Hometown: Kenosha, Wisconsin

When Nathan Gowey arrived at �������� as a Christian Ministries major, he knew that he didn’t want to simply learn about Christian leadership—he wanted to actually practice being a Christian leader himself. Throughout his time at ��������, Nathan has done exactly that. From leading Bible studies to worshiping with fellow students at Upper Room, Nathan feels that �������� has played a key role in strengthening him to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.

Nathan has become actively involved in many different ministries all over campus. For Nathan, Christ is at the center of everything he does. As a player on the baseball team, he chose to lead a Bible study for his teammates. He is also an RA in Lindner Tower and enjoys being a part of the Bible Boys and Upper Room. “It’s worth it to put yourself out there,” Nathan states. He encourages all students to get involved, because that’s how you’ll make a difference in the lives of others. Simply put, Nathan says, “Meet people and go to events.”  

One of the most impactful moments of Nathan’s time on campus was witnessing both of his roommates get baptized at his church. It’s something he’ll never forget, and it will never fail to remind him of how grateful he is to be a part of a group of friends who are committed to Christ. “I have found a great group of guys who consistently challenge me in my faith,” he says. “They’re always there for me.”

Looking back, Nathan believes the word fruitful best describes his experience at ��������. From finding friends in Christ to learning how to serve God and others in practical ways, Nathan has continually felt his faith being stretched and strengthened. Along the way, he’s learned what it means to be a Christian leader. But even more than that, he knows what it’s like to actually put what he’s learned into practice. Following Christ is about loving God and loving others above everything else, and Nathan is committed to never losing sight of that.

Hometown: Monroe, Wisconsin

When Jessi Meyer arrived at �������� to study psychology, she didn’t realize how much God had in store for her there. Indeed, �������� would not just shape her as a student; it would also shape the person she would become. Now, as a senior, Jessi recognizes the power of community and the importance of actively finding ways to make a difference right where you are.

Jessi was first introduced to �������� by Samantha Collins, ��������’s Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management, who continues to make a positive impact on Jessi’s life today. “She’s always been the support I’ve needed and has been there for me through it all,” Jessi explains.

From the very beginning, Jessi became deeply involved in the �������� community, making friends and volunteering for service opportunities. Jessi plays for the women’s basketball team, serves as an R.A., volunteers with the RISE program, mentors incoming freshman, and works in the Registrars’ office and the student arcade. Additionally, she had the opportunity to go on a global outreach trip to Scotland. Each of these opportunities has grown and shaped her into the person she is today.

“I couldn’t imagine where I would be without ��������,” Jessi states. “It’s given me my best friends, my bridesmaids, and my forever mentors, and I’ve grown in my relationship with Christ.”

In addition to her various extracurricular pursuits, Jessi is also an avid student. She is a scholar athlete for basketball and a member of the Psychology Honors Society. She was also accepted into the Master of Clinical Health and Counseling program while still completing her B.A. in Psychology. Following the completion of her bachelor’s degree, she will continue her studies at �������� and graduate with her master’s in 2028.

Jessi didn’t think that she would have so many big opportunities at a smaller school when she first came to ��������. Now, looking back, she states, “Just because the school isn’t big, it doesn’t mean there aren’t big opportunities. I have had so many opportunities and have felt so supported at ��������. I would never have experienced that anywhere else.” 

Ultimately, when Jessi reflects on the last four years as a �������� student, she doesn’t think of it as just another school. Instead, she describes this place as a home and a community for college students. Indeed, it’s a place where they can find their purpose and make a lasting difference, just like she did.

From the moment the coach bus pulls away, the tour becomes more than just a musical endeavor—it becomes a testimony of faith, connection, and divine encounters. One of the most cherished aspects of this journey is the homestay ministry, where generous congregants open their homes to choir members after concerts. These moments of hospitality and fellowship leave lasting imprints on hearts, creating bonds that transcend a single evening’s stay.

As you can imagine, choir tour requires extensive preparation—hours of practice, rehearsals, and refining every note to maintain a level of excellence. But the true reward of that dedication is seen in the beaming faces of congregation members, the heartfelt words of encouragement shared after concerts, the wide-eyed amazement of schoolchildren who witness the performances, and even the proud smile of Dr. Warren Anderson, our dedicated director. These affirmations remind us why we sing and worship, keeping our songs alive in both our minds and hearts, no matter how many times they are sung.

Beyond the music, the camaraderie and experiences along the way make choir tour a defining highlight of many �������� students’ time at the university. From sightseeing stops at places like the Mall of America and art museums to spontaneous Target runs, mini-golf outings, and Starbucks pit stops, every moment on the road strengthens the bond between choir members. But the most profound connection comes from the Holy Spirit’s undeniable presence, guiding our voices and uniting us in purpose.

Ministry on tour takes many forms. Sometimes it’s found in the joy-filled bus ride conversations and impromptu jam sessions. Other times, it’s the deep theological discussions that challenge and strengthen our faith. It’s the quiet act of slipping an encouraging note or small gift to a fellow choir member through our SEP (Secret Encouragement Partner) project, revealing our care for one another. It’s the impact of our performances at schools, homeschool co-ops, and outreach ministries like , where music becomes a bridge to meaningful connections. It’s in the breathtaking landscapes we encounter, reminding us of God’s beauty, or in the simple yet powerful moments of prayer and support when a fellow choir member is struggling. And it’s found in the heartfelt conversations with strangers at churches who share their stories and their homes with us.

Clearