1110

2,900

the number of North Central students needed to change the world.

years since the construction of Miller Hall.

hotdogs and hamburgers served to neighborhood residents at the Elliot Park Night to Unite.

BY THENUMBERS

NORTHCENTRAL

NCUMagazineSpring 2012Official Magazine of North Central University

Helping students graduate on-time. Adventurer & Professor Dr. Buzz Brookman.Leading on and off the field.FINISH IN FOUR WEALTH OF EXPERIENCEATHLETE LEADERS

1,388students currently enrolled at NCU.

UPFRONT

2 | NCU Magazine

Dr. Gordon Andersonis the sixth president ofNorth Central University 612.343.4741president@northcentral.edu

Most students come to North Central University planning to learn as much as they can.  The goal of becoming educated – and obtaining proof of that education in the form of a degree – is the typical goal of a college- bound student, and our NCU students are no exception. Considerably fewer students, however, head off to

college with the intention of maximizing their holistic personal development. Fortunately for these future leaders, the administration, faculty, and staff at North Central are focused on exactly that.

The desire to become a leader, facilitate change, and make a difference is a healthy one, but the ability to do so is only partially about what one knows. Before young men and women ever reach a position of leadership or authority, their potential can be measured by their stewardship of the gifts they already possess. In Luke 16:11, Jesus himself said, “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?”

The management of natural talents and physical resources is an indicator of one’s capacity for stewardship of spiritual gifts and authority. As we discover our natural gifts, and manage them well, we can begin to receive and mature in spiri-tual gifts.  If we are not faithful with natural things, God cannot trust us with spiritual things. Managing what we have been given with right principles is preparation for receiving supernatural blessing from God.

I often remind our students that each one of them is the Principal and CEO of their dorm room.  If a student can learn to be a disciplined steward of a dorm room, their finances, their time, their relationships, and their physical talents, they will be ready and able to apply those same principles when they find themselves in positions of authority in the future. The truth of the matter is that quantity does not change the quality of your soul; who you are does not change when you find yourself in a higher position.

 This principle is what shapes our goals for what North Central students will experience in our community.  It is why we are concerned with developing both biblical literacy and financial literacy, physical health and spiritual health, and rightly ordered relationships with others, as well as with God.  Students who understand these principles – when added to the knowledge they gain in their academic study – are prepared to be more than just educated graduates.  They are young people capable of leading themselves and others with integrity – no matter their profession or position.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dr. Anderson • Photo by Jeff Hathaway

CONTENTS

Spring 2012 | 3

NCUMagazine

FRESH INK 05

MOVE 06

UNITE 18

VP’S CORNER 04

NCU BY THE NUMBERS 10

A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE 20

ATHLETE LEADERS 25

SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS 28

COLLEGES UPDATES 22

FINISH IN FOUR 16

Kenya Jackson, Sheridan Hawley & Lance Libengood

The latest news from NCU

Miller Hall's 110th birthday

Many opportunities to connect with North Central

Snapshots of NCU's campus & community

Professor Buzz Brookman

Rams athletes display leadership on & off the field

Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Baseball & Softball

The latest news & notes from NCU’s colleges

Helping students reduce debt & graduate on time

ON THE COVER: Current students Ashley Reed, '14 (Elementary Education), Garth Kirkham, '13 (Elementary Education), Elisabeth Johnson, '12 (Business Administration) • Photo by Jeff Hathaway

Spring 2012

your life. our mission.

ALUMNI UPDATES 30

06

25

10

4 | NCU Magazine

UPFRONT

NCU MagazineNorth Central University

910 Elliot Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55404

1.800.289.6222 admissions@northcentral.edu

Administrators

President: Dr. Gordon Anderson

V.P., Academic Affairs: Dr. Thomas Burkman

V.P., Advancement: Dr. Paul Freitag

V.P., Business: Cheryl Book

V.P., Student Development: Mike Nosser

V.P., University Relations and Enrollment:

Nate Ruch

EditorialJeff Hathaway, Editor-In-Chief jshathaw@northcentral.edu

Ryan Decker, Managing Editor rtdecker@northcentral.edu

Logan Albert, Contributing Editor ltalbert@northcentral.edu

Gyles Uhlenhopp, Marketing Intern

DesignJoshua Olson, Lead Designer

for NCU Magazine jaolson@northcentral.edu

Websitewww.northcentral.edu

Mark Erickson, Web Coordinator webmaster@northcentral.edu

Contact Alumni Office

alumni@northcentral.edu

Main Switchboard 612.343.4400

Marketing 612.343.4153 marketing@northcentral.edu

University Relations 612.343.4747

NCU Magazine is mailed free of charge to alumni, donors and

friends of North Central University. North Central University is a

Christ-centered Pentecostal school with a commitment to academic

excellence that prepares students to fulfill biblical models of leadership and ministry throughout the world.

Ephesians 4:11-12

© 2012 North Central University. All rights reserved.

Numbers matter. One of the most significant numbers to consider is the date in which something begins. Birthdays, wed-dings, ground-breaking ceremonies and inaugurations all cel-ebrate the beginnings of special futures. One very special future began 110 years ago on June 25, 1902 when Asbury Hospital was dedicated to address the medical needs of people from the city of Minneapolis. Who would have known that day that this building would eventually be re-purposed to house and educate college students for the purpose of ministering to the needs of people all over the world?

The building that began as a hospital has been known to generations of North Central stu-dents as Miller Hall. Perhaps you’re reading this magazine and recalling a dorm room you lived in, or a chapel service you attended, or walking into the mail room to receive a care package. Like the building, your date of Miller Hall experience was only a beginning to a life that would change the world. On the 110th anniversary of this building, we’d like to invite you to share your Miller Hall stories with us. What do you remember that brings a smile to your face? How were you changed somewhere in the building during your days at the school? I’m sure there are more stories than we can imagine, so send us an email or post it on our Facebook page. In the Fall magazine we will include your stories and update you on the renovation of our residence halls in process this summer.

This issue of NCU Magazine will use numbers to tell many different stories, and we hope you find them to be inspirational. Who knows what the stories of North Central will sound like 110 years from now?

your life. our mission.Nate Ruch • Photo by Jeff Hathaway

Nate Ruch Vice-President, University Relations and Enrollment 612.343.4747 • npruch@northcentral.edu

VP’S CORNER

Spring 2012 | 5

UPFRONT

FRESHTHE LATEST NEWS FROM NCUINK

Doxa is the first annual student docu-mentary film festival at North Central Uni-versity. The 2012 Festival took place April 20 and was sponsored by the Department of Communication Arts and the NCU Film Collective, the student film club. Sopho-more Amanda Breister (Media Commu-nications) won the Doxa Istoria Award for being the festival’s “Best-in-Show,” for her short documentary “From Shattered Pieces.” Freshman Zachary Stiebs (Media Communications) and senior Dale Hough-ton (Media Communications) also took home awards for their films “My Little Ray of Light” and “For the Lost.”

The name “doxa,” the Greek word for “glory” reflects the mission of the festi-val, which is to showcase student films that endeavor to document aspects of God’s glory within the stories and sub-jects depicted. The Doxa festival provides a forum for NCU student filmmakers to showcase and be rewarded for documen-tary filmmaking that features unique nar-ratives demonstrating God’s glory in life and mission.

Along with student films competing for three festival awards, the Doxa Festi-val screened a guest documentary feature: “Steve Taylor is Not Dead.” The film is a career biography of Christian music artist and filmmaker Steve Taylor, director of “Blue Like Jazz.”

North Central University had the pleasure of hosting over 600 guests for its annual event, NCU Days, March 29-30.

NCU Days is an opportunity for prospective students to experience North Central’s campus first-hand as well as connect with future classmates. The attendance was the largest in the event’s history with 649 guests.

Various activities are held during NCU Days to introduce guests to differ-ent aspects of the university. This year’s activities included staying overnight in a residence hall, attending classes, an academic fair, and an evening ser-vice that featured Iowa District Youth Director Heath Adamson as the guest speaker. A performance by Slap Happy Comedy, worship with Contemporary Christian artist and NCU faculty member, Jeff Deyo, and a late night dodge-ball tournament were also a part of the event.

On Monday, April 23, Dr. Gordon Anderson was the featured speaker for a leadership development event at River Valley Church. Dr. Anderson spoke to several hundred people at the event, which was simulcast from River Val-ley’s Apple Valley, MN location to the church’s three other Twin Cities area campuses. Pastor Rob Ketterling, the Lead Pastor of River Valley Church, is also a member of North Central’s Board of Regents.

