North Park has served five generations of students and continues to grow in diversity, academic relevance, and Christian commitment. Our Chicago location is a great asset that reflects the School’s global reach and outlook.
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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.
Nonprofit Management Awards Announced at Annual Axelson Center Symposium
Representatives from the Chicago Community Loan Fund were on hand to receive the 2014 Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence, Large Category from Axelson Center Director Pier Rogers (center).
Honors given to Chicago Community Loan Fund, Literature for All of Us, and Waukegan to College
CHICAGO (June 6, 2014) —The Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management announced the winners of its and its as part of the Center’s , June 2-3, 2014.
The 2014 Alford-Axelson Awards, given for exemplary nonprofit management practices, were presented to (Large Category; budget exceeds $1.7 million) and (Small Category; budget under $1.7 million), with an honorable mention awarded to . The 2014 Excellent Emerging Organization Award, presented to an up-and-coming Chicago-area nonprofit, was presented to .
The Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence recognizes nonprofits serving the seven-county Chicago region that exemplify outstanding nonprofit management practices. This year’s Large Category award winner, Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF), demonstrated effective management through its in-depth strategic planning process, cultivation and relationship building with volunteers, effective resource management, and transparency with stakeholders. The award review committee believes the effectiveness of these practices will fuel the expansion of CCLF’s economic impact, and directly enable the individuals, families, and communities it serves to thrive. Literature for All of Us was selected as this year’s winner in the Small Category. In making this selection, award review committee members praised Literature for All of Us’s well-defined mission, inventive programs, strong volunteer and client engagement, and strong commitment from the Literature for All of Us board of directors.
Award-winning organizations (top to bottom): Literature for All of Us, La Casa Norte, and Waukegan to College.
Winners of this year’s Alford-Axelson Award, sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, received a $7,500 cash prize and commemorative award symbolizing the organization’s dedication to modeling nonprofit managerial excellence. This award honors and continues the legacies of Nils G. Axelson, a devoted community healthcare leader and visionary, and Jimmie R. Alford, a leading contemporary thinker and practitioner in the nonprofit arena.
Waukegan to College (W2C), the 2014 Excellent Emerging Organization Award winner, has had a profound impact on the young people and families of Wakuegan, Ill. Since 2009, W2C has nearly tripled its capacity from 25 students at its founding to 70 students served in 2014, and 100% of the high school seniors participating in W2C programming have matriculated to college. Their success is fueled by close monitoring of programming outcomes; a diverse funding base; and sustained partnerships with corporations, high schools, and universities. W2C received a $2,500 cash prize, a commemorative award, and a capacity-building package that will support improvement of services and efficiency. The Excellent Emerging Organization award is generously sponsored by MB Financial Bank.
“Effective nonprofit management is a vital part of an organization’s success,” said Axelson Center Director Pier Rogers. “These awards highlight the outstanding management work of all four honored organizations—Chicago Community Loan Fund, Literature for All of Us, La Casa Norte, and Waukegan to College—and also demonstrate how these practices fuel greater impact on the communities these nonprofits serve.”
The application period for the 2015 awards will open in Fall 2014. Learn more about both the Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence and the Excellent Emerging Organization Award, and review lists of past award winners at the .
The Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management at ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï is the source for informative and engaging nonprofit professional development in the Chicago region. Through regular workshops, webinars and an annual two-day conference, the Axelson Center delivers a superior educational experience for nonprofit managers, leaders and frontline staff, covering a vast array of topics from program evaluation to strategic planning, and communications to financial management. The valuable information presented through these programs enhances the impact of both the nonprofit sector and its professional staff. Visit for more information, including a full schedule of upcoming events.
Nancy Berggren's famed wall of photos was a prominent feature in her North Park office.
Nancy Berggren served as assistant professor of education and coordinator of clinical experiences
CHICAGO (May 30, 2014) — Nancy Berggren, a longtime faculty member of ºÚÁϳԹϒs School of Education, died May 21 in Skokie, Ill., after an extended illness. Berggren, 63, began teaching at the University in 1985 as a lecturer in education and became assistant professor of education in 1990.
A North Park alumna, Berggren also served as coordinator of clinical experiences, and enjoyed helping students find a school clinical placement that was right for them. “Every student who graduated from the was placed by Nancy in clinical experiences, and she supported each one to become an effective teacher,” said , dean of the School of Education. “Nancy Berggren leaves a legacy of significance and service at ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï and in schools throughout the country.”
The University celebrated Berggren, who had been scheduled to retire in August, at a gathering of faculty and staff May 13. “Nancy, we often hear you say, ‘I love North Park,’” ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï President said at the event. “We want you to hear today us say to you, ‘North Park loves Nancy.’”
As he presented Berggren with a gift, Parkyn continued, “In Nancy’s office, there’s a large board that’s filled with pictures of students, faculty and staff, friends, and family. If you’re a friend of Nancy, you’re a friend for life.”
When the School of Education shared the news of Berggren’s death via social media, it received an outpouring of memories from former students whose lives had been touched by her as a professor, mentor, and friend.
