2010 Alumni Journal: Issue 3

Dear friend,
Build A Life That Matters
4 • Cornerstone University Alumni Journal •
During this season of gratitude it’s
an honor to represent the faculty, staff
and students to tell you, dear alumnus,
how exceptionally thankful we are for
you. We are grateful you’re part of this
community, are representing Christ
in this world and for your sensational
adventures ahead.
I am a student of gratitude. Ever since I
was a little girl my parents taught me the
importance of writing “thank you” notes.
At the time I didn’t fully appreciate the
discipline, but throughout the years I’ve
learned more about gratitude and am
now quite thankful for their teaching.
Two researchers, Dr. Michael McCollough
of Southern Methodist University in
Dallas and Dr. Robert Emmons, of the
University of California, were curious
about the effects of gratitude and
performed the Research Project on
Gratitude and Thanksgiving. Their
study signified that gratitude increases
alertness, enthusiasm, determination,
optimism, energy, decreases depression
and stress and makes more progress
toward goals, just to name a few! If
gratitude has this much power over us
individually, think of its ability to impact
others to whom gratitude is expressed!
I can’t help but wonder: what if
Cornerstone was well known for its
gratitude? How could it percolate
and spread through all alumni? What
would it look like? I can only imagine
the effects when thousands of hearts,
minds, tongues and actions turn towards
gratitude.
Join us in these next pages as together
we explore and open our hearts to the
countless reasons we can be thankful
for our university and what it represents
in our lives, and even more, whom it
represents.
Gratefully Yours,
Darci Irwin (M.S. ’09)
Your Friend and Director of Alumni Relations
Marilyn (attended ’55-’58) and Gaylord (B.Mus. ‘66) Shaffer