LIFEVOL. XXXI, NO. 1 JANUARY 2001

Oregon’s Professor of the YearA mix of community service, scientific research and devotion to students earnsDwight Kimberly the highest teaching award ever earned by a George Fox professor

Walking into the office of biology professorDwight Kimberly, a visitor is met with a riotof boxes, books, plastic bottles, towers of

coffee cups, a coiled orange extension cord, and a book-shelf laden with jars of large insects and small animalspreserved in formaldehyde. There’s an electronic type-writer and a corresponding stack of student letters ofreference awaiting attention. (He’s completed 130 so farthis year.) There’s even a two-foot tall model of a DNAstrand, a flurry of red, blue, and yellow dots.

The one thing you won’t find is any sign of the high-est award ever given to a George Fox professor: OregonProfessor of the Year. Nothing visible announces thatKimberly was chosen by three national selection com-mittees to receive the prestigious award, which is opento professors at all Oregon universities.

Under questioning, Kimberly pulls a large framedaward certificate from beneath his desk. That’s where itwill stay, he says. He’s satisfied with the current displayon his wall: photos of his family and mentor Elver Voth— a former George Fox science professor — and printsof a heron and raccoons.

“People and animals mean more to me,” he explains. Recognition hasn’t seemed to alter Kimberly, a per-

sonable 56-year-old professor known to attract lines ofstudents wanting to chat. His most recent honor followssimilar teacher-of-the-year awards from the Oregon

Academy of Science and George Fox University.“The reason I’ve gotten these awards is not academ-

ic, but because I like people,” he says. “I find studentsvery interesting. Figuring out how they tick…discover-ing if I can allow them to do some things they couldn’tdo before.”

Since returning to his alma mater in 1994, Kimberlyhas immersed himself in teaching, research, and com-munity outreach. His efforts have led to educationalexpeditions across Oregon and Washington, traveling

with other George Fox professors and students, promot-ing science to elementary, junior high, high school andhome-school students. Teachers from both public andprivate schools continually call him requesting loans ofeverything from microscopes to cadavers.

During the nomination process, Kimberly cooperatedreluctantly with the university relations office, whoassured him that any recognition he received would begood for George Fox. His nomination highlighted hisresearch in developmental anatomy and physiology atOregon Health Sciences University, and included anec-dotes about his long hours and the time he helped save astudent surgeon’s grade by giving mouth-to-mouth resus-citation to an ailing lab rabbit. For the record, Kimberly— who is allergic to rabbits — used a small tube toadminister the aid.

When notified of the award, Kimberly didn’t botherto tell his colleagues, or even his wife. They found outonly when the winner was announced publicly. Kim-berly’s response since receiving the award, hasremained constant. “It’s mind-boggling,” he says.

Leaving Kimberly’s office requires negotiating apathway through the clutter, past file cabinets stackedwith more stuff. Few flat surfaces remain bare in thesmall room. But one area is clear…an empty chairawaiting his next student visitor. It rarely grows cold.

— Rob Felton

About theCarnegie/CASE Award

Biology Professor Dwight Kimberly namedOregon’s 2000 Professor of the Year

The Award: The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancementof Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Supportof Education (CASE) administer the 20-year-old nationalaward program.

The Process: Kimberly was selected from among nomineesfrom 14 universities and colleges in Oregon. Three nationalselection committees narrowed the field to 44 state win-ners and four national winners.

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Biology professor DwightKimberly says he’s embar-rassed by the attention hisawards have brought him.He says he just likes people,like these eighth gradersfrom Dayton, Ore., whovisited George Fox’s humananatomy lab as part of theUniversity’s science educa-tion outreach program.

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Alittle more than three years ago, David andDebby Thomas started their dream jobs. Theymoved to Rwanda, an African nation still

bruised and bloodied from its 1994 genocide. TheGeorge Fox graduates provide support and guidance topastors in the Rwandan Friends Church, most of whomhave less than a third-grade education.

Their dream began more like a nightmare. Ten daysafter arriving, their family dinner was interrupted by twooff-duty soldiers, who entered their home, pointed anautomatic weapon at them, and demanded money. Later,David (’93) made a gruesome discovery while exploringold foxholes where fighting had occurred during the war.About a quarter-mile from theThomases’ new home, he foundarmy helmets and human bones.

Many would question the cou-ple’s decision to volunteer to workand raise three small children insuch a frightful place. At times,David and Debby do, too. But, likemore than 100 other George Foxalumni who work as full-time cross-cultural missionaries, the Thomaseshave responded to a spiritual call.

At age 16, Debby (’94) saw pho-tos of starving Rwandan childrenpresented by a missionary visitingher church. Immediately, she aspiredto become a missionary teacher, jet-tisoning plans for an engineeringcareer. She expected to forgo mar-riage as well.

“I thought, ‘How am I going tofind a guy who wants to go off toAfrica?” she says.

Then she met David — the son ofthird-generation missionaries —who had been inspired to missionsby a spiritual experience during hispreschool years in Bolivia.

“I wanted to work in other partsof the world where the Holy Spiritwas working,” he says.

From the apostle Paul, to Dr. David Livingstone, toGeorge Fox alumni like David and Debby Thomas, cross-cultural missionaries have taken the words of Jesus Christto heart and abandoned their native homes to share thegospel and serve their neighbors throughout the world.

Prepared for ServiceTraining students for missionary service fits in with

George Fox’s trustee-established mission to “prepareevery person to serve Christ in the world.”

“The Christian religion is an evangelical enterprise,”says President David Brandt. “We are carriers of the good

news to everyone, including those from other cultures.It’s our job.”

“Many of our students feel like giving their lives awayin humble service,” adds Ron Stansell, professor of reli-gion and director of the Evangelical Friends Internation-al Council. “It takes a certain mentality. Usually itinvolves giving up a sense of security. It’s kind of count-er-cultural. The yuppie desire for security is not universal.

“It’s important for George Fox’s spiritual health,” saysStansell. “Sending George Fox alums into ministry willnot necessarily enhance [the University] in the eyes ofthe world at large. They won’t be wealthy alums, but ifwe don’t send them, we’ll die from self-centeredness.”

Apart from Mother Teresa,today’s missionaries are rarelyknown outside their Christiancommunities. About the only timethey make the headlines is whenthey are kidnapped or killed. Still,U.S. Christians spend more than$2 billion a year supporting over-seas missions. Although there is nouniversally accepted definition ofwho qualifies as a missionary, onesource — World Vision Interna-tional’s Mission Handbook — liststhe number of Protestant mission-aries working in cross-culturalmissions at 138,492. Of those,64,378 are Americans.

“Not all missionaries are evan-gelists, but all contribute to evan-gelism,” says Stansell. “Maybethat includes everyone: missionarypilots, relief workers, missionaryteachers, evangelists, missionaryradio workers…”

Adapting Methods toMeet the Needs

As Asia and the countries of theformer Soviet Union open up tooutsiders, George Fox is preparing

students for the changing mission field.“We’re going back to a first-century model of tent-

making missions,” says Brandt. “Many cultures areaccessible only to persons who bring skills that the cul-ture doesn’t already have. It’s increasingly important tohave university-educated missionaries. The skills GeorgeFox students receive are precisely those skills that arenecessary and welcomed by many cultures and countriesto which we would like to take the gospel. These days weneed professionals in communications, education, sci-ence, and technology. We increasingly need to look tothose departments for missionaries.”

Ever since Jesus Christ gave the order to go out andmake disciples, Christianity has leapt fromculture to culture. The apostle Paul spear-headed the first cross-cultural exchange bycarrying Christ’s message to the Gentiles.Since then, the center of the Christian faithhas shifted from Jerusalem to the Greco-Roman world to Western Europe to theWestern Hemisphere and Africa.

Although Christianity itself has expand-ed for 2,000 years, the modern Protestantmissionary movement is only slightly morethan 200 years old. Its roots can be traced toBritish missionary societies in the late1700s that provided prayer and financialbacking for individuals and families whowere commissioned to venture abroad andwin souls.

“We’re in the business of wanting tobring people into a conversion experience,”says Stansell. Western Christians todayplace special emphasis on individualchoice, but that isn’t how Christianity hasalways been disseminated. In the fourthcentury, for example, Emperor Constantinedeclared Christianity the state religion of

Cari Hogan (’98) is the Salvation Army’s regionalyouth director in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.She helps organize and set up youth programs for thecountry’s 12 Salvation Army churches. When she fin-ishes her one-year commitment, she expects to moveon to other missions elsewhere.

Degree: B.A., Spanish, Writing/Literature from GeorgeFox; M.A., intercultural studies from Biola University.

Things I’ve learned in the Dominican Republic:It’s okay to pick your nose in public. In fact, it’s

extremely common.Women here don’t shave their legs or underarms (I’m

not planning to acculturate in this way).If you smash a spider instead of picking it up with a

Kleenex, mopping is a much bigger task.If you save your mop bucket water (spider guts and

all) and your dish water, you may actually be able toflush your toilet that day!

Going without electricity really isn’t all that bad —until you want to do a bed check, because you simplycan’t get a candle close enough to the sheets to reallysee if there are any spiders down there.

Mosquitoes really like fresh, white meat.Adventures of Daily Living: “Losing electricity on a

nearly daily basis (up to 19 hours so far) and going near-ly three weeks without running water.”

Why am I here? “This is a question I often askmyself amid the challenges of youth work and workingwith other cultures. But as I read the book The City ofJoy, about a missionary in Calcutta, India, I am struck bythis thought: I am not here for the youth. I am not herefor the Dominicans. I’m not here for the Salvation Army. Iam here because I want to love Jesus unconditionally.And, through learning to love Him in this way, I remainhere for all those other reasons, despite the challenges.”

Impact of technology: “E-mail is absolutely a god-send for missionaries. It gives us great contact withfriends and family back home. In my particular job, it hasbeen wonderful for helping me find and ask forresources for the youth work.”

