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Cornerstone's Annual Magazine
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CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY 2011 1
CREAT IV IT Y 101
ON THE PULSE OF MODERN HEALTH CARE
SERVING THE UNDERSERVED
2 BUILD A LIFE THAT MATTERS
Staying on top of your claSSeS and your budget
Managing your Money at ScHool juSt becaMe a lot eaSier.With Virtual Wallet® Student by pnc, you
can see all your money in one place, so
you know what’s for bills, what’s saved,
and what’s free to spend. Helpful tools
like danger days, a weekly calendar,
and parent alerts take the stress out of
keeping track of your finances, so you
can focus on other things. and with free Mobile and text Message banking,
plus pnc atMs around town and one on campus, there’s no easier way to
access and manage your money at school. to open your account, stop by your
local branch at 3950 plainfield ne or call 1-877-PNC-1000.
©2010 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. PNC Bank, National Association. Member fdic UNV PDF 1210-080
TAbLE OF CONTENTS
Pictured: the Welch Clock Tower built in 2006 to honor Dr. Wilbert Welch, former president and
chancellor since 1984, and his wife, for their many years of service to the university.
2010, PHOTO BY MATTHEW FOWLER
ON THE COVER
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSIT Y 2011
CREAT IV IT Y 101Professor Don Perini has
a goal: unleash students’
creative potential to develop
them into the skilled innovators
and problem solvers the world
desperately needs.
b y a n n b y l e
6
ON THE PULSE OF MODERN HEALTH CARE
Cornerstone University
and its Professional and
Graduate Studies program
reaches into Grand Rapids’
emerging medical culture thanks
to the new Health Care Master
of Business Administration
program.
b y a n n b y l e
12
EXCELLENCE ON THE STAGE
SERVING THE UNDERSERVED
An anonymous donor
recognized the need for
equitable access to theological
training for those serving in
urban settings — GRTS saw it,
too. A dream was matched with
a donor and the Urban Cohorts
Initiative was birthed.
b y a n n b y l e
16
CU PARTNERS WITH BIG TICKET FESTIVAL26
Staying on top of your claSSeS and your budget
Managing your Money at ScHool juSt becaMe a lot eaSier.With Virtual Wallet® Student by pnc, you
can see all your money in one place, so
you know what’s for bills, what’s saved,
and what’s free to spend. Helpful tools
like danger days, a weekly calendar,
and parent alerts take the stress out of
keeping track of your finances, so you
can focus on other things. and with free Mobile and text Message banking,
plus pnc atMs around town and one on campus, there’s no easier way to
access and manage your money at school. to open your account, stop by your
local branch at 3950 plainfield ne or call 1-877-PNC-1000.
©2010 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. PNC Bank, National Association. Member fdic UNV PDF 1210-080
CREAT IV IT Y 101
CU SEES RECORd HIGH ENROLLmENT
jOURNALISm PROGRAm CONTINUES TO GROW
2 BUILD A LIFE THAT MATTERS
In the past year we have made
major strides in expanding our
academic programs and increasing
academic rigor. We have deepened
our commitment to the spiritual
growth of our students, and added
to our already-successful adult and
online learning opportunities.
The current financial growth
and astounding enrollment rates
remind us of God’s favor on
Cornerstone. As we continue to
focus resources and energies on
our Christ-centered goal to build
lives that matter, I believe CU is
quickly becoming one of West
Michigan’s most valuable assets.
The students, faculty and staff at
Cornerstone are committed to
effectively engaging the cultures
of our world with the transforming
power of the gospel, and are
living this out in ways that enrich
Grand Rapids and our surrounding
communities.
The Cornerstone Magazine will
highlight how our faculty, staff and
students are living out our goal:
Building Lives that Matter. You will
see a thread of what really matters
at Cornerstone. Jesus matters.
Resources matter. Academics
matter. Community matters.
It is my prayer that you will be
both encouraged and inspired by
the stories of Christ’s work in and
through us.
Blessings in 2011,
FROM THE PRESIDENT2011 | CoRnERSTonE.EDU
1001 E BELTLInE AVE nE
GRAnD RAPIDS MI 49525
MAIn SWITCHBoARD: 616.949.5300
ExECUTIVE DIRECToR oF
MARkETInG AnD CoMMUnICATIonS
BOB sAck
WRITER/EDIToR
kELLi cOTTRELL
ART DIRECToR
cAROLinE cAHOOn (cU ‘03)
GRAPHIC DESIGnER
kARMEn LOW
PRoJECT MAnAGER
kATHERinE FELBER
PHoToGRAPHER
kARMEn LOW
WEB DEVELoPMEnT CooRDInAToR
jAcLYn visBEEn
ConTRIBUTInG WRITERS
sTAsHA giEsE (cU ‘13)
nicOLE Ricks (cU ‘13)
Ann BYLE
ALYssA HELM (cU ‘13)
AMEnA AnDERsOn (cU ‘11)
RYAn WEngER (cU ‘12)
ConTRIBUTInG PHoToGRAPHERS
RYAn PRins
sHORELinE sTUDiOs
A & M PHOTOgRAHPHY
MATTHEW FOWLER
AnDY visOckis PHOTOgRAPHY
cOAsTLinE sTUDiOs
gREg YODER
CoVER PHoTo BY
MATTHEW FOWLER
SPECIAL THAnkS To:
sPEcTRUM HEALTH
W.A.R. cHEsT
AS A PERSON PASSIONATE ABOUT COmmUNITY, HIGHER EdUCATION ANd, mOST OF ALL, SERVING jESUS, I Am EXCITEd ABOUT THE FORWARd mOVEmENT AT CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY.
Joe Stowell
President of Cornerstone University
cornerstone Magazine is an annual publication produced by the Marketing and Communications office at Cornerstone University. Approximately 25,000 copies are distributed to friends of the university to connect them to happenings at CU.
Cornerstone University exists to empower men and women to excel as influencers in our world for Christ by offering a student-focused learning community where Jesus Christ is central.
Slap on a pair of these red/blue shades, and you’ll see you the way we see you: In 3D. With depth and dimension. Because you’re more than a GPA waiting to happen. More than a brain in waiting. You are your head, heart, hands, hair, hello and hold the pickles! You are depth and dimension with friends, goals, faith, heart, love, summer jobs, top tunes and whatever else makes you, you.
You’re 3D. We’re CU, a university for 3D people. We offer programs like digital media and social work, to business and youth ministry. So if you’re looking for a strong university full of people with a strong love for Christ that’ll give you a strong future, check us out online or call us and ask for a “CU IN 3D” brochure. Think of it as a free 3D novel about your next four years.
CU stands for Cornerstone University. It also stands for Call Us, or Contact Us! That’s step one to getting into a college that sees you in 3D — that’s step one to being who you are while becoming who you’re meant to be. CU here. CU in 3D!