NCU DAYS SETS RECORD ATTENDANCE

DR. ANDERSON AT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

DOXA FILM FESTIVAL

Admissions Staff

Dr. Anderson

6 | NCU Magazine

MOVE

Kenya Jackson, ‘92V.P. of Stores, Target Canada

RIGHT ON TARGET

Spring 2012 | 7

MOVE

KENYA JACKSON MAY NOT HAVE SEEN IT ALL, but a few minutes of conversation is all it takes to realize he’s seen far more than the amazing view he now enjoys from his 30th floor corner office. “I try

not to take it for granted,” he says of the view, “and to be honest it’s almost impossible not to look out there and just say ‘Wow’.” The view Jackson is referring to came with his position as Vice Presi-dent of Marketing Operations of Target.

Jackson joined Target in 2003, and held numerous positions on his way to becoming a V.P. in January, 2010. While he’s cer-tainly come a long way since graduating from North Central in 1992 with a degree in Behavioral Sciences, he’s also ended up nearby – the NCU campus is easily spotted in the view from his Minneapolis office, and Kenya and his wife, Kelly, currently live in the Twin Cites with their two sons, Kaleb and Asher.

The journey that has brought Jackson to that office, just a downtown mile away from North Central, took him literally around the world. After graduating, Kenya was invited to play basketball for Athletes in Action (AIA), and over the course of the 1990s was a part of nine AIA tours. Those trips took him to Bolivia, Brazil, Mongolia, Kyrgizstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Russia, Italy, Turkey and Australia. Now a member of the AIA Board of Trustees, he credits those opportuni-ties with helping to deepen his faith and develop the boldness to share it with others. This summer, he plans to participate with an AIA team in Puerto Rico, and is excited to have his 8-year old son join him on the trip.

Basketball has played a big part in Jackson’s life and his faith journey. He recalls committing his life to Christ at a Christian bas-ketball camp he attended while in high school, and says that many of his best memories while attending NCU centered around his time on the basketball team, as well. (Kenya transferred to North Central after a year at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he played both basketball & football.) With good reason, he is pas-sionate about the value of sports in personal and leadership devel-opment, as well as a platform to share the gospel.

“Any time a student can exercise their leadership muscles – whether athletic or non-athletic, it’s a big deal, (but) especially in a team sport environment,” Jackson says. “You have opportunities to give and receive criticism, to work through problems – you learn how to approach people and have a quality interaction in the right way, speak the truth in love, and be accountable – not just to those above you but to those on your peer level. And I can tell you from my professional experience that those people thrive, and not just in this organization. When I see that on a resume, it stands out.”

From the basketball court as a new Christian through his journey in the corporate world, Jackson continues to be driven to always give his best effort – something he says AIA reinforced emphatically, since competing well and winning directly corre-lated to a strong platform for sharing the message of Christ. That

drive is a trait that has served him well, and allowed him to make a positive impact at Target in a variety of roles. In addition to his success in the various professional roles he has taken on (his cur-rent title is the 5th different position he has held at Target), he is active in the Christian Business Network at the company, and has also been an active part of Target’s initiatives related to diversity.

Since May 2011, Jackson has been transitioning into another new role, as he became a Group Vice President of Stores for Target Canada. This new role will soon take him and his family to Van-couver, where his office will be based as he helps to implement the company’s expansion plans across the border to the north. Just what the view from his office will look like may not be clear, but Jackson is excited for the new opportunity and it’s challenges.

If his journey so far is any indication, there is much more to be accomplished. Still, he is quick to defer the credit for his success: “I sit in this fancy office, but I have this not because of anything I’ve done or who I am – anything I get is because of Him,” Jackson says. “If I can carry myself in the way God wants me to, that’s important to me.”

Kenya Jackson

“Any time a student can exercise their leadership muscles – whether athletic or non-athletic, it’s a big deal, (but) especially in a team sport environment”

Story by Ryan Decker • Photos submitted by Kenya Jackson

8 | NCU Magazine

MOVE

Sheridan (Keith) Hawley (1988, Chris-tian Studies) has recently been appointed as a District Court Judge in Minnesota’s Tenth Judicial District by Minnesota Gov-ernor Mark Dayton. Prior to her appoint-ment, Hawley maintained a solo law prac-tice representing clients in child protec-tion and family law, as well as conducting alternative dispute resolutions in juvenile, civil and family cases. Hawley might not be where she is today without an experi-ence she had during her Junior year at North Central, when she witnessed a juve-nile being unjustly mistreated by local law enforcement. That experience led to an interest in how the law applies to children, and eventually to pursing her Juris Doctor-ate degree from the University of Califor-nia, Hastings College of Law in San Fran-cisco, which she completed in 1992.

Sheridan Hawley, ‘88District Court Judge, Twin Cities, MN

ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE

Photo by Joshua Olson

Spring 2012 | 9

MOVE

Lance Libengood (2005, Business Administration) has been serving Eden Prairie (MN) Schools (EPS) since 2009 as the district’s Director of Transportation. Lance supervises all EPS Transporta-tion staff and operations, an infrastruc-ture that employs 120 buses transporting approximately 8,500 students each school day and covering 1,200,000 total miles each year.

Libengood has recently partnered with fellow NCU Alumni to start a non-profit scholarship program for students attending (or preparing to attend) the School of Business at North Central. The Timothy Scholarship (timothyscholar-ship.com) will be awarded to applicants who have identified and helped to solve a relevant issue in their local community. Applications for the initial awarding of the Timothy Scholarship will be accepted beginning in January, 2013.

Lance Libengood, ‘05Director of Transportation, Eden Prairie School District

YOUTH MOVEMENT

Photo by Jeff Hathaway

10 | NCU Magazine

Numbers have the power to prove, quantify, and define. Some numbers cause us to evaluate, while others cause us to celebrate. The numbers show North Central has experienced much change, growth, and development over more than 80 years, but we believe that the most important and powerful numbers are the ones that tell a story. So, we hope you enjoy these snapshots of North Central, told…BY THE NUMBERS.

1902was the dedication date of Asbury Hospital. NCU aquired the building, now Miller Hall, in 1937.

136wireless internet access points on campus.

0.8miles or 16 minutes to walk from NCU to the IDS building downtown.

22buildings owned by North Central in downtown Minneapolis.

BY THE

NUMBERS

Spring 2012 | 11

The library's basement was completely remodeled last summer by NCU Plant Operations, giving students another great place to study.

59,500items in the T.J. Jones Library collection.

2,941people used the library each month this last school year.

542,455is the total square footage of buildings owned by NCU. The largest is Miller Hall with 105,892 square feet.

237,865visitors to northcentral.edu last year, an average of 19,822 visitors every month.

12 | NCU Magazine

1,026 pages. Pages of poems, reports,

short stories, research papers, and

so much more. My printer certainly

gets a workout from being owned by an English Major at North

Central University. It’s tempting to think what a waste of paper and

ink that would be. And time--who has time to write 1,026 pages of

papers?

Yet as I think back over all the things I’ve written for classes, I’ve

seen the life on those pages. I’ve written about the joys and sorrows

of my life, as well as what I’ve learned in class, and through it I’ve

discovered so much about myself and my God. Each of these pages

represents a journey that every English Major takes as they embark

on this wonderful course of study. Pages of discovery, awakening,

probing and growing. Finding my voice on the page has helped

me to learn more about my voice in the world as well.

I can’t honestly say I’ve loved every minute of it. There have

been nights where I struggled over words and concepts and felt I

just couldn’t get my thoughts on the page. But looking back on it

now, I wouldn’t change a bit of it. I couldn’t be more proud to be an

English Major at NCU.

By RACHEL PHYSICIAN, '12 (English)

19:1

44majors

31minors

106full time staff

130faculty

1,001applications for undergraduate admission already received for fall 2012.

student faculty ratio

Spring 2012 | 13

Chapel at North Central University is offered five times a week

on average during the school year. Since there are no ser-

vices during finals week, this adds up to about 65 chapels per

semester, which adds up to 520 chapels over four years. Allowing for

students to have an average of twenty chapel absences per semester,

a student will attend chapel at NCU about 360 times during a four-year

college career.

The chapel services at NCU are more than just a daily routine.

These services provide students with the opportunity to worship and

grow as a community. The school virtually closes down as students

join not only each other, but their professors and school staff as well,

in pursuing God. Chapel speakers come from many different places,

including from within our own community, in order to share wisdom

and challenge the student body. Some days chapel is only worship or

as we have seen this year, Quaker services. These services allow us to

grow in our worship of God and in our community as a whole.

