Cornerstone University Alumni Journal 2021
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SUMMER<br />
<strong>2021</strong><br />
“Christ-centered higher<br />
education is one of<br />
the highest callings and<br />
noblest endeavors<br />
in which a follower of<br />
Jesus Christ can serve.”<br />
DR. GERSON MORENO-RIAÑO<br />
STORY ON PAGE 5.
IN THIS ISSUE:<br />
FROM THE ALUMNI<br />
RELATIONS OFFICE<br />
03 Dr. Joe Stowell Letter<br />
04 <strong>Alumni</strong> Relations Letter<br />
05 Introducing Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño<br />
06 <strong>Alumni</strong> Celebrate Dr. Joe Stowell<br />
ALUMNI STORIES<br />
10 1960s, 1970s and ‘80s<br />
11 1990s<br />
16 2000s<br />
17 2010s<br />
23 2020s<br />
FEATURE STORIES<br />
12 Terri (Burns, B.A. ’81) Fowler<br />
A Life Ordained by God<br />
14 Sandra Gaddy (B.A. ’99)<br />
How Faith Operates<br />
18 Brad Gray (B.A. ’02)<br />
Advancing God’s Kingdom<br />
20 Joe Jones (M.A. ’12)<br />
Power in Learning<br />
24 Shomari Tate (M.A. ’21)<br />
Mentoring the Next Generation<br />
COMMENCEMENT<br />
26 Ceremonies Featurette<br />
28 Class of <strong>2021</strong><br />
<strong>2021</strong> ALUMNI JOURNAL STAFF<br />
CAROLINE CAHOON (B.A. ’03)<br />
Art Director<br />
LAYNE FULLER<br />
Director of Marketing<br />
KRISTINA GARVELINK (M.S. ’15)<br />
Website Manager and Content Coordinator<br />
DENNIS GRAHAM (B.A. ’05, M.B.A. ’12)<br />
Director of <strong>Alumni</strong> Relations<br />
JORDAN GROOTERS (B.S. ’17, M.B.A. ’19)<br />
Communications Manager<br />
BOB SACK<br />
Vice President for <strong>University</strong> Advancement<br />
AUDREY WIERENGA (B.A. ’18)<br />
Copywriter<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY:<br />
Benji DeYoung (B.A. ’19)<br />
Coastline Studios<br />
Stephen Norregaard<br />
Ryan Prins Photography<br />
Permission to quote short portions of this publication<br />
is granted as long as content is preserved and proper<br />
credit is given to the <strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>Journal</strong>.<br />
<strong>Cornerstone</strong> <strong>University</strong> does not discriminate on the<br />
basis of race, national origin, sex, age or disability in its<br />
policies and programs.<br />
CONTACT US<br />
cornerstone.edu/alumni<br />
alumni@cornerstone.edu<br />
616.222.1439<br />
<strong>Cornerstone</strong> <strong>University</strong><br />
Office of <strong>Alumni</strong> Relations<br />
1001 E Beltline Ave NE<br />
Grand Rapids, MI 49525<br />
© <strong>2021</strong> <strong>Cornerstone</strong> <strong>University</strong>.<br />
All rights reserved.<br />
This summer, we welcome Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño<br />
as the 12th president of <strong>Cornerstone</strong> <strong>University</strong>.<br />
Dr. Joe Stowell left an indelible footprint on<br />
<strong>Cornerstone</strong>’s campus. Now, we look to a new<br />
season with Dr. Moreno-Riaño. By maintaining<br />
Christ’s preeminence and supporting the<br />
transformative environment of <strong>Cornerstone</strong>,<br />
Dr. Moreno-Riaño will continue the legacy<br />
of all the faithful leaders who came before him.
Beloved <strong>Cornerstone</strong> alumni,<br />
As I sit at my desk on my last day in the office, my heart is full of gratitude for the privilege of serving our students,<br />
faculty and staff for these last 13 years. It has been a delight to see our Lord prosper the work of our hands and<br />
to enjoy the company of such awesome students, a highly impactful faculty who have loved our students and<br />
a competent leadership team who have made so many of our dreams a reality. And, as alums, your words of<br />
encouragement, financial support and prayers have played an important role as well.<br />
So this is my thank you to you, to all of our alumni who have represented <strong>Cornerstone</strong> well through the decades<br />
and lived out our mission so effectively. I have always been proud—in a biblical sort of way—to be known as<br />
your president!<br />
In this edition of the <strong>Cornerstone</strong> <strong>University</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>Journal</strong>, you’ll find stories of people just like you who live out<br />
their calling every day—not just in their nine-to-five jobs, but in every aspect of their lives. By treating others with<br />
dignity and respect, by serving those around them with opportunities to succeed and by bringing individuals closer<br />
to the heart of Christ, they light up their world to the glory of Christ our Redeemer.<br />
It is also my privilege to use this journal to introduce you to <strong>Cornerstone</strong>’s 12th president, Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño!<br />
It has been a joy to get to know him and his wife, Ellen, as they become accustomed to West Michigan and as Dr.<br />
Moreno-Riaño transitions into this role. I can’t wait to see where <strong>Cornerstone</strong> goes in this new chapter. Martie and I<br />
will continue to be its most enthusiastic cheerleaders!<br />
It has been my highest reward to see you, our alumni, making a difference in your areas of influence. May our Lord<br />
bless and keep you!<br />
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
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With gratitude,<br />
Dr. Joe Stowell<br />
“May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands<br />
for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.”<br />
— Psalm 90:17<br />
PICTURED: Dr. Stowell reminiscing with 2020 graduates Mordecai Njoroge, Madison Johnson and Cecilia Calzada Munoz during the May <strong>2021</strong><br />
commencement ceremonies.
CELEBRATING<br />
THE PAST,<br />
ANTICIPATING<br />
THE FUTURE<br />
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
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DEAR CORNERSTONE<br />
ALUMNI,<br />
This season at <strong>Cornerstone</strong> <strong>University</strong> has us<br />
saying a lot of “goodbyes” and “see you laters.”<br />
On April 30, May 1 and May 8, we saw hundreds<br />
of graduates cross the stage from the classes of<br />
2020 and <strong>2021</strong>. It was an incredible opportunity<br />
to welcome back students to celebrate graduation<br />
after last year’s events were unfortunately<br />
canceled. This year, both classes enjoyed a<br />
memorable send-off!<br />
We are also honoring and recognizing<br />
Dr. Joe Stowell’s retirement after 13 years as<br />
CU’s president. This has been bittersweet as<br />
we remember all of the outstanding service<br />
Dr. Stowell has given <strong>Cornerstone</strong>.<br />
At the same time, we celebrate the arrival of<br />
<strong>Cornerstone</strong>’s 12th president, Dr. Gerson Moreno-<br />
Riaño! We are so excited as he transitions into<br />
this role, and we can’t wait for all of you to<br />
meet him!<br />
In the midst of a noteworthy spring, God<br />
continues to richly bless our university and our<br />
alumni. Our goal for this upcoming year is to find<br />
more opportunities to invite you back to campus<br />
and to network with one another. In addition to<br />
Homecoming & Family Weekend on Oct. 22-23,<br />
we’re working on ways to connect more alumni<br />
across the region through after-work gatherings<br />
at alumni-owned businesses. Trust us—you won’t<br />
want to miss the events coming this year!<br />
Summer is such an exciting season at<br />
<strong>Cornerstone</strong> as we congratulate our graduates<br />
and look ahead to our incoming classes and<br />
cohorts. I hope this season is just as refreshing<br />
for you and that God gives you, just as the<br />
beloved hymn says, “strength for today and<br />
bright hope for tomorrow.”<br />
In Christ,<br />
Dennis Graham (B.A. ’05, MBA ’12)<br />
Director of <strong>Alumni</strong> Relations
DR. GERSON<br />
MORENO-RIAÑO<br />
12th President of <strong>Cornerstone</strong> <strong>University</strong><br />
Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño was most recently executive vice<br />
president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at Regent<br />
<strong>University</strong> in Virginia Beach, Va. While there, he led a talented<br />
team of deans, faculty and enrollment staff that helped grow the<br />
enrollment by over 70%. While at Regent, Dr. Moreno-Riaño was<br />
also a tenured professor of government.<br />
Born in Colombia, South America, Dr. Moreno-Riaño came to the<br />
United States at the age of 9 with his family, where they lived in New<br />
York City. He felt the call to lifelong ministry at the age of 14 and has<br />
followed it ever since. Dr. Moreno-Riaño is a graduate of Cedarville<br />
<strong>University</strong> in Cedarville, Ohio, where he received his Bachelor of<br />
Arts in political science and pre-seminary biblical studies. He then<br />
received his Master of Arts and Ph.D. in political science from the<br />
<strong>University</strong> of Cincinnati.<br />
Prior to joining Regent <strong>University</strong>, Dr. Moreno-Riaño began teaching<br />
as a graduate student at Xavier <strong>University</strong> in Cincinnati, Ohio,<br />
followed by a tenured position at Cedarville. He is the author of six<br />
books and has edited and written chapters for several others.<br />
He is blessed to be the husband to Ellen and father to<br />
Isaac, Victoria, Abraham, Emma, Abigail and Zachariah.<br />
Christ-centered higher education is one of<br />
the highest callings and noblest endeavors<br />
in which a follower of Jesus Christ<br />
can serve. The incredible opportunity to<br />
shepherd the hearts, minds and souls of<br />
university students in and toward the<br />
beauty, truth and reality of Jesus Christ<br />
stands as one of the greatest privileges<br />
and blessings in which one can partake.<br />
It has been my great joy for over two<br />
decades to have served in Christ’s vineyard<br />
of Christian higher education. And it is<br />
my intention to continue serving in this<br />
vineyard until the Lord decides otherwise.<br />
— DR. GERSON MORENO-RIAÑO<br />
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
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IMMEASURABLE<br />
IMPACT<br />
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
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<strong>Cornerstone</strong> alumni share the ways that Dr. Stowell<br />
has shaped the culture of <strong>Cornerstone</strong> <strong>University</strong>.
