萝莉社

Category: Profile

Diversity and Dialogue in Biblical and Theological Studies: Hannah Hawkinson C’17

Hannah Hawkinson C’17, a biblical and theological studies major, shares about her experience at North Park.

Hannah Hawkinson C’17, a biblical and theological studies major, shares about her experience at North Park.

Meeting so many people who challenge the way I think, and who are open and anxious to dialogue with each other; there are people who think so differently, but are willing to talk with each other in and outside the classroom.

I feel at home here, at North Park, seeing so many different people, and hearing so many different languages; I wanted to learn in an environment like that. Being around students who want to learn, are invested, and care about classes as much as I do is something that has been a positive surprise.

As I have refined my interest within theology, I鈥檝e noticed I鈥檓 passionate about narrative, about who is speaking this narrative, and searching for the biases that contribute to this narrative. Being able to read literature provides a different way of looking at things, but it has been very helpful.

If you鈥檙e considering majoring in BTS, take a class or two on top of the required, and try to take them from as many different professors within the department as you can. Also ask other BTS students about their experiences, I promise we鈥檙e a nice bunch. There is no pressure to continue to pastoral duties if you choose it as your major, there are so many other tracks you can take. Hopefully, you鈥檒l see that it鈥檚 a rigorous program, but I think that BTS is an important program, especially for this University.

What surprises me most at North Park is meeting so many people who challenge the way I think, and who are open and anxious to dialogue with each other; there are people who think so differently but are willing to talk with each other in and outside the classroom.

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Profile, StoriesTags , , , ,

I Chose North Park: “Christian university with a personal touch,” Carmen Velazquez-Alvarez C’16

Carmen Velazquez-Alvarez C鈥�16, conflict transformation studies alumna, shares why she chose North Park.

Carmen Velazquez-Alvarez C鈥�16, conflict transformation studies alumna, shares why she chose North Park.

I was looking for a Christian university with a personal touch. I attended a Covenant church in California’s Central Valley, and a member of my church鈥攚ho was also my chemistry teacher and my mentor鈥攗rged me to apply to North Park.

I have a heart for the underserved and now serve California Central Valley鈥檚 large immigrant community. I plan to earn a Master鈥檚 in Social Work (MSW) and leverage my experience in the Valley to start a nonprofit organization.

It was as a student at North Park that I discovered my passion for service and realized I have the power to make a difference in others鈥� lives. I served as the president of the Latin American Student Organization (LASO) and cofounded a mentorship group for Latina students. I also served in campus ministry and interned at the YWCA.

At every step along my journey North Park, I was encouraged. I鈥檓 incredibly appreciative of the support I received and relationships I developed.

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Profile, StoriesTags , , ,

I Chose North Park: “I enjoyed the relationships most,” Michelle Dodson C’03

Michelle Dodson C鈥�03, biblical and theological studies alumna, shares why she chose North Park.

Michelle Dodson C’03, biblical and theological studies alumna, shares why she chose North Park.

Michelle鈥檚 experience as a biblical and theological studies major helped prepare her professionally for the work she does in ministry today. Serving in campus ministry and engaging with college diversity 鈥渉elped me develop a theology of racial reconciliation. It also gave me opportunities to learn how to communicate that theology.鈥� Michelle serves as associate pastor of New Community Covenant Church in Bronzeville, a neighborhood on Chicago鈥檚 South Side. She describes New Community as 鈥渁n intentionally multiracial congregation that actively pursues racial reconciliation and social justice.鈥� She鈥檚 currently working toward a PhD in sociology with a focus on multiracial congregations.

As a high school student, Michelle chose to come to 萝莉社 because she was looking for a Christian liberal arts university that was small enough for her to get to know people. 鈥淚 was attending a Covenant church in California at the time,鈥� she says, 鈥渁nd my pastor suggested I apply to North Park.鈥�

As it turned out, North Park was a great fit for Michelle. 鈥淭he relationships that I built at North Park are what I enjoyed the most,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 have had the privilege of doing life and ministry with many of those people to this day.鈥�

What鈥檚 more, she says, Michelle鈥檚 experience inside and outside of the classroom as a biblical and theological studies major helped prepare her professionally for the work she does in ministry today. 鈥淣orth Park was a great training ground for what I do,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was as a student there that I got my first experiences leading in the areas of racial righteousness.鈥� Serving in campus ministry and engaging with college diversity 鈥渉elped me develop a theology of racial reconciliation. It also gave me opportunities to learn how to communicate that theology.鈥�

Michelle serves as associate pastor of New Community Covenant Church in Bronzeville, a neighborhood on Chicago鈥檚 South Side. She describes New Community as 鈥渁n intentionally multiracial congregation that actively pursues racial reconciliation and social justice.鈥� She鈥檚 currently working toward a PhD in sociology with a focus on multiracial congregations.

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Profile, StoriesTags , , ,

I Chose North Park: “personal and in the big city,” Tim Ahlberg C’13

Tim Ahlberg C鈥�13, a business and economics alumnus, shares why he chose North Park.

Tim Ahlberg C’13, a business and economics alumnus, shares why he chose North Park.

Tim chose to attend North Park because he wanted to be in a big city, but at a college that felt personal. 鈥淚 wanted to have relationships with my professors and mentors, and to live in a close-knit community where I could get to know other students from all different backgrounds,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd coming from a Covenant Church family, I knew I wanted to attend a Christian school, to be surrounded by others that shared my faith and would help me build and sustain my own faith throughout my formative college years.鈥�

Maybe most important, Tim wanted a college environment that placed focus not just on finding a career, but living a life of significance and service. When he came to North Park, he got that environment鈥攏ot only in the classroom, but in experiences around the campus and city. 鈥淭here鈥檚 really nothing else like the community there that I鈥檝e experienced before or after North Park. Students and faculty really all-in for your success, both personal and professional.鈥�

He loved taking part in Chapel and College life services; was voted president of the student body; served with homeless ministries; and was captain of the men鈥檚 soccer team his senior year, being named an Academic All-American. 鈥淣orth Park is such a personal university that, no matter your area of study, your background, or your future pursuits, the entire campus feels like one community that exists because of and for each other,鈥� Tim says. 鈥淚 met amazing people who were so different than I was, and we learned so much from each others鈥� experiences and life stories.鈥�

A business and economics major with a concentration in accounting and a minor in Spanish, Tim got to know his faculty members in North Park鈥檚 small class sizes. They encouraged him to study abroad in Guanajuato, Mexico, where he became fluent in Spanish. In his senior year, Tim received a Fulbright Binational Business Exchange Grant, which allowed him to complete a business internship and take MBA classes in in Mexico City. 鈥淣one of this would have been possible without the support of the faculty and staff of North Park,鈥� he says.

鈥淏y the time I started my full-time job in the United States, I was not only prepared with specific business acumen and skills gained through curriculum, but armed with a global perspective and bilingual capabilities that really set me apart in today鈥檚 competitive workforce,鈥� Tim says.

As an assurance associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers, he focuses on accounting solutions and business operations improvements. 鈥淭his includes traveling to business all over the country, and to Mexico, where I have been able to use my fluency in Spanish. I feel like North Park has prepared me beyond my peers for entering the global workforce.鈥�

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Profile, StoriesTags , ,