The Office of Marketing and Media is pleased to announce that the official NNU App is now available for download through the Apple Online Store.

As a growing amount of web traffic steadily shifts onto mobile devices, the expansion to the app marketplace is proving to be important for organizations aiming to establish and maintain strong relationships with digital consumers. “This first mobile application will be a valuable tool for connecting with news and other University information in a convenient way,” said Zac Vineyard, NNU’s Director of Web Development. “We also want the app to be a practical tool for current and future followers of the University.”

The NNU app for iPhone and iPad currently features a directory of University faculty and staff, share-able news, information about graduate-degree programs, a University Twitter feed and more. For more information on the app and how to download it, please visit nnu.edu/app.

• June 15, 1-5 pm; Jump Start Event, NNU Brandt Center, Caven Suite
• July 18, 4-7 pm; Jump Start Event, NNU Brandt Center, Caven Suite
• August 23, 12-4 pm; New Student Orientation, NNU Brandt Center

Meningitis vaccine is one of NNU’s required immunizations. New, incoming students, returning students and university personnel who work closely with students are all eligible for the vaccine; just bring your NNU ID card to any of the three events. Please support these events by encouraging all students to participate if they have not already had both an initial dose and a booster dose.

Our NNU community benefits from these clinics in several ways: a potentially life-threatening or debilitating disease is prevented, our overall community immunization status is improved, and our nursing students have an opportunity to participate in a community project that promotes the health of their own campus.

Thank you to the Idaho Immunization Coalition who is sponsoring these events!

Questions?  Please email wellnesscenter@nnu.edu.

The drop-in session will be held at NNU’s Brandt Center from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11. The NNU Brandt Center is located at 707 Fern St, Nampa, Idaho. For those who cannot attend the face-to-face meetings, please log onto www.nnu.edu/infonight and RSVP by indicating which programs you are interested in.

Whatever your passion is—whether it’s business, nursing or something in between—we think you should love what you do. Our graduate, adult and professional programs are designed for just that. Come see if an NNU education is one you can love. We sure think so!

To learn more, log on to www.nnu.edu/infonight.

Each summer for more than 70 years, Northwest Nazarene University has sent out summer ministry teams to camps and churches throughout the Northwest. The two teams, Covenant and Witness, are made up of talented and engaging students who have a heart for ministry. A send-off performance for both groups will be held Wednesday, June 5, at 7 p.m. in the NNU Little Theatre. Admission is free.

“The summer travel groups provide us with an opportunity to showcase the best and brightest that NNU’s student population has to offer,” Mike Marston, director of admissions, said. “Ministering to others in this venue is at the heart of the mission of the University and the Church of the Nazarene.”

After Wednesday, Covenant and Witness will begin their ten-week tour. They will visit camps and churches around the Northwest Region sharing their heart and abilities for leading worship and serving others. Be the first to enjoy the talents of the ministry teams; come and support them as they head out for the summer!

Covenant’s members include Dorothy Ackerman (Great Falls, Mont.), Angela Archer (Auburn, Calif.), Spencer Hassman (Portland, Ore.), Lucas Lyon (Colfax, Wash.), Becca Roberts (Boise, Idaho), Olivia Temple (Carson City, Nev.), Miles Wilson (Salem, Ore.), and Paul Zukowski (Salem, Ore.. Witness members are Liz Beaty (Salem, Ore.), Shaun Hall (Bremerton Wash.), Cody Henderson (Green River, Wyo.), Ella Jamieson (Kirkland, Wash.), and Jessica Whittaker (Meridian, Idaho).

Forseth has served as superintendent of Nampa Christian Schools (NCS) since 2009, during which time he led the private Christian school to an increase in student enrollment, established an NCS Foundation Board, and initiated various construction projects, including the recent construction of interscholastic fields.  Forseth also led a campaign that has secured NCS financially by drastically reducing existing debt.

Prior to Forseth’s leadership of NCS, he diversified his higher education experience at Northwest Nazarene University by serving as vice president for enrollment and marketing (2002-2009) and athletic director (1987-1997).

