Los Romeros - The Royal Family of Guitar

Thursday June 27th, 2013

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Over the Spring semester sixteen students, two professors, and a graduate student have studied happiness and psychological well-being as part of a special topics course on psychological well-being and cross-cultural research. Over the first half of the course, the students became familiar with some of the basic psychological research on happiness and psychological well-being and participated in activities designed to enhance happiness or psychological well-being.  The second half of the course required students to complete research on the subject. Students conducted interviews with students, faculty, and staff identified as “happy” by peers on the campus of SNU as part of the SNU Happiness Exemplar research project. Students also collected survey data on happiness/psychological well-being in public spaces around Oklahoma City. The class will culminate by spending two weeks in Costa Rica gathering data on happiness and psychological well-being. 

“The trip is attempting to serve three purposes”, explained Dr. Ron Wright, professor and trip leader. “First, we want to get students excited about research. The best way to accomplish that is by having them participate in real world research with which they can begin to connect and within which they find value. What began as an academic enterprise around happiness and psychological well-being has now become something each of the students are noticing in their own lives and the lives of others. Beginning the process here in Oklahoma City gives students a background and data on which to reflect, to compare, and to analyze as we gather data throughout Costa Rica. Second, we want to expose students to a cross-cultural experience. There is something very important about travel and cross-cultural experiences for a liberal arts education. Travel helps to expand students’ horizons, to enrich their understanding of the world, to deepen empathy and hospitality for others, and to reflect on the role of culture in their own lives. Third, we want to continue the development of mentoring relationships in the lives of students. There is something wonderful that happens when faculty and students travel, research, and live in community together. I have found that not only is it a powerful educational experience for the students, but that I am broadened and deepened in what I learn through the conversations and relationships with the students.” 

The dates of the trip are May 13 – May 26 and the itinerary includes travel to San Jose, which is the capitol of Costa Rica; Limon, which is on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica; SNU’s Quetzal Education Research Center (QERC), which is situated within the tropical cloud forest in San Gerardo de Dota; and Manuel Antonio, which is on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The students will be conducting interviews on happiness and psychological well-being with Nicaraguan immigrants in La Carpio and with rural Costa Ricans in San Gerardo de Dota as well as gathering survey data in public spaces in San Jose, Grecia, and Limon. There may be a beach and a volcano tour involved too! You can follow the adventures of this trip to Costa Rica @ http://snupsychology.wordpress.com/.

"There's nothing on a university campus like graduation day. The excitement and joy of this day is unparalleled for the campus community. We enjoyed the two-day event with about 450 graduates and their families. Our expectations are that this class will join the 110 previous graduating cohorts of SNU to do wonderful things for the world in which they will work and serve. Our investment in their lives will be rewarded richly over the coming decades,” said Loren Gresham, PhD, President of Southern Nazarene University. 

Dr. Howard Culbertson, Professor, Department of Ministry and Theology, began the processional by carrying in the Academic Mace. The honor of Academic Mace Bearer is awarded by a faculty vote to a senior member of the SNU faculty in recognition of dedicated service and outstanding qualities that exemplify the SNU motto. Dr. Culbertson has served full-time as an SNU faculty member since 1988. 

The commencement address was delivered by Myrna Latham (Class of ’78), Myrna Schack Latham is an attorney and shareholder in the law firm of McAfee & Taft in Oklahoma City where she also serves as the chair of the firm’s legal ethics committee. Ms. Latham graduated from Southern Nazarene University (then Bethany Nazarene College) in 1978 with a B.A. degree, and she received a J.D. degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1985. Ms. Latham is currently president of the Southern Nazarene University Foundation, a member of the SNU Board of Trustees and the co-chair of SNU’s Peer Learning Network. Ms. Latham is listed in Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, The Best Lawyers in America (real estate law), and Oklahoma Super Lawyers. 

Four honorary degrees were given during the ceremony. Rev. Robert (Rob) McDonald, Rev. Mark Hollingsworth, and Rev. C.B. Glidden were conferred the Doctor of Divinity degree, and Mr. Gerald W. Smith was honored with the Doctor of Humane Letters. For more information on these recipients, please click here. 

Two students, Brad Crofford and Amy Madden, were awarded The President’s Award. This honor is the highest award at SNU for traditional undergraduate students. Recipients of this award are nominated based on academic excellence, service, campus leadership and a demonstration of the qualities reflected in SNU’s motto, “Character, Culture, Christ.” 

Student marshals for the May 2011 Commencement were recognized for their outstanding academic performance among those anticipating graduation in the coming academic year: Kylee Bowman, Brennan Dichiara, Brooke Hunt, Patty Juliuson, Laura Kouts, Kristin Milster, Ray Niazi, Alexandra Oakes, Courtney Redwine, Ian Sanders, Tesica Starkey, Austin Troyer and Stanley West. 

The morning Commencement was followed by the tradition of the Ivy Ring with graduating seniors and their families. 

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.

A team of 20 will be traveling to Swaziland to work with the Luke Commission, which is a medical mission that provides valuable medical care to those in need. The group will also work with Manna Farms, a business venture on the campus of Southern Africa Nazarene University, which focuses on sustainable farming practices, the funds from which provide scholarships to theology students on the SANU campus. 

