “a separate adventure,” he says. Film scoring mostly involves supporting and extending the vision of the film and its makers, but as Carmichael grew in his craft he began writing songs specifically for film soundtracks. The most well known of these is “He’s Everything to Me” from The Restless Ones. He also began getting work in secular film and television. In 1958 he wrote an experimental score that used dissonance for what would become a sci-fi classic, The Blob. “I thought, when Christendom finds out I’ve done The Blob, that’ll be the end of me,” he says, explaining why he wrote the film’s score under a pseudonym. ates m and scores “I thought, when Christendom finds out I’ve done The Blob, that’ll be the end of me.” The Carmichaels first thought of donating the scores to VU when Ralph got a call from an archivist at a large public university in another state. The university wanted to add Carmichael’s scores to its growing library of original film scores. But Carmichael wanted his scores to go to his alma mater. He hopes one day to donate his entire library of more than 3,000 original arrangements to VU. “I could have profited by having a film score library to study when I was a student,” he says. “It wouldn’t have been trial and error, hunt and peck and the years of experiments that I had to do, if somebody had shown me the shortcuts.” The gift also coincides with an expansion in the size and scope of VU’s music program. VU’s master plan calls for the construction of a new academic music building and concert hall which may include a hall of fame, in which Carmichael’s work would feature prominently, Melton says. “Special collections and historical archives preserve significant benchmarks in the institutional memory of the University, and its alumni, personnel, mission and academic interests,” says President Murray Dempster. “I am elated and personally grateful that Ralph Carmichael has donated this highly coveted collection of his works to Vanguard University, his alma mater. The Ralph Carmichael Collection identifies the University as a significant place for research and understanding of the development of contemporary TV/film scores, as well as the musical artistry of Ralph himself.” Class Notes Class Notes, continued from page 13 live in Newport Beach with cats Frodo and Sam. Jessica (Magliano ’00) married John Putterman on March 24, 2006. John is a client specialist at Distribution Alternatives. Jessica works in accounting at Carey Sign Graphics (www.careysigns.com). They live in Chino Hills. Brigette (Caligure) and Dave Martin ’05 were married on July 20, 2006. They live in Colorado Springs where Brigette is an administrative assistant for Focus on the Family and Dave is in sales for Ferguson Enterprises. Corina (Montelongo ’03) married Josh Greegor on November 4, 2006. Corina is a piano teacher and has worked with the All American Boys Chorus and ArtLinks. The couple lives in Tracy. Frederic Piaget ’97 married Helene, a speech therapist, on May 20, 2006. They live in Cortaillod, Switzerland. Rochelle (Scott ’03) married Gregory Harrop on November 18, 2006 at their church in Winter Park, Fla. Rochelle is a senior accountant for Wyndham Vacation Ownership. Matthew Sonnenberg ’98 and wife Anna were married on August 19, 2006. Matt is a multimedia specialist for Toshiba while Anna is a teacher for the City of Anaheim. The Sonnenbergs live in Lake Forest with daughter Brittany. Heather Joy (Wells ’98) married Daron Hubbert, a college administrator at Azusa Pacific University, on November 19, 2006. Heather is the director of campus activities at California Baptist University. They live in Montclair. In Memory Evelyn (Johnson) Coad ’47 passed away November 21, 2006. Matt Stankus ’82 passed away August 26, 2006. Roy Spece ’51 passed away July 7, 2006. Carmichael was the subject of a vanguard magazine cover story in fall 2006. vanguard magazine winter 2007 15 Homecoming 2006 Homecoming 2006 Homecoming 2006 brought hundreds of alums together for events on and around campus. Sixty young alums (top left) attended a homecoming dinner at BJ’s Pizza. Alums enjoyed the basketball game from the upper deck in The Pit, and James Melton and Hal Keener ’44 shared a laugh between events. The women’s basketball team squared off against an alumni team in the Blue-Gold game (bottom left), and Melinda Rediger ’88 enjoyed a first-of-its-kind communications department reunion, which celebrated 25 years of that department with a blooper reel of alum student projects and an alumni panel on working in Hollywood, with panelists Rediger and Randy Argue ’86. Artist-in-residence H. Keith Ewing’s painting class was another hot ticket. 16 vanguard magazine winter 2007 Homecoming 2006 On Saturday, alumni awards were presented to Alumnus of the Year Johanna Townsend ’66 (far top, holding flowers; pictured with family and friends); Jim Marocco ’71 (top right, with wife Colleen ’72), this year’s Distinguished Service Award winner; Chuck Buck ’57 (top left, with VU president Murray Dempster), who won the Career Achievement Award; and the 2006 Outstanding Young Alum, Nicole Suydam ’95 (left, with her former professor Dennis McNutt ’59). Friday night’s alumni Vanguard Singers & Band Reunion concert drew 60 participants who performed by year. And alums and the current men’s basketball team competed for bragging rights, with the current VU team taking the prize. Do you know someone who deserves an alumni award at homecoming 2007? If so, visit www.vanguard.edu/alumni or call 714-966-5494 for more information. Mark your calendars