800.787.9778
1001 E BELTLINE AVE NEGRAND RAPIDS MI 49525
4 BUILD A LIFE THAT MATTERS
CU SEES RECORD HIGH ENROLLMENTCORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY WAS RECENTLY FEATUREd IN THE GRANd RAPIdS PRESS AS THE SCHOOL WITH THE highest percent increase IN ENROLLmENT AmONG ALL OF WEST mICHIGAN’S PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
The university’s 8.1 percent increase
this year is the school’s largest jump
in enrollment since 2000.
Meanwhile, some nearby colleges
and universities experienced declines
in enrollment.
Cornerstone has a record total of
3,054 students enrolled in all of its
programs including: undergraduate,
seminary and Professional and
Graduate Studies.
“That tells people on the outside
that something good is going
on here,” said Dr. Joe Stowell,
president of Cornerstone University.
“Everybody likes to be in a place
that’s growing. It’s kind of like we are
on a winning team, and that affects
faculty and student moral.”
Increasing enrollment is a result
of the hardworking recruitment by
the admissions staff, particularly the
experience a prospective student
receives when visiting campus on
a Golden Eagle Day, according to
Provost Rick ostrander.
“A student’s visit to campus
makes or breaks the deal – meeting
students and staying in dorms,
meeting professors and sitting in on
classes,” ostrander said.
Retention is another factor to
which Stowell attributes the growth.
“one reason for the big growth
this year has been retention,” he
said. “I think it reflects that we are
intentionally trying to make this
environment a place where students
thrive. our vision statement says that
we want this to be a place where
students thrive as followers of Christ.
So if we are making progress on that
then students want to return.”
Cornerstone’s undergraduate
enrollment totals for fall 2010 were
1,271, the university’s largest since
2006. And the freshman class of
2014 is the largest class size to date.
“You can recruit and have a big
class, but if you don’t have a good
environment you don’t retain,”
Stowell said.
Both ostrander and Stowell agree
that numerical growth isn’t a big
priority.
“It’s a fallacy among Christians
that size equals success,” ostrander
said. “I don’t equate growth with
success, but it does fit with other
indicators that we continue to
provide better academics to
students. It’s a byproduct and
confirmation that we are doing
something right.”
Stowell said there is a real value
to a smaller college community.
“We are not excited to think
that one day we may be at 10,000
students,” he said. “We may not
want to be at 10,000. We may feel
that a Cornerstone education is
best served at 3,000 or whatever
the number is. We are working
on where that mark is where we
can still offer real quality and
community.”
The Cornerstone administration is
looking at campus development to
determine what types of buildings,
faculty and services are needed to
accommodate a growing student
body.
More students on campus,
however, will not affect financial aid
or tuition. Stowell said he plans on
keeping financial aid as generous
as possible and tuition as low as
possible.
The growth is projected to
continue this fall.
“We have seen a good number of
applications,” said Stowell in
January. “They are already above
this time last year. We think we are
on a trajectory where word is
getting out that good things are
happening on this campus.”
b y n i c o l e r i c k s ( c U ‘ 1 3 )
Cornerstone University
FEATURE
PROFESSOR dON PERINI dEFINES CREATIVITY AS THE ABILITY TO COmE UP WITH SOmETHING NEW ANd USEFUL.
THAT dEFINITION APPLIES PERFECTLY TO IdS 101: CREATIVITY, INNOVATION ANd PROBLEm SOLVING.b y a n n b y l e
8 BUILD A LIFE THAT MATTERS
“You have one minute to come up with five
description words,” he hollers. “now come
up with five locations. now five random
words. Pick one from each category. now
tell me how you’ll use those three things in a
television commercial.”
In 20 minutes, students have learned
the fundamentals of brainstorming. It’s not
the ideas he’s concerned about, but the
knowledge of how to come up with them.
“I want them to know that brainstorming
yields lots of ideas because more ideas
increases the chances of one great idea,” said
Perini. “The brain can’t keep two opposite
things opposite. It automatically tries to
connect them.”
Don Perini came up with the idea for a class
on creativity while reading on the subject.
He asked himself, “What would it look like to
teach a class on creativity?” He put together
an all-new class curriculum that turned
creativity into one of the most useful skills a
student can learn.
“Creativity is something to be developed.
We all have the potential for creativity,” said
Perini, who came to Cornerstone University in
2003 to redesign the youth ministry program.
The first creativity class, offered as an
elective in May term 2006, had 10 students.
The Spring 2007 class had 70 students. By
Fall 2008, the revamped core curriculum
included IDS 101 as a requirement for
all freshmen and Perini had a new title:
Associate Professor of Ministry and Creativity.
Cornerstone University is the only school
to make creativity a requirement for all
freshmen.
“It was like, ‘Grab your surfboard and ride
the wave,’” said Perini.
And forget the lectures. Constant motion
is the norm in creativity classes. Students
stretch and move, break into groups, move
to new groups, write on white boards lining
the walls, play games. They think about ways
to create a new and useful classroom (think
bean bag chairs and floor lighting). They
devise ways to revamp the cafeteria menu;
the chapel format; education in general.
“I want students to have the brain that
enables them to come up with new and useful
ideas, products, processes, etc.,” said Perini.
“I want them to be able to ask, later in life,
‘How do I make this manufacturing line move
better?’ or ‘How can this car be designed
better?’”
The goal, he said, is not to be a creative
teacher but to do things to make creative
students. Each activity is designed to
Perini’s class splits into groups to participate in active learning — games, brainstorming sessions and small group discussions.
“HOW mANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT A TICONdEROGA #2 IS?
IT’S A YELLOW PENCIL,” PERINI SAYS IN CLASS. “ANd YOU’RE
GOING TO COmE UP WITH A COmmERCIAL FOR IT.”
THE CLASS dOESN’T KNOW THEY ARE LEARNING THE
PERINI PYRAmId, A TOOL HE INVENTEd TO TEACH BASIC
BRAINSTORmING TECHNIqUES.
FEATURE
Prof. Don Perini works with students on descriptive words.
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY 2011 9
encourage new ways to be creative and innovative.
He and fellow creativity teacher Jeanette Banashak use two
of Perini’s own works on creativity as textbooks. “Rhyming with
orange” helps students learn how to unleash their creative
potential. “Capture Machine” offers visual cues to encourage
creativity. Students must also write an essay that examines the life
of one creative person (ie. Leonardo da Vinci, Sir Isaac newton),
write a review of a book on creativity using the “Freeway” method
of reading, and – often the pinnacle of the class – design a new
card or board game.
“Each thing we do has intention and purpose,” he said.
Perini moves beyond creativity to explore tangential subjects
of innovation and problem solving. He wants students to ask
themselves questions such as, “How do I fix this?” and “How can I
make this process more efficient?”
