N O R T H W E S T N A Z A R E N E U N I V E R S I T Y G REAT MINDS • GREAT HEARTS • GREAT FUTURES VOL. 93, NUM. 3 theMMESSENGERESSENGERFALL 2005 Fusing art & literature — NNU students tackle Hollywood! president’s letter contents Dear Alumni and Friends: I remember thinking at the time of my father’s features death in 1975, that this man, born in 1897 in President: Dr. Richard A. Hagood Texas, had seen remarkable changes in 4 NNU Senior Gwen Miller Goes transportation during his lifetime. During his Vice President for Enrollment Services Hollywood on NBC’s Fear Factor! early life in rural Oklahoma, his family had & Marketing: Dr. Eric Forseth What do you get when you take a friendly girl from Boise and either walked or taken horse and buggy to Vice President for University Advancement: plunk her down in the middle of Los Angeles? Pure magic! their intended destination—and they didn’t Gary Skaggs travel very far. By the time he died, humans Director, Alumni Relations: 8 Remembering Helen Wilson, 1914 - 2005 had traveled to the moon and back. Darl Bruner Amazing changes requiring amazing For nearly forty years, Miss Helen Wilson graced the campus of adaptation. Director, Marketing & Public Relations / Northwest Nazarene University. Here she is remembered for her Managing Editor: humor, love and joie de vivre by a former student and friend. Just one generation later, here in 2005, as I write this Angela Klein letter to you, I have access to instant communi- Designer: cation with many parts of the world. In fact, Learning the Music Ropes Larson Creatives, Inc. 11 just minutes ago I watched a 35-second video of our on Martha’s Vineyard granddaughter playing her saxophone. It arrived by The Messenger is published three times a year by the Intent on pursuing his music career, NNU senior Marc Herring e-mail to our home computer from her home Office of Enrollment Services & Marketing at spends the semester on Martha’s Vineyard through the Council in South Korea. We are now able to commu- Northwest Nazarene University and sent to alumni and friends. Postmaster send address changes to The for Christian College’s study abroad program. nicate with her family by instant messaging and by web camera in real time. Like Messenger, c/o Northwest Nazarene University, 623 my father and changes in transportation, we are today living in a time of amazing Holly Street, Nampa, ID 83686-5897. 12 Finding Balance at NNU changes in our ability to communicate. Northwest Nazarene University is a Christian compre- NNU’s volleyball coaching duo, Jared and Lisa Sliger, share life Northwest Nazarene University is adapting to these changes in communication, hensive university offering more than 45 undergraduate on the court and talk about their hopes for their players. not only by keeping current in information technology, but in equipping our majors and master’s programs in five disciplines. In all students to be able to communicate clearly and effectively in writing and speaking. of its programs, the university is dedicated to student growth in Christ-like character, academic excellence, In this edition of The Messenger, you will meet faculty and students who are teach- creative engagement and social responsiveness. In addi- ing and learning in the field of mass communication. Like the communication tion to its 85-acre campus in Nampa, Idaho, and the within a family, the technical ability to communicate with audiences around the MBA and STEP programs offered in Boise, Idaho, the university also has cooperative programs in 10 countries. globe has increased dramatically. What is needed, and what NNU provides, is the Founded in 1913, the university serves approximately skill and grace to know how to use the media for the common good and for the 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students, and advancement of the Kingdom of God here on earth. approximately 8,000 continuing education students. departments Contact us: Like me, I am sure you will be proud of the accomplishments of our faculty Northwest Nazarene University 2 President’s Letter and students and encouraged that they are becoming equipped to impact a 623 Holly Street dynamically interactive world. Enjoy! Nampa, ID 83686-5897 www.nnu.edu 9 On Campus Office of Alumni Relations: Sincerely, 800-654-2411 / 467-8841 14 Alumni News Office of Enrollment Services & Marketing: 467-8994 18 University Advancement Office of Admissions: Richard A. Hagood 877-NNU-4-YOU / 467-8000 Office of University Advancement: President 800-467-8987 / 467-8772 Center for Professional Development: 800-349-6938 / 467-8495 Cover: Larson Creatives, Inc. / Debbie Brown, Photography 2 TheMESSENGER TheMESSENGER 3 Hollywood,Hollywood, & Mass Comm. BY ANGELA KLEIN, CLASS OF 1993 When Gwen