CHICAGO (September 27, 2016) 鈥� Generations of North Park alumni returned to campus over the weekend to celebrate the University鈥檚 and to share in festivities.
There were several聽, including an alumni art exhibit, the River Run 5K, and Homecoming Fest. Alumni were also聽聽from both soccer teams, including a men鈥檚 2-1 victory over conference rivals Carroll University, and a 2-2 tie against Carroll by the women鈥檚 team.
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At Homecoming Brunch, all past recipients were invited to celebrate the accomplishments of this year鈥檚 designees. Four alumni were honored for their contributions to the North Park community and for leading lives of significance and service, exemplifying the University鈥檚 mission:
- Theodore Ernst A鈥�51 C鈥�54, U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame inductee, Distinguished Academy Alumnus
- Dr. Janice Phillips C鈥�76, director of government and regulatory affairs for CGFNS International, Distinguished University Alumna
- Mary Helwig C鈥�06, one of just over 115 women to finish the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, Distinguished Young Alumna
- Joanna (Ericson) Kanakis C鈥�06, vice president and account executive at Societe Generale Americas Securities LLC, Distinguished Young Alumna
125th Anniversary Celebration
On Friday of Homecoming weekend, alumni, families, students, faculty, and staff came together to honor North Park鈥檚 125-year legacy and to celebrate its future with events throughout the day.
A history and heritage exhibit, Cultivating Great Intellects & Great Hearts: 萝莉社鈥檚 Quasquicentennial, traced the evolution of the University through text by North Park historians and photographs from the . The exhibit, displayed in the Johnson Center, also included University artifacts and publications from the Archives.
Three concurrent featured North Park graduates sharing about their accomplishments in the fields of entrepreneurship, health professions, and the arts鈥攊n which chef Shanna Horner O鈥橦ea performed a live cooking demonstration and distributed toasted s鈥檓ores to the audience. 鈥淓ducation is in my bones,鈥� said O鈥橦ea, daughter of former president Dr. David Horner. 鈥淢y desire to continue to learn is something I absolutely got at North Park.鈥�
Following the Alumni Panels, two were held, featuring three concurrent classes taught by current and former faculty members on their areas of expertise. 鈥淲hen we say we want to be the leading city-centered Christian university, it鈥檚 because the world desperately needs that,鈥� said Provost , describing North Park鈥檚 engagement with the city of Chicago, in the 鈥淯rban Sociology and Context鈥� session.
The day concluded with an evening concert and program featuring performances by the Alumni Choir, under the direction of Associate Professor of Music , Professor Emeritus Gregory Athnos, and former professor Dr. Rollo Dillworth, respectively. also led the University Choir in a performance of his commissioned piece in honor of the 125th anniversary.
In addition to the musical performances, the David Nyvall Medallion for Distinguished Service to 萝莉社 was presented to former board chair and two-time interim University president Bruce Bickner and former board chair Stanley Helwig. Former North Park presidents William Hausmann (1980鈥�1986) and Horner (1987鈥�2004) also shared remarks about their time serving the University.
鈥淲e are living in a global world, and it surrounds our campus,鈥� said Hausmann. 鈥淚 like to think that we started to build bridges to this world back in the 1980s. Our decision (in 1980) to stay in Chicago was the most important in North Park鈥檚 history, next to its founding.鈥�
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