“The world is changing,” he said. “Businesses are changing, and
their products must change and evolve as well if they want to
remain in operation. Creative employees come up with original
and useful ideas that keep the business going.”
Creativity, innovation and problem solving have a strong
redemptive element as well. Teachers, business leaders, law
enforcement personnel, factory workers exercise redemption
when they come up with new and useful ways to benefit people.
“We are made in God’s image. He is creative and so are we,” said
Perini. “We want students, who go on into the world, to unleash
their creative potential to change lives in the world.”
Perini envisions a creativity minor offered at Cornerstone
University and dreams of more than just one class requirement.
He sees potential in offering creativity classes pertinent to each
major at junior and senior levels.
“Creativity is a lifestyle, a way of thinking,” he said. “If we are to
be influencers and Build Lives That Matter, we have to be in
positions of influence. And to be there, we have to be able to
come up with new and useful ways to do things.”
ELIzABETH WING (CU ‘10) TOOK mORE THAN HER dEGREE IN BIBLE ANd YOUTH mINISTRY TO HER FIRST POST-COLLEGE jOB.
She took the lessons she learned
from IDS 101 straight into her roll as
programmer for Spring Hill Camps.
“I took a lot of what I learned and
use it daily in my job,” said Wing, who
creates and implements ideas, events,
and programs for guests and campers
at Spring Hill. She took the creativity
class as a sophomore, then spent a
semester as creativity assistant during
her senior year. She graduated in May
2010.
“Professor Perini taught us about
freedom and principles. I can think
of something really crazy for Spring
Hill, come up with all these ideas, then
bring it down to start implementing
it. There’s the freedom to brainstorm,
then comes making the ideas useful,”
she said.
Wing also uses her knowledge of
what kind of thinker she is – highly
divergent – to understand that she is
an idea person, but needs convergent
thinkers to narrow down her ideas.
“I also learned the beauty of
creativity. I’m capable of being
creative, and now I can help empower
others to be creative,” said Wing, 22.
“Professors Perini and Banashak have
opened my eyes to what it means to
live a creative life and really redeem
the world through creativity. It was a
gift to learn that.”
FOR mORE INFORmATION ON PERINI’S CREATIVITY TOOLS ANd CREATIVITY CONSULTING BUSINESS, CONTACT HIm AT 616.949.5300, EXT. 1944.
Students work in small groups to develop an innovative board game to be evaluated by their peers and professors.
10 BUILD A LIFE THAT MATTERS
Cornerstone journalism students
won 11 awards in the Michigan Press
Association’s Better newspaper
College Contest and four awards
in Baptist Press’ Excellence in
Journalism contest.
The Herald, Cornerstone
University’s student-run campus
newspaper, competed in Division
2 of the MPA newspaper contest,
against schools such Hillsdale
College, Calvin College and Ferris
State University.
In the Baptist Press contest,
the Herald competed in Division 1
against 14 colleges and universities,
including noted schools such as
Liberty University, Biola University,
Patrick Henry College and Baylor
University. This was The Herald’s
first time competing in Baptist
Press’ contest.
Amena Anderson (CU ‘11) won
two awards for her front-page story
“Michigan legislature passes texting
bill”: first place for a news story
in the Baptist Press contest and
second place in the MPA contest in
the news story category.
other notable awards included
second place overall in the Baptist
Press contest and third place overall
in the MPA contest.
overall, the Herald won five first
place awards, four second place
awards, five third place awards and
one honorable mention.
“God has continued to bring us
very talented students who ply their
writing, photography and editing
skills on the campus newspaper,
‘The Herald’,” said Alan Blanchard,
associate professor of journalism
and director of the journalism
department. “Winning awards is a
gratifying event and a validation
of the abilities and skills of our
journalism students.”
With 169 students majoring in the
Communication and Media Studies
Division (CMS), the journalism
program has grown dramatically
since last year, according to Pete
Muir, CMS division chair and
assistant professor of media.
Each year the journalism major
evolves to keep up with trends in
the field.
“A few years ago, after exploring
(and) studying programs at other
universities like northwestern
University, Indiana University,
Hillsdale College, Michigan State
University and others, and in my
contacts with newspaper editors
around the state, it became
apparent to me that we needed
to equip our journalism students
with some basic skills in the use of
videography, still photography and
audio,” Blanchard said.
When people think of journalism,
they think of writing for the
newspaper, and newspapers seem
to be dying, Muir said.
But Blanchard has made sure
journalism graduates are equipped
with tools to get them hired.
“Journalism is evolving and has
been doing so for at least the
past 10 years, as print media-like
newspapers and magazines are fully
engaged in creating and embracing
their own online publications that
involve the use of video, audio, still
photography and the printed word,”
Blanchard said.
The skills a journalist needs are
becoming broader, Muir said. CU’s
goal – specifically in the journalism
program – is to provide students
with an education that is both deep
and broad.
An academic team is designing
the schedule and curriculum for
photography as a minor. And while
the photography minor would
include taking feature and news
photos for a newspaper, the minor
would include ways to capture
wedding photos and nature, he said.
“Students are not taught to be
good journalists; students are
taught to be good Christians in the
world of journalism,” said Provost
Rick ostrander. He believes that one
reason the journalism program has
flourished is because of its focus on
Christianity.
AwARD-wINNING jOURNAL ISM PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROw
OF THE mANY GROWING mAjORS ON CAmPUS, ONE mAjOR CONTINUES TO WIN AWARdS ANNUALLY – jOURNALISm.
FOR THE COmPLETE LIST OF 2010 AWARdS WON BY THE HERALd SCAN THE qR COdE TO THE RIGHT WITH A BARCOdE SCANNING APP ON YOUR SmARTPHONE.
The CornersTone sTudenT FundHelping Build lives tHat Matter
Cornerstone University has a rich heritage of equipping students with biblical truths to make an impact in the world for Christ. We are training hundreds of students to have a passion for global influence through the transforming power of the gospel!
Your support is valuaBle to us!
No gift is too small. Your participation and contribution will help support the development of students, faculty and staff. It will better our University as a whole and enhance students’ lives through scholarships, improved classroom environments and help create an environment where students thrive. The Cornerstone Student Fund keeps tuition affordable!
To support and provide for students today, please go to www.cornerstone.edu/give or call 616.254.1659 to give a life-changing gift to the Cornerstone Student Fund.
I am graTeFul For The donaTIons beCause They help Improve our wonderFul Campus and beCause They provIde an opporTunITy To aTTend ThIs sChool aT less CosT Than IF They hadn’T donaTed. Eric BEaudoin (cu ‘13)
FEATURE
ON THE PULSE OF MODERN HEALTH CARE
b y a n n b y l e
CHYRISHA BROWN YEARNS TO BECOmE A PERSON OF FAITH, A PERSON OF KNOWLEdGE ANd A HEALTH CARE WORKER WHO TRULY UNdERSTANdS THE PEOPLE SHE HELPS.