MIKE KILDAL (B.R.E. ’82)<br />
“I was a brand-new believer at GRBC in 1978. I felt like a fish out of water much of the time because I didn’t<br />
know the Bible like the other students around me. In hindsight, I realize I wasn’t alone.<br />
“I remember leaving my room in Quincer and going down the hill to chapel (then held in the gym) and<br />
hearing this pastor from Kokomo, and it was you, Joe. You made the Scriptures make sense to me.<br />
“I remember having dinner with your dad once in Niagara Falls, and we talked about his son. It was you, Joe.<br />
You were his pride and joy.<br />
“I remember picking a visiting speaker for chapel when I was on staff at The Master’s College. It was you,<br />
Joe. I was excited to chat with you on the short car ride.<br />
“I remember going to Chicago for a pastor’s conference every year with the pastoral staff at my church in<br />
Dayton, Ohio. There was always good content and great worship, but the best message was always on<br />
Monday nights; it was you, Joe. You were always ‘our pastor’ during those weeks.<br />
“There was the year when I got an email announcing that my college was bringing in a new president ... it<br />
was you, Joe. I was proud that you chose to lead my school. As an alumnus, I looked forward to hearing what<br />
God was doing on the corner of the East Beltline and Leonard Street.<br />
“Thank you for following Christ and leading well.”<br />
JIM FARRELL (B.A. ’88)<br />
“I can’t begin to share all the ways you have been a great blessing to me and to CU! The Lord brought you to<br />
us at the perfect time, and your faithfulness to Jesus Christ has allowed you to do extraordinary things here.<br />
What a great season it has been.<br />
“I always appreciated your willingness to sit down and talk at lunch or show up and watch a softball game.<br />
That meant so much to me. I also have loved to sit under your teaching and preaching, beginning back when<br />
I was a student in the early ’80s at Bible Conference. I also always enjoyed hearing your dad preach back in<br />
Colon, Mich. I can still hear that voice.<br />
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
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“Please know that you are deeply loved and respected by myself and also my family. Mom and dad have<br />
always loved you and ask about you often.<br />
“You continue to be a source of encouragement to me, and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to<br />
know you and serve Christ along with you.”<br />
DAN TREIER (M.DIV. ’96, TH.M. ’98)<br />
“What a delight to celebrate the fruitfulness of your years in leadership at <strong>Cornerstone</strong>! God has been faithful<br />
and generous to the school through you. And you have been a creative and faithful steward of what God<br />
has entrusted to you. You have fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith. Well done, faithful<br />
servant, and thanks for sharing your infectious joy—that twinkle in your eye—with so many of us for so long.”<br />
JEFFREY COUSINS (B.S. ’04)<br />
“We have all been honored and blessed to have you as our leader. Also, as the father of several <strong>Cornerstone</strong><br />
students, the way you mentored and interacted with my children personally will never be forgotten.”
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
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KELAMENTER SMITH (A.S. ’05, B.S. ’07)<br />
“It is my prayer that new beginnings follow you with<br />
great success. Thank you for your time as a leader of<br />
this great university. You have touched so many lives<br />
and seen a lot of growth in others. I am honored to<br />
have been a part of your journey. Don’t stop writing<br />
and sharing what is embedded in you. Enjoy your<br />
new endeavors!”<br />
BETH REDFORD (B.S. ’08)<br />
“I will never forget your demonstration of humility<br />
when you presented me my diploma. I am a<br />
wheelchair user, and you got down on one knee to<br />
present my diploma to me on stage.”<br />
ELAINE WILLIS (A.S. ’14, B.S. ’20)<br />
“I am sure so many people have said wonderful things<br />
about you. What else can I say but thank you for<br />
giving to the Lord all these years. Because you gave,<br />
a difference was made in my personal educational<br />
experience. I loved attending <strong>Cornerstone</strong> <strong>University</strong><br />
because of the Christ-centered approach and<br />
environment. By you allowing God to use you in this<br />
realm, my life was enriched and blessed—even to this<br />
present day. God be with you in the next chapter in life,<br />
and continue to bring forth precious fruit for His glory!”<br />
TANNER FREY (B.S. ’16)<br />
“Thank you so much for your time and tremendous<br />
contribution to <strong>Cornerstone</strong>! I will never forget the<br />
way you made every student feel so important and<br />
valuable. You led with wisdom, humility and passion,<br />
and I have been blessed to know you. I pray God will<br />
continue to bless you in this next season of your life.<br />
Thank you for everything you’ve done for me and<br />
this university.”<br />
RACHEL WILKINSON (A.A. ’16, B.S. ’16)<br />
“When I was a student, there was a popular T-shirt<br />
worn by many a CU student that read ‘Joe Stowell<br />
my heart.’ I think every person who meets Dr. Stowell<br />
needs one of those shirts; his kind heart, sense of<br />
humor, love for Jesus—to name a few of his best<br />
qualities—are so contagious one cannot help telling<br />
the whole world about him. I always appreciated that<br />
Dr. Stowell was so interested in students. And I don’t<br />
mean he just smiled and waved at each student he<br />
passed by (though he did that too!); he was genuinely<br />
interested in getting to know students personally.<br />
When he wasn’t too busy, he would come to the<br />
Corum or caf and sit and talk with students, listen to<br />
them, ask how they were doing. It seems like such a<br />
small thing, especially considering all the big things<br />
he has done for the university, but it has made a world<br />
of difference in the lives of young adults (including<br />
myself) who are trying to figure out their place in the<br />
world and God’s calling on their lives.”<br />
TAMMY ERSTE (B.S. ’17, M.A. ’20)<br />
“Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to grow<br />
in my faith and walk with my Lord and Savior, Christ
Jesus, through my studies. Through <strong>Cornerstone</strong><br />
<strong>University</strong> and the encouragement of you and the<br />
entire community, I extend my deepest thanks and<br />
gratitude for the dedicated work of you all. May the Lord<br />
bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine<br />
upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His<br />
countenance upon you and give you peace all the rest<br />
of your days.”<br />
LEAH GEORGE (B.A. ’20)<br />
“I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to get to<br />
know you during my time at <strong>Cornerstone</strong>. Thank you for<br />
welcoming me and other President’s Partners into your<br />
home. You made us feel cared for and known during our<br />
busy college years. Your love for students and for Christ<br />
is so evident in the way you interact with students.<br />
Thank you for helping to make <strong>Cornerstone</strong> feel like<br />
home. May the Lord bless you as you move forward.”<br />
During Dr. Stowell’s 13-year presidency,<br />
he influenced so many lives and impacted<br />
so many people. Read more stories like the<br />
ones above at cornerstone.edu/legacy.<br />
GRTS ANNOUNCES<br />
THE JOE AND<br />
MARTIE STOWELL<br />
SCHOLARSHIP<br />
To honor Joe and Martie Stowell’s commitment<br />
to lifelong ministry, <strong>Cornerstone</strong> has established<br />
a generous scholarship in their name for Master<br />
of Divinity students at GRTS. The Joe and<br />
Martie Stowell Ministry Leaders Scholarship<br />
gives select M.Div. students the opportunity to<br />
graduate with reduced educational debt.<br />
The Joe & Martie Stowell Scholarship is<br />
our opportunity to honor the Stowells and<br />
their passion for ministry and Christian<br />
higher education.<br />
Contribute to this scholarship at<br />
cornerstone.edu/stowell-scholarship.<br />
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
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ALUMNI<br />
STORIES<br />
Deborah (Lambert) Woodard<br />
Lois (Hart) Taylor<br />
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
10<br />
1960s<br />
DEBORAH (LAMBERT, B.A. ’60) WOODARD authored<br />
three children’s books titled “Naughty Pants Believes a Lie,”<br />
“Fancy Pants Finds True Beauty” and “Smartie Pants Are<br />
You Listening?”<br />
MARILEE (WIITALA, B.R.E. ’66) DUNCAN is the<br />
manager of Little Mary’s Hospitality House in Wellston, Mich.<br />
This house offers free vacations to families with children who<br />
are battling life-threatening or serious illnesses.<br />
LOIS (HART, B.R.E. ’67) TAYLOR married James L.<br />
Taylor on March 22, 2020.<br />
1970s<br />
hile Suzi and Tim Klomparens were preparing for<br />
Wmission work in Nigeria under SIM (Sudan Interior<br />
Mission) and awaiting the birth of their first child, Tim’s<br />
diagnosis of aggressive cancer changed everything. Sixteen<br />
months after Tim passed away, Suzi went to Nigeria with<br />
toddler Joel to work as a Dorm Auntie at Kent Academy,<br />
a boarding school for children from many countries.<br />
As Suzi adjusted to the emotional and spiritual challenges<br />
of grief and single-parenting, letters from her mother-in-law<br />
Mom K. were like Good News from Afar.<br />
Suzanne (Suzi) Bell is retired<br />
from teaching college classes at<br />
<strong>Cornerstone</strong> <strong>University</strong> in the<br />
Teacher Education Department.<br />
She currently teaches English to<br />
Japanese students in the area.<br />
She is an avid reader, loves crossstitching,<br />
collects Beatrix Potter<br />
(Peter Rabbit) memorabilia, and enjoys taking walks. She<br />
and her husband Dan live in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and<br />
love living near their kids and grandkids.<br />
SUZANNE (AVERILL, B.A. ’75) BELL completed<br />
a memoir titled “Good News from Afar,” telling of her<br />
experiences as a young missionary widow.<br />
RON SHEVELAND (B.A. ’76) serves as an interim pastor<br />
at Calvary Church in Webberville, Mich.<br />
GARRY NUTTER (B.R.E. ’77) has worked as an<br />
outpatient therapist for eight years with the underserved<br />
mentally ill in Denver, Colo., finding everyday opportunities<br />
to represent Christ’s love.<br />
Good News from Afar A memoir of a young missionary widow SUZANNE J. BELL<br />
SUZANNE J. BELL<br />
Good News<br />
from Afar<br />
A memoir<br />
of a young<br />
missionary<br />
widow<br />
Suzanne (Averill) Bell<br />
1980s<br />
Garry Nutter<br />
Dennis Dudley<br />
CRAIG (B.A. ’82, M.DIV. ’87, M.TH. ’02) and Dorothy<br />