“Our intent is to ‘bridge the gap’ left by the loss of Youth in Mission, which isn't sending students out this summer. Jason Hubbard and Rhea Woodcock, in Spiritual Development, as well as Brent LaVigne, Director of the SNU Fund and Advancement Programs, have worked together masterfully to organize these amazing trips,” said SNU chaplain Blair Spindle. 

In addition to the Swaziland trip, there will be a four-week trip to Italy in June, as well as another four-week trip to Kosovo, and a six-week trip in June/July going to Brazil. 

The Kosovo trip (May 14 – June 14) is sponsored by Craig and Anita Shepperd, SNU Class of 2000. The Shepperds were missionaries to Pristina, Kosovo for a period of time following college graduation. During the trip, students will visit the cities of Pristina and Suareka while participating in coffee shop ministries and an ESL Vacation Bible School. 

Starting June 3, two SNU teams will serve in Italy for four weeks with one team going to Torino and the second to Florence and Catania. Joel Mullens, class of 1996, is a missionary to Italy and Europe and will serve as the site coordinator. While on this trip students will be involved with church outreach and the coffee shop ministry. 

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.

Though this grant is specifically for summer research, both Dr. Crow and Dr. Weaver envision the project as having far-reaching effects. Ideally, this summer will produce preliminary results that will lead to a full-blown project eligible for a federal grant. The project also will offer invaluable ongoing research opportunities for SNU undergraduates. 

According to Dr. Weaver, the primary goal for this summer is to develop a method for the conversion of acrylate esters into cyclobutanes. The question at the heart of this research is whether the professors can develop a chemical reaction that stores photochemical energy similar to like that of conversion of carbon dioxide into sugars in plants. Developing sustainable energy solutions is likely to be one of the greatest challenges of the new century, and the marriage of photoenergy harvesting and bioenergy has not yet been investigated. Dr. Crow states that photocatalysis is an emerging field in chemistry and she is excited to be learning about it in Dr. Weaver's lab this summer. 

Both professors feel that the partnership between the two universities is natural and beneficial. The Chemistry Department at OSU wants to strengthen its ties with undergraduate institutions around the state, and as an alumnus from SNU, Dr. Weaver feels it is a natural progression for the two universities to form this type of working relationship. He and Dr. Crow have similar backgrounds in organic chemistry, which makes this project is an important step in this process. More importantly, the collaboration between SNU and OSU optimizes resources and expertise to enable this type of project to proceed. 

Dr. Lisa Crow is chair of the Department of Chemistry and Assistant Professor at SNU. Dr. Jimmie Weaver is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at OSU. The two decided to pursue the research after Dr. Weaver introduced the concept of developing a synergistic research connection with his lab at Oklahoma State because of their similar backgrounds in organic chemistry. The two became acquainted while Dr. Weaver was an undergraduate researcher at SNU during Dr. Crow’s graduate school years at the University of Oklahoma over a decade ago. 

The Oklahoma EPSCoR ROA grant is provided by the National Science Foundation to promote and fund opportunities for faculty at one of Oklahoma’s comprehensive research campuses to conduct competitive research during the summer months. Those campuses include Oklahoma State University, University of Oklahoma, and Tulsa University. 

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.

"Our valued colleague, Dr. Howard Culbertson, will soon retire from full-time teaching. Through the more than two decades he has served here, he has been one of the most charismatic and committed professors in our School of Theology and Ministry. I have no doubt that he will find ways to continue serving the Kingdom and God's people in ways He leads him. I can't adequately express my gratitude and that of the university for his faithful service. We wish him the best that God has for him and Barbara in the years ahead," said President Loren Gresham.

Southern Nazarene University would like to thank Dr. Culbertson for his 25 years of service, the legacy he is leaving behind, and the thousands of students he impacted during his tenure. 

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.

BETHANY, OK (March 23, 2013) - The Consortium of Oklahoma Faith-Based Universities has partnered with the Butterfield Memorial Foundation to establish the 2013 Christian Pre-Healthcare Provider Internship. This is a six-week internship for students who are pursuing a health care career. The recipients will work with faith-based clinics in Oklahoma City which service at-risk residents. The purpose behind establishing this internship is to encourage graduating health care providers to serve the growing number of Oklahomans who cannot receive health care through traditional means. 

The Consortium of Oklahoma Faith-Based Universities is a partnership of five faith-based universities in Oklahoma who work together to enhance collaboration in increasing Christian health care professionals and accessibility to health care in Oklahoma. Members of the Consortium are Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma Christian University, Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Oral Roberts University, and Southern Nazarene University. Of the 24 applicants, one intern from each university was chosen with the sixth intern chosen from the remaining candidates. The six interns selected for the summer 2013 internship are nursing, pre-physician assistant, and pre-medical students. 

Southern Nazarene University (SNU) campus will host the interns from May 20 to June 28. During that time, the six interns will rotate between three medical clinics in the Oklahoma City area which serve residents who can either not afford insurance or can’t get coverage. Crossings Community Clinic, Open Arms Clinic and Good Shepard Clinic will be working together with Professor Deanne Latham of SNU to establish a rotation schedule for the interns. Interns will rotate between clinics, assisting the medical staff by providing basic clinic needs and shadowing medical providers. The rotation schedule provides the greatest exposure to the diverse variety of people who are served at the clinics. In addition to clinical hours, the interns will be attending the Institute for International Medicine (INMED) Conference in Kansas City. Dr. Winslow, Program Coordinator and Dean of SNU’s College of Natural, Social and Health Sciences, believes that this internship will be a benefit to the students as well as the clinics. He is hopeful that the program will be able to continue and expand to other Oklahoma cities in future summers. 