for Homecoming 2007. november 7-10 VU Profile Promoting Kids ave Peters II ’73 helped promote the early careers of Andrae Crouch, James Dobson and dozens of other Christian artists as a founding member of the first Christian artists agency in the 1970s. Now Peters puts his promotional talents to work as executive director of Kids Konnected which helps kids whose families are affected by cancer. D “It’s been fantastic working here,” Peters says. “Kids Konnected is so unique in its mission. I’ve found my niche.” Peters came to VU from a household of music and ministry. His father served as music minister at North Hollywood Assembly of God and other churches, and was a professor of music at Bethany College in Santa Cruz. At age six, Dave directed the orchestra at one of Sacramento’s largest churches. As a Vanguard student in the late 1960s, Peters found himself in the middle of a new movement in Christian music. “On Fairview Drive there was a little dinky church that became Calvary Chapel having services every night,” he says. “We got wind of this at SCC — that they were packing them in and having great music. Hot musicians that had been in bar bands were converting to Christianity, and it was changing the style of music.” Peters booked Andrae Crouch at VU for two concerts in the gym. Peters then joined VU’s singing group, The Accents, in 1969 with Rusty Peavy ’70, Eddie Chaviz ’70 and Bob Cull ’71. Pat Boone heard the group’s album and invited them to tour with him “because he said we sounded like the Osmonds,” Peters says. Peters also sang back-up on albums for Ralph Carmichael ’44-48, Jimmy Owens and Otis Skillings. “The Accents gave me the platform that spring-boarded me into a career,” Peters says. “SCC was a great experience for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it and made some great friendships.” Then Wayne Coombs, Boone’s agent and co-manager, invited Peters, who was still a VU student, to help found an agency to represent emerging Christian singers and authors. The Wayne Coombs Agency opened on Hollywood Boulevard in 1973 with clients like James Dobson, who would soon release his first book, Dare to Discipline, Larry Norman, Randy Stonehill, the Pat Boone family, quarterback Archie Manning (father of Peyton and Eli) and Nicky Cruz. In 1977, following the success of Debby Boone’s song “You Light Up My Dave Peters, continued on page 19 18 vanguard magazine winter 2007 Windows Editor’s note: This column gives a view into student and university life from the perspective of a different staff or faculty member each issue. Phil Robinette Professor of Sociology Classroom Rituals A Four years later I have students participate It is designed to break students out of their s a professor of sociology, I am fasin an ending ritual that facilitates the oppoestablished social structures and get them to cinated by rituals. They signal site process. It teaches that “breaking up” is broaden and deepen their social connecbeginnings and endings, and estabnot easy, and helps them understand some tions. Without rituals like this, many would lish group behavior. Vanguard has always of the challenges ahead as they graduate and go through their collegiate experience with had its share of rituals. Alums from the ’60s lose the established social connections they little new social interactions. probably remember wearing a “beanie” with have made at Vanguard. At the “SCC” (for Southern California College) imprinted above the Past Vanguard rituals included a lights-out final session of my senior seminar class, students are given an opporbill. That marked you as a freshpolicy at 10 p.m. and the administration tunity to say goodbye to the proman so upper class students fessor and their classmates. But could ask you to carry their publicly announcing engagements on there is a surprising rule: after givbooks, get them a Coke or percampus. Ah, the good old days! ing a farewell to the group, each form other menial tasks. student must exit the room and Freshmen went along with it to I ask students to convene in an outside not return. This means that those who speak pay the price so they could exploit the new courtyard visible to everyone else on the first don’t get to hear the remarks of most of incoming class in subsequent years. campus. We join hands in a circle and each the class. And those who share near the end person silently prays for the person on his or Other past rituals and rules included a have only a few students left to hear their her right and squeezes that person’s hand. lights-out policy at 10 p.m., males and comments. This exit ritual encourages stuThen comes the unforgettable group bondfemales being made to sit on opposite sides dents to pursue complete and satisfying ing ritual. Students place their arms around of chapel, public confessions of dorm violagood-byes with people they have grown to the shoulders of the people next to them tions being made in chapel, and the adminlove and value. It prods them to prepare to and step forward simultaneously. This comistration publicly announcing engagements feel unattached, at least for awhile, when presses the circle and generates a group hug. on campus. Ah, the good old days! they leave college and once again negotiate For a brief moment everyone in the circle is These days the rituals are different. In my new unknown groups and social structures. united into a single group. Class interactions classes I have established two of my own, It also gives them hope and courage to face are never quite the same again. Students feel one to signal