Southwestern Spirit–Summer 2014

The Presidency Changes Hands

Southwestern’s New Fire Science DegreeKJRN The Journey:

Real Work and Real MinistryBrain Games

2014 Summer Spirit.indd 1 7/3/14 9:47 AM

Letters to the Editor

I graduated from 12th grade in 1942 at Keene. Received this year’s Spirit the other day.

As I leafed through the magazine I came to the article “A Spiritual Past: Southwestern Celebrates 120 Years” written by Glen Robinson. Wow. Th e picture of brooms made me remem-ber the night that the broom shop burned to the ground not far from the girl’s dorm.

As I turned the page, the picture of colporteuring students grabbed my attention. Th at man to the right looked so very much like my uncle John Penner. Th e man next to him could be none other than George Penner, also my uncle!

As a pre-teen girl on the farm in Oklahoma, near Okeene and Hitch-cock, I used to listen to the hair raising stories they had to tell. Stories of frightening hitchhiker rides, and fatigue as they canvassed many parts of the state. I surely wished I could do that when I got older.

As a family, we have many pictures of these boys but none that refer to this part of their life. Th ank you for print-ing it. I also remember some names of other students. How can we fi nd who they are? Who submitted the picture? Maybe Roger Baker, Carl Grentz, Don McAdams are names that bring back memories.

Betty Ilene Loewen Christianson

Th e photo, like many of those we use for our historical articles, was taken either from the Hopps Museum here on campus, or one of the two books that chronicle the history of Southwestern: Lest We Forget and � e Chronicle of South-western Adventist College. Pic-tured above are, from left , Branson Crispens, Sam Crispens, Carl Gaede, Dan McAdams, Roger Baker, George Penner and John Penner.

I get, read and enjoy the Southwest-ern Spirit magazine.

I would like to make a comment about the picture at the Acrofest. I have noticed over the years that Sev-enth-day Adventists are becoming more like the people of the world in all respects. For years we talked about things that happened on the seventh day as Sabbath now it is Saturday. By the picture it states the Saturday Church Service. I would like to think it was the Sabbath Church service like it has been in years past.

I have had family over the years who were students at SWAU since it began. Two of our children graduated from there so I have a real interest in the school. Th anks for letting me express my opinion.

Tricia Sorensen

I am sorry if you misunderstood the intention of the article. You and I believe and understand that Sat-urday is the Sabbath, but not all of our potential readers do. Because some readers may think of Sunday as Sabbath, it is more inclusive and less likely to cause a misunderstand-ing by referring it by the day of the week. I apologize for the confusion. –Glen Robinson

Do you have something to say about an article, a photo or the University in general? Want to share your experience with other readers? Send your letters to Editor, Southwestern Spirit, Southwestern Adventist University, 100 W. Hillcrest St., Keene, TX 76059 or email us at [email protected].

Do you have something to say about an article, a photo or the University in general? Want to share your experience with other readers? Send your letters to Editor, Southwestern Spirit, Southwestern Adventist University, 100 W. Hillcrest St., Keene, TX 76059 or email us at [email protected].

2 Southwestern Spirit


From Th e EditorMy mother became a Seventh-

day Adventist Christian when she was pregnant

with me (she oft en told others that I was baptized twice!). And from the fi rst moment of that commitment, she was a complete supporter of Christian education as well.

I grew up in a blue-collar family, and although Mom had a strong com-mitment, my father didn’t see it the same way. “Th ey can go to Christian schools,” he told her, “but you will have to pay the tuition on your own. I won’t help.”

She took on that challenge with four children and only a partial edu-cation of her own. She spent many days working to pay that tuition and spent many nights on her knees in prayer, asking God to help her work it out. Finally she was led to a wealthy woman named Mabel who needed a live-in nurse. Mom started working with Mabel when I was in fi ft h-grade and continued until Mabel died the year I graduated from college.

I was the fi rst person in my family to complete a college degree, but I knew that Mom felt that she was the

one who graduated. Scholarships may have helped me get through school, but it was Mom who was the driving force behind my college experience, and it was Mom who had to sacrifi ce to make it happen.

In his book, A Million Miles in a Th ousand Years, Donald Miller sug-gests that “every confl ict, no matter how hard, comes back to bless the protagonist if he will face his fate with courage.” It reminds me of the Ellen White vision of the pathway to heaven, with a path that starts out wide, then gets narrower and nar-rower until fi nally there is no path and travelers are forced to swing on a rope descending out of heaven to get to the other side.

Both sources tell me that the sac-rifi ce we hear about by Southwest-ern students and their parents will be rewarded manyfold someday, ideally with a college degree and a brighter future, but defi nitely in the Land Beyond.

I completed my PhD in 2004, and it was my privilege to have my mother attend the graduation ceremony at the University of North Texas. She

took the trip from California with my teenage niece, who was amazed that we didn’t all have cacti in our yard, don’t all wear boots, and that South-western turned out to be a pretty nice place. Th at trip was one of the last major trips that my mother ever made. She died in 2006.

Higher education, specifi cally Christian higher education, has been all the diff erence in my life. I can’t even imagine my life without my edu-cation. But even more, I am awed by the sacrifi ce my mother was willing to endure to make it a reality.endure to make it a reality.

SUMMER 2014 3


CONTENTS

3 From The Editor

6 Waking Up To ChangeWhat would a pioneer of 1893 think of Keene today?

8 Southwestern Introduces New Two-Year Fire Science DegreeUniqueamongAdventistcollegesanduniversities,theFireScienceprogramtrainsstudentsasFirefighters,EMTsandFireInspectors.

10 Presidents and Their Infl uenceHere’sabrieflookathowfiveSouthwesternpresidentshavehelpedmaketheschoolintowhatitistoday.

13 Southwestern Adventi st University Names New President

15 Brain Games: An Academic ChallengeTheannualBrainGamesisaunique,mentallychallengingeventwhereacademystudentsgetachancetocompete,experienceSouthwestern,andearnscholarships.

18 Making A Diff erenceFiveSouthwesternalumnicarrytheSouthwesternspiritofserviceintotheworld.

22 Real Work And Real Ministry: KJRN The JourneyTherehasbeenaradiostationonSouthwestern’scampussince1973.ButtherehasneverbeenonequiteassuccessfulasKJRN,TheJourney.

26 Homecoming 2014: Through the Mizpah GateAtimetoreacquaint.

32 MilepostsMarriages.Births.Deaths.

34 AlumNotesCatchupwitholdfriends.Givethemachancetocatchupwithyou.

36 Campus NewsOfficialsChooseSouthwesternESL;EnactusPlacesinNationalCompetition;StudentsPerformatMusicFestival



EditorGlen Robinson

Associate EditorDarcyForce’04

DesignElia King

PhotographersDarcyForce’04MatthewMendoza’14EmilyNolasco’16

DavidPollockCatherine Wiist ’14

ContributorsEricAndersonMakala Coleman ’15DarcyForce’04

EmilyNolasco’16Glen Robinson

Offi ce of University AdvancementHarvey ByramDirector of Planned Giving

DarcyForce’04Director of Marketi ng and Public Relati ons

TiffanyMcMeartyDirector of Development

Bev MendenhallDirector of Alumni Relati ons

DavidPollockGraphic Design Manager

CorrespondenceSouthwestern Spirit EditorSouthwesternAdventistUniversityP.O.Box567Keene,[email protected]

Address ChangesOfficeofUniversityAdvancementSouthwesternAdventistUniversityP.O.Box567Keene,[email protected]

Phone(800)433-2240or(817)202-6321

On the Webwww.swau.edu

Southwestern SpiritistheofficialmagazineofSouthwesternAdventistUniversity,producedbytheOfficeofUniversityAdvancement,foralumniandfriendsoftheUniversity.

Coverandpage13photoscourtesyofAdrienneElleCreative.

SUMMER 2014 5




Washington Irving’s short story, Rip Van Winkle, is familiar even to people

who have never read it. You know—the man who woke up after a magical sleep of 20 years.

The story goes like this. Lazy and good-natured Rip wanders off on a hunting excursion into New York’s Catskill Mountains. After mysterious strangers offer him a taste of an unfa-miliar liquid, he falls asleep. When he awakes, he stumbles back home, only to discover that 20 years have passed. He is an old man with a long beard, King George III no longer rules America, and his village has become a “busy, bustling, disputatious” town, with none of the “drowsy tranquility” he remembered.

It is easy to imagine rewriting the story for Keene and the present-day.

Southwestern Adventist University (“the college in Keene”) was born 120 years ago. What if one of our found-ers, after a nap six times longer than Rip Van Winkle’s, woke up in the year 2014? Can you imagine his reactions?

It is easy to laugh, as we imagine our Rip’s response to present-day fashions and hair styles. (“Men who are not pirates wear earrings?”) Or we could guess how our automobiles and air-planes would look to the eyes of 1893. An encounter of Keene’s Rip with a smart phone or a laptop computer would be entertaining—at least for us.

But after an hour or two, we could get down to more serious business with Rip.

Rip the Second would tell us that we live in an incredibly rich country, in which ordinary people now enjoy lux-uries unthinkable in 1893. He would be shocked, but ultimately pleased, I hope, to discover the sharp decline of racial animosity in Texas and the United States. “Lynching has disap-peared?” I can hear him ask. “The president of the United States is a black lawyer who was born in Hawaii? When did Hawaii join the Union?”

Rip would have a hard time under-standing the power of the United States. We would have to explain to him that our navy now dwarfs the once-mighty British Royal Navy, that the dollar is the reserve currency of the world, and that we have solemnly promised to defend many nations, ranging from Japan to Poland. (“Are you sure we can afford that?” he might ask.)

He would be amazed to discover that any conversation about war and peace—or religious freedom—needs to take into account “the Moham-medans.” In his world there were no American Muslims, or Latin Ameri-can Pentecostals, or militant Hindus.

But if we showed Rip our campus and introduced him to our students and teachers, he would recognize the kind of school we are, I think.

We could show him our seal, with its biblical motto: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” and he would nod his head. We say that character development is the heart of our kind of education, and he would understand.

“Education is about eternity,” Rip might say. The point of Christian edu-cation, he would know, is disciplined learning, seeking out the permanent things, and learning how to serve. As he toured our high-tech classrooms, he would notice that learning in 2014 still requires wise mentors and the right questions.

“Who is this Einstein?” he might ask. “What do you mean by the phrase

‘Big Bang’? But he would not be sur-prised to find students still learn-ing Euclid’s laws, studying Luther’s theses, memorizing Greek grammar, and examining Lincoln’s speeches.

After he had a few days to adjust, and this Rip Van Winkle had trimmed his beard and bought some new clothes, he would feel right at home at South-western Adventist University.

It is quite possible that his first text message would say something like this: “U have upheld r founding prin-ciples.”

But if we showed Ripourcampusandintroducedhim to our students and teachers,hewouldrecognizethe kind of schoolweare.

SUMMER 2014 7


Southwestern Introduces New Two-Year Fire Science DegreeUnique among Adventist colleges and universities, the Fire Science Program trains students as Firefighters, EMTs and Fire Inspectors.

By Glen Robinson

Southwestern Adventist Uni-versity has received approval from the Southern Association

of Colleges and Schools, the Uni-versity’s official accrediting body, to offer an associate of applied science degree in fire science beginning in Fall, 2014. Administered by South-western’s department of kinesiology, the Fire Science Program is designed to provide students with the neces-sary skills and education to become state-certified firefighters. Students will also receive emergency medical technician (EMT) certification as part of the program. Upon successful com-

pletion of the degree program, the graduate will be a certified firefighter, EMT, and fire inspector. Students can also choose between obtaining a fire investigator certification or a fire ap-paratus driver/operator certification.