WHEN SHE LEARNEd ABOUT THE HEALTH CARE mASTER OF BUSINESS AdmINISTRATION PROGRAm OFFEREd BY CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY’S PROFESSIONAL ANd GRAdUATE STUdIES PROGRAm, SHE KNEW IT WAS THE PLACE FOR HER.
14 BUILD A LIFE THAT MATTERS
Brown, who has been working at the University of
Michigan Hospital after graduating from the university,
moved back to her hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich.,
in part to be near family and in part because of the new
Health Care M.B.A. program.
“I knew an M.B.A. would open a lot of doors and I
knew I wanted to work in health care; then I heard about
the program and talked to admissions counselor Leslie
Iverson. It’s all falling together in a way no one could
have structured,” said Brown. “What stands out are the
program’s faith component and its cultural perspective.”
Grand Rapids, once known for furniture and
automobile industries, is now known for its cutting-
edge medical research facilities and innovative health
care strategies and alliances. Cornerstone and its PGS
program reaches into Grand Rapids’ emerging medical
culture thanks to the new Health Care M.B.A..
Cornerstone and PGS have spent the last year or two
creating a program that meets that need for leaders.
Upton has helped design classes and recruit teachers for
the Health Care M.B.A. that begins in February 2011.
“This is a practitioner’s program. The health care
industry told us what they wanted and we have created
a program to answer that,” said Upton, who was raised in
Grand Rapids and has taught in the PGS program since
1998. She came on as Dean in 2008.
Dr. Sandra Upton helped create a program that meets a need for health care leaders.
FEATURE
“WE’VE BEEN WATCHING THE mEdICAL mILE IN dOWNTOWN GRANd RAPIdS,” SAId dR. SANdRA UPTON, dEAN OF BUSINESS PROGRAmS AT PGS. “WE CONdUCTEd FOCUS GROUPS WITH GRANd RAPIdS’ HEALTH CARE INdUSTRY EXPERTS ANd ASKEd ABOUT THEIR NEEdS NOW ANd IN THE FUTURE. they all said they need leaders.”
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY 2011 15
Upton outlines the core needs of
the industry and what the Health
Care M.B.A. addresses: business
acumen, cultural intelligence,
leadership skills, and global
perspective. Cornerstone adds
a Christian perspective to both
deepen and broaden its distinctive
program.
The program’s aim is two-fold:
First is to provide leadership
development for clinicians who
want to expand their skills (doctors,
nurses, lab technicians, etc.); second
is to provide a health care focus for
those already trained in business
leadership.
“We want to help health care
businesses position themselves with
a great pool of employees. We want
to train individuals just entering the
field, but also help grow employees
who are already there,” said Upton.
Chad Tuttle is executive director
of Sunset Retirement Community
and a long-time adjunct professor
in the PGS business program. He
helped develop the Health Care
M.B.A. on a contract basis.
“one of the distinctives of this
program is its emphasis on the
industry itself. Each course is
customized for the health care
industry, which helps equip students
specifically for it,” said Tuttle. “And
we’re always talking about program
content with health care officials to
make sure we’re staying tailored to
the industry.”
The Health Care M.B.A. is an
18-month, 39-credit program
that provides baseline business
administration skills with a
health care focus. The class on
organizational behavior and human
resources issues, for example,
addresses those topics from a
health care perspective. The class on
finance looks at the distinct issues
relevant to health care such as
third-party payments and hospital
operating budgets.
Upton lauds the program’s global
component. Each student must
participate in a 10-day overseas
trip to Central Europe, China or
South Africa. Students participate
in business meetings, visit hospitals,
and attend cultural events to help
them understand health care issues
affecting the larger world.
“I don’t know of any program in
the area that makes global travel a
requirement for its core curriculum,”
said Upton.
Brown is excited about gaining
global experience, eager to put her
classroom knowledge into real-life
action. Real-world experience is part
of what drew her to the program.
“Global is exactly where it’s
going,” said the 23-year-old. “I’ll get
to apply the things I learn, and not
just right outside my back door.”
As a leader in the health care
industry, Tuttle is thrilled with the
program. “There are lots of M.B.A.
programs out there, but Cornerstone
and PGS have spent much time
finding out what is specifically
needed in the workplace. I can point
people toward a program such as
this as the next step in their careers.
And I know a lot of people in the
industry who are thrilled as well.”
The program will follow the cohort
model, in which around 14 students
begin the program together, staying
together throughout. Classes are
offered one after the other for each
cohort, with new cohorts starting
as students sign on to the program.
Instructors are usually part of the
local health care community.
“our vision for the Health
Care M.B.A. very much mirrors
Cornerstone’s vision to ‘Build a Life
That Matters.’ We want to engage
students to reach into the world for
Christ,” said Upton. “The health care
industry is changing dramatically,
and it makes all kinds of sense to be
part of that change.
“We show Christ’s love by serving
in excellence. our students are just
as qualified as anyone else, but
also have a real desire to serve with
excellence,” said Upton.
She sees only growth for the
program in the next five years as the
health care industry expands and
changes. Upton sees potential for a
fully online program, sees continued
collaboration between Cornerstone
and the local health care field.
“We’re always looking to refine
classes as new business and ethical
issues must be faced and responded
to. We will always be improving,”
said Upton. “We expect a very
vibrant program.”
“ONE OF THE dISTINCTIVES OF THIS PROGRAm IS ITS EmPHASIS ON THE INdUSTRY
ITSELF. EACH COURSE IS CUSTOmIzEd FOR THE HEALTH CARE INdUSTRY, WHICH HELPS
EqUIP STUdENTS SPECIFICALLY FOR IT.”
FOR mORE INFORmATION ABOUT THE HEALTH CARE mBA PROGRAm AT CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY, VISIT PGS.CORNERSTONE.EdU
BUSINESS SKILLS WITH HEALTH CARE FOCUS
Chad TuTTle
16 BUILD A LIFE THAT MATTERS
SERVING THE UNDERSERVED
FEATURE
B Y A N N B Y L E
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY 2011 17
pastor daniel parker and his sister pastor doriane parker admit that seminary was out of their reach. Busy schedules, lack of funds, and accessiBle venues kept them away. that is, until grand rapids theological seminary reached into their lives with a deal neither could resist.
18 BUILD A LIFE THAT MATTERS
Rev. Royce Evans, director of the Urban Cohort Initiative, teaches one of the many cohorts.
“i proBaBly would never have Been aBle to go to seminary without the scholarship package grand rapids theological seminary offered,” SAId dANIEL PARKER, CO-PASTOR OF KINGdOm LIFE mINISTRIES IN GRANd RAPIdS.
