Summer 2009 - Northwestern College

AROUND THE GREENDan Rossaround the GreenServant ScientistRandy Van Peursem ’92, science support services coordinator and academic adviser toabout 60 biology majors, received the $500 Staff Recognition for Inspirational ServiceAward this spring.Green GenerationInstead of collecting quarters, Heemstra Hall guys are seeking clothespins. That’sbecause they’ve been hanging their clothes to dry rather than using machines. A hallclothesline, constructed by Matt Leither, was one of four student projects that receivedfunding during Northwestern’s Day of Learning in Community (DLC), which focused oncreation care.Ericha Walden invited DLC participants to the college’s costume shop, where sheprovided scrap fabric, yarn and other material as art supplies. Two textile creations werelater auctioned off, with proceeds donated to an area homeless shelter.Heidi Doty is using her award to create notebooks from cereal boxes and unusednotepaper. The recycled notebooks—with tips for living green in college—will be given toincoming freshmen.Recycling is also behind a composting project proposed by Heather Talbot and MattVander Molen. They are arranging for cafeteria leftovers to become compost for the Gardenof ARC, a community garden at Orange City’s American Reformed Church.Northwestern students areministering on six continentsthrough the Summer of Serviceprogram.Summer Lovin’Eighteen NWC students aregiving—and receiving—Christ’slove around the globe as shorttermmissionaries this summer. Asmembers of the Summer of Serviceteam, the students are ministeringin 15 different countries, includingHaiti, Bolivia, Cameroon, Moldovaand the Philippines.They are assisting pastors, physiciansand other missionaries inchurches, hospitals, clinics, schools,orphanages and refugee camps.They are performing construction,planting churches, deliveringcommunity health programs,and teaching English as a secondlanguage with ministries such asInternational Teams, the Luke Society,Navigators and Youth Witha Mission.Two years ago, every studentin Organic Chemistry wore shirtswith Randy Van Peursem’s face onthem. And when the call went outfor candidates for Northwestern’s2009 Staff Recognition for InspirationalService Award, 22 studentssubmitted endorsements on hisbehalf—along with four nominationsfrom faculty and staff.Why do people describe the coordinatorof the academic supportdepartment’s science center withsuch phrases as “a phenomenalasset,” “the reason I’m passing O-Chem” and “nearly irreplaceable”?Robben Schat ’09 has theanswer: “He has devoted himselfto helping students succeed like noone else.” Senior Erin Brogan clarifies:“Randy patiently and expertlyexplains answers to questions inthe way each student learns best.He is more than willing to give usextra time. Randy is a true testamentto Christian servanthood.”Perhaps part of the reason VanPeursem has so many admirers isthey know what he’s overcome tohelp them.Fifteen years ago, he had toleave medical school. He was frequentlydizzy, continually nauseousand had dangerously fluctuatingblood pressure.Diagnosed with allergy-relateddysautonomia, a disease of theautonomic nervous system, VanPeursem was confined to his homefor two years. After making dramaticchanges to his diet and surroundings,he was able to tutor atNorthwestern three hours a week.Now full time, he works afternoonsand nights because he doesn’t feelwell in the mornings.Yet Van Peursem is a firmbeliever in Romans 8:28. He oftenoffers advice for people sufferingfrom allergies, and he encouragespre-med students to be aware ofsimilar cases when they becomedoctors. And he has discovered thejoy of helping students understanda new concept.“I love what I’m doing,” he says.Dave DunkelbergerLinda Van RoekelOn BoardTwo alumni, David Dunkelberger ’85 and Linda Van Roekel ’69, attendedNorthwestern’s spring Board of Trustees meeting in April as new members.Dunkelberger is serving as a trustee by virtue of his role as the president ofNorthwestern’s National Alumni Board. A resident of Waconia, Minn., Dunkelberger iscorporate credit consulting manager for Wells Fargo.Van Roekel, a board member from 1996 to 2004, retired from a career in thechemical industry in 2005. Her most recent position was vice president and generalmanager for Inficon in Syracuse, N.Y. She now lives in Urbandale, Iowa.The Class of 2009Northwestern awarded 283 diplomas toits second-largest graduating class duringcommencement ceremonies on May 16.This year’s graduates already have jobs withorganizations like The Segal Company, FamilyCrisis Center, Hanford Christian School inCalifornia, Thrivent Financial and OrangeCity Area Health System. They will be livingin places like Sioux Falls, Chicago, Seattle andIndia.Other new alumni are entering graduateprograms at Duke, Princeton, Yale, and theuniversities of Iowa and North Carolina.Biology-health professions major Tyler De Jong of Long Beach,Calif., was among 283 graduates at commencement in May.Dan Ross4 SUMMER 2009Northwestern Classic 5