As I look to graduation, I am thankful for the many opportunities

to attend chapel and for the encouragement and wisdom I have been

offered there. I know I will miss the services after I graduate, but they

have taught me invaluable lessons that I will carry past NCU and into

my daily life. That is, after all, why chapel exists.

By CORRIE AUSTIN, '12 (English: Literature)

1,000seats in the sanctuary of the Word and Worship Center.

360the approximate number of chapel services a student will attend in four years.

135public events held last year in the Word & Worship Center.

14 | NCU Magazine

28Orientation leaders lead new student groups during Welcome Week.

86serve in residence life.

198total student leaders.

43serve in student ministry organizations.

41serve in other student organizations.

Everyone has a favorite number. Mine is 214; it is my suite

number here at North Central University, and it has been

home of many fond memories.

One day, my suite mates and I enjoyed the reenactment of

Gollum at Mount Doom and the rescue of Frodo and Sam per-

formed by Caleb Brose. It was just what I needed to get my mind

off the homework that was waiting for me in the next room. I giggle

every time I remember another time when we all broke out sing-

ing classics like “Eye of the Tiger” and “Ain’t no Mountain High

Enough” at the top of our lungs and the girls upstairs cheering us

on through the vents. My life has changed in Phillips 214.

The gentlemen of 2 East Phillips have taught me how to be a

man of integrity. At first, it was difficult to adjust to this new envi-

ronment. But, with the help of my suite mates, I have overcome this

obstacle. I am now even able to help others going through similar

situations. I have made it my personal mission to help freshmen

adapt to their new home and create great memories of their own.

C.S. Lewis said, “Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like

art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give

value to survival.” The friendships I have here will last me a lifetime.

Suite 214 will always be treasured in my heart.

By AHMED KHAMASSI, '15 (Youth Ministries)

1,388students currently enrolled at NCU.

Spring 2012 | 15

1,640Elliot Park residents and 22 business attended "Elliot Park Night to Unite," hosted by NCU SIFE.

778total beds in Carlson Hall, Miller Hall, Phillipps Hall, and Mensing Hall.

12,743graduates since 1930.

16 | NCU Magazine

INSIGHT

A block (also known as “flat-rate”) tuition plan benefits families by reducing the time it takes students to earn their degree, allowing them to plan better financially and reduce debt upon graduation. By shifting to this new pricing structure, North Central hopes to encourage more students to graduate in four years or less, making earning a degree even more affordable for students.

“The Block Tuition structure will help NCU students reduce the cost of their degree, minimize debt upon graduation and enter the marketplace sooner,” said Executive Direc-tor of Enrollment, Troy Pearson. “NCU needed a model that rewarded those who com-plete their education on schedule, and to encourage others to reduce the time and total cost spent earning a degree. Block tuition pricing encourages students to take more hours and, as a result, save more money over the course of their education – leading to less debt upon graduation for many students.”

FINISHFOURIN

HELPINGSTUDENTS

Dan Erickson, Communication Arts, Class of 2015 • Photos by Jeff Hathaway

When it comes to the reality of paying for college, North Cen-tral is committed to a holistic

approach that helps students navigate the financial realities of higher education. Pro-viding generous Financial Aid packages, facilitating monthly payment plans, offer-ing students financial literacy training & financial counseling, and structuring its programs to help students graduate and complete their education more quickly and with less debt are all a part of this continu-ing effort.

North Central University will also be implementing a block tuition plan begin-ning in Fall 2012. Under the new plan, NCU students will be able to take between 12 and 18 credit hours per semester for one set price. Block tuition will also ben-efit the university by allowing for more reliable budgeting based on the number of students enrolled. (Many private and state universities already operate with semester block tuition plans.)

Spring 2012 | 17

North Central University is proud to announce Court-ney Strasburg as the 2012 Regent’s Schol-arship recipient. The Regent’s Scholarship is a full-tuition, renewable scholarship awarded to first-time freshmen each year, based on superior academic performance, references, and a written essay. Courtney is currently a student at Fall Creek Senior High School in Fall Creek, Wisconsin, and is an outstanding student, church leader, and community member who is active in sharing her faith.

Courtney is looking forward to coming to North Central in the fall to pursue a degree in Mathematics. Of attending North Central University she said, “I thought the campus life and community at NCU was going to be exactly like all the other schools I had visited. I had never been more wrong about a school in my life. North Central was and is the school I have been waiting for. It was the first and only place that I felt I truly belonged to and could be a part of.”

North Central University provides an excellent educational

experience and has been recognized as one of US News &

World Report’s ‘Best Colleges and Universities’ four years

in a row. NCU is also a very affordable option, with annual

tuition and fees totaling just $19,066 in 2012. Compared to the

median cost of 4-year private institutions ($29,492 in 2011), NCU offers students an

outstanding educational value!

REGENT’SSCHOLARSHIPRECIPIENT

Satara StrongPsychologyClass of 2013

DID KNOW?YOU

Most of our academic programs have been revised to

include no more than 124 credit hours. You can always

add elective classes, but your major will be as focused as

possible on, well, your major. It just makes sense!

We have increased our Academic Scholarship awards! Simply put, we believe

excellent students should be recognized and rewarded for their hard work. In

addition Academic schol-

arships are now available

for transfer students. Visit

northcentral.edu/scholar-

ships for more information.

4

124

AWARD NAME

Scholars Scholarship $6,500/yr

$5,500/yr

$4,000/yr

$2,500/yr

Honors Scholarship

Merit Scholarship

Achievement Scholarship

AMOUNT

18 | NCU Magazine

JulyJuneMay

New Student Registration Day

One Accord at Minnesota Family Camp

New Student Registration Day

Worship Live at Wisconsin Senior High Camp

Pure Worship Institute

Commencement

Join us as we honor thegraduating class of 2012

18

2 - 8

15

918 - 23

4

UNITE

More than 20 different ways to connect

Welcome Week 2011

For more information and to register visit pureworshipinstitute.com

Spring 2012 | 19

August September October

Partners For Progress

New Student Registration Day

Church &Volunteer Fair

Board of Regents

Alumni Cluster Reunion

Community Outreach Day

Preview Day

Spiritual Life Days &Holy Convocation

PSEO Orientation

Welcome Week 2012

Student Leadership Orientation

Academic Convocation

Student Success Center Jobs Fair

Community Outreach Day involves NCU students, faculty, and staff in serving various organizations and

projects within the community. 23

8

6

23

24

11

28

24 - 27

23

25 - 28

22

26

5

your life. our mission.

North Central University will be hosting a reunion for the classes of 1986, ‘87 and ‘88 on October 23-24, 2012. See northcentral.edu/

alumni-cluster-reunion.

North Central University celebrates the start of a new academic year.

North Central’s partners and friends will gather for a gala

celebrating North Central’s past, present and exciting future. The evening will include dinner and music followed by special guest

speaker, Dr. Jim Bradford.

Preview Days are a great time to visit campus. Go to class, experience

chapel, meet students and professors, learn about financial aid and talk with an Admissions Counselor. Students

and their parents, friends, and family are all welcome!

The student body will be given an opportunity to observe various

spiritual disciplines and to seek the Lord during an extended chapel

experience.

Students will have access to local businesses, spanning multiple

fields and interests. This is a great opportunity to connect with potential

employers as well as a quick way to help students find a job within their

first few weeks at school.

The semi-annual meeting of North Central University’s Board of Regents will convene on campus Oct. 23-24.

20 | NCU Magazine

cholar? Yes. Professor? Definitely. Adventurer? Abso-lutely. It’s hard to identify Dr. Buzz Brookman with just

one word. After all, there’s not a word in the English language that indicates a veteran university professor who has roasted a chicken over blazing lava on a volcano. Clearly, Dr. Brookman is not defined simply by a list of academic accomplishments - yet even in the NCU community, many are not fully aware of just how much he has accomplished.

Dr. Brookman began teaching at North Central University in 1978, while he was still in his graduate program working on a Ph.D. in Ancient Studies from the University of Minnesota. Little did he know that he would quickly fall in love with the incredible friends and community that NCU had to offer, staying for over 33 years and becoming NCU’s longest-serving professor. Brook-man admits that he originally thought of NCU as simply a good

place to begin his career, a kind of launching pad into the world of teaching.

NCU was the fastest growing Bible college in the nation when Dr. Bookman was hired, so rather than the Hebrew and Old Tes-tament classes he teaches today, he actually began his career by teaching History and freshman English Composition. After about five years, as more faculty were hired to accommodate the growing population of students, he was able to move into teaching his true passions: Old Testament and – his favorite class to teach – Hebrew.

