The  5^th Annual MNU Community Fair introduces new and returning students to area businesses, restaurants, services, and churches on September 9, from 5 - 7: 30 p.m. Join more than 50 community organizations and businesses, with information, giveaways, food and more on the MNU Campus Mall. In case of rain the event will be rescheduled for September 13. For more information visit: www.mnu.edu/community-fair.html or call the MNU ServiceCorps office at 913-971-3541.

MNU Tuesdays, a monthly business and professional’s luncheon series hosted by MNU’s Office of Alumni Relations, returns to the Kansas City area beginning Tuesday, September  14.  Alumni and friends of the university are invited to network and enjoy special speakers each month at the Hereford House at Town Center Plaza in Leawood, Kan., from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.  The cost is $13 per person. Luncheon speakers for the 2010-11 year include:

September 14: Elizabeth Diddle, ’82,  Social Worker, Children’s Mercy Hospital

October 12: Karen Tritt, ’01, Kansas Teacher of the Year 2009

November 9: Jonathan Quinn, MNU Head Football Coach, former KC Chief

December 14: Mike Copeland, ’84 Mayor, Olathe, Kan.

January 11: Alicia Hooks, MAOA ’08, Senior Aide to U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore

February 8: Jeff DeGraffenreid, ’90, Fire Chief, Olathe, Kan.

March 8: Jill Kenney, ’98, Assistant District Attorney, Johnson County, Kan.

April 12: Cliff Pemble, ’86, President and COO, Garmin International

May 10: Danny Buxie, ’07, Senior Accountant, Security Savings Bank

To register for the luncheon call the MNU Office of Alumni Relations at 913-971-3275 or email alumni@mnu.edu.

MidAmerica Nazarene University has named Cliff Pemble, its 2010 Alumnus of the Year. Pemble is the president and chief operating officer at Garmin International. He earned a bachelor of arts in mathematics and computer science from MNU in 1986.

Pemble joined Garmin International in 1989 as a software engineer. As one of Garmin’s first employees, he has served in a variety of leadership capacities including systems engineering and software engineering management. He was named to his current position in October 2007, and directs day-to-day operations of all North American Garmin subsidiaries, including Garmin International, Inc. He is also a member of the Garmin Ltd. Board of Directors.

Also on the slate of 2010 award winners is Susan Larson, Ph.D., R.N., interim dean of the School of Nursing and Health Science at MNU. Larson is responsible for leading the school’s expansion into accelerated nursing programs on the bachelor’s and master’s level. She earned a bachelor of science in nursing from MNU in 1984.

Other MNU award winners for 2010: graphic artist, A. Micah Smith, a 2005 MNU grad and owner of My Associate Cornelius, a design and illustration firm known for rock music posters; David Sapp, a 1998 MNU grad, former FAA manager and current lighting design volunteer at MNU’s Bell Cultural Events Center; and Otto Theel, M.D., the university’s first honorary alumnus in 1969.

Awards will be presented at the university’s Homecoming Banquet on Friday, October 22. For more information on MNU alumni events and Homecoming go to www.mnu.edu/alumniandfriends.

MidAmerica Nazarene University’s counseling programs for clinical mental health, school, and marriage, couple and family counseling leading to the Master of Arts degree have been approved for accreditation by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). MNU holds the distinction of being the only faith-based private institution in its region--Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Oklahoma--to achieve this level of accreditation in counseling.

The national accreditation provides students:

• recognition that the program has been evaluated and meets or exceeds national standards

• knowledge that the graduate has met prerequisites for credentialing and is ready for entry into professional practice
• understanding that the focus of the program will be on professional counseling, not psychology, education or other helping professions

“Students from CACREP accredited programs enjoy higher portability of their degrees and practice from one state to another,” says Stephen Ragan, MNU vice president for academic affairs.

Andra Kee, sophomore youth and family ministry major at MidAmerica Nazarene University, is one of four winners of this year’s Stewardship Sermon award sponsored by the Church of the Nazarene Stewardship Ministries. The award is given annually to as many as five pastoral ministry students who are enrolled in either a religion or Christian education program at a Nazarene institution of higher education in the U.S. or Canada. Each winner receives a $1000 scholarship toward their continued pastoral development.