Exotic illnesses: I had dengue fever. (If you’ve readJohn Grisham’s description in The Testament, he’s nottoo far off the mark.) Often confused with malaria,dengue is transmitted by mosquitoes and has a verysudden onset. The third day of my fever, I went to thelocal hospital and described my other symptoms ofchills, headache, bloody nose, nausea, vomiting...youname it, I had it! The fourth day, I was covered in a rashthat lasted about two days. With dengue, you feel likeyou’ve been hit by a truck. The worst symptoms weregone after about two weeks, but weakness and lack ofappetite lasted over a month.”

Spiritual lessons: “In this walk of faith, the pointisn’t what I can do for the people, it’s about knowingJesus more. But He reveals Himself more and more as Ifollow, even in the times when I don’t seem to hear Him.”

Matthew Zoller (’92) is in his eighth year inBolivia. He works with World Concern, integrating apersonal discipleship plan into the organization’s ruralcommunity development projects in Bolivia. He and hisBolivian wife, Chiqui, live in Santa Cruz.

Degree: B.A., Communication ArtsWhy Bolivia? “In sixth grade, I had to do a report on

a South American country. I choseBolivia because it was right in the mid-dle of the continent and landlocked.The following year, I met some mis-sionaries from Bolivia. From that dayon, I said that I would be a missionarythere. My interest continued to growand I took every opportunity I could tolearn more about the region and meetthose who lived there. As I nearedgraduation at George Fox, Ron Stansellmade contact for me at the BolivianEvangelical University, which allowedme my first personal contact with thecountry. I went to work with the univer-sity for one year. . . [and] I’ve now livedhere more than eight years.”

Personality trait most needed:“A sense of humor.”

Bizarre foods: Guinea pig, armadilloLearning about faith: “Often, we

think we have a good grasp on spiritualor theological concepts. And becausewe think ourselves fairly capable ofassimilating those concepts into ourlives, when we venture out as mission-aries, we might be surprised by how

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To All The WorldAlumni use their George Fox education as cross-cultural missionaries

Therefore go andmake disciples of

all nations,baptizing them in

the nameof the Father

and of the Son andof the Holy Spirit,

and teachingthem to obey

everything I havecommanded you.

And surelyI am with you always,

to the veryend of the age.

Jesus’ Great Commission,Matthew 28:19-20, NIV

Matthew Zoller (’92), who works with World Concern on rural community devel-opment projects in Bolivia, fixes a broken water pipe on a trough for cattle. Agroup of local women have started a dairy, producing milk, yogurt, and butter.“Being a missionary is like being a compassionate clown,” says Zoller. “We lookdifferent, talk different, have strange and funny ideas, but we long to reach theheart of the person.”

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much we have to learn.For years, as a studentand as a disciple ofJesus, I thought I under-stood what it meant tointegrate my faith intoeveryday life — until ahandful of men andwomen from a small vil-lage in the Altiplano (highplains of the BolivianAndes) taught me what itreally means to live outmy faith in everything Ido. Their village lies threehours by jeep and a one-hour drive on a burro pathfrom the nearest majorcity. There is very littlecommunication from any-one outside the surround-ing hills. I was invitedthere to observe theirannual ritual and offeringto the Pachamama (theirgod/earth mother). Theyperformed a series of ritu-al dances, sacrificed alamb, and presented theiroffering on the highest hillin their community. Before

they plant crops, they give a ritual offering asking per-mission of the Pachamama. They ‘call in’ the wind withanother ritual before blowing the chaff from their grain.Every action is spiritual for them. They have no alterna-tive but to depend on their spiritual life for sustenance. Itis true that they need to hear about the God greater thanall other gods, but on this trip it was the community thatleft a life-changing perspective in me on what it reallymeans to live out my faith.”

Susannah Sparks (MAT ’99) is in her second yearwith the Network of International Christian Schools(NICS), teaching third grade in Bangkok, Thailand.About sixty percent of the school’s students come fromnon-Christian homes.

Goals: “One goal is to understand the love that Godhas for me so that I may love others. I would like to learnthe Thai language enough to share the gospel. My goalfor this year is that I give my students enough knowl-edge about Jesus so that when they are old enough todecide for themselves, without parental restrictions, theywill choose Jesus.”

Personality trait most needed: “Other than dailydependence on Jesus, I would say flexibility.”

Bizarre food: Fried caterpillarsUnusual Customs: “You always take your shoes off

when you go inside, so as not to bring in any bad spiritsfrom your shoes. Outside of every home or building is aseparate small house — much like a birdhouse —where the spirits live. Every morning, you are to leavefood for these spirits to keep them happy, so they willprotect your property. If something happens to your prop-erty, it is because you made the spirits unhappy.”

Role Models: “Jim Elliot, for taking every thoughtcaptive. George Mueller, for his prayer life.”

How felt call to missions: “February, 1999 at a mis-sions conference at Sunset Presbyterian Church in Port-land. Floyd McClung was the guest speaker that week-end and God really spoke to my heart through him. Oneof his main points was that we think about missions allwrong. We often say, ‘I am not called to missions. I don’thave a burden for any other country, etc...’ and so welive our comfortable lives in America.

“McClung said that instead we should ‘prepare to go,but be willing to stay.’ At the time, I wondered how Icould teach and go. Surely my year at George Fox wouldbe put to use. About one month later, as part of the M.A.T.program, several people presented alternatives to class-room teaching. One of those options was teaching at amissionary school. When I left GFU that day, I knew I wasgoing into missions, but I had no idea where.

“Through a series of events and God-confirmingdecisions, I left for Thailand four months after I first feltcalled to missions.”

Why am I here? “I have a pile of notes that my stu-dents write to me. One that I love is from a little boy thatsays, ‘Thank you for coming from America to teach usabout the Bible. I like the way you solve our problemswhen you pray to God. I think that when I grow up I want

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David Thomas (’93) — shown here at a church in Ruhengeri, Rwanda — and his wife, Debby (’94), are fulfilling their dreams as mis-sionaries in one of the world’s most troubled cultures. They serve as “pastors to the pastors” for the Rwandan Friends Church andsupport peacemaking, education, AIDS prevention and evangelism efforts in the country. “It’s really hard,” says Debby. “Sometimes Ireally don’t think I'll ever make a difference. I have to have faith that God called me for a reason. I have to trust that as I live in obe-dience to Him, He will be working through me whether I see it or not.”

Barbara Morse (’62) has served incross-cultural missions to Latin America for29 years. Formerly a missionary school-teacher in Bolivia and Peru, she now helpsproduce and distribute native-language lit-erature and audio material to indigenousgroups in southern Mexico (with WycliffeBible Translators).

Degree: B.A., elementary educationBizarre food: “I enjoyed alligator meat in

the jungles of Peru, which was delicious. Ihaven’t had enough courage yet to try thedried grasshoppers theysell in the local marketshere.”

Joys andheartaches: “While liv-ing in a Zapotec village,it was annoying to belistening to recordedlanguage drills and tohave to also listen toloudspeakers playingMexican-style countrymusic from more thanone nearby cantina(beer hall). However, itwas delightful later torealize that it was alsoculturally acceptable for

believers to turn up the volume on their tapeplayers so their neighbors could hear record-ed Scripture in Zapotec.

“It was heartbreaking to see some whowere walking with the Lord cave in to verystrong pressure from family and friends, andturn back on their previous commitments.People need the opportunity to hear andunderstand the Scriptures, but they also needprayer to stand strong in the face of incrediblesocial pressures that they face in societieswhere Satan has held sway for so long.”

Why am I here? “Iam reminded that if Iam doing what Godwants me to, there willinevitably be battles.However, it is thrillingto hear reports of peo-ple turning to the Lordand to see churchesestablished as a resultof hearing the gospelin their own language.Then I know that it isworth the struggles tobe part of the teamthat is helping to makethat happen.”

What I miss most about the U.S.: “Theconveniences we take for granted. It would benice to be able to drink the water just as itcomes out of the faucet.”

On cultural sensitivity: “I believe thatpeople of other cultures need to have theopportunity to choose for themselves whatthey would like to adopt or exclude as part oftheir culture. They are intelligent people, ableto make those choices for themselves. Forthat reason, they need to have the opportunityto hear the Christian message in their ownlanguage. As they develop and mature as aChristian community, they can decide forthemselves how the Christian message shouldbe lived out in their culture, based on theauthority of the Word of God, which is for allcultures.”

Missionary contributions: “Where theBible is being translated, literacy training hasgone along with it. Currently, many translatorsare cooperating with bilingual teachers intheir efforts to produce literacy materials andbuild esteem among members of the indige-nous communities. Also, dictionaries havebeen produced as a result of the linguisticstudies, and have helped to build pride amonggroups that tend to have little esteem for theirown language and culture.”

Wycliffe missionary BarbaraMorse (’62), left, with a co-worker at the Ethnic Re-source Center in OaxacaCity, Mexico, where theydistribute literature to theindigenous people.

ALUMNI IN MISSIONS

the Holy Roman Empire, “converting” thousands. Othermissionary efforts — such as what occurred during theSpanish conquest of the Americas — occasionally havebeen rather heavy-handed.

Mike Allen, professor of sociology, hopes thatmissionaries who come from George Fox are more sensi-tive to cultural differences. “We’re trying to assist stu-dents to not judge instantaneously, but to understand andrespect [others].”

Today’s secular world gives mixed reactions to mis-sion work. Despite selfless Christian efforts in education,medicine, language translation, relief work, and othersocial programs, missionaries are sometimes malignedfor imposing their culture along with their faith. Somecriticism is justified. For example, indoctrination withWestern church tradition has led some African pastors totell David Thomas that he must wear a tie to preach …even in the bush.