His sister agrees. “I would not have been able to go
to seminary under any other circumstances,” Doriane
Parker (GRTS ‘07) said. “I’m a parent, a pastor and have a
traveling ministry that keeps me extremely busy.”
They are part of the Urban Cohort Initiative (UCI), a
program that brings seminary education to the urban
centers of West Michigan. GRTS provides the instructor
and financial aid, as well as a meeting place near where
pastors and lay leaders minister in the city’s core.
Grand Rapids Theological Seminary matched a donor
and a dream to reach this under-served section of
ministry leaders. An anonymous donor saw a need for
theological training for those working in an urban setting.
He noted a marginalization of urban leaders on the
increase and resources to help them decreasing. He saw a
lack of equitable access to education.
Grand Rapids Theological Seminary saw it too and
stepped in to help. The Urban Cohort Initiative, launched
in Fall 2008, is reaching urban church and parachurch
leaders with a seminary education brought right to their
doors.
What grew from that initial dream is a vital urban
initiative that reaches almost 90 students in four West
Michigan venues who are working toward their seminary
degrees. The students are divided into cohorts, or groups,
that meet in Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Lansing, and
kalamazoo.
Rev. Royce Evans (GRTS ‘08, PGS ‘05) is Director
FEATURE
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY 2011 19
of the Urban Ministry Initiative at
GRTS. He received his B.A. through
Cornerstone’s PGS program, then his
M.A. from GRTS. He worked with the
seminary for several years planning
the urban initiative, then was hired
full-time to oversee the program.
“We asked urban ministry leaders—
pastors, lay leaders, parachurch
ministry leaders such as those at
Youth For Christ and Salvation
Army—across denominational lines
about their challenges and how we
could help them,” said Evans.
Answers focused on the lack of
access to resources and the need
for training both theologically and
economically in stewardship. The
Urban Cohort Initiative was designed
with those needs in mind.
Around 20 students—sometimes
more, sometimes less—begin
working toward a seminary degree
at the same time. This cohort meets
weekly at a specified location,
all taking the same class. All are
working toward their seminary
degrees and are taught by GRTS
professors.
“our goals are to identify ministry
leaders, assist them in assessing
their ministry’s effectiveness, provide
theological education, academic
credibility and credential, to enhance
their ministry’s effectiveness,” said
Evans.
Another purpose is to engage
those in different denominations
and with different doctrines to find
common ground, to focus on where
they are in sync instead of where
they are different. once common
ground is found, partnerships can
occur to maximize limited resources
for more effective ministry.
“A person in need of help doesn’t
care if the person providing service
was baptized by sprinkling or by
immersion; that person just wants
the sandwich the churches are
handing out,” said Evans.
He describes urban ministry as
complex in part because of the
needs of the urban culture, but also
because of the huge differences
in those who do urban ministry,
including race, gender, education
level, ministry costs and theological
practices.
“We want to help those in the
urban cohorts to transition into
academia for their studies, but also
help academia better understand
urban ministry,” said Evans. “We
want to bring people into a safe
atmosphere to engage in theology
that is perhaps different than their
own.”
Pastor Doriane Parker and brother
Daniel, Senior Pastor at kingdom
Life, are working toward their Master
of Arts in Ministry Leadership via the
cohort that meets at Grand Rapids
Theological Seminary. They have
been enrolled in the cohort since it
was launched in Fall 2008.
“I thought it was a great
opportunity not only for the
community but for myself as a pastor
to expand my horizons and further
engage in the learning process,” said
Daniel Parker. “I’m very blessed to be
part of it.”
“The Urban Cohort Initiative is a
wonderful opportunity to receive
biblical training and a seminary
education,” said Doriane Parker. “Any
time you receive excellent biblical
training, you can take that training
and apply it to whatever world you’re
in. As a pastor, I take that biblical
instruction and use it in my sermons,
Bible studies, and other areas.”
Both Parkers see peer
collaboration as a benefit to the
cohort model. They have become
friends with their fellow students,
fellowshipping outside of class and
visiting each other’s churches.
“I love the relationships we are
building with fellow pastors and
leaders in the community,” said
Doriane Parker.
Daniel Parker agrees. “The cohort
is awesome by way of collaboration
with my peers in urban ministry.
I work side by side with them,
they experience the same things I
experience day to day, and we are
doing so with the same goal.”
The benefits to urban ministry
leaders are obvious, but the
seminary benefits as well.
Instructors are engaging in new
teaching experiences, and gaining a
heightened sense of responsibility
in their teaching because, as Evans
says, “what you write on the white
board may become next week’s
sermon.” Instructors, too, learn from
cohort students who often have
years of ministry experience and
know what works and what doesn’t,
as well as how theological concepts
translate into real-world experiences.
“The Urban Cohort Initiative is
introducing GRTS to a ministry
context that we haven’t engaged
before,” said Evans. “The school will
never be the same, and that’s a
good thing.”
FOR mORE INFORmATION ABOUT THE URBAN COHORT INITIATIVE, VISIT GRTS.CORNERSTONE.EdU.
“I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY FOR THE COmmUNITY BUT FOR
mYSELF AS A PASTOR TO EXPANd mY HORIzONS ANd FURTHER ENGAGE IN THE
LEARNING PROCESS.”daNIel PaRKeR
20 BUILD A LIFE THAT MATTERS
ExCELLENCE ON STAGE
The Cornerstone University theatre program, directed by
Jennifer Hunter, recently received eight nominations for
Grand Awards.
The Grand Awards is an annual event held to celebrate
local actors and actresses in community and college
theatre groups in Grand Rapids, much like the Tony
Awards for Broadway shows.
Each year, Cornerstone’s theatre students receive
between two to 10 nominations as they compete against
area schools like Aquinas, Calvin and Grand Rapids
Community College.
Leah Hoffman (CU ‘12) received a trophy for
outstanding Actress in a College Production for her role
as Anne in last fall’s production of Anne of Green Gables.
Rebekah Hughes (CU ‘09) won outstanding
Supporting Actress in a College Production for Mrs.
Lynde in Anne of Green Gables.
“It’s funny, I also performed a scene at the Grand
Awards from Midsummer and when I won I was actually
in costume,” said Hughes who was also nominated for
her role as Helena in A Midsummer night’s Dream. “I was
very excited, very humbled and my speech was terrible!
I’m so awkward in front of people when I’m not acting.”
Anne of Green Gables was also nominated for
outstanding College Production. kyle Juresich (CU ‘11)
ON STAGE AT CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ARE HUmBLE, HARdWORKING STUdENTS dESERVEdLY RECOGNIzEd FOR THEIR OUTSTANdING PERFORmANCES.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a College Production, Leah Hoffman
Outstanding Lead Actor Nominee, Ian Grell, in a CU stage production of Anne of Green Gables.