Amanda Six, a junior at Southern Nazarene University, was surprised when she received the email from the Consortium announcing her selection for the 2013 internship. When asked her feelings regarding the selection, Six stated, “I feel thankful and blessed that I have the opportunity to serve Christ and the at-risk populations of Oklahoma while gaining valuable shadowing experience in the field I am pursuing.“ After undergraduate graduation from SNU in 2015, Six plans to continue on to a Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant Sciences through the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. 

The idea of the internship evolved from a desire of members of the Butterfield Foundation who wanted to establish an internship focused on encouraging young Christians in healthcare education toward practice in Christian and charitable care settings in Oklahoma City and throughout the state. John Martin of the Butterfield Foundation believes that the internship is the best opportunity for students to discover they can serve God in Oklahoma by providing access to quality healthcare. The Butterfield Memorial Foundation is a Christian charitable organization serving the health needs of the community in harmony with the tenets of the Free Methodist Church of North America. Funding for the 2013 Summer Christian Pre-Healthcare Provider Internships is provided through a $10,000 grant issued to SNU, for the benefit of the Consortium of Faith-Based Universities, by the Butterfield Memorial Foundation.

Article and picture used with permission from NCN News. 

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.

Edited by Paul McGrady, Assistant Athletic Director

Rachel Atnip came to class early a couple of weeks ago. Three or four students and I were chatting as we waited for class to begin. In the midst of casual conversation Rachel made a statement of exclamation, “This place (SNU) has changed my life. It is an absolute miracle!” 

There had to be more to this story…………….. 

Rachel’s background is typical of college students in 2013. Her mother and father divorced when she was two years old. She has rarely seen her father and her mother struggled to keep her family going. Rachel found herself with more freedom as a young teenager than she needed. “I got into plenty of horrible things that a fourteen year-old should not be doing and I was making bad choices.“ 

For years she struggled with experiences and people that influenced her life in a negative way. Her life was plagued by bad times and hard times. “I finally made it through high school, barely squeezing by because I was struggling with drugs and alcohol.” 

Rachel had attended two public colleges in the state of Oklahoma when she renewed a connection through the sport of soccer with SNU Women’s Coach Julie Duncan. “I decided that since SNU had a good soccer team I would try to get into school and play on their team. I contacted Coach Duncan and she accepted me. I would have never thought my life would eventually change in such a positive direction all because I made that one decision.” 

Rachel stepped into a new world at SNU. “My first thoughts of SNU were a total joke. I would make snide remarks about people standing for worship during chapel. I was never raised in a home where we went to church, so this all seemed foolish to me. I finally realized that I was being selfish, and my mind was not straight because of my bad habits. After a couple of semesters I opened my heart to the SNU community. I began to hang out with my teammates more often. I began to communicate with my professors. I opened up about my problems. I was accustomed to being looked down upon as an athlete. But at SNU, I began to feel apart of something. This past year has been the most life -changing year I have ever experienced. I finally began to realize the wisdom of my mother’s advice about ‘choosing your friends wisely’. The girls of the SNU soccer team are not just my teammates’, they are my sisters for life. These girls knew things about my past that I am not proud of but they never judged me.” 

“They have always believed that if I opened up my heart to God, that He would give me the direction that I needed. I have put my heart out there for Him to take over and He has come through for me. I now believe success is in my future! I know that if I would not have come to SNU, I would be a drug addict and I would not be graduating from college next December. I thank everyone at SNU for being open-minded towards me and giving me several chances to grow up before giving up on me. I just never realized just how much opening up my heart to God could change my life in such a positive way.” 

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us……..” Ephesians 3:20 

At SNU, we say that transforming lives through higher education in Christ-centered community is our mission. However, only Almighty God has the power to truly rescue a person’s life, change their heart and give them hope and a future. Today, I am thanking Him and stand amazed at His grace and mercy working in the life of one of His precious children!

The Peer Learning Network (PLN), established by Southern Nazarene University is 1995 and facilitated by the Zig Ziglar Center for Ethical Leadership, brings together the CEO and leadership teams of Oklahoma-based companies who have committed to be Major Partners in the Peer Learning Network. Partners utilize PLN for the purpose of professional development--members pool resources and thereby hear world-class presenters, share management, leadership and planning ideas and network with a wide array of successful Oklahoma company representatives. 

For more information, please visit www.ziglarcenter.com/pln or contact the Peer Learning Network Office, Zig Ziglar Center for Ethical Leadership at Southern Nazarene University located at 6729 N.W. 39th Expressway Bethany, OK 73008. Phone: 405.491.6311. E-mail: pln@snu.edu. 

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.

The award is given to those who have been in the interlibrary loan profession for less than two years and is designed to allow the winners to travel to locations necessary to attend the annual American Libraries Association conference. 