“One of the most important things we’re trying to teachis the difference between what is spiritual and what is cul-tural,” says Allen. “Our decisions should be based uponspiritual principles. Many times we brought our spiritualchoices and believed in an ethnocentric way that weshould bring our own culture as the best available culture.We did it without giving validity to the existing culture.”

Well-Rounded TeachingThe broad liberal arts education provided by George

Fox is intended to help future cross-cultural missionaries— and all of its students — be aware of how their envi-ronment affects their faith. Although he could haveearned his bachelor’s degree in Christian ministries,David Thomas majored in international studies, an inter-disciplinary program recommended for those interestedin cross-cultural missions.

“[Our curriculum] is designed to prepare them broad-ly,” says Stansell. “We want them to be aware of politics,economics, and world religions, as well as cross-culturalcommunication. It also provides strong options to devel-op Bible awareness, theology and ministry skills.”

“Mission preparation is as much learning about cross-culturalism as knowing the message,” says PresidentBrandt. “We have to teach our students both the messageand how to disseminate it.”

Over the past 15 years, George Fox has expanded theinternational opportunities available to its students. WhenDebby Thomas wanted to test her call to cross-culturalmissions, she spent a semester studying in Kenya. Brandtsays that these types of overseas programs and the Uni-versity’s professor-guided study tours to underdeveloped

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Apowerful, visible, and familiar part of higher educa-tion in the United States is intercollegiate athletics.

University sports command significant space in everynewspaper and television sports segment.

The national image of intercollegiate athletics is notalways positive. Sometimes universities tolerate coacheswho throw chairs, berate officials, and mistreat studentathletes — as long as the team wins. Such behavior hasled to a nationwide call for university presidents toreclaim control of intercollegiate athletics. We continue tohear about the importance of winning and the role of bigmoney in the intercollegiate athletic business. Large, ath-letically prominent universities depend on athletics as apowerful public relations tool.

Fortunately, the above description comprises a rela-tively small segment of intercollegiate sports. I believethat sports can be a powerful complement to other learn-ing opportunities for both student-athletes and the rest ofthe university. Much of life involves competition: winningand losing, self-discipline for the good of the team, team-work, and encouraging someone who may be positioned“ahead” of us. There’s a sense in which sports can do thisteaching when other educational venues can’t. Winningand losing are not easily taught in a standard classroom.A recent posting on the Internet attributed 11 “Real LifeRules” to Bill Gates, head of Microsoft. One of theserules is, “Your school may have done away with winnersand losers, but life has not. In some schools, they haveabolished failing grades, and they’ll give you as manytries as you want to get the right answer. This does notbear the slightest resemblance to anything in real life.”

Competing in intercollegiate athletics is one way tolearn these important life lessons, especially when George

Fox coaches are providing theleadership to think about theseissues.

I enjoy winning and expectus always to work toward thatgoal, but reality is that we will,on occasion, lose. And, win orlose, I am proud to identify withGeorge Fox athletics, becauseof our coaches and our studentathletes, and because athletics atthis university contributes tolearning and maturing.

George Fox University is now part of the NorthwestConference, a member of the National Collegiate Athlet-ic Association Division III. Universities in Division III donot grant scholarships based on athletic skills or partici-pation. We must be attractive to athletes for reasons otherthan scholarship or grant money, and we must providethem with an education that is worth the cost. We mustprovide excellent coaches, schedules, and facilities. Mostimportantly, we need to attract those athletes eager for ourChrist-centered higher education, who will then go intothe world to positively influence our culture.

I am pleased with our excellent coaches, trainers, andathletic administrators. I am delighted that George Fox isa member of the Northwest Conference. To provide ourstudent-athletes with the finest sports learning experience,we need continually to improve, upgrade, and expand oursports facilities. I am committed to providing George Foxstudents with a high-quality, Christ-centered athletic pro-gram in an NCAA Division III context.

PresidentDavid Brandt

LIFE STAFF

EditorAnita Cirulis

Contributing WritersBlair CashAnita CirulisRob FeltonJohn FortmeyerBarry Hubbell

PhotographersMonterey AnthonyAnita CirulisChijo Takeda

DesignerColin Miller

George Fox University LIFE (USPS 859-820) is published four times a year byGeorge Fox University, 414 North Meridi-an Street, Newberg, Oregon, 97132-2697, USA. Periodicals postage paid atNewberg, Oregon. Postmaster: Sendaddress changes to LIFE, George FoxUniversity, 414 N. Meridian St. #6305,Newberg, OR 97132-2697.

Please send letters, alumni news, andaddress changes to LIFE, George FoxUniversity, 414 N. Meridian St. #6305,Newberg, OR 97132-2697.Phone: 503-554-2126. Use ourWeb site: www.georgefox.edu/alumni,and click “Staying in Touch.”E-mail: alumni@georgefox.edu.

GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITYADMINISTRATION

PresidentH. David Brandt

Vice President for Financial AffairsDonald J. Millage

Vice President for Academic AffairsRobin E. Baker

Vice President for Enrollment ServicesAndrea P. Cook

Vice President for AdvancementDana L. Miller

Vice President for Student LifeBradley A. Lau

Executive Assistant to the PresidentBarry A. Hubbell

CounselingPrograms Movedfrom SeminaryGraduate students interested in earning

degrees in counseling or marriage and fami-ly therapy no longer enroll in classes at GeorgeFox Evangelical Seminary.

Beginning this school year, those programshave moved — both organizationally and physi-cally — out of the Seminary and under theumbrella of George Fox University at large.

“Moving the graduate counseling departmentout of the Seminary allows the Seminary to focuson its primary mission: preparing people for theministry,” says Robin Baker, vice president foracademic affairs at George Fox.

The graduate counseling department is stilllocated at the Portland Center, which increasinglyis becoming the University’s center for graduateand adult learning programs.

After remodeling work completed last sum-mer, the second floor of the Portland Center nowhouses the Seminary, while the first floor ishome to the University’s counseling, marriageand family therapy, M.B.A., and degree-comple-tion programs.

With the addition of a doctor of ministrydegree added last year, the Seminary now offersfour degrees, including a master of divinity, andmaster’s degrees in Christian ministries and the-ological studies.

On Being Good Sports

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countries are especially valuable cross-cultural experiences. Students also canearn academic credit for internationalservice with humanitarian organizations.

Similarly, hundreds of George Foxstudents have served abroad on staff-ledshort-term mission trips to Ukraine,Brazil, India, Nepal, Canada, and Haiti.This spring, students are headed to Mex-ico, Cuba, and Jamaica.

But going abroad isn’t the only way toexpose students to the world. The Uni-versity is committed to bringing morecultural diversity and exposure to cam-pus. For example, George Fox runs aprofessor exchange program with a Chi-nese university. Admissions officersactively recruit international and minori-ty students, and two full-time staff mem-bers work to promote multiculturalunderstanding through curriculum, lec-tures, clubs, and special events.

“I hope all of our alumni are mission-aries,” says Brandt. “With the shrinkingworld, we can’t help but encounter othercultures. I hope our commitment to thegospel is such that we take it to all ofthose places. For all of the mistakeswe’ve made, the fact is that missionshave brought new life to the world.”

— Rob Felton

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to be like that.’ I keep them so that I can readthem when I am discouraged.”

On cultural sensitivity: “One thing I havelearned since I have been here is how ethnocen-tric Americans are, including myself. Jesus nevertried to change a culture. He only wanted tochange hearts. The Thai people have no conceptof grace or of a God who loves. Relationships arevery important to them. You must really under-stand what they believe and work from that.”

Advice to others considering missions:“Just do it! There are so many people in thisworld that live in darkness. Whatever you do youcan do in a foreign country.”

Ben Spotts (’96), works in the U.S., but hastaken short-term trips to the Philippines; Syriaand Russia; Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong andSingapore; India; and Kazakhstan.

Degree: B.A., Communication ArtsTasks: “Everything from helping at manual

labor (digging through an ant colony in Indonesiato get down to a leaky sewage pipe) to puppetshows and singing. We mainly have done out-reach to children in schools and public placesthrough skits, object lessons, and singing.”

Goals: “Several trips were for the purpose ofencouraging missionaries and the indigenouschurch leaders. Other trips (India and Kazakhstan)were aimed at partnering with local churches to

give evangelistic presentations to com-munities (mostly directed at children),offer instruction for young/new pastors,and assist the local churches in minister-ing to their communities (i.e. by settingup a computer lab). I think our goalshould always be to uncover what God isalready doing in the culture to draw peo-ple to Himself and support that in a waythat doesn’t make the people dependenton us, but instead empowers them to bemore effective in their own context.”

Why do I go? “When I visit anotherculture, I’m reminded of the incredible

resources that I (and the Western church) havebeen given. My duty is to share some of that in anappropriate way with our brothers and sisters inneedy countries.”

On avoiding imposing culture with faith:“We should acknowledge that some of this hashappened in the past, and it was wrong. Thegospel can and should be…transplanted into aculture in a sensitive way. The fact remains thatthe world is steadily encroaching on ‘innocentnatives,’ and missionaries, in general, will havebetter motives and help natives have a betterchance of survival than if we let corporations orgovernments that are hostile to minorities reachthem first. Natives will tell you that life beforeChristianity was not peaceful or ideal. Their cul-tures often include traditions that disenfranchiseone of the sexes or subject the people to obedi-ence to ‘spiritual powers’ through fear. Thus, Chris-tianity has the privilege of redeeming the negativeparts of their culture while — we hope — leavingthe positive parts of culture as they were.”

Advice to those considering missions:“Consider this quote from Let the Nations BeGlad, by John Piper: ‘Missions exists becauseworship doesn’t. [Worship] is the goal, because inmissions we simply aim to bring the nations intothe white-hot enjoyment of God’s glory.’ Frankly, Ilove the fellowship and worship found in Ameri-can churches. I love the ease of life that allowsfree time for ministry here in the United States.However, we should be motivated to bring theprivilege of worshipping God to others who havetruly never heard. I think that my generationwants to be part of something radical and worthyof giving 100 percent of our energy and time.