“It was a privilege for the faculty and staff of the School of Education to work with Nancy,” Nelson said. “As our graduates serve as teachers in schools in Chicagoland and beyond, Nancy’s influence will impact students of the twenty-first century for decades.”
“Nancy worked with hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of students who were preparing to be teachers,” Parkyn agreed. “She had her arms around the world as an outcome of her work at ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï and in the classrooms of students who studied here.”
Ruth Tinzmann Armstrong, Berggren’s mother, had been a faculty member in North Park College’s psychology department for many years, making Berggren a “legacy professor.” Berggren’s children, Kristofer and Jennifer, are also North Park alumni.
Berggren graduated from North Park College in 1972 with a bachelor of arts in psychology and a certificate in elementary teaching. She received a master’s degree and K–12 special education certification from Northeastern Illinois University.
Berggren is survived by her husband, Richard; children Kristofer and Jennifer; brother James Tinzmann (Sue); and two nieces.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 21, at 1:00 pm in ºÚÁϳԹϒs . A reception following the service will take place in Hamming Hall from 2:30 to 3:30 pm.
Messages of condolences may be sent to Mr. Richard Berggren, 7444 Kilbourn Ave., Skokie, IL 60076.
The service will be available to watch online at .
University Awards Degrees to 458 Students at Spring Commencement Ceremonies
Students recess out of ºÚÁϳԹÏ's commencement ceremonies through a lineup of flags and faculty.
Nyvall Medallion presented to Hon. Lynne Kawamoto and Hon. Joan Humphrey Lefkow
CHICAGO (May 13, 2014) — ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï culminated the 2013–2014 academic year last weekend by awarding degrees to 458 students, including 295 bachelor’s degrees.
Three commencement ceremonies were held Saturday, May 10, for students from all and programs, including . Combined with the held last December, degrees were presented to 727 ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï graduates this academic year.
The weekend began with a baccalaureate service for all graduates, their families, and friends Friday, May 9, at , Chicago. In a deeply personal address, , president of ºÚÁϳԹÏ, shared with graduating students advice from his mother and father, who each passed away this academic year. “Here’s the most important lesson my parents taught me,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who or where you are: When you see a need, step toward it and your feet will become the very feet of Jesus.”
“May God protect you as you walk through this door”
At its undergraduate commencement Saturday morning, the University presented its David Nyvall Medallion to Hon. Lynne Kawamoto, associate judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County Probate Division, and Hon. Joan Humphrey Lefkow, U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. Named for the first president of ºÚÁϳԹÏ, the medallion is presented for distinguished service to the people of Chicago.
The first Asian American judge appointed in Illinois, Kawamoto is herself a North Park graduate, having received a degree in education and biology in 1972. “I am overwhelmed at being on this side of the podium for a North Park graduation. The unique blend of educational experiences offered here gives North Park graduates the tools to reach their dreams,” Kawamoto told graduating students.
“No one knows where their life’s journey will take them,” Kawamoto said. “My own uncharted journey started with being the first college graduate in my family.” After graduating from North Park, she enrolled in law school night classes while working full-time. Kawamoto encouraged graduates to share with others the education and character they gained as students, to benefit their own communities. “Whatever you do, do it well, and enjoy yourself,” she said. “God bless, good luck to you, and go, Vikings!”
Pres. David Parkyn presents graduate Greta Englund with a gift from her grandparents who graduated from North Park in 1944.
Lefkow, the first woman—and the second person in the United States—to have served as a federal magistrate judge, a bankruptcy judge, and an Article III judge, challenged graduates to achieve success through civic engagement. “Perhaps more than ever, society needs educated people like you to get involved in our democracy,” she told graduates. “North Park has a distinguished tradition that has evolved with the society around us. I admire that willingness to embrace our rapidly changing world,” Lefkow said. “I am deeply humbled and honored by being recognized today. May God protect you as you walk through this door and each new door on your life’s journey.”
The Ahnfeldt Medallion, given to the senior with the highest grade point average, was presented to Deanna Breitbarth, Milwaukee, Wis., bachelor of arts in with an . North Park's winner Kendra Pearson, Portland, Maine, and 2014 Fulbright Scholar , professor of Spanish, were also recognized.
Twenty-six students from the North Park College (now University), Academy, and Seminary classes of 1964 marched in gold caps and gowns and were recognized for celebrating the 50th anniversary of their graduation. President Parkyn presented graduating senior Greta Englund, Sawyer, Mich., with a card from her grandparents, Elvira and Luther, who graduated from the University 70 years ago.
“Walk and love humanity with dignity and honor”
Four graduates addressed the afternoon commencement ceremony for graduate programs, the , and the , sharing the ways in which their North Park education shaped their lives and careers. Princess Kasune Zulu, Chicago, a School of Business and Nonprofit Management graduate with a and a , shared her powerful story of overcoming the challenges of HIV and poverty in Kabwe, Zambia, to establish a successful career in advocacy.
