Midamerica Nazarene University Summer 2019
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ACCENT MidAmerica Nazarene University Summer 2019 Four 2019 The Time is Now Liberal Arts for 04 Graduates Tell 12 —New Space 18 the Professions Their Success for Student Stories Engagement PRESIDENT'SFROM THE PRESIDENTPERSPECTIVE TABLETABLE OFOF CONTENTS Success, God’s Way 04 Senior Success A wealth of books, podcasts and motivational speakers preach a particular A sampling of grads ready to take on definition of success. For some, it’s how to accumulate wealth and for others, the world! it’s about finding the path to position, power and prestige. Perhaps it’s a trophy or plaque on the wall, or the applause of a crowd. Regardless of the shape or 12 Cunningham Student Center form, many will go to extremes to achieve their ideal of success. Update: Momentum builds in Mabee Challenge giving. Some say success is about finding happiness, discovering one’s true inner self or even checking off a “bucket list” goal. Regardless of the path pursued, in 14 President’s Honors Eclipses most instances success appears to be both elusive and intangible. A popular $4.5 Million Since 2012 television show about inherited wealth and possessions closes each episode Enjoy the gallery of photos from this with the reminder that “you can’t take it with you.” year’s gala. In the midst of the pressure to achieve success, God has a formula that might 04 12 18 Providing Balance provide another definition. Joshua 1:7-9 records these words from the Lord The right educational mix for students to Joshua, “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my entering the professions. servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” In this passage the Lord commanded Joshua 20 Celebrating Achievements to listen, think, meditate, speak and then act on God’s words as he persistently MNU’s 48th annual commencement pursued the journey to the promised land. God’s definition of success is daily photo gallery. awareness of and obedience to the path set before us with trust and confidence in the One who knows the way. 24 Season Recap Pioneer spring athletics. Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves 28 Alumni News treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do Honors and more. not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-20) 14 18 True success can never be found in what we strive to achieve on our own, but it comes as evidence of the peace of God and the overflow of His joy. And remember, “You can take that with you.” Accent is published by MidAmerica Nazarene University and mailed free to alumni, friends and supporters of MNU. It is produced for University Advancement by the MNU Marketing and Communications Office. Postage is paid at Olathe, Kansas, and additional mailing offices. Dr. David J. Spittal News or comments: [email protected] President Volume 42, Number 1 On The Cover MANAGING EDITOR ART AND DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHERS » Sign up for Accent’s Katelyn Andersen, an interdisciplinary Carol (Knight ’81, MA ’08) Best Daniel Hawkins (’06, MSM ’16) Dan Videtich digital edition at: studies major, was one of more than 600 Addie Limmex (’16, MAC ’19) mnu.edu/accent-notify graduates who celebrated MNU’s 48th CONTRIBUTORS Mike Fetting (MBA ’99) annual Commencement, May 4, 2019. Chad Jenkins Christopher Smith Kristen (Perry ’06) Johnson Logan Borger (’20) Ella Phillips (’21) Wyatt Stark (’17) 2 ACCENT MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2019 ACCENT MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2019 3 SENIOR SUCCESS: READY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD Breanna Barney (’19) Malique Taylor (’19) Middle School Math Education - Math teacher at Northside Community School. Psychology - Accepted to Graduate School. Summa Cum Laude; Phi Delta Lambda Honor Society; Student Athlete-Track & Field Student Athlete-Football Breanna Barney grew up in Olathe Malique Taylor was recruited to play and lives near campus. Growing up defensive back in football at MNU from in a Christian home, the university San Diego, California. He says MNU is environment is what she expected – a his home away from home because of great school, centered on Christian the people he has met here—friends living. and professors alike. He also thinks Kansas is very friendly compared to She loves the small campus and the California. one-on-one relationships it allows her to build with professors. Being on the football team at MNU has taught Malique important life skills and Breanna’s goal is to teach math to provided the opportunity to serve others. young people. She’s been challenged Majoring in psychology has opened his and “pushed along” by