“Take the Perspectives on the World ChristianMovement class (see www.perspectives.org) at alocal church, read a missionary biography, or goon a short-term trip. Try to find teams that go toserve the local church and are driven by a localpastor’s requests for assistance. At the very least,ministries that we do overseas must be done inways that equip the nationals to carry on — ver-sus creating dependence.”

ALUMNI IN MISSIONS

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Ben Spotts (’96), center, on an airplanerunway in Obukui, Indonesia. Spotts, a full-time employee of a Portland high-tech pub-lic relations agency, is representative of anemerging trend toward short-term missions.

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Preserving a Piece of HistoryA Legacy Campaign goal will provide funds to finish renovation of Wood-Mar Hall

hough it’s not the oldest build-ing on campus, for many,Wood-Mar Hall is George FoxUniversity. For generations of

students, Wood-Mar was nearly theentire college — at least for class-rooms and offices. In fact, it was soprominent that at one time it wasused in advertising and on letterheadas part of the school’s logo.

When the building was saved fromdemolition in 1991, the local New-berg newspaper ran a banner headlineacross the front page, proclaiming“Wood-Mar Saved from WreckingBall,” and LIFE devoted an entireissue to the subject, under the head-line “New Hope for Wood-Mar.” Nei-ther publication felt it necessary touse the word “Hall” in their head-lines. So well established was theWood-Mar name that it was simplyunderstood.

Historic Growth ContinuesGiven the building’s place in the

hearts of so many at George Fox, it’seasy to understand why saving thehistoric “Old Main” might be the most sentimental of the projects inthe University’s $22 million development campaign. With a price tagof $750,000, it also is the smallest.

Of course, the relatively modest dollar amount does not reflect thesignificance of the project: continuing the process of saving and restor-ing the three-story, 55-foot high building, which opened in 1911. In theinitial phase of renovation in 1994, a $1.2 million overhaul demolishedthe original third-floor auditorium and replaced it with an updated,6,000-square-foot facility that preserved thesame early-century charm of the original.

Now work is needed on the first and secondfloors to complete the restoration and bring thelandmark building back to renewed grandeur.The ground floor use will be changed fromadministrative services and offices (print room,mailroom, campus pastor, and adjunct facultyoffice) to teaching laboratories to be used prima-rily in the mechanical engineering program. Twoadditional teaching labs will be used by electri-cal engineering students for the study of elec-tronics and robotics. Yet another laboratory willbe available for student/faculty research. Thesecond floor will be renovated to house twoclassrooms (for 35-40 students each), engineering faculty offices, aconference room, and restrooms.

Completion next fall of the Edward F. Stevens Center will allowadministrative offices now in Wood-Mar to be relocated, includingStudent Life, Career Services and the office of the campus pastor. Ser-vice facilities will be relocated to space in the former Plant Servicesbuilding, now the Art Annex facility, just north of Minthorn Hall.

Additional office realignments are yet to be determined.Expansion of the engineering department into Wood-Mar follows

establishment of the discipline as a full major in 1999 and the expect-ed growth to about 90 students by fall 2003. The shift to Wood-Marwill keep the engineering department adjacent to the Edwards-HolmanScience Center complex, which already accommodates the currentdepartment’s needs.

On top of providing much-needed space for academic use, the sec-ond phase of the Wood-Mar renovation will besignificant historically, as the original west-side access to the building will be reopened.Originally designed as the main and frontentrance, the west-side doors have been closedsince the late 1950s, replaced by the north andsouth entrances as the only access points. Theoriginal entrance was converted into adminis-trative and service offices on both the first andsecond floors. That space will now be recap-tured for the entrance, and the side doors willbe closed to allow for the construction of addi-tional office space.

Depending on funding being available, plansare to begin the second-phase restoration project

in the fall of 2001, with completion by spring 2002. About $252,000has been pledged toward the $750,000 goal.

“This is our final step, not our next step,” says Dana Miller, GeorgeFox’s vice president for advancement. “While most of our attentionhas been given to raising support to meet Kresge’s Stevens Center

continued on page 4

An artist’s rendering of Wood-Mar Hall shows what the building looked like when the original frontentrance on its west side was open. In addition to restoring the west entrance, plans call for convertingadministrative space into classrooms, laboratories, and faculty offices.

T

Saving the historic‘Old Main’ might be

the most sentimentalof the projects inthe University’s

$22 milliondevelopment

campaign

2 • L E G A C Y C A M P A I G N R E P O R T • J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 1

Worth the Effort and CostRalph Beebe, a 1954 graduate and professor emeritus of George Fox University, reflects on the historyconnected with Wood-Mar Hall and plans for completing its restoration

Campaign UpdateAs of November 30, 2000, a total

of $20,948,459 had been

committed toward the $22 million

goal, leaving a balance of

$1,051,117. However, to ensure

that each and every campaign

priority goal is met, a total of

$1,550,500 must be raised before

the end of the campaign. The

scheduled completion date of the

campaign is December 31, 2001.

$440,200 in unrestricted commitments have not yet been allocated to a specific priority.

“Close beside Chehalem’s mountainis the college we adore…”

Central to our fondest memories of George FoxUniversity is the familiar edifice of Wood-Mar

Hall, for decades the school’s primary space forclassrooms and offices. We alumni of course knowthe story of how, in 1910, Amanda Woodward andEvangeline Martin toured the Newberg communityin an open buggy drawn by “Faithful Old Kit” tocomplete the fundraising efforts to build Wood-Mar.

Today, we have before us an opportunity to write another chapter inthe history of Wood-Mar and George Fox by completing the proposedrestoration of our landmark hall.

Wood-Mar lives on! The ancient chapel on the top floor has alreadybeen transformed into a beautiful theater, and soon the rest of thebuilding will be refurbished as well. One room will prominently dis-play the tapestry that has decorated the main floor of Wood-Mar formore than half a century — the one of Quaker William Penn and theNative Americans, inscribed “The only treaty never sworn by an oathand never broken.”

Although Herbert Hoover did not take classes in Wood-Mar, whichwas built after he attended Pacific Friends Academy, the great engineerwould be delighted at the anticipated use of Wood-Mar’s two mainfloors, which will house George Fox University’s rapidly expandingengineering program. We alums who remember the original schoolsong anticipate that many engineers will someday testify that “wegained our store of knowledge in her halls of honor’s fame.”

Plans also call for the original west entrance to be reopened towardMeridian Street, where 80 years ago students and visitors entered afteralighting from the Southern Pacific train. In those days, the traditionalbrick building with its gingerbread trim and exterior walls of ivy washome to the office of the president, including Levi Pennington, whoarrived the same year Wood-Mar opened. Little did Pennington real-ize, however, when he agreed to serve, that the president was also thejanitor. How much Oregon mud he swept from Wood-Mar during his30-year tenure is unknown, but much of the school’s sparkling clean,90-year reputation was made in that historic hall.

Of course, the halls of Wood-Mar have seen their share of pranks aswell, many perpetrated by maturing students who eventually ascendedto lives of significant service. Once, when the west-entrance doubledoors were still in use, Glen Koch’s Model T Ford appeared one morn-ing in Wood-Mar’s main floor with a sign imploring students to “VoteNorval Hadley for Student Body President.” Another time, when thenickname “Foxmen” was in vogue, someone lowered a fox carcass

over the head of student body president Paul Morse as he appealed forgreater school spirit. On another occasion, the sophomore class bor-rowed a buggy and commandeered freshmen to pull it as they rode.One night the buggy was mysteriously disassembled and chained tothe drinking fountain on first floor Wood-Mar.

Decades before the engineering department would expand intoWood-Mar, amateur engineers Chuck Tuning, Ralph Cammack, andDave Wing installed a speaker in the chapel organ and wired it to amicrophone in the basement. During a subsequent recital, they trans-mitted messages to the organist and caused a minor panic.

Another time, the administration had to cancel chapel becauseupstairs Wood-Mar reeked of rotten egg odors. Apparently a buddingchemist prankster had left some hydrochloric acid — perhaps withhydrogen sulfide. The trick worked marvelously (and disruptively).The smell remained for several days.

One former student admitted to rolling marbles down the Wood-MarAuditorium floor during chapel. Another, who later became a North-west Yearly Meeting presiding clerk and George Fox board member —and was honored in the naming of Richard H. Beebe Hall — oncejoined fellow miscreant and future Friends pastor Wayne Piersall insneaking out of a Wood-Mar window during Prof. Riley’s speech class.

Of course, the history of Wood-Mar Hall encompasses more thanfun and games. More prominent and important memories come fromthe generations of students who participated in speech, drama, andmusic classes and the “Old Pulpit” contest. In their day, the Four Flatsdelighted thousands. Over the years, hundreds of students labored onthe Crescent and L’ami, and many more participated in student com-munity meetings. Some delivered campaign speeches for associatedstudent offices. Countless students profited from chapel services,many of them life-changing.

Only God can number how many committed their futures to Jesusin Wood-Mar. The old hall’s contribution to God’s kingdom worldwidemight never be fully known.

We who love George Fox University are delighted with the progressof our alma mater, signified by the upcoming changes to its most hon-ored building. Although no one sings the anthem anymore, we old-timers proudly live the words we once sang in Wood-Mar Hall:

“When the four loved years of college shall have long since slippedaway, when with worldly care and knowledge, many a head is turninggray, still we’ll shout her praise the louder and our hearts give echotrue, as we cheer our Alma Mater, our Old Gold and Navy Blue.”

Sentimental? Perhaps. But of such sentiments is history made, thatcollective store of folklore and shared experience upon which we buildour sense of place and progress. And woven into our memories ofGeorge Fox will forever be images of Wood-Mar Hall.