"This award is highly competitive, and I am happy that RUSA recognized what we see in the SNU Library every day - Daniel does excellent work in the field of Interlibrary Loan. Both he and the Library will benefit from his attendance and mentorship at the American Library Association's annual conference in June," said Katie King, Director of the SNU library. 

Because of this award, Daniel will be able to attend the conference being held in Chicago this year. Daniel will also be assigned a mentor by the STARS Education and Training Committee that will help him navigate through the conference and get the most out of his time there. 

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.

Discovered in the Judean Desert not far from Jerusalem, the Dead Sea Scrolls are some of our oldest copies of the Bible. Their discovery, translation and examination have significantly shaped what we know about Judaism just before the time of Jesus. While most of the scrolls have been researched and published by Biblical Scholars, a few portions have yet to be fully examined. Students who have the ability to work with the DSS are working with SNU Professor, Dr. Marty Alan Michelson in connection with the Green Scholars Initiative. This unique opportunity for SNU students emerged in conjunction with the Green Scholars Initiative when Executive Director Dr. Jerry Pattengale discovered Dr. Michelson’s work. This initiative is the research arm of the Green Collection, over 40,000 Bible artifacts and Biblical texts made available by the owners of Hobby Lobby. 

Dr. Cauthron notes, "At SNU, we train our students for service in and for the Church. In doing this, we lead them in developing deeper understanding of the ancient traditions of Scripture which we hold sacred.” Students who demonstrate their proficiency and desire to work with the Hebrew Old Testament, get this opportunity with Dr. Michelson. 

WINONA LAKE, Ind. — Twenty-One; let that number sink in for a second. That's the number of wins Southern Nazarene rattled off in its first year in NCAA Division II play. And to top it off, the Crimson Storm get to hang their eighth national championship banner after SNU knocked off California Baptist, 74-72, for the for the NCCAA National Championship.

There may have been a few questions after the Crimson Storm went 4-7 through the first 11 games, but make no mistake about it, these ladies can play. Southern Nazarene turned around the season and went 9-1 in the second half of the Great American Conference season and went 17-3 in the final 20 games of the year to finish at 21-10.

“This run has been amazing,” said SNU Head Coach Derek Dorris. “The way the girls have battled and not lost sight is fantastic. They bought in to what we were telling them and they accepted the roles they were asked to play. We had great leadership from top to bottom. I've never seen our bench that fired up.”

California Baptist came into the night's contest riding a 15-game winning streak and touted a 25-5 record that including a Pacific West Conference regular season title. The PacWest produced two NCAA Tournament teams this year outside of CBU.

That streak was snapped as the Crimson Storm had four players in double-figures, including Annie Kassongo who tied a career-high with 23 points. The senior also pulled down 11 rebounds for her third double-double of the year and added two steals, two assists and a block. Kassongo went 11-for-16 from the field.

Oumoul Thiam hit clutch buckets all night as the senior dropped 18 points and dished out four assists. Kristin Milster was big off of the bench for SNU as the junior went 5-for-10 from the field and had 14 points, including a clutch three late to give the Storm a late lead that it never gave up. Aminata Fall also had 13 points, five rebounds and set the school's single-season record for blocks as she posted three more to move her total to 96.

“Anytime you want to strive in anything business related, everyone has to do their part and we got that the last 20 games of the season,” said Dorris. “There's a lot of things that happened that don't always go on the stat sheet like hustle in practice or doing the little things we ask them to do. This team got that and that's why we finished so strong.”

The Crimson Storm faced an 11-point deficit with 5:56 left to play in the first half, and had its top scorer from the last 12 games on the bench in foul trouble as Fall had three fouls (after a heated debate among both SNU and CBU coaches and officials from the NCCAA). That's when Milster started a 17-6 run as SNU closed the gap and tied it at 37 at the half.

The Storm found themselves down again, 45-39, early in the second half, but SNU went on a 24-9 run capped by a Thiam jumper as it took its biggest lead of the game at 63-54 with 7:27 left to play.

CBU didn't go away.

The Lancers scored nine straight to knot it for the ninth time of the night and it was back and forth from that point on. The Storm took a late advantage at 69-66 with 2:45 left, but the Lancers again answered with four straight to lead 70-69 with 1:21 left.

Milster then delivered the dagger when the junior buried a trey from dead on to put SNU up 72-70 with 1:01 left. Thiam added two more free throws to take a 74-70 lead with 26 seconds left, but CBU came back with one more scare. The Lancers got within two with 17 seconds left and then stole the inbounds pass and missed three straight attempts in the paint before Kassongo came away with a rebound. However, the senior was called for a travel and the ball was given back to CBU with 2.7 seconds left. The Lancers' Simone Holmes took the pass on the right wing and drove to her left across the lane and floated off the rim and out as SNU rushed the court on the buzzer.

Southern Nazarene held the Lancers to just 34.6 percent shooting from the field marking the third straight game that SNU held its opponent to under 35 percent from the floor. SNU shot 45.8 percent from the field and held opponents to just 31.7 percent shooting in the NCCAA Tournament.

It was the third straight year, and the sixth time in seven seasons, that SNU recorded a 20-win season. It was also the last game for Thiam, Kassongo, Marsha Durr, Katie Bebee and Samantha O'Shields who close their career's out with a national title.