Miller graduated from Cole Valley Christian School in the spring of 2002, she had no idea that in less than three years she would find herself alone in Los Angeles, navigating her way through the maze called Hollywood. Vivacious and friendly, Gwen came to NNU, in part, because it was familiar. “My sister came here, and I knew my way around,” she confessed one September day in the Amity Perk coffee shop on campus. “That, and it was the only Christian school in Idaho.” For a girl who wanted to stay close to home in Boise, nothing could have shaken her out of her comfort zone more than the experience of winning a coveted Academy of Television Arts and Sciences internship where she was placed this summer with the crew of NBC’s Fear Factor. There she learned first-hand the joys and rigors of working in the fast-paced Hollywood environment. With more than 4,000 applicants, the chances of Gwen being chosen as one of the final 36 were slim, but Mass Communications Professor Arnie Ytreeide had faith that Hollywood would see what he had seen in her. It was Ytreeide who encouraged her to apply for the internship and wrote one of the letters of recommendation that helped her make the final cut. “Gwen has been a producer on every major production we’ve had while she’s been here,” Ytreeide said. “She’s willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish a goal. She works hard and is willing to get out there and jump in with both feet.” theMESSENGER 5 journalism. Part of the requirements included a class in mass Either way, students are prepared to meet the needs of communication, and from that class sprang what she called a both the mission field and the technological challenges of new love for mass comm. From there, she wondered if she should media. “We’re bringing the churches into the 21st Century,” keep pursuing her love or if she should choose a major that said Ytreeide, smiling. seemed more proper. Along with the advancement of media in It didn’t take her long to realize that “What these students the churches, Ytreeide’s encouragement to mass communications was the only path have accomplished the students has resulted in a stream of for her, she said. “I could have changed has validated to me work worthy of professional-level status, he to something else, but that would be so said. “I challenged the students to compete boring!” she said with an emphasis on that they can do with professionals,” he said, “not simply the last two words. things far beyond other college students. They rose to that “I’m living the impossible dream that I challenge in a very enthusiastic way, and so never thought would happen. And it what we commonly much good work was produced that doors wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t been consider the student have been opening for them.” for the internship and Professor Ytreeide. level of work.” Verne Ward, a recent graduate, was hired I would not be where I am today without for video production in Europe before he him. He’s the sole reason I am in the —Professor Arnie graduated last spring, Ytreeide said, and program and why I applied for the Ytreeide senior Paul Otremba (Spokane, Wash.), who internship.” was hired by Boise’s Channel 7, was pro- “There are students across the moted two days into an continent who would sell their internship when his brothers and sisters to have the talents became evident. opportunity that Gwen has Senior Sarah Chase had,” Ytreeide added with a (Lakeview, Ore.) held two Senior Tyler Gunstream mans a camera during the 18-hour "Idaho Family Christmas" shoot for NBC affiliates. grin, only half joking. intensive internships with In his fourth year at the helm the Idaho Press Tribune of the mass communications and now works as the Ytreeide praised Gwen’s commitment there were fish at work or not,” Gwen major, Ytreeide spoke with assistant to the managing and ability to organize, cajole, contact, call, “I’m living the laughed. “We always smelled pride about the program, the editor; and Mark Hewes budget and whatever else needed to hap- impossible dream like fish!” way it has developed and the (Arco, Idaho) is basking pen to pull a show off. “She excels at that I never thought Asking Gwen what the best part of way it continues to develop. in the glow of his first those producer jobs,” he said. the experience was, she was quick to From one degree four years film, “Clocks,” which was Even with being able to jump in with would happen.” answer. “I got to learn Hollywood, ago, to concentrations in recently accepted to two both feet and scale small buildings with a — Gwen Miller, on which is an invaluable experience,” she TV/film narrative, news/docu- film festivals, including single bound, nothing could have prepared her experience in said.