Though his love for ancient studies and his connection with his small, engaging Hebrew class was strong, Dr. Brookman began to see the need for NCU to produce missionaries who could teach English overseas. As a result, he completed some graduate level courses in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and, in 2004, helped to launch the TEFL program at NCU. His focus on

Dr. Buzz Brookman

S

A Wealth ofEXPERIENCE

BY VICTORIA PYRON

Dr. Buzz Brookman's extensive body of work continues to expand, increasing his impact at NCU and around the world.

Spring 2012 | 21

the TEFL program led to Brookman joining the Missions Depart-ment faculty. Gradually, he moved deeper into the field, until his entire teaching schedule revolved around missions, and even became the Chair of the Department.

Over the past 33 years, Brookman’s work has not been con-fined to the United States; he has spent time in multiple countries as well. Brookman has taught courses at overseas universities in China, Bulgaria, Kenya, and Ethiopia. He describes each opportu-nity to travel as both unique and wonderful, influencing his teach-ing style and transforming him as a person. Dr. Brookman specifi-cally remembers one of his students in Kenya, a young Ethiopian man who aspired to be a pastor. It wasn’t until he later visited the decidedly foreign streets of Addis Abba that he realized his former student was the pastor of one of the biggest churches in Ethiopia at the time.

Back in the States, he has taught courses at Bethel University, Bethel Theological Seminary, and the University of Minnesota. Additionally, he applied for and was chosen to be the Andrew W. Mellon Faculty Fellow of the Department of Near Eastern Lan-guages & Civilizations at Harvard University, which led him and his family to Boston, Mass. while he taught courses at Harvard.

Dr. Brookman is a published author, has taught more than 30 different courses, and is now a member of three professional soci-eties: the Society of Biblical Literature, the American Schools of Oriental Research, and the Society of Pentecostal Studies.

Through all of these varied experiences, Dr. Brookman’s heart has stayed at NCU. He believes that NCU has come a long way by improving certain quantitative measures, and especially in estab-lishing a greater breadth of programs. Now, he believes the time has come for the institution to focus on further developing quali-tative excellence in the academic realm. It could be said that he has already made a lifetime of contributions to North Central – but he isn’t stopping now.

Introducing guests from Chuxiong Normal University

PROFESSOR, North Central University, 1978-2012VISITING PROFESSOR, 2002, Southwest University, Nanchong, ChinaVISITING PROFESSOR, 2000, Addis Ababa Bible Col-lege, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaVISITING PROFESSOR, 1999, Sofia Bible Institute, Sofia, BulgariaADJUNCT PROFESSOR, 1996-97, Bethel University, St. Paul, MinnesotaVISITING PROFESSOR, East Africa School of Theol-ogy, Nairobi, Kenya, Spring Semester, 1997FACULTY ASSOCIATE, 1995-96, Bethel Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MinnesotaADJUNCT LECTURER, 1994-95, Dept. of Classical & Near Eastern Studies, University of Minnesota, Minne-apolis, MinnesotaANDREW W. MELLON FACULTY FELLOW, 1990-91, Dept. of Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations, Har-vard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

2012 “The Cuneiform Collection of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts,” Cuneiform Digital Library Journal

2011Global Scenes of Biblical Injustice. Lanham, MD: University Press of America,

“Interfaith Jousting Over Psalm 2: Jewish Interpreta-tions in Light of the Polemics with Christians” SBL Annual Meeting Nov, 2011.

2010"Jews and Christians in the 1st Century: Threads of Insight from minor Midrashim" SBL Annual Meeting Nov, 2010.

2006Grinding the Face of the Poor: A Reader in Biblical Justice. Minneapolis: North Central University Press, 2006.

CareerAccomplishments

Recently Published Works

Victoria Pyron, '15, is an English Major at North Central University.

22 | NCU Magazine

COLLEGEUPDATES

SIFE TEAM WINS REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPNorth Central University  Students In Free Enterprise  (SIFE)

team was named a Regional Champion at the SIFE USA Regional Competition held in Minneapolis, MN, March 22, 2012. The event was one of 11 SIFE USA Regional Competitions being held across the United States and marks the third consecutive year that NCU SIFE has been named Regional Champions.

“I'm incredibly proud of how hard our students worked this year to honor the Lord,” said Bill Tibbetts, SIFE mentor, associ-ate professor of Business Administration and Sam Walton Fellow. “Our NCU SIFE team has diligently worked to be a relevant influ-ence on the Elliot Park neighborhood, the community that has been home to North Central for so many years.”

During this academic year, the NCU SIFE team organized 11 projects in the Twin Cities, including:  Elliot Park Night to Unite, Operation Lunch and Interview Me. As a SIFE USA Regional Champion, the NCU SIFE team now advances to the  2012 SIFE USA National Exposition in Kansas City, MO on May 22-24.

ARTS & SCIENCES ALUMNI GIVE BACKAs part of their ongoing effort to connect alumni to current

students, the North Central University College of Arts & Sciences held an informative alumni panel session for current students during Chapel on Thursday, January 26, 2012.  Members of the panel included Joshua Olson, '10 (Communications), Breanna Graham, '11 (Business), Amy Hansen, '05 (Psychology), Caitlin Gilmartin, '11 (Communciations), Seth Miletich, '09 (Interdisci-plinary Studies), and Laura Risdall, '08 (Education). 

Alumni panel members provided their reflections, ideas and recommendations on moving from college to the marketplace, challenges they’ve experienced as Christians in the workplace, and things they know now about the work world that they wish they would have known as students.

STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN “SOCIAL WORK DAY” AT MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL

Social Work students from North Central University attended Social Work Day at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul on March 26, 2012.

Social Work Day at the Capitol is an opportunity for profes-sional social workers, social work students, and social work edu-cators to join together and lobby state lawmakers about matters of social policy that affect clients, the profession, and the citizens of Minnesota.

This was the 16th annual event where Social Work students learn the process of political advocacy. The event started at the Minnesota History Center, where students heard from speakers, and concluded at the Minnesota State Capitol. At the Capitol, there were opportunities for students to meet with state legislators to advocate on behalf of issues important to them.

The Social Work Program at North Central University seeks to train students in the knowledge and skills of social work practice. The program is guided by a love for Christ and a commitment to service to God and to humanity. The educational framework is based on the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) require-ments, Christian values, the National Association of Social Work (NASW) Code of Ethics, the National Association of Christian Social Workers (NACSW) statement of faith and practice, a liberal arts foundation, as well as a biblical foundation. The major values a holistic approach to social work that includes the mind (knowl-edge), the body (practice), and the spirit (faith).

NCU SIFE team presents their regional championship trophy.

Social Work students at the Minnesota Capitol in St. Paul.

Spring 2012 | 23

The Office of Academic Affairs at North Central is pleased to announce that Dr. Charlie McElveen has accepted the position of the Chair of the College of Mis-sions.  Dr. McElveen will have full faculty status as Profes-sor in the College along with his administrative responsi-bilities. Dr. McElveen comes back to NCU with a wealth of experience in Home Missions, Urban Ministry, Busi-ness as Missions, and Church Ministry. He will play an integral part leading the College forward with curricu-lum, program, and project development as NCU seeks to continue to impact the world for Jesus Christ in greater and more effective ways.

Charlie has been married to Donna (also a member of the NCU faculty) for 31 years. They have two children and two grandchildren. Charlie earned his D.Min. from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2001. He has served as a bi-vocational missionary/educator, a pastor, an educator, a college president, and recently served as the Director of Chaplains at the Union Gospel Mission in St. Paul.

DELEGATION FROM CHUXIONG NORMAL UNIVERSITY VISITS NORTH CENTRAL

North Central University had the privilege of hosting guests from Chuxiong Normal University on February 3, 2012. During their visit to North Central, guests from CNU were greeted by the NCU community in chapel, given a tour of the university and attended a luncheon hosted by North Central University Presi-dent, Dr. Gordon Anderson.

Over the past six years, North Central University students have had the opportunity of spending a semester in Chuxiong as either an intern or a student, and NCU Administrators and Fac-ulty members have spent time there as well.

The two universities hope to continue building upon the good-will generated by this partnership so that each can strengthen their educational opportunities for students, faculty and administration.

Chuxiong Normal University (CNU) is located in the Yunnan province of the People’s Republic of China and began a part-nership with North Central University in February, 2006, when NCU's President, Dr. Gordon Anderson, signed a formal agree-ment creating a working relationship between CNU and North Central.