(Truax) JOHNSON work as business partners in northeast<br />
Grand Rapids. Craig began a new career in financial services<br />
and has served as a financial advisor for seven years with<br />
Upstream Investment Partners. He comes alongside families,<br />
individuals and owners of small businesses to help them<br />
prepare for their future through investments and insurance.<br />
Dorothy works as his administrative assistant.<br />
CARL KRESGE (B.A. ’80, M.DIV. ’84) is a full-time<br />
missionary with SEND International, serving as the Eurasia<br />
regional director. With God’s help, he has also grown a small<br />
business called uDog on the side. He fell in love with a board<br />
game while in Europe in 2013 and made one for himself after
LIFELONG LEARNING COURSES<br />
The Welch Heritage Institute for Lifelong Learning at <strong>Cornerstone</strong> is<br />
hosting courses this summer! Our seasoned faculty offer courses on topics<br />
such as dune ecology, economics and the culture of today’s church. These<br />
courses are open to anyone who desires to continue learning beyond the<br />
college years.<br />
Register today at cornerstone.edu/whill-courses.<br />
PICTURED: Dr. Michael Stevens leading a class on the history of baseball.<br />
returning to Grand Rapids. He spent nights and weekends<br />
on a small CNC machine, crafting 55 different games in the<br />
course of one year.<br />
LORI (MANZER, CU ’87) DAWE became a partnership<br />
liaison for Steve Douglass, the president emeritus of Cru.<br />
CHARLOTTE (OVERHOLT, B.A. ’89) WEDDINGTON<br />
lives in Loveland, Colo., and is a remote technical writer.<br />
DR. LIBBY KNEPPER-MULLER passed away on June<br />
25, 2020. As a professor in <strong>Cornerstone</strong> <strong>University</strong>’s Teacher<br />
Education Division from 1989 to 2002, she served an<br />
instrumental role in establishing the department.<br />
1990s<br />
MICHAEL STEPHENS (B.A. ’92) was hired in August<br />
2020 as the wastewater product manager for Valley<br />
Farms Supply. Valley Farms Supply is part of Headwater<br />
Companies, one of the largest national wholesalers in water<br />
equipment components.<br />
DENNIS DUDLEY (M.T.S. ’93) retired in March 2020 after<br />
serving for 42 years on the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship<br />
CORNERSTONE HOSTING ANNUAL<br />
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT<br />
The Global Leadership Summit is one of the most transformational<br />
experiences for business owners, ministry leaders and entrepreneurs—<br />
just ask anyone who’s attended. On Aug. 5 and 6, <strong>Cornerstone</strong> will host<br />
the Global Leadership Summit on campus, livestreaming the worldwide<br />
event which features speakers such as Craig Groeschel, Malcolm Gladwell,<br />
Juliet Funt and Henry Cloud. This two-day event offers opportunities for<br />
networking with local professionals and invigorating your team.<br />
Learn more at cornerstone.edu/gls-<strong>2021</strong>.<br />
staff. During his career, he spent 30 years at Miami <strong>University</strong>,<br />
ministering to students in various capacities. He now teaches<br />
at First Baptist Church in Hamilton, Ohio, and continues to<br />
volunteer at Miami <strong>University</strong> with InterVarsity.<br />
LISA (BURGESS, B.A. ’94) GODWIN published a book<br />
titled “Dear _____, There’s Hope on the Other Side.” She<br />
serves as the director of a women’s and children’s shelter<br />
in Washington and also created a nationwide project called<br />
Adopt a Shelter that will encourage business and churches<br />
to partner with women’s shelters across the country.<br />
NATHAN HAGER (B.A. ’96) is a Michigan Master<br />
Assessing Officer (MMAO/4) and a Certified Residential<br />
Appraiser. He is now the president and owner of Lapeer<br />
Appraisal Inc. upon the retirement of his father, Dale R. Hager<br />
(B.A. ’70). The company provides real estate valuation and<br />
property tax assessment services in Lapeer, Sanilac and<br />
Tuscola counties. Nathan is married to Rachel (CU ’93-94)<br />
who is the director of children’s ministries at First Baptist<br />
Church in Caro, Mich.<br />
DESSIE (GARLOCK, B.A. ’99) CAULK recently changed<br />
professions from philanthropy to real estate. A former<br />
employee of Keller Williams Grand Rapids North for two<br />
years, she joined the Peter Albertini Properties team within<br />
Keller Williams.<br />
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
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CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
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TERRI (BURNS,<br />
B.A. ’81) FOWLER<br />
A Life Ordained by God<br />
Many years ago, Terri (Burns) Fowler received an invitation to lunch.<br />
The invitation was from Marketplace Chaplains U.S.A., which provides chaplain services to a variety of workplaces. They offered<br />
Fowler a job. Initially, she declined, asserting that it wasn’t what she wanted. However, she agreed to pray about it and consider a<br />
role as a chaplain.<br />
“I didn’t think it would ever work out,” Fowler said. But during the second lunch interview, Marketplace Partners asked her if she<br />
wanted to work in the office of a large, local business. Fowler enthusiastically agreed. Ministering to professionals was an answer<br />
to prayer, and it fulfilled a deep desire to work in a business setting.<br />
This was just one of the many affirmations of God’s sovereignty in Fowler’s life.<br />
Fowler became a Christian at the age of 7. Later, when she decided to go to <strong>Cornerstone</strong> <strong>University</strong>—which was Grand Rapids<br />
Baptist College (GRBC) at the time—God graciously put people in her path to bolster her along the way.<br />
On a blustery Michigan day, Fowler’s youth pastor brought her youth group to visit the college. Fowler wondered why anyone<br />
would want to go to college where it was so cold and snowy. But God wanted her there, and her youth pastor encouraged her<br />
to attend.
I come alongside people in their<br />
good times and their in-between<br />
times. People allow me to come<br />
into their story.<br />
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY<br />
“For me to go to GRBC at that time was the perfect situation,” Fowler<br />
reflected. “The school was a hothouse for spiritual growth.” She recalled how<br />
professors at GRBC inspired her to build a Christian worldview and to be an<br />
agent of Christ wherever she went.<br />
13<br />
Even after college, Fowler was confident that God provided every situation<br />
in her life for her benefit. She sought out various opportunities as she tried<br />
to seek out her career. God used that season to help her grow. After working<br />
a few different jobs and pausing work to raise her family, Fowler accepted a<br />
job at Marketplace Chaplains following that providential lunch meeting.<br />
Fowler currently serves as chaplain for the corporate offices of Gordon<br />
Food Service and Our Daily Bread Ministries, both located in Grand Rapids,<br />
Mich. Some of Fowler’s assignments are out of the ordinary. You’ll find her<br />
anywhere from tool-and-die facilities to intensive care units. For Fowler, it’s<br />
all about being available for people.<br />
“I talk to a lot of different kinds of people,” Fowler said. “I often start with basic<br />
chitchat—sports, the weather, gardening—but in the middle of that, we talk<br />
about things that are important.”<br />
“It is my desire to affirm people,” Fowler said, “whether they’re the person I<br />
stand with in line at the grocery store or the person cutting my hair.”<br />
Fowler’s faith isn’t pigeonholed into one area. It permeates her entire being.<br />
She understands that she is an instrument for God’s goodness, and He will<br />
use her as He sees fit. She encourages others to understand that God is using<br />
them no matter where they are. Fowler is a light to everyone, whether she’s<br />
at a restaurant or in an office.<br />
“All truth is God’s truth,” Fowler said. “All ministry is God’s ministry.”<br />
ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
By intersecting the lives of others around her, Fowler finds that she can also<br />
help them explore their faith. In her experience, anything can be a ministry—<br />
marriage counseling, child dedication and even divorce care. She has seen<br />
people come to faith in each of those situations. Sometimes it’s not a big<br />
event—it’s a mere conversation.<br />
“I come alongside people in their good times and their in-between times,”<br />
Fowler said. “People allow me to come into their story.”<br />
Fowler’s entire life and career is dotted with stories of her pouring into<br />
others. To her, every interaction she has is ordained by God, even if she’s<br />
not on the clock. It all comes back to how she felt affirmed during her studies<br />
at GRBC.<br />
ABOUT TERRI<br />
Terri Fowler graduated from <strong>Cornerstone</strong> <strong>University</strong> with a degree in<br />
speech communication. She currently works as a chaplain for Marketplace<br />
Chaplains U.S.A. Fowler serves employees of Gordon Food Service and<br />
Our Daily Bread by making hospital calls, assisting in funerals, performing<br />
weddings and coming alongside those employees in moments of crisis.<br />
Terri and her husband, Bruce, currently reside in Grand Rapids. They have<br />
two adult children.
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
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SANDRA GADDY<br />
(B.A. ’99)<br />
How Faith Operates<br />
Sandra Gaddy is passionate about making sure no woman gets left behind.<br />
She knows what it’s like to be a working mom—and some of the obstacles women face in their career path every day. Gaddy<br />
spent her early career in banking, having previously put college on hold to get married and raise three children with her husband.<br />
She credits her banking career with teaching her how to tap into and build on relationships. It was then she envisioned a<br />
different career path and decided to finish her degree.<br />
Since she was a working mom, a traditional college classroom wasn’t going to work for her. Gaddy returned to school<br />
through <strong>Cornerstone</strong>’s Professional & Graduate Studies (PGS) program. Taking night classes while working and caring for her<br />
children helped her understand the difficulty of balancing school, work and family and how vital it is for women to achieve<br />
their full potential.<br />
When the opportunity came, many years later, to serve as president and CEO of Women’s Resource Center (WRC) in Grand Rapids,<br />
Mich., Gaddy jumped at the opportunity.<br />
WRC meets women where they’re at, whether they are reentering society after incarceration or are seeking a promotion at<br />
work. The organization empowers and elevates women to achieve their greatest potential and provide financial stability for<br />
their families.