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY 2011 21
was nominated for outstanding
Supporting Actor in the play, Ian
Grell (CU ‘13) for outstanding
Lead Actor and Alyssa karnes
(CU ‘10) for outstanding Lead
Actress.
Hughes and Juresich were also
nominated for outstanding Lead
Actress and Actor for a college
production in a Midsummer
night’s Dream.
With eight nominations to
add to the six they earned last
year, Visser said it shows that
Cornerstone theatre students
mean business.
“I think it says that we work
hard and try to do our best,” she
said, “hopefully always keeping
[our] eyes on Christ and doing it
for his glory, not our own... which
always produces the best results.”
The theatre students are not
just in it to win awards. Hunter
said that they acknowledge God
as their judge.
“We are really there to shine a
light,” said Hunter.
Building Lives That Matter
through theatre, happens during
weekly Bible studies together and
during the semester as they hold
two kappa Theta Gamma (kTG,
a theatre organization) Talks
where they visit other college
productions and then talk about
the spiritual implications of each.
“We are always praying
between scenes,” said Hoffman of
the atmosphere behind stage at
Cornerstone productions.
“Everyone is very humble and
excited to lift others up.”
b y s t a s h a g i e s e ( c U ‘ 1 3 ) a n d k e l l i c o t t r e l l
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a College Production, Rebekah Hughes, and Outstanding Lead Actress Nominee, Alyssa Karnes, appearing in a scene of Anne of Green Gables.
FOR A SCHEdULE OF UPCOmING PROdUCTIONS BY CU THEATRE, SCAN THE qR COdE TO THE RIGHT USING A BARCOdE SCANNING APP ON YOUR SmARTPHONE OR VISIT WWW.CORNERSTONE.EdU.
22 BUILD A LIFE THAT MATTERS
Misty May-Treanor, who holds two olympic gold medals
in beach volleyball, told the crowd that playing as a team
and treating others well is required on and off the court.
“Character matters,” she said. “I wish I had someone
to teach me this when I was young.”
That is the goal of the Champions of Character
program at Cornerstone University.
In 2004, “Champions of Character,” a program within
the national Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
(nAIA), hired Mike Riemersma as the program director
for Cornerstone University Athletics.
“It’s come from nothing to pretty well known in most
circles of character development,” said Riemersma who
organized the kickoff event with Misty May-Treanor last
August.
“We are now able to go to all high schools in the
ottawa-kent Conference (o-k Conference) and make an
impact on young athletes.”
Riemersma works year-round speaking to area schools
and community teams about the five core values of
the program that Cornerstone has implemented in its
athletics.
The five core values are: integrity, respect,
responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.
Cornerstone has formed partnerships with the o-k
Conference that includes 50 local high schools, both of
the Grand Rapids’ professional sports franchises (the
Grand Rapids Griffins and West Michigan Whitecaps)
and the West Michigan Sports Commission.
“Through these partnerships it is our desire to be
a resource for all coaches, athletes, parents, youth
programs, booster clubs and administrators not only
in the Grand Rapids area but the entire Midwest,” said
Riemersma.
Through the years, Riemersma has “beat the drum”
many times to inculcate the message of the five core
values into the minds of student athletes, parents and
coaches.
COMbINING CHARACTER AND CHAMPIONS
A COUPLE THOUSANd AREA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES WERE RIVETEd TO THE WORdS OF A TWO-TImE OLYmPIC GOLd mEdAL WINNER ON THE VALUE OF CHARACTER IN SPORTS.
Misty May-Treanor, a two-time gold medal winner, signs autographs at the 2010 Champions of Character Kick-Off event.
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY 2011 23
“Anytime you talk about changing
culture, it takes years of diligence in
sending the message,” he said, but
this message has changed how CU
coaches recruit and how athletes
view their sport and each other.
Riemersma said that when
coaches are looking to recruit
new athletes, they look for more
than just fast movement on the
basketball court or quick footwork
on the soccer field.
“There’s more to it than just being
athletic, it’s the type of person that
they are,” he said.
He encourages coaches to watch
a recruit at practice to ascertain
their true character.
“Does this person represent
who we are as an institution and
what we want our program to be?”
Riemersma said the coaches need
to ask themselves.
The Champions of Character
program has “fundamentally
changed how we recruit athletes,”
Riemersma said.
Unfortunately, today’s popular
culture of professional sports
doesn’t always highlight athletes
who exhibit the five core values.
With athletes being arrested for
illegal activity or getting suspended
from a game due to poor
sportsmanship but still making big
money, how does someone teach a
young athlete the right way to act?
“It’s a constant battle to fight
against that culture, and it’s difficult
because that’s what we see every
day,” Riemersma said.
When he talks to athletes, he tells
them that it comes down to “when
you go to sleep at night, is your
conscience clear?
In addition to good advice,
Riemersma has also brought
respected professional athletes to
CU’s campus who exhibit the five
core values, including May-Treanor.
“It’s important to have someone
the athletes respect and all know
just reinforce the fact that character
matters,” he said.
Riemersma said May-Treanor
mentioned that she never had
a program like Champions of
Character when she was young.
“She wished that when she was
growing up, there was a program
like Champions of Character, and
someone she respected had come
in and talked to her about those
things,” he said.
now that the program is
established at CU, Riemersma said
the next step is embedding it into
the community.
“[The] nucleus starts here
on campus and now we are
broadening out into West Michigan
and the state of Michigan,” he said.
Riemersma regularly travels to
o-k Conference high schools to do
character training.
“We have to get kids at an early
age and talk about these character
issues,” he said.
FOR mORE INFORmATION ABOUT CHAmPIONS OF CHARACTER AT CU, SCAN THE COdE TO THE RIGHT WITH A BARCOdE SCANNING APP ON YOUR SmARTPHONE OR VISIT CUGOLdENEAGLES.COm
b y a m e n a a n d e r s o n
Thousands of students fill the Hansen Athletic Center for the Champions of Character kick-off event.
24 BUILD A LIFE THAT MATTERS
“Studies show that there is no
difference in the way Christians
handle their money versus non-
Christians,” said Eric Hoogstra, an
associate professor of business at
Cornerstone University. His goal is
to inform people about appropriate
ways to manage their money from
a biblical perspective, which is why
he wrote this book, he said.
“The 7-Day Financial Makeover
is a book that tells you about your
finances, tells you where you are
at, and gives you a few directions
about what to do and how to
invest,” Hoogstra said.
Hoogstra’s book helps people
understand the financial market
and invest for the future, he said. It
is not a “get out of debt” book, but
helps readers plan their financial
future. It includes worksheets and
daily tasks to work toward this
goal.