This course focuses on the time period during Queen Victoria’s reign when England was building their vast empire. The class examines the impacts of this massive expansion both in London and the places that were being colonized through literature and storytelling. 

“I love travelling with students. This is my fifth literary field studies course. I enjoy reading and then being able to visit- together- the places we have been discussing. Travel is such an enriching experience, and getting to experience that alongside students is so personally and professionally rewarding for me. Whether it is taking a subway/the Tube with a student who has never used public transportation before or watching them see an iconic location for the first time, I get to experience those things anew also.” Said Michelle Bowie, Professor and trip leader. 

One of the texts they looked at is Schneer’s London 1900, which discusses the impacts that building an empire had on London, from city development, to the arts and even so far as working conditions. For their final analysis essay each student will choose a country Britain colonized, analyze works from said country and draw a conclusion as to how colonization impacted both the country and it’s inhabitants. In addition to the analysis essay, students will be required to identify and document examples of empire building as well as visit some museums to find artifacts from their chosen country in British collections. 

“My perspective is being broadened along with theirs. We always learn something new together when we get to immerse ourselves in another culture. It is a lot of work to both plan the trips and the course, but once we get on that plane, it is all worth it!” Said Bowie. 

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.

The Jericho Run is a weekly four mile run created to help raise money to help the REACH theme house that reaches out to the homeless in OKC by each runner finding their own sponsor(s) who donate money for each mile they run. The run takes place every Saturday at 4:00 pm starting in front of Snowbarger Hall. 

Theme housing is a program that is designed to bring together students who have common academic or extracurricular interests and give them the opportunity to live together. Each of the two theme houses chose a theme and then work to educate their community about the chosen theme. During the 2012-2013 school year, the two theme houses are REACH, which works towards helping the homeless of OKC and SPEAK, which strives to put an end to human trafficking and educate others on how they can help. 

"The Jericho Run is an amazing encouragement to the REACH Theme House because so many people are supporting our ministry financially and going downtown every Saturday at 1:00pm to see the full effects of the money they raise," said Casey Myers, sophomore class president and resident of the REACH Theme House. 

The REACH Theme Housing has reaching out to the homeless of the OKC area since the beginning of the 2012 fall semester by taking groups of students to downtown OKC on Saturday afternoons and providing meals to the homeless. 

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.

As a friend of mine likes to remind me......"Sometimes the line between heaven and earth becomes so thin that they almost touch each other!" Yesterday, I experienced the merging of two worlds as I knelt to pray beside a student-athlete. He had recently told another athletic staff member that before he came to SNU he had never heard the gospel or of God's love. He comes from a rough place. His world has always been so very much different for him than the God-sheltered world that some of us enjoy. 

For a few minutes yesterday we 'put everything on the table' and we 'got real'. The barriers broke down and we were painfully honest and it was liberating. An SNU staff member and I knelt down beside the young man and asked him a simple but profound question, "Do you believe in Jesus?" He nodded his head and said quietly but assuredly "Yes". I asked him if I could pray for him. I began to pray the blood of Jesus over his life. I asked Jesus to claim this young man's life and forever hold him in His Mighty Hand. The staff member asked him if he could give him a hug and they embraced and the cold hard crust that the world tends to put upon a person's life began to melt away on all three of us. 

We walked out the door, my new brother and I. I looked at him and I said, "You know sometimes the margin of our lives being good or bad is pretty thin. I think God just saved your life." He smiled and nodded his head, "I feel good!" He went on, "You know I like this place, I don't have to look around and wonder if I might get shot at." 

We laughed and walked together as the Oklahoma sun shone down upon us. 

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.

The Oklahoma Intercollegiate Honor Band is a band comprised of collegiate musicians from around the state of Oklahoma. Undergrad and graduate students may attend the Honor Band with a recommendation from their director and must then audition for a place in the limited number of chairs within their instrument. Once members are chosen and assigned they begin rehearsing their pieces for the performance they have been chosen to take part in. 

"I'm very proud of the level of our instrumentalists at SNU. It is evident when we compete with other universities around the state. The Intercollegiate Honor Band consists of many graduate students as well, so our undergraduates are displaying extraordinary achievement. This event also gives them a broader network of associates that will be of benefit to their professional careers," said Dr. Phil Moore. 

The ten SNU students to be chosen were Kylee Bowman - flute, Brooke Hunt - flute, Dillan Francis -clarinet, Robert Daigle - clarinet, Erin Hicks - clarinet, Aimee Lege - clarinet, Cameron Taylor - saxophone, Cindy Benton - horn, Andrew Sharp - trombone, and Patrick Sanford - tuba. Sophomore Andrew Sharp also gained the honor of being first chair within the trombone section by placing first in the on-site audition. 

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.

The state-of-the-art facility will be located adjacent to the existing W. Don Beaver Science Hall. Comprising nearly 26,000 sq. ft., this historic building will house five biology laboratories (including a cadaver lab), three chemistry laboratories, two research laboratories, office spaces, student gathering areas and a greenhouse. 

Location of the 2:00 p.m. Groundbreaking will be on the south side of the Beaver Science Hall on Peniel Avenue in Bethany, and is open to the public. 