When I got the job, I said, “God, you have<br />
me on this platform, so I’m going to be<br />
intentional about everything I do and say,<br />
and how I listen.”<br />
“The work at WRC makes my heart sing,” Gaddy said. “It’s important to me<br />
that all women have every opportunity to succeed.”<br />
Gaddy is able to use both her passion and her lived experience to pour into<br />
women as they face similar challenges that she’d faced years before.<br />
“Our goal is to transform a system that sustains poverty to one that provides<br />
women with poverty-ending occupations,” Gaddy said. For women seeking<br />
jobs, WRC offers career exploration, certifications and technical training.<br />
Their participants end up in a variety of different jobs, from traditional office<br />
settings to trades like welding. Women have access to rent laptops if they’re<br />
required to work from home. They can receive a retail certificate to help<br />
them become better employed. And they can learn technical skills they<br />
need to get ahead in their career.<br />
As a result of WRC’s tireless work and Gaddy’s leadership, 70% of<br />
women in the organization’s programs remained employed and have<br />
not been reincarcerated.<br />
The economic climate of 2020 proved a challenge for women across<br />
the board. WRC interacted with as many participants and their families<br />
throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in crisis, including women reentering<br />
the community early from their New Beginnings program at Kent County<br />
Corrections. In September 2020, over 800,000 women left the workforce,<br />
according to a report from the National Women’s Law Center. Gaddy noted<br />
that many women left the workforce during this time, either to help their<br />
children learn online or because of the lack of available childcare options.<br />
Gaddy recalled a recent participant that she and her team worked with, a<br />
working mother of a special needs daughter. The organization changed<br />
her hours suddenly to third shift at the factory where she worked, which<br />
caused her to have to seek new employment so that she could be there for<br />
her daughter.<br />
been an accident. Her husband and young son were in a car accident<br />
while traveling in a busy intersection and were taken to a hospital near<br />
Valparaiso, Ind.<br />
The administrator took Gaddy’s hand and prayed for her before she left for<br />
the hospital.<br />
“I don’t remember his name,” Gaddy said. “But I remember his act.” Her<br />
husband and son recovered well.<br />
Even if some participants at WRC do not know Gaddy by name, they<br />
can certainly see the work that she leads through the impact that the<br />
organization has on women in West Michigan. “Our team and volunteers are<br />
second to none,” Gaddy said. “They walk alongside each woman to help them<br />
reach their potential and/or personal goals”.<br />
Gaddy’s advice to women who have a lot on their plate is simply this—”Don’t<br />
give up. I know how challenging raising a family, working and going to school<br />
or learning a new trade can be.” Although it’s a challenge, it’s possible and<br />
we can all do it with the right support system.<br />
“I believe the Lord opened the door for me to come to WRC,” Gaddy said.<br />
“When I got the job, I said, ‘God, you have me on this platform, so I’m going to<br />
be intentional about everything I do and say and how I listen.’”<br />
That’s how Gaddy lives out her faith—by using a platform to transform lives<br />
and make a tangible impact for Christ wherever she goes.<br />
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ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
“Moving forward, it will be incumbent upon companies to create an<br />
environment that offers flexibility,” Gaddy said. “We’ve learned that we can<br />
work from home successfully and create opportunities for moms to do so.”<br />
Gaddy is passionate about helping to provide women avenues to overcome<br />
barriers to gainful employment and personal success. That passion is guided<br />
by her faith and how Christ calls His followers to help those who are in need.<br />
Gaddy would be the first to tell you that actions speak louder than words.<br />
During her time at <strong>Cornerstone</strong>, while sitting in night classes at PGS, she was<br />
called into the office of a <strong>Cornerstone</strong> administrator. He told her there had<br />
ABOUT SANDRA<br />
Sandra Gaddy serves as CEO of Women’s Resource Center in Grand Rapids,<br />
Mich., having previously served at both Mel Trotter Ministries and Inner<br />
City Christian Federation. She received her Bachelor of Science in business<br />
management from <strong>Cornerstone</strong> <strong>University</strong>’s Professional & Graduate Studies<br />
program in 1999 and her executive MBA from Grand Valley State <strong>University</strong>.<br />
She and her husband, Arlen-Dean, have three adult children.
Kristin (Wheeler) Amama<br />
Laurie (Korb) Hart<br />
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
16<br />
2000s<br />
Jake Houf<br />
DAVE (B.R.E. ’00) AND CYNTHIA (HOLTZHOUSE,<br />
B.A ’86) BEACH created a nontraditional publishing house<br />
for fiction and nonfiction concerned with spiritual formation<br />
and the human dilemma.<br />
KRISTIN (WHEELER, B.A. ’00) AMAMA and her<br />
husband, Henry, finalized the adoption of their ninth child,<br />
Natalie Ruth, on Dec. 20, 2019.<br />
LAURIE (KORB, B.A. ’01) HART and her husband,<br />
Michael, recently adopted two children: Lexus and Xavier.<br />
JOAN (MIKKOLA, M.R.E. ’02) GUEST and her husband,<br />
Steven, transitioned into new positions as professors at<br />
Baptist Theological College and Cebu Graduate School of<br />
Theology in Cebu, Philippines.<br />
KANEITHA KELLY (B.S. ’04) was promoted to lease<br />
consultant in February <strong>2021</strong> at Caterpillar Financial Services<br />
Corporation.<br />
NOAH FILIPIAK (B.S. ’04, M.A. ’09) finished his<br />
new book titled “Beyond the Battle: A Man’s Guide to His<br />
Identity in Christ in an Oversexualized World.” Published by<br />
Zondervan, the book will be available on July 13, <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
Crystal (Richards) Kitten<br />
Debra (Ziehm) McGuire<br />
Matt Kunnen<br />
Alan Warner<br />
ANDREW BOSSARDET (B.A. ’06) became the lead<br />
pastor of First Reformed Church in Byron Center, Mich.<br />
CRYSTAL (RICHARDS, B.A. ’07) KITTEN started as<br />
the director of housing for A.Y.A. Youth Collective, a newly<br />
merged nonprofit in Grand Rapids serving homeless youth,<br />
in October 2020.<br />
JONATHAN HIGHMAN (B.S. ’08, MBA ’10) partnered<br />
with Kevin Damghani in 2017 and co-founded ITPartners.<br />
ITPartners is a technology sales, service and consulting<br />
company with an emphasis on doing great work, thinking<br />
big and making it fun for their partners!<br />
MATT KUNNEN (B.A. ’09) joined Wyoming-based JVL<br />
Wealth Strategies in 2013 after working as an investment<br />
consultant for a national brokerage firm. In <strong>2021</strong>, he was
4TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION<br />
OF SCHOLARSHIP<br />
In April <strong>2021</strong>, <strong>Cornerstone</strong> <strong>University</strong>’s traditional undergraduate<br />
division hosted its annual Celebration of Scholarship. This year’s<br />
showcase featured 117 posters, 71 papers and presentations and 34<br />
musical performances.<br />
Learn more at cornerstone.edu/cos.<br />
PICTURED: Students reviewing posters during Celebration of Scholarship.<br />
elected as a partner at JVL Wealth Strategies. He graduated<br />
from <strong>Cornerstone</strong> <strong>University</strong> with a Bachelor of Arts in<br />
finance and business management.<br />
MEGHAN POWELL (B.A. ’09) has lived in Chicago for<br />
the last six years. She started her business called iMProv<br />
Boss in 2018. While it was a big jump to walk away from a<br />
corporate job, her faith and the education she received at<br />
<strong>Cornerstone</strong> gave her the tools she needed to make the leap.<br />
NEW MASTER OF PUBLIC<br />
ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM<br />
The new Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) program at<br />
<strong>Cornerstone</strong>’s Professional & Graduate Studies division provides<br />
avenues for current and aspiring nonprofit leaders and entrepreneurs<br />
to enact transformative change in their organizations. The Higher<br />
Learning Commission recently approved this program, and the first<br />
cohort is anticipated to launch in September <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
Request information at cornerstone.edu/public-administration.<br />
NICOLE (RICKS, B.S. ’13) KRAAYENBRINK owns Burly<br />
Bison Bakery, a bakery that offers gluten-free, dairy-free and<br />
vegan desserts with no added refined sugar and made from<br />
organic ingredients whenever possible.<br />
MYKEL HALL (B.S. ’13, M.DIV. ’20) recently accepted<br />
the position of senior pastor at Trowbridge Community<br />
Church in Otsego, Mich.<br />
SARA BETH GRISSOM (A.S. ’13, B.S. ’17) moved back<br />
home to Alaska in June 2019 and accepted a position at a<br />
residential reentry center in October 2019.<br />
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
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2010s<br />
DEBRA (ZIEHM, M.B.A. ’10) MCGUIRE was selected<br />
as the executive director of the International Association of<br />
Assessing Officers in Kansas City, Mo.<br />
JAKE HOUF (B.S. ’10) and his wife, Katie, welcomed their<br />
first child, Anna Kay Houf, on July 3, 2020.<br />
ALAN WARNER (B.S. ’13) began a podcast titled The<br />
Wonderful Lizard, reading of the public domain work “The<br />
Wizard of Oz” and changing the word wizard to lizard. To<br />
listen, visit anchor.fm/lizarding.<br />
ANNE OSTRANDER (B.A. ’14) spent four years serving<br />
as a missionary in the Middle East. In July 2020, she returned<br />
home to continue serving Muslim and refugee communities<br />
and helping lead them to know Jesus.<br />
KAREN (FOWLER, M.A. ’14) MOORMAN was appointed<br />
as the supply pastor of Grant Chapel African Methodist<br />
Episcopal Church in Three Rivers, Mich.<br />
JOELLE WRIGHT-TERRY (B.S. ’15) is a surviving widow<br />
due to COVID-19, and she is continuing Marshall’s legacy<br />
with Memorials By Marsh & Sassi for her two boys, Joshua<br />
and Micah. Her company specializes in the creation and<br />
customization of gravesite headstones, monuments, benches<br />
and cornerstones for those who have passed away.
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
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BRAD GRAY<br />
(B.A. ’02)<br />
Advancing God’s Kingdom<br />
Every morning, Brad Gray wakes up and asks God, “What can we create today?”<br />
His attitude toward faithfully listening to God and using his passion for storytelling has led him across the country and around the<br />
world as he seeks to help people better understand the Bible in its original context.<br />
Gray’s path to becoming a teaching pastor and creator of resources for learning about Scripture began unconventionally. As<br />
a business major and basketball player at <strong>Cornerstone</strong> <strong>University</strong>, Gray originally planned to help his father in his exercise<br />
education and physical rehabilitation business. But, as Gray likes to say, “Following Jesus is always an adventure. Buckle up, and<br />
hold on tight because you never know what will happen next.”<br />
After three years of working for his father, Gray felt prompted to change professions, attend seminary and become a pastor—<br />
something his grandmother knew all along. “I talked to her on the phone after I made the decision,” Gray laughed. “She said, ‘I<br />
always knew you were going to be a pastor.’”<br />
After receiving his Master of Divinity and spending an additional year studying in Jerusalem, Gray became a teaching pastor at<br />
Solomon’s Porch church in Jenison, Mich., and three years later for Central Wesleyan Church in Holland, Mich. Four years later,<br />
Gray sensed God had a new plan for him.
