SUMMER 2009

Hallmarks of Dr. Loren Gresham's Presidency 1989 - Dr. Grnham elected Pre,ident first Commission Unto Mexico Trip -Mexico City.

t 990 - FiT$! Exed Auction held at the Oklahoma Homebuilders Association, raised $60,000.

1993 - Always involved in recruitment efforts, Gresham makes personal phone calls 10 OYer 600 prospective Slucient,_

t 994 - Bulgaria Project - 5 5NU grads open the door for volunteer mi"ion ,ernec.

1995 -Peer Learning Network begins.

1996 - Minimrial Intern Program begins, allowing students 10 graduate with minimal debt.

1997 -Wall of Missions dedicated.

1998 -Cemennial Plaza dedicated. Southern Plaza Retirement Cemer opens. MascOi changes to Crimson Storm.

1999 -SNU turn, IOO! Stringed Orchc,(ra program begins. Sawyer Center opens.

2000 - Football program begins. hm roundation Board Retreat.

2002 - hll announcement of A Transforming Vision: The Campaign for Southern Nazarene Univer~ity.

2005 - Dedication of The Marchant ramily Alumni & Welcome Center.

2006 - Successful conclusion of A Transforming Vision: The Campaign for Southern Nazarene University, largest campaign in university history, exceeded the goal and raised $J2.S6 million for all campaign purposes.

2007 - Dedicalion of the SNU Oklahoma Centennial Gates.

2008 - Hall of Witne"es Dedication. Dedication of the Zig Ziglar Center for Ethical Leadership. Gresham unanimously reelected by the Board of Trustees for a 5 year term.

2009 - SNU celebrates 100 years on the Bethany campus. SNU achieves 20 years of a balanced budget.

s o u T H E R

Gresham Celebrates His First 20 Years as President of SNU By Dr. Peggy Poteet An odd plaque hangs on Or. Loren Gresham's office wall celebrating "fourteen days of outstanding service to Point Lorna Nazarene Universi ty." G resham had assumed the pOSt of Dean of SNU's West Coast sister school after almost twO decades of teaching and administration at SNU and was secluded with some of his new faculty members in a Palm Springs hotel, getting ready to assume his new role at his alma mater. He had moved most of his things to

San Diego while his wife, Linda, waited behind in Oklahoma City until their house sold. The moving van was to arrive in twO days.

The moving van never came. A late night vote that summer of 1989 by a board of trustees in Bethany, Oklahoma changed the course of Gresham's career. In fact, he would become the second longest tenured president in the history of the institution. A few days later, Will Rogers Airport was filled with excited students, faculty, alumni, and community supporters as they welcomed President and Mrs. Loren Gresham back home.

The SNU board had worked all summer to elect a new president following the retirement of Dr. Ponder

Gilliland. Gresham was on the first three ballots, but votes went elsewhere, fi rst to Dr. Bill Prince, president of Mount Vernon, who declined the offer; then to Dr. Melvin McCullough, pastor of Bethany First Church across the street, who also declined; and back again to Dr. Prince who finally accepted the post but laid it aside a month later when he was elected General Superintendent. So late on that summer nigh t in July they cast votes again, and Loren Gresham was elected the tenth president of SNU, the first layman and former faculty member to assume that pOSt. (Dr. Gresham since then has jokingly called himself a "fourth round draft choice.")

Gresham has put SNU on the map In the greater Oklahoma City area. He serves on the board of directors of such influential organlzatlons as the YMCA of Metro Oklahoma City, fntegris Baptist Medical Center, Community Bank of OKC, and OKC Chamber of Commerce, making SNU a famil iar and respected presence in the greater OKC co mmunity. Also, the Peer Learning network he helped to establish brings

that includes more than 100 Christian colleges and universities across the nation.