This new program is possible through a collaboration between Southwestern Adventist University and Training Division, an emergency services training company located in Crowley, Texas. Students who com-plete the program requirements will receive an A.A.S. degree from Southwestern, while certification is awarded by the State of Texas follow-

ing successful completion of the state exam. State certifications are eligi-ble for out-of-state transfers through International Fire Service Accredita-tion Council (IFSAC) reciprocity to other IFSAC participating states and countries.

Southwestern anticipates two target audiences for this program—certi-fied firefighters who wish to com-plete their degrees online through the Adult Degree Program (ADP) and traditional college students who will participate in the program.

The first on-campus cohort will begin in August, with an expected

TheFireScienceProgramisdesignedtoprovidestudentswiththeskillsandeducationtobecomestate-certifiedfirefighters.



enrollment of 15. The firefighting cur-riculum (FIRS and FIRT courses) is delivered via a mixture of supervised distance education, hands-on practi-cal experience, and classroom and lab settings for the on-campus segment, while the general education portion of the degree will be delivered through traditional courses. Training Division will also provide a two-week on-site boot camp required of all students.

“Southwestern’s Fire Science Program reflects the spirit of our ded-ication to educating individuals for Christian service,” says Amy Rosen-thal, vice president for academic administration. “The program is con-sistent with the mission and goals of Southwestern and its kinesiology department to promote lifetime phys-ical activity and healthy lifestyle for all students at the University.”

Firefighting is a job that requires intense physical activity, often under severe conditions. Firefighters need to be in good physical condition and need to adopt a health lifestyle in order to be successful in the pro-fession. As such, Rosenthal feels the addition of the Fire Science Program is a logical extension of the kinesiol-ogy department’s mission and goals.

The Fire Science Program also sup-ports the institution’s mission by meeting the needs of a growing pop-ulation of students who seek two-year occupational degrees as part of a Sev-

enth-day Adventist residential uni-versity experience that lead directly to employment. Many professionals with degrees continue to find it diffi-cult to find employment in the private sector. Public sector opportunities, such as the fire service, have become attractive options for several reasons, such as stability, decent pay, decent benefits, and retirement benefits. The fire service is receiving an increasing number of applicants per position and the market is becoming more diffi-cult and competitive. Most applicants do not have a degree. A degree often places those applicants ahead of those

without. Therefore, a graduate of Southwestern’s Fire Science Program with a degree and both a firefighter and EMT certificate will have a signif-icant advantage in the job market and many opportunities for employment in their chosen field.

The Fire Science Degree Program opens the door for other programs under the Public Safety umbrella. Several local resources exist, such as Johnson County Emergency Services District, several area fire departments, and Training Division’s Emergency Training Center that give Southwest-ern the material, logistical, technical and educational/instructional pieces needed for such a program without Southwestern having to purchase all of the necessary equipment normally required for such a program.

More importantly, this program is unique among Seventh-day Adven-tist colleges and universities. Gradu-ates of this program will graduate not only with a degree, but several techni-cal certifications that will allow them to become employed by fire depart-ments around the nation.

Firefightingisajobthatrequiresintensephysicalactivityundersevereconditions.

Southwestern’snewprogrampreparesstudentstobecomeacertifiedfirefighter,EMTandfireinspector.

SUMMER 2014 9


ASPIRITEDPAST:

Presidents and Their InfluenceHere’s a brief look at how five Southwestern presidents have helped make the school into what it is today.

By Makala Coleman

In the past 120 years of service, many men have stepped forward as president to lead Southwestern

through its academic, economic and spiritual challenges. Each one influ-enced Southwestern in a different way, not just during his time as a leader, but for years after he was gone.

People might not realize that there’s not a detailed job description for a president. It’s not that simple. What determines a president’s task at hand is often how he sees the job and the type of person he is. Different presi-dents focus on a variety of priorities: some on financial, others on academ-ics, and others on spiritual life. No matter what focus a president takes, all have had an influence in some way. Changes might not be immediately noticed, but they’re felt in the long run. It’s slow, incremental changes that often make the biggest difference. Here are five that demonstrate the dif-ference that one man can make.

Cassius B. Hughes: The First President

In the 1890s, Keene, Texas was still a wilderness. Forest, field and stream produced a landscape perfect for a new school, but the task of starting one would be difficult. It would take a strong leader. Cassius B. Hughes accepted the challenge.

As the first principal of Keene Indus-trial Academy, Hughes had his work cut out for him, literally. He and his wife, Ella, arrived by train from Walla Walla, Washington on Christmas Eve, 1893. They found an unfinished

house, a makeshift classroom and greenbriers everywhere. However, the husband-wife team had come pre-pared to work, and started school just two weeks later, on January 7.

“Professor Hughes had come to open a school here,” writes C. N. Woodard as quoted in Lest We Forget, “and what did it matter if to begin with they only had one small, and very temporary building and few facilities? He knew how to work and went at it vigorously.”

Hughes strongly believed in a work-study program. He thought that too much free time would cause a student to become arrogant, lazy and uncon-cerned about the needs of others.

Under his direction, students were required to work 20-hour weeks and strict rules were set in place.

The school opened with 56 pupils arriving from all over Texas. Before school started, the students had spent a lot of time in social events and relax-ing. When Hughes came, he said that there would be no more of that. Stu-dents were to focus on work and study, and interaction between boys and girls would be miniscule. As extreme as those rules may sound today, they were not uncommon then.

Most importantly, Hughes put God first in all things. He led a mis-sion-minded Bible study for young people on Saturdays, and was known to lead in week of prayer. He even had the privilege to baptize several students. As one of the founders of Southwestern, his influence would point Southwestern in a direction for many years to follow. Little choices here and there can seem inconse-quential, but over the course of time prove an enormous difference. The hard-working, Christian attitude of Hughes set the stage for all principals and presidents to come.

Hughes spent 14 total years as prin-cipal of Keene Industrial Academy, but not consecutively. He encouraged the students, was strict but kind, and was also good at handling money.

“He was a true representative of what God requires of his servants, a Christian gentleman,” writes Wood-ward. “Half-hearted service is not acceptable to God at any time, but he greatly needs young men and young

When Cassius B. Hughes accepted theprincipalship of Keene Industrial Academy,it is unlikely that he realized hewould bestartinga120-year traditionof presidents,orthathissmallschoolwouldonedaybeauniversity.



women who will give themselves as fully to his work as did Professor Hughes.”

H. H. Hamilton: Guiding a Growing College

No longer a landscape of green-brier and swamp, Keene Industrial Academy transformed into South-western Junior College in 1916. Tech-nology improved, and buildings became more permanent. Minimum wage was 25 cents per hour. In 1935 Southwestern installed an experi-mental power plant, which success-fully provided electricity for the entire campus. That same year, Harry Heber Hamilton became president.

Perhaps his most well-known con-tribution to Southwestern is the Mizpah Gate. He designed and built it in 1937. The Hamilton Hall dor-mitory was also named after him. A not-so-tangible, but equally substan-tial influence Hamilton had was on the students of Southwestern. He was no new face at Southwestern; in fact, he had taught there for several years under Cassius B. Hughes. He had an approachable manner, making rules easier to understand and mistakes lighter to bear.

“Hamilton was a master at the art of story telling,” writes Walter R. Beach, faculty at Southwestern Junior College with Hamilton, in Lest We Forget. “He often illustrated a point he wanted to make with a humorous anecdote that set his audience roaring with laughter, even if the intent of the story was a reprimand. Never have I

known anyone in a position of lead-ership to use more tact with young people, especially with those who were recalcitrant or rebellious.”

Once, a student failing in her English class was sent to Hamilton’s office. The conversation, below, is found in Lest We Forget.

“So you are finding English difficult to master?” he began the conversation.

“Yes, sir.”“Why, that surprises me about a

bright girl like you. You do know the difference between a plural and a sin-gular verb, don’t you?”

“Oh, yes, I think so,” was the timid answer.

“Would you say,” he asked, smiling wryly, “Girl, are my hat on straight?”

In that way the tension was erased, and Professor Hamilton could go on to advise and encourage the student.

He looked at the big picture when it came to decisions. After a tiresome staff meeting, he often enjoying gazing at the stars. He not only shared the rules, but also explained the motives behind them. One time, students petitioned to attend a concert put on by violinist, Jascha Heifetz. It was a wholesome event, but the concert was expensive. Hamilton announced that permission would be granted. He also gave students a warning.

“The tickets to this concert will cost five to seven dollars a piece,” said Hamilton. “That is a large sum of money for a boy to spend on a girl. In fact, my personal opinion is that no young lady should let a college boy spend that much on her unless she is

engaged to him. And if she is engaged to him, she had better think twice before she lets him spend that much money on her, for she will need the money very much after she’s married.”

Hamilton had a profound influ-ence on students of Southwestern, not only for being down to earth, but also for his deep-rooted faith. A mission mindset was his greatest goal for Southwestern Junior College.

“The only excuse for the exis-tence of our colleges is to train mis-sionaries for the fields at home and abroad,” writes Hamilton, “and to give the trumpet sound. The Bible is taught definitely and specifically. This enables our students to speak with authority and assurance.”

Hamilton was determined to keep the original motives of a Seventh-day Adventist school pure, preparing stu-dents to be missionaries in any field of work. This stream of thought bled into every aspect of his role as president.

Ed C. Wines: From Junior to Senior

Ed C. Wines took over as presi-dent of Southwestern Junior College in 1964. He came from a rich back-ground in education, serving seven years as an academy principal, six

ThoughheisbestknowntodayforMizpahGate and Hamilton Hall, Harry Hamiltonaccomplished much more during histenure.

CassiusB.HughesandH.H.Hamiltonhadtheopportunitytoworktogetherattheturnofthe20thCentury,whenHugheswaspresidentandHamiltonwasaninstructor.

SUMMER 2014 11


years as a junior academy principal, and fi ve years in educational work in Ethiopia and Egypt. In his fi rst year at Southwestern, Wines quickly devel-oped ideas about the future of the school.

Th e fi rst thing he did was separate the academy and college, which up to this point had combined faculty, one student association, one yearbook and school paper and one Sabbath school. Chisholm Trail Academy was created. Th e next step was his eff ort to move toward senior college status.

Th e eff ort to move from a junior college to a four-year school took several years, but full accreditation as a senior college came in 1970, argu-ably the second-most signifi cant event in the history of Southwest-ern. In addition to this achievement, during his seven-year tenure, Wines was responsible for the ground-breaking for Scales Hall, Southwest-ern’s fi rst student missionary, turning the open-walled Pultar Pavilion into an enclosed gymnasium, develop-ing the new Keene Shopping Center, breaking ground for the Committee of 100 Cafeteria and overall campus beautifi cation.

“Th ere will always be challenges in a going program,” Wines said fol-lowing the accreditation. “Th ere are no natural breaks and there is no time when all goals and projects are

completed, except as we become stagnated.”

Wines felt that there were three basic qualifi cations for a good teacher: (1) a sincere, dedicated Christian experience; (2) academic qualifi ca-tions as well as a continuing interest in personal academic improvement; (3) a willingness to be of assistance to students in and out of the classroom.

In 1971, remaining faithful to his love for Christian education, Wines stepped down from the presidency to become educational secretary for the Southwestern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, overseeing all elementary schools and academies in the Southwest.

Don McAdams: Academic Improvement

As president, Don McAdams was passionate about academics. At the start of his leadership, Southwestern had only been a four-year program for a few years. McAdams was deter-mined to make Southwestern as suc-cessful a four-year college as possible.

One way he did this was by hiring new faculty. He hired many professors with a Ph.D., both to meet the require-ments of a four-year program, and because he had a love for academics. McAdams made it his goal to bring in as many doctors to teach in as many fi elds as possible at Southwestern.