We want people to experience<br />
the transformational power of the<br />
Word of God when it is lived<br />
out in faithful obedience to Jesus.<br />
Over the course of a two-week time period, Gray and his wife, Shallon, were<br />
convinced that God was calling them to resign and move to Nashville, Tenn.,<br />
with their children: Denyon, Aryah, Calyx and Xyler. Within the course of two<br />
weeks, they knew that this was what God had planned for them.<br />
“Eleven days later, we stood in front of our congregation at Central Wesleyan<br />
and told them, ‘We’re moving to Nashville for no reason other than God is<br />
literally telling us to,’” Gray said.<br />
The first year was difficult. Gray and his wife still had no idea why God had<br />
called them there. Gray had some speaking engagements lined up as well as<br />
some trips to Israel and Turkey he would lead. Beyond that, there were still so<br />
many unknowns.<br />
By the end of the last year, things began to crystalize. Gray launched Walking<br />
The Text, a crowdfunded, nonprofit organization that creates resources and<br />
study trips to biblical lands and helps people understand the Bible in its<br />
original context.<br />
As Gray pointed out, “The biggest thing I’ve learned is that context is<br />
everything, and yet the vast majority of people have never been taught how<br />
to engage the Bible in its original context. It’s why so many people find the<br />
Bible difficult to understand. Our goal is to provide necessary tools to help<br />
people read the Bible with clarity and confidence.”<br />
Over the last three years, Walking The Text has become a hub of information<br />
and rich resources to help believers understand and connect with Scripture.<br />
and how Jesus operated within it as a Jewish rabbi. By carefully examining<br />
the history and culture of Jesus’ world, Gray paints a vivid picture of what it<br />
looked like to be a disciple of Jesus two thousand years ago and what those<br />
implications are for us today.<br />
Walking The Text hosts study tours to the Middle East, guided by Gray himself.<br />
These aren’t just “bus tours”—travelers can expect to walk where Jesus<br />
walked and dig deep into the culture and history of His world.<br />
On a national level, Walking The Text hosts the Infusion Bible Conference,<br />
a three-day crash course on biblical context hosted in the Nashville area.<br />
It’s dedicated to helping participants understand context through history,<br />
geography, culture backgrounds and more. And it is available for anyone<br />
to attend.<br />
“When I first learned context, the text went from black-and-white to 4K ultra<br />
high definition,” Gray explained. “I think we often make reading the Bible a<br />
chore, so I get jazzed when I can bring people inside the story.”<br />
That philosophy is at the heart of Gray’s ministry—to effectively tell the<br />
greatest story in human history and to help others be transformed by it.<br />
“The grace of God is in all of this,” Gray said. “I have the privilege and freedom<br />
to do everything I can to advance His kingdom in a way that changes<br />
people’s lives.”<br />
For Gray, the move was worth it—an opportunity to be unexpectedly blessed<br />
and to bring God’s kingdom to earth for people around the country.<br />
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“The idea of ‘walking’ the text is a reference to the Hebrew word halakh,” Gray<br />
said. “Its normal translation is ‘to live’ or ‘to go,’ but it emphatically means ‘to<br />
walk,’ as in to walk something out in your life. We don’t want to necessarily<br />
help people be smarter—we want them to become more faithful. If you’re<br />
gaining information but not experiencing transformation, there’s something<br />
wrong. We want people to experience the transformational power of the Word<br />
of God when it is lived out in faithful obedience to Jesus.”<br />
Gray publishes multiple videos and podcast teachings on the website on<br />
a monthly basis, all of which are completely free. For example, he recently<br />
released an eight-part series on the rabbinical world of the New Testament<br />
ABOUT BRAD<br />
Brad Gray graduated from <strong>Cornerstone</strong> <strong>University</strong> in 2002 with a degree in<br />
business management. After working for a time with his father, Gray studied<br />
at Western Theological Seminary and received his Master of Divinity. In<br />
2009, he received a graduate certificate in biblical history and geography<br />
from Jerusalem <strong>University</strong> College. He has pastored at both Solomon’s Porch<br />
Church in Jenison, Mich., and Central Wesleyan Church in Holland, Mich. He<br />
now lives in Nashville, Tenn., with his wife, Shallon, and their four children. To<br />
learn more about Brad and his ministry, visit walkingthetext.com.
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
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JOE JONES<br />
(M.A. ’12)<br />
Power in Learning<br />
Joe Jones understands that in order to be more like Jesus, he has to learn how to be more like Jesus.<br />
He often reflects on the “What Would Jesus Do?” bracelets that were popular in the mid-2000s. This question calls Christ<br />
followers to be students—a charge Jones doesn’t take lightly.<br />
“How do we know what Jesus would do if we don’t know what Jesus has done?” Jones asks this question often to his<br />
congregation at Brown Hutcherson Ministries in Grand Rapids, Mich. But Jones has also lived this truth throughout his<br />
career and his life.<br />
Jones served as president and CEO of the Urban League of West Michigan for nine years. That unique opportunity helped<br />
develop his perspective for how God could use him in his work as a leader, a change agent and a Christ follower.<br />
“That work helped me become the person I am today,” Jones recalled. “Whoever came through our doors, the expectation was<br />
that we would treat them with dignity and respect.”<br />
Dignity and respect—it’s not always easy to live these out in today’s culture. In late 2020, Jones saw an opportunity to coach<br />
people in these areas and inspire them to see others the way Jesus would see them. That involved tackling difficult topics.
We need to look at people through<br />
the lens that God made them in His<br />
own image. This is in many ways the<br />
missing element in today’s society.<br />
“I know that the topics of race, equity, diversity and inclusion are not easy<br />
for a lot of people to discuss,” Jones said. “A lot of organizations are trying to<br />
enhance what they’re doing in those areas, but they don’t have anywhere to<br />
start from. There’s a tension and fear that they’ll say or do the wrong thing.”<br />
Earlier this year, Jones founded The Hekima Group LLC. “Hekima” is Swahili<br />
for wisdom. His vision is to provide sound wisdom and strategy to a variety<br />
of industries in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion; strategic and<br />
multicultural communication; crisis management; and board recruitment.<br />
Jones has been an active consultant for decades, but after the racial tension<br />
of 2020 and the effects COVID-19 had on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people<br />
of color) communities, he felt that it was time to focus even more energy on<br />
this area of his life.<br />
“We need to look at people through the lens that God made them in His own<br />
image,” Jones said. “This is in many ways the missing element in today’s<br />
society. Because of my faith, I know not to approach people as being inferior<br />
or superior. When you start by treating people based on their rank or social<br />
status, there’s the potential to go away from what the Word teaches us.”<br />
Jones finds strength and purpose in the words of Jesus in Luke 4:18-19,<br />
his life’s mission statement. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has<br />
anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that<br />
captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be<br />
set free and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”<br />
Jones uses his lived experience to both teach and learn, in the marketplace<br />
and at the pulpit. Whenever Jones comes across an opportunity to expand<br />
on his knowledge, he takes it. That led him and his wife, Jessie Jones (M.A.<br />
’12), to complete their Master of Arts in ministry leadership at Grand Rapids<br />
Theological Seminary as part of the very first Urban Cohort.<br />
Through that experience, the Joneses fostered valuable connections with<br />
members of the urban church community and engaged deeply with GRTS<br />
faculty on issues that our communities face every day.<br />
When it comes to leading, Jones takes his own advice. In order to answer the<br />
question, “What would Jesus do?,” he dedicates himself to learning how Jesus<br />
led. In all of his experiences—in leading nonprofits, returning to school and<br />
teaching the gospel—the teachings of Christ act as his guide.<br />
“There’s power in learning,” Jones said. “That’s what’s required of us—to never<br />
stop learning because none of us have fully arrived.”<br />
In a challenging, divisive climate, Jones is using both the gifts and the<br />
influence that God gave him to build relationships, start conversations and<br />
grow community. He is the first to say that it’s not an easy task, but it is<br />
possible through God’s grace and favor.<br />
“At the end of the day, the work that we do is how we meet the challenge<br />
before us,” Jones said. “It’s a challenge and sometimes seems to be<br />
impossible work, but I love waking up in the morning and trying to master<br />
that craft. Even when I fall, He’s there to help pick me back up.”<br />
After each fall, Jones learns something new. And because he learns, he grows<br />
closer to his Savior.<br />
ABOUT JOE<br />
Rev. Joe Jones is the president and CEO of The Hekima Group LLC, a<br />
consulting firm that provides sound wisdom and strategy to a wide variety of<br />
industries in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging; strategic<br />
and multicultural communication; and crisis management. He holds a<br />
Bachelor of Arts in communication arts from Oakland <strong>University</strong> and a Master<br />
of Arts in ministry leadership from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. He<br />
has graduate certificates from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth,<br />
Stanford Graduate School of Business and Stern School of Business at New<br />
York <strong>University</strong>. He also serves as Second Ward City Commissioner for the<br />
City of Grand Rapids and pastor at Brown Hutcherson Ministries. Jones and<br />
his wife have four children and five grandchildren.<br />
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY<br />
21<br />
ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong>
Carlee (Iwema) Veldhuizen<br />
Abbigail Rennes<br />
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
22<br />
Caleb and Paula Vredenburg<br />
DONNA (KNOPER, M.A. ’16) VANDERKODDE opened<br />
Kodde Counseling LLC (Begin Anew Counseling) in January<br />
2019, assisting individuals, couples and families who are<br />
dealing with complex issues through a Christ-centered<br />
worldview.<br />
CARLEE (IWEMA, B.A. ’16, M.A. ’18) VELDHUIZEN<br />
married Troy Veldhuizen on Sept. 18, 2020, and they live in<br />
Grandville, Mich.<br />
Eric and Connie Sattler<br />
Jesse (Sheridan) Maas<br />
Kenna Goodale<br />
Hannah (Haviland) and Matt Winright<br />
ELIZABETH (RICHTER, B.S. ’16) HERSHBERGER<br />
completed a master’s degree and accepted a position in<br />
the microbiology lab at Spectrum Health as a laboratory<br />
assistant.<br />
ABBIGAIL RENNES (B.S. ’16) was inducted as an<br />
affiliate member of the American Cinema Editors.<br />
SHELBY GOMBOSI (B.S. ’16) completed her Master<br />
of Arts in rehabilitation counseling in 2020. She started<br />
a new position as psychiatric ability access specialist at<br />
the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD)<br />
at Michigan State <strong>University</strong>. At RCPD, she launched a<br />
program for students with mental health conditions who<br />
are navigating the academic environment, as well as colaunched<br />
a program to help students with disabilities build<br />
community with each other during the pandemic.<br />
CALEB (B.A. ’17) AND PAULA (B.S. ’17)<br />
VREDENBURG welcomed their first child, Esther Hope, on<br />
Sept. 9, 2020.<br />
ERIC (M.B.A. ’17) AND CONNIE (M.S. ’13, MBA ’16)<br />
SATTLER opened a travel agency in Grand Rapids in 2018.<br />
They specialize in cruise travel (ocean and river) and also<br />
help clients plan land-based vacations, including hotels,<br />
resorts, tours, adventure travel and vacations by rail.<br />
KENNA GOODALE (B.A. ’18) started a job in ABA as a<br />
behavior therapist in December 2018. She supports kids and<br />
families impacted by autism.<br />
GRACE HAMILTON (B.S. ’18) recently moved to<br />
Westcliffe, Colo., where she serves as the retreat coordinator<br />
at Sky Ranch.
