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North Park offers more than 40 graduate and undergraduate programs in liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies. Classes average 17 students. 84% of our faculty have terminal degrees. Academics here are rigorous and results-oriented.
North Park Theological Seminary prepares you to answer the call to service through theological study, spiritual development, and the formative experiences of living in a community with others on a similar life path.
The Office of Alumni Engagement fosters lifelong connections by engaging alumni with the university and one another in activities, programs, and services that support the university’s mission and alumni needs.
January 15th, şÚÁĎłÔąĎ will present an MLK Jr. Celebration featuring Gospel Recording Artist Corey Barksdale and Chicago Activist Sherida Morrison.
°ż˛ÔĚýJanuary 15th, ¶Ů°ů.ĚýMartin Luther King, Jr.Ěý¶Ů˛ą˛â,ĚýşÚÁϳԹϒsĚýBlack Student Union Group will present an inspirational presentation commemorating Dr. King’s fight for justice and peace.
MLK Jr.’s own words will serve as the inspiration for the event: “The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace, and brotherhood.”
Chicago’sĚýleaders work to restore justice şÚÁĎłÔąĎĚýis committed to supportingĚýChicago’sĚýdiversity and embracing leaders who have demonstrated restorative justice. Like King, Morrison and Hodge each believeĚýin nonviolent methods of pursuing social justice.
Keynote speakerĚýSherida MorrisonĚýis the founder of Demoiselle2Femme, a female empowerment group. Through the non-profit, Morrison has developed “a community-based model encouraging the avoidance of at-risk behaviors as a strategy for success while empowering girls with the hope of accomplishing their educational and professional goals through self-discipline, hard work, commitment and service to their community.”
North Park’sĚýHodge, assistant professor of intercultural communication, is a recognized urban youth culture expert and cultural literacy scholar. He will also honor the legacy and racial justice work of ¶Ů°ů.ĚýMartin Luther King, Jr.Ěýat the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. His presentation is titled “No Church in the Wild: Christianity, White Supremacy, Black Liberation and Hip Hop.”
In addition to MLK day,ĚýNorth Park’sĚýOffice of Diversity DirectorĚýJacqueline HorbrookĚýworks continuously with the community, faculty, staff, and students to “be disciplined in our demeanor in not being divisive, to continue to do better, and strive for peace at the forefront—with peace being what MLK fought for.”
The service will be held at 10 a.m. in Anderson Chapel and the celebration will be live-streamed atĚý.
Nearly 300 students received undergraduate and graduate degrees during şÚÁϳԹϒs Winter Commencement Convocation Friday, Dec. 15.
President Carl Balsam presided over şÚÁϳԹϒs Winter Commencement Convocation Friday, Dec. 15, in which nearly 300 students received undergraduate and graduate degrees.
In his remarks, Balsam challenged graduates to do justice and show mercy in their lives after college. He also kicked off his address with a well-received joke about tuition.
“When I was told I was responsible for something called the â€charge to graduates,’ my initial thought was, haven’t we charged them enough?” Balsam said to wide-spread laughter and applause.
Then, Balsam offered the graduates a message of “encouragement and challenge,” noting that the current job market is strong, especially for those with college degrees. He then urged graduates to show mercy by “making things right not just for yourselves, but others.”
He noted that many students had stood with fellow DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) students whose status as citizens was being challenged. Students should continue to fight for such social justice issues upon graduation, he said.
The Ahnfeldt Medallion for academic excellence was presented to Thomas H. Cellilli IV, who majored in Biblical and Theological Studies and earned a 3.969 grade point average. Board President Christine Strand awarded Cellilli the Medallion, noting his “gift of leadership” as well as his many extracurricular activities while at şÚÁĎłÔąĎ, including coaching a middle school baseball team.
Following Christmas hymns, scripture readings and a charge to students by Balsam and Provost Michael O. Emerson, diplomas were handed out by Emerson, followed by cheers from family and friends in the audience.
A reception for graduates was held in Hamming Hall following commencement.
North Park celebrated its tenthĚýannual Festival of Lessons and Carols.
North Park celebrated its tenthĚýannual Festival of Lessons and Carols, December 3, featuring performances by the şÚÁĎłÔąĎ Gospel Choir Touring Ensemble and Chamber Singers.