McAdams also put more empha-sis on curriculum, and improved general education classes. He thought it imperative that the college should continue to grow and expand so it could better serve the youth.

While he was president, the college name changed from Southwestern University College to Southwestern Adventist College in 1977. Under his leadership, the Committee of 100 was organized, for which the current cafe-teria is named, and the Mabee Center was constructed. McAdams called it “the house that philanthropy built.”

McAdams wanted to improve class quality and student life, but also thought it important to be person-able with students outside of class. It was not uncommon to see McAdams walking around campus in shorts, or riding a bike. Students appreciated

his kind nature, and faculty enjoyed working with him.

Donald R. McAdams was 34 years old when he became president of Southwestern Adventist College in 1975. In his nine years at the helm, he inspired faculty, staff , and students with the great potential of South-western, only recently accredited as a senior college. With boundless energy and an inspirational vision, he left a lasting mark on this institution. He sought out excellent faculty and staff , some of whom are still shaping the University today.

Aft er he left Southwestern, McAdams was infl uential as an edu-cational reformer and management consultant. He served in several important posts, including president of the Texas Independent College Fund, trustee of the Houston Indepen-dent School District (1990-2002), and president of the Center for Reform of School Systems (2001-2011).

He has published articles on wide variety of subjects, educational, his-torical, and political. Two books on urban education have been widely noticed: Fighting to Save Our Urban Schools...and Winning! Lessons from Houston and What School Boards Can Do: Reform Governance for Urban Schools (both published by Columbia University’s Teacher College Press).

DonMcAdams put a strong emphasis onacademics, as well as being personablewithstudents.

Ed C. Wines was responsible for manychanges during his seven-year tenure aspresident.

Conti nued on p.14



The Board of Trustees an-nounced on May 12 that Dr. Kenneth L. Shaw, Dean of the

Panama City Campus of Florida State University, has been named President of Southwestern Adventist University, eff ective July 1. He will succeed Eric Anderson, who is retiring in June aft er a nine-year tenure as President. Shaw’s appointment comes as the University fi nishes its 120th school year.

“We are thrilled that he has accept-ed the invitation,” says Larry Moore, chairman of Southwestern’s board of trustees. “We’ve felt the Lord’s leading through this entire search process and are happy to welcome Ken and his wife Ann into leadership.”

Shaw comes to Southwestern with a wealth of experience. He began working at FSU in 1989 aft er com-pleting a doctorate in mathematics education from the University of Georgia. Shaw holds degrees in math-ematics from Southern Adventist University (B. A., 1980) and Middle Tennessee State University (M. S., 1983). A much-published scholar, he

spent nine years as a full-time teacher in mathematics education at FSU Panama City.

Aft er the Panama City dean an-nounced his retirement in 1998, Shaw was asked to serve as Acting Dean until a replacement could be found. Th ose 18 months as dean opened his eyes to academic administration and he found it rewarding and enjoyable. From 2000-2005, while Shaw was the Associate Dean for Academic Pro-grams, FSU Panama City was able to start 10 academic programs and added 25 full-time faculty to their campus. Shaw also assisted in the expansion of the campus by adding a $32 million Academic Center which houses engi-neering labs, offi ces and large meeting spaces for the community.

When Shaw was elected Dean in 2009, the small Panama City campus faced the threat of closure. An FSU Presidential Blue Ribbon Committee (consisting of community leaders) studied operations of FSU Panama City and recommended that the 985-student campus meet an enrollment target of 1400 by 2013. Under Shaw’s

leadership this challenging goal was met. Currently FSU Panama City serves more than 1600 students.

Th e new president also comes with fundraising experience as Shaw is cur-rently leading a $5 million campaign to support the endowment for FSU’s College of Applied Studies. Within two years, they have raised nearly $3 million. Community is important to Shaw as he sits on various boards, such as: United Way of Northwest Florida Board, American Heart Association, Community Service Foundation, and two Chambers of Commerce. He is also an active lay leader in his local Seventh-day Adventist church.

“Being off ered the presidency of Southwestern Adventist University is both exciting and humbling,” states Shaw. “It is exciting, as it will provide my wife and me new opportunities to meet and work with the great people associated with the University. With Southwestern celebrating its 120th year, I am humbled to be asked to serve as president of an institu-tion with such rich history. It is an awesome privilege.”

Southwestern Adventist University Names New President

SUMMER 2014 13


In May, 2014, Southwestern Adventist University honored Don McAdams with a Doctorate of Humane Letters honorary degree during commencement services.

Eric Anderson: Leaving A Legacy

Th e current president of Southwest-ern is fi nishing his ninth and fi nal year in offi ce.

He oft en quotes a comment from another Christian university presi-dent: “Th e most important word in my vocabulary is and.” Eric Anderson explains that his friend meant that it is not enough for a Christian school to be excellent. Such a school must be both “excellent” and “faithful.”

Anderson has encouraged teach-ers to integrate faith and learning in the classroom. “My most import-ant goal has been to enhance South-western’s academic quality while preserving our distinctive Christian environment,” he says. According to Bill Kilgore, professor of religion, Anderson brought “a unique blend of scholarship and spirituality” to his leadership.

One of Anderson’s innovations was to create a “vice president for spiritual development,” a “hybrid position” that combined academic and administra-tive functions. Spiritual development, as he sees it, should involve the whole campus, not just special programming for students. “In a school like this, every teacher ought to be a spiritual leader.” He sought to promote discus-sion of issues in science and religion with the Saxon Lecture Series, an event featuring speakers ranging from biochemist Michael Behe and mathe-matician David Berlinski to journal-ist David Neff and historian Ronald Numbers.

He devoted personal attention to the ceremonial or symbolic parts of academic life. Th anks to him, Con-vocation was restored as the formal beginning of the school, the Mizpah Ceremony was created, and gradua-tion became an occasion for worship and high culture, as well as family pride. He encouraged the creation of

an Educator of the Year Award and promoted what he calls “academic content” in University assemblies.

Th e physical appearance of campus changed during the Anderson years. Pechero Hall was completed, Scales Hall renovated, and a new “campus center” emerged aft er extensive land-scaping ended the bisection of campus by Mockingbird Lane. Th e old book-store was transformed into a bright and welcoming Student Center. With the encouragement of the President’s wife, Loretta Anderson, the lobby of the main women’s dormitory under-went major remodeling. Th is year, he adds, “we unveiled a beautiful new gym fl oor.”

An experienced teacher, Ander-son taught several courses during his term as president, including four upper division history classes, several honors seminars, and one business class. “He is a strong believer in the honors program,” declares direc-tor Andrew Woolley, who co-taught a seminar on Th e Brothers Karama-zov with the President. With Ander-son’s encouragement, according to Woolley, the honors program has expanded and developed a new emphasis on “great books.”

“I think I will be remembered as much for things I didn’t do as for the things I did,” comments Anderson. “We avoided the temptation to make graduate work more important than our undergraduate program. In the face of fi nancial challenges, we did

not decimate our teaching faculty. We did not downplay our general educa-tion program. Most important, we did not compromise on religious identity.”

“Being president of a university is like being the captain of a big ship,” observes one faculty member. “You can’t change direction rapidly, throw-ing the rudder sharply to one side.” Even vital reforms must come as steady, “incremental changes,” rather than as drastic turns that make waves or even swamp the ship.

Anderson’s most memorable moments, he says, were the two sur-prise visits paid to campus by Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons. On each occasion, Simmons dropped in unannounced, asked a few pointed questions, and ultimately made two separate million-dollar gift s to the University.

He believes that he is retiring at a good time. “Our freshman class grew dramatically this year, there’s an eff ec-tive administrative team in place, and we see strong progress in depart-ments ranging from nursing to music and English. We have one of the most eff ective pastoral training programs in the denomination.”

“He liked living in Texas,” notes one Board member. “You could say he became one of us.”

Past, Present and Future“All presidents have infl uence in

diff erent ways,” says Woolley. “Th ey each make contributions. In some way, being a president of a university is like being a captain of a ship. You can’t make any major changes or the ship will sink. Th e president makes slow incremental changes that make a diff erence in the long run.”

As the University enters a new year with a new president, there is both anticipation and excitement. Th e future president, whoever he or she may be, has many past presidents to look to as an example of great lead-ership. Th eir work will be felt and admired for many years to come.

Eric Andersonwas amixture of academic,spiritualandfinancialimprovements.

Conti nued from p.12



BrainGames:An Academic ChallengeTh e annual Brain Games is a unique, mentally challenging event where academy students get a chance to compete, experience Southwestern, and earn scholarships.

By Emily Nolasco

Some annual events hosted by Southwestern for academy students might give them the im-

pression that college life is full of music or sports. Aft er all, the University’s Music Festival and annual Hoops Classic draw hundreds each year to its campus to socialize, compete and have a good time. But Southwestern also wants academy students and po-tential incoming freshmen to know how important it is to have a balanced development. Students who excel at basketball or music can also be those who are good at math or science, engineering or history. Th at’s where Brain Games comes in.

Brain Games is a unique activity hosted by Southwestern Adventist University every spring. “We invite a variety of Adventist academies from all over the country,” says Dr. Amy McHenry, assistant professor of biology at Southwestern and 2014 Brain Games coordinator. “Specifi -cally, we invite them to send a team of their top three students academi-cally, generally juniors or seniors, to come and participate in some sort of

challenging, problem-solving event.” Th irteen academies sent teams to this year’s event.

“Th e idea of Brain Games is that we want academy students to be chal-lenged academically,” says McHenry. “We wanted to show them what campus life is like and what we have to off er is unique. But it’s more than

just problem solving. Th ey can get intellectual stimulation anywhere. We wanted to show that students can fi nd a spiritual environment as well here at Southwestern.”

Past years include CSI-type inves-tigations, epidemic outbreaks, and one that was titled Siege of War where students used mathematics and prin-

AnimportantpartofweekendactivitiestakesplaceonSaturdaynight,whenschoolteamscompeteinMathletics.

SUMMER 2014 15


ciples of physics and engineering to build catapults, trebuchets, rockets, and other siege engines. Held in March, this year’s Brain Games was sponsored by the biology department with the theme of Belly-up: Death in the Duckpond. Th e event was designed to introduce academy stu-dents to the implications of environ-mental science.

“It’s a simulated fi sh kill investi-gation,” says McHenry. “Sometimes you get these massive fi sh kills and it can be caused by a variety of diff er-ent things: pesticide poisoning, a spe-cifi c toxin that’s been dropped into the river or pond, temperature fl uc-tuation, parasites, bacteria, viruses, or even massive fertilizer runoff s.

“I broke it down into a variety of activities and then I had diff erent faculty members responsible for par-ticular activities,” says McHenry.

Dr. Arthur Schwarz, associate pro-fessor of biology here at Southwest-ern, was in charge of students’ eff orts to sample water from the pond at Callicott Student Park. “I’m more of an outdoor biologist,” says Schwarz. “So I worked at the duck pond and we would row out to the middle of the pond to take water quality samples. From there, we would try to fi gure out what had caused the fi sh kill.”

Participating students used bio-informatics and chemical analysis to explore the impacts of man and disease on the environment. Stu-

dents took part in dissecting real fi sh, taking lake water samples, measuring chemical concentrations, extracting and identifying environmental DNA and screening for invasive species.

“A new technique makes it possible to harvest what is called environmen-tal DNA,” says McHenry. “You can fi lter a large quantity of pond water, and the ‘gunk’ that’s left has enough DNA that you can extract it to see if diff erent types of invasive species are present.”