a beginning for my students, what comes next in life, which is at the heart included in a group some of which were prethe other an ending. The first ritual takes of Vanguard’s mission. viously strangers. place in my Introduction to Sociology class. Dave Peters, continued from page 18 Life,” Peters booked her national tour. “I was blessed to be connected with a lot of fantastic ministries,” he says. “It was the first time Christian music was getting national exposure. We didn’t know what we really had. We just knew records were selling like crazy.” In 1980 Peters started his own agency to manage clients such as Gavin MacLeod and Chuck Woolery. But his life took a new direction on a 1990 trip to Guatemala with MacLeod to shoot a Feed the Children television special. There, Peters was deeply moved to see children living off the city dump. “A light went on,” he says. “I felt I should use my connections in the entertainment and corporate world to help kids.” By 1990 he had left entertainment and was working full-time with nonprofit children’s agencies in international adoptions. He traveled Eastern Europe and Russia, visiting orphanages and helping to provide medical relief in war zones in Croatia and Bosnia. The work was often dangerous, and Peters’ assistant was murdered in Moscow. However, his work was also rewarding. For example, one orphan boy had no outer ears but had skin covering his ear holes, making him functionally deaf. A volunteer plastic surgeon took cartilage from the boy’s rib and Dave Peters, continued on page 20 vanguard magazine winter 2007 19 VU Profile Dave Peters with Kids Konnected kids at summer camp. Dave Peters, continued from page 19 built an ear structure over the course of two years and many surgeries. Peters then placed the boy with an adoptive family in San Diego. In six years Peters facilitated more than one hundred adoptions of children from Eastern Europe and Russia by qualified couples in the U.S. Peters then accepted a position with Olive Crest Abused Children’s Foundation in Orange County to raise funds and produce special events. “Dave’s heart is in helping children and families,” says Tim Bauer, who hired Peters at Olive Crest and is now a vice president with the nonprofit Child Abuse Prevention Center. “I knew he wasn’t just trying to meet a goal but really cared about how the funds [he was raising] would be used. While we were at Olive Crest we got a tremendous amount of work done ... Dave was a big part of that.” In 2005 Peters accepted the top position at Kids Konnected, an agency that provides 20 vanguard magazine winter 2007 therapeutic care for kids when a parent is newly diagnosed with cancer. Kids Konnected produces a popular Teddy Bear Care Package that has age-appropriate coloring books and tools to teach kids what chemotherapy is and what to expect when their parent undergoes treatment. “When a family has cancer, depression, academic failure and separation anxiety become big issues,” Peters says. “I had a cheerleader from Missouri tell me she worries about going to Friday night games because she’s afraid her dad won’t be home when she gets back. Parents say to me, ‘Knowing my kids are okay, I can concentrate on fighting the cancer.’ If you’re worried about your children you don’t get well as quickly.” Last year Kids Konnected helped 1,100 families nationwide. The agency is listed in Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul, and ABC’s Extreme Makeover television program remodeled a home for one of its families. Peters’ five-year goal is to be as well known as Ronald McDonald House and the MakeA-Wish Foundation. He also continues to be involved with Vanguard and has advised the University on community events. In 2005 Vanguard gave him its Distinguished Service Award. “God laid out a plan I could never have designed,” Peters says. “Vanguard was the platform that led to everything I’ve had happen to me.” 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 Vanguard at a Crossroads H ad a 1953 agreement been carried out, there would never have been a Vanguard University. The school was founded in 1920 as Southern California Bible School and was immediately endorsed by the Assemblies of God, a national fellowship of churches created only six years earlier. The denomination grew rapidly, but its educational efforts remained limited to modest two- and three-year Bible schools. SCBS did become Southern California Bible College in 1939 and a Texas school added a junior college program, but the primary purpose of all the endorsed Bible schools continued to be the training of ministers. But slowly, support for a denominational college to educate those wishing to enter other professions developed, and in 1953 a liberal arts college was mandated by the General Council of the Assemblies of God. Its general superintendent believed that the new college could most readily be created by modifying one of the existing schools and recognized that SCBC was uniquely qualified to make the transition. In September he invited the school’s president and board chairman to Springfield, Missouri, to explore that possibility. The invitation came at a critical period in Vanguard history. The 1950 move from Pasadena had proved challenging, enrollment had fallen precipitously, and financial pressures were eroding morale. Though the Southern California District had owned the college since 1941, it had not always been a happy, supportive relationship. Transferring ownership and responsibility to the national body promised increased funding, a national student pool, and