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North Park Celebrates 108th Commencement
CHICAGO, IL (May 28, 2001) - North Park University celebrated its 108th commencement as President David G. Horner and Provost Margaret J. Haefner presented 221 undergraduate degrees and 66 graduate degrees.
Robin Swenson of Chicago, who graduated summa cum laude with degrees in Physics and Mathematics, and Dana Thompson of Chicago, summa cum laude in Mathematics, each received Ahnfeldt Medallions, awarded to the students with the best academic records. The Ahnfeldt Medallion is named after Alfred Nelson Ahnfeldt, who was
in the first class of the Covenant's school started in 1891 in
Minneapolis. The school later relocated to Chicago and became North
Park. Ahnfeldt went on to become a professor of languages and
homiletics.
Kermit Zarley, a professional golfer and an avid supporter of academic work in Christology, was presented with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. The presenter of the degree was Scott McKnight, Karl A. Olsson professor in religious studies at NPU, who had proposed that Zarley
endow a biblical and theological studies lecture series at North Park. Zarley agreed, and the Kermit Zarley lectures were inaugurated in the fall of 2000 in order to provide students and faculty with an opportunity to interact with biblical scholars exploring the historical Jesus.
Several students were honored for their academic and extracurricular achievements, both on graduation day and before. At commencement, Sherna Graham of Lynwood, Illinois, and
Stephen Sharkey of Youngstown, Ohio, were named Seniors Par Excellence at North Park University for exemplary levels of involvement and leadership during undergraduate years.
Graham was actively involved in both Campus Ministries and Outreach Ministries, serving as an active participant in the Events Team of Campus Ministries and as the student director of the
department's outreach team. She was involved in homeless ministries and served as a conversation partner for some of North Park's English as a Second Language students. During the years, Graham mentored students from the Albany Park Multicultural Academy through the One-On-One program. Most recently she was involved in mentoring new students through the Kuumba Project of North Park's Center for Africana Studies. She was also the 2000 Homecoming Queen.
Sharkey was involved with the Chapel service planning team and participated in the university and gospel choirs. He was a student senator, student representative on the faculty's general
education committee and residence assistant in Sohlberg Hall. He also wrote a column for the school newspaper and volunteered with local junior high students. Sharkey, the Homecoming King in 1999, is the son of pastor Tom Sharkey (and wife Lucy) of First Covenant Church in Youngstown.
The Senior Par Excellence Award is presented each year by the Division of Student Development to two students, one male and one female. Earlier, Andrew Beckstrom of Hudson, Ohio, and Darlene Duncan of Chicago were recognized as Outstanding Seniors for their high grade-point averages (GPAs), leadership abilities and community involvement. Each received a plaque and a $250 check from the NPU Alumni Board.
Beckstrom, a biology major with a 3.94 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), was involved in campus ministries, North Park Theater, the Tri-Beta Honors Society and the University Choir. He also served at worship services and Vacation Bible School at a local church, served as a counselor/program
director at Mission Meadows Bible Camp in New York, and was involved in community theater, among other things.
A biology major with a 3.966 GPA, Duncan served as team captain for cross-country and track and field teams and was a top performer at the recent College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin track and field meet, placing second in the 3,200-meter run and third in the 1,500.
In addition to athletics, Duncan was president of the Tri-Beta Biology Honors Society, resident assistant at Burgh Hall, events coordinator for the Anderson Hall Council, peer tutor and peer advisor for the Threshold orientation program. Duncan also participated in the Women's Chorus
and University Choir, various campus and ministry events and a host of volunteer efforts.
North Park University had graduates from the United States and 26 other countries this year. Besides the commencement exercises, the school honored 23 members of the Class of 1951 who took part in the processional to celebrate their 50th anniversary reunion. Among those in attendance was Great Lakes Conference Supt. David S. Dahlberg.
For more information about North Park University, visit the school's web site at www.northpark.edu.
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