Broader issues of care for nature were also discussed. “Side by side with all of the academic investiga-tions, we also did a diff erent number of worships, focusing on a Christian’s responsibility to the environment,” says McHenry.

On the fi rst night, Schwarz had the opening worship and it was based on Genesis 1:28: “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fi ll the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fi sh in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’”

“My thoughts on the matter were: What is the responsibility of man in terms of our environment?” says Schwarz. “Th e garden is our environ-ment. It sustains us. It is everything we need. It is the air that we breathe, the water that we drink, the food that we eat. Earth is a fi nite sphere fl oat-ing around in space, but it is the only livable planet we’ve got. God told us to take care of it.”

On Saturday night the academy students competed in Mathletics, an elimination type of quiz game that involved math. It was the only com-petitive portion of the event. Stu-dents who won at Mathletics received scholarships to attend Southwestern. In addition, the winning academy received a scholarship that could be spent on equipment for their science and math department.

First place in Mathletics went to Chisholm Trail Academy; the three CTA students who participated each received a $2,000 scholarship and the school received $1,000 for their math/science program. Second place went to Orangewood Academy; student received $1,000 scholarships and the school received $500. And third place went to Dallas Christian Academy

Dr.ArthurSchwarzandtwoacademyvolunteersdrawwaterfromCalicottLakeforevaluationbystudents.

Participatingstudentsusedbioinformaticsandchemicalanalysistoexploretheimpactsofmananddiseaseontheenvironment.

Listen LIVE at 883thejourney.org

“I just want to say thank you to everyone involved in running this radio station. I have been incarcerated since January and I just got released yesterday! I listened to nothing but this station the whole time. I’ve been a lukewarm Christian and had been running from the Lord for a while. It was an absolute blessing to have this radio station. It helped me keep my peace and keep my head up while I was going through this difficult time in my life. Words can’t even begin to express how much I appreciate you guys! This station saved me, changed my life and helped me get back to where I need to be with the Lord. And for that I truly, truly thank y’all!!! God Bless you guys!!!!”

Geoff



with students receiving $500 scholar-ships and the school receiving $250.

Th irteen academies came from dif-ferent parts of the country, includ-ing 39 students and several sponsors, totaling 54 participants.

“Th is event gives students an opportunity to be on campus and to connect with our University kids,” says McHenry. “We actually involved our biology majors quite a lot as well. I cancelled my genetics class that day and had all my students assist with various portions of our program.”

Academy students ended up getting a lot of interaction with Southwest-ern students. “It’s something unique that only Southwestern does,” says McHenry. “Th ere isn’t any other Adventist college/university that does this. So I think it’s a special thing that happens here and I think it’s fun for the high school kids that come.”

Brain Games gives students and sponsors alike the opportunity to see what Southwestern is all about. “We’re about really strong academics and a really strong spiritual campus and those are the things that are import-ant. Students who want to have a campus like that will come here,” says McHenry. “I think it’s exciting and it’s something that shows that science is cool and fun. It’s something diff erent.”

“It works,” says Schwarz simply. “Brain Games is an event that has

been ongoing for a long time and every year we have more students interested in taking part.”

“Our students enjoyed the experi-ence and I got to see how things are done that I’ve just read about, since we don’t have the equipment,” says Tyke Connell, who teaches biology at Chisholm Trail Academy in Keene. “It’s a good thing. Keep doing it.”

“It was a fantastic Brain Games,” says Tom McNeilus, biology teacher at Shenandoah Valley Academy in Virginia. “My students had a great time. Each of them was excited about something diff erent, including the dinosaur bones, the religious meet-

ings, and the variety of the food. My crew really liked the Mathlet-ics. Th ey’ve been talking to the other students about the friendliness of all the staff and students at Southwest-ern and what they learned. Hopefully we’ll send some more students your way.”

In future years, McHenry wants to try and incorporate some of the public schools in the local areas. “Th ose are kids that I think we have an opportu-nity to recruit,” says McHenry. “Th ey need to be aware of what we have and what’s available here.”

A new technique makes it possible to harvest environmental DNA. Filtered pond waterindicateswhatinvasivespeciesarepresent.

Listen LIVE at 883thejourney.org

“I just want to say thank you to everyone involved in running this radio station. I have been incarcerated since January and I just got released yesterday! I listened to nothing but this station the whole time. I’ve been a lukewarm Christian and had been running from the Lord for a while. It was an absolute blessing to have this radio station. It helped me keep my peace and keep my head up while I was going through this difficult time in my life. Words can’t even begin to express how much I appreciate you guys! This station saved me, changed my life and helped me get back to where I need to be with the Lord. And for that I truly, truly thank y’all!!! God Bless you guys!!!!”

Geoff


Making A Diff erenceFive Southwestern alumni carry the Southwestern spirit of service into the world.

By Glen Robinson

One of the greatest joys of a teacher—and a university—comes with sharing in the

successes of their graduating students. With 120 years of students to choose from, Southwestern Adventist Uni-versity has many, many stories to share. Here are fi ve alumni who have found a way to contribute to society and make Southwestern Adventist University—and its teachers—proud.

Charles Sims ‘54Not very many people can say that

what they do has led to the existence of 50,000 people. But Charles Sims ’54 and the company he helped start have the distinct honor of distribut-ing donor specimens over the past 35

years that have led to the birth of that many children.

Sims is corporate medical direc-tor and CEO of California Cryobank, the largest human sperm bank in the United States and possibly the world. In addition, about 20 percent of their business is dedicated to stem cells. Sims got into the cryobank business in 1977 when he was chief of pathology at a hospital in southern California.

“A member of the medical staff told me he wanted to start a sperm bank,” Sims said. “Aft er talking, I realized that even though I didn’t know any-thing about sperm banking, he didn’t know anything about running a lab. I told him if he wanted a partner, I would help organize and set it up. And that’s how it happened.”

Since that time, business has done well, showing yearly growth for quite a few years. Today California Cryo-bank has fi ve physical locations: two in Los Angeles, and one each in Palo Alto, California, Cambridge, Mass., and New York City.

Sims has very pleasant memories of being a student in Keene, living in Hamilton Hall from 1948 to 1954. He was class president of his junior and senior year in academy, and he still keeps in touch with much of his academy class.

Aft er Southwestern, Sims went to Union College, then Loma Linda University School of Medicine. He interned at White Memorial Medical Center and spent three years in general practice in Crescent City, Cal-ifornia, where he says he “did a little bit of everything, including some

things they probably shouldn’t have let me do.”

“It took about a year before I real-ized that I didn’t want to do that for the rest of my life,” he says today. “I think it was a noble thing to do, but it wasn’t for me.”

Sims decided that he liked the science, the puzzle-solving part of medicine, and went back to do a four-year residency in pathology. What followed was an extensive career in pathology at various hospi-tals throughout central and southern California.

When he started California Cryo-bank in 1977, he was also working in hospital pathology in Century City, on the outskirts of Beverly Hills. He stayed in that job until 2004. In 1983, he started an independent reference laboratory and ran it for 10 years, concurrent with his other two jobs. He sold the lab in 1993, because he “got an off er from someone willing to buy it for more than it was worth.”

Sims retired in 2004 when the hos-pital in Century City closed. He went to work full time at California Cryo-bank and became chief medical offi cer and CEO in 2008.

Beyond his fi nancial success and the fact that he has helped thousands of parents realize the joy of having a child, Sims fi nds satisfaction in the fact that he has infl uenced national policy on reproductive medicine. He has had extensive interaction with multiple associations that deal with reproduction, has participated in policy discussions and panels and made many presentations. In addi-

Charles Sims has pleasant memories of Keene while he lived in Hamilton Hall from 1948to1954.



tion he was appointed to an advi-sory committee for the United States Department of Health on stem cell transplantation.

“I had to swear to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States, just like the president. It’s sort of a ritual,” he says, one that he was privileged to take part in.

In addition to his busy career life, Sims had time to raise fi ve children, and today also has nine grandchil-dren and two great grandchildren.

Wanda Smith ’66Aft er 45 years in education and two

retirements, Wanda Smith knows exactly what she misses the most.

“I miss the students,” she says bluntly.

Aft er fi nishing two years as a student at Southwestern Junior College in 1959 and 1960, Smith went on to Union College to com-plete her degree. She moved back in 1970 and was hired as a kindergar-ten teacher in Waxahachie ISD, where she was eventually named Teacher of the Year for Outstanding Classroom Individualism.

She earned her master’s degree in counseling and guidance from Texas Christian University in 1974, and became a counselor at a Waxahachie school. She later transferred to Keene ISD to teach seventh and eighth grades, and applied and was accepted into a part-time superintendent’s position for a kindergarten through eighth-grade program.

Smith became a full-time superin-tendent for Keene ISD in 1981. She started with an ISD program that had no federal programs, includ-

ing no breakfast or milk programs, and a bare-bones plant facility. Smith worked with a local co-op of other local schools to raise needed funds. Th eir campaign for a bond issue resulted in a new building, offi ces, a cafeteria and a gymnasium.

At that time, high school students from Keene attended the nearest high school in Cleburne. In 1983, Smith led in the purchase of land and the con-struction of Keene’s own high school. Grades 9-12 were added to the exist-ing elementary school one at a time. Th e high school program was com-plete in 1990, and in 2006 the high school was named Wanda R. Smith High School.

Smith also served as president of Texas Association of Community Schools from 1989 to 1990, the fi rst woman to do so. In 2001, the Texas House of Representatives voted to recognize Smith as the longest-ten-ured female superintendent still working in Texas.

Smith retired for the fi rst time in 2006, and was promptly called to consult for Itasca ISD, then worked as an elementary principal for Grand Prairie ISD and as a junior high prin-cipal at Cleburne ISD. In 2011, she resumed her post as superintendent at Keene ISD until her second retire-ment in summer, 2013.

Even though she was a student at Southwestern Junior College for only two years, Smith looks back fondly on those days.

“I loved it,” she says. “Th e campus was pretty, and the school had a major infl uence on my life. I came here from public school, and had never expe-rienced a church school. I really enjoyed it.

“I am tickled to death when students tell me they want to be a teacher,” she says today. “I tell them, get your degree and come back and interview with us.

“Th ere’s not a lot of money in teach-ing. You have to love it. You have to love the children. It’s a great career.”

Derek White ’06When Derek White ’06 left South-

western and then completed law school in 2009, his fi rst job was in

Lebanon, working for the United Nations, assisting Palestinian refugees.

Five years later, he is still working with refugees, but this time in Denver, Colorado. White has a law practice there, as well as a ministry to not only refugees but other immigrants as well.

“My wife and I caught ourselves waiting for God to send us back over-seas before we were really ready,” he says. “And then we resolved to live on mission wherever we are. For us, that meant moving into the same neigh-borhoods where the refugees we were serving and befriending lived.”

White and his wife, Alicia, work with refugees from all over the world who have been resettled by the United Nations and the United States govern-ment. An example of this is Somali refugees who fl ed Somalia during their civil war. Aft er fl eeing to refugee camps in Kenya, they were fi nally settled in Colorado with their fam-ilies. White helps them with their various legal needs, such as simply reuniting their families. Once they have eligibility, they can bring family members here and earn U.S. citizen-ship. Alicia, a registered nurse, helps refugee families with medical needs and helps with the children. It’s a busy life, but an intentional, committed one, says White.

“My wife and I were just touched by what Jesus did for us, I guess,” he says. “He came here and lived among us, and so we actually live in the same neighborhood as most refugees in Denver.”

Th e neighborhood includes a majority of immigrants, as well as Hispanic Americans, whites, and many young people. It is also one of the poorest neighborhoods in Colo-rado and in the country.