He has left his mark on the SNU campus as welL The Wall of Missions in Bresee, the Marchant building that welcomes new students, the Imel Townhouses, Sawyer Athletic Complex, Southern Plaza, the Centennial Gates and the Hall of Witnesses are all marks of his fundraising abilities and his desire to make the campus something to be proud of. He calls fundraising "friendship raising," and through innovations such as the SNU Foundation, thousands of dollars have come to the campus to support student scholarships and campus projects. Fiscal soundness evidenced by twenty years of balanced budgets, low debts, and growth in reserves and endowments has been an important part of his legacy.

Probably h is greatest love is for the students o f SNU, many o f whom are the children of his former students. In fact, 57% of the deg rees BNC/SNU has granted In the past one hundred years bear h is

signature. H e loves recrui ting studen ts, and he knows their names. It is not uncommon fo r him to make hundreds of personal phone calls and home visits to prospective students each year. And it's no surprise that the Gresham home is often the center fo r student gatherings. I n fact more than 600 people have experienced Gresham hospitality by the

lake just th is past year.

Similarly, he has gained respect for SNU in A world traveler since his undergraduate the academic community both statewide days and a former Fulbright Scholar who and nationally. H e has chaired the NAIA lived in New Zealand during his post­Council of Presidents, as well as serving on doctoral work, his dream is for SNU the Board of DirectOrs for the National students to have some kind of international Association of Independent Colleges and experience during their tenure at SNU. Universities. Also, he chaired the Council With Howard Culbertson and Roger Hahn, of Christian Colleges and Universities Board he developed the Commission Unto Mexico of Directors for four years, an organization where hundreds o f students and SNU

constituen ts have experienced a taste of mission work. Year after year more Youth in Mission participants than any other Nazarene College come from SNU. As an early pioneer of the CCCU study programs, he is proud t hat SNU has had such a significant number of students study from Oxford to Washington DC to Africa to Egypt in this life-changing academic experience. Whether in his familiar NSf jean shirt welcoming new students; or mentoring a family group, which the Greshams do every year; or reciting his favorite Emily Dickinson poem to an American Literature class; or judging Powwow acts; or gladly accepting a $ I 0,000 check from a generous

donor, Gresham has been happy to have served the SNU community these past 20 years. As the longest tenured president currently serving at a Nazarene college or any other institution in the state of Oklahoma, for that matter, he looks forward to more years doing the job he loves, serving as president of Southern Nazarene University.

%f-czu~

HEBREWS 12:1-2

Dr. Gresham', first 20 years as Presiden. at Southern Nazarene University.

Visit www.snu.edul tell-us-your-story

• Preserving H istory

• Honoring Faithfulness & submit your story of how President Loren Gresham impacted your SNU experience.

• Connecting Generations The Hall of Witnesses is a place of honor on the campus of Southern Nazarene University to recognize those who have given o f their lives to full-time Christian service, to gather

snu u endowed resources, to help educate and suppon future

generations of Christian servants. As a pan of this year's

class, we arc pleased to be honoring our three recently retired General Superintendents in the Church of the Nazarene, Dr. Nina Gunter, Dr. Paul Cunningham and Dr. Jim Diehl. These three will join others who have

SNU's exclusive online video channel. been nominated this year for their distinguished service in

www.snulu.com carrying the light of the Gospel around the world. Join us as we celebrate the induction of our Class of 2009 into SNU's Hall of Witnesses during Homecoming, Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 9AM. Persons wishing to honor faithful scrvan{S with a nomination to the Hall of \'(fimes~es may contact The Office of Unive~ity Advancement at 405.491.631 1 or e-rnail devclopment@snu.edu for more

Congratulations Dr. Brent Eskridge! Brent Eskridge (,95), assistant professor in the SNU Department of Computer Sciencel Network Engineering (CS/NE), was conferred a Ph.D. in Computer Sc ience from the University of Oklahoma

~n:'!fj~;;:~r,f,~r;:~. on May 15, 2009. No • While completing his dissertation related to computer fuzzy behavioral hie rarchies, D r. Eskridge coauthored several academic works including one with an SNU undergraduate student, Nathaniel T routman. D r. Eskridge has been a valued member of the SNU facu lty since the 2004-2005 academic year, serving not only in a teaching capacity in the CS/NE department, but also on un iversity committees such as Student Life.

SNU Research Experience For Undergraduate Students Under the direction of SNU NASA Director, Dr. Kenneth Wantz, 8 SNU students spent 8 weeks this summer involved in an intense science research experience on campus. Students presented their research on July I, 2009 on such topics as Synthesis of Chromophoric Esters for a Cholesterol Esterase Assay and A Survey of Coliform Antibiotic Resistance and Class I Intergrons from an Oklahoma City Waste Water Treatment Facility. Students presenting were Alex Henderson, Spencer Whittenberg, Chesney Burgweger, Laura Duce, Brad Sablatura, Robby Jackson, Dante Campbell and Trae Beasler. SNU faculty research mentors included Dr. Caroline Bendey, Dr. Daryl Cox, Dr. Lisa Crow, Dr. Nancy Halliday ('88), Dr. Wesley Hanson, Dr. Dennis Siegfried and Dr. Mark Winslow.

New Faces SNU welcomes Nicholas (Nick) Zoller to the SNU Department of Mathematics in the fall of 2009. Nick replaces former faculty member Dr. Kenny Wantz who accepted a teaching position at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Nick earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Messiah College in 2003, his Master of Science degree in mathematics from Lehigh University in 2005, and anticipates completing a Ph.D. in mathematics from Lehigh University this coming September. Nick brings to SNU a rich Christian heritage and faith that will enrich the SNU community.

information.

• rt .. ..

Chris Peterson named Director of Career Services & Student Employment. Chris joins the SNU Student Development team after serving for the last 5 years at Oakdale Christian Academy in Kentucky. Chris brings 10 years of broad experience in higher and secondary

education including directOr of career services, human resources, business manager, admissions, computer suppOrt, financial aid, database management, network administratOr, business adjunct facuiry, and web page maintenance. Chris feels his vocational calling is to Christian education and to model the very best leadership possible while encouraging and enabling students in their own leadership development.

An Opportunity To Give SNU Grads & Current Students A Leg Up What is "A Day in the Life of YOU" really like? Are you willing to periodically connect with SNU upperclassmen and alumni interested in pursuing a career in your line of work? Are you willing to give students helpful advice as they begin their careers? Would you be willing to share your job search, interview, and work experiences with fellow alumni and current students? If so, we would like to add you to the SNU Career Center Network of Professionals helping our students find internships and our recent alumni find employment.

If YOII are willing to help: 1. Send an email to career@snu.edu letting Chris Peterson, DirectOr of Career Services & Student Employment, know of your willingness to get involved.

2. Join SNU Career Center Network of Professionals for alumni and students on Linkedln. This is a forum to share career-related knowledge, information, referrals, and advice across industries and geographic locations. All SNU alumni welcome. Current students MUST complete SNU's required networking training prior to being accepted to this group.

Campus Changes JERNIGAN HALL COMES DOWN

Onlookers watched as Jernigan H all, the 1945 vintage building on the campus of Southern Nazarene University (SNU) was demolished early on Tuesday morning, July 2 1, ....... _.....; ......... ;;;,.,.;

To learn mOle visit snu.edu/hB/I-of-witnesses

Campus Changes Icontinued! 2009. The building was o riginally used as a women's dormitory and most recently housed t he SNU School for Children . The cast stone emblem on the roof crown was preserved and will be used later on campus. "By the time school stans, the space where this dwo facility has been will be additional green space for the Bud Robinson Mall," said Dr. Loren Gresham, President of SNU. View photos of the demolition at www.snu.edu/photo-galleries.

BRACKEN HALL RENOVATIONS Bracken H all, most recently housing upperclass male students, has undergone major renovations over the summer in anticipation of a new housing structure with separate and secure wings for men and women. Misty Jaggers (,01, '05) assumes leadership for Bracken Hall as the Resident Director.

NEW RESIDENCE HALL PLANNED Demolition of Garey Hall will occur early this fall and construction will begin soon after on a new residence hall. This new facility will house 290 students of all classes, freshman-seniors, and features a common lobby space, laundry facilities on each wing, programming space, hi­tech TV lounge and more. Great efforts are being taken to ensure this fac ility will qualify for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) status. Expected opening is Janual)' 2011.

ZIGZIGlARCENlER FOR. ETHICAL LEADERSHIP

Ziglar Scholars Learn Ethics in Politics Eleven outslanding SNU students have been accepted into the first Zig Ziglar Center for Ethical Leadership's Ziglar Scholars' Program for Fall 2009. The Ziglar Scholars' Program is a leadership development experience for undergraduate students who excel academically and exhibit exceptional leadership potential.

This year's program is entitled "The Right Thing: Restoring Institutional Integrity and Regaining Public Trust" and will be facilitated by Dr. Rick Fanner, Director of Comminee Staff, Oklahoma House of Representati\'es and SNU adjunct faculty member. The program will consider issues of ethics and leadership within the political environment. Special attention will be given to instances of moral and ethical failure in the political realm along with constructive proposals for avoiding similar ethicallapscs in one's personal and professional life.

To learn more about the Ziglar Scholars' Program visit www.ziglarcenter.comlziglar-scholars program

Births

· S" a.., , . ~ . ' ... " ~

' . • tdiil':",,-

Cole James, born 11/13/08 10 David ('98) and Wendy

(Crutcher, '98) Wiegman. He is welcomed by big brother, Will.

Brooklyn Olivia, born 2/15/09 to Jason ('96) and Tricia

(Turner, '00) Worthington. She is welcomed by big sisters, Holland, Savannah and Addison.

Caleb Judah, born 3/10/09 to Aaron ('05) and Erin

(Bolerjack, '05) Roehm.

Tucker Michael, born 4/2/09 10 Bill ('95) and Mandy (Meeks, '96)

Garrison. He is welcomed by siblings, Parkrr & Reagan.

(Hocker, '99) Hui.

Caleb Micah, born 4/15/09 to Stephen and Amy

Cameron Shelby, '!£,;":C ~ ·""h born 6/12/09

10 Paul ('01) and Kim (Faust, '01) Jones.

VIA ONLINE COMMUNITY TIN SNU AlImu,; Onliu Commlt,,;ty prooitks «l/mlni a piau to:

• Upd,ltC their contact and other information

• Select what infonnation can be viewed by other alumni

• Search for alumni by \"ariou~ entries, includinp; cla\,> year and ,taU

To register for the online w mmunity, go to UlfDfD.SnM.etiMlallmllli and selw the ALUMNI ONUNE COMMUNITY button on the right side of the screen. Set-up your personal alumni actou", and begin reconnecting with alumni and friends from years gone by.

Marriages

Eric Sams and Karen &h"d (,99) were married November 2, 2008.

Austin Proctor (05) and Kendi Mosshart (08) were married May 1,2009.

In Memoriam Cowie Gnnm (40) Tommie (johnson) Parrish (48) Mary Lou (Martin) I1bllm (52) D()n ro/J·ler (63) J,,:kson,·illc. TX 6/2/09

EdIJ'(JT(I Garris()n (36) Lyman [Vood (42) Nampa.,lD 3/W08 Belhany,OK 6/1510'1

Myrtle Herrick (37) [Vamn JmdMy (45) Uiy''''', KS 5/23/09 El l' ...... TX 2/'H00

Helm (Urson) Martin (39) Vangie (Halt) Vickm (45) len ...... KS 6/20/09 Italy, TX 3/30/00

Have you token a great trip out ot the country recently? Participated In 0 mission trip In some remote location? Hiked 0 beoufftul mountain trail? Have a photo to prove H?