Forseth’s wife, Dr. Kim Forseth, plans to stay in her role as an associate professor and department chair of NNU’s kinesiology department until there is adequate time to identify a replacement. NNU President David Alexander states, “Dr. Kim Forseth’s service has been significant to our faculty and our students. She has gracefully led the faculty as faculty chair and has taught our students to love to learn and to seek to serve in their professions. Our community is excited for Eric and Kim to pursue this opportunity continuing their service in Christian higher education.”

Dordt College is committed to the Reformed Christian perspective. Forseth begins his role as the chief academic officer of the college July 1, 2013.

The classiest women of NNU, the Presidents’ wives, invite the rest of NNU’s amazing women to join them for a ladies-only Centennial Tea Party. Relax with some tea, coffee and sweets from 2-4 p.m. on November 9, in the College Church Atrium, during Homecoming & Family Weekend 2013.

The first ladies, Ruby Pearsall, A. J. Wetmore, Doris Doane, Junella Hagood and Sandy Alexander, know that women have always been the force that makes this campus tick. If you know you will want some male-free time on Saturday, order your $1 ticket from nnu.edu/homecoming today.

Also, all of Mrs. Dorcas Riley’s remaining hats will be on display! You will have an opportunity to wear them, have pictures taken with friends-in-hats, and perhaps take one home with you (for a donation to the Centennial celebration expenses).

Each year, NNU offers students opportunities to be involved in various global mission projects. This summer, NNU students are engaging in a number of cross-cultural mission ventures around the world, with teams serving in Australia, Ghana, Jamaica and Sri Lanka.

The participants in the Australia trip departed on May 24th and are led by former Boise-area youth pastor and NNU graduate Kenny Wade, who has been serving with his family in Brisbane at Nazarene Theological College for the past year. They will be working largely in church development and outreach to indigenous peoples in rural Western Australia.

The groups to Ghana, Jamaica and Sri Lanka have all been abroad since May 14 and are slated to return during the first week of June.

A combined group of healthcare and general students are serving in Northern Ghana and are led by NNU professors Jennifer Chase and Joe Gorman.  The team is traveling extensively throughout the region as they partner with local leaders to serve in ministry to youth and children and engage in health education with the area population.

Mark Wheeler and Julene Tegerstrand are leading the team of students in Jamaica. This team is engaging in some light work projects and youth/children’s ministry as they seek to understand and serve the poor in an area that is largely recognized as a western tourist destination.

After being advised against travel in tumultuous Bangladesh, several students embarked on a repurposed trip to Sri Lanka, led by Dan Lawrence. The students there are working with school children and exploring potential avenues for future NNU involvement in the region.

Please continue to support these teams and our international friends who are hosting them through prayer. They are frequently updating their Facebook pages with stories and photos. You can find links to these pages below.

Australia: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nnuaustralia/
Ghana: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nnughana/
Jamaica: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nnujamaica/
Sri Lanka: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nnusrilanka/

Dr. David Chaplin, associate professor of economics in the School of Business, and Sergio Mendoza, 2013 graduate in economics and management, have  received word that their work, “Competitive Balance in Olympic Boxing: 1904-2012,″ has been selected for inclusion in a book by Common Ground Publishing (Champaign, Ill.).

The book’s working title is “Fighting: Intellectualising Combat Sports” and is scheduled to be published September 2013. It will be edited by Dr. Keith Gilbert, professor in the School for Health, Sport and Bioscience at University of East London, U.K. The book chapter is based on a paper Dr. Chaplin and Sergio presented at the 49th Annual Missouri Valley Economic Association Annual Conference in Memphis, Tennessee, October 2012.

Dr. Jerry Harris, associate professor of chemistry, was accepted as a NASA Faculty Fellowship member. Harris will work to develop more efficient solar cells to support research for the Exploration Mission Directorate. He and his intern, Nick McKibben (Nampa, Idaho), will be working at NASA Glenn in Cleveland, Ohio, for ten weeks with other scientists from NASA’s Photovoltaic and Power Technology branch.