“It has been a rewarding adventure, because we have been blessed by so many glimpses of Jesus,” he says. Th eir mission has come with its own set of challenges; they have been burglar-ized at night, and their car has been broken into several times. Finances can be a strain, and they are currently fi ghting a pest infestation in their home. White feels he is only doing what others do who are forced to live

Wanda Smith has spent 45 years in education,mostofitinJohnsonCounty.

19


in these circumstances.But the experience has become

more than just ministry to them. By living among those they minister to, by befriending them, it has become a mutual community where everyone helps each other. Th eir neighborhood has a community garden, and about 80 percent of those who garden are refugees from Burma, Bhutan, Sudan and other places. Th e community garden also acts as a social center for those who live in the neighborhood.

Th at’s not to say that Derek and Alicia spend all of their time in min-istry. All people need time to get away occasionally, and the Whites enjoy life in Colorado, including trips to the mountains, running and walks. Th ey are also enjoying the commu-nity garden tremendously.

“We honestly don’t know anything about gardening, but we enjoy just being at the garden and being with our friends there.”

Mickey Ask ’76Even when we have turning points

in our lives, we don’t always recognize them when they happen. Th at was the case for Mickey Ask.

In the late 60s, Ask struggled at another Adventist college, earning a 1.4 GPA and having no personal spir-itual life. When the draft lottery came out in 1969, he decided to let the Army take him and see if that helped him fi gure out his life.

“I hadn’t been watching any TV and so I had no mental picture of what the reality of Vietnam was like,” says Ask today. Fortunately, Ask’s class in basic

training missed going to Vietnam by two weeks, and instead he was sent to Germany.

He later met a girl at the service-men’s center in San Antonio who told him she planned on attending South-western. He decided to follow her to Keene and “check it out.” Enter the turning point.

Ask liked the small school he found there. “It was a great experience for me,” he says. “It was exactly what I needed.”

Ask attended Southwestern with a new attitude. He sat in the front row, got to know his teachers, took the initiative and got involved. His experience at Southwestern got more interesting when one Sabbath aft er-noon he was invited to dinner at chemistry professor Karl Konrad’s house, where he was introduced to Ladan Ehteshami, a student from Iran, who later became his wife.

Finally, his biology professor Dexter

Beary called him in one day and told him he should consider medicine as a career.

“Other people had brought that possibility up, but I thought they were saying it simply because I was getting better grades,” he says. “But when Beary brought it up, I had to take him seriously.”

Ask visited Loma Linda University School of Medicine and told them that he felt it was stupid for him to con-sider medicine with his past record of a 1.4 GPA.

“Th ey told me that they take into account changes in direction,” he says. “I knew I was just coasting in school. I was torn between doing something I knew I could do and being bored, and accepting something I wasn’t sure I could do, and accepting terror. And it’s been a good journey. I haven’t regretted it.”

Today Ask is medical coordinator for the alcohol and drug program at the VA Hospital in Loma Linda and serves on the faculty at Loma Linda University School of Medicine. He is also chairman of the well-being com-mittee for both hospitals.

Mickey and Ladan have faithfully sponsored Keene reunions in the Loma Linda area for years. In addi-tion, the hospitality-conscious couple regularly hosts both the Christian Medical-Dental society students as well as the junior medical auxiliary. A family project has been their gar-den-themed backyard, which has been the site of numerous weddings, including their own daughter’s. Th e

DerekWhitestandswithneighborsintheircommunitygarden.

MickeyAsk(center,kneeling)climbedUhuruPeakonarecenttriptoTanzania.



yard features multiple nooks and crannies with a variety of themes, including meditative, self-refl ective, contemplative and expansive. Th e Asks have a butterfl y garden, a secret garden and a rose garden.

In addition, 10 years ago Mickey decided that his couch-potato days were over. Since that time, he has participated in 20 marathons, about 10-12 triathalons, and recently did a complete Ironman triathlon in Florida.

But despite all of his experiences, some of his Southwestern memories remain the fondest.

“Random people would take the initiative and be friendly to me,” he remembers. “Th ey’d say, ‘Y’all come over and visit some time.’ I wasn’t quite sure if they would accept me were I to just show up on their door-step, but it was a good feeling.”

Tara Vincross ’02When one hears the words “mission

fi eld,” one rarely thinks of the fi ft h largest metropolitan area in the United States. Philadelphia has six million residents, and yet only 10,000 Seventh-day Adventists. So when Tara Vincross ’02 got a call with her husband Caleb ’03 to come to Phil-adelphia and start urban ministry there, it was something special.

“I’m the only woman pastor serving in this conference, and our confer-ence president knew that it would be a major objection for the church,” says Vincross. “He fi rst approached them with all my qualities and who I am as a pastor but not saying my gender. He said, ‘Is this the pastor you want to have?’ And they said, ‘Absolutely, when can he come?’ And then he told them who I was and showed a picture and they said, ‘No way.’ And he said, ‘What changed?’

“We came and interviewed and it was one of the most profound and moving experiences I have ever had with the Holy Spirit working,” she says. Th e church held a 3½ hour interview. Vincross preached, shared her testimony and took questions.

“Th ere were tears, people saying I was against you but now I see God’s leading,” she says. “We had so many

confi rmations that we were meant to be here. And God has really backed that up by giving me the strength to do it.”

Today Vincross is senior pastor of Chestnut Hill Church in downtown Philadelphia, and has inherited a city and a church with a rich heritage. Vincross has seen church records dating back to the 1870s, stating that in its previous location, her church was located over a storefront in the 1800s, with likely visits by James and Ellen White.

Before Tara and Caleb came to Phil-adelphia, they were located in Wash-ington Conference, where they served for 2½ years before heading to the Adventist Th eological Seminary in Berrien Springs, Michigan. In 2008, Tara saw an ad for a pastor to come to Philadelphia and to help the church make a diff erence in an urban context. It was just what she wanted to do, but she dismissed it because of where it was. She got three phone calls from people who felt she was being called to pastor the church.

Th e church’s urban ministry really started aft er Vincross led the elders and the church board to pray for them to love their community in the same way they would love their chil-dren. Th at led them to the Pennsyl-vania Youth Challenge Program with 30 youth and young adults who are engaged in mission for nine weeks during the summer. And it also led them to realize that they wanted to keep the ministry going year around, leading to the sponsorship of seven two-year internships under the

umbrella of Reach Philadelphia. Min-istry includes a tutoring program, urban agriculture and block parties, and has led to a church planting.

“We defi nitely make it up as we go along,” says Vincross. “We ask God every day what to do next. I’ve been trying really hard as a leader to not speculate, and only share what I have been given. Sometimes God will give us clarity for something and we’ll go with that, and we will not know the next step until we get there.”

Vincross feels “extremely blessed” with mentors throughout her young life, including strong relationships with professors at the Seminary, as well as infl uential professors and pastors at Southwestern. She thanks Lloyd Willis and Bill Kilgore for their mentoring, Lane Campbell for his willingness to delegate and let stu-dents learn while they ministered, and Ron Halvorsen, Jr. and Ron Hal-vorsen, Sr. for infecting her with the joy of evangelism.

PastorTaraVincross(center)standswithherurbanministryteam.

SUMMER 2014 21


Like all Southwestern students, communication majors are not only concerned about passing

their next class but in landing that fi rst job aft er graduation. One way the department helps is by providing students with real-world experience at the campus radio station. And students are getting an experience that’s hard to fi nd anywhere else.

Although students at Southwest-ern have had opportunity to gain radio experience on campus for the past 40 years, today’s experience is

decidedly diff erent. It includes learn-ing from an award-winning general manager while working at one of the fastest-growing Christian stations in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, the number-fi ve media market in the United States.

Th is year, 88.3 Th e Journey is on course to raise $225,000 in donations. Th e station’s audience has grown from 13,000 listeners in 2007 to 51,300 in January of this year. For the fi rst time in its existence, the radio station at Southwestern will be completely fi nancially independent this year, thanks to the support of listeners and underwriters. In addition, plans are in motion to replace the current 185-foot broadcast tower with a new 400-foot tower. While the current station reaches a potential audience of about 400,000 listeners, this new tower will reach about a million more people.

Since 1973, Southwestern’s radio station and its staff have followed the threefold mandate of (1) training Christian broadcasters; (2) represent-ing Southwestern Adventist Univer-sity to its community; and (3) sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. Stu-dents learn not only the techniques

and skills necessary to speak on the air or record a program, but learn the business and ministry of Christian radio as well.

Over the YearsA radio station at Southwest-

ern was fi rst seriously discussed in 1968. A few years later, Raymond and Anna Beem wanted to donate a gift to the college. At that time their plan was to put money toward a plan-etarium and solicit other gift s for the same cause. When other funding fell through, however, they looked around for another project they could use their gift for. Th eir son Donald, who worked at a radio station in Los Angeles, suggested a radio station for the college.

In 1973, Bob Mendenhall was appointed general manager for the new station. Mendenhall had been hired as a men’s dean in 1970, but with a degree in communication and a background as a co-founder of a com-mercial radio station in northern Cal-ifornia, he was soon asked to manage the station and teach communication classes. Aft er the ribbon cutting in June of 1974, Raymond Beem turned

Real Work and Real Ministry: KJRN Th e JourneyTh ere has been a radio station on Southwestern’s campus since 1973. But there has never been one quite as successful as KJRN, Th e Journey.

By Brisa Ramirez

Forthefirsttime,theradiostationwillbefinanciallyindependent thisyear,thanksto the support of listeners and underwriters.



on the transmitter, and KSUC (for Southwestern Union College) began broadcasting with the frequency of 88.3, chosen because it rhymed with KSUC.

The broadcast studio was Anna Beem’s old dormitory room from her time as a student at the college. It was on the west end of the third floor in Heritage Hall, where Chan Shun Cen-tennial Library now stands. Three other rooms were used as well.

Initially KSUC was on the air from noon to midnight Sunday through Friday and six a.m. to midnight on Saturday. Students were volunteers and the communication department was in its infancy.

In February 1980, the station held its first “I Love KSUC” Week, with a goal of $5,000. Instead, support-ers donated nearly $10,000. The week’s success allowed KSUC to add morning broadcast hours on Sunday. A subsequent fundraiser the next year called “Project 18” allowed KSUC to equip the production studio and broadcast 18 hours every day of the week. The first 18-hour weekday was on April 1, 1981.

The station’s call letters were changed from KSUC to KJCR on March 1, 1984. The school had changed its name to Southwestern Adventist College, so the old call letters were no longer relevant.

In 1987, KJCR and its staff had out-grown its cramped studios in Her-itage Hall. The station’s studios and offices were transferred to its current location on North College Drive.

The move took place between mid-night and six a.m. in one night, with no regular airtime lost during the process.

In May 1989, 110 mile-per-hour winds ripped through Keene, toppling the station’s 135-foot tower, which had withstood less violent storms for 15 years. Six 10-foot sections were unsal-vageable, and two of the four antenna elements were destroyed. Two days later, with the help of Southwestern’s maintenance crew, KJCR was back on the air under temporary authori-zation with a 75-foot tower and just 925 watts. In the fall, construction began on the new transmitter, 180-foot tower and antenna facility at the north end of what was once the old college airport runway and was com-pleted in May, 1990. The new effective radiated power was now 23,000 watts directional toward the west.

Mendenhall served as station manager for 25 years until 1998 when new faculty member Glen Robinson replaced him. Robinson served as general manager for six years, being responsible for changing format to soft Christian contemporary and for “Project 24,” which raised funds to bring in automation, making it possi-ble to broadcast 24 hour a day, seven days a week. Robinson also began computer programming of music selection based on national Christian music charts and completed the tran-sition from records to CDs. In 2004, Robinson earned his Ph.D. and was called to teach full time.