“It’s not just important to do your work,” Zulu said, “but to walk and love humanity with dignity and honor and with the right kind of ethics.” She said she hopes to “make this world a better place for humanity” after graduation. Other speakers were Ashley Edwardson, Prairie View, Ill., bachelor of arts in , School of Adult Learning; Francis Agyei, Chicago, , School of Education; and Verenice Velazquez, Mundelein, Ill., , School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
“It’s a miracle that any of us are used by God”
Michael Bingeman, Chicago, celebrates the completion of his master of divinity and master of nonprofit administration from North Park Theological Seminary.
Dean of North Park Theological Seminary presided at the Seminary commencement, which honored 41 graduates. The Ahnfeldt Medallion was presented to two graduates with perfect 4.0 grade point averages, Alicia Reese, Chicago, and master of nonprofit administration, and P. Markus Nikkanen, master of divinity. Nikkanen watched the ceremony live online from his home in Turku, Finland. In addition, academic awards were presented to several students.
After the awarding of the Ahnfeldt Medallion, Senior Professor of Theological Studies surprised , Paul W. Brandel Professor of New Testament Studies, with a special presentation. Phelan announced that he, along with Seminary alumna Dr. Rebekah Eklund, has been working on a collection of essays in honor of Snodgrass, Doing Theology for the Church, to be published by Covenant Publications and this fall.
An honorary doctor of divinity was conferred to retired Evangelical Covenant Church pastor Rev. Dr. Linnea Carnes. The honorary degree was presented by Academic Dean and Professor of New Testament , one of Carnes’s former parishioners at Immanuel Evangelical Covenant Church, Chicago. In his introduction of Carnes, Chester characterized her ministry with three words: “Love, faith, and hope.” Carnes “has the ability to discern what the Holy Spirit is doing, to embrace it, and to follow,” Chester said.
Rev. Edward Delgado, president of the (CHET), delivered the commencement address, in which he challenged graduates to not forget underserved and under-resourced populations in their ministry. Citing his own history of encountering hardship, Delgado said, “I’m the son and grandson of copper miners, the product of a small mining town with one small Hispanic church. I’m an example of how God uses little things and small people to do big things for the kingdom.”
Delgado encouraged graduates that their loved ones will be there to witness their journeys and cheer them on as they “fly to greater heights” and to unforeseen work. “Graduates of the class of 2014, it’s a miracle that any of us are used by God to join him in his ministry,” he said. “I pray that as a result of your journey of faith, people of all nations shall see and experience the salvation of God.”
Shelby Switzer, Phoenix, Ariz., and Nathan Lawler, Oakley, Ill., were named 2014 ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Distinguished Seniors.
CHICAGO (May 9, 2014) — Students’ academic achievement and community involvement were honored at several events as ºÚÁϳԹϒs 2013–2014 academic year concluded. The school’s graduation ceremonies will officially close the year on .
On April 28, the University’s undergraduate community gathered for the annual Honors Convocation, recognizing students who demonstrated excellence in the classroom and community.
The 2014 Distinguished Senior Awards were given to Shelby Switzer, Phoenix, Ariz., and Nathan Lawler, Oakley, Ill., at Honors Convocation. This annual honor is bestowed each year to one male and one female from the graduating class, recognizing extraordinary leadership, dedicated service, superior academic performance, and embodiment of the University’s mission of living lives of significance and service.
Switzer, who was also recognized as the outstanding senior in the major, distinguished herself in the classroom and on the court. She graduated as “the best athlete to have ever played volleyball at ºÚÁϳԹÏ,” according to Head Volleyball Coach , breaking and setting school records and ranking among the top national players in Division III volleyball. Switzer also maintained a 3.9 grade point average, was a member of the , served with on the chapel planning and Thailand Global Partnerships teams, and volunteered as a tutor. To close out her undergraduate career, along with being named a Distinguished Senior, Switzer she earned a prestigious in recognition of her academic achievement as a student athlete and was named the .
Lawler earned honors though his athletic participation, service, and academic achievement while at ºÚÁϳԹÏ; the and major earned a 3.9 grade point average and played four years on the Viking team. He was awarded the 2013 Outstanding History Student scholarship by the history department, and also earned CCIW Academic All-Conference honors from 2011 through 2014. Outside the classroom, Lawler volunteered for four years at the University’s Service Day and Kids Day. “I’m not sure if I can remember in my 26 years of coaching a more dedicated, motivated, and respected student athlete than Nathan,” said Head Football Coach .
In addition to the Distinguished Senior Awards, Honors Convocation noted the top graduating students from each department and school, and service and leadership awards were given to seniors embodying excellence in co- and extracurricular activities.
Education student honored as Golden Apple Pathway Scholar
Richard Barajas is a sophomore Spanish and education major and a Golden Apple Pathway Scholar.
Richard Barajas, a sophomore and major, earned the prestigious honor of becoming ºÚÁϳԹϒs first . The Golden Apple Foundation aims to inspire, develop, and support teaching excellence in Illinois, especially in schools of need. Barajas’s strong classroom performance and dedication to serving young students helped him earn this recognition.