Other performers included the NPU Orchestra and the Women’s Chorale, as well as the People’s Music School and YOURS Orchestra Members from Hibbard Elementary School in Albany Park.
This year’s program,ĚýWorship Christ the Newborn King,Ěý·É˛ą˛őĚýheld at St. Hilary Catholic Church and, following tradition, featured music performed in several different languages. Interim University President Carl Balsam began the service with the opening prayer.
The lessons, mixed between songs, were read by North Park faculty, staff, and students, as well as members of St. Hilary Catholic Church.
First held on Christmas Eve in 1918 in Cambridge, England, the Festival of Lessons and Carols service comes from the Anglican tradition. In such services, music is interspersed between Scripture readings that tell the story of Christ, from the creation of the world to the birth of Jesus.
The second annual Taste of the Pacific event featured singing, dancing, and storytelling celebrating the heritage of şÚÁϳԹϒs Pacific Islander students.
More than 100 students and faculty members attended the second annual Taste of the Pacific event December 1, a festival featuring singing, dancing and storytelling that celebrated the heritage of şÚÁϳԹϒs Pacific Islander students.
“We are far away from home, but we have created a home here; we’re not a club, we’re a family,” said Rakiiba Va’alele, one of the founders of the Pacific Cultural Association, the group that put on the event.
The performances were designed to showcase the cultures of several Pacific Island nations, including Fiji, Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti and Samoa.
“God and family—in that order—is the way of Polynesian Culture,” said Michael Conway, the event’s honorary speaker and also NPU’s head football coach. Conway and his wife, Beth, NPU’s project manager for student engagement, are longtime supporters of the PCA. “I’m thankful for you all, and I’m thankful for these young people.”
Throughout the night, students used song and dance to tell stories of their island nations’ cultures. Performers dressed in traditional garb, changing each time the audience “traveled” along to another island.
According to founders Va’alele and Leautea Faiai, the PCA’s vision is to see the Pacific Islander Community at şÚÁĎłÔąĎ connected, empowered, and cared for academically, spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
The event was sponsored by the Office of Diversity and the Student Government Association. A portion of the proceeds from the $7 admission price went toward NPU’s tuition assistance fund for Pacific Islander students.
SGA Vice President, Anosh Wasker, said the event showcases the best of NPU.
“Events like these bring out what şÚÁĎłÔąĎ stands for, which is being multi-cultural,” Wasker said at the end of the night. “They show their own culture, they preserve their own culture, but also help others experience their culture.”
The excitement on campus continues to build as North Park’s men’s soccer team leaves Wednesday for their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Final Four in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The excitement on campus continues to build as North Park’s men’s soccer team leaves Wednesday for their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Final Four in Greensboro, North Carolina.
“What an amazing time for North Park,” said President Carl Balsam, who plans to make the trip to cheer on the team in person. “This Viking men’s soccer team has surpassed every milestone for their program, and they aren’t done yet.”
The 20-1-1 Vikings will face off against regional rivals University of Chicago on Friday at 6:30 p.m. NPU defeated the Maroons 1-0 in their one regular season match-up.ĚýThe winner of that game goes on to face either Messiah College or Brandeis University in the National Championship game Saturday.
“The team has been training hard in practice and has had an amazing focus about them,” Head Coach John Born said. “They are an extremely close-knit and competitive group.”
While Born and the team respect the talent and experience of the other three squads in the tournament, the Vikings have a clear goal.
“We aren’t just pleased to be there, we intend to make our own history this weekend,” Born said.
Athletic Director Jack Surridge, who is also making the trip, says “this is a significant weekend in the history of North Park Athletics and another chapter in a series of achievements in men’s soccer.”
NPU is providing a fan bus for students who’d like to cheer in person for the team,Ěý which boasts a diverse, international roster, with players from as far as Sweden, Norway, Germany, and England, and as close as Chicago, Michigan, and Minnesota. One player hails from neighboring Von Stuben Metro Science High School.
“We appreciate the fine way in which this team represents our university and we wish them every success as they pursue a national championship,” Balsam said.
Born said he and the team have been overwhelmed by the support of the North Park community.
“We are extremely humbled and grateful,” Born said. “We will do our best to make you all proud.”
The Vikings outlasted the University of St. Thomas Sunday 1-0 in a penalty-filled match that secured the squad’s first trip to the NCAA Division III Final Four in program history.
