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MAGAZINE CORDCORDFALL 2017 | NEWS FROM UNION COLLEGE Droning on Union students experience learning in unique classrooms across campus and around the country. (For more about drones, see page 30) MAKING A DIFFERENCE photo: Steve Nazario/Union College A new front door or more than 20 years, Union Since the college’s ground breaking FCollege considered ways to create in 1890, the College View neigh- a welcoming entrance that would borhood has grown and changed increase its visibility in Lincoln and with Union at its heart. The school provide a landmark for visitors. This and community have been vital year, the dream finally became a real- parts of the economic and cultural ity. The college dedicated a new front development of a vibrant Lincoln. photo: Ryan Teller/Union College Teller/Union Ryan photo: entrance located at the intersection This entrance will help raise Union’s Union’s new front entrance on of Prescott Avenue and South 48th profile in our city as residents and Prescott Avenue at 48th Street Street on September 30. visitors pass by each day. not only makes it easier for The new entrance consists of The entrance was made possi- visitors to find their way onto decorative brick walls, signage and ble thanks to the foresight of Union Union’s campus, but the large landscaping stretching more than College alumni whose undesignated brick walls and silver lettering 120 feet along 48th Street. The walls estate gifts provided the necessary remind the thousands who pass grow into arches over the sidewalks funding. If you are interested in learn- by every day that Union College on either side of Prescott Street, ing more about how to set up an plays a major role in the College View neighborhood and the visually connecting Union and its estate gift, please contact Advance- Lincoln community. sister organization, the College View ment Office at 402.486.2503 or Seventh-day Adventist Church. [email protected] 2 CORD MAGAZINE CONTENTS STAFF REGULARS LuAnn Wolfe Davis ’82 4 PERSPECTIVES Vice President for Michelle Velazquez Mesnard Advancement/Publisher 6 CAMPUS Ryan Teller ’98 NEWS Executive Director of Integrated Marketing Communications/Editor 9 ALUMNI NEWS Steve Nazario Director of Visual 10 WHAT’S Communications/Designer ONLINE Scott Cushman ’03 Director of Digital 22 KEEP IN Communication TOUCH Updates from classmates Kenna Lee Austin Caleb Haakenson photo: Carlson ’73 26 IN MEMORY Class News Editor FEATURES THE LAST Linda Deibel 31 12 Teaching teachers to teach WORD Skinner ’71 George Stone Elementary gives education majors from President Sauder plenty of on-the-job experience. Copy Editor 14 All the training matters Union IRR students train so they are ready to serve when disaster strikes—like Hurricane Harvey. 16 Don’t face adulting alone One millennial discovered the value of a spiritual mentor as she transitioned to adulthood. 18 The traveling classroom For more than 40 years Jerome Lang taught life lessons as he bussed Union students around the county. photo: courtesy photo: of George Stone Elementary School ALUMNI BOARD 20 Your support makes the difference President Discover how your gifts impact students. Kevin Lang ’78 President-elect ABOUT THE COVER Gary Bollinger ’71 In spring 2017, Union College offered a class that helped Past president students earn their FAA commercial drone pilot’s license and Larry Christensen ’72 how to use the drone to collect data. Francisco Campos took Board member at large the course and uses his training to shoot video for Union. Ann Maloney Halim ’80 Golden Club President Stan Hardt ’68 © 2017 Union College all rights reserved. No material may be reproduced without permission. CORD Magazine is Class Rep ’07-’17 published as a service to Union College alumni and friends. Justin Gibson ’10 We encourage readers to submit letters and article ideas. Class Rep ’87-’06 Please send inquiries, submissions and address changes to: Steven Becker ’99 CORD Magazine Class Rep ’67-’86 Union College Kathy Baker Berthelsen ’77 3800 South 48th Street Class Rep up to ’66 Lincoln, NE 68506 George Gibson ’69 or [email protected] SUMMERFALL 2017 2017 3 PERSPECTIVES Rethinking higher ed through a mom’s eyes by Michelle Velazquez Mesnard I have new eyes this year. y entire 27-year career has been in higher M education, but this year is different. Our son is a high school senior, and I’m seeing higher education in a whole new light as we walk with him through the task of selecting the college he will attend. At first the process seemed very rational. We out- lined the schools that would fit into our family budget; we talked about his major; we talked