accelerated academic development. The proposal was so enticing that a preliminary agreement was reached that SCBC with all its assets would be transferred to the denomination. Its curriculum would be broadened, its campus relocated, and a more appropriate name adopted. Except for its library and faculty which would be absorbed by the new college, little of the institution which had effectively operated for thirty-five years would remain. Four months later, with an executive from the national office present to acknowledge the generous gift, the agreement was officially and overwhelmingly approved at the Southern California District Council in Fresno. But between the initial September agreement and its formal ratification in February, the proposed transfer was effectively aborted. The General Presbytery had met in December with representatives from the endorsed Bible schools to discuss the new liberal arts college, and the meeting produced an unanticipated resolution. The new college would offer neither a Bible nor theology major and its general education Vanguard campus, 1950 requirements would be limited to no more than two units of Bible per semester. But SCBC had always regarded the training of pastors and missionaries as a vital part of its mission and a treasured part of its heritage. Its Bible department was the school’s strongest, and a larger proportion of its graduates were serving as foreign missionaries than those from any other school in the denomination. Consequently, though SCBC with all its assets was offered to the General Council, the gift carried a stipulation: the new college must offer a Bible or theology major. Disappointed national and district leaders sought to reconcile the two positions, and in July a specially called district council was convened to consider a compromise. But all the efforts failed. SCBC would remain in Costa Mesa to become SCC in 1959 and Vanguard University forty years later. Over half a century later, Vanguard continues to educate ministers as well as teachers, doctors, lawyers and those preparing for a variety of other callings. Its friends and alumni can be grateful and proud that at the most critical time in its history, principle triumphed over expediency. vanguard magazine winter 2007 21 On Campus preparation for their reconstruction. On past trips VU students “mudded” homes, meaning they removed furniture, carpets, mud and other debris. Gutting a home goes much further and involves ripping out everything but the wooden frame to make it ready for renovation and re-occupation. New Orleans and neighboring cities have deadlines by which homes must be gutted or face demolition. The VU team saved three homes from demolition. The team also hosted a dessert for long-term volunteers who have been living at the School for Urban Missions and devoting their lives to rebuilding New Orleans. It was a meaningful time of celebration, prayer and commissioning for the next chapter of their lives, says Cooper. Fletcher Jones Foundation Awards Grant for Science Equipment center when it is completed. The science center is part of Vanguard’s Vision 2010 capital campaign, the University’s guiding blueprint to become a nationally recognized comprehensive Christian university. The Fletcher Jones Foundation of Los Angeles has awarded VU a grant for $366,460 to acquire laboratory equipment for the future Townsend Academic Center for Science and Technology. The contribution allows Vanguard to keep pace with the dynamic changes in science technology and is a significant stride toward achieving the goals of Vision 2010. Established in 1969, the Fletcher Jones Foundation supports private colleges and universities, particularly in California. “This generous funding greatly strengthens our science programs, including our new nursing program, and accommodates the urgent demand for the preparation of healthcare personnel and science education professionals,” said VU president Murray Dempster. The substantial investment from the foundation provides science students with state-ofthe-art educational technology like adult and infant human patient simulators, a DNA sequencer and high-quality microscopes. The equipment can be purchased immediately and then migrated to the new science 22 vanguard magazine winter 2007 Students travel far and wide to volunteer, minister Teams of students traveled to New Orleans, Seattle and India in December to volunteer and minister. Amanda Cooper and Kirsten Nielsen, the director and coordinator of leadership development/activities at VU, respectively, led a team to New Orleans to gut houses in The VU team then volunteered at a Christmas outreach and helped construct a bathroom and showers at a nearby church which will allow it to host volunteers for future Katrina clean-up efforts. “We have made a lasting connection to the School for Urban Missions and have a commitment to rebuilding New Orleans,” says Cooper. VU is sending its fourth team to New Orleans this summer. Another team from VU spent a week in Seattle working with Youth with a Mission (YWAM) to serve the poor. The team spent mornings at the Union Gospel Mission leading worship services and proclaiming the gospel. Then they served lunch to street people. The team also spent a cold, rainy evening with UGM's Search and Rescue, driving around the city to hand out blankets, food and warm clothing to homeless people. In the afternoons the team worked with atrisk children of the Rainier Valley District, inventing games and skits for the kids. The trip ended with a Christmas party at the