Ralph Beebe (’54)

3 • L E G A C Y C A M P A I G N R E P O R T • J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 1

Alumni and Friends Responding to Kresge Challenge Grant

Alumni and friends have responded to the Kresge challenge withgifts and pledges of more than $200,000 in the past three months.

“We’re making progress, but there’s work still to be done,” saysDana Miller, vice president for university advancement. Just over $1.1million remains to be raised toward the $7 million needed for con-struction of the Stevens Center.

The Kresge Foundation will provide $500,000 toward the building,provided George Fox University is successful in raising the balance andin reaching its $22 million Legacy Campaign goal by Dec. 31, 2001.

In September, the advancement office sent a large mailing of

videos, followed by brochures, providing details about the cam-paign. In October, in Boise, Idaho, it held the first of six regionalcampaign dinners.

“There’s been a good response to the fall mailings, and efforts con-tinue with individual donors and select foundations and corporations,”Miller says. “Our success will depend in part on our ability to attractnew donors to George Fox. This is where we’re particularly dependentupon the guidance and support of the campaign steering committee —particularly co-chairs André Iseli and Barbara Palmer. They are help-ing us identify new potential donors.”

Blueprints for remodeling thefirst and second floors ofWood-Mar Hall — a processthat will complete the build-ing’s renovation — show howthe building’s former frontentrance, which faces west,will be reopened, while thenorth and south entranceswill be removed. Laboratoriesfor the engineering programwill occupy the first floor.Classrooms and facultyoffices will compose most ofthe second floor.

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Cliff Canucci’s gratitude foundexpression in his generosity.

Canucci, a financial representativefor Northwestern Mutual FinancialNetwork in Portland, achieved a life-time goal with George Fox Universi-ty’s help: completing his collegedegree. He graduated in 1990 with abachelor’s degree in human resourcemanagement.

Within two years, he was makinggifts to his alma mater.

“I wanted to give back to an insti-tution that had helped me achieveone of my goals,” he explains.

Describing himself as goal-orient-ed, Canucci says that never havingcompleted his degree was one of hisfew regrets. He had taken college-level courses ever since high school— including two years at PortlandState — but “never put everythingtogether in a four-year degree.”

A chance encounter led him to George Fox. While having lunchwith a client, he noticed that the man had information about the Uni-versity’s degree-completion program.

“I looked at the curriculum, and it was something I was very inter-ested in,” he says. “I took the brochure with me and called the collegethe next day.”

It wasn’t just achieving his goal that excited Canucci.“In addition to getting a degree from a very reputable college, I

learned something,” he says. “I found the teachers to be the most car-ing, competent instructors I’d ever seen, and the curriculum was veryconducive to things I was doing in my business.”

An example of the program’s application was the senior researchproject he completed as part of the requirements for his degree.

“It was based around a training program for our industry,” Canuccisays of his research. “I was able to communicate the contents of mywork project into some training discussions for people in our compa-ny here locally and in other states. This offered me a lot of speaking

opportunities that I enjoy.”Attending George Fox influenced Canucci’s life in other ways

besides professionally. After taking the course “Faith and WorldViews,” he started attending a Bible study.

“College helped to strengthen me spiritually and put me on the pathI wanted to go,” he says.

While some companies offer tuition benefits for their employees,that wasn’t the case with Northwestern Mutual. However, Canucci’saccountant found some tax advantages that allowed him to deductmost of his tuition, provided the degree wasn’t required for promotionand that he kept the same job in the same company.

Northwestern Mutual does match employees’ contributions to char-ities dollar for dollar up to $1,500 per calendar year — in effect, dou-bling Canucci’s gifts and making it easier for him to “return the favorand give someone else a chance.”

“I just believe in the school, and I believe in giving back.”— Anita Cirulis

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challenge, we are excited about the improvements scheduled for thisbeloved historic building. We are hopeful that many donors will see thevalue of supporting this project both historically and as the beginningof a new program — engineering.”

Saving a Landmark for Future GenerationsThe controversial decision in 1991 to raze Wood-Mar Hall as part

of the University’s long-range plan was forced by an engineering studythat said it would cost $2.5 to $3.5 million to repair and renovate the17,000-square-foot building, the tallest on campus. The study foundmajor structural defects, which raised the concern that the buildingwould be unable to withstand a significant earthquake. After months ofdiscussion, and with great reluctance, it was decided that Wood-Marwould have to be replaced.

Before the building could be destroyed, however, a subsequentstudy and report showed how the then 80-year-old landmark not onlycould be saved, but also restored to its original appearance — and at acost much less than first anticipated. The intriguing plan called forWood-Mar to be buttressed on two sides with a planned new sciencebuilding so that it would meet earthquake code provisions. The planalso greatly reduced earlier projected restoration costs.

Wood-Mar now is connected by a 20-foot-wide, three-story atriumto the Edwards-Holman Science Center, completed in 1994. The build-ings are tied together at strategic points for increased support. Interiorsky-bridges connect the buildings across the atrium. An elevator in

Edwards-Holman serves both buildings and has solved the question ofadequate access for the disabled to Wood-Mar Auditorium.

The initial restoration project returned to Wood-Mar the long-famil-iar Spanish-style cornice, which had been removed in 1975 because itwas disintegrating and was considered a potential safety problem.Using magnifying glasses to study old photographs, the architects andcontractors studied how the cornice had originally been constructed.They also received help from George Fox’s “Campus Grandpa,” RoyHeibert, who had saved several pieces of the original cornice.

A Legacy of CommitmentWood-Mar Hall owes its existence to the generosity of Newberg’s

residents, and especially two local women who led the campaign forits construction. After residents of the city raised nearly half the$30,000 cost in an initial meeting on Feb. 10, 1910, long-time Quak-ers and friends Amanda Woodward and Evangeline Martin canvassedlocal business and individuals to raise the rest. They traveled the coun-tryside in a buggy drawn by “Faithful Old Kit,” spending months suc-cessfully appealing to more than 600 donors.

On July 10, 1910, the city celebrated the fund drive’s completion,with Woodward and Martin driving their buggy through the streets, witha sign proclaiming “New Building for Pacific College. $30,000 sub-scription completed.” Construction began later that year and the build-ing was ready for use by the spring of 1911. To honor the two womenfor their heroic efforts, the University’s board named the building afterthem, using the first part of both women’s last names: Wood-Mar.

— Barry Hubbell

Preserving a Piece of History

4 • L E G A C Y C A M P A I G N R E P O R T • J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 1

With ThanksA financial planner finds his experience as a student a motivation for giving

George Fox University helped Cliff Canucci achieve his lifetime goal of earning a collegedegree. Because of the impact his classes had on his life, both professionally and spiritually,he is now giving so others can have the same opportunity.

5

Alisa Vanderzalm remembersfeeling concern for the needs ofothers from a very young age.

“When I was a little girl, in Boston, Iremember my mother taking me to thelibrary, and I would see an old man and I’drun up to him and throw my arms aroundhim and say, ‘I love you, old man!’”

Vanderzalm, now a senior at GeorgeFox University, still shows love to peo-ple. During the recent holiday season, the21-year-old psychology major and peacestudies minor from Newberg was againbusy helping coordinate a campus foodand clothing drive for area social serviceagencies.

Vanderzalm is well known on campusfor such activities, and for demonstratingthe same compassion for the needy forwhich her father, Bas, is known. BasVanderzalm is president of Portland-based Northwest Medical Teams, Inc., aChristian relief agency that responds tothe most critical emergencies in theworld today, whether a war in the Balka-ns, a flood in Central America, or anearthquake in Turkey.

Bas Vanderzalm joined the agency in1997 after working for 15 years foranother Christian relief agency, WorldRelief, in Wheaton, Ill. Before that, heran a Salvation Army Harbor Light Cen-ter shelter and alcohol treatment centerfor 10 years in Boston.

His daughter says that her outlook onpeople was clearly shaped by her father’swork in those days and by the concernboth her parents have long shown towardthe downtrodden.

“The people that my parents broughthome, and that I used to run wild around,were not the kind of people that mostwould want to surround their three-year-old daughter with,” she says. “There wasthis acceptance thing. I had to grow, outof necessity, to be incredibly warmtoward and accepting of people.”

She was still very young when herfather took the job in Illinois. “I grew upfrom a very early age being aware ofwhat was going on in other countries,being aware of starvation, and of Ameri-ca’s role in the world,” she says.

Although she lived on campus herfirst two years at George Fox, Van-derzalm spent part of last year at her par-ents’ Newberg home and now lives offcampus with another student. She sayscollege work has only heightened herrole in a socially concerned family.

“We will have family conversationsaround the table devoted to ‘income-gener-ational relief and development projects indeveloping countries,’” she says, smiling.

While the Vanderzalms’ interests mayperhaps be unusual, her family is also avery normal one, she emphasizes. “It’sfun when I drop by my folks’ house,” shesays. “We just tell jokes back and forth.”

She is quick to credit both her parentsfor their example of love to others.

“I think my father is the more publicfigure, but it’s definitely been a partner-ship between the two of them,” she says.

Vanderzalm doesn’t recommend thatevery family make the kinds of commit-ments hers has, particularly given thedangers and intense emotional and phys-ical demands that relief workers face.

“Not all families are cut out for this,”she says. “When Papa had to be gone for

weeks on end when I was young, thatwas hard. I was never angry about that,but there was a time, when I was in theeighth grade, that I realized that becausePapa slept, people died. That was hard tocome to terms with.”

Having grown up in the Chicago area,Vanderzalm was at first reluctant to moveto the Northwest and to attend school inNewberg when her father accepted theNorthwest Medical Teams position. Shewanted to attend a Christian college, butbeing in a community that was sopredominantly white wasn’t what shehad in mind.