"It's exciting to be breaking ground for the most significant expansion of academic space in some years at SNU. We are so grateful to the alumni and friends of the university who have seen the value in this project and have donated resources to make this day possible. With this facility addition, our science tradition will continue and become even stronger," stated Dr. Loren Gresham, President of Southern Nazarene University. 

Excellence in Science is a hallmark of Southern Nazarene University. Across the years thousands of teachers, medical doctors, dentists, researchers, nurses and professors have graduated from SNU’s science programs. The quality of her graduates has generated strong support from a broad range of constituents, including alumni, friends, corporations and foundations, such as the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation, who issued an $800,000 Challenge Grant in 2011 that was met by the university in October of 2012 and has been instrumental in making the commencement of construction possible. 

Construction on Phase I is estimated to take up to eighteen months, with a projected opening in the Fall of 2014. 

For more information about Southern Nazarene University and the Campaign for the Sciences, visit www.snu.edu.

This year 15 KNU students came to spend the entire month of January. While on campus, the students took English classes, lived in the dorms, went on multiple field trips, participated in various school events and interacted with their assigned student mentors. The spring semester at KNU doesn’t start until March 4, and so these students spent a month of their two-month winter break at SNU. 

“They have made lots of new American friends while they have been here on SNU's campus. Several of the students told me that they definitely want to return in the future: some just to visit their friends, and others are considering whether or not to transfer to SNU,” said Rachel Graves, Director of International Student Services. 

Throughout the year, SNU hosts many International students through the ASEC program. Students come in for seven levels of study that are broken into eight-week modules, totaling around 30 hours of class a week. While on campus ASEC students’ study reading, writing, listening and speaking using academic vocabulary. Following the completion of the ASEC program, students are then eligible to apply for undergraduate or graduate admission. For more information on the ASEC program please visit: www.snu.edu/liveamerican. 

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.

The U Singers are a musical group that consists of 10 singers, a rhythm section and a horn line that specialize in sacred vocal jazz and contemporary music styles. The group was formed in 1988 by D. E. Hill and has toured over the United States and numerous other countries since their inception. 

“To be selected to perform at the national convention is a huge honor. Last year we were selected to perform at the South West ACDA Convention. We submitted representative recordings from the last three years and were selected from a pool of ensembles from all over the nation. A performance like this puts us on a national stage in front of the very best elementary, secondary, university, and professional directors and students in the country and many from around the world. Performing last year at SWACDA was a great honor and the University Singers knocked it out of the park. This year is ten times the prestige and we are preparing for an awesome performance,” stated Dr. Jim Graves, Assistant Professor of Music. 

Founded in 1959, the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) is a nonprofit music-education organization whose central purpose is to promote excellence in choral music through performance, composition, publication, research, and teaching. In addition, ACDA strives through arts advocacy to elevate choral music's position in American society. 

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.

Commission Unto Mexico is a “Work and Witness adventure for all ages” that has been taken annually for the past 24 years, since 1989-90. 

This year 160 people from a wide variety of areas across the United Sates and professions, from students to medical workers, crossed the border into northeastern Mexico in the city of Monclova. The group worked with four congregations, a children’s center and a nursing home, among them was SNU professor Howard Culbertson. 

“A primary goal of the trip is the creating of relationships. Sure, we do some construction, some medical work (our medical teams this year treated 310 patients), VBS-type ministries for children and even soccer clinics. However, the welding together of the Body of Christ from different cultures and even different languages is a key goal,” stated Culbertson. 

The coordinators for this year’s trip were SNU alumni Roberto and Rhesa Rodriguez. 

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.

For more information, please visit www.ziglarcenter.com/pln or contact the Peer Learning Network Office, Zig Ziglar Center for Ethical Leadership at Southern Nazarene University located at 6729 N.W. 39th Expressway Bethany, OK 73008. Phone: 405.491.6311. E-mail: pln@snu.edu. 

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.

Rebecca Morsch, MD, MPH, is the Director of the Community Based Health Care program of the Nazarene Health Ministry in Papua New Guinea, which trains community-chosen Community Health Volunteers and Village Birth Attendants in one of the United Nation’s designated Least Developed Countries. Dr. Morsch’s training curriculum focuses on prevention and provides culturally-sensitive health education about childbirth and childcare, hygiene, waste management, injury prevention and sexually transmitted diseases. 

Dr. Morsch also helped organize Papua New Guinea’s array of community-based health organizations into the Effective Development Empowering the Nation (EDEN) Network. After working as a social worker for more than 15 years, Dr. Morsch changed course and entered medical school at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, and went on to earn a Masters of Public Health degree from Loma Linda University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Nazarene University. She also trained at In His Image Family Practice Residency Program in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

For more information on this award and other recipients please visit The American Medical Association Foundation's Website. 

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.

** Press Release provided by the  American Medical Association Foundation. 

A total of 60 SNU Faculty and Staff members served at various locations including: Hope Chest Ministries, the Regional Food Bank and Woodson Park Church of the Nazarene. 

“MLK, Jr. Day was created as a day of remembrance to honor MLK, Jr.’s vision and service. We also saw it as a way to help fulfill our mission of transforming lives through higher education in a Christ-centered community by serving the community in which we live,” stated Chris Peterson, Director of Human Resources. 