about academic rigor; we talked about school size. And then it began to sink in. This decision would affect nearly every aspect of his life. That’s when I really started praying, I mean pray- ing in earnest. And one of my favorite passages from the Proverbs has become a big part of my prayers— “God, I want you to have the last word in this. And to probe for what is good. You are in charge.” (Proverbs 16:1-3 - Michelle’s paraphrase) Each year at New Student Orientation, we gather the prayers and dreams parents have for their freshmen. The most common prayer is, “I want my son or daughter to discover God’s calling in life.” I hear the same desire to help students over and over again when working with faculty and staff on Union’s campus. I taught communication at Union for 13 years. photo: Steve Nazario/Union Steve College photo: I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen students Michelle Velazquez Mesnard find their niche—their calling—because of the ways was recently named vice they took what they were learning in the physical president for Enrollment classroom and practiced it in the practical classroom of Services at Union College. their campus job, in leadership positions, in internships, Since coming to Union etc. That connection between academic learning and in 2002, she has served practical application is intentional at Union College. It’s as associate professor of the kind of “classroom experience” that helps Union communication, chair of the students connect with what God is calling them to do. Division of Humanities And it’s beautiful. and most recently, Our son decided to attend Union College this associate vice president coming fall. It was his choice … really! As a parent, I for academic initiatives. know he’s made a fantastic decision. He’s attending a Her son, Ramsey, has been school where he will have every opportunity to learn involved in several drama to live joyfully in God’s calling. I am praying for him and productions at Union, includ- all the other students who will join him. My prayer is, ing the fall 2017 Universal “God, I want you to have the last word for each student Fruit Factory. at Union. And to probe for what is good for each of C them. Please, be in charge.” courtesy photo: of Michelle Mesnard 4 CORD MAGAZINE FORESIGHT Raising funds, i, my name is Nick. I’m a résumé. Lawrence knew phonathon would help his communication skills, Hfreshman calling from Union but he didn’t realize what else he would learn—feeling comfortable refining skills College. May I speak with Karen?” talking with strangers, keeping a positive outlook and networking, to by Emily Wood Roque Cisneros ’17 If you’re an alumnus, parent or name a few. friend of Union, you’ve likely heard “Phonathon trains students how to negotiate, which I see prepping a similar opening line. He’s not a me for when I negotiate my salary in a future job,” Lawrence shared. telemarketer or machine. Nick is a “I’m also more aware of thinking on my feet and adapting to any kind of current student at Union College. situation. I never know what people are going to say or ask.” Nick Lawrence, a freshman Time management is another skill Lawrence is trying to perfect social science education major, is while working. “I have to make sure I’m getting in enough calls each shift, one of 13 students employed for but I also don’t want to cut conversations short,” he explained. Union’s annual phonathon. From Occasionally, Lawrence receives negativity. “I try to understand their September through November, problems,” he said. “I’m constantly thinking, ‘How can I make this conver- phonathon callers make more than sation better?’” Handling rejection and learning to persevere are two of 500 calls each evening to share the major hurdles callers have to overcome. campus news and ask for gifts to Before ending a call, he also asks for prayer requests. “Keeping a support the college’s future. Their spiritual focus helps me stay motivated during long shifts when no one is goal this year? To raise $85,000 for answering or giving a gift.” the annual fund. Lawrence credits his fellow callers for encouraging him and making Many students join phona- work lively. “I’m getting to know people more than I would in a class- thon looking for a job and gain room,” he said. “I appreciate Union more than I did when I first came on more than just a new line on their campus.” Aside from the life skills Lawrence refines while working, he takes pride in knowing the gifts go toward a good cause. “The more funds we raise, the better Union will be.” C Nick Lawrence, a freshman from Ohio, is one of 13 students helping to raise $85,000 through Union’s annual phonathon.