Randy Yates, a former student employee at the station, became the next general manager. He managed both the radio station and the TV station and also taught some classes. “It was busy, but it was also a lot of fun,” he says. Yates made the tran-sition from CDs to mp3 format for music.

A Leap of FaithDuring a violent evening thunder-

storm in October 2009, the station was hit by lightning and a fire started in the attic. Yates happened to be in the station working at the time. He called 911, and even though the fire was controlled very quickly, smoke and water damage in the station was catastrophic. Computers were rescued and temporarily relocated to the campus TV station, KGSW, and within 24 hours, the station was back

ASouthwesternstudent,circa1980,cuesuparecordintheKSUCstudio.

KSUCbeganinthethirdfloorofHeritageHallwithaviewofthecampus.

SUMMER 2014 23


on the air.When it became clear that extensive

damage called for a major overhaul, the University decided to take a giant leap of faith.

The new general manager, Mike Agee, had worked at KSUC as a student from 1977 until his gradua-tion in 1981. His on-air experience at KSUC led to a career in radio. He worked in Christian radio for 30 years before returning to Southwestern to work on The Journey, including the founding of KTSY, a top-five Chris-tian station operating out of Boise, Idaho. Under Agee’s management, KTSY won three Dove Awards and

was a Marconi Award finalist from the National Association of Broadcasters.

The hiring of Mike Agee signaled a major investment in rebuilding the station. In addition to gutting and rebuilding the structure itself, the station got all-new state-of-the-art equipment, giving students an oppor-tunity to learn on the equipment that they would use when they gradu-ated, as well as making it easier for the station to actually compete in the marketplace for the audience’s ears.

Agee called for a clean slate, and the radio station got new call letters. KJCR became KJRN, The Journey, which Agee used to signal his empha-sis on helping fellow Christians along their walk of life.

A Benefit for StudentsAgee held on to the station’s origi-

nal purpose of training students, but added to it a knowledge of what the industry and the audience expects. It wasn’t enough to train students to operate a microphone; they needed to know what it was like to compete in the radio market. The standards for quality of announcing went up, as did every aspect of how the station did its business. Agee took over the morning drive shift himself, and through the magic of automation and the Internet, was able to add professional Chris-tian announcers from elsewhere in the U.S. to fill in the weekday shifts and give The Journey its professional sound. Students had their own shifts on the overnight time periods as well

as weekends. Agee has hired communication

majors who are working toward dif-ferent goals. Whether their goal is work in radio, television, public rela-tions, or print media, they all have the option to apply at the radio station. Regardless of what happens after graduation, students can still gain valuable knowledge and experience by working there.

Freshman Matt Forner chose to come to Southwestern mostly due to the radio station and the opportunity he would have to work there. He is a radio-TV-film emphasis communica-tion major and has wanted to work in radio since the seventh grade. Upon arrival at Southwestern, he started working on air immediately. By the time Forner graduates, he will have four years of experience working as on-air talent at The Journey.

“Working under Mike Agee teaches me the day-to-day operations of a radio station, which I look forward to using when I graduate,” he says. “Being an on-air talent doing over-nights gives me a really unique and cool way to connect with and serve our listeners by playing contemporary Christian music.”

The station benefits students by providing them with real skills and experience. Students leave with a better understanding of what it means to work at a radio station. They leave knowing how to talk into a micro-phone without being shy about it. They become acquainted with a real radio audience. They learn about the ministry behind the radio station.

Jaime Baldwin, a communica-tion major with emphasis in public relations and advertising, has been working at the station for nearly a year now. She has gained a lot of expe-rience through her time at the station and has grown because of it.

Her time at the station has given her more than just work experi-ence. “Working at the radio station has been a huge blessing,” she says. “I get to share God with others and it also helps my relationship with Him to grow. I love finding cool or thought-provoking quotes and ideas throughout the week and being able

Makala Coleman is one of several students who serve as station announcers, gainingvaluablehands-onexperience.

NewstationmanagerMikeAgeesupervisesworkonthenewstudiosin2010.



to share them.”

Ministry for the CommunityThe Journey serves a radio listening

area that stretches from Fort Worth in the north to Hillsboro to the south and west to Granbury and beyond. Agee has a vision for the kind of out-reach he wants the radio station to be. “My focus has been on the audience,” he says. “We are a radio station that is focused outward, on our audience, as opposed to being focused on an inter-nal message.”

“We try to encourage our listeners. We give them the tools in music and short programs that help their walk, which is why we called it The Journey,” Agee says. “It’s about walking with our audience and being beside them in the good days and the bad days without preconceived notions. We go to them. We don’t make them come to us. That’s the difference between externally focused outreach and inter-nally focused ministry.”

That is the vision and the ministry of The Journey. “We see ourselves as kind of like salt,” says Agee. “We kind of disappear from the process. It’s not about us. It’s about our audience, about the music, about what other churches are doing. That’s the focus that we’ve taken in the last few years.”

Agee bases his outreach idea for the station on Matthew 5:13-16. From here, he sees that there are two types of ministries that the station could become—either light of the world or salt of the earth. While a light shines bright and leads the way in the dark, it is something that people see and go to. Salt is different, because it is mixed in with everything else. Once it is added to a plate of food, it’s no longer easily seen, but it’s very obviously there.

In everything that happens at the radio station, the big concern is on what the audience wants and needs.

“What do they care about?” Agee asks. “What’s relevant to them? These are the questions that my staff and I keep in mind every day.”

Listeners are being blessed by what they hear on The Journey. As the audience grows and more listeners are blessed, more donations are received at the station. Twice a year, the station

holds a Sharathon. During each of these Sharathons, on-air time is taken to ask listeners to make pledges toward donating a certain amount of money monthly or making a one-time donation to the station.

“I listen to The Journey every day. It’s so much a part of my life,” one lis-

tener says. Although he has donated to the station every year for the past few years, he almost opted out of making a donation this year. “Then I thought what it would mean if I skipped even one day of listening to The Journey,” he says. “The thought also came to me that I have the priv-ilege of sharing in your wonderful radio ministry through my donation.”

The songs and messages listeners hear on the station touch them and serve as a reminder of God’s love.

“There’s not a word to describe how thankful I am for The Journey. It takes me to heavenly places,” another lis-tener says. Listeners write and call in telling the workers at The Journey how much the station means to them. These are people that are being touched by the ministry the station is doing.

With all of this, the ministry and the business of The Journey have both been very successful. The students are benefitting from all of this as Agee continues working to help the station grow. He is very pleased with the success of the station so far and sees good things for it in the near future.

“It has been gratifying,” he says. There is so much more to come, and it will be exciting to see how the station continues to grow in the years to come.

“We are a radio stationthatisfocusedoutward,onouraudience,as opposed to beingfocusedon an internal message.”

With threegenerationsof radioexperience,MikeAgeebrings to the stationnotonly anopportunity for students to learn and grow in radio, but a greaterwitness in the largercommunity.

SUMMER 2014 25


Homecoming 2012: Th rough the Mizpah GateA time to reacquaint.

�rough the Mizpah GateAlumni Homecoming 2014

Upperleft:Thisyear’shonoreesincluded(fromleft):Alfreda(Wallen)Knight’54,AlumniHallofFame;LarryD.Hiday’79,AlumnusoftheYear;JerryL.Becker’69,AlumniVolunteeroftheYear;Josephine(Griffin)Benton’44,AlumniHallofFame;PaulG.Proctor’44,AlumniHallofFame;JosephL.Ray’49,AlumniHallofFame;Cheryl(Haskell)Whitten’84,AlumnaoftheYear.Upperright,awardeesreceivedaplaqueatthebanquet.Lowerright,festivitiesforthisyear’sHomecomingstartedwithThursdaynight’sbanquetintheCommitteeof100Cafeteria.Lowerleft,BenjiLeachspokeforsecondworshipserviceonSabbathmorning.



Topphoto:theannualGolfTournamentwasheldFridaymorningatTheRetreatinCleburne.Middlephoto: The morning’s winning team included(from left) MichaelMerrifield, Paul Gnadt, MikePhillipsandRichardBothe.Bottomleft,golfersgetreadytoteeoff.Bottomright,thedaywasidealforgolfandforjustsocializing.

SUMMER 2014 27


Upper left: Verna “Bunny” (Voth) Reid ’64 spoke for first worshipservice.Upperright:JosephL.Ray’49andAlfreda(Wallen)Knight’54(middlephoto)helpedoutwithSabbathservices.Lowerleft,forthosewhoweren’tplayinggolf,thehighlightofFridaymorningwastheprayerbreakfast.Lowerright,prayerbreakfastspeakerwasRonScott’74.



Clockwise from upper left: the 50-year class of ’64. Sabbathpotluckservershaveasmuchfunasthosetheyareserving.TheLeiske-Pultar Gymnasiumwas filled to capacity for the potluck.Russ Laughlin, vice president for spiritual development, laughswith an alumna. All ageswere represented at the potluck. The60-yearclassof’54.

SUMMER 2014 29


Consider our exciting new program

A.A.S. in Fire ScienceEnrolling students for Fall 2014

Associate of Applied Science degree with Firefighter,EMT, and Fire Inspector certification

In partnership with Training Division, Crowley

Admissions questions:Email Rahneeka at [email protected]

Program questions:Email Chad at [email protected]

*Limited spots available

Apply Now!*

To register or visit, call 800-433-2240, email [email protected] or go to www.swau.edu

Upperphoto:Sundayactivitiesincludedapancakebreakfastthatraisedfundsforstudentmissions.Middlerightandlowerphotos:friends and classmates,manywho haven’t seen each other inyears,gottogetherSaturdaynightforthehonoredclassparties.



Consider our exciting new program

A.A.S. in Fire ScienceEnrolling students for Fall 2014

Associate of Applied Science degree with Firefighter,EMT, and Fire Inspector certification

In partnership with Training Division, Crowley

Admissions questions:Email Rahneeka at [email protected]

Program questions:Email Chad at [email protected]

*Limited spots available

Apply Now!*

To register or visit, call 800-433-2240, email [email protected] or go to www.swau.edu


MilepostsMarriages. Births. Deaths.

BirthsZipporah Rose Spooner, daughter of Andrew ’08 and April (Bauder) ’08 Spooner. Born Aug. 21, 2013. [1]

Ruby-Joy Heath, daughter of David and Jaime (Seekford) ’03 Heath. Sept. 25, 2013. [2]

Evie Grace VanBebber, daughter of Justin and Andrea (Stewart) ’04 VanBebber. Born Oct. 28, 2013. [3]

Clover Mae Greer, daughter of Kevin ’04 and Chejwa Greer. Born Dec. 2, 2013. [4]

Samson Jesse Valencia, son of Duane (staff) and Erica (Manzano) ’08, ’10 Valencia. Born Dec. 5, 2013. [5]

Jacob Howard Renken, son of Jason ’98 and Amy (Jeter) ’02 Renken. Dec. 23, 2013. [6]

Jonah Benjamin Garza, son of Jorge and Marissa (Gonzales) ’03 Garza. Born Jan. 10, 2014. [7]

Sam Michael Gendke, son of Marcus ’02 and Lindsey (Jackson) ’08 Gendke. Born Jan. 21, 2014. [8]

Emma Skyler Loewen, daughter of Adam ’06 and Nidia (Martinez) ’06 Loewen. Born Feb. 5, 2014.

Forrest Aron Walker, son of Anthony ’92 and Dawn (Anderson) ’98 Walker. Born March 26, 2014. [9]

Blake Kyle Henderson, son of Josh ’02 and Karessa Henderson. Born May 6, 2014.