Harris specializes in materials chemistry and the production of new compounds and is going to NASA Glenn with McKibben to work with several scientists in NASA’s Power Technology branch. Due to a grant provided by the NASA Idaho Space Grant Consortium, McKibben, a senior chemistry major, will assist Harris. This is not Harris’ first experience with NASA; he was with them ten years ago on other solar cell and battery projects.

The project focuses on creating a solar-cell growth design that allows for evenly distributed quantum dot structures and therefore, more efficient solar cells. But this research doesn’t only benefit NASA. “The partnership will strengthen the tie between NNU and NASA Glenn Research Center and provide a valuable research experience for me, which will ultimately impact many STEM students when I return to campus,” said Harris.

Harris and McKibben will be leaving the end of May to begin the project on June 3.

These scores are measured against more than 85,000 participants in over 500 other colleges and universities nationwide and demonstrate the kind of quality education being offered in the School of Business!

– Stephen C. Mountjoy, Ph.D., Dean, School of Business & Economics

NNU alumni left from Seattle for a ten-day tour of Israel, with some alumni taking a three-day trip extension to Jordan. Over the next several days they will walk where Jesus walked, taught, and suffered, from Galilee to Jerusalem and the empty tomb. They will reminisce the life of the Patriarchs, visit the fortress at Masada and have the opportunity to be baptized in the Jordan River.

Alumni on the tour are Dick and Joyce Etulain (Clackamas, OR), Dan Etulain (Bellingham, WA), Randy and Robbi Craker (Spokane, WA), Donald and Barbara Edwards (Salem, OR), Pamela Pacheco (Surprise, AZ), Mark and Priscilla Anderson (Eagle ID), David and Sandy Alexander (Nampa, ID), Joel Pearsall (Nampa, ID), Chadwick Pearsall (Nampa, ID), Alexa Murphy-Sweet (Parma, ID), Mark and Debbie Goodwin (Portland, OR), Clifford Martin (Keiser, OR), Dale and Beatrice Shafer (Spokane, WA) and Mark Maddix (Nampa, ID).

Please pray for these 21 individuals and look for future updates, journal entries and photos from some of the alumni; check this post to see more updates.

5/26/13: Debbie Goodwin

“We visited the synagogue in Capernaum and saw how the uneven entrance steps required a worshiper to step sideways, always looking down in humility and careful focus. The ancient Jews went in reverence to worship. It is fascinating how everything they built had meaning and purpose, not just design.

We also visited the temple to Dionysious. There were some 200 stair steps up to the top. I climbed them, panting the whole way, baking in the oppressive heat. While the view was breathtaking, the Romans didn’t come for the view; they climbed to worship.

The Jewish synagogue was simple but specific; the Roman temple, high and hard to get to. I’m thinking about what these different approaches mean for my worship today.”

5/25/13: Mark Maddix

“The imagery of water came to life today as Pastors Randy Craker and Mark Goodwin and I were honored to baptize and affirm baptisms in the Jordan River. It was a powerful experience to be in the same river that Jesus was baptized, by John the Baptist.

It is interesting how much Scripture talks about water. This became most evident when seeing the dessert climate and experiencing temperatures over 100 degrees. Water is especially valuable when it is rare.

The power of water was evident today as the source of life—life that comes from God. As the Psalmist says, “As the dear pants for the water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” (Psalm 42:1-2).”

5/25/13: Robbie Craker

“As I sit in my chair in my hotel bedroom on the Sea of Galilee I am able to see in my mind’s eye all the places we visited yesterday. Jesus isn’t more real to me, but I understand the scope of his life a little better. Our guide said that without the Sea of Galilee there would be no Christianity. He didn’t mean the sea itself but the location–the area. It gave life to Jesus’ world and the vast majority of Jesus’ life was spent in this environment.”