Barajas chose to study education in part because of the example of his own high school teachers and coaches. The Aurora, Ill., native attended a school that is classified as a “school of need” by the Golden Apple Foundation, and wants to be a mentor and role model for young people with a similar experience. “My teachers inspired me to become the person that I am today. They are the people that really pushed me forward to do the things I know I can do,” he said.
, professor of education and North Park’s Golden Apple liaison, is sure that Barajas will benefit from the resources the program provides and become an excellent teacher. “I am positive that he will be a teacher we will be very proud of. This is one of those golden opportunities we have for students, and I’m so glad he took it. We are very proud of him.”
Swedish Council of America honors students
Representatives from the Swedish Council of America joined student award winners and North Park administrators on campus in early May.
This May, three University students were honored by the (SCA) for their dedication to connecting with their Swedish heritage. Senior Krista Briedis, a and double major from East Troy, Wis., received the Glenn T. Seaborg Science Scholarship, which funds her participation in the Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar and attendance at the 2014 Nobel Prize Ceremonies and Banquet in Stockholm. “I am deeply honored to receive this award, and feel very blessed to have been given this opportunity,” Briedis said. “I truly hope it gives me even further incentive to pursue research as a career.” She has been accepted into Ohio State University’s molecular, cellular, and developmental biology graduate program.
Senior Kellie Carstensen, a and double major from San Diego, Calif., received the SCA Humanities Scholarship to support her study of Nordic indigenous literature. Carstensen will attend a conference in Kautokeino, Norway, and then visit Uppsala and Umeå universities in Sweden for further exploration and conversations with professors who study the Sami indigenous people. “It is a great honor to get this award,” she said. “I can’t wait to explore Sweden and learn about the Nordic culture.”
Junior Linnea Anderson is the recipient of the SCA Swedish Language Scholarship to further her study of the language. She will be participating in North Park’s annual study abroad exchange program with (SVF) in Jönköping, Sweden, for the fall 2014 semester.
“Along with these student awards, the received a generous grant for their upcoming tour to Sweden,” said Dean of the College Dr. Charles Peterson. “We are grateful for the recognition and support of the Swedish Council of America for our deserving students and our excellent Gospel Choir.”
ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Student, Spanish Professor Selected for 2014 Fulbright Awards
Kendra Pearson, who studied Spanish and education at ºÚÁϳԹÏ, will begin an assignment as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Mexico this fall.
Pearson to teach English in Mexico; Bricault to train English teachers in Guatemala
CHICAGO (May 7, 2014) — The awarded overseas teaching opportunities to two members of the ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï community this spring. Senior Kendra Pearson was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Mexico, and , professor of Spanish, was named a , and will train English teachers at a university in Guatemala.
Combined with previous awards, 12 University students and three University faculty members in the past six years have earned Fulbright grants. The University was among the in 2013–2014, according to a list announced by the U.S. Department of State. The list of top-producing institutions was published in the October 28 edition of the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Pearson will graduate this week from the University with a bachelor of arts in and a . Beginning this fall, she will serve as an English Teaching Assistant (ETA) for a placement in Mexico of nine months to one year. “I think it’s phenomenal that I will be part of a program in which a core idea is that both languages and cultures be exchanged to cultivate a deeper appreciation for each,” Pearson says. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to actively participate in this new experience as a teacher, and simultaneously, a learner.” She feels she owes that passion for other people and cultures, in part, to North Park.
“In my four years here, I have had the support of so many professors,” Pearson says. “They’ve helped me to foster a love of people, and deepened and challenged my ideas of what it means to learn.” Pearson finds herself prepared to teach in Mexico because of the investment her professors have made in her, and the feedback she’s received from them. “Not only have they modeled how to do that, but they have given me insights into my strengths and weaknesses,” she says. “This better understanding of myself will allow me to be more effective in the ETA position.”
Fulbright Program Faculty Associate and Professor of Spanish believes Pearson is “fully prepared” to undertake the role of an ETA in Mexico. “She is student-teaching now, and did so regularly last fall in an intermediate Spanish classroom at ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï for practice,” Parkyn says. “Her classroom will flourish with her attention to detail and her gift for making activities interesting. Kendra will thrive living, learning, and sharing knowledge of her native language and culture with Mexican students.”
Pearson first came to the University from Portland, Maine, looking for a liberal arts education within a Christian context. As she approaches graduation, Pearson believes she has identified her vocation and grown stronger in her faith. “When I visited North Park, I loved how it was intentionally Christian, but didn’t shy away from striving to be a diverse campus in terms of students’ beliefs,” she says. “To be challenged to see new perspectives while being grounded in my faith was something I saw as being very beneficial.”
Pearon’s desire to put her faith into action prompted her involvement in several University groups and organizations, including Urban Outreach, as well as the and its Touring Ensemble. “I am so thankful to have been a part of a group that consistently reminded me that true service is done out of a genuine love for God and others, with humility and dedication,” Pearson says of Urban Outreach. Similarly, “Gospel Choir not only provided a means of support and community for me, but it was a place where each week, I could pause and focus on praising God.”