HULDA BUNTAIN SPEAKS IN NCU CHAPEL

North Central was honored to host veteran missionary Hulda Buntain as the featured speaker in Chapel on March 26th. The wife of the late Dr. Mark Buntain, Mrs. Buntain first journeyed to Calcutta, India in 1954 where they pioneered the outreach now known as Mission of Mercy. The Buntain’s initial commitment was to serve in Calcutta for one year, but they served together there for 34 more years, and Hulda continued to serve for a total of more than 50 years. Today, Mission of Mercy is working in 16 of the poorest countries in the world, sharing the gospel and ministering in a variety of practical ways. You can listen to Hulda’s message to the NCU community, “Actions With Love”, online at http://www.northcentral.edu/sermons/actions-love

DR. CHARLIE MCELVEEN CHOSEN TO CHAIR NCU'S COLLEGE OF MISSIONS

Hulda Buntain

Dr. Charlie McElveen

24 | NCU Magazine

CHURCH MULTIPLICATION NETWORK BRINGS "START" EVENT TO NORTH CENTRAL CAMPUS

START, an event that informs college-aged individuals of the changing landscape of church planting, held an event on the campus of North Central University, October 26-28, 2011.

START is a three-day campus event that exposes students and local pastors/leaders to the wide variety of church planters and church planting models. Guest speakers from across the nation led group sessions with NCU students and local church leaders, while also serving as the daily chapel speaker. START is sponsored by the Church Multiplication Network (CMN) and is hosted by an Assemblies of God college or university in partnership with local A/G District Offices.

The event recognizes that not all Christians are called to lead a church plant, but believes in introducing everyone to ways that they can get involved and perhaps come alongside those who have been called to plant a church. 

START special guests included Herbert Cooper (People’s Church), Leonard Sweet (author, speaker), Wilfredo de Jesus (New Life Covenant Church), Brad Davis (Desert Springs Church), Rob Ketterling (River Valley Church), Peter Haas (Substance Church), and Trinity Jordan (Elevation Church).

Chapel messages from the START event are available for download at www.northcentral.edu/sermons/archive. To find out more information about START or the Church Multiplication Network visit churchmultiplication.net.

"FIRST THINGS LAST" FOCUSES ON LOVE & LAW North Central University’s annual “First Things Last” chapel series

was held February 21-23, 2012. This year’s event featured three profes-sors from the Institute for Biblical and Theological Studies:

Feb 21st - "The Love of the Law" - Dr. Buzz Brookman Feb 22nd - "The Law of Love" - Dr. Amy Anderson Feb 23rd - "God's Love for the Lawless" - Dr. Allen Tennison

All three messages from this event can be downloaded from the NCU website at www.northcentral.edu/sermons/archive.

A free download of the Hebrew song “The Shema” by Katy Wehr, Administrative Assistant in the Institute, is also available at the following link: katywehr.com/music/Shema.mp3.

SPRING PRODUCTION 'CONQUERS' AUDIENCE

The College of Fine Arts presented “She Stoops to Con-quer” as the Spring Theater Production for 2012. Directed by Assistant Professor Wayne Matthews, Oliver Goldsmith’s classic 18th century comedy was brought to life on the NCU stage. “She Stoops to Conquer” tells the playful and hilarious tale of Kate, a well-bred squire’s daughter, who “stoops” to the position of a maid in order to romance a wealthy aristocrat who grows timid around upper-class women. As the plot begins to twist and turn, the conniving cast of characters who inhabit the estate learn some hilarious lessons about the true nature of love. Tanner Costello (Freshman, Theater) played the lead role of Charles Marlow opposite Hannah Jackson (Sophomore, Theater) who played the title role of Kate Hardcastle.

The production was well received by audiences throughout the course of two weekend runs, beginning March 23-25 and conclud-ing March 30-April 1, 2012.

NATIONAL RECORDING ARTISTS VISIT NORTH CENTRAL CHAPEL TO LEAD WORSHIP

North Central University students joined together in worship with recording artists REILLY and The Katinas this year, with both groups leading NCU Chapel in worship.

Based in Philadelphia, REILLY visited the NCU campus on November 4th. REILLY is a much sought-after Christian band known for their unique blend of rock infused with dueling vio-lins. Their energetic live show and spiritual depth has landed them attention from the music industry and a growing number of loyal fans throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. More information is available by visiting www.reillytheband.com.

The Katinas were special guests in Chapel on Monday, Novem-ber 21st. The Katinas are a Contemporary Christian music group made up of five brothers from American Samoa. The band has released over ten full-length albums including Katina Boyz, Destiny, and Roots. Their most recent album, Collage was released in June of 2011. For more information about The Katinas visit thekatinas.com.

"She Stoops to Conquer"

Spring 2012 | 25

As North Central athletes dig deep and meet the challenge of NCAA D-III competition, NCU Rams Ath-

letics continues to demonstrate that while the program is a newcomer to

D-III, it has long been in top form when it comes to developing the

student-athlete as a whole person – focusing not just on development of athletic skills, but also on devel-

oping outstanding student leaders.Photo by Joshua Olson

Leadership, Competition, & Service

ATHLETELEADERS

169student athletes in 2011-'12.

26 | NCU Magazine

Nathan Roeder, a junior from Hudson, Wisconsin

firmly established himself among the all-time great

players in North Central Men's Basketball history this

season. With a style described as fearless but intel-

ligent play, Roeder averaged over 22 points a game

while leading NCU in assists (4.5 APG). He was 12th in all of NCAA Division III in scoring, and also

set the North Central single game scoring record with 44 points in a Rams win over Crown

College on January 17.

Nathan is already the all-time leader in made free

throws in Rams history and second all-time in career

assists with 329. He was recognized with several post-

season awards, including the 2012 Association of

Division III Independents Player of the Year Award

and the 2012 NCCAA Division II North Central

Region MVP Award. A Youth

Development Studies major,

Nathan was also the featured

speaker in NCU Chapel on

April 4th, part of a chapel ser-

vice planned and led entirely

by NCU student athletes.

Roeder challenged fellow students to take greater

ownership of their faith and make their relationship

with Christ more personal.

LEADERSHIP

NATHANROEDER

COMPETIT ION

When NCU Rams Athletics began competing at the NCAA D-III level, the program’s leadership believed the Rams were ready for the challenges of higher level competition. As the Rams work to

meet that challenge, however, it’s not simply in-game performance that is rising to another level.

To the casual observer, the role of varsity sports in aspects such as building community and promoting health and wellness may be more visible, but leadership development has long been a key part of the ath-letics program at North Central. This emphasis on training students to be leaders on and off the field was, in part, what made the move to NCAA Division III such a great fit for the program, as the outcomes for Division III athletes very closely resemble the holistic development North Central is committed to providing athletes and non-athletes alike.

According to the NCAA’s vision for Division III, participation “affords student-athletes the opportunity to discover valuable lessons in teamwork, discipline, perseverance, and leadership, which in turn make student-athletes better students and responsible citizens.”  Division III student-athletes report active academic engagement and participation in academic “extras,” such as research with faculty, study abroad oppor-tunities and capstone/senior thesis projects. Division III student-ath-letes also report significantly greater gains in time management when compared with non-athletes, as well as reporting greater involvement in volunteering. They also are more likely to report “leadership potential” as an important consideration in choosing a career.

While the competition gap may take time to fully close on the court or field, there is no such gap when it comes to the outstanding training and development North Central’s student athletes continue to receive off the field. In addition to the various student-leadership positions available to all students, student-athletes participate in pre-season retreats that focus not only on preparation for the upcoming season, but spiritual emphasis and development, as well. Three times each semester, Athletic Leadership Luncheons are held, featuring speakers on various subjects relevant to student-athletes.

In addition to these program-wide opportunities, both new and vet-eran athletes also have the opportunity to receive more focused devel-opment in smaller settings.  This year, more than 20 athletes and their families participated in a New Student Athlete Dinner upon arriving on campus for preseason practices, and new students participate in Freshman athletics meetings throughout the year. These events are designed to pro-vide encouragement, information and support to students as they learn to balance their responsibilities as student-athletes.

44points

Spring 2012 | 27

The Leadership Council of Captains (LCC) provides student leaders who serve as team captain for their sport with the opportunity to influence both the Athletics Program and the broader campus com-munity in various roles. Members of the LCC serve as the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)

for NCU Athletics as required by the NCAA, as well as serving in the North Central Student Association, helping to coordinate service projects and events, and represent the needs and concerns of their fellow athletes to the Athletics Department staff and NCU’s Administration. Students serv-ing as captains also have the opportunity to be personally mentored by their coaches during the off-season for their sport.

This spring, the inaugural celebration of Division III Week, which took place April 11-15, provided another opportunity to demonstrate the ser-vant leadership emphasis of NCU Rams Athletics programs, as athletes and coaches participated in an Elliot Park Clean-Up event in the park neighboring NCU’s campus, as well as taking a night out to package meals for those in need around the world at local non-profit Feed My Starv-ing Children. D-III Week was sponsored by the NCAA as a way for its membership to call attention to the academic, athletic, and extracurricu-lar achievements of student-athletes. The celebration is intended to pro-vide an opportunity for schools and conferences to publicly demonstrate the ways in which they provide a well-rounded collegiate experience for approximately 180,000 student-athletes competing in the NCAA’s largest membership division. For the North Central athletic department, D-III Week simply provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate a long-standing and ongoing commitment – the commitment to “Leadership. Competition. Service.”

SERVICEIn 2011, Elisabeth Trickey led the NCAA D-III in stolen bases per game.

ELISABETHTRICKEY

Elisabeth Trickey, a junior from Waseca, Minne-

sota, was named a second team NCCAA All-Amer-

ican and AD3I All-Independents second team

following a record breaking basketball season.

After just her third season in a Rams uniform, the

junior has one of the best all-around resumes in

Rams history. Her steals-per-game average ranked

her in the top 15 in all of NCAA Division III and in just 83 career games she became the NCU all-time leader with 341 career steals after

recording 9 steals in the Rams regular season

home finale on February 18th.

Trickey’s knack for theft also extends to the

softball diamond, where she is the Rams career

stolen bases leader as well. After leading all of NCAA D-III in stolen bases per game in

2011, she is near the top of that category again

this year. Her career average stands at more than

a stolen base per game, and her success rate cur-

rently stands at a remarkable .929.

66stolen bases

28 | NCU Magazine

Insight

North Central University was privileged to

host the 2012 Assemblies of God Credit Union

(AGCU) Classic on January 12-14, 2012. The

annual event is a traveling tournament that

rotates among four schools and North Central

was the host for this season’s tournament.

The tourney featured four games each

day for three days, with two women’s and two

men’s contests scheduled each day. All four of

the participating men’s teams were repre-

sented in the most recent NCCAA DII Top

25 Coaches Poll at the time of the event (#2

Valley Forge, #9 Central Bible, #11 NCU, and

#19 Trinity Bible).

The Rams finished as runner-up on the

men’s side, while the women shared the top

spot with both Valley Forge and Trinity Bible

College.

Both the Men’s and Women’s basketball

teams saw promising seasons end earlier than

they hoped, as each fell in the NCCAA D-II

Regional Championship Game to Trinity Bible

College. After cutting a 48-35 second-half

lead by Trinity to just 51-49, the Men’s team

eventually fell 83-78 to the Lions.

The women’s team saw a string of five

straight NCCAA Division II Regional Cham-

pionships stopped by Trinity as well. The

Rams and Lions played a memorable regional

championship game with Trinity earning a

67-64 victory over NCU at the Ray Ulmer Field

House in Ellendale.

The Rams were well represented on the

NCCAA DII All-Region teams. Nathan Roeder

was named the Region MVP, Andrew Berndt

joined the All-Region First Team and Jordan

Harrell was named to the All-Region Second

Team for the men, while Elisabeth Trickey,

Jorie Grenell, and Melissa Kidd were named

to the women’s First Team and Christina

Goodman and Courtney Smith were named

to the Second Team. Both the Men’s and

Women’s teams have the potential to return

their entire roster for the 2012-13 season.

BASKETBALL

Photos by Jeff Hathaway

Spring 2012 | 29

For all the latest Rams news, visit www.ncurams.com

BASEBALL

CROSS COUNTRY

SOFTBALL

SOCCER

After a rough start to the season left their record at 2-13, Rams Baseball got on track with a 13-5 run leading up to the NCCAA Regional Tournament Apr. 23-25. At 15-18, the Rams have already set the school record for wins in a single season, and a good showing in the regional tournament could earn them a trip back to the NCCAA DII World Series in May. The Rams will wrap up the regular season with a May 3 doubleheader against Northland College.

Rams Softball closed an up and down season by winning 6 of their last 10 games, and will enter the NCCAA Regional Tour-nament with a mark of 13-13. The Rams made their first ever Spring Break road trip in 2012, but can home from Florida with-out a win in six games against some very strong competition. The team was able to get on track quickly upon returning home, however, with a 5-1 showing as hosts of the NCU Dome Tourney (another program first), March 15-16.

A performance to remember from a senior in her final race and two freshman in their first NCCAA Nationals race head-lined the Rams run to a seventh straight NCCAA National Title in 2012. The North Central women placed all five scoring run-ners in the top 11 and cruised to a 47 point victory in the team

standings. Senior Catherine Mead (pictured left) completed the great-est cross country career in Rams pro gram history by earning her fourth NCCAA DII All-American award and earning her third straight NCCAA DII Individual title. Fresh-men Rachel Hovland and Tesa Ber-

tell finished 5th and 6th individually to help the Rams claim the team victory. Meghan Smith (9th) and Becca Armstrong (12th) rounded out the scoring for the Rams.

The North Central men’s team placed their scoring five all in the top ten and had all seven runners finish in the top 17 indi-vidually. NCU finished with a team score of 30 – a full 49 points better than second place Maranatha Baptist Bible College – a dominating run to their third straight championship. Senior Jeff Winkelman earned third place, while Senior Owen Hein ran to a fourth place finish followed closely by freshman Cam Tiberg in fifth. Freshman Sutton Rehwaldt ran a personal best to take eighth place individually, and senior Tony Johns took tenth indi-vidually in the Rams final scoring slot.

Soccer: Teams Present their Regional Championship Banners.

Baseball: Freshman Gary Ramos makes an outstanding catch.

North Central used the first opening round win in program history to earn their best ever finish at the NCCAA DII Women's Soccer National Championship. Despite two narrow losses, the Rams ended up with a fourth place finish. NCU was seeded fifth overall and opened with a match versus fourth seed Kentucky Christian University. NCU defeated the Knights 2-0, a result that moved the Rams into the national semi-final and just one victory away from earning a spot in the national championship game. Top seeded Point University defeated the Rams 1-0, and another tough 1-0 loss to Northland International University resulted in a 4th Place finish.

Senior defender Bethany Burkman and Sophomore Marissa Dean were each named to the NCCAA DII Women's Soccer National Championship Tournament All-Tournament Team as voted on by the participating coaches.

North Central Men’s Soccer team had gone nine seasons without a NCCAA DII Regional Championship banner going into 2011. With that dry spell broken and a sense of hope going forward the Rams Men's Soccer squad claimed seventh place at the NCCAA National Championship Tournament with a thrill-ing 4-3 overtime victory over Dallas Christian University.

Several ties and one goal losses kept the Rams from posting a final record that showed their clear improvement on the field, but as the season wound down NCU was able to gain form and earn a long awaited regional title, their first since 2002, with a 1-0 victory over defending region champion Providence College.

30 | NCU Magazine

CONNECT

Alumni Updates:Tell us what's new with you! If you've changed addresses, changed jobs, or have a story to share, we want to know about it! Enter your most recent contact information to ensure you receive updates and news from NCU, and don't forget to tell us what you've been up to!

How to Update:northcentral.edu/alumnifriends/update

1967Don Waisanen (Music & Christian Education) lives in Corona, California and is the Senior Pastor, Singer, Teacher and Radio Evangelist at Solid Rock Restoration Church in Yorba Linda, California.

1971Patricia (Niblett) McClung (Christian Education) is living in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. She and her husband, Wendell, are A/G missionaries in Slovakia, and are excited to be a part of what God is doing in that country.

1975Charlie Chivers (Pastoral Studies) is an Assemblies of God U.S. Missionary to people with disabilities, and currently lives in Waupaca, Wisconsin. Serving as a Missionary Field Representative, Charlie and his wife, Debbie, are the Founders and Directors of Special Touch Ministry, which is expanding across America and operating in 10 Assemblies of God Districts. Special Touch provides a faith-based response to any need that arises in the disability community, while seeking to win people with disabilities to Christ.

1980Donna (Salzer) Menzies (Behavioral Science & Christian Education) is currently living in Minnetonka, Minnesota and has been working as an independent Executive Recruiter for the past twelve years, with an expertise in the creative industry. She is married to NCU Professor, Glen Menzies, and has two sons, Sam (22) and Lucas (18), who is attending NCU this year.

1986North Central University will be hosting a reunion for the class of 1986 on October 23-24, 2012. See northcentral.edu/alumni-cluster-reunion.

Loralie (Robinson) Crabtree (Pastoral Studies) lives in Springfield, Missouri, where she is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Christian Ministries at the

Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS), and will graduate in 2013. She most recently served as Connections Pastor and on the executive pastoral team at Central Assembly of God, Springfield, MO, from 2008-2011. Her husband, Dan, is a professor at Central Bible College and James River Leadership College, and an adjunct professor at AGTS. They have three children, Justin (20), Joshua (16), and Kaylie (10).

1987North Central University will be hosting a reunion for the class of 1987 on October 23-24, 2012. See northcentral.edu/alumni-cluster-reunion.

Sharolyn (Lawrence) Sánchez (Christian Education) is currently living in Penhold, Alberta, Canada, and is the Children’s Pastor and Bookkeeper at Streams Christian Church in Red Deer.

1988North Central University will be hosting a reunion for the class of 1988 on October 23-24, 2012. See northcentral.edu/alumni-cluster-reunion.

Becky (Lippert) Anderson (Pastoral Studies) lives in Blue Eye, Missouri and is a receptionist for the Jim Bakker Show. She has been married for 18 years and has three boys: Benjamin (15), Sam (13), Caleb (11).

1991Todd Clair (Cross Cultural Communications) is currently living in Melrose Park, Illinois and is the Secretary/Treasurer of the Midwest Latin American District of the Assemblies of God and District Home Missions Director.

1999Missy (Glenn) Brown, (Children’s Ministries) and her husband, Matthew Brown,

Kevin Beery, ‘89, (Cross Cultural Ministry) will be assuming the role of Vice President of Academic Affairs at Valley Forge Christian College in July. Kevin’s wife Wendy (Pastoral Studies) will also be employed at VFCC as Campus Director.

Spring 2012 | 31

CONNECT

’01, (Urban Ministries) and their three children, Tesa (7), and Isabelle and Jonathan (3) moved to Charleston, IL in July 2011. Matthew is working at Eastern Illinois University as the Associate Director of Housing and Dining for Residential Facilities and Missy is a stay-at-home mom.

Spencer Click (Children’s Ministry) lives in Newport News, Virginia and is graduating in May of 2012 from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary with an MA in Christian Ministries.

Kenton Powell (Church Planting) from Racine, Wisconsin, is a Region

Manager for the Midwest with Monster Energy Company. His wife, Jen, is a special education teacher with Racine Unified school district. They have twin girls, Annabelle & Ruby, who are 2 and half years old. They ask for your prayers for Anabelle, who has heart issues.

2000Tim Doese (Children’s Ministry) of Hugo, Minnesota, and his wife Jocelyn just celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary. They have two girls, Estrella (4) and Vega (2), and another baby due in late July. Tim just finished 15 years of service at Faith Temple in St. Paul and has now started

helping out with a church plant in White Bear Lake. The Doeses are excited to see what God has in store for them in the coming months and years.

Beth (Goeske) King (Psychology) is currently living in Lincoln, Nebraska. She and her husband Mike are Creative Arts and Worship Pastors at Christ Place Church, as well as campus pastors at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. They have three kids, Chloe (5), Amelia (4), and Emerson (9 months).

Eydie (Clark) Reiser (Youth Ministries) is currently living in Berlin, Wisconsin, and is the Associate Pastor at Faith

Community Church, while her husband Ben (NCU ‘95-’97) is the Youth Pastor. They have 4 wonderful children. Eydie is the head coach of Berlin High School’s girls volleyball team, where she led the team to a Conference and Regional Championship this past season.

2001Davy Kusta (Pastoral Studies) lives in River Grove, Illinois and is serving as a teaching pastor, camp speaker and church consultant. He recently launched Generations Church (www.generationsNow.org) in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

Ali Carr, ‘10, (Psychology) was crowned Mrs. Minnesota

on March 3rd at the historic Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul,

Minnesota, where she competed with other accomplished

married women from across the state of Minnesota in inter-

view, evening gown, swimwear and on-stage questions. Ali

also won the Community Service award for her missions work

in Africa.

She is currently working as the Graduation and Records

Specialist at North Central University. Additionally, she works

as an emcee with Black Fox Productions, having emceed over

300 live shows for young girls ages 4-18 where they com-

pete in various competitions promoting self-confidence and

personal development. Ali and her husband George, ‘07, (Business Administration) currently reside in Minneapolis.

George, also a North Central graduate, is the Accountant

and Sponsorship Coordinator with Venture Expeditions, an

adventure-driven humanitarian organization that empowers

people to benefit the world and discover their souls.

This year Ali is committed to bringing awareness to social

injustice domestically and internationally. She has partnered

with the locally founded organization Venture Expeditions.

On her trip to Kenya with Venture Expeditions, she and her

husband climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for AIDS

education. While they were there, they had the opportunity

to visit many orphanages. Ali states, "I decided I had to share

their story and encourage others to get involved, be selfless

and grow as an individual in the process." For Ali, being

Mrs. Minnesota is about inspiring and motivating people in

our community to make a difference in their neighborhoods,

state and even world. Ali will go on to compete for the title

of Mrs. America this June.

32 | NCU Magazine

CONNECT

2002Kelly (Cluney) Havemeier (Youth Ministries) and her husband, Lee Havemeier, ’02, currently live in Griswold, Iowa, and have been serving as youth and music pastors at First Assembly of God in Atlantic, Iowa since 2007. They have three girls: Anna Jubilee (7), Sadie Lael (5) and Abigail Love (2).

2003Blake Johnson (Campus Missions) and his wife welcomed a beautiful baby girl to the world on February 27, 2012. Emery Annabelle Johnson weighed 7 lbs. 8 oz. and was 21 inches long. Blake is working as a counselor with the Pathway to Baccalaureate Program at Northern Virginia Community College and George Mason University. He is also continuing a doctoral program in human development and education with hopes of someday becoming a professor.

Adam Sikorski (Urban Ministries) lives in Le Roy, Illinois, and is currently serving as an Associate Pastor at Stone Creek Church in

Urbana, IL. He oversees the School of Ministry, as well as teaches online classes for the School of Urban Missions. He is finishing up his second Master’s degree and will start his Ph.D. program in the fall of 2013. Adam and his wife, Stacy, (Grogan, class of ’98) will celebrate their 10-year wedding anniversary in May.

Stacy is currently working for The Baby Fold as a clinician working with children who cannot be maintained in a home because of behavioral disorders. They have two children, a 7 year-old daughter, Reghan, and a 3 year-old son, Keghan.

2004Judy (Klepel) Dryer (Elementary Education) and her husband, Israel Dryer, ’06, (Interdisciplinary Studies) live in Shelbyville, Kentucky, with their three girls and one boy (ages 8, 7, 5 and 7 months). Israel is a Financial Analyst at Time Warner, and also teaches accounting classes at Indiana Wesleyan University and Phoenix University. Judy is a happy stay-at-home mom.

Andrea (Lathrop) Koumouganh-Ngahlem (Intercultural Studies) and her husband have two children and are currently living in Burnsville, Minnesota. She is working at St. Joseph's Home for Children and is also the youth coordinator at Redeemed Christian Church of God Restoration Chapel.

Trey Meadows (Communications) from Robbinsdale, Minnesota, is the Sports Information Director at North Central, and the head Cross Country/Track & Field Coach for the NCU Rams.

David Pafford, ‘04, (Pastoral Studies) recently received his MBA and published The Last Disciple: A Contemporary Primer on the American Pentecostal Movement (Wipf & Stock, 2011). In January, he and his wife Elizabeth had Alexa Grace Pafford, born on January 6, 2012. Dave and Elizabeth live in Columbia, MO. Elizabeth is a policy analyst for the University of Missouri and Dave is the District Youth and Christian Education Director for Northern Missouri.

2011 Cluster Reunion. Thanks to everyone who joined with us during the 2011 Cluster Reunion, celebrating the 10th year reunion for North Central University’s 2001, 2002 and 2003 graduating classes. We had a wonderful time reconnecting with so many of you!

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NCU OPEN JUNE 11, 2012BRACKETT’S CROSSINGCOUNTRY CLUB

THANK YOU TO OUR 2011 SPONSORS

NORTH CENTRALUNIVERSITY

JUNE 11, 2012

Participate in our golf tournament benefitting the North Central University Student Leadership Scholarship Fund.  We will be golfing at the presti-gious Brackett’s Crossing Country Club in Lakeville, MN. Our goal this year is to raise $25,000 in funds for scholarships and you can be a part of making this event a success! Please contact the Advancement Office at 612-343-4743 for information on sponsor-ships or register online to golf at www.northcentral.edu/ncuopen.

