Your MVNU Mark!
February 12, 2008 by mvnucougars
Welcome! This is your opportunity to talk about what marks MVNU and the people of MVNU have made in your life. In addition, tell us how you are now making your mark in your family, church, community, and world!
My study, internship, ministry, and friendships from MVNU made a huge mark on my life, confirming my call to ministry and equipping me for a life of service. I read many books that shaped my thoughts. I experienced success and failure, learning how to grow from both. I was invited to participate in ministry to those around me. And I formed life-long relationships with colleagues and friends.
Recently, I started a website where you can upload original worship music (mp3s and sheet music) to share with others.
http://worship.myownlittlereality.com/cgi-bin/enter.cgi?fromlink=mvnumark.wordpress.com
I attended MVNC for one year, from Aug. ‘77 to May’78. While I never graduated I will always be grateful for the impact that the college had on my spiritual life. I am now in my sixth year of pastoring at Core Creek UMC in eastern North Carolina. At the same time I am over halfway through the Mdiv program at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY and plan to go on and get my doctorate degree.
What is most amazing about all this is that it took 26 years to finish what I had started at MVNC. That is what happens when you join the Marine Corps, get married, have a family and try to finish up. 18 moves in 22 years equated to lost credits and a lot of $$$. When I finally graduated with my BS in Religion from Mount Olive College in ‘04, 9 of the credit hours on my transcipt were from Mount Vernon.
What was invested in my life, and the spiritual seeds that were planted have brought forth the fruit of 27 years of marriage, a daughter that is serving as a YWAM missionary in Africa, a daughter that has served in the Navy as a Religious Program Specialist and is currently working on a religion degree from Liberty, and a son that has been called to Ministry to Youth, currently working on his bachelor’s degree.
Thank you MVNC which is now MVNU for leaving such an amazing hand-print on my life. My story is part of your story and I will be eternally grateful for the love, support, and spiritual guidance that came from you!
Joyfully serving,
:)Diane LeBlanc
Hey MVNU! (Miss you!)
Leaving my mark… well… how about tire tread? Because I’m sure the 2600+ miles I drove to move to California one month after graduating in 2006 left a few marks… especially around Texas. (Sorry about that!)
The mark left on my heart though from my family at MVNU (yes… family) is one that I’ve carried with me to the ‘left coast’. Being able to learn and grow, I was ultimately transformed and prepared for the job I have now at KDUV FM. This year alone we were finalist for Large Market of the year in the industry. On a local level we impact 80,000+ listeners in Central California everyday, not to mention thousands more through our stream over the net.
When I got to California, my job changed within 4 months to where I was on air. If you know anything about radio, that just doesn’t happen. Not right out of school, and certainly not without 3 or more years of experience at a medium station to work at a large market station. I digress. Needless to say, I was so well equipped by my professors, friends, and mentors at WNZR and other departments on campus that rolling into the role I was needed for didn’t take much of a transition. In fact I’ve had people completely surprised that I’ve been able to handle some of the work that’s been required. But it’s my love for this industry that makes that happen.
That’s another thing… passion. We have the eternal flame (sometimes flicker) on campus and I’d see it all the time, but at the risk of sounding a tad cheesy… MVNU lit a fire for me too. By allowing me to me who I am and grow in an environment that only cultivated that and challenged me to become even better I’m able to devote my talents wholeheartedly into my job and ministry without a second thought.
My Pastor said last week that its not what you do that defines who you are, but who you are is what actually matters. Very true. For the ‘what are you doing in your church’ section, I’m doing whatever is asked. I haven’t filled a leadership role or led a bible study because frankly, there are brothers and sisters out there more well equipped at teaching than I am. But being allowed to fill a support or service role has been a real blessing.
Tying a bit of my work and church together through the community would be the things like relief work during the California wild fires last fall. Seeing a group of brothers and sisters grab paint brushes weekend after weekend to wipe out graffiti in our neighborhoods. Bring hope to the hopeless, encouragement to the weak, and rejoicing with those that are on the mountain top… that’s what Romans 12:15 is all about and its a verse that stuck with me during a chapel service at MVNU my Junior year.