The Vikings outlasted the University of St. Thomas Sunday 1-0 in a penalty-filled match that secured the squad’s first trip to the NCAA Division III Final Four in program history.
For the second game in a row, the winning goal was scored by freshman Shatil Khoury, off a pass from senior Jason Gonzalez. The Tommie’s and their defense dominated the opening minutes of the half. But with 15 minutes left in the first half, Khoury struck, and the momentum shifted to the Vikings.
Each team played their trademark physical games, with the Vikings earning 26 fouls and the Tommies 20.
The win means North Park will head to Greensboro, NC, where they will face division rival University of Chicago on Saturday. The Vikings defeated the Maroons 1-0 during their one regular-season matchup.
The winner of that all-Chicago game will go to the National Championship, where they will face either Brandeis University or Messiah College. Reigning champion Tufts University was eliminated in semi-final action Sunday by Brandeis.
Watch the North Park–St. Thomas game recapĚýonĚýĚýand on theĚý.
North Park’s men’s soccer squad advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time in team history after cruising to a 6-1 victory against the Wis.-Platteville Pioneers Sunday.
Battling a stiff wind and driving rain, the North Park Vikings defeated Virginia’s Washington & Lee University 3-0 to advance to their first-ever NCAA Elite Eight soccer game Sunday.
Senior Shatil Khoury struck first for the Vikings, scoring just 1:47 minutes into the first half on a pass from sophomore Peder Nalum Olsen. The 25-mile-per-hour wind-whipped flags and made the ball difficult to pass, keeping the Vikings on the defense for most of the first half. But sophomore goalie Mathias Stulen was able to keep the ball out of the net the entire game, earning the shutout.
The Vikings scored on the Generals again with just 5 minutes left in the first half, when sophomore Gustav Ericsson deked a defender and passed to senior Mathias Warp, who booted the ball in. The Vikings final goal came in the second half off a sweet backward heel pass from Warp to senior Chase Lennartz.
Although the Generals had more shots on goal than the Vikings, they failed to capitalize on their best opportunity, with Stulen making a diving save on a line drive shot by the Generals with just 7:30 left in the game.
The Vikings will move on to the Elite Eight round of the tournament, where they will face the winner of Saturday’s matchup of Ohio’s Otterbein University v. University of St. Thomas of Minnesota. That game will also be hosted by North Park, at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Holmgren Athletic Complex.
If the Vikings win tomorrow, they will move into the Final Four, with a shot at the Division III National Championship in North Carolina in the beginning of December.
Sunday’s game will again be live streamed on Ěýand on the .
şÚÁĎłÔąĎ is cited for efforts to diversify its student body and faculty in a recent book that examines the populations of 150 Christian colleges and universities across the country.
şÚÁĎłÔąĎ has been cited for its efforts to diversify its student body and faculty in a recent book that examined the populations of 150 Christian colleges and universities across the country.
The book, Diversity Matters: Race, Ethnicity and the Future of Christian Higher Education, cited North Park’s specific mission to “use Chicago as a classroom, a strategic effort to connect with the faith communities” in the city.
Diversity Matters, edited by Karen A. Longman, features North Park as a case study. The book notes that şÚÁĎłÔąĎ promotes its city-centered, intercultural academics by requiring faculty candidates to demonstrate how they would use Chicago as a classroom.
The book finds that the percentage of nonwhite students attending schools that are part of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities had increased by about 10 percentage points between 2004 and 2014. However, most of that growth was at urban-centered universities such as North Park. Such schools tend to be more inclusive.
“It should be noted that despite the media’s painting of evangelicals with a broad brush, the tent of Christian views is quite broad,” Longman said in an interview with Inside Higher Ed.
For instance, Longman noted, 68 percent of evangelical Christians support a legal path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Earlier this year, North Park’s then-president, David Parkyn, joined 600 public and private colleges and university presidents in signing a letter supporting its DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] students.
Longman noted that many Christian universities, North Park included, are naturally inclined to see social justice issues as a Biblical imperative.
“Because of their mission and theological heritage, [Christian colleges] emphasize the practice of social justice and are intrinsically motivated to work for racial harmony and interethnic healing,” Longman said.