“I had grown up in ethnically mixedneighborhoods,” she explains. “I reallyloved growing up with different cultures,different beliefs, different foods. I want-ed to have that experience in college.”

She now believes it was God’s will forher to attend George Fox, especiallybecause the Quaker-based Universityoffers a peace studies minor. “That’ssomething that’s unique to the Mennon-ite and Quaker colleges,” she says.

She says her father thinks that perhapsone of the biggest reasons he felt calledto take his current job in Oregon was sothat his daughter would wind up attend-ing George Fox.

She has been involved in the Univer-sity’s Multicultural Club and the Cultur-al Celebration Week that the club annu-ally sponsors on campus. She also serveson the board of advisers for the Universi-ty’s Center for Peace Learning. She isactive in the Psy Chi honor society forpsychology students and tutors others inpsychology. She is currently doinginternships with Yamhill County Media-tors, an agency devoted to local media-tion efforts, and with the Campus Medi-ation Project, a group program thatmakes peer mediation available to stu-dents at George Fox.

After she graduates, Vanderzalmwould like to counsel survivors of wartrauma, and is especially interested inmeeting needs in the African nation ofRwanda. She got a close-up view of suchcounseling work two summers ago, when

for the first time sheaccompanied her father onone of his overseas relieftrips.

It was not to a vacationspot.

“My father asked, ‘Doyou want to go to Alba-nia?’ I answered, ‘Is thepope Catholic?’” shesays.

From Albania, theywent into Kosovo, spend-ing five days observingfirsthand much of thedestruction and horror thathad resulted from the warin that land.

“It was hard, and wecried together before Iwent, but it turned out tobe an incredibly safe trip,”she says. “I was lucky.”

She spent much of hertime accompanying Port-land-area resident JohnFazio, who counseledthose traumatized by thefighting there. It piquedher interest in such min-istry.

“I don’t know if I couldever do fully what myfather does,” she says. “Hecomes in contact with alot of pain and injusticeand just horror. I don’tknow if I could ever fullyswallow all that, as ahuman being; but thenagain, I want to go off andcounsel survivors of wartrauma, so maybe I can.”

While not all Chris-tians are called to suchwork, there are thingsevery believer can do,wherever they are, Van-derzalm says. “I believe asChristians we are calledto serve and to seek toend injustice,” she says.“Some people need toseek that overseas, andsome here. People need to

find their service to God wherever He’scalling you.”

A particular challenge that Van-derzalm faces is an immune disorderdiagnosed 12 years ago. She said the ill-ness, which causes her energy levels tofall to 50 percent, can be hereditary, andher mother is also afflicted. But Alisa isnot lowering her goals because of herphysical problems.

“It may take me longer, but my par-ents have no doubt that I can fulfill mydreams,” she says.

More than one dream clearly has beeninfluenced by her upbringing.

“I’m proud of my dad,” she says. “Itwas amazing to grow up with such anincredibly strong and supportive andcompassionate father figure. I’d love tomarry someone like my father.

“I wouldn’t trade my childhood, myupbringing for anything, or what I wasexposed to. I love it that my father caresenough to do what he does, and that ourfamily has been able to let him do it.”

— John Fortmeyer

In His StepsAlisa Vanderzalm follows her father’s example in demonstrating concern for the needs of others

In her second year of directing the “Local Love” campaign, Alisa Vanderzalm and a groupof George Fox students sent 11 bags and boxes of food to the Newberg FISH food pro-gram, 15 oversized bags of clothing to two shelters, and art supplies and trinkets toChehalem Youth and Family Services. There are things every believer can do, says Alisa.“People need to find their service to God wherever He’s calling you.”

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6

Ann Scott is a classic example ofa true believer. As far back asshe can remember, she says, she

has been optimistic, energetic, and moti-vated by her faith in God.

How else to explain all that she hasaccomplished in her 70 years of life?

The energetic McMinnville, Ore., res-ident and George Fox alumna not only isthe mother of 18 — 16 of them adopted— but she also founded and directs anadoption agency that has placed thou-sands of children in families worldwide.

Scott is more than quick to point out,however, that it was not in her ownstrength, but in God’s, that so much hasbeen accomplished.

“God has totally provided everythingwe needed,” she said at the McMinnvilleoffices of PLAN Loving Adoptions Inc.“Whenever we got out deeper than wecould save ourselves, we could talk toHim. He has provided every single thingthat we needed.”

Now in its 24th year, PLAN is the sec-ond-largest private adoption agency inOregon. It has an office staff of 14, 30counselors and social workers, and 30trained paraprofessional volunteers.Working today in 14 nations, PLAN hasfound homes for 3,500 children. Wallafter wall at the PLAN offices is coveredwith photos of the kids and their families.

Scott and her husband, Phillip, joinedthree other couples in the gradual forma-tion of PLAN in the mid-1970s. All hadadopted children considered “unadopt-able” by most agencies because theywere older, had handicaps or emotionalproblems, were mixed race or foreign.

Because their first biological childwas severely handicapped in the birthprocess and eventually moved away fortreatment, the Scotts’ second daughterwas lonely and “begged for a sister” inthe family home, Ann recalls. The Scotts,who had done some foster parenting,decided to adopt a child.

“We were a happy family,” Scott says,“but God gets a hold of your life. Wewould sit at the table for dinner and saygrace, and my husband and I would ‘see’this sea of faces — most of them Asian.

We were dismayed. We did not knowwhat to do about it.… We said, ‘Lord, wecan’t save the world.’ And God said,‘Yes, but you can save one more.’”

That “one more” became 15 more, fora total of 18. Six of the adoptive childrencame from Korea, four from Vietnam,one from Colombia, one from India, andthe others from the United States.

It’s actually not quite accurate todescribe all the adoptees as children. Thelast one, who came into the family about10 years ago, was an adult adoptee — a42-year-old woman who, according toScott, “had always longed for a family.”

“It just shows that people always needfamilies,” says Scott.

For the first three years of PLAN, thecouples did adoption counseling. But notenough special-needs children were find-ing homes, so the couples decided — ina somewhat sudden decision — to makePLAN a full-fledged adoption agency.

“I thought to myself, ‘Stop the train; Iwant to get off,’” Scott recalls. “But thetrain didn’t stop, and I didn’t get off.”

Scott became executive director ofPLAN in 1976, leaving a 25-year careeras a hairdresser. In 1990, 16 of her chil-dren were at George Fox’s commence-ment ceremony to witness as Scott, atabout age 60, graduated from the Univer-sity’s adult degree-completion programwith a degree in management of humanresources. She earned the degree over aperiod of 26 years, having earlier takencourses at Linfield College andChemeketa Community College.

“As PLAN grew, I realized I neededan administrative education,” she says. “Iwanted to keep one step ahead of thegrowth here.”

The flexible schedule of George Fox’sdegree-completion program allowedScott to earn her diploma while carryingon with her directorship at the agency.

“I couldn’t have gotten my degree, ifnot for George Fox,” she says. “The pro-gram schedule was workable. Classeswere at night, and it was manageable.And I was able to use a lot of my lifeexperiences for course credit.”

Scott says her degree from George

Fox “has stood me in good stead. It hasenriched my experience and abilities,and enhanced what I have been able todo. I feel I got triple out of my degree —I learned it, I applied it, and I wrote aboutit. It was established within me.”

As a dedicated Christian, Scott wasparticularly pleased by the spiritualemphasis of the program and institution.

“A major difference from otherschools was the Christian environment,”she says. “You walk on George Fox’scampus, and you are enveloped in it.”

In recognition of her Christian com-mitment and her remarkable accomplish-ments, Scott was honored as a distin-guished young alumna by George Fox’sAlumni Association in 1992.

Today, PLAN remains as heavilyfocused on God’s grace and guidance asever. Backed up by more than two dozenpeople who regularly intercede withprayer for the agency and its needs,PLAN’s all-Christian staff also begins itsworkweek each Monday with prayer.

Scott knows the importance of God’sintervention. She tells of one miracle dayin which PLAN faced a $3,500 bill thathad to be paid by 3:30 in the afternoon.She and the staff did not know where themoney would come from, but they trust-ed the Lord would provide.

By noon, a $1,500 check had come in.After lunch, a friend of the agency, whohad no knowledge of the extreme need,felt led to drop by with a donation check.The amount? That’s right: $2,000.

“It’s always been a faith work,” saysScott. “We’ve been on our knees a lot.”

Today, Scott faces a special burden —her beloved husband of 51 years is bat-tling Alzheimer’s. But that heartache isnot enough to stem her joy in the Lord,and in the calling He has given her.

That’s why Scott is such a joy andexample to so many, says KayleenBrown, a former George Fox staff mem-ber who is public relations and develop-ment director for PLAN.

“Ann is a lover,” Brown says. “Not aday goes by that she isn’t praising peo-ple. She’s an encourager and embracer.”

— John Fortmeyer

ScholarshipsAvailable forGeorge FoxAlumni FamilyMembers

E ach year, the George Fox UniversityAlumni Association board of directors

distributes $20,000 in the form of studentawards and scholarships.

Granting of these scholarships followsthe regular application and award prac-tices of the financial aid office. Recipientsof Alumni Awards and the Alumni Scholar-ship will be selected by the George FoxUniversity alumni board scholarship com-mittee. Applications for 2001-02 awardsmust be sent to the Office of Alumni Rela-tions by Monday, Feb. 26, 2001.

Applicants must be traditional under-graduate students who are children,grandchildren, or great grandchildren ofGeorge Fox University alumni.

The GFU Alumni Association recognizesas alumni anyone who has completed oneyear or more of academic work or hasreceived a degree from George Fox Univer-sity (formerly Pacific College and GeorgeFox College), George Fox Evangelical Sem-inary (formerly Western Evangelical Semi-nary), or Cascade College (only thosealumni who have had their alumni statustransferred from Seattle Pacific Universityto George Fox University).

