Southeastern Alumni Magazine
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SOUTHEASTERN ALUMNI AND FRIENDS MAGAZINE WINTER 2020 UCHENNA KANU MAKES HISTORY SOUTHEASTERN 1 SOUTHEASTERN TABLE OF CONTENTS WINTER 2020 FEATURES 19 TAKING RESEARCH TO THE SKIES Engineer and pilot Aaron Judy ’18 (Ed.D.) is working for the federal government as an engineer to discover new and innovative ways to train pilots. 22 COMPETING ON THE WORLD STAGE In 2019, Uchenna Kanu ’19 made her debut at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and went on to set a national record while playing for the Southeastern women’s soccer team. Now, she looks to continue to play soccer on the professional level. 26 COFFEE WITH A MISSION With a heart for missions, Karen (Dickey) Beiler ’07 and her husband, Justin, use their business, Eurasia Coffee Company, to support nonprofits and missionaries around the world. 30 ENTREPRENEURS AT HEART Brittany (Clements) Ainsworth ’09 owns and operates a Chick-fil-A in one of the busiest malls in America, and Chad Ainsworth ’10 found a unique way to share his creative passion for videography with the biker community. 34 TAKING AIM TOGETHER Passionate about archery, Elton “Pepper” ’91 and Donna (Douglass) ’93 Brooke spend their weekends competing around the state of Florida. They reflect on how the sport has been a way for them to spend time together and minister to others. Photo: Coffee and products displayed in the Eurasia Coffee Company storefront, located in downtown Springfield, Mo. 2 SOUTHEASTERN 19 42 38 LACY O’CONNOR: LIVING THE SWEET LIFE From early mornings in the kitchen to traveling around the country performing music, Lacy (McDougall) O’Connor ’12 shares what it’s like to be a pastry chef and aspiring musician. 42 TIFFANY HAMMER: WITH ELEVATION WORSHIP Tiffany Hammer ’17 is the full-time worship leader for Elevation Church’s Uptown campus in Charlotte, N.C., and a singer and contributing songwriter for Elevation Worship. 63 DEDICATING A LIFETIME TO MISSIONS In 1966, David ’89 and Maryann Vespa set sail for Ghana, West Africa, to serve as Assemblies of God missionaries. Thirty years later, their daughter, Brenda and her husband, Pat ’87, would follow in their footsteps to serve as missionaries to Botswana, 63 eventually transitioning to serve in Greece and Italy. IN EVERY ISSUE ON THE COVER UCHENNA KANU represented her home 16 ATHLETICS country of Nigeria during the 2019 FIFA Women’s 44 FOCUS ON FACULTY World Cup. She shares how soccer is a platform CLASS NOTES 50 to glorify God. 66 PERSPECTIVE Cover: Gary Prior FIFA/Contributor via Getty Images SOUTHEASTERN 3 SOUTHEASTERN PRESIDENT Dr. Kent Ingle EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Dr. Chris Owen ’93, ’06 (M.A.) CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Dana Davis DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Priscilla (Pennington) Burr ’14 DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS Joel K. Johnson ’92 GRAPHIC DESIGNER Mabelle Ramírez-Ortíz CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Karen (Dickey) Beiler ’07; Reed Burr ’15; Cami Butler; Elena Espinoza; Grace Jicha; Joanna Kosinska; Loree Rowland CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Priscilla (Pennington) Burr ’14; Stephanie Curl; Dana Davis; Grace Jicha; Donnie Smith; Andrew Tew; Skylar Worthington ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 863.667.5400 SEU.edu [email protected] Published two times a year by the Office of University Advancement for Southeastern University’s alumni, faculty, staff and friends. Please send comments and contributions to: SOUTHEASTERN University Advancement Southeastern University 1000 Longfellow Blvd. Lakeland, FL 33801 Submissions should be accompanied by the name, address, phone number and e-mail address of the sender. Contents of Southeastern may not be reproduced or redistributed in any manner, either whole or in part, without prior permission from Southeastern University. Southeastern reserves the right to edit and/or not publish content provided for submission into the magazine. Please send address changes or Class Notes updates to: [email protected], the address above or online at SEU.edu/alumni. Telephone: 863.667.5400 Facebook.com/seuniversityalumni Twitter @seu_alumni Instagram @seu_alumni 4 SOUTHEASTERN Doctoral degrees THAT FIT YOUR GOALS SEU offers relevant training designed to elevate your knowledge and advance your career. Doctor of Ministry Doctorate in Strategic Leadership PhD in Organizational Leadership Doctor of Education Learn more at SEU.edu/doctoral SEU.edu Lakeland, Florida 800.500.8760 | 863.667.5018 Follow us @seuniversity SOUTHEASTERN 5 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT reetings! I am excited Uchenna made her debut at the 2019 to share with you the FIFA Women’s World Cup, has helped her Winter 2020 issue of team set a new record and is on her way the Southeastern