Although the teams were only able to spend one day at their respective sites they still made an impact. The volunteers at the Regional Food Bank boxed 255 cases of frozen green beans providing 5,885 meals for Oklahomans in need. The team at Woodson Park Church of the Nazarene was able to paint the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall as well as replace lights and hardware. Hope Chest Ministries spent time organizing sheets and dishes to box up to families in need.

“My family and I had a great time serving with members of the SNU community and other community volunteers. It was very fulfilling to see how much food could be packaged and ready to go in a short amount of time and to know that we were a part of helping to feed hungry Oklahomans. Working with staff members from across the campus allowed me a chance to get to know some of my colleagues that I normally don't see very often. I hope this can become an annual event,” said Kim Rosfeld, Academic Coordinator for the McNair Scholars Program and MLK Jr. Day of Service Volunteer. 

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.

Dr. Mora is one of over seventy students that have been served by the McNair Scholars program since it began in 2007. He is the first graduate of the program to earn his doctoral degree but several other scholars have completed Masters degrees and are currently enrolled in Ph.D. or other doctoral programs across the country including Rice University, Texas Tech University, University of Arkansas and Duke University. 

“Aaron is a great example of how the McNair Scholars Program can enable students to succeed in graduate school,” says Dr. Rhonda Crutcher, Program Director. “He was a member of our very first McNair Scholars cohort and we are so proud of his accomplishments. We are confident that he will continue to grow in his chosen field.” 

For more information about the McNair Scholars Program or to apply online, please visit www.snu.edu/mcnair or call the office at 405-789-6400 ext. 6540. 

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.

Rev. Robert (Rob) McDonald, Rev. Mark Hollingsworth, and Rev. C.B. Glidden will be conferred the Doctor of Divinity degree, and Mr. Gerald W. Smith will be honored with the Doctor of Humane Letters. 

Rev. Rob McDonald currently serves as the Superintendent of the Dallas District for the Church of the Nazarene. He is a member of the SNU Board of Trustees and has served on the SNU Foundation Board of Directors, as well. 

For the past 34 years, Rev. McDonald has served the denomination in pastoral ministry and has sat on numerous boards and committees at the local, district, and General Church levels. His focus on outreach to the Dallas area through house churches has resulted in the creation of over 50 gathering points for worship. His ministry has been described as “selfless service” and he is respected as a leader who “embraces the holiness lifestyle”. Rev. McDonald graduated from Mid-America Nazarene University (Olathe, KS) with a Bachelor of Arts and earned a Master’s degree from Oklahoma State University. 

Rev. Mark Hollingsworth is currently serving as the Senior Pastor for Edmond (OK) First Church of the Nazarene. He is a past member of the SNU Board of Trustees and has, for many years, served as a mentor for the SNU Ministerial Intern program. 

Along with his more than 30 years of pastoral ministry, Rev. Hollingsworth has served on District Advisory Boards, was elected a delegate to the Church of the Nazarene General Assembly, and is involved in numerous district responsibilities. His service to the community includes Chaplain to the Edmond Police, member of the Hope Center Board of Directors, and several other community involvements. He is a sought-after retreat speaker, frequent contributor to professional journals and magazines and is described as “one of the greatest examples of pastor, mentor, unifier and an inspiration.” Rev. Hollingsworth graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio Christian University and earned a Master’s degree from Southern Nazarene University. 

Rev. C.B. Glidden, senior pastor at Fort Worth (TX) First Church of the Nazarene, serves on the SNU Board of Trustees and has given leadership in various capacities at the district and regional level for over 23 years. He has served the international community as a leadership trainer in several countries, and has led many mission trips over the years. He has also had a major influence over the administration and growth of the Nazarene Christian Academy in Fort Worth, a private, Christian K-12 school. 

Rev. Glidden graduated from Mid-America Nazarene University (Olathe, KS) with a Bachelor of Arts and attended Nazarene Theological Seminary. 

Mr. Gerald W. Smith is currently the President of the Nazarene Publishing House. Prior to his election to lead NPH, Smith was owner of Premier Studios, a world-class marketing and communications company in Lenexa, KS. Over the years, Smith’s service to the Church of the Nazarene has included production services for seven General Assemblies, six Nazarene Youth Conferences, seven Evangelism Conferences, and three International Lay Conferences. He has also served the local and international community through his involvement in Heart to Heart International, Gideon’s International, Global Orphan Project, Promise Keepers Clergy Conference, as well as providing professional services for FEMA during various natural disasters and 9/11. 

A Bachelor of Arts graduate of Mid-America Nazarene University (Olathe, KS), he earned his Master’s degree at Baker University. A colleague recently wrote, “I know of no person - lay or clergy - who thinks more, dreams more, or tries more in service to the Church. The Church, and more specifically, the Church of the Nazarene, is Gerald’s life.” 

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.

The goal of this event is to help our communities get active and educated on healthy living. The fair will include educational forums, demo exercise classes, a variety of health screenings, and booths for organizations all around the Oklahoma City area that promote healthy living products and services. 

"Let's be honest, Oklahoma doesn't have a great track record on issues of health and wellness. We hope Get Moving will help jump-start some health initiatives for our community in NW Oklahoma. We have a great variety of resources that will be available...and the event is totally FREE & open to the public. Join us and let this event help jump-start your 2013 health goals," said Kendra Thomson, Executive Director of Alumni Relations. 

Attendees can visit booths throughout the day from vendors such as: Barre-3, Young Living Essential Oils, Runhers, Homeland, National Fitness Professionals Association, Best Feet Forward, Schlegel Bicycles, Snap Fitness, Red Coyote Running, OKC - County Health Department, Brixton Chiropractic & Acupuncture, Peak Nutrition, Rockwell YMCA, Doyle Chiropractic & Family Wellness, Natural Awakenings Magazine, and many more! 

Sponsors for this event include: Natural Awakenings Magazine, SNU Office of Alumni Relations, Logo Promotions, Doyle Chiropractic & Family Wellness, and Homeland. 

Vendor spaces are still available. If interested in applying to participate in the fair as a healthy living vendor/resource, please visit www.snu.edu/getmoving. There is a $25 fee per booth space. For more information contact: Alumni Office Student Intern, Kaylee Couchenour, kcouchen@mail.snu.edu, or call the SNU Office of Alumni, 405-491-6312. 

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.

Written by Paul McGrady, SNU Athletics

“Being African to me is about not taking things for granted. It is about knowing that you don’t have a lot but still loving the little that you have.” Oumoul Khairy Thiam 

She is more than just a young lady with a different sounding name who is a long way from home. Oumoul Thiam (pronounced oooh mooh) is a bit of a philosopher. She is a little like legendary college basketball Coach John Wooden in that way. These quotes and sayings seem to fuel her dreams. 

“Don’t worry. Have faith. Live, laugh and love.” 

The world is full of young athletes hoping to fulfill their dreams in the sport of basketball. Those who are born outside of the United States know that America is the center of the basketball universe. Oumoul Thiam is one of those athletes. Oumoul was born to a close knit religious family in the west African country of Senegal, the seventh of eight children. Her father was a headmaster at an elementary school in her hometown of St. Louis a city of 175,000 inhabitants on the Atlantic coast in far northwest Senegal. It doesn’t take long in being around Oumoul and listening to her, one realizes a special sense about her. 

Oumoul seems to understand that greater forces are guiding her life. She says she 'discovered' basketball at 11 years of age on a hard cement outdoor court under the African sun. At that time, she also began to discover that she was blessed with a feathery left-handed shooting touch (honed on wooden backboards) that only a few possess. She grew 6’0 tall and slender and was blessed with speed and quickness. She experienced the death of her beloved father at the age of 13. Oumoul channeled her energy and emotions of loss into basketball. Four years later she had risen to elite status and one of the top players in her country. 

“Being African is about a simple life. It is about loving one another and helping one another,” said Thiam. 

Through what Oumoul describes as a divine series of events she was put into contact with former SNU women’s coach Lori Carter. Soon she had an opportunity to pursue her dream of a college education and playing basketball in the United States. The dream had some costs to it. For Oumoul, it meant leaving her beloved family and traveling 5,000 miles to Oklahoma. But opportunities like this come perhaps once in a lifetime. 

Thiam stated, “College education means absolutely everything for my family and I. Getting my college degree would mean that all I have worked for till now, all those sacrifices along the way have paid off.” She believed it was worth leaving her family and living half a world away from her homeland. “I am too blessed to be stressed.” 

The Christian community of SNU became her home away from home. She describes her experience in this way, “When I got here a lot of things were different; however there was a real sense of community which made me feel like I belonged. It is definitely about something that I was not around growing up. However I respect their methods. I respect their belief. SNU has been my home for the past four years and I could not have asked for a better school to pursue my dreams. SNU is the place where professors care for students and where the community helps students no matter where they came from. They have made me feel appreciated and important.” 

The last four years Oumoul’s has been a successful guard for the SNU Crimson Storm. She led the team in scoring as a junior with 13.3 points per game. She earned honorable mention on the NAIA All American team. In this her senior year under first year coach Derek Dorris, Thiam has exploded as a scoring threat! She leads the NCAA Division 2 Great American Conference in scoring with 24.8 points per game on 50% shooting from the field, 46% from 3-point range and 85% from the free throw line. 

When asked about her observations about American people compared to her African culture, she shares these insights “ Americans in general seem to have a ‘time is money’ mindset. Therefore they spend most of their time looking at the clock and rushing to try to accomplish things instead of just taking a little break and enjoying what they already have. They are too caught up working for tomorrow when tomorrow is not always promised.” 

Oumoul continues “I was just a girl with a huge dream. My chances to realize that dream was like one in a million and I was aware of that. However, I believed that if I had faith in the dream enough it would become true. I am blessed beyond words with this opportunity. Millions of kids in Senegal alone would do anything to be where I am right now! Although it may be difficult at times especially being away from my family, I strongly believe that I am not given more than I can handle.” 

Oumoul Khairy Thiam’s background, principles and philosophies have helped fuel the actualization of her dreams.

Southern Nazarene University's mission is to transform lives through higher education in Christ-centered community. As a Christian community of scholars, we model the hospitality of grace, the pursuit of truth and the practice of discipleship, all within the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, as we prepare graduates who THINK with clarity, ACT with integrity and SERVE with purpose.