Ten Alumni Awards of $1,500 and oneAlumni Scholarship of $5,000 will beawarded. Two Alumni Awards will be givenin each class (freshman, sophomore, juniorand senior), and two will be awarded “atlarge” (not restricted by class).

Alumni Award applicants must have aminimum cumulative grade point average(GPA) of 3.00. Alumni Scholarship appli-cants must have a minimum cumulativeGPA of 3.65.

For current students, applications areavailable in the university advancementoffice and in the financial aid office begin-ning Monday, Jan. 8, 2001. Incomingfreshmen and transfers must submit theirapplications to the undergraduate admis-sion office. The application deadline isMonday, Feb. 26, 2001, at 5 p.m.

For more information, call Sheri Philips,director of alumni and parent relations, at503-554-2114.

HOMECOMING 2001Setting the Stage

February 9–11

Homecoming 2001 is for allGeorge Fox alumni!

In addition, there are special reunionsfor the following groups:

CLASS REUNIONS1991, 1981, 1976, 1971, 1961

and all pre-1960 alumni

AFFINITY REUNIONSA Cappella Choir 1966–1980University Players 1987–2000

For information, contact Sheri Philipsphone 503-554-2114

e-mail sphilips@georgefox.eduOr register online at

www.georgefox.edu/alumni/homecoming

Great Scott!Needing an administrative degree to keep up with her expanding adoption agency,Ann Scott turned to George Fox’s degree-completion program

Ann Scott, founder and director of PLAN Loving Adoptions, Inc., brightens her office with photos of children andflags of the world. In 24 years of work in 14 countries, PLAN has found homes for 3,500 children. Ann and herhusband, Phillip, themselves have 18 children, 16 of them adopted. Ann believes her George Fox degree has“enriched my experience and abilities, and enhanced what I have been able to do.”

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Record Number Attend Family Weekend

George Fox University hosted more than 600 people on campus Nov. 3–5 forFamily Weekend. “It grows every year, and this was an all-time high,” says

Sheri Philips, director of alumni and parent relations.Philips attributes the growth to “Genesis,”

the summer registration program for new stu-dents and their parents, conducted by the admis-sion office. “They’re taking such excellent careof parents and starting a type of communicationwith them that’s meeting their needs,” she says.

Other factors include a newsletter for par-ents, the strength of the Parents’ Council, and

programs such as the Parents’ Day of Prayer and Family Weekend.“Together, all of this really sets the stage

for parents being an active part of the GeorgeFox community,” she says. “I really think it isa handoff from admissions to the parent rela-tions office, followed by solid programs, soparents feel they have a place and a voice.”

In addition to an array of campus activitiesscheduled that weekend, Family Weekendincludes such special events as a luncheon, faculty vs. student basketball game,Sunday morning worship service, and classes for parents taught by George Foxfaculty and staff.

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Joanne (Rhodes) Halgren (G66) wasthe 2000 recipient of the Virginia Bouch-er Online Computer Library Center Dis-tinguished Interlibrary Loan LibrarianAward. The award is administered by theAmerican Library Association. Joanne ishead of interlibrary loans at the Universi-ty of Oregon, Eugene.

Greta (Edwards) Ankeny (n70) isprincipal for Hubbard ElementarySchool, Kuna, Idaho.

David Robinson (G72) is on staff atCrossroads Community Church, Vancou-ver, Wash. His responsibilities includeBible college extension, seniors ministry,and adult education.

Merced Flores (G73) is associatesuperintendent for the Oregon Depart-ment of Education, Salem, Ore.

William Nicholson (G73) is seniorpastor at Bethel Moravian Church,Bethel, Alaska. He also serves as chap-lain in the Alaska Army National Guard.

Gayle Beebe (G81) was inauguratedOct. 20, 2000, as president of SpringArbor College, Spring Arbor, Mich.

Retha McCutcheon (GFES83) hasbeen named general secretary of FriendsUnited Meeting, Richmond, Ind. FriendsUnited Meeting is an international asso-ciation of Friends (Quakers) meetingsand ministries in 11 countries.

Scott Kwasnitza (G84) is vice princi-pal for Lord Selkirk Regional Compre-hensive High School, Selkirk, Manitoba,Canada.

Robin (Marchant) Varwig (n85) is theassistant principal for Crestline Elemen-tary School, Hartselle, Ala.

Robin (Carmichael) Siskin (G86) issenior project manager of engineeringand technology development for AT&TWireless Services in Redmond, Wash.She also is music director and carolerwith The Dickens Carolers, a music com-pany in the greater Seattle area.

Lizette (Workman) Wiggins (DCE90)is assistant to the superintendent of Cas-cade Christian Schools, Puyallup, Wash.She also serves as lay counselor at Cal-vary Community Church, Sumner,Wash., for Freedom in the Son, a supportgroup for family and friends of individu-als recovering from drug and alcoholaddictions.

Sergio Mendoza (G92) is cofounderand executive vice president of technolo-gies for Radical Age, a software develop-ment firm focusing on the Internet, e-business, and Web development.

Rob Poznanski (n93) is manager ofnational promotions for SparrowRecords, Nashville, Tenn.

David Richards (DCE94) is directorof organizational development for SaraLee Underwear, a division of Sara LeeCorporation, Winston-Salem, N.C. SaraLee Underwear produces Hanes, HanesHer Way, and other major brands.

Carol Shryder (DCE94) is thefounder of Modern Grandparents, anorganization in the Salem, Ore., area ofgrandparents raising their grandchildren.They meet once a month to support eachother and exchange ideas.

Aaron Doerr (G97) is senior analystof finance for the RCA Label Group,Nashville, Tenn. His wife, Christina(VonTagen) (MAT97), teaches seventhgrade math for the Cheatham CountySchool District.

Jimmi Sommer (G97) was awarded agraduate assistantship for the 2000–01school year with the Governor’s Board ofScience and Technology, the Idaho StateBoard of Education, and Boise StateUniversity’s master of public administra-tion department.

Stephenie Bates (G98) is a staffaccountant for the Albertson’s Distribu-tion Center, Portland.

Nathan (G98) and Allison (Soder-lund) (G99) Pfefferkorn are co-directorsof the Adventure Program at the Salva-tion Army’s Redwood Glen Camp andConference Center in Scotts Valley,Calif. The program focuses on takingunderprivileged youth on backpackingtrips throughout central California andleading team-building courses andwilderness trips for conference groups.

Ezra Rice (G99) is residence directorfor Warman/Smith Halls at Warner Pacif-ic College, Portland.

Ginni Snodgrass (DCE99) is thequality assurance manager for ChromeData Corporation, Portland.

Cathy Stauffer (GFES99) is the clini-cal supervisor for Harney BehavioralHealth, Burns, Ore. She is responsiblefor starting several community-basedmental health services, including schoolcounseling. She also has conducted sui-cide prevention and awareness clinics inthe Burns area.

Andrea Connell (G00) teaches Eng-lish as a second language for the OregonLanguage Institute, Taegu, South Korea.

Rebecca Jellum (G00) teaches fourthgrade at Southwest Christian School,Beaverton, Ore.

MARRIAGESJudi Duncan (n67) and Larry Brede-

hoeft, March 10, 2000, in Seattle.

James Boutin (G94) and NicoleDecker, June 24, 2000, in Seattle.

Todd Williams (G94) and LiselotteGoertzen (G97), July 22, 2000, in CampSherman, Ore.

Corrina Ernster (G95) and MichaelKeebaugh, July 1, 2000, in Portland.

Jamie Courtney (G96) and MitchellSiegner, Aug. 19, 2000, in Pendleton,Ore.

Jonathan Rubesh (G97) and SharlaRhoades (G99), June 25, 2000, in Ken-more, Wash.

Christie Taylor (G97) and MatthewRoss (G98), July 22, 2000, in Greenleaf,Idaho.

Phoebe Linnell (n98) and WilliamReed, June 24, 2000, in The Dalles, Ore.

Barbara Smith (G98) and MichaelHolmes, June 17, 2000, in Olympia,Wash.

Brad Crawford (G99) and KarynThompson (G00), May 20, 2000, GrandJunction, Colo.

Derek MacDicken (G99) and KirstenLindsay (G99), Aug. 12, 2000, inAlbany, Ore.

Tiffany Currier (G00) and Todd Schu-macher, May 6, 2000, in Portland.

Jennifer Kious (G00) and Ken Gold-stein, Oct. 22, 2000, in San Mateo, Calif.

David Rasmussen (G00) and JulieSchmidt (G00), June 24, 2000, in Port-land.

BIRTHSTeresa (Moynihan) (G86) and John

Ellis, a girl, Sandra Melinda, born Jan.19, 1995 in Romania, adopted June 8,2000, in Milwaukie, Ore.

Brad Grimsted (G86) and DeniseLaflamme, a girl, Grace Mary, Aug. 30,2000, in Olympia, Wash.

Cindy (Lund) (G86) and KenMogseth, a girl, Annika Marie, Oct. 3,2000, in Vancouver, Wash.

Kristy (Boatman) (G87) and PerryKleespies, a boy, Jonathan Reis, Aug. 22,2000, in Medford, Ore.

Richard (G87) and Terri VanVleck, aboy, Stephen Richard, July 7, 2000 inWinlock, Wash.

Kendrick (G90) and Eliana (Moore)(G93) Scott, a girl, Adriana Kay, Sept.30, 2000, in Talent, Ore.

Tina (Palaske) (G92) and MatthewLee, a boy, Matthew Jonathan, July 19,2000, in Portland.

Shannon (G92) and Scott (G93)Nilsen, a girl, Kelli Evelyn, Oct. 6, 2000,in Newberg.

James (G92) and Melinda (Ketchem)(G93) Stephens, a girl, Shaylee Bryn,July 31, 2000, in Portland.