Kee’s sermon, Three Ways God Calls Us to Live Generously, is her exploration of holiness as it relates to tithing and living generously. Students were to use 2nd Chronicles 31:5 as a reference and to address the issue of money as it relates to funding the mission of the Church of the Nazarene: To make Christ-like disciples in the nations.

Her sermon can be found at www.nazarene.org/stewardship. Kee is a member of Ellendale First Church of the Nazarene in Ellendale, N. D.

MidAmerica Nazarene University president Dr. Ed Robinson, announced Friday that Jon North, CEO of Heart to Heart International, has been named vice president for university advancement and executive director of the MNU Foundation. North, an MNU alumnus (BA ’92, MBA ’94), comes to the university after a significant career at Heart to Heart, one of the most recognized international health and disaster relief agencies.

“MNU is blessed to have a person of Jon’s leadership experience, demonstrated competence, and civic reputation taking the reins of our development efforts,” Robinson says. “These qualities, combined with Jon’s appreciation for his own collegiate experience and commitment to MNU’s mission and vision, make him ideally suited for the challenges of resource development for our future.”

North is a Certified Fund Raising Executive and has participated in leadership initiatives through the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, and Vistage International, one of the world’s leading chief executive leadership organizations. In 2005, North was named to Ingram’s magazine’s list of “Top Forty Leaders Under Forty.”

“I am honored by the opportunity to return to MidAmerica and look forward to helping the university have an impact on future students in the same way that it profoundly transformed my life,” North says.

North, 42, begins his duties on August 16. He and his wife Faith, and their four children reside in Olathe, Kan.

More articles:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/38170463

http://www.bizjournals.com/prnewswire/press_releases/Kansas/2010/07/09/CG33003

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/07/09/2072999/heart-to-heart-ceo-is-leaving.html

MidAmerica Nazarene University has named Kristin Steele as head volleyball coach. She will join MNU later this summer. The announcement was made July 2 by MNU President Ed Robinson.

Steele previously was head volleyball coach at Redlands Community College, El Reno, Okla. The 2009 Redlands Cougars finished the season at 26-8, and were ranked in the nation's top 20 every week of the season. During her career there, Steele led the Cougars to numerous district, regional and national tournament appearances, and helped Redlands produce NJCAA All-Americans and Distinguished Academic All-Americans.

In addition to coaching, Steele has served as the NJCAA Region II Women's Director s since 2004.

Kristin Steele earned a B.S. in Education and an M.Ed. from University of Central Oklahoma. She was a student-athlete in volleyball at UCO, gaining All Conference and Honorable Mention Academic All Conference honors during her career. She was inducted into UCO's Hall of Fame in 2008.

"Kristin's experience, her commitment to Christ, and her ability to use collegiate athletics as an opportunity to help young women grow in faith and character, make Kristin well-suited for a servant's role in Pioneer Athletics," says MNU's Ed Robinson.

For more information on MNU Athletics, go to www.mnusports.com.

MidAmerica Nazarene University is a comprehensive liberal arts university offering more than 40 undergraduate majors and selected professional and graduate degrees. MidAmerica Nazarene University seeks to transform the individual through intellectual, spiritual, and personal development for a life of service to God, the church, the nation and the world.

The Summer 2010 issue of Accent Magazine has been mailed to alumni, friends and donors of MidAmerica Nazarene University. The magazine is available in a "flip book" technology on the Alumni Relations section of the MNU web site. Go to the Alumni Relations site, or click on Summer 2010 Accent. PDF copies of the magazine may be downloaded from this site or the online magazine can be sent to others.

Accent Summer 2010 includes a feature article on the construction of the health clinic in Patanatic, Guatemala. MNU students led an initiative to raise $50,000, which was achieved in May, 2010. Also included is a recap of the 2010 commencement.