I may not be in Mount Vernon, Ohio… or frankly the east coast anymore… but through emails, calls, facebook/myspace we’re all able to stay connected. To see just how my other classmates are thriving too means that I wasn’t just some ‘whiz’ or a special case. I also know myself far too well to ever believe that ha! But… it’s MVNU and the striving… not for perfection… but excellence, that’s been instilled within us.
Thanks for everything… and so much more.
Betsy Sharp
MVNU Alum ‘06
My time at Mt. Vernon was one of the best times in my life. God sent my life mate, and friends that will always remain dear to me. We were a small community that learned to “grow up” and draw closer to God and each other. What a great atmosphere for doing that! I’m very thankful for this place.
I started going to MVNC because my parents convinced me it was a good deal because they could get an apartment off campus for my brother and I and we’d share a car. Turns out I roomed with my brother in Oakwood Freshman dorm our first year. In addition, it turns out I fell in love the college, campus and everything else about the Naz’.
The experiences and growth I achieved at MVNU are cherished to this day. From communication classes with Dr. Kyong Kim, to drama classes with Dan Behr and chapel with Gary Sivewright. They are all memories I’d love to relive again.
The friendships and support received from both fellow students and staff was also more valuable than I can explain.
I can’t really say I’m directly using the major and minor I came away from campus with, but the education, faith, training and knowledge I absorbed during my four years on campus stay with me through every day’s decisions and steps along this path of life.
I graduated from MVNC in 1985-wow, that seems so long ago and yet just like last week. I am married, have four children, teach and we are active at our home church with childrens ministries. I am also in the process of finishing my last two classes to complete my masters degree. One of my courses is Human Growth and Development and while I was sitting in lecture and listening to the prof. my mind wandered back to MVNC and Dr. Dorothy Burton. She was my professor for Human Growth while I attended MVNC and she was one of the professors that taught me the “art of teaching” and making a difference in the world not only as a teacher but as a Christian. There’s a saying ” People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” I knew Dr. Burton cared. Not only for me as a student but as a person as well. I may not remember all the theories from her class but I do remember the Godly example she set for all of us. Many times since 1986 I have reflected upon my time at MVNC and how it has impacted my life and my teaching career for Christ. Thank you MVNC and thank you Mrs. Dorothy Burton.
Hi MVNU,
My time at MVNU taught me what it means to be myself. Even though I’m now in the Navy and am headed to even greater things, I’ve realized that through all my searching, MVNU made me start it all.
My friends from there are still here today and are still involved in who I am shaping myself to become with the help of God, the US NAVY, friends and most of all family, I am finding what it takes to be true to myself.
Thanks for the enlightening moments.
LOL, Grace Kirkland (Class of 05′
Teaching at a boys’ boarding school, I hear quite a few ideas about what they think college will be once they get there. After they have given me their thoughts on the craziness, freedom, and “happiness” they think they will encounter while in college, I tell them that there are things that matter in college much more than those hollywood ideals of their college days.
These are the things that I most remember from MVNC. the relationships that I had with the faculty and students. I tell my students about having color parties with Ms. Stweart at her house. They are pretty schocked when I tell them that my professors where available for help on work outside of the classroom. When I think about how personal my experience was, I just get a smile on my face. GOD directed me to just the place that I needed to mature and grow up. The personal and spriritual maturity was a wonderful “byproduct” of going to college. In going to MVNC for an education, I got so much more in the package.
I still remember the communion time during my last Student revival services when I re-dedicated my life to His calling and direction. Everytime I take communion GOD reminds of that time and how He has helped since those days. I only realized how blessed I was when talking to my wife about her college experience. Her thoughts are not so pleasant, and don’t evoke the memories that MVNC help me to create.
I want to thank the faculty for the time, energy, and support that they gave me in my college years. As a teacher, I relaize each year more and more how being a true teacher is being someone who wants to invest time into peoples’ lives.
thanks, Bill Thomas ‘89