Virtual Experience Successful For President's Honors Gala

April 26, 2021 |

Joseph Kim

President’s Honors: The Virtual Experience was a great success thanks to friends and associates who embraced the cause. The April 16 event streamed online raised a preliminary amount of over $462,000 for student scholarships. This brings the cumulative fundraising total to more than $5.1 million for student scholarships and other initiatives since 2012.

This year’s special appeal was MNU’s Nursing Simulation Lab. Nursing alum and neonatal nurse Cara (Viner ’98) Dumaplin was inspired by the appeal and committed to matching every gift to the appeal, up to $100,000, through her company, Taking Cara Babies. Her passion for nursing education will enhance MNU’s simulation technology and ultimately prepare current and future nursing students for meaningful careers in healthcare. It is still possible to contribute to this matching gift opportunity by making a secure, online gift.

More than 100 items were featured in the mobile auction. Bidding was fun and intense. The MNU Foundation reported that it was one of its most successful auctions in the event’s nine-year history.

“Our Pioneer family and friends have been generous supporters of the university,” said MNU President David Spittal. “We are thrilled by the response of those who believe in MNU and what and the cause of Jesus Christ. It continues to strengthen our resolve with purpose and passion in service to our students.”
DR. DAVID SPITTAL
MNU President

Thanks to the sponsors who made President’s Honors 2021 possible:

Presenting Sponsors
Allen & Madeline Tollefson

Platinum Sponsors
The D. Ray & Elaine Cook Family Foundation
Olathe Medical Center

Gold Sponsors
Brent & Lynette Barkman
Dr. Chris & Janet Halvorson
Dr. Gary & Vickie Morsch
Chuck & Kathy Nunamaker
Pioneer College Caterers
Quality Technology Services
Ruckus Group

Silver Sponsors
A.L. Huber General Contractor
Assurance Agency
City of Olathe
CrossFirst Bank
Keith & Lisa Dobrolinsky
Fry Orthodontic Specialists
Hartsook
Dr. Larry & Donna McIntire
Precision Printing
Scott Relf & Family

Bronze Sponsors
Anonymous
College Church of the Nazarene
FCI Advisors
Jack & April Hansen
Harlan C. Parker Insurance Agency
Hephner TV & Electronics
Dr. Glenn & Peggy Kell Family
Jay Ketterling
Midwest Trust Company
Olathe Chamber of Commerce
PGAV Architects
Prime Capital
Dr. Dan & JoAnne Rexroth
Dr. David & Donna Spittal

Plans are underway for next year’s in-person and online event when President’s Honors returns to the Cook Center Friday, April 8, 2022 for its tenth anniversary! Visit presidentshonors.org.

Events

Mar

MNU Theatre | Charlotte's Web

Bell Cultural Events Center - Sunderland Black Box Theatre

7:30 pm

–

4:00 pm

Mar

March Virtual College Affordability Seminar

Online

10:00 am

–

11:00 am

Mar

PGS Education Virtual Information Meeting

Zoom

4:30 pm

–

6:00 pm

Apr

Presidents Honors 2026

Cook Center

6:30 pm

–

9:30 pm

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University Cooperative Program

Advantages of the MNU & K-State Cooperative Program:

Exposure to graduate-level courses not offered at MNU
Opportunity for an accelerated pathway for a master’s degree from K-State Olathe
Access to additional professional development resources offered through K-State

To qualify for program entry at MNU students must:

Be a junior or senior at MidAmerica Nazarene University
Be majoring in biology or similar field
Maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher
Have the recommendation of MNU faculty

To qualify for program entry at K-State students must:

Complete a minimum of 75 hours of undergraduate degree prior to applying for program
Complete a minimum of 90 hours of undergraduate degree prior to attending K-State classes
Provide a short essay detailing why the student wants to participate in the advanced sciences program
Complete the application process

Other restrictions and qualifications may apply. For more information visit https://olathe.k-state.edu

For additional information, contact Jill Speicher at jspeicher@mnu.edu

University Cooperative Program

Advantages of the MNU & Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences partnership program:

Students spend 3 years at MNU and 4 years at KCU
Requirement for Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is waived
Students graduate with a degree from both institutions (B.S. from MNU and D.O. from KCU)
The Program is available at both Kansas City and Joplin campuses

To qualify for entry into the program at MNU students must:

Enter the program at MNU at the beginning of the freshman year through the application process
Have a minimum ACT score of 28
Participate in community service
Have a dedication to the field of osteopathic medicine
Meet regularly with the MNU pre-professional committee

To qualify for program completion at KCU students must:

Complete all General Education requirements at MNU
Complete a minimum of 99 hours of course work at MNU
Maintain an overall GPA of 3.25
Maintain a science coursework GPA of 3.5
Participate in KCU-Com’s weeklong Summer Learning Enhancement Program
Complete the following course with a grade of “C” or higher at MNU:
- Biological Sciences 12 hours
- Chemistry 13 hours
- Biochemistry 3 hours
- Physics 8 hours
- English Composition 6 hours

Other restrictions and qualifications may apply.

For additional information, contact Rion Taylor at rgtaylor@mnu.ed

Dr. Abby Hodges

Vice President for Academic Affairs

PhD; Organic Chemistry, Yale University
MS; Organic Chemistry, Yale University
BS; Chemistry, Denison University

Dr. Hodges began her career in higher education at Azusa Pacific University as a chemistry professor from 2008 to 2014. She then moved to MNU where she taught and in 2018 was appointed Chair of the Department of Natural, Health, and Mathematical Sciences. From 2022-2023, before accepting the Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Hodges was the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Hodges’ career research has focused on protein folding and protein engineering, and she has mentored over twenty students in these research projects. She has also furthered the MNU first-year experience program and chaired the General Education committee for five years. Dr. Hodges was recognized as the MNU Faculty of the Year in 2021.

Dr. Hodges lives in Olathe with her husband Ryan and two boys.