the first adventist honors college

64 Pages·2017·3.58 MB·English

President’s Perspective
I
t is important to me to express Vision 2020 — Growing with Excellence with bold, innovative
my deep appreciation to strategies for promoting academic excellence while keeping costs
Chairman Dave Weigley under control. This fall we are launching Honors College (a first
and the officers of the board of in Adventist higher education); revitalizing the motto Gateway to
trustees and its entire membership Service to prepare graduates to transform their communities and
for giving Rebecca and me an change the world; placing greater emphasis on blending faith
opportunity to wake up every and learning throughout campus life; opening the Gail S. and
morning for the past nine years Bruce E. Boyer Health Professions and Wellness Center;
to play a key role in transforming implementing action plans to drastically improve the WAU student
the lives of our valued students. experience from application to graduation; expanding enrollment
Personally, I have had the joyous pipelines; establishing partnerships with local, national, and
opportunity to work with an international educational institutions; and working toward
amazing collection of faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, creating service, leadership, and internship requirements for
community leaders, and trustees in developing and implementing degree completion.
strategic and operational plans to make our shared vision to
produce graduates who bring competence and moral leadership Washington Adventist University has always been acknowledged as
to their communities a successful reality. I strongly continue to a teaching, service, and learning institution that is now reclassified
believe in the words of Ellen G. White, words she used in a June 15, as a private not-for-profit Master’s University by the Carnegie
1904, letter to fellow workers: “My hopes for this place are high. Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. We are moving
The country for miles and miles around Washington is to be worked forward with a single shared purpose: Vision 2020 — Growing
from here. I am so thankful that our work is to be established in with Excellence. This will bring recognition to the institution by
this place. Were Christ here upon this ground, He would say, ‘Lift accrediting agencies, the academic community, and the general
up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to public as a premier university of quality and distinction.
harvest.’ We have work to do in leading precious souls onward step
by step. Many will have to be taught line upon line, precept upon The priority is the success of our students. This must continue to
precept. The truth of God will be applied, by the Spirit’s power, to be the mark of a successful university. Emphasis must be placed
the heart and conscience. We must present the truth in love and on the educational model Jesus experienced — growth in wisdom,
faith and hope and courage.” in physical development, and in the relationship with God and
humanity — the blending of faith and learning.
Washington Adventist University has strategically transformed
Christian education since its founding in 1904. Now in its 113th On behalf of our students and the entire learning community, thank
year, the university continues to build on the solid framework you for your prayers and financial contributions. Your gifts provide
established by the founders, who acted on the vision to establish significant support to our students in making Christian education
an institution of higher education in the nation’s capital. We are affordable. We are making significant progress in making the
still committed to the original mission of challenging students to university a desired place for employees to work and for students
seize the opportunities for learning in the nation’s capital in order to to learn.
become moral leaders in communities throughout the world.
This is Washington Adventist University!
The presidency, in partnership with trustees, bears the fiduciary Sincerely,
responsibility for the university. But merely managing the Weymouth Spence, Ed.D.
institution will no longer be enough. It is essential that we pursue
President
Spring
FEATURES DEPARTMENTS
2 THE FIRST ADVENTIST HONORS COLLEGE 4 Business & Communication
New Honors College to Open in September at WAU 6 History & Political Studies
12 Nursing
20 BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE
15 Office of Advancement & Alumni Relations
Gail S. and Bruce E. Boyer Health Professions and
16 Psychology & Counseling
Wellness Center: Coming Full Circle to Fulfill a Dream
18 Religion
22 PARTNERING FOR THE FUTURE 40 Athletics: Patrick E. Crarey II
Adventist HealthCare Partners with WAU for Wellness
24 A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY
Adventure and Achievement Come Alive for Students Who 22
Study Abroad
44 SHALINI DAVID
President & CEO (cofounder) of Christalis, Inc.
48 KONSTANTIN KULAKOV
Author, Excavating the Sky
50 EUGENE SIMONOV
WAU Alumnus and Director of Video and Creative
Marketing for the University’s Radio Station
34 40
1,000 CAREER POINT PLAYERS
30 Elliott Meredith III 36 Brian Bridgeforth
32 Olivia Turner 38 Tyrus Fleetwood
34 Eric Lindsey
President: Weymouth Spence, Ed.D.
wau.edu @thisiswau @WashAdventistU
Editor: Angie Crews
Contributing Editors: Chrys Sbily, Marshall Moya; WashingtonAdventistUniversity @thisiswau
Donna Bigler, Kinetics Marketing and Communications;
Emeraude Victorin; Tyrus Fleetwood; Charles Vines
The Gateway Magazine is published annually by the office
Photographers: Ross Patterson, Focal Point Photography; of corporate communications, Washington Adventist University,
Randolph Robin 7600 Flower Ave., Takoma Park, MD 20912
Design: Marshall Moya
Printer: Mount Vernon Print Communications
Letters and photos to the editor are welcome and may be
Cover: Bruce E. Boyer and his wife, Gail S. Boyer considered for publication. Send to Angie Crews at [email protected].
THE FIRST ADVENTIST
HONORS COLLEGE
An Honors College will be launched in September 2017 at Washington Adventist University
(WAU) to further enhance its academic offerings and move the university another step closer to
achieving the Vision 2020 — Growing with Excellence plan, which seeks to attain excellence at all
levels of the institution. This will be the first Honors College in the Seventh-day Adventist system
of higher education.
“The Honors College is an important addition to Although Washington Adventist University has long
Washington Adventist University, as it will help us had an active Honors Program on campus that provides
provide students with an exceptional and meaningful learning opportunities outside of the classroom,
education,” said WAU President Weymouth Spence, the new Honors College will significantly expand that
Ed.D., R.T. “Our goal is to produce graduates who bring effort to serve gifted and talented students who want
competence and moral leadership to their communities, to be at a Christian school in the nation’s capital.
and the Honors College will boost their success.”

