Centennial. One hundred years. How do you calculate and appreciate all that has occurred across one hundred years? So many presidents, professors, students, staff, churches, pastors, laity. What guided them? What connected them?
Centennial. One hundred years. How do you calculate and appreciate all that has occurred across one hundred years? So many presidents, professors, students, staff, churches, pastors, laity. What guided them? What connected them?
As we look back in history’s hindsight, patterns and priorities begin to emerge:
The things that describe the history of Northwest Nazarene University are the things that define NNU. The path and purpose of the University have not been charted by those seeking personal gain or worldly glory. Rather, the people we now call our founders, our leaders, our visionaries were guided by God. In the words of the Apostle Paul, they chose to pursue “a more excellent way.” (I Cor. 12:31b)
A More Excellent Way—the Centennial theme of Northwest Nazarene University—a phrase that describes our accomplishments and our aspirations. The words declare that for one hundred years the people of NNU have sought to be the people of God. For one hundred years God’s will and way have been the guiding force in the school’s direction and desire.
In 1920, H. Orton Wiley, our first president, took Matthew 6:33 seriously. He poured over the Bible pictured above seeking God’s will for NNU and penned his vision for this college: "[It] seeks not to conform to the ideals of worldly institutions; it seeks rather in all things the Kingdom of God."
The stories that follow are examples of NNU students and NNU alumni living out the pursuit of A More Excellent Way. Over the next year and a half, we want to trace the hand of God in the life of NNU and tell the stories of your pursuit of a more excellent way. We invite you to submit your stories to nnu.edu/100.
The first professor at NNC with a doctorate, Olive Winchester left a profound mark on NNC, the Church of the Nazarene and the world.
Three psychology alumni establish Idaho's premier multidisciplinary clinic and change the way complex care is delivered to children with developmental, emotional and behavioral differences.
Founded in 1920 by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Mangum, Samaritan Hospital served the Nampa community until 1967 while providing medical training to countless nurses headed to the mission field.
Known as a dynamic combination of professional athletic talent and business aptitude, Bill Rapp, 1982 alumnus, was named as the University’s new athletic director beginning in October.