alumni to play professionally. You will learn about magazine. former SEU Worship member, Tiffany G Hammer, who has gone on to be the We closed the fall semester with worship leader for the Uptown campus Commencement and the celebration of Elevation Church in Charlotte, N.C. of our Fall 2019 graduates. After one In addition, you will meet the Ainsworth semester, it has already proven to be an family. While Brittany owns and operates a incredible academic year as we watch the Chick-fil-A in one of the busiest malls in talented and driven students who continue America, Chad has found a creative space to arrive on our campus. This past as a videographer. October, we had a great time celebrating Homecoming weekend with a stadium full You will also read about engineer and of so many alumni and current students pilot Aaron Judy, a recent graduate with as we watched a victorious win against his doctorate in education. Aaron is now Warner University. We were also blessed to working for the federal government as an reunite with so many of you at our Annual engineer to discover new and innovative Alumni Dinner that weekend. ways to train pilots. This year we have also seen our student We have a wealth of talent here at body serve and give with extraordinary Southeastern University, and it is always generosity. When Hurricane Dorian hit encouraging to see the ways God is in September, our students came together using you. and, throughout the course of a week, raised $24,000 to assist with the relief I want to invite you to campus to see efforts. They also packed 1,000 hygiene kits our new Welcome Center. As I write this, to send to the Bahamas. The philanthropic we are putting the finishing touches on passion of our young people is evident, and this new facility. We are so grateful to all we are so encouraged by their eagerness to of you who have supported our Project minister to those in need. Gateway campaign and helped make this building a reality. It is an amazing addition In the following pages, I invite you to to our campus and will revolutionize the learn of the inspiring stories from our onboarding process for our students. community. You will find highlights of talented alumni who have gone on to be Thank you for being a vital part of our a light and serve in their communities, community, for continuing to invest and businesses and skilled fields. connect with us here at Southeastern. It is a great honor to serve as the president In this issue, you will discover the of this university. I am constantly in awe exceptional talent of Fall ’19 graduate and of how our alumni honor God with their highly accomplished athlete, Uchenna lives and talents, and the incredible ways Kanu. A Fire women’s soccer player, He is using them in this world. 6 SOUTHEASTERN STUDENTS RESPOND TO HURRICANE DORIAN After Hurricane Dorian hit the Bahamas, Southeastern students jumped in to respond. Through fundraising efforts, students raised $24,000 in a matter of days and then put together 1,000 hygiene kits to be sent to those impacted by the storm in the Bahamas. Students also sent handwritten notes and prayers to provide much-needed encouragement. SOUTHEASTERN 7 LETTER FROM THE ALUMNI DIRECTOR he alumni of Southeastern, 3. We are bringing the Alumni simply put, are amazing! Association to you. Be looking for Every week, I continue to regional Alumni and Friends events hear about the incredible near you. things you all are doing 4. Look for opportunities to partner T in your ministries, careers, with fellow alumni in support of our families and activities. And every week, current students. I am more and more humbled by what I learn. You are invited to join the SEU Alumni JOEL K. JOHNSON ’92 Association to get member-only access to I have also been encouraged by stories on-campus and national discounts as well as of overcoming trials and heartaches both insider information. Visit SEU.edu/alumni as students and in your lives since you to sign up. attended Southeastern. These stories are such a testimony to the faithfulness of It is a very exciting time to be a part of our Lord! Southeastern and to be a member of the Alumni Association. No matter how Since our last edition of the magazine, long ago you graduated or how far away we have had a few huge events happen. you might live, you are a part of what is At General Council back in August, we happening right now. You helped lay the had over 800 alumni and friends attend foundation for everything being built upon our Alumni Reception. I loved seeing old here. You are vital to the history of our alma friendships renewed, roommates reuniting mater and equally as important to its future. and memories shared. After a busy start to As you think of ways you would like to our fall semester here on campus, we had a partner with us, please let us know. The wonderful Homecoming 2019 at the end ideas that have been shared so far have been of October.