North Park’s men’s soccer squad advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time in team history after cruising to a 6-1 victory against the Wis.-Platteville Pioneers Sunday.
North Park’s men’s soccer squad advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time in team history after cruising to a 6-1 victory against the Wis.-Platteville Pioneers Sunday.
Led by CCIW Coach of the Year John Born, the Vikings dominated the Pioneers, with goals by Gustav Ericsson, Carel Kuzona, Erlend Kemkers and Ricky Pimentel. Those players join Jason Gonzalez, Peder Nalum Olsen, and Matias Warp in being named Monday as All-Conference Players, with Warp being named Player of the Year and Olsen Newcomer of the Year.
Born called Sunday’s victory a huge relief. “Getting our first NCAA victory under our belt sure felt good,” Born said. “We were excited and thankful to be able to play in front of a great home crowd.”
Scoring in the opening minute of the game, the Vikings swiftly put to rest any concerns they might be rusty after a bye round.
“When we scored 40 seconds into the game, there was no doubt in my mind that we were ready to play at a high level,” said Athletic Director Jack Surridge.
The NCAA National committee also announced the Vikings will also host their matchup against Virginia’s Washington & Lee University at noon Saturday, as well as the other regional semifinal, Minnesota’s St. Thomas v. Otterbein University of Westerville, Ohio, at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Previously, the farthest the Vikings had advanced in the NCAA tournament was to the second round, in 2010, 2011, and 2012. With their latest victory, the Vikings have now won 18 games in a row.
Going forward, Surridge believes the team is in a great position to go all the way.
“We are a formidable opponent when we play at this high level,” Surridge said.
Saturday’s games will again be live streamed on Ěýand on the .
şÚÁĎłÔąĎ and the Vikings host their first NCAA Tournament games ever, as the team seeks a trip to the Sweet 16.
This weekend, şÚÁĎłÔąĎ and the Vikings will host their first NCAA Tournament games ever, as the team seeks a trip to the Sweet 16.
After dominating their conference all season, North Park and its top-ranked Men’s Soccer team will host the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Tournament this Sunday.
Having earned the top seed in their bracket after a 17-1-1 season, the Vikings will enjoy a bye round as UW-Platteville faces off Saturday against Fulton, Mo.-based Westminster College. The Vikings will take on the winner of that game Sunday evening for a shot at the Sweet 16 and the possibility of hosting another round of the tourney.
The only other team to receive a first-round bye is #1-ranked Tufts University, winners of the 2016 NCAA DIII championship.
This year’s Viking team boasts a diverse, international roster, with players from as far as Sweden, Norway, Germany, and England, and as close as Chicago, Michigan, and Minnesota. One player hails from neighboring Von Stuben Metro Science High School. Among them, the team speaks 12 different languages.
“I have had the pleasure of coaching some amazing teams at şÚÁĎłÔąĎ,” Head Coach John Born said. “However, the 2017 team is unparalleled in their talent as well as team chemistry.”
Tthe NCAA National committee announced the tournament seeding and hosting sites earlier this week.
“Being selected as a host site and rewarded with a first-round bye is a phenomenal honor,” Born said. “We’ll do our very best to represent şÚÁĎłÔąĎ throughout the tournament. We certainly know that the entire North Park community is behind us, and we appreciate the tremendous support.”
The team has clearly benefited from North Park’s “strong cultural heritage”Ěý tying it to Sweden and Norway since the school’s founding over 125 years ago, said NPU Athletic Director Jack Surridge. Scandinavians feel comfortable and welcome here, as each year NPU hosts dozens of them as students. It also doesn’t hurt that Assistant Coach Kris Grahn is a Swede. “He can pick up the phone or FaceTime with recruits in their native language,” Surridge said.
One of those is Norwegian senior midfielder Matias Warp, whose leg injury kept him off the highly competitive European and American Division I teams. Instead, he chose North Park, and other players followed.
Fellow Norwegian and goalkeeper Mathias Stulen has nine shutouts this season, and five of the CCIW’s top-10 scorers are Vikings, including Swede Carel Kawale and Norwegian Peder Nalum Olsen, who hold the number one and two spots, respectively.
The defense has been an iron curtain, led by defensive back Ricky Pimental, of Franklin Park, IL.
North Park will be live-streaming this weekend’s games on ourĚýĚýas well asĚý