As an ETA, Pearson will act as an “authentic addition” to the instruction that takes place in an English classroom in Mexico, she says. “I am very much looking forward to expanding my experiences in teaching, but more important, to serving others within the context of learning or bettering their understanding of the English language and American culture.” After her program, Pearson hopes to return to Chicago to teach.
Spanish Professor Dennis Bricault to train English teachers in Guatemala
Dr. Dennis Bricault is one of only three U.S. Fulbright Scholars in the program’s Western Hemisphere region to be awarded a position in Guatemala this year. Beginning in late August, he will spend the fall 2014 semester training English teachers at a university in Guatemala.
When Bricault applied for the program, he was fully aware of the region’s highly competitive acceptance rate. “There are a lot of countries in the program’s Western Hemisphere region, but there are fewer awards to go around,” he says. He advanced to the first round last October, and was eventually chosen for one of the handful of Guatemalan placements.
Bricault will conduct teacher training and teach and observe students studying to become English teachers. A member of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, Bricault is eager to experience a variety of classroom settings while in Guatemala. “During my time there, I want to visit other schools in the area to exchange ideas and see how they’re doing it,” he says.
“Dennis is a model department chair, and his organizational skills help all of us teaching languages and cultures here to thrive,” says Parkyn. “His classes will prepare his Guatemalan students for further interaction and study with their U.S. neighbors. Our entire department is proud of Dennis, and we look forward to all he will learn as a Fulbright Scholar and bring back to share with us and our students.”
For his part, Bricault stresses the importance of what Parkyn has done for the University’s involvement with the Fulbright Program. “She’s been invaluable in terms of her information and experiences as a Fulbright Scholar and Fulbright Specialist,” he says of Parkyn. “It’s great to have her on campus as a resource for anyone who wants to do the program.”
While this is Bricault’s first teaching trip to Guatemala, he has previously worked with two programs training English teachers in Latin America. “Prior to beginning my placement in Guatemala, I’ll be returning to co-lead a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) teacher-training program with CEDEI, the Centers for Interamerican Studies, in Cuenca, Ecuador, where I taught last summer,” he says. Bricault spent the second half of last summer in Santiago, Chile, working with English teachers in the graduate TEFL program at the Universidad Pontífica Católica.
The Fulbright Program was established by the U.S. Congress in 1946, and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. It is the largest U.S. international exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide.
Use @npunews to . Learn more .
Next Steps
Read more about North from the Winter 2013 North Parker.
Zeke Dixon, diagnosed with infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia at nine months old, has been a staple at ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï athletic events all year.
North Park athletes team with Dixon family to support cancer research
CHICAGO (May 5, 2014) — Four games into her senior season, Kristin Gibbs, defender on team and Student Athletic Advisory Council president, tore her ACL. It meant the end of her soccer career, but not the end of her commitment to North Park and its athletics department.
“When you build an athletic program you are not just building athletes,” says Gibbs, a completing the . “You are building people and communities. One of the reasons I chose to come to North Park and compete in athletics is that in programs like this, it is about more than the games.”
Over the course of the year, Gibbs helped spearhead an initiative that connected different people on campus to support a North Park family. “Of course we care about our record and how we play. But we also learn that there is so much more to life,” Gibbs says. “You have to give back to your community and support people who are so full of life and need that extra push.”
The project started with a phone call in the fall to women’s basketball coach from Eric Dixon, a graduate student at . Dixon’s two-year-old son, Zeke, was diagnosed with infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at nine months, a high-risk form of cancer. While Zeke underwent chemotherapy treatment, Eric and his wife, Shelby, pursued opportunities to bring people together in support of cancer research. With the recommendation of a friend, they turned to North Park athletics.
Crockett began coordinating with other North Park coaches on how different teams could contribute. She also turned to Gibbs, whose grandfather passed away from leukemia. The different groups organized a series of fundraisers at sporting events over the course of the year—at women’s and men’s soccer in the fall, women’s basketball in the winter, and most recently, a softball game this spring. Players from each team volunteered for the different events, including selling raffle tickets and apparel. Neighborhood restaurants Golden Crust Pizza and Tap and Chili’s contributed gift cards. Overall the project raised several thousand dollars for the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Research Center, the hospital that continues to care for Zeke.
But it wasn’t just money raised; it was also the spirits of a young boy and his family. Throughout the year, Zeke was invited to practices, joined teams on the field for the playing of the national anthem, brought out the basketball to center court for tip-off, and was even named honorary captain for a game.
For Dixon, these connections helped his family feel at home at ºÚÁϳԹÏ. “I would have loved to spend more time with my classmates, but Zeke’s health just didn’t allow that,” says Dixon, who will graduate in May with a and a . "We felt more connected with the University and the fact that they wanted to be there for us. There was real feeling from my wife and I that we are not just flying under the radar here. People have heard our story and they want to contribute to our life, but more important, to our son’s life.”