Boy's and Girl's Club. On Campus “Time and again we were told how encouraging we were to many people because we were young people devoted to the work we were doing,” says team leader Eric Wilson, coordinator of VU’s inner city outreach. A third, smaller team from VU ventured to India for two weeks, attempting to preach the gospel to remote tribes. Team leaders Andrew Richey, VU’s coordinator of global outreach, and wife Amanda led three students into the jungles of southeast India where they found villages where people had never heard the name of Jesus. The team slept on the floor of a remote coffee plantation and spent three days hiking through the jungle on wild animal paths with their Indian hosts. When they reached a village they would introduce themselves and share the gospel. About fifty people prayed to receive Christ, Andrew Richey says. “We were able to share the gospel with a couple hundred people who’d never heard it before,” says Richey. “I’m delighted that it happened.” For more information on VU’s outreach efforts, visit www.vanguard.edu/outreachministries the business community. Russell Williams, president of Passkeys Foundation and founder of the Ethics in America Awards, is giving the awards program to Vanguard. He says his purpose from the beginning was to transfer ownership of the Awards to a university which took a strong public stand on the value of ethics in public life. “This is the best direction for the program and VU is well positioned to bring this story forward,” says Williams. “I’m pleased beyond imagination that Vanguard University saw the opportunity. I’m so grateful for this university and its vision.” VU became a host and main sponsor of the Awards in 2005. Now it has signed an agreement to take over the event by 2010. The University will likely expand the event in significant ways to publicly honor people who exemplify ethical professional behavior in business and the broader society. “The Ethics in America Awards Program will assist us in branding Vanguard as a university that integrates ethics into the curriculum in our School of Business and Management and cultivates character, leadership and service within all our students as an essential part of our institutional mission,” says President Murray Dempster. “Russ Williams has given to the University an incredible gift of value in donating this intellectual property and signature program to the University. We are grateful for Russ’s generosity and his trust that we will be good stewards in expanding the influence and excellence for which this program has become known in our region.” Forensics Team Sweeps Tournament VU’s forensics team took third place in the overall team sweepstakes of four-year schools at the 2006 Fall Championships at CSU Long Beach and ended the fall semester as one of the top teams in the nation. “This team has so much character and enthusiasm," said Karen Nishie, VU’s director of forensics. “The students are committed to the success of the team. We work hard, but we have a lot of fun.” Following three days of competition, VU’s squad came away with a variety of awards in categories such as extemporaneous and On Campus, continued on page 24 VU to take over ethics awards The Ethics in America Awards, founded by the Passkeys Foundation eleven years ago, will soon be run exclusively by VU, which plans to grow it into a national event. The awards will continue to honor people like John Wooden and Art Linkletter who promote ethical behavior and moral values in (back row, l to r) Vanguard’s David Elliott, David Alford, Renee Smith and Rick Hardy with Russell Williams (front left) and VU president Murray W. Dempster. Williams gifted the Ethics in America program he created to Vanguard University. vanguard magazine winter 2007 23 On Campus On Campus, continued from page 23 impromptu speaking. Three of VU’s teams advanced into eliminations rounds following the group stage. Students Emily Barrett, Jessica Cross, Andy Long, Catherine Riley, Lance Trueb and Andrew Ntzouras made it to the finals in various events. VU is ranked seventh in the nation, above teams such as UCLA, UC Berkeley and Wheaton College. This year the team is excelling in overall sweepstakes awards which measure the strength of a team rather than individuals. VU won sweeps at four out of five tournaments. The most important part of their season lies ahead. A spate of spring tournaments will test the team’s mettle. Students serve local needy over holidays On December 2, several dozen students went to Skid Row in Los Angeles to hand out hygiene packets and lunch to the people who make that street their home. Groups have gone from VU for the past three years. Students spent several hours talking with and ministering to street people among the tents and sleeping bags laid out on the sidewalks. “You don’t have to travel across the globe to see need like this,” says Jamie Brownlee, VU’s director of Outreach Ministries. The next weekend students put on the annual Children’s Christmas Party in partnership with The Crossing church. The event had a much greater turnout of children, volunteers and a wider variety of games and booths than last year. Children made crafts, decorated cookies, got their picture taken with Santa Claus (played by VU professor Marty Harris) and decorated a frame for their photo. Everyone who attended received lunch and each child received a gift and heard the Christmas story. 