Covenant News

Four Outstanding Students Honored at North Park

CHICAGO, IL (May 20, 2002) - Kristina Marie Duncan of Apple Valley, Minnesota, and Mark Safstrom of Carnation, Washington, received the Senior Par Excellence Award from North Park University during recent graduation exercises.

Nathan Stockamp of Lake Oswego, Oregon, and Alicia VerHage of Galesburg, Michigan, received the Outstanding Senior Award at a dinner preceding graduation.

Duncan, the female Senior Par Excellence Award winner, helped the admissions office welcome prospective students to the North Park campus, using her drama talents to introduce prospective students to campus life through a series of skits patterned after Saturday Night Live routines. She also played an important role in North Park's theater program and was involved in campus chapel.

During the spring semester of her junior year, she participated in the Los Angeles Film Studies Center program and used the knowledge gained from that experience to organize a highly successful on-campus film forum this past year. Duncan graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in film and mass media.

Safstrom, the male recipient of the 2002 Senior Par Excellence, participated during the year as an athlete, musician, politician and minister. He participated in cross-country and played baritone horn in North Park's concert band. He served as a resident assistant, assisted with North Park's Threshold orientation program and most recently completed a term as a student senator. Safstrom was also involved in the Outreach Ministries program, serving as the program's service learning coordinator and organizing this year's Chicago: The Other Side experience for first-year students. Safstrom graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in history and a Bachelor of Arts in Swedish.

Stockamp, the male recipient of the 2002 Outstanding Senior Award, was co-coordinator of Outreach Ministries' One-on-One program and as retreat counselor for After Hours, along with being involved with North Park's film discussion group, Bible study groups and events planning. Outside the North Park community, Stockamp was involved with immunological research at Northwestern University, served as a community group leader and on the missions board at New Community Covenant Church in Chicago, took part in the Urbana missions conference, worked with Sudanese refugees and is an artist and musician. Stockamp, whose father, David, works in the Evangelical Covenant Church Department of World Mission, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in biology with a minor in chemistry and a Bachelor of Arts in theological and biblical studies, maintaining a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.85.

VerHage, the female recipient of the 2002 Outstanding Senior Award, was a resident assistant, peer advisor for Threshold orientation, student leader for a mission trip to China and a member of the Missions Leadership Council and Senior Gift Committee. She worked on the student newspaper, served as a student mentor and tutor, participated in the Sankofa racial reconciliation trip and was a member of the University Gospel Choir, women's soccer team and Bible study groups.

Off campus, VerHage volunteered at Cornerstone Shelter and Lydia Home and worked at Ester B. Clark School for Emotionally Challenged Youth and Covenant Heights Conference Center. VerHage graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology, maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.82.

The Senior Par Excellence Award is presented each year by the Division of Student Development to two students, one male and one female, who have demonstrated the best in campus involvement and leadership during their undergraduate years. This includes activities, campus life and service to the community.

The Alumni Board presents the Outstanding Senior Award annually to one male and one female from the North Park University graduating class. The award recognizes academic excellence as well as extraordinary leadership on and off campus. The candidates embody the principles and spirit of North Park University and are required to have a GPA of 3.50 or above.

For more information about the awards and the award winners, call North Park at 773-244-5567 or 773-244-5750.

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