Zeke is healthier than he was a year ago, and will be finishing chemotherapy in July. After graduation, Zeke, Eric, and Shelby will head to Oregon to be near family and for some much needed rest. “You take one look at Zeke and you think this is just a normal two-year old kid,” Dixon says. “You’d have no idea what he went through the last couple of years.”
For Gibbs, who has spent extra time with the family babysitting Zeke, this project has a lasting impact. “It has shown me the importance of who you work with and how you treat people. I want to go into rural family medicine because I want to work with people long-term and build communities,” Gibbs says. Her next step towards that future is medical school starting in August. “I want to build programs for kids where they otherwise wouldn’t have many opportunities. Each little event like this builds the type of person you are and what you want to do with your life.”
"One of the things I tell [my students] is that education is transformational. Every time you go back, you are absolutely transformed by the time you get to the other side.” says Wanda Kay Burns, coordinator of North Park's degree-completion program for RNs.
North Park's Wanda Burns explains the push to raise education standards for nurses
CHICAGO (May 1, 2014) — In 2011, the Institute of Medicine released a report that forever changed the nursing profession. Titled "," it called for major overhauls in education requirements for nurses. At its heart was a recommendation that by 2020, 80 percent of all nurses should have a bachelor of science in nursing degree, compared to just over 50 percent today.
Since the report, hospitals and care networks around the country have made shifts to meet the recommendations. Hospitals hoping to earn the Magnet designation from the American Nurses Association, limited to 400 health care organizations around the globe, must meet education minimums for their nursing staff. States have even introduced legislation to mandate education levels. Nurses are returning to school more than ever, with enrollment in RN to BSN programs tripling over the past decade.
“Research shows that outcomes for care from a nurse with a bachelor’s degree compared to a nurse with an associate’s degree are significant,” says , a North Park alumna and coordinator of the in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. “This includes crucial elements of care, including improved patient safety, reduced infections, fewer readmissions, and overall fewer errors.”
“Nursing is quite different from when I entered the field,” Burns adds. “You’ve got to do better than you’ve ever done, with more technology, the patients are sicker than ever, and you have to do it with fewer resources than you’ve ever had. Nursing is caught in the middle of our national question of how can we be doing healthcare better.”
And it’s not just about performance; it’s also about workload. As healthcare settings become more complex, so do the job descriptions of nurses. As the Institute of Medicine’s report says, the role of a modern nurse includes competencies in “leadership, health policy, system improvement, research and evidence-based practice, and teamwork and collaboration.”
“Our BSN completion program is geared towards bridging the gaps in the healthcare system,” says , dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. “We focus on ethics, research, and community health to provide nurses with a broad perspective on patient care. Our nurses are not just holding patient’s hands, they are advocating for patients and by doing so, remaking the way the healthcare system operates.”
Burns echoes this importance: “Until you go back to school, you base all of your nursing on what you and the people around you have always done. We’ve got to get a higher level of evidence on which to base our nursing action. Patients lives are at stake here.”
But returning to school is not an easy requirement, especially for working adults with already full lives. “It’s difficult to return, especially as an adult,” Burns says. She completed her master of science in nursing at ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï while working full-time, and is currently working on a doctorate in nursing practice from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
“I have students in my program that are struggling with being back in the classroom. One of the things I tell them is that education is transformational. And I’ll say that out of personal experience. Every time you go back, you are absolutely transformed by the time you get to the other side.”
Burns began teaching at ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï in 2006 and became the coordinator of the degree-completion program for RNs last fall. She appreciates North Park’s face-to-face classes and the close-knit relationships that can only form in those settings. She also values North Park’s urban location and intercultural opportunities.
“Students are taught to value the cultural distinctives of their patients, including attitudes toward pain, childbirth, alternative and complementary medical approaches, family roles, death and grieving, and more,” says Burns. These topics are built into the curriculum in classes like .
Many of the RNs in the program bring their experience of living and working in these communities. “When you’re talking with a group of people with years of experience as nurses, and if they feel safe in that environment, they start engaging in some of the richest dialogue,” Burns says. “That is how we begin to move things forward.”
Students Embark on Service and Learning Trips Across the Globe
A ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï student washes feet during her Spring Break 2014 trip to India with Global Partnerships. from each of the six Spring Break Global Partnerships trips, including more from India.
CHICAGO (April 24, 2014) — For more than 30 years, ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï students have put their faith into action through traditional mission trips. These experiences focused on short-term interaction with underprivileged communities and completing projects—sometimes manual labor, sometimes organizing ministries like Vacation Bible School.
But as ministry models have changed and ideas of service have grown, North Park’s started asking if that was the best way. Were these limited-impact trips the essence of global missions? Was it an element of how the University wanted to prepare students for lives of significance and service? Nearly 10 years ago, these questions led to the transformation of what used to be “mission trips” into Global Partnerships.
“Our focus in Global Partnerships is on building relationships, on serving in collaboration with an organization that has an established presence in a community, and on learning,” said , Global Partnerships coordinator. She came to the University in 2007, and has actively worked to establish new partnerships with organizations that can provide both hands-on service and educational opportunities for North Park students.