CORNERSTONE UNVEILS MARY DE WITT<br />
CENTER FOR NURSING<br />
In April <strong>2021</strong>, <strong>Cornerstone</strong> officially opened the Mary De Witt Center for<br />
Nursing in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The building is generously funded<br />
by the De Witt family, Tammy and J.C. Huizenga and David and Carol Van<br />
Andel. Bachelor of Science in Nursing students at <strong>Cornerstone</strong> will learn<br />
in this building using state-of-the-art technology like artificial intelligence<br />
mannequins and hospital-grade equipment. The Bachelor of Science in<br />
Nursing (BSN) at <strong>Cornerstone</strong> is pending approval from the Higher Learning<br />
Commission in summer <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
Learn more at cornerstone.edu/bsn.<br />
DAKOTA STRAUB (B.S. ’18) accepted a job at SBC as a<br />
director of student ministries, overseeing students from birth<br />
through college.<br />
PICTURED: Dr. Maria McCormick, nursing division chair, Mary De Witt, Martie Stowell and Joe Stowell<br />
CORNERSTONE ADDS MEN’S WRESTLING<br />
TO ATHLETICS PROGRAMS<br />
Beginning in fall <strong>2021</strong>, <strong>Cornerstone</strong> will officially add men’s wrestling as a<br />
varsity sport. The team already has eight incoming students committed,<br />
and construction is underway for a training facility on campus—the Steve<br />
Cochlan Wrestling Center. Wrestling is a quickly growing athletic program<br />
for schools in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.<br />
Follow the new team at cornerstone.edu/wrestling.<br />
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
23<br />
JESSE (SHERIDAN, B.S. ’18) MAAS authored her first<br />
novel, “The Desiccant Keepers,” and is now working on other<br />
projects to publish soon.<br />
KIMBERLY ATWOOD (B.A. ’19) serves in multiple roles.<br />
She works as the communications administrator at Cascade<br />
Community Foundation, content coordinator at Best Version<br />
Media, content coordinator for Storybirds Inc. and social<br />
media coordinator for Breathe Christian Writers Conference.<br />
BENJAMIN COLLINS (B.A. ’19) recently started his<br />
position as director of communications at Spirit of God<br />
Fellowship.<br />
HANNAH (HAVILAND, B.A. ’19) AND MATT<br />
WINRIGHT (B.A. ’19) were recently married. Hannah<br />
works as the client services coordinator of 7C Lingo, a<br />
language agency.<br />
NATALIE (WYNALDA, B.S. ’19) VANDYKE accepted<br />
a job as the community engagement specialist at RISE<br />
Advocacy. Her primary responsibilities include managing<br />
volunteers and interns, giving community presentations<br />
and coordinating social media.<br />
REBECCA (COOPER, B.S. ’19) PUNCHES and<br />
ANDREW PUNCHES (B.A. ’20) were recently married.<br />
Rebecca also has transitioned roles at Protect Life<br />
Michigan, accepting the position of high school and<br />
young professionals for life coordinator.<br />
2020s<br />
EMILY QUELLET (B.S. ’20) was promoted to chief<br />
operating officer at DeHaan Homes.
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
24<br />
SHOMARI TATE<br />
(M.A. ’21)<br />
Mentoring the Next Generation<br />
As a student at Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School, Shomari Tate wished he had someone to talk to about cultural issues<br />
and how he approaches them as a Christ follower.<br />
Now, he is blessed to be that person for students at his alma mater.<br />
Tate never thought he would be a mentor for high school students, but in 2019, God called him to just that.<br />
“It came to me that what God was working on was not just a vocation where I would be helping people, but also one where I can<br />
spread the mission and the gospel of Jesus Christ,” Tate said.<br />
As the director of equity and multiculturalism at Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Tate has the privilege of leading and engaging<br />
with students as they seek to create a more inclusive culture. Tate’s role also includes leading the charge on the school’s<br />
multicultural efforts and making sure educators have tools to teach diverse perspectives on each subject, whether that’s math,<br />
science or history.<br />
“The mission of Catholic Central is to know and love God, seek knowledge and truth, respect the dignity of each person and<br />
contribute to society through leadership and service,” Tate said. “It becomes very easy to insert cultural topics into the curriculum<br />
because our mission alludes to this.”
It came to me that what God was<br />
working on was not just a vocation<br />
where I would be helping people, but<br />
also one where I can spread the mission<br />
and the gospel of Jesus Christ.<br />
Tate is amazed by how today’s high schoolers seem to eagerly engage with<br />
today’s cultural issues and discern how they can work to solve them.<br />
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY<br />
“I’ve never seen a more intellectual group of kids,” Tate said. “They have so<br />
much information at their disposal. They’re asking questions I never would<br />
have thought of at that age.”<br />
Tate examines social justice not only one-on-one and in the classroom but<br />
also as the defensive line coach and chaplain for Catholic Central’s state<br />
championship football team.<br />
“For high schoolers, living as a Christian is countercultural in <strong>2021</strong>,” Tate<br />
said. “They have been set apart, as 1 Peter 2:9 tells them. Our 2020 state<br />
championship theme was having a humble heart. I’m trying to teach these<br />
young men that while football is an important part of their lives, it’s also<br />
preparing them for the battles they will face later in life.”<br />
Tate accepted his position at Catholic Central at the same time he began his<br />
degree program at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. He fully believes that<br />
this was no accident—God is teaching him in both classrooms, whether he’s<br />
the student or the instructor himself. While his students wrestle with the<br />
culture of today, he is wrestling with theology and doctrine.<br />
“During my program, I applied what I was learning in my classes to what I<br />
was talking about with my students,” Tate said. “The courses helped me stand<br />
on the teachings of the Bible while providing an ethical approach to those<br />
under my care.”<br />
At the heart of Tate’s ministry to high schoolers, whether that’s in class or on<br />
the football field, is a desire to help them view social justice through a biblical<br />
lens. He often uses the story of the Good Samaritan—a story familiar to most<br />
Christ followers but oftentimes misunderstood.<br />
In the story of the Good Samaritan, the religious clergy of the day ignored the<br />
man in the ditch. The man was ritualistically unclean, so avoiding him was<br />
doctrinally correct. But through the lens of the Gospels, the clergy should<br />
have treated the man with love first.<br />
“The Samaritan in the story would be considered a person of color by today’s<br />
standards,” Tate said. “While doctrines and theology are important, I want my<br />
students to understand that loving others as Christ loves us is essential to<br />
both the gospel and social justice.”<br />
Being a mentor to high schoolers isn’t always easy, Tate says, but it’s an<br />
extreme privilege to have influence on their lives. At an age where they are<br />
forming their own worldviews, it’s important for teens to have a mentor they<br />
can come to with questions. Tate listens and responds but also knows there<br />
are lessons they have to learn on their own. At the end of the day, his high<br />
schoolers will enter into a world that might not understand their faith.<br />
“We are in the midst of a cultural reckoning, and the Lord is calling us to<br />
speak to some things that have been ignored for quite some time,” Tate said.<br />
“My prayer is that we come out more unified than ever.”<br />
And Tate’s role as a mentor to young minds is exactly where God wants him<br />
in the midst of this reckoning. He’s preparing students to preach a gospel of<br />
radical love in a culture that is thirsty for the truth.<br />
ABOUT SHOMARI<br />
Shomari Tate serves as the director of equity and multiculturalism<br />
at Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School. He graduated from<br />
Michigan State <strong>University</strong> in 2017 with his Bachelor of Arts in political<br />
science and government and again in 2019 with a Master of Public Policy<br />
in political science. He graduated from GRTS in <strong>2021</strong> with his Master of Arts<br />
in ministry leadership. In fall <strong>2021</strong>, he will begin his Doctor of Education<br />
degree through PGS.<br />
25<br />
ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong>
COMMENCEMENT<br />
<strong>2021</strong><br />
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
26<br />
51 volunteers.<br />
7 ceremonies spanning two weekends.<br />
490 graduates crossing the stage.<br />
Countless happy tears shed over the<br />
two weekends.<br />
Nothing was going to stop us from giving graduates from 2020 and <strong>2021</strong> the<br />
commencement they deserved this year. After months of careful planning,<br />
hundreds of volunteers, and weeks of coordination, we welcomed excited<br />
families on campus to celebrate their graduates. The new alumni received<br />
their diploma accompanied by a fist bump and enjoyed the celebration<br />
they’d been waiting for—the chance to say, “I did it.”<br />
Congratulations, classes of 2020 and <strong>2021</strong>!