• A profile on New Testament scholar Dean Flemming, who was a visiting professor at MNU
• The renaming of MNU's baseball facility in honor of the Walter and Sharlyn Dixon family.
• Introduction of Kevin Garber, MNU director of Alumni Relations
• Updates and outlook for MNU athletics

Accent magazine is published by MidAmerica Nazarene University three times per year, and mailed free to alumni, friends and supporters.

Phone: (913) 971-3586
Alumni News: accent@mnu.edu

Address changes to:
Accent Magazine
MidAmerica Nazarene University
2030 E. College Way
Olathe KS 66062-1899

MNU Head Softball Coach Steve Babinski was named the Midwest Region Coach of the year by the National Fast pitch Coaches Association. NFCA announced its honorees June 28, 2010.

Babinski led the Pioneers to a 46-8 record, claiming Heart of America Athletic Conference regular season and post-season championships. The 2010 team competed in the NAIA national softball tournament for the first time in MNU's history.

"This was a remarkable year, with all the makings of a dream season. It was really hard for it to end and close the books on such an amazing season," says Babinski.

This is Coach Babinski's first NFCA Region Coach of the Year honor. In 2006 he was named the HAAC Coach of the Year and the NAIA Region 5 Coach of the year. The NFCA regions are larger and comprise a greater number of schools. There are five Regions and the Midwest Region has 50 colleges and universities.

"I feel very blessed to be voted for such an elite award," says Babinski. "God has blessed our hard work, our talent, and our pursuit of excellence and we give Him all the glory."

Babinski is one of the five 2010 Region Coaches of the Year. The NFCA will now choose one of these five coaches as the 2010 NFCA National Coach of the Year.

For more information on MNU athletics, go to www.mnusports.com.

MidAmerica Nazarene University is a comprehensive, private, liberal arts university offering more than 40 undergraduate and selected professional and graduate degrees. MNU seeks to transform the individual through intellectual, spiritual, and personal development for a life of service to God, the church, the nation and the world.

MidAmerica Nazarene is holding an open house for its undergraduate and graduate accelerated degree programs for working adults Thursday, June 24 from 5-7:30 p.m., at the Bell Cultural Events Center. It is a free, public event.

MNU officials will be on hand to review the university’s one-night-a-week, accelerated format that allows students to complete a bachelor’s degree in as little as one year if they have at least two years of college. Graduate programs will also be represented, including the MBA, Master of Education, Master of Arts in Counseling and Master of Science in Nursing.

“We’ve been providing uniquely set-up graduate degree and adult degree programs for more than 20 years now, and our word of mouth referrals are proof of our high quality program delivery,” says Michael Johnson, director of communications.”

He said the university recently lowered the age requirements on some programs, based on feedback.

“Our bachelor’s completion degrees are now a better fit for more people than before,” Johnson says.

The Associate of Arts degree program now accepts qualified students at age 21, rather than 23. The B.A. in Management in Human Relations now accepts qualified students at age 23, rather than 25. The B.A. in Public Administration now allows qualified students at age 21, rather than 23, and the needed transferrable hours was reduced to 44 hours, rather than 63.

Representatives will be available to answer questions and advise potential students on the steps necessary to apply for admission. Currently MNU offers the following accelerated programs:

• Associate of Arts
• B.A. in Public Administration –14 months
• B.A. in Management and Human Relations–1 year
• MBA–2 years
• Master of Arts in Organizational Administration –1 year
• RN –BSN –1 year
• MSN –2 years
• M.Ed. in professional teaching, technology-enhanced teaching, or ESOL–1 year
• Master of Arts in Counseling: mental health, school counselor, marriage and family therapy or pastoral counseling–25 months
• Certificate in Play Therapy –1 year

MNU has offered its accelerated programs since 1987. For more information about programs or the Open House, please call (913) 971-3277.

MidAmerica Nazarene University, founded in 1966, is a private, liberal arts university offering more than 40 undergraduate degrees and adult degree completion, as well as five professional graduate degrees in business, education, and counseling, and a post-graduate certificate in play therapy. MNU is located on a 105-acre campus in Olathe, Kan., and operates a location in Liberty, Mo., for adult and graduate programs. MNU is the home to Bell Cultural Events Center, Olathe’s premiere venue for fine arts performances.