Grant Carlton Perry, son of Ian and Brigit (Warner) ’02 Perry. Born May 23, 2014. [10]

WeddingsKevin ’07 and Sarah (Gane) Burton. June 3, 2012. [11]

Scott ’94 and Natalie (Taylor) Cross. Nov. 4, 2012.

Mark and Christine (Enger) ’92 Love. Dec. 12, 2012. [12]

Jermaine ’00 and Cherech Ross. April 20, 2013.

Arthur ’49 and Vivian (Strayer-Raitz) ’50 Carlson. June 23, 2013. [13]

Mario ’06 and Jing Marrero. Aug. 11, 2013. [14]

John and Courtney (Jenkins) ’10 Jordan. Sept. 1, 2013.

James “Ben” ’06 and Millene Gleason. Sept. 21, 2013. [15]

Paulo ’12 and Linda (Koh) ’02, ’03 Barbosa. Sept. 22, 2013.

Jim and Marsha (Martin) ’74 Torres. Oct. 5, 2013.

Jeffrey ’00 and Kimberlee (Low) Anderson. Oct. 5, 2013. [16]

Tyler ’11 and Taylor (Turner) ’13 Chavez. Oct. 6, 2013.

Trent and Tonya (Carden) Vonhof. Nov. 3, 2013.

Richard and Katie (Andreasen) ’01, ’04 Layon. Nov. 30, 2013. [17]

Ken ’81 and Sandy (Rivera) Turpen. Dec. 15, 2013.

Faisal and Yvette (Lax) ’78 Husseini. Jan. 31, 2014. [18]

Marland ’07 and Anniella (Rigacci) ’11 May. March 2, 2014. [19]

Our SympathiesSharon (Betz) Garver ’61. Sept. 10, 2012.

Arley Vernon Smith ’65. Oct. 19, 2012.

Courtney (Hendryx) Seth ’50. March 1, 2013.

Glen D. Farnsworth ’55. July 16, 2013.

Ronya (Tuesta) Lowen ’79. Aug. 12, 2013.

William H. Johnson ’42. Sept. 2013.

June (Kenyon) Laue ’44. Oct. 26, 2013.

Laura Ann McNeilus ’88. Dec. 11, 2013.

Arlene (Ebel) Schultz ’43. Jan. 4, 2014.

James R. East ’54. Jan. 5, 2014.

Elizabeth “Beth” (Hainer) Lowry. Jan. 14, 2014.

Raymond L. Desjardins II ’77. Jan. 18, 2014.

Clarance C. Newton, ’51 and ’53. Jan. 19, 2014.

Ralph Bailey (Former Faculty). Jan. 21, 2014.

Ida (Allmen) Johnson. ’49. Feb. 2, 2014.

Marilyn MaeNell Gaines ’57. Feb. 14, 2014.

Sudie (Moore) Clark ’28. Feb. 15, 2014.

Betty (Fortner) Roberts ’55, ’57. May 6, 2014.

Howard E. Sinclair ’48. May 6, 2014.



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SUMMER 2014 33


alumnotesAlumNotesCatch up with old friends. Give them a chance to catch up with you.

40sArthur C. ’49 and Vivian (Strayer-Raitz) Carlson ’50 live in Dalton, Georgia, where Art is a retired Seventh-day Adventist pastor and Vivian is a retired music and wholistic health instructor. Th ey were married on June 23, 2013 aft er Vivian had been married to Robert Raitz ’49 for 56 years and Art had been married to Lucille James ’49 for 62 years. Both lost their spouses, and God used Irma Anderson-James ’50 to bring them together.

70sMarvin Mathews ’77 is a military family life consultant, a civilian who does contract work for Mental Health Net, which has a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to provide consulting (counseling) services on military bases. He is cur-rently on a six-month assignment in Baumholder, Germany, aft er which he will serve for six months in Aansbach, Germany. He is married to Del Jean Mathews ’74.

Bill Sinock ’78 taught English in China for eight years, and has re-turned for several six and three months stays over the past 10 years. He currently teaches one English and one Bible class over the Internet.

Aft er 35 years of service, Police Corporal Duane Utt ’78 bid farewell to police service in Arlington, Texas recently. His fi rst day on the job was April 23, 1979. Over the next three decades, Utt upheld the values of the Arlington Police Department “with integrity and honor.”

80sTami (Wood) Zambrano ’83was nominated for Who’s Who in American Business Women. She lives in Siloam Springs, Ark.

90sNorman Rangel ’91 was featured in the April 2014 issue of BurlesonNOW magazine for his work in the commu-nity and his infl uence on children at Burleson Adventist School, where he is principal. A social work and history graduate from Southwestern, Rangel has worked with MHMR in Johnson County, as an insurance salesman, pastor of the Denham Springs Adventist Church in Louisiana, and principal of Baton Rouge Adventist Christian School. Since his arrival at Burleson Adventist School in 2010, he has found many opportunities for students and their families to assist the community through fundraisers and hands-on experiences. He lives in Burleson with his wife, Robin.

Benjamin ’99 and Silvia (Cairus) ’98 Orian have moved to Brighton, Colorado, where Ben is the new senior pastor of the Brighton Seventh-day Adventist Church. Th ey have two children: Dominic and Siena.

00sTabitha Martinez ’02 now serves as associate treasurer for Columbia Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. She has also served as an assistant staff auditor for the General Conference Auditing Service. She re-cently earned an MBA at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Maryland. She lives with her husband, Robert ’01, in Spencerville, Maryland.

Amie Regester ’03 is president of Greater Th an Rubies, a project ded-icated to providing resources and experiences that empower young women to live their best lives possi-ble for Christ. Her fi rst online course, Rock Your Life, is an interactive program guaranteed to assist young women in discovering identity, life purpose, quick start success tips, Godly relationships and how to serve their community—all with a Biblical foundation. Her website is at: greater-thanrubies.org.

Aaron Hall ’04 was pleasantly sur-prised on May 21 to learn that he was named Teacher of the Year for the Arkansas-Louisiana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Th is award is given to only one teacher each year for excellence in teaching. Th e an-nouncement was made at Hot Springs Adventist School commencement services on May 21. Aaron is married to Alisa Hall.

Mario Marrero ’06 was selected Teacher of the Year for the Hartford School System in Hartford, Conn. He is currently a fourth-grade teacher at STEM Magnet School in Hartford, and recently married Jing Sun, a sec-ond-year medical student at UConn School of Medicine.

Dr. Kwasi Agyeman ’08 works as a pharmacy intern in Moreno Valley, Calif.

Deyvy Rodriguez ’08 works at 3ABN with the pastoral staff , and serves as the pastor of the Duguoin Adventist Church in southern Illinois. He writes: “I am very happy to know that Southwestern still remembers me. Southwestern will always be in my

120 years ago the Adventists of north Texas dreamed of an education for their kids. They pooled their funds and scores of them sold their homes and farms and moved to a wild patch of cross timbers south of Fort Worth. Within months they cleared the land and built a school, establishing a tradition of generosity with their time and treasures. Gabriella (photo), and her parents before her, are beneficiaries of this tradition. Keep the dream going and be an annual donor to the Southwestern Opportunity Fund.

Join today:

www.swau.edu/tradition

817-202-6628

100 W Hillcrest StKeene, TX 76059

Give the gift of opportunity



heart. It was the greatest investment I ever made.”

10sDayra Terreros ’10 is a marketing coordinator for Florida Hospital. She lives in Altamonte Springs, Fla.

Dennerd Ovando ’13 was inter-viewed recently on Univision KUVN Channel 23 in Dallas regarding the health fair United to Serve being sponsored by his current class at UT Southwestern Medical School. He was the appropriate person to be in-terviewed since the TV show was in Spanish and he was the only one in his group that spoke Spanish. United to Serve is an initiative to address the needs of the underserved in Dallas, with a particular focus on the health issues facing the Hispanic community.

It’salwaysspecialwhenSouthwesternalumnigettogether.Inthiscase,itwasduringAcrofestweekend.Itwasthefirsttimetheyhadbeentogethersincetheywere23.Fromleft:Greg’90 andKeila (Rodriguez)Birge ’90,Donnie ’92 andMichelle (Abrams)Beeson ’89, Cindy(Pechero)Boyko’89,Lisa(Vollberg)Klein’90,Doug’89andWendy(Pechero)Bishop’89,andWendy(Wood)Trevino’89andEthan.

120 years ago the Adventists of north Texas dreamed of an education for their kids. They pooled their funds and scores of them sold their homes and farms and moved to a wild patch of cross timbers south of Fort Worth. Within months they cleared the land and built a school, establishing a tradition of generosity with their time and treasures. Gabriella (photo), and her parents before her, are beneficiaries of this tradition. Keep the dream going and be an annual donor to the Southwestern Opportunity Fund.

Join today:

www.swau.edu/tradition

817-202-6628

100 W Hillcrest StKeene, TX 76059

Give the gift of opportunity


campusnewsCampus NewsStuff going on all over campus

Adventist Officials from Euro-Asia Choose Southwestern ESL

The Euro-Asian Division of Sev-enth-day Adventists has decided to work exclusively with Southwestern’s ESL (English as a Second Language) program in the future after a visit in January.

Monica Kowarsch, director of ESL, was contacted in August 2012 by the secretary of the Euro-Asian Division. The Euro-Asian Division wanted to send their leaders to an Adventist school to learn English. They also wanted to know what kind of ESL program Southwestern had, because they were looking at several schools to determine where they would send their leaders.

In January of 2013, the Euro-Asian Division sent two leaders to visit various Adventist institutions in the United States, including South-western, to review their ESL pro-grams. EAD’s education director and IT director came to Southwestern in January.

“They fell in love with South-western. Not only did they like our ESL program but the university as a whole,” says Kowarsch. “They were very impressed with how active the students were in campus life as well as spiritual activities. There were so many different activities that the school was organizing and doing and they saw that it was student led.”

Prior to coming, the directors had never heard of Southwestern. Over and over again, the two direc-tors praised the friendly and Chris-tian atmosphere that Southwestern represented.

“This year, the Euro-Asian Division contacted me again and they said that their board had voted to work exclu-sively with Southwestern,” says Kow-arsch. “They are very happy with the environment here.”

Southwestern’s ESL program is unique in regards to size and course

load. A small class size allows for more individual attention and one-on-one training for the students during class time.

“The teachers know you by name and they can work directly with you,” says Kowarsch. “Our ESL program is also one of the more intensive pro-grams.” Southwestern’s ESL program features four classes, a lab, and an everyday worship. With a worship every day, ESL students can work on pronunciation through singing and reciting Bible verses. Another strength in the ESL program is the student tutors, allowing ESL students to work on one-on-one conversation with other students.

“We’re hoping to get more and more out of this,” says Kowarsch. “Now with the good relationship we have with the Euro-Asian Division, we hope it will spread to other relationships.”

Some of the leaders talked about college-aged children of their own they would like to send here, which Kowarsch supports wholeheartedly. “I think having a diverse campus helps with the education of our students,” says Kowarsch. “Because when you’re in the workforce, you’re working with people from different cultures and backgrounds. That just opens your world and expands opportunities to get along with different people and see different perspectives. Diversity gives you a well-rounded education.”

Many Southwestern ESL alumni have gone on to be successful across the world. “Three of my old students got accepted to Loma Linda,” says Kowarsch. “They start from zero, some of them. One of the Loma Linda acceptees started from zero; now he’s studying to be a doctor. If students are motivated and follow the process of the ESL program, they can be very successful in their careers.”

Saxon Lecture Series Features Lectures, Play on Freud

Southwestern’s Saxon Lecture Series for the 2013-14 school year started off with a bang with a presentation by physicist Dr. Roy Campbell. His pre-sentation topic on November 16 was “Finding Deep Down Beauty in God’s Creation: The Search for the Higgs Boson.”