Vanni (G92) and Laurel Tilzey, a girl,Rachel Michelle, Aug. 3, 2000, inNampa, Idaho.

John (G93) and Rebecca (Finch)(G93) Donathan, a girl, Angela Joy, May16, 2000, in Portland.

Lisa (Heinze) (G93) and Jim George-son, a boy, Aaron James, Jan. 29, 2000,in Canyon Country, Calif.

Laurie (Kenyon) (G94) and Jason Joy(current student), a boy, Reed Kolton,Oct. 16, 2000, in McMinnville, Ore.

Dana (Wright) (G94) and Shawn(G97) Klinkner, a girl, Dara Noelle, Aug.10, 2000, in Vancouver, Wash.

Anndi (Howe) (G94) and DerekMoore, a girl, Bayli Ann, June 8, 2000, inPortland.

Michelle (Brown) (G94) and ScottRoberts, a boy, Brendon Giles, Sept. 21,2000, in North Bend, Ore.

Tomoko (Araki) (G95) and YoichiMori, a girl, Sambi, Sept. 23, 2000, inKitakyushu, Japan.

Dan (G95) and Tina Williams, a boy,Spencer James Patrick, July 21, 2000, inHillsboro, Ore.

Aaron (G96) and Janey (Townley)(G96) Backer, a girl, Gretchen Maureen,March 5, 2000, in Portland.

Abby (Bailey) (G96) and John Dri-nen, a boy, Jesse Mathew, Jan. 22, 2000,in Phoenix, Ariz.

Laura (Adolfo) (G96) and GeorgeMoore, a boy, James Anthony, April 23,2000, in Hillsboro, Ore.

Stephen (n96) and Billie Jean (Bent-ley) (G96) Otter, a boy, Ethan David,April 18, 2000, in Portland.

Kristi (Filley) (G96) and TonySlaughter, a girl, Descinda Marie, Aug.3, 2000, in Eugene, Ore.

Dean (G97) and Lori Greenamyer, aboy, Benjamin Dean, Feb. 28, 2000, inMurrieta Calif.

DEATHSGenevieve (Badley) Cole (G30), Nov.

1, 2000, in Newberg.

Harvey Campbell (G36), Oct. 8,2000, in Newberg.

Roderick Falk (n50), Aug. 23, 2000,in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Darrell Kauffman (G65), Oct. 27,2000, in Portland.

James Rasmussen (DCE93), Aug29, 2000, in Tigard, Ore.

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Women’s SoccerLed by Northwest Conference Player of the Year Karli

Holub, the George Fox women’s soccer team posted thesecond-best record in team history at 13-5 and finishedthird in the Northwest Conference at 11-3.

Only the 1998 team’s record of 15-4-2 topped thisyear’s season results, which included seven wins in thefirst eight Northwest Conference matches. The highlightof the season was a 1-0 victory over nationally rankedWillamette, breaking the Bearcats’ 62-game regular-sea-son conference winning streak.

Holub, a junior forward from Pleasant Hill, Ore., finishedsecond in the conference in scoring (35 points, 1.94 permatch), goals (13, 0.72) and assists (9, 0.5), and scorednine goals that either tied a game, put the Bruins ahead,or were game winners. A three-time all-conference first-team selection, Holub is the University’s all-time leader ingoals (42), assists (18) and total points (102).

Senior defender Erin Oates, Grover Beach, Calif., alsowas named to the all-conference first team. Secondteam honors went to defender Beth Liljenberg, a juniorfrom Portland; Rachel Denning, a sophomore midfielderfrom Boring, Ore.; and midfielder Brooke Pitner, a fresh-man from Vancouver, Wash.

Men’s SoccerIf ever a team would have benefited from a “split sea-

son” format, it was the 2000 GFU men’s soccer team.In the first half of the season, the Bruins were 7-1-1,

with a 3-0 start in Northwest Conference play. Their onlyloss was in overtime to national power Chapman. On thestrength of their impressive start, the Bruins advanced ashigh as fifth in the NCAA Division III West Region rank-ings. And then the bottom fell out.

The second half of the season produced a string of 10straight losses — a team record — seven by a singlegoal. The team finished with an overall record of 7-11-1,and a conference mark of 3-10-1, tying for seventh.Seven of the games went to overtime — another record.

Bryan Erickson, a junior from Chehalis, Wash., led theNWC in assists (10, 0.53 apg), was second in scoring (34points, 1.79), fifth in goals (12, 0.63), and was a first-team all-conference choice.

Jamie Johnson, a junior from Newberg, was sixth inthe conference in assists (6, 0.32), seventh in both goals(10, 0.53) and scoring (26 points, 1.37), and was namedto the NWC second team.

Bruin head coach Manfred Tschan reached his 150thwin at George Fox when the Bruins defeated WhitmanCollege 2-1 on Sept. 24. Tschan is 150-83-9 in 12 yearsat George Fox, and 214-112-17 overall.

Cross CountryFive George Fox runners earned NCAA Division III All-

West Region cross country honors, and Colleen Forbesbecame the first Bruin to compete in the NCAA nationalchampionships.

Forbes, a sophomore from Jackson, Wyo. — runningcross country for the first time — placed 98th of 211runners in the national meet in Spokane, Wash. She alsomade the All-Northwest Conference First Team by finish-ing sixth in the conference meet.

Other all-region performers for the Bruin women wereJanelle Goeres, a freshman from Sams Valley, Ore., whowas 21st, and Marissa Merritt, a senior from Portland,who finished 26th.

Steve Willmer, a sophomore from Fullerton, Calif.,earned second-team all-conference honors with a 10th-place finish in the men’s NWC race, then went on tomake the all-region team with a 15th-place finish. WillVollstedt, a freshman from Portland, also earned all-region honors by finishing 34th.

The Bruins finished fifth as a team in both the men’sand women’s conference races.

VolleyballAfter losing two all-conference performers and four

starters from the 1999 team, the 2000 George Fox vol-leyball team struggled to a 7-15 record, snapping astreak of 13 straight winning seasons and marking onlythe fourth losing campaign in 22 years.

Setter Mindi Yost, a sophomore from Sisters, Ore., fin-ished fourth in the conference in assists (10.05) and digs(3.98) and was a second-team all-conference pick. Herdigs-per-game average was the fifth-best single-seasonmark in team history.

8

Is There a Trainer In the House?George Fox’s athletic training program seeks national accreditation

It’s not possible to completely eliminate injuries insports, but certified athletic trainers can make a bigdifference, says Dale Isaak, George Fox Universi-

ty’s head athletic trainer. That’s why he’s helping theUniversity’s health and human performance depart-ment to strengthen its athletic training curriculum andpursue accreditation. “We need to produce more certi-fied personnel to fill the gaps and help schools aroundthe state and the region boost their readiness.”

Currently, Oregon State University is the only col-lege in the state with an accredited program in athletictraining leading to certification for trainers, but thatmay soon change. George Fox University, LinfieldCollege, and Eastern Oregon State University haveapplied to have their undergraduate programs accredit-ed by the Commission on Accreditation of the AlliedHealth Education Programs.

Isaak, who joined the George Fox staff in 1995 asassistant professor of health and human performance,says the two-year application process for programaccreditation is rigorous, but that George Fox has theadvantage of having a well-established academic andclinical program. The athletic training portion ofGeorge Fox’s health and human performance majorcurrently has 15 students.

State Needs More Certified TrainersOnly one-third of Oregon’s public high schools have

athletic trainers working in some capacity, most of thempart time. Budget limitations and a shortage of qualifiedpersonnel make it difficult for many school districts toinclude a certified athletic trainer on their staff.

It can be a risky proposition to go without a certifiedtrainer. The rash of serious injuries on Northwest highschool football fields last fall should remind schools tobe prepared.

Isaak says that schools using uncertified athletictrainers “absolutely expose themselves to legal liabili-ty.” Whereas a certified athletic trainer has generallybeen considered a secondary position in many schooldistricts, Isaak believes that the position will becomemore of a priority.

“Athletic trainers are trained in the proper manage-ment of injuries,” Isaak notes. “In Oregon, especially inlight of some of the recent catastrophic injuries, Ibelieve the market will grow — in the Portland area inparticular, and, I hope, in some of the more ruralschools.”

Accreditation for George Fox will make it one of asmall handful of Christian colleges nationally to offeran accredited athletic training program. Currently, justfive schools from the 100-member Council for Christ-ian Colleges and Universities have accredited programs.

Above: Byron Shenk, assistant trainer and professor of health and human performance, administers lowerback treatment to Brooke Pitner, a freshman sprinter from Vancouver, Wash.

Below: Dale isaak (left), head athletic trainer and assistant professor of health and human performance,prepares an electrical stimulation module for Adam Puckett, a freshman long jumper from Bend, Ore.

George Fox was granted candidacy status by thecommission last January. A self-study developed byIsaak and the University’s human performance depart-ment was submitted in September, and the Universitywill have a site visit this spring. The accreditationprocess has required George Fox to add a third certifiedathletic trainer.

Certification Standards ChangingMany states, including Oregon, require athletic train-

ers to be certified by the National Athletic TrainersAssociation. But NATA is phasing out the internshiproute to certification for all schools. Since the mid-1980s, George Fox has offered an athletic traininginternship program preparing for the NATA exams, butafter 2003, graduating seniors will be allowed to takethe exam only if they have graduated from an accredit-ed athletic training program. Without accreditation, stu-dents wanting to be certified would be required to pur-sue a graduate degree.

To earn certification, athletic trainers undergo spe-cialized training in dealing with emergencies, such asthose involving spinal injuries or concussions. “Trainersdo the initial evaluation,” Isaak explains, “determiningwhether an injury is severe. Once that is determined,they have the knowledge of how to treat it and when tomake a referral to a medical specialist.”

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