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“In the Adventist tradition, Washington Adventist University
nurtures the growth of its students in mind, body, and spirit
by providing a strong academic, healthful, and spiritual
environment,” said WAU Board of Trustees Chair Dave Weigley,
Ph.D., who is also president of the Columbia Union Conference,
Seventh-day Adventist Church. “This new Honors College
further strengthens the university’s academic opportunities so that students can
better sharpen their knowledge and skills in preparation for success in today’s
competitive workforce.”
The new Honors College is expected to be in place for the 2017 fall semester.
Work is commencing to develop interdisciplinary honors degrees, enhanced
scholarships, accelerated curricular pathways, service learning courses, and
competitive internships, as well as partnerships with other institutions —
such as Newbold College near London, England — for on-location learning
opportunities abroad.
“This initiative will help to ensure that WAU provides distinctive holistic faith-
informed learning opportunities for students with exceptional academic and
character competencies so that they will become the competent moral leaders as
desperately needed to respond to the challenges and opportunities of our global
society,” said WAU Provost Cheryl Kisunzu, Ph.D.
Current Honors Program Director Bradford Haas, chair of the WAU English
Department, has been leading the Honors College transformation process.

“We want to situate the Honors College so that it can serve the entire WAU
community. The goal is to help other academic departments expand what they
can offer to gifted and talented students, and hopefully to draw those students
to WAU. While some people think that honors espouses an ivory tower
mentality, the tenet of the WAU Honors College is active engagement across
the university,” said Haas. ■
For more information about the Honors College, contact:
Alexa Minesinger, Administrative Coordinator: [email protected].
TRIBUTE each round of “Last Lectures,” the concept members of the honors community, and it was
Richardson Chatham is hypothetical, that seniors are asked to true to who he was. He took the prerogative to
was a distinct presence present something as if it will be the last time share what was closest to his heart with us.
in the Honors Program they ever address the honors community.
As a tribute to Richardson and the
with a combination Richardson’s record-breaking talk lasted far
of intellect, affability, beyond the normal five minutes allotted for memory of his epic presentation
spirituality, and moral these presentations. We often encourage in 2012, the “Last Lectures” given
integrity. He was recognized with an Honors students to create legends each retreat, and by seniors at every Honors Retreat
Program Award for outstanding academic Richardson certainly became one that evening. will be known officially as “The
achievement, and he graduated summa While Richardson subsequently spoke publicly
Richardson Chatham Last Lecture
cum laude from WAU in 2013. At the Honors on a number of other occasions, his “Last
Series” and colloquially referred to as
Retreat in 2012 Richardson gave his “Last Lecture” did, ironically, become the last
Lecture.” As we explain at the beginning of time he spoke directly and exclusively to the the “Chatham Lectures.”
THE GATEWAY | SPRING 2017 3
NEWS BRIEFS
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This year, Enactus commenced a new project elected officials celebrated the Enactus students
titled Women’s Empowerment, aimed at assisting as they were recognized for their creative solutions
immigrant women by endowing them with the designed to help local small businesses thrive.
skills and support needed to find a job and enter Additionally, the club recently earned first place
the workforce. The project, based in Hyattsville, will in the national Enactus Competition’s Sam’s Club
seek sustainable work and career opportunities for Project, which awards teams with the most creative
women and families in the Langley Park area. solutions for resolving community issues. ■
Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot and other
THE GATEWAY | SPRING 2017 5
NEWS BRIEFS
estled on the fourth floor of the H.M.S. as well as strategic and analytical skills through
Richards Hall is the Department of research and synthesis, critical reading,
History and Political Studies here at and careful and clear writing and speaking.
Washington Adventist University. Provided Demonstration of scholarly excellence in the
here are excellent opportunities for students study of history may bring membership in
interested in history, law, government, and WAU’s chapter of the honor society, Phi Alpha
politics. Faculty in the department hold a Theta. The Washington Adventist University
strong commitment to education and strive Chapter is Kappa Epsilon.
to lead by example. They encourage the
students to develop strong critical thinking
ELONEY PERRY-RYAN
“I believe this internship is offering me
a look into the real world.”
A third-year political studies student minoring
in psychology and fulfilling pre-law emphasis,
Eloney was captain of the Mock-Trial Team for
the past two years, president of the
Pre-law Club, and former member of the
Student Senate. The Mock-Trial Team recently
took part in the Regional Competition and won
against Queensborough and Mount St. Mary’s
University, with Eloney as the team captain and
head lawyer for the plaintiff. In addition to her
current school load, she is interning with the
Office of the City Administrator of DC. “It has
been an eye-opening experience,” says
Eloney. “I believe this internship is offering me
a look into the real world.”
The department has made internships
a mandatory part of the program to
give students the opportunity to meet
career professionals while learning
to deal with the challenges faced in
the workplace.
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NEWS BRIEFS | HISTORY AND POLITICAL STUDIES
KERSTIN SMITH
Graduating Senior, History Major
“The History Department gave me the
opportunity to expand my worldview,
challenge myself, and become an
informed citizen. I learned many skills
in the areas of historical research,
critical reading, and analysis that will
help me not only in my future career
but also in my daily life.”
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