5/25/13: Debbie Goodwin

“If it was as hot on the day Jesus taught the Beatitudes as it was the day we visited the Mount of Beatitudes, I applaud the desire to stay and listen to Jesus. They may have listened in their discomfort, hunger  and thirst, but they listened.”

5/23/13: Mark Maddix

“I have experienced the narrative of Scripture unfolding before my eyes during our beginning days in Israel.

During our second day we traveled to Caesarea to visit the ancient city built by King Herod. It was here where Peter visited the house of Cornelius and opened the gate to gentiles or “god fearers” to become part of the Church (Acts 10). We then visited Mount Carmel where we the epic battle of Elijah and the god’s of Baal took place (I Kings 18:16ff). Looking out from the mount we viewed the beautiful Jezreel Valley. We could see the next mountain range that included the city of Nazareth, Mount Tabor, and Gilboa.

Our last stop was in Nazareth, the home of Jesus. It was in Nazareth that Gabriel came to Mary announcing that she will give birth to God’s son (Luke 1:26ff). We visited a Nazarene village that replicated the daily life during the time of Jesus. The village included an ancient tomb where families were buried, a grinding well to grind olives to make oil, and a local synagogue where Jesus would have read the scroll of Isaiah as a young boy (Luke 4:16-20).

Our day ended in Tiberius on the Sea of Galilee. I look forward to another day of experiencing the narrative of Scripture as I encounter the place where God’s story unfolded. Tomorrow we explore the city of Capernaum—the home of Jesus’ Galilean ministry.”

5/23/13: Debbie Salter Goodwin

“I will never forget the words of our tour guide as we stood at the top of Mt. Carmel and overlooked the Jezreel Valley, he said, “Here, I serve you the Bible on a platter.” The land became the pages we have read over and over. He pointed to Mt. Tabor, where Deborah and Barak strategized a military offensive and where Jesus met with transfigured Elijah and Moses. Then, he moved his point to Mt. Gilboa where King Saul was killed, then down the mountain to the spring where Gideon chose his warriors. The land does not allow an easy chronological retelling, for this is layered land. The stories are built one upon another, here, on this land. On this first touring day, we know we are pilgrims on a long journey to this sacred place where God began a story we are still living.”

5/21/13: Robbie Craker

“I’ve “walked where Jesus walked” in many places around the world – the hot, red sands of Mozambique, Africa; the rubble-filled streets of Port-au-Prince, Haiti; Tiananmen Square in Beijing; the subways of Moscow, Russia; a pastor’s home high in the Venezuelan Andes; the aisles of a small church in a small town in Eastern Washington. So will I be disappointed and underwhelmed with the Holy Land?

I hope not. I hope I can meld the experience of “walking where Jesus walks” today with where the historical Jesus walked 2,000 years ago.”

Rimar Christie (St. Michael Bridgetown, Barbados) was selected the Most Outstanding Performer winning the 100 meters (10.64) and 200 meters (21.47) and leading the Crusaders to a win in the 4×100 relay (41.72), which he anchored. He will now compete in the NCAA Division II national outdoor track and field championships on May 23-25 at Pueblo, Colo.

Christie is ranked no. 11 in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.38. He will also run the 200-meter race as the no.23 seed. His qualifying time in the race is 21.17. Rimar will have his first race in the 100m on Thursday evening at 6:25 p.m. The 200m prelims will be on Friday evening at 5:45 p.m. The meet is being hosted by Colorado State University at Pueblo at the Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl. The top eight qualifiers in each race will qualify for the finals to be run on Saturday.

Christie recently won both events at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships in Monmouth, Oregon earning him the GNAC Outstanding Performer of the meet award. During the regular season Christie set new school records in the 100, 200 and as the anchor leg of the 4 x 100.

Christie is also a candidate for USTFCCCA West Regional track athlete of the year. The regional award winners along with the NCAA Elite 89 winners will be announced at the championships on Wednesday May 22.