Hoogstra said other financial
books miss the point of what
people should do after they get
out of debt. His book stresses what
to do after getting out of debt,
how to go farther with finances
and plan for what is important in
one’s future.
In addition to his teaching
responsibilities, he helps families
and individuals with crisis
budget counseling and works
with Crown Financial Ministries
and is a corporate facilitator for
Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace
University where he speaks and
teaches seminars on finance
nationally. He also plans to develop
a seminar for churches based off of
his book, he said.
His passion for helping families
succeed in managing money is
evident.
“My friend Eric has compiled
some great advice that is both
wise and practical. Money matters!
Which is why this book matters!,”
said Dr. Joe Stowell, president of
Cornerstone University.
The book can be purchased at
kregel Bookstores, on Amazon.
com or in the Cornerstone
University Bookstore.
“It’s a great book for people of
all ages - newlyweds, engaged
couples, long-married couples,
families or for groups at
churches.
bUSINESS PROFESSOR HELPS READERS UNDERSTAND F INANCIAL MARkET AND INVEST IN FUTURE b y a l y s s a h e l m ( c U ‘ 1 3 )
dAY ONE Assess and verify income and
expenses; complete a projected
monthly statement; list assets,
prepare list of current debts
and prepare a personal
financial statement.
dAY TWO Understand the role as
stewards and God’s ownership
in our lives. Seek God’s
direction for your finances.
dAY THREEHow to create an effective and
maintain an effective budget.
dAY FOURHow to eliminate “budget busters.”
dAY FIVEHow to set both short-term
and long-term personal and
financial goals for the future.
dAY SIXFocus on investing to meet goals.
dAY SEVENPlan for the future, which
includes training your children
about finances.
hoogstra’s 7-day financial
makeover
“...ERIC HAS COmPILEd SOmE GREAT AdVICE THAT IS BOTH WISE ANd PRACTICAL. mONEY mATTERS! WHICH IS WHY THIS BOOK mATTERS!”
dR. JOe STOWell
Earn your HEaltH CarE MBaWith the rapid changes taking place right now in the West Michigan health care industry, don’t miss the opportunity to gain the knowledge that will help you become a leader in this field. Cornerstone University’s Professional & Graduate Studies (PGS) division is now offering a Health Care MBA.
Health Care MBABegins Feb. 2011Call 800.947.2382 to sign up. Classes are forming now!
PGS programs are designed for the convenience of working adults.
• One course at a time• Competitive tuition rates• Accelerated completion2pgs.cornerstone.edu/degrees
26 BUILD A LIFE THAT MATTERS
For the third year Cornerstone
is presenting partner of the
three-day Christian music
extravaganza, Big Ticket Festival,
held in Ionia, Mich.
“The event provides
Cornerstone with awareness
and exposure throughout
the state in the days leading
up to the festival,” said Bob
Sack, Cornerstone’s executive
director of marketing and
communications who was
instrumental in organizing the
partnership. “Plus, it serves as a
wonderful ministry.”
This year’s event, scheduled
for June 23-25, will feature over
100 bands, including headliners
Toby Mac, Skillet and newsboys.
There will be numerous activities
for the entire family including
extreme sports, a kidszone,
Veggie Tale characters and
Bibleman as well as speakers,
entertainers and food.
Evangelist nick Vujicic, 27,
born without arms or legs, will
share his testimony how God is
using him when others may have
deemed him useless.
Cornerstone hosts a tent area
for prospective students and
alumni with free games and
hospitality.
During Winter Homecoming at
Cornerstone Feb. 10-11, a Battle
of the Bands will be held to vie
for a spot to perform at the
festival.
Cornerstone’s radio stations
(WCSG-FM 91.3 and WAYG-FM
89.9) will also be connected with
the music festival and have a
presence at the Ionia event.
Campsites and hotel rooms are
available.
For tickets or more information
about the artists, visit
www.bigticketfestival.com.
CHRIST-CENTEREd mUSIC FOR THE WHOLE FAmILY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF THE CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY VISION WITH ITS RAdIO STATIONS WCSG ANd WAYFm, But the vision continues to expand.
CU PARTNERS wITH LARGEST CHRIST IAN MUSIC FEST IVAL IN MICHIGAN
b y k e l l i c o t t r e l l
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY 2011 27
28 BUILD A LIFE THAT MATTERS
F ILMS THAT MATTER
“I really look forward to time in the classroom,” said
Zandstra, who has taught PGS classes since 1993. “Most
of my students don’t know who I am.”
But they may find out in February as his film “The
Genesis Code” is launched in theatres nationwide.
The feature-length drama from American Saga
Productions, where Zandstra serves as vice president,
was shot in Lowell and Grand Rapids at a cost of $8
million.
The film is an original screenplay about a college
hockey player and his relationship with a female reporter
at the school newspaper. The underlying story involves
their struggle to convene their spiritual faith with their
scientific studies. Scenes were shot at the Calvin College
campus, and hockey-game sequences were filmed at
Patterson Ice Arena.
Zandstra, a part-time Christian Reformed pastor, was
cast as a preacher in “The Genesis Code”
TEACHING GLOBAL BUSINESS CLASSES AT CORNERSTONE’S PROFESSIONAL ANd GRAdUATE STUdIES (PGS) ALLOWS jERRY zANdSTRA TO dIVE INTO A SUBjECT ANd ESCAPE THE LImELIGHT OF BEING AN ACTOR ANd FILm PROdUCER.
Courtesy Photo
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY 2011 29
The film previously premiered in Grand Rapids
theatres to select audiences before the decision
could be made to release it nationwide, Zandstra
said.
Zandstra is the Executive in Charge of
Production for American Epic Entertainment,
LLC and serves as vice-president of American
Saga Productions, American Epic’s television
production division. The Genesis Code follows
several American Saga cinematic projects.
Although he has never taken any acting classes,
he was cast as a preacher and father of one of
the main characters in the film.
In the film he works alongside veteran actor and
Academy Award winning actors, Ernest Borgnine
and Louise Fletcher as well as Fred Thompson.
As he begins traveling nationwide to promote
the film, Zandstra is already working on a few
more projects.
“A film process takes a long time,” said
Zandstra, who said it has been a two-year process
from when he began working on the “code.”
“now that we’re in the final stage of “The
Genesis Code” - this is fun,” he said.
Hundreds of scripts come across his desk but,
he has a specific genre he is hoping to capture in
his productions.
“A good film will make you laugh, cry, think and
maybe inspire you to do something,” he said. “It
has to be entertainment or it’s a documentary.”
And, it has to be family friendly.
“I want to make family films that kids can be
proud of,” he said. “There has to be a Christian
theme.”