24 vanguard magazine winter 2007 “It’s my favorite event we do,” says Brownlee. “It’s such a personal event, with plenty of opportunity for people to talk to kids and parents from the community.” The event helped to promote local learning centers. Thirty VU student volunteers helped run the event. Christmas Fantasia re-born at new venue Gentlemen” in bluegrass, classical and rock styles, and brought the house down. The Vanguard Singers spoofed “Deck the Halls” with their “Variations on Fa-La-La,” the University Concert Orchestra played the Polar Express Concert Suite, and half a dozen other choruses performed, including the Women’s Chorus under the direction of music professor Joni Fukuda and the Jazz Ensemble under the direction of music professor Kenneth Foerch. Christmas Fantasia kicked off a new era with two sold-out shows and a first appearance at the nationally acclaimed Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, whose acoustic superiority helped take the time-honored VU event to a new level of excellence. Melton also interviewed several VU music students to demonstrate the heart and character at the center of the music program. “It was a tremendous success,” says Rick Hardy, vice president for university advancement. “We had 2,500 people in attendance at both presentations. Tickets sold out well in advance. The Cerritos Center really matched the excellence of our music program.” “We so enjoyed it,” she says. “David went around telling everyone what a wonderful night we’d had, how great the music and variety were. We’ve attended the concert for many On Dec. 7 at the Center and Dec. 8 at St. Andrews Presbyterian church, VU’s 200 singers and musicians performed a delightful variety of Christmas favorites, with several surprises thrown in. The concert began in candlelight with the students singing in the aisles, and ended, as is customary, with the Hallelujah Chorus. In between, James Melton, dean of VU’s School of Communication and the Arts, took the audience on a musical journey of Christmas. A four-guitar ensemble under the direction of music professor Greg Glancey performed “God Rest Ye Merry Marilyn Botzenhardt, a longtime supporter of VU, attended at the Cerritos Center with husband David and several friends. On Campus years and it’s always been very good. I think this year having it in the performing arts center made it feel like more of an occasion.” Today all CDP courses are offered online, and students may access their class anytime via the Internet. Christmas Fantasia has been one of VU’s most important community events for ten years. “It is important that early education professionals have a variety of options in format, duration of class time, convenience and course content,” says Keeler. “[VU’s] courses have provided a much-needed avenue for additional training for those working in the field. Many students can engage in the learning process in the comfort and convenience of their own home. The peer mentoring that takes place exceeds a typical on campus course.” Online education courses prove popular VU’s pioneering online Child Development Program (CDP) trained nearly 900 students over the past two years, and its enrollment has doubled over last year. “This is the first online program for VU, and it meets a unique need for Christian early educators,” says Bren Martin, administrator of the program which was developed in collaboration with the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and is offered through VU’s School of Education. “It has also led the way for VU to offer other courses online.” Martin agrees and says that VU’s instructors “have found that the online format can create a stronger sense of community than the traditional classroom.” VU is one of the few Christian universities to offer early education courses online which meet California’s and many other states’ requirements for formal educational training. VU’s classes can be applied to the ACSI preschool associate credential (PAC) and Directors Certificate training requirements. “CDP has been part of an educational journey for VU in how to use this type of technology in teaching,” says Martin. “This program is very distinct in that it offers training in early education from a biblical worldview,” says Debbi Keeler of ACSI. “Here in southern California there are no known online early childhood education course that are taught from a Christian perspective and [there are only] limited programs across the U.S. The students appreciate this uniqueness.” The online CDP has greatly expanded VU’s reach and has given students worldwide the opportunity to take required education courses through VU rather than through a community college. Last fall VU expanded its online presence by embarking on an eLearning pilot program with 14 VU faculty members who are creating technologically enhanced courses for online/hybrid delivery. For more information on Vanguard’s online CDP courses visit http://vanguard.edu/cdp Pre-VU shows off campus life Two hundred students and parents attended Pre-VU 2006 this fall to experience firsthand what life at Vanguard is like. “Pre-VU gives our prospective students a great opportunity to see the Vanguard campus in action,” says Calli Adams ’05, assistant director of undergraduate admissions. “They interact with our outstanding faculty and students, stay in the dorms and attend chapel. We want them to get a taste of it all.” and Missouri to see the campus and have a Q-and-A session with president Murray Dempster. Parents dined with the president, and everyone enjoyed times of worship and entertainment with the Delivery Boys and Entourage student comedy/ministry teams. “Pre-VU parents and students love the opportunity