“We want to join in work that God is already doing. We never just go on our own to a location. We can only be there for a week, maybe two at the maximum, and that’s not a sustainable ministry model,” Styles said. “So we’re always working under a local partner that’s serving day-in and day-out.”
For many trips, North Park is able to partner with , an arm of the Evangelical Covenant Church. This relationship puts students in touch with women and men who are full-time missionaries around the world in a wide range of ministries. Other frequent collaborators with Global Partnerships include , an organization working in Zambia and Nicaragua, and the , which provides urban mission and service experiences. Some academic departments, like North Park’s , also serve as important partners for students’ hands-on practical learning as they provide care in clinic settings. According to Styles, these ongoing relationships ensure students are serving around the world with groups that are trusted while also opening up possibilities for internships, jobs, and continued relationships even after students graduate from North Park.
“Our partnerships also go beyond the people that we’re serving with on trips,” Styles added. “Our generous , local organizations, and churches also support us along the way, and we’re grateful for them.”
Styles herself has been to all but one of the Global Partnerships locations. Each year, there are between 10 and 13 trips, and around 140 participants, mostly students but including faculty or staff advisors for each group. In some years trips have taken place over spring, winter, and summer breaks. All trips are funded through student-raised donations—around $200,000 each year, in total.
Ten partnership trips take students around the world in 2014
This year, took place over March’s spring break, with another four to come just after the academic year ends in May. These experiences in Alaska, Appalachia, Ecuador, India, Israel and Palestine, Los Angeles, Mexico, Washington, D.C., and Zambia challenge students to step outside their current ideas about faith, service, and justice to learn something new and build relationships with the global church. Global Partnerships aims to keep the idea of service learning at the core of each trip, which, according to Styles, isn’t just about volunteering but requires an attitude of reflection on how that service applies to your own life.
Kristen Coughlin, a first-year student, decided to take a chance and spend her first college spring break on the Appalachia service trip. “This was actually my very first mission trip,” she said. “It was so exciting.”
The Appalachia team partnered with an organization called the , whose goal is to make homes warmer, safer, and drier. They host volunteer groups of all ages from across the country to serve throughout the Appalachian region doing manual labor projects.
“My group took out all the insulation from underneath a house and replaced it all, and replaced flooring in the kitchen—a lot of work that I never thought I’d be doing. It was really fun, and I feel really confident with power tools now,” Coughlin said.
North Park students divided up into smaller groups to work on multiple homes, and then gathered as a large group in the evening for dinner and reflecting on their service-learning experiences.
“My favorite thing was relaxing with our team and having down time—just spending time together. We shared so much laughter and so much joy on that trip. It was awesome,” Coughlin said.
Dylan Steensland, also a first-year student, was looking for a spring break experience that was more about education and advocacy than manual labor. He chose the Washington, D.C. trip where students partnered with and to learn about hunger, immigration, and mass incarceration before heading to Capitol Hill to meet with Senators and Representatives to discuss the issues.
“I’ve taken mission trips before, but this was an experience that was vastly different,” Steensland said. “It was really about getting out of our comfort zones to learn more about important issues.”
Changing the world takes time
The Washington, D.C. trip is one way that Global Partnerships is helping students explore what Styles described as the tension between wanting to change the world and realizing that systemic change takes longer than a week or two.
“So many students these days want to make a difference. They believe in significance and service, and that’s why they’re here, but realizing that difference might take a generation is hard to swallow,” she said.
In Israel and Palestine, students learned about peace in a conflict-plagued part of the world. from each of the six Spring Break Global Partnerships trips, including more from Israel/Palestine.
Another trip that explored the tension between immediate impact and lasting change was to Israel and Palestine. Styles traveled there with a group of 11 students and one additional faculty member, the first time Global Partnerships has traveled to this region. The group attended the at Bethlehem Bible College. They learned from and dialogued with other students and Christian leaders from around the world, discussing the responsibility of the global church in bring peace, justice, and equality to the Holy Land.
“A lot of us went in without our minds made up about the conflict between Israel and Palestine,” Styles said. “But then you meet people our own age who have college degrees, but know they’re not going to get a job. Or meet people who are just trying to get from their home to their job or to school and experience harassment or persecution. It’s hard to stay still and not to take action in some way.”
Junior Anders Fogel said, “I think I went in a little uninformed. I definitely went in with a little background knowledge, but not enough to have conversations about the issue—and it helped me see that I needed to learn more.”
Throughout the week, Fogel said his group was challenged to think in new ways about peace, their own sense of safety in the world, and how to stay engaged in the issues. After their conference experience, they also visited Holy Land sites, but saw them through the lens of their discussions of peace and conflict, not just as tourists.
“I had a hard time shutting off my ‘conflict meter.’ It was an interesting experience to be at the holy sites and understand the turmoil of the country in a new way,” he said.