COURSE SPONSOR - $10,000HOLE-IN-ONE SPONSOR - $5,000HOLE SPONSOR - $1,000GREEN SPONSOR - $500

HANSON COMMUNICATIONS, INC

HEGGIES PIZZANORWEST EQUITY PARTNERSWEALTH COUNCIL MANAGEMENTWELSH CONSTRUCTION

SUMMIT CHURCHBETHEL’S ROCKWILLMAR ASSEMBLY

CHRISTIAN LIFE CHURCHRIVER VALLEY CHURCHCEDAR VALLEY CHURCH

2005Matt Brown (Pastoral Studies) from Coon Rapids, Minnesota is an Evangelist, founder of evangelistic non-profit Think Eternity, author of several books, and frequent blogger at Thinke.org.

Josiah Hodgett (Pastoral Studies) from Shell Lake, Wisconsin, thanks NCU for providing a trustworthy source for a critical component of his personal development. He has recently reached Licensed Minister status through the International Ministerial Association, as a result of the experience and degree he earned through NCU.

Rachael (Patterson) Link, (Intercultural Studies) is currently living in Wheeling, Illinois. She and her husband, Michael, welcomed a son on 4/5/11, and named him Hudson Adams Link. The name honors a great Christian heritage as his great, great, great grandpa Joseph Samuel Adams was a missionary alongside of Hudson Taylor in China.

Jerilyn Rogers (Youth Development) is currently living in Minneapolis, Minnesota and was excited to be in the cast of “A Christmas Carol” for the second time this past winter at the Guthrie Theater.

Brent Walmsley (Pastoral Studies) has completed his MDiv at Fuller Seminary. After seminary he joined Teach For America and served as an English teacher in Los Angeles and Compton. Brent has now finished his M.A. in Urban Education from Loyola Marymount University and still teaches in Compton. He has also been ordained as an American Baptist minister. He was married last year to named Desiree and they live in Long Beach with their beagle, Lucy.

2006Anne (Petersen) Booth (Youth Ministry) lives in St. Paul, Minnesota and is the Director of Youth Ministries

at Messiah Episcopal Church, a multi-cultural, spirit-filled Anglican church.

Erica (Wagenman) Lyle (Business Administration) and her husband, Dustin, live in beautiful Spearfish, South Dakota, where she works as the Marketing Coordinator for a Financial & Estate Planning company. The Lyles recently started a custom design furniture business called Resurrected Furniture. They were married on Nov. 11, 2011 in Hawaii.

Micah Roberts (Pastoral Studies) and his wife, Megan, ’06, (Church Music) live in Springfield, Illinois. Micah is the Young Adults Pastor at

34 | NCU Magazine

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iWorshipCenter. He owns his own business, Happy Glass Window Washing, and started a non-profit, True Reality Ministries that focuses on itinerate preaching and world missions.

Erica Warner (Psychology) lives in Arlington, Texas. She just returned from a year in Madrid and Valencia, Spain where she worked with Muslim women, youth and kids. She is now working at a small group-driven church in Cedar Hill, TX called Church on the Hill, and plans to start her Masters in Counseling Psychology at SAGU in the fall.

2007Josh Carter (Youth Ministries) currently lives in Leesburg, Virginia and is the Student Ministries Director and the College and Career

Director at Destiny Church. Josh and his wife, Kristen, had their first child, Levi, on November 9, 2011.

Jennifer (Juckett) Posegate (Youth Development) and Michael Posegate, ’08, (Music) currently live in Port Washington, Wisconsin. Michael recently received his Assemblies of God credentials and continues to minister at North Shore Assembly in Mequon, WI as Music Pastor. Jennifer works at Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon and is heavily involved in ministry at their church. Their son, Jude, celebrated his first birthday in April 2012.

2008Ryan Perkins (Youth Ministries & Biblical Studies) lives in Conroe, Texas and is

the Graphic Designer for The Ark Church.

Tiffany Peterson (Youth Development) is currently living in Aurora, Colorado and works with the Sun Valley neighborhood of Denver as the Assistant Director of the Sun Valley Youth Center. She runs after school programs and summer programs, providing a safe place for kids to play, expand on their education, and just be a kid.

Adam Schreiber (Pastoral Studies & Business Administration) lives in Roseville, Minnesota and is a Commercial Real Estate Appraiser & Underwriting Review Manager. He is presently pursuing his MBA, and serves on the board of a self-sustainable church ministry in downtown Minneapolis.

Erin (Steen) Soukup (Elementary Education) lives in Rockford, Minnesota with her husband Josh, who is a personal trainer for Lifetime Fitness and the Outreach Director at Riverwood

Covenant Church. Erin and Josh had their third child, Hannah, on Feb. 24, 2012. Hannah joins big brother Elijah (4) and big sister Hadley (2). Erin is a stay-at-home mom.

2009Joy Cassellius (Youth Development Studies) is currently living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She joined World Indigenous Missions during spring 2011 as a missionary and spent the 2011-2012 school year teaching in Haiti. She will be moving to North Carolina in June ‘12 to volunteer at a youth center for at-risk Hispanic youth and kids while raising additional support. She will also be continuing to build relationships with missionary kids and raising awareness about this dynamic and unique group that is often overlooked within the Christian community.

Robert Stewart (Pastoral Studies) has recently accepted a full-time youth pastor position at Living Hope Church in Colorado Springs.

Brent Silkey, ‘09, (Youth Ministry) is the Senior High Pastor at Cedar Valley Church in Bloomington, Minnesota. He and his wife, Eliza, ‘07, (Psychology) recently welcomed their first child, Belle Sophia Silkey, on February 16, 2012.

Alumni Basketball games were held in conjunction with the A/G Basketball Tournament on January 13th and 14th.

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2010Nicole Dashner (Youth Development), from Little Chute, Wisconsin, works as a mentor to kids with severe emotional disorders in a program called Individualized Youth Services and is also a teacher’s assistant at an alternative school.

2011Michelle (Cruz) Henkelman (Youth Development Studies) is currently living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She works for the City of St. Paul AmeriCorps program, based out of the St. Paul Mayor's office, as well as at different non-profit organizations throughout the Twin Cities, including YouthCARE in Minneapolis. YouthCARE is a non-profit committed to providing education, employment, and leadership opportunities for youth. Her job is focused on volunteer coordinating, fundraising, and planning special events.

Jedidiah McGuire (Youth Development Studies) currently works for Wildwood Hills Ranch of IA, a non-profit organization near Des Moines, serving at-risk youth IA, NE and IL. Wildwood Hills Ranch exists to transform lives and strengthen communities by providing healing, hope, and God’s unconditional love to children and at-risk youth.

Kalyn Shuck (Elementary Education) is currently living in Saint Paul, Minnesota and is a nanny for two adorable 15 month-old twins. She is looking for a teaching position in the Twin Cities.

John GoodmanAlumni Association PresidentJohn.Goodman@northcentral.edu

Mark & Lauranne ThompsonIllinois

Alumni-IL@northcentral.edu

Barry JorrisIndiana

Alumni-IN@northcentral.edu

Andrea RoeMichigan

Alumni-MI@northcentral.edu

Simon TrautmannMinnesota

Alumni-MN@northcentral.edu

Nathan ScottNorthern Missouri

Alumni-NMO@northcentral.edu

Dave & Vicki JuveOhio

Alumni-OH@northcentral.edu

Dave TimsSouth Dakota

Alumni-SD@northcentral.edu

Ron & LaDon HeldWisconsin-Northern MichiganAlumni-WINM@northcentral.edu

Carina AlecksonBusiness Alumni Group

Alumni-Business@northcentral.edu

April GrabanskiEducation Alumni Group

Alumni-Education@northcentral.edu

Daniel BerggrenIntercultural Studies Alumni Group

Alumni-Missions@northcentral.edu

Alumni RepresentativesIn Memoriam

North Central University offers prayers and condolences to Professor Craig Krueger on the passing of his wife, Michele. She went to be with the Lord April 15, 2012 after a long battle with cancer, leaving behind eight beautiful chil-dren. Cards and thoughts can be sent to the NCU Academic Affairs Office.

1951Grace Adam, (Pastoral Ministry) generous donor and alumna of North Cen-tral University, cofounder of KNOF-FM and Selby Gospel Broadcasting, passed away on December 22, 2011. Grace and her husband, Fred, founded the radio station KNOF in 1960. The Selby Gospel Broadcasting Corporation was a full gospel ministry with a combination of teaching and preaching along with southern gospel music. At the time it was only the third FM license granted in the St. Paul/Min-neapolis metropolitan area. Grace and Fred were not only pioneers in FM radio media, they were among the first to utilize it for the propagation of the Gospel.

910 Elliot Avenue • Minneapolis, MN • 55404

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