to get to know our faculty and staff on a personal level,” says Adams. “It eases their concerns and fears about attending college or sending a student away to college.” On average, half the students who attend Pre-VU enroll at Vanguard. Jesus, CEO author to speak at Commencement Laurie Beth Jones, author of Jesus, CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership, will speak at Vanguard University’s 2007 Commencement ceremonies on May 5. Laurie Beth Jones burst onto the national scene with the best-selling Jesus, CEO, a book which promoted bringing spiritual principles back into the business world. That book, and subsequent books, have been translated into twelve foreign languages. As a speaker and trainer, Jones has been invited to present to presidents of countries and companies, business teams, churches, ministries and educators. Commencement will be held May 5, 2007 at 5 p.m. at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa. Students came from as far away as Minnesota vanguard magazine winter 2007 25 Sports Kicking it up a notch U soccer coach Randy Dodge ’93 led the men’s and women’s teams to the regional finals this year, a first-time achievement for any Golden State Athletic Conference coach. V McLeish also gave Dodge his first high school coaching job at age 18. At VU Dodge met his wife Stephanie (Pruitt ’94). His brother Phil ’92 is also an alum. Under his leadership, VU’s soccer program has reached a high point in its history, and both teams have a strong chance to make the national tournament in years to come. This year the men held their opponents to 0.48 goals per game and the team was ranked as high as fourth in the NAIA, the highest ranking ever for VU men’s soccer. After graduating from VU, Randy continued to coach high school, college and club soccer. For five years he was a head trainer with the California Youth Soccer Association in Orange County. He earned a master’s degree in education from CSU San Bernardino in 1997. The women’s team went to the first VU women’s soccer Region II Championship game ever and tied the school record for total wins in a season. “We now have respect across the country and we’ll continue to grow,” says Dodge. Dodge learned his passion for coaching while playing for VU during the ‘90s after a stellar high school career that included four league championship games. As a four-year starter at VU, Dodge was inspired by former VU soccer coach Dave McLeish. “Dave put a desire and passion in me to coach,” says Dodge. “He had a tremendous influence on me. I saw my calling to teach soccer through him.” 26 vanguard magazine winter 2007 This year the men’s soccer team was ranked as high as fourth in the NAIA, the highest ranking ever for VU men’s soccer. He returned to VU after serving as men’s soccer coach assistant at UC Irvine for three years. “I wanted to get back to my alma mater,” he says. His VU coaching career got off to an inauspicious start when, during his first game, the homecoming alumni game, goalkeeper Tamasso Bianchi ’05 suffered a compound fracture to his arm. (Bianchi later became the first VU soccer player to be drafted by a Major Indoor League Soccer team — the California Cougars in 2005.) Dodge’s first-year team had only sixteen players but managed an 8-12 record. The next season they went 13-6 and missed the national playoffs by a percentage point. That has been a recurring theme for the men’s team, which has narrowly missed the national playoffs each of the past four years. But they won their conference in 2004 and posted records of 16-5, then 9-7-2 and this year 15-3-2. This year Will Johnson, Christian Marston and Sem Lopez made the All-GSAC team. Will Johnson and Christian Marston advanced to the All-Region II Team, and Chris Swift ’06 was named to the GSAC Scholar-Athlete team. Dodge began coaching the women’s team in April 2006 and the team defied all odds to post one of the best years in VU women’s soccer history with a 13-5-2 record. The Lions qualified for the program’s second straight Region II Tournament and its seventh postseason appearance overall. Players Stacia Hoover and Marissa Swift made the All-GSAC team, and Emelia Miller, Lauren Walker, and Cassie Rodeiro were named GSAC Scholar-Athletes. says Dodge, is that “we’re bringing the right kids into VU.” Former men’s goalkeeper Bianchi, who is earning his teaching credential at VU and will play for the California Cougars this year, says, “Being selected [by the Cougars in the draft] is not only a personal accomplishment, but represents the quality program Vanguard has.” Like all coaches at VU, Dodge emphasizes character building through the Champions of Character program. “We’re not just at Vanguard to win soccer games,” he says. “Champions of Character is a big part of the program. We have a tremendous amount of influence on who student-athletes become. That’s a huge responsibility.” His goal for both teams in coming seasons is to reach the national tournament finals. “That’s the next step in this journey,” he says. “I’m excited about the future of Vanguard soccer.” The main reason for both teams’ success, vanguard magazine winter 2007 27 Calendar Music Athletics Men’s Basketball Season in progress Women’s Basketball Season in progress Baseball Softball March 9 – 18 Spring Break Choir Tour April 22 Music Department Spring Concert Season begins February 2 For more concert information, place contact the Music Events Office at 714.662.5272 or [email protected] or visit www.vanguard.edu/music Season begins February 2 University Events For a complete