Fogel, who had previously participated in other more “traditional” mission trips, described the Global Partnerships experience as leaving him with a “sour taste,” but in a good way. “We built houses on both my previous trips, and it was a ‘nice ending’ to the trip. I could look back and see the house and chalk it up on the ‘nice things that I’ve done’ list. This trip was different because there wasn’t that house built, or a ribbon to tie it up. It left you with a sour taste, knowing there’s a lot of work still to do, a lot of progress to be made. I left feeling that I don’t know what I really did, I can’t see the concrete examples—but I think that was kind of the point.”
“What’s next?”
These trips to Appalachia, Washington, D.C., and Bethlehem were just three of many experiences that ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï students are afforded through Global Partnerships. Styles emphasized that the trips themselves are often not the point, but hopes participants will continue to reflect on their journeys and ask, “What’s next?”
“A lot of students who come to trips already with a heart to be in missions or work internationally are able to take advantage of the opportunity to learn what missions is like, what they can do, and to connect with different partners,” Styles said. “Global Partnerships trips are some of the first steps of their journeys, not the last.”
“It’s easier than people think it is, and it’s worth it,” Fogel said. “I’ve spent a spring break on the beaches in Florida, and I’ve spent a spring break on a Global Partnerships trip, and now I’ll take the Global Partnerships trip every time.”
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Next Steps
at this year’s Global Partnerships trips.
Explore North Parker articles from and that feature the Zambia partnership trip with Spark Ventures.
North Park Introduces New Programs to Prepare Students for Healthcare Careers
North Park's new undergraduate programs will continue the University's strong tradition of preparing indviduals for careers in healthcare.
Bachelor's degrees in health sciences and medical studies will be available beginning in Fall 2014
CHICAGO (April 10, 2014) — ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï will launch two new bachelor of science programs this fall—a and a —which together represent the University’s growing emphasis on preparing healthcare practitioners in an era of fast-growing demand for professionals in these fields.
The health sciences major will prepare students to fill non-clinical administrative or educational positions in a variety of health and allied health programs. The medical studies program will be offered as a second bachelor’s degree for students who need to complete prerequisites for medical school or other health professional program applications.
“These programs are born not just out of the directives of our updated strategic plan, which does call for an increased focus on science and health, but out of years of commitment to preparing students for science careers,” says Nate Mouttet, vice president for enrollment and marketing. Mouttet added that the University is building on its strengths—including a 50-year tradition in nursing—and putting resources into this important area.
The introduction of the new degree programs will coincide with the opening of the , which will provide more than 100,000 square feet of dedicated space for state-of-the-art science laboratories, classrooms, and research, as well as offices and student gathering areas. Dedication of the new facility is scheduled for September 12 and 13.
Health sciences focused on management in healthcare settings
The will provide students with a foundation in the life and health sciences combined with management and leadership courses that prepare them for positions such as clinical services managers, hospital administrators, and community health liaisons. A required practicum will give students the opportunity to work with a local organization to undertake a project that matches their career aspirations.
“This responds to a rapidly growing need on several levels,” says , dean of the , who developed the program. “There are multiple opportunities for specialized careers in the healthcare industry.”
The first health sciences track, available to the program’s students in the Fall 2014 semester, will focus on healthcare leadership. Offered in partnership with the , the program will incorporate courses in leadership and management that will prepare graduates for increased responsibility and career mobility in their jobs.
“Working with area hospitals, I’ve been told that more and more technicians are being asked to take on responsibilities such as budgeting, policy, and regulatory issues,” Duncan says. “They have the technical background for their jobs but have never been trained to in these managerial duties.” She adds that, after this initial track is up and running, a second track—in healthcare education—will be introduced.
The BS in health sciences is expected to attract two categories of students—returning adults who are already working in the marketplace and want to upgrade their associate’s degree to a bachelor’s, and the more traditional student who choose a health sciences major as freshmen.
Medical studies designed as second bachelor's degree opportunity
The is designed for students who have already completed one bachelor’s degree but are looking for additional preparation before applying to professional schools in the health field. These individuals may be career changers or recent graduates who decide to apply to medical, dental, or veterinary school, or to an allied health profession program, and need to fulfill their science prerequisites. While North Park undergraduates can currently choose a (for medical, dental, veterinary science, pharmacy, optometry, occupational therapy, or physical therapy programs), this is the first time the curriculum has been realigned as a post-baccalaureate degree program. The degree is a 56-credit major, allowing students to transfer credits from other bachelor’s programs and take only courses needed to complete the requirements for professional school applications. It is expected that students, who must take at least 30 semester hours at ºÚÁϳԹÏ, will complete the program in one to two years.
“To our knowledge, there is only one other post-baccalaureate program of this kind in the Chicago area,” Mouttet says, underscoring the unmet demand for a program that prepares college graduates to apply to medical school. The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is expected to change in 2015 in order to place a greater emphasis on the behavioral sciences. In preparation for this, the North Park program will offer students coursework and preparation in these disciplines as well as in the traditional science and mathematics areas.
Both new programs will carry North Park’s emphasis on providing small class and lab sizes as well as individualized advising that complements coursework. Faculty advisors will work with students to ensure that they stay on track toward their career goals, address any concerns as they arise and, in the case of medical studies students, prepare adequately for health care profession admission exams.
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