her professors. eyes to some of the reasons behind Dr. Mark Brown, professor of human behavior. mathematics, has been particularly inspiring. “One thing I have discovered recently is there are many reasons for a person’s “Just seeing how he works with people, behavior at our age and because of that, how he conducts his classes, and how wanting to learn more about different he gets along with his students is people has become more intriguing to inspiring to me,” she says. “It is nice me than before,” he says. having good Christian role models.” Malique interned with KidsTLC, an Breanna chose her major because Olathe organization that fulfills the need teaching is her passion. for emergency shelter for abused and neglected children. “I have a big heart for the youth, especially for middle school,” she says. “The kids that I work with have “I like math, but more importantly, I traumatic pasts and behavioral issues, like how young students view math. and I’m able to come alongside of It is not an easy thing to teach middle them and help guide them in the right schoolers, but I love seeing them learn direction,” he says. “It’s very rewarding.” and grow.” Malique plans to pursue his Master of She believes the purpose of teaching is Arts in Counseling at MNU this fall. He to make lifelong learners. credits his undergraduate professors for helping him realize his passion for “Teaching and coaching are very working with children. important to me because you’re raising the next generation and encouraging “If I’m able to help provide them with them to have an even greater impact a healthy and positive way of thinking on society,” she says. “That’s what I early on in life, then I think that’s an want to do, impact them because I investment worth making,” he says. know they will do great things.” 4 ACCENT MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2019 ACCENT MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2019 5 Shaterra Strong (’19) Carlos Guzman (’19) Kinesiology - Applying to exercise science graduate programs. Biology - Accepted at KU Med School. Summa Cum Laude; Phi Delta Lambda Honor Student Athlete-Cheer Society; MNU Honors Program; Student Athlete-Track & Field, Cross Country Shaterra Strong says she chose MNU Carlos Guzman transferred to MNU after in part for its size, and she enjoys the a rather unhappy semester at another welcoming environment on campus. university. The California native delights in how open students and faculty are and in “I just felt very alone and kind of lost,” learning how everyone is different. he says. “I reached out to MNU because I wanted to be in a smaller community, Passionate about fitness and health, and I felt empty not playing sports.” Shaterra wants to help people be more active and live a better lifestyle. Coaches at MNU welcomed Carlos “with open arms.” He’s spent his Pioneer “I would love to host health and college career as a student athlete fitness events in the future to get on both the Track & Field and Cross- people moving and embracing their Country squads. health,” she says. “MNU gave me the best of both worlds Being involved in cheerleading along with an amazing college academic with encouragement from family and athletic experience as well as and friends helped her persevere in opportunities to be close to my family college. and see them grow,” says the Overland Park, Kansas, resident. “I discovered “They really inspire me to keep going that sometimes you have to take a step and they support me in everything I back from everything and take life into do,” she says. perspective.” Microbiology with Dr. Rion Taylor Carlos has exciting plans. In fact, he was was one of her favorite classes. She just accepted into medical school at the especially enjoyed learning about and University of Kansas. testing for bacteria. Inspired by his late grandfather who was Her goal in life is not only to be a psychiatrist, Carlos chose medicine successful and enjoy her work, but to because he felt called to help people help others along the way. heal. He is anxious to explore medicine from pediatrics to geriatrics to see “It is important to not only better where he might fit in best and he feels myself as a person, but also help to well prepared with his MNU education. better others,” she says. “If I could give advice to a younger version of “I learned how to balance the rigors myself, I would say, ‘Just follow your of academics and athletics, my gut, whatever comes to your heart, relationships, and my faith,” Carlos you follow it no matter what.’” says. “Most importantly, I learned—and continue to discover—how to find God in everything I do.” Special thanks to students Dywon Byrd, Alesia Jackson and AJ Stephens who contributed to this feature.