Bethany, OK 512010'1 Oklahoma City, OK 6/16/09 Norwalk, cr 11/21108

Bailry Can/nil (49) Bill LAmbert (58) DJI.'q)·ne Ma/lock (65) Banlrsville, OK 6/3/00 Rogers. AR 6/17100 lubbock, TX 5129/00

OK Perkinson ( 49) James Moon (58) /Jill Ring (66) Columbia, MO 6/2310'1 CI"\'eland, OK 5/4100 Okhhonu City, O K 6/17/00

Bob Cay (50) Hobt, Sloan (61) Elltn (JlallrryJ Gail (OL 10J) T.mple City, CA 6/21/09 IItth.ny, OK 111110'1 Yukon, OK 4/23/09

For Alumni News or Updates, log on to www.snu.edu/ alumnews oremail us at alumni@snu.edu

Save the Date

Senior & Transfer Visit Oay Hosted by Admissions &pumbu J 9, 2009, D«mIkr 5, 2009, alltiMarcb27,20JO www.mu.eduladmissions

Pastor's Training Event Hosted by Church Relations &ptmdm-21,2009 Rita Murray· "Survive & Thrive in 3 Muhigenerntional Christian Community" ToR~ster:

www.mu.l!du!foll-training-eumIJ

Holiness Summit &ptmikr 27·29,2009 www.mu.edulholinl!ss-summit2

Youth Ministry Summit Ocwkr 5-6; 2009 www.mu.edulyoulh-minisJry-$ummiJ

Swazi 5K Ocwkr 10, 2009 www.brlhanynaz.orglswazi-5k-benqit

Pastor Appreciation Day On the campus ofSN U Ocrobn- J 3, 2()(}9

www.mu.l!dulpastQr-appruiation-day

Midnight Madness Sponsored by Student Government Octdxr 23, 2009 www.musga.c(Jm

Spiritual Awareness Week Ottobtr 27·29,2009 www.snu.edu/spirituai·droelopmmt

Fall Fest Sponsored by Student Government Ocwkr 30, 2()()9 www.musga.com

College Days For all High School Students NOllmdm- 6, 2009 and j.mUdry 29, 2010 www.m.l.tdu/colltge-days

Homecoming NolImIkr 6. 7, 2009 www.mu.tdulhomecoming See insert for more event info

SNU Band Concert Herrick Auditorium Noi!t1lWtr 12.2009 / 7:30pm www.fn/I.tdu/music

Jau Band Concert Cantrell November 17;2009 / 7:30pm www.snu.tdll/music

Pow WOW , All School Talent Show Herrick Auditorium, Sponsored by Student Government Nollt1lWtr 20, 2009 www.fnusga.com

CDmmission Unto Mexico &mnber 27; 2009·Jammry 3, 20/0 www.mll.edll/commission·unlo-mtxico

For more information on Upcoming El'enlS: //Il/Iw.sllu.edu/caiuldar

S OUTHERN

Southtm Light, , nug»int 0/ South ..... N.m .. "t U"j,'ns;ry (USPS 683.590).;, publisho:d qu,morly by lho Off~ of Alumni Rd.l1ions with Medii. S1r."cgics. 6719 NW 39th Exprr"~")', Iktlwty, OK 7.lOOS. ""d ;, di .. ributo:d fret 10 alumni .nd friond,. Periodicals postage paid,t Betluny, OK,.nd odclitioru.l offous. 0 2009. R'1'roduetion of nul";'l from any Southern Light pages without wrillm pmnission i. strictly prohibited.

V~ 2211$11t4 Dr. Loren Gresham

Presickll1 Terry Toler

Vice I'rlsidatt to! Uriver$il1 Adu_t & Chnh ReI, tions

Brenda Styers OillClor ot Ahrnri Relition$

Kendra Thomson. Edito! Diretto! of Medii Strategies

Dutabounds Design Group Rorne bndrl1h. 0esiJ1'0tr

www.snu.edu