Campbell has a Ph.D. in theoret-ical particle physics from Florida State University. He taught physics and astronomy at Southwestern for 17 years and is currently teach-ing at Walla Walla University. He has held NASA fellowships in high energy astrophysics and won teach-ing awards both at Southwestern and at Walla Walla.

On March 1, the Series took a decidedly dramatic turn when South-western welcomed to the stage “Freud’s Last Session,” a play that features an imaginary encounter between Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis. Expected to be called on the carpet for satirizing Freud in a recent book, Lewis realizes that his host has a more significant agenda, and on the eve of World War II, the two clash on the existence of God, love, sex and the meaning of life.

The final presentation for South-western’s Saxon Lecture Series was presented by the creator of the series, Dr. George Saxon, retired physics professor. His topic for the April 5 presentation was “Confessions of An

The Euro-Asian Division of Seventh-dayAdventists sent two leaders to visitSouthwesterninJanuaryof2013.



Old Earth Creationist: Reconciling Faith and Physical Sciences.”

Saxon has promoted and supported the series financially with the goal of promoting scholarly discussion on science and religion since 2007. Since then the series has featured topics such as Galileo, John Harvey Kellogg, evolution, dinosaurs, Ellen G. White, and the new atheism.

Hoops Classic, Intercollegiate Tournaments Draw Athletes to Campus

Southwestern hosted its first inter-collegiate basketball invitational Jan. 18-21, featuring eight different teams, including Southwestern and Andrews University.

The remaining six teams were local colleges and universities that South-western regularly plays: Arlington Baptist College, Ranger College, Texas Wesleyan University, Parker Univer-sity, El Centro College, and Cham-pion Baptist College.

“We’ve got good relationships with the local schools and they’re all com-mitted,” says James The, vice presi-dent for student services. “Our hope is to start a rotation between Adven-tist schools to host a tournament and bring our Adventist schools together.”

The day after the invitational ended, more basketball mania ensued.

Every January excitement spreads across campus, due largely to South-western’s Annual Hoops Classic. This year marked its 19th run, drawing basketball players from 50 teams across the United States.

Thanks to the efforts of many, Southwestern’s Annual Hoop Classic is now known as one of the biggest and best Adventist sports tourna-ments for high school students in North America.

“The Hoops Classic is an exciting event that allows us to showcase our university to students from across the U.S.,” says Enga Almeida, vice presi-dent for enrollment. “They get to see what a beautiful campus we have and experience for themselves the friend-liness of our students, faculty, and staff.”

Staff in various areas of the uni-versity (student services, marketing,

enrollment, campus services, physi-cal plant, spiritual development, and the kinesiology department) spend countless hours putting together a thorough program, masterminded by James The, vice president for student services. “It’s a total team effort,” says Tina Bottsford, director of enrollment.

“Southwestern is committed to the physical, mental, social and spiritual development process of the student

Fromleft:TheSandiaViewKnightswontheSmallSchoolMen’sDivisionchampionship,whiletheTakomaVarsityLadyTigerswontheLargeSchoolWomen’sDivisionforthesecondyearinarow;TakomaAcademy’sTigersbeattheGreaterAtlantaAcademyKnightsfortheLargeSchoolMen’sDivisiontitle.

Above, “Freud’s LastSession”drewacapacitycrowdonMarch1.Below,Dr.RoyCampbelldiscussedthesearchfortheHiggsBosononNov.16.

SUMMER 2014 37


athlete,” says The. “The Hoops Classic is dedicated to athletes who can compete in any setting with the ele-ments of fairness, courteous behavior and gracious acceptance of both indi-vidual and contest results.”

Last year, Southwestern imple-mented an ambassador program that was repeated this year. Each team was presented with their own Southwest-ern ambassador that cheered on their teams during games, ate with them at Friday night supper and lunch on Sabbath, and spent time with the teams, giving them a chance to just talk with them. “The role of the ambassador is to foster good will, be the go-to person and answers any questions about Southwestern or the tournament,” says Bottsford.

“This started out as a Southwestern Union event for our academies,” says Bottsford. “But it has caught on as an exciting event to attend for people who live in the area. When I go to our different academies I hear, ‘Oh that’s my favorite event!’ so I know how much it means to a lot of people.”

The tournament started the after-noon of Jan. 22 and went through Saturday night to Sunday morning ending at about 3 a.m. Southwestern also awarded trophies to the winning teams of each division, as well as two $3,000 scholarships for Most Out-standing Male and Female Player who demonstrated skill on the court as well as sportsmanship at its best.

For Takoma Academy, the 19th annual Hoops Classic ended very well considering all three of their teams won the championships in their divisions: Small School Women’s, Large School Women’s, and Large School Men’s. In the Small School Women’s Division, the Takoma JV (Junior Varsity) Lady Tigers beat the South Texas Christian Academy Lady Panthers for the title. Last year the Takoma Varsity Lady Tigers won their division, making this year’s win the second championship they took home playing against the Spencerville Lady Hornets in the Large School Women’s Division. The Knights from Sandia View Academy managed to hold their own in a close game against North Dallas Adventist Academy

to win the Small School Men’s divi-sion championship title. And round-ing out Takoma Academy’s victory, the Takoma Tigers beat the Greater Atlanta Adventist Academy Knights for the title.

Enactus Places in National Competition

Southwestern’s Enactus team placed as finalists out of 200 teams in the annual Enactus U.S. National Expo-sition competition. The Enactus U.S. National Exposition took place April 1-3 at the Duke Energy Conven-tion Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The event is a cross-generational leader-ship experience for student, academic and business leaders and includes a national competition.

Enactus students showcased how they are transforming lives and enabling progress through entre-preneurial action before a panel of leading business executives. But the projects are more than just entrepre-neurial. They are a form of commu-nity service and make a difference in the world.

Business in a Box is an afterschool program conducted on the elemen-tary campus of KISD. Twenty-eight fifth graders learned about business topics and free enterprise in a fun and engaging way. Teams created prod-ucts that sold at a marketplace hosted at the school.

Southwestern’s Enactus adopted the local business, Celeste’s Kitchen. This was their enterprise in action. The team helped Celeste’s Kitchen grow through a social media campaign, on

campus promotions, and increased marketing awareness.

Southwestern also helped with the Johnson County Christian Lodge. They helped to cook and serve meals, made Christmas gifts and assisted res-idents with resume writing. The team has future plans to help with a con-struction project.

Finally, Southwestern’s Enactus helped rebuild computers and provide new laptops and iPads for the youth center run by Rez Refuge. This was in collaboration with the Navajo Mission trip in Fort Defiance, New Mexico.

This is all just the beginning. The projects listed here are first-year proj-ects and Enactus looks forward to doing even more in years to come. “I’m really proud of them and all the projects they’ve accomplished,” says Ana Patterson, Enactus faculty sponsor and business administration assistant professor. “I think the stu-dents have been doing a great job.”

Academy Students Perform At Annual Music Festival

This year’s annual Music Festival took place March 26-30, with high school and academy musicians travel-ing to Southwestern from across the U.S. and even Brazil. The annual festi-val features three festival ensembles: a 400-voice choir, a 90-piece symphonic band, and a full symphony orchestra. Eighteen academies and schools par-ticipated in the event.

In addition to the festival ensem-bles, elite musicians performed for a Music Festival Scholarship. All Schol-arship Finalists had the opportu-

TheMusic Festival endedwith “ANight at theMeyerson,” an opportunity for students toperformattheworld-classMortonH.MeyersonSymphonyCenterinDallas.



nity to perform in a Showcase Recital on March 26. Finalists were Cara-lissa McQueen, flute, from Chisholm Trail Academy; Dana Wilson, violin, Atlanta Adventist Academy, Georgia; Italo Opazo, viola, Temuco, Chile; Jennifer Ramirez, soprano, Chisholm Trail Academy; Michael Won, organ, Santa Monica High School, Califor-nia; and Trent Muse, piano, Chisholm Trail Academy. All finalists received music scholarships to Southwestern.

As is its annual tradition, the Music Festival ended with “A Night at the Meyerson,” an opportunity for stu-dents to perform at the world-class Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas. Under the direction of Jonathan Wall, music department chair and director of choral and vocal studies, the Festival Choir consisted of 400 singers representing many differ-ent high schools and academies from across the country. This year the choir performed selections from Vivaldi’s Gloria, Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah and music from composers Moses Hogan, L.L. Fleming and Eric Whitacre.

The Invitational Festival Symphonic Band, conducted by Dr. Rudyard Dennis, professor of music and direc-tor of instrumental studies, consisted of 90 select instrumentalists. The group performed pieces ranging from the classics to electrifying new wind band literature, several in collabo-ration with Meyerson’s massive C.B. Fisk op. 100 pipe organ.

The Symphony Orchestra was directed by Dr. Marc Elysee, assis-tant professor of music and director of orchestral studies, and gathered 80 instrumentalists from the woodwind, brass, percussion, and string families. Students who were a part of this eclec-tic ensemble performed some of the most significant and colorful works of the symphonic repertoire such as Debussy’s Claire de Lune and Camille Saint-Saens’ Danse Macabre.

“For more than two decades now, we have been hosting ‘A Night at the Meyerson,’ a concert that fea-tures both our own students and high school students from around the country,” said Eric Anderson, univer-sity president in anticipation of the

event. “These concerts are designed to provide scholarships and musical equipment for Southwestern’s music department. They are also intended to glorify God.”

University Singers Tour Montreal Cathedrals, Host New England Music Clinic

Southwestern Adventist Univer-sity’s University Singers, under the direction of Jonathan Wall, trav-eled over spring break to Montreal and parts of New England. The tour included concerts at notable venues such Notre Dame Basilica of Mon-treal, Christ’s Episcopal Church of Montpelier, the South Lancaster College Church, Saint Patrick’s Cathe-dral in New York City, and several other Adventist churches and schools.

One of the biggest blessings of the trip didn’t happen in a church but on the subway. As the group traveled home late one night, they made some new friends. “A woman asked us what kind of group we were,” says Makala Coleman, senior communication major. “Mr. Wall, our director, told her that we’re a choir from Texas. She responded, ‘Well, then sing!’ We sang Amazing Grace.

“In the background, a young man tuned in. Eventually speaking up, he told us that he had experienced the worst day and was so discouraged. It was completely unexpected to run into us on a late night train. Hearing us sing made a huge difference. It turns out that he had been a Sev-

enth-day Adventist. We invited him to our upcoming concert at St. Pat-rick’s Cathedral. And he came! You never know when or where God can use you.”

Southwestern’s Music Department produces many recitals and concerts each year. The University Singers features 33 students, each of whom auditioned for their position in the choir and represent a wide variety of majors. In addition to touring all over Texas and surrounding states, the group recently toured Costa Rica and the Czech Republic. The Univer-sity Singers have the been the guests for the Society of Adventist Commu-nicators convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on the Hope Channel, on 3ABN for the NAD Year-End Meetings in Washington, D.C., and for retired Rear Admiral and Senate Chaplain Barry Black at the Senate Bible Study.

While in the Czech Republic, the Singers performed for churches and schools as well as at the American Spring Festival in Slany as guests of the International Dvorak Society. They also sang for the U.S. Ambassa-dor to Slovakia, Theodore Sedgwick, and for the German/Austrian Hope Channel at Seminar Schloss Bogen-hofen in Austria.

For more information on upcoming concerts, and to access complete bios on the featured faculty, please visit www.swau.edu/academics/music.

OneofthehighlightsfortheUniversitySingerstourwasaperformanceatSt.Patrick’sCathedralinNewYorkCity.


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Documents

Southwestern Spirit–Summer 2014