<strong>2021</strong><br />
ALUMNA OF THE<br />
YEAR AWARD<br />
RECIPIENTS<br />
TRADITIONAL<br />
UNDERGRADUATE:<br />
DR. STEFANIE WISE<br />
(B.S. ’06)<br />
Emergency physician<br />
and EMS medical director for<br />
Detroit Receiving Hospital<br />
PROFESSIONAL &<br />
GRADUATE STUDIES:<br />
SHANA LEWIS<br />
(B.S. ’12)<br />
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
27<br />
Executive director of talent<br />
acquisition and workforce<br />
programs for Trinity Health<br />
GRAND RAPIDS<br />
THEOLOGICAL<br />
SEMINARY:<br />
ANNE PARPAS<br />
(M.A. ’13)<br />
Owner and therapist for<br />
Integrative Health Consultants<br />
of West Michigan
CLASS OF <strong>2021</strong><br />
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
28<br />
Determination and Grace<br />
Through dedication and faith in God’s goodness,<br />
the class of <strong>2021</strong> has made this an incredible year.<br />
And they’re just getting started. Congratulations,<br />
and welcome to the alumni association!<br />
* TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE GRADUATES<br />
** PROFESSIONAL & GRADUATE STUDIES GRADUATES<br />
^ GRAND RAPIDS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY GRADUATES<br />
§ ASIA BIBLICAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY GRADUATES<br />
David A. Adams**<br />
Andrew David Ahrens*<br />
Grace Akanksha*<br />
Benjamin David Anderson^<br />
Dawn Marie Anderson**<br />
Joshua David Anderson*<br />
Shannon Anderson**<br />
Daryl Edward Andresen^<br />
Samantha Alexis Angus*<br />
Katie Asencio*<br />
Corey Aukerman**<br />
AnnMarie Joy Aulbach*<br />
Angela Joy Bailard*<br />
Benjamin D. Bailey*<br />
Laura K. Baker^<br />
Tyler Baker*<br />
Marcus J. Balocca**<br />
Alisa Ann Barber**<br />
Chelsea Lynn Barker**<br />
Courtney Barr**<br />
Emily Bauer*<br />
William Baumann*<br />
Hailey Kathryn Baun*<br />
Tanya M. Belbeck**<br />
India C. Bell**<br />
Angela Bell-Alexander**<br />
LaToya Naikita Benson**<br />
Madeline Anne Berce^<br />
Dylan Michael Berens*<br />
Dana Beute**<br />
Kayla Elizabeth Bidwell*<br />
Kelsey Ann Billingsley*<br />
Eric V. Black^<br />
Meghan R. Blakely**<br />
Moriah Kaye Blazer*<br />
Micah Aaron Boggs*<br />
Juliana Bonilla*<br />
Elizabeth Denae Boock*<br />
Jaclyn Joanne Bouma*<br />
Diane Erin Bowyer**<br />
Eric Liam Bradberry*<br />
Brandy Braman**<br />
Autumn Bethany Brister*<br />
Zachariah Brog*<br />
Abigail Bronkema*<br />
Alisha Nicole Brown**<br />
Bailey K. Brown^<br />
Jill Brown**<br />
William Brad Brown**<br />
Daniel Buffham*<br />
Mari Elizabeth Bugg**<br />
Brandon Burie*<br />
Kerry Ann Burkhart^<br />
Katelyn Joy Burmaster*<br />
Nicholas Burner^<br />
Kendall Calhoun**<br />
Fernanda Calzada Munoz**<br />
Zachary Cantalice*<br />
Adam Carlson*<br />
Caitlin Carroll*<br />
Celeste Carwile*<br />
Logan Montgomery Chagdes*<br />
Brendan Lee Champine*<br />
Gregory L. Chandler**<br />
Sheila Chandler**<br />
Kai Chun Chang*<br />
Brandon Jeremiah Chase*<br />
Rene Chatman**<br />
Nathan Chenoweth**
Emily Childers*<br />
Dennis Keith Chitwood**<br />
Madison Christensen*<br />
Sara Clapper*<br />
Amanda Elizabeth Clark**<br />
Kayla Clark*<br />
Jama Lynn Claxton*<br />
Mary Leanne Clementz**<br />
Moriah Clinger*<br />
John Esteban Cocoma Hernandez*<br />
Amy Rebecca Cole**<br />
Alissa Collins^<br />
Kaylee L. Collins*<br />
Emily Comeau*<br />
Rabecka Kaylin-Leeann Commans*<br />
Amber L. Coniglio**<br />
Linnae Conkel*<br />
Charles Allan Connell II**<br />
Grace A. Connell**<br />
Chad Cook**<br />
Richard L. Cook**<br />
Samantha Cook**<br />
Delight J. Cooley**<br />
Charity Lynn Cooper^<br />
Mya Sulema Copado*<br />
Riley Costen*<br />
Jennifer Renee Cox*<br />
Krista M. Cramer**<br />
Marcus Cronin**<br />
Jerry Cross**<br />
Bailey Cummings*<br />
Denver Scott Daniel*<br />
Brittany Lynn Darling*<br />
Mark A. Davidhizar^<br />
D’Amaie Elaine Davis*<br />
Angela M. Davis**<br />
Sterling DeGayner*<br />
Alexis Aidden DeBoer*<br />
Sara Jean Dekker^<br />
Nicholas Dekkenga*<br />
Ryan Allen Dekkinga**<br />
Benjamin Paul DeMaagd**<br />
Tyler James DeMoss**<br />
Chloe DeVries*<br />
Lluvia Diaz-Lanier**<br />
Kimmular Dortch**<br />
Erika Leigh Doster-Funk**<br />
Courtney Eileen Ducharme*<br />
Curtis James Dunkerley*<br />
Angela Durrah-Bays**<br />
Kristen Dussault*<br />
Joel Van Dyke*<br />
Brandi L. Dyke**<br />
Chelsea Joyce Dykstra*<br />
J. Austin E. Huffer^<br />
Melissa M. Eding**<br />
Hannah Marie Edmonds*<br />
Keith J. Edwards^<br />
Blaise Orion Eisele*<br />
Justin Ellenwood**<br />
Brendan Emmerich*<br />
Trina L. Enoch**<br />
Jennifer Marie Enos**<br />
Tammy J. Erste^<br />
Emily Danielle Ervin*<br />
Brandy Everest**<br />
Nicholas Ewald^<br />
Lisa Jo Fanelli-Greer^<br />
Emma Falls*<br />
Kristi Fender**<br />
Jessica Finn-Bloomberg**<br />
Chelsia Paulinn Firlik^<br />
Justin David Fleser^<br />
Kyle Ford^<br />
Cosby Danielle Franks*<br />
Macaul Lynae Franks*<br />
Mrs. Deannia L. Friend**<br />
Christopher Jonathan Fry^<br />
Martin Fuss**<br />
Quincy Gainey*<br />
Brooke Ashtyn Galloway*<br />
Gabrielle Gardner*<br />
Keoshi M. Gardner**<br />
Tonya Gardner-Hill**<br />
Jason DeWayne Garland**<br />
Vincent John Giannecchini*<br />
Ashley Kay Gilmore^<br />
Ashley Glass*<br />
Katrina Ann Goebel*<br />
Christy Vivek Gogu§<br />
Joanna K. Gordon^<br />
John C. Grafton**<br />
Nicole Margaret Greenhoe**<br />
Lexis Rose Guarnaccia**<br />
Thomasina S. Guidry^<br />
Natalie A. Guinn*<br />
Joshua J. Gundlach**<br />
Tamara L. Gurley^<br />
Dwight Gutridge**<br />
Amber Alexis Guzman*<br />
Samantha Ines Guzman*<br />
Donald Haff**<br />
Denique Hamilton**<br />
Ryan Anthony Hannah^<br />
Shirin Subhi Hannan*<br />
Caitlyn Hannum^<br />
Kodie Edward Hansen*<br />
Kari Hanson**<br />
Michelle Hardman**<br />
Emily Jane Arlene Harris*<br />
Jamona Chanel Harris^<br />
Makenzi Morgan Harrison**<br />
Stephanie Hartsock**<br />
Kyle Hayes**<br />
Emily J. Harvey*<br />
Keyanna Heddy**<br />
Madison E. Herrema*<br />
Ashley Heyboer*<br />
Amy Joy Heyduck**<br />
Braelyn Hill*<br />
Kiley Ann Hilton*<br />
Jared James Hla§<br />
William Robert Hobson V*<br />
Robert J. Hoffman**<br />
Kimberly D. Hofstra**<br />
Kellsie Marie Holtz**<br />
Ryan Craig Hoogerheide*<br />
Caleb John Horjus*<br />
Timothy Hoult**<br />
Carrie Rose Hourican**<br />
Isaiah R. House*<br />
Ryan Huls*<br />
Jill Hultink**<br />
Teresa Gayle Hultink^<br />
Kaylynn Hume**<br />
Katherine Hunter**<br />
Madison Delaney Hunter*<br />
Cristin Leigh Jamba**<br />
Rebecca Jellison**<br />
Eric A. Jobe**<br />
Logan Strader Johns*<br />
Grace Marada Johnson*<br />
Mikayla Johnson*<br />
Arissa M. Johnston*<br />
Amy Lauren Jones**<br />
Daniel Gerard Jones**<br />
Jeffrey L. Jousma**<br />
Alyssa Kaiser*<br />
Sacree Kandi*<br />
Erin Dean Kane**<br />
Kimm Kyle Karrip Jr.*<br />
Jennifer Anne Katich**<br />
Susan Princess Kayuni*<br />
Kathleen Ann Kent**<br />
Stephane Keo*<br />
David Fredrick Kerkstra*<br />
Kyoung Cheon Kim*<br />
Nicholas Alan Kleitch*<br />
Hannah Jo Klepal*<br />
MacKenzie A. Knoll*<br />
Katlyn Marie Koetsier*<br />
Annika K. Kolean*<br />
Kaycee Grace Kooima*<br />
Ryan Michael Koontz*<br />
Ellen Marie Kresge*<br />