For more information about the film, visit
www.thegenesiscodemovie.com.
b y k e l l i c o t t r e l l
Jerry Zandrstra plays a preacher in The genesis code. In real life he serves as a pastor and instructor in Cornerstone’s PGS program.
Courtesy Photo
30 BUILD A LIFE THAT MATTERS
After losing his mother in the earthquake,
one young Haitian man, sang “Hallelujah, I have
Jesus.”
Greg Yoder, anchor for Mission network news
(Mnn), a Cornerstone radio station, heard those
stories and more about how God miraculously
saved people and how they now want to serve
him.
“They’re ready for the future. Christians are
excited about what God has planned,” said
Yoder, who spent a week in Haiti traveling
with Compassion International for the first
anniversary since the devastating natural
disaster destroyed the country.
During his trip, Yoder conducted radio reports
to the 1,000-plus network stations of Mnn and
helped Compassion with its “Remember Haiti
with Compassion” radio special.
“It was mainly to focus on the continued needs
there, but also talk about the good news – which
RECONSTRUCT ING HAIT I ONE L IFE AT A T IME b y k e l l i c o t t r e l l
Just over one year ago, A YOUNG HAITIAN GIRL WAS TRAPPEd INSIdE HER HOmE LAYING UNdERNEATH HER dEAd SISTER AFTER THE EARTHqUAKE. today SHE HAS dEdICATEd HER LIFE TO BEING A CHRISTIAN TEACHER. ALTHOUGH SHE WAS SERIOUSLY INjUREd “GOd SPAREd HER TO mAKE A dIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS,” SHE SAYS. SHE WANTS TO HELP LEAd YOUNG PEOPLE TO CHRIST.
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY 2011 31
most of the secular media is ignoring,” said Yoder, who
reported from Haiti three weeks after the earthquake
hit. “I also did a number of live interviews with radio
stations while in the country.”
Compassion International performed a “Laying of
the First Stone” ceremony to begin the rebuilding
process of 44 schools that were destroyed in the
earthquake.
Yoder traveled with Dan Woolley, a Compassion
International staffer who was trapped in Hotel
Montana for 65 hours. The five story hotel entombed
about 60 people after the building pancaked during
the earthquake.
“What surprised me the most was the amount of
hope in people’s eyes,” said Yoder. “It was a totally
different feel than it was a year ago. Also, most of the
debris was out of the streets. Based on reports we had
received, not much had been done. But, that’s just not
the case.”
Before the earthquake, Haiti had no building codes
and the residents had to wait for those to be in place
before rebuilding could happen, Yoder said.
“We will now begin to see a lot of changes. Haiti
didn’t have any building codes but those are now in
place. I believe we’ll start seeing reconstruction.”
And the spiritual climate has changed as well, Yoder
said.
“The churches are bursting at the seams,” he said.
“Most pastors in Port au Prince said they have 30
percent more people in the churches – which is
amazing because many of the pastors are meeting in
tents, private homes and open air areas.”
But, there is still much that needs to be done. Homes
need to be rebuilt. People are out of work. Businesses
need to be rebuilt. Schools need to be rebuilt.
There are many ways to contribute to the rebuilding
of Haiti. Visit the Mnn website at www.mnnonline.org and search ‘Haiti’ to find opportunities to help and to
hear ministry updates.
32 BUILD A LIFE THAT MATTERS
SIFE, an international non-profit
organization, gives students
opportunities to be leaders and
entrepreneurs in the community
giving them hands on experience.
Last year, Cornerstone’s SIFE
chapter, headed by Janelle Brown
(CU ’12), president of the business
organization, tackled four projects
that included raising awareness
of human trafficking, preventing
run-off water from entering the
campus pond, teaching financial
seminars at inner-city high schools
and teaching social networking to
non-profit organizations.
This year, SIFE has increased
its work in the community with
seven projects. Members will work
on projects with Women At Risk
(WAR), helping the environment,
networking, finances, state parks,
social media and sustainability.
SIFE members join a team each
semester that focuses on different
areas based on their interests.
one group is teaching students
how to make resumes, teaching
interview techniques. A team is
working with Women At Risk
(WAR) for the second year
promoting products sold to stop
human trafficking. Another group
is painting storm drain warnings on
drains leading to the Grand River.
one team has partnered with the
Michigan Department of natural
Resources (DnR) to help support
state parks by selling “recreational
passports.”
A social media team is teaching
Cornerstone interns how to use
social media, such as Facebook and
Twitter, and sending them to non-
profit organizations in the Grand
Rapids area to help their business
or ministry use social media.
“It’s a good opportunity to
use my business skills, better the
community and help people,” said
Alyssa Vandermate (CU ‘11), a SIFE
member who is leading the team
working with the DnR.
The Cornerstone chapter earned
Regional Rookie of the Year and
national Rookie of the Year awards
at the national SIFE competition
where students gave presentations
about the chapter projects. Brown
plans to have the chapter compete
again in June in Chicago.
“SIFE is a great way for all
students to do a hands-on project,
it’s a great resume builder and
students can choose what they
want to work on,” said Brown, who
is also captain of the Women’s
Cross Country Team.
And the team has built numerous
connections through the SIFE
projects.
“Last year after we won our
competition we were surprised
that heads of several companies
approached us with job
opportunities,” said Brown. “It was
nice to know they were impressed
with our presentations which gives
us more confidence.”
Cornerstone is one of 600
American universities with a SIFE
chapter, and participate with
nearly 1,000 universities around
the world.
bUSINESS EDUCAT ION IN ACT ION
LAST YEAR A CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY CHAPTER OF students in free enterprise (sife) WAS BIRTHEd.
“LAST YEAR AFTER WE WON OUR COmPETITION WE WERE SURPRISEd THAT HEAdS OF SEVERAL
COmPANIES APPROACHEd US WITH jOB OPPORTUNITIES...IT WAS NICE TO KNOW THEY WERE ImPRESSEd WITH OUR PRESENTATIONS
WHICH GIVES US mORE CONFIdENCE.”
JaNelle bROWN
FOR mORE INFORmATION ABOUT PARTNERING OR SPONSORING SIFE, CALL THE CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS dIVISION AT 616.949.5300 OR SCAN THE qR COdE TO THE RIGHT WITH A BARCOdE SCANNING APP ON YOUR SmARTPHONE.
Serving Alumni ofTraditional Undergraduate,
Professional & Graduate Studies and Grand Rapids Theological Seminary
ConneCt
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Reunions and other eventsFacebook, LinkedIn, Twitter
Data Updates
Celebrate
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Contribute
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Scholarships, & more)
Find it all on the web! www.cornerstone.edu/alumni.
Celebrate liVeS that Matter
34 BUILD A LIFE THAT MATTERS
2011 | A PUbL ICAT ION OF CORNERSTONE UNIVERSIT Y | www.CORNERSTONE .EDU