listing of schedules please visit www.vanguard.edu/athletics Theatre February 23 - March 4 “Glass Menagerie & Southern Bell Tolls” March 30 – April 15 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying For box office information and show synopses please visit www.vanguard.edu/theatrearts February 23-24 Center for Women’s Studies Strategies Against Sex Trafficking Featuring keynote speaker Dr. Laura Lederer, senior advisor on trafficking for the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. For more information please call 714.556.3610, ext. 2240 or visit www.vanguard.edu/cws February 26 VU Basketball Campus Visit Event for sophomores, juniors, seniors and transfers For more information please visit www.vanguard.edu/admissions April 2 Spring Pre-VU For more information please visit www.vanguard.edu/admissions May 3 Graduate program hooding ceremony May 4 Baccalaureate May 5 Commencement For a complete listing of schedules please visit www.vanguard.edu/commencement {2010} support vision Vision 2010 will take Vanguard University from being an excellent regional university to being an extraordinary, nationally-recognized university by • Building out the campus • Enhancing academic programs, centers, and institutes • Growing the endowment Many opportunities exist for you to give generously. We can make a difference in the lives of students now and for generations to come! Make your gift today! Vanguard University 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Contact Doug Petersen at 714-556-3610 x2010 or [email protected]. Or visit www.vanguard.edu/vision2010 Postcards Advancing Vision 2010 Editor’s note: This column, features an essay by a different alum in each issue. Right Timing A sk anybody at Vanguard and they’ll tell you that business professor Ed Westbrook can get anyone a job or internship that will lead to a fulfilling career. He has an amazing knack for networking people and jobs. But his Midas touch hit a wall with me. Professor Westbrook was my business advisor and I eagerly took his internship class, hoping to find my career. But while other students went happily into their chosen internships, I couldn’t find one that was right for me. Professor Westbrook and I spent a fruitless and frustrating semester seeking options. But that turned out to be a good thing, and it taught me a lesson about God’s timing. One day my consumer behavior class took a field trip to a grocery store. The store manager discussed the strategies that went into product placement. I found the science of consumer behavior fascinating and soon Professor Westbrook, true to form, connected me with someone who worked at a food brokerage. I interned there and got my first job out of Vanguard as a marketer for grocery items. My job was to find ways to entice consumers to buy brand-name products. Every aspect of product presentation, from the height of the product on the shelf to its package shape, is designed to appeal to people walking down the aisle. I promoted products inside the stores through sweepstakes, give-aways and promotions. I worked on Unilever’s Best Foods mayonnaise, Wish-Bone dressing and Ragu spaghetti sauce accounts. We ran incentives like “Buy 5 and save $10 on Angels tickets.” My workdays were spent designing banners, pedestal signs and end-of-aisle displays. I traveled each month to a city along the Pacific coast, presenting our promotional programs and working with local stores to move products. One time we gave away a yellow Volkswagen Beetle at a Northern California store to promote Lipton Tea’s new yellow packaging. Ed Westbrook had helped me find a fulfilling job after all. But like many people in today’s labor force, I sought fresh challenges. When the timing was right I jumped industries and accepted a position with a leading engineering and construction company that builds lakes and water features for residential projects, golf courses and resorts in the Southwest. But even as I changed careers, the lessons I learned at Vanguard went with me. I saw that surrounding yourself with good people, then building good relationships is the key to business success. I had built many strong friendships at Vanguard, and I have seen the benefits of surrounding myself with people who shared my morals. In every job I take I seek to build that kind of atmosphere of integrity and character. I’m grateful for that lesson and the many others I learned at VU that still guide me. Perhaps the biggest lesson of all is that when you trust God with the important decisions in your life, like getting your first job, he comes through at the right time. And sometimes he doesn’t even need Ed Westbrook’s help. Missy Ashurst ’02 Send us your class photos! e would love to showcase pictures of your new baby, wedding or anniversary in Class Notes. Email your photos (at least 1 megabyte in file size ) to [email protected] or mail your prints (at least 3” by 4”) to Alumni Relations, 55 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Prints will not be returned. W vanguard magazine winter 2007 31 29 stay connected. • The best way to stay connected with your college friends. • Post photos of your family, travel or favorite campus moments. • Get info about alumni events near you. • Look for a job or advertise an opening at your company. For help logging on call 714.966.5494 or email [email protected] www.vanguard.edu/alumni Vanguard University 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Change Service Requested NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID Permit No 4304 Santa Ana CA