Keith James Krueger**<br />
Madissen E. Kruit*<br />
Chloe Marie Kuhns*<br />
Samantha J. Kuiper*<br />
Julianna Kusneske*<br />
Anita Kwarteng**<br />
Phoebe LaCroix*<br />
Damiane Lake**<br />
Andrew Yalmer Lamppa*<br />
Justin Laney**<br />
Regan Lang*<br />
Cierra Lynn Langejans*<br />
Abigail I. Langerak**<br />
Tori Marie Lankford*<br />
Mark J. Lardieri**<br />
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
29
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong><br />
30<br />
Yuiki Lau*<br />
Aliyah N. Lemmer*<br />
Sara Lemon*<br />
Jaclyn Lenger**<br />
Marcus Leslie**<br />
Robert Edward Lewis IV*<br />
Ashley Nicole Lewis**<br />
Dylan Matthew Linton*<br />
Averi Anne Lohman*<br />
Adam P. Looman**<br />
Edna Lopez**<br />
Christiana L. Lovegrove**<br />
Lina Rebekah Low§<br />
Alaina Mary Lubbers*<br />
Alan J. Luchtenburg*<br />
Alida Marie Luck*<br />
Josiah Ludema*<br />
Morgan Elizabeth Luedy*<br />
Jacie Lutke*<br />
Holly Lynn Lynema**<br />
Jaela B. Maat*<br />
Joshua D.A. Magley*<br />
Garrett Marshall Maher*<br />
Garrett Marshall Maher*<br />
Chad Malinowski**<br />
Isaac Matthew Mangione*<br />
Emily Kaye Margaret Grace<br />
Veenstra-Banning^<br />
Jennifer Nicole Marquez**<br />
Andrew J. Marshall*<br />
Adam R. Martens**<br />
Kara Elizabeth Martin**<br />
Amanda Martinez**<br />
Brianna Marie Martinez*<br />
Juanita Martinez-Ellis**<br />
Johanna M. Mason^<br />
Connor Matthysse*<br />
Chandler Eugene McKinney*<br />
Jennifer Anne McKinstry^<br />
Vanthony McMullan**<br />
ChaVon McMurray**<br />
Lucas McNinch*<br />
Daniela Medrano**<br />
Jaxsen Meldrum*<br />
Michael C. Melillo*<br />
Nicole Kimberly Clara Mendez*<br />
Eric Jon Merchant**<br />
Gabriel Michael Meriwether*<br />
Conner Edward Meyers*<br />
Erica Lynn Mick*<br />
Cassandra Middaugh**<br />
Aimee Danielle Miller*<br />
Brandyn Jaymes Miller^<br />
Sean Miller^<br />
Shaloria Michaela Mitchell**<br />
Brooke Maria Modderman*<br />
Hannah J. Moore^<br />
Angelica Moore-Johnson**<br />
Silvia M. Morales**<br />
Faith Morgan*<br />
Bethany Mae Morse*<br />
Rebecca Mrozinski**<br />
Jeffery S. Mudget**<br />
Josue Y. Uquillas Muniz**<br />
Melissa Sue Mys**<br />
Hilda Nadar§<br />
Brooke Avery Nelson*<br />
Natenael Nesibu*<br />
Mitchell James Nichols*<br />
Brooke Kimberly Nicholson*<br />
Joshua Nicholson*<br />
Mustapha A. Njie**<br />
Salvation O. Nkiko*<br />
Brent Montagnino Nudo*<br />
Shelby Nyboer*<br />
Leslie Nyquist*<br />
Maurita Oduor*<br />
Noah R. Oeverman*<br />
Alexandra Lyn Oosse^<br />
Brendan Lee Oosterheert*<br />
Samuel Ottosen**<br />
Bridgett Nicole Ozuzu**<br />
Drew Gordon Parker*<br />
Megan Parker**<br />
Chevoy Parson**<br />
Bailer Patterson*<br />
Delonte Pearson*<br />
Graciela Pecina*<br />
Leah Peirce*<br />
Joseph Pena**<br />
Cameron M. Perini*<br />
Kourtney Yvonne Perkins**<br />
Lucas Perkins*<br />
Sydney Elena Perry*<br />
Joshua Petrusma**<br />
Jenifer Pezzelle**<br />
Ntando Palesa Phillips*<br />
Victoria Piovesan*<br />
Demetrius Pittman**<br />
Evette R. Pittman**<br />
Madeline Pluta*<br />
Sam Popik*<br />
Taylor Pratt*<br />
Emily Quellet**<br />
Garrett A. Race**<br />
Michaela Katherine Ransler*<br />
Trevor Holt Reed*<br />
Jennifer A. Reil^<br />
Morgan Marie Renkema*<br />
Mackenzie Ribbink**<br />
Allyson Richards*<br />
Jared Riley*<br />
Ashley Marie Rios^<br />
Connor Robertson*<br />
Angel Louise Ciara Robinson*<br />
Meoshi Renee Robinson-Atkinson**<br />
Silvio Romeo Rodriguez Guerra*<br />
Christian James Rodriguez*<br />
Emily Lyn Rogers*<br />
Amanda Grace Rohling*<br />
Kyle Rouse ^<br />
Brianne Ilyse Roux^<br />
Rebecca Rowley*<br />
Ellyssa Marie Rudolph*<br />
Michelle Rummelt**<br />
Caleb T. Ryan*<br />
Cameron Scott Ryder*<br />
Skylar Shorland Ryskamp*<br />
Adrianna Saldivar**<br />
Noah James Sall*<br />
David Sanchez*<br />
Sierra Rose Sanchez*<br />
Zam Kap Sang*<br />
Reu Jardinico Sausa§<br />
Sheryl Yap Sausa§<br />
Emily Schaafsma*<br />
Jared Andrew Schmatz*<br />
Katelyn Paige Schmidt*<br />
Luke Andrew Schrock*<br />
Laurie Schreur*<br />
James E. Schroeder*<br />
John C. Schroeder^<br />
Annette Whitley Scott**<br />
Cindy Marie Seaney**<br />
Liuel Kenaz Selorio§<br />
Lucas Owen Sharar*<br />
Melvin L. Shelton**<br />
Samantha Joelle Sherman*<br />
Riane Sheick**<br />
Kaylie A. Sieglaff*<br />
Carson Silverstein**<br />
Jessica Lynn Slater**<br />
Robert E. Slaughter**<br />
Acacia R. Smith*<br />
Brad Smith**<br />
Gabrielle Smith*<br />
Jessica E. Smith**<br />
Staci R. Smith**<br />
Sarah Smitter**<br />
Sydney Marie Smullen*<br />
Maegan A. Sneller*<br />
Caleb Snoeyink*<br />
Josiah Snyder*<br />
Kaleb Soller**<br />
Amanda Nicole Sorokin*<br />
Jacqueline Rosemary Stanko*<br />
Brooke Lauren Statema*<br />
Brittany R. Stichter^<br />
James Charles Stokes**<br />
Deborah Stowie^<br />
Emily Autumn Stump*<br />
Rachael Elianna Suraj*<br />
Jacob Swift*<br />
Cassondra Taber**<br />
Mercedez Tahtinen**<br />
Tanner Richard Tamminga**<br />
Hanita C. Tampos§<br />
Leanette M. Tanner**<br />
Madeline Tassoni*<br />
Shawna Tate**
Shomari Jalen Tate^<br />
Alyisha Taylor**<br />
Stephanie TeSlaa^<br />
Babalo Thiyane*<br />
Maryam Thomas^<br />
Mitchell Tiesma*<br />
Tyler Timmer**<br />
Moya Tobey*<br />
Edwin Eric Tolbert Sr**<br />
Mark W. Tremaine**<br />
Amanda Harriet Trilla**<br />
Brady Lee Troyer*<br />
Peggy Gene Tuttle**<br />
Sara Tysman^<br />
Martin Uchendu**<br />
Karen Nicole Underwood*<br />
Jaden Alexius Valentine*<br />
Anna Mae VanCoonis*<br />
Raelee VandenBerg*<br />
Derryk Mark VanderJagt*<br />
Trisha Ann VanderWagen**<br />
Heather Lynn VanderWoude*<br />
Andrew J. Vangunst*<br />
Betty Verburg^<br />
Amanda VerHulst*<br />
Nicole Lynn VerHulst*<br />
Milica Vickovic**<br />
Blesswin Victor§<br />
Taylor Vink*<br />
Frank Paul Viso**<br />
Anthony Dominic Vulcano III**<br />
Charles David Walker**<br />
Michaela Lynn Walker**<br />
Jacob Michael Walters*<br />
Seth Christian Walters**<br />
Ruoyao Wang*<br />
Glenn Alexander Watson^<br />
Alisha Nicole Webbs**<br />
Anthony Weber II**<br />
Nathan Weems*<br />
Eric H. Weller**<br />
Julie Wentworth**<br />
Nichole Lynn Whitfield**<br />
Kayla Whitham^<br />
Derek D. Wieringa**<br />
Grace Kelly Wiersema*<br />
Moriah Wilke**<br />
Brielle Denise Williams*<br />
Aliyyah Denise Williams**<br />
Ryan Kleeves Wilson**<br />
Thomas E. Wilson**<br />
Patricia E. Wimbley**<br />
Eric Scott Winer^<br />
Eve Roseanne Wixtrom**<br />
Owen K. Woltjer*<br />
Luke Wood*<br />
Dana Woodard**<br />
Eric D. Woods^<br />
Abigail Workman<br />
Alicia D. Wyant**<br />
Amie Lynn Zapf**<br />
Abigel Zewde*<br />
Feben Zewde*<br />
Daniel L. Zolinski*<br />
Natalie Zysk*<br />
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY<br />
To God be the glory,<br />
now and forever.<br />
AMEN!<br />
31<br />
ALUMNI JOURNAL <strong>2021</strong>
<strong>Alumni</strong> Association<br />
HOMECOMING &<br />
FAMILY WEEKEND<br />
OCT. 22-23<br />
We can’t wait to welcome you back to campus for<br />
Homecoming & Family Weekend <strong>2021</strong>! Save the<br />
date for Oct. 22-23 to reconnect with friends and<br />
other alumni in a variety of events, including the<br />
inauguration of our 12th president.<br />
cornerstone.edu/homecoming