“We are very proud and happy for Rimar to be selected to represent NNU at the national championships,” commented head coach John Spatz. “It’s a select honor and one that Rimar has worked very hard to earn both in the classroom and on the track. His dedication in both these areas has been outstanding. He’s a very humble, quiet leader on our team. You couldn’t ask for a better person to represent our track program and the university as a whole.”

A total of 1,283 student-athletes have earned a total of 1,836 USTFCCCA All-Region honors. The USTFCCCA regions for track & field match those used for NCAA Cross Country Championships.

On the women’s side 613 different student-athletes earned All-Region distinctions. For the men 670 student-athletes were named All-Region.

NNU Crusaders earning All-Region honors include:  Carly Dranginis, West-Hammer; Vessie Umu, West-Shot Put,  Rimar Christie, West-100 Meters, West-200 Meters, West-4×100 Relay; Andrew Curtis, West-4×100 Relay; Cody Henderson, West-4×100 Relay; Derek Sepe, West-4×100 Relay, Kevin Rima, West-Discus.

Dranginis earned GNAC All-Conference honors with a third place finish in the women’s hammer. She scored a total of 14 points in three events at the conference championships on May 10-11. Vessie Umu won her first conference title in the shot put throwing 45′ 7”.

Christie won conference titles in three events, winning the 100, 200 and running the anchor leg on the 4 x 100 relay. He was named the meets’ outstanding male performer by the GNAC. Christie is also a finalist for the West Region male track athlete of the year.

Sepe, Henderson and Curtis combined with Christie in winning the conference title in the 4 x 100. During the regular season the foursome established a new school record of 41.25 while turning in the #2 time in GNAC history in this event.

Kevin Rima turned his talent to the track after a very successful breakout year on the hardwood with the Crusader men’s basketball team. Rima, a two time All-Conference performer in the discus established a new school record in the discus throwing 161′ 5” in 2013.

During 2013 Homecoming & Family Weekend this fall,  two special events will provide opportunity for all choir-member alumni and directors to reconnect. The first is the All-Choir and Director Reunion Luncheon on Saturday, November 9; the second is the Saturday evening Centennial Finale that features Michael W. Smith, Choir & Orchestra.

Singers from all choirs are invited to participate in both events: the luncheon is a perfect time to catch up with friends and instructors, and alumni can take part in a 300-voice Centennial Choir as part of the evening’s finale with Michael W. Smith, Choir & Orchestra.

Please RSVP by June 3 at nnu.edu/choir to reserve your spots in both events.

PHOTO CAPTION: D. E. Hill at a prop from “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

As part of the year-long centennial celebration, NNU has connected with Idaho ultra-marathon runners to organize a 100-mile run and relay during the University’s 2013 Homecoming & Family Weekend Nov. 8 and 9. The marathon starts and finishes at NNU’s Johnson Sports Center, 313 E Dewey St., Nampa, and circles Lake Lowell three times. Registration for solo runners and relay teams is now open at nnu.edu/100miles.

Registration is available until Oct. 18; however, entry fees increase after August 1., and there is only room for 30 solo runners and 20 teams. Early registration price for solo runners is $80, and the small relay team (4 runners) price is $360. Relay teams may consist of no more than 12 runners.

Teams have the opportunity to compete in one of nine relay divisions including elite (sub 7:00 min/mile pace), seniors (50 or older), ultra division (teams of 2 or 3 runners), heroes division (military/law enforcement/fire) and high school (19 or younger).

Volunteer opportunities are available. Volunteers will receive a free T-shirt, food at the finish line and Wild Idaho Endurance Runs race points per hour. These points can be used to pay for future Wild Idaho registration costs. Volunteers may sign up at runwildidaho.com/volunteer.

The event is organized by NNU alumnus and long-distance athlete Ben Blessing. More information is available on the website or by email at benblessing@hotmail.com.

If this ultra-marathon is 96.9 miles too long, NNU is also hosting their 11th annual Homecoming 5K on November 9th. Those interested in taking part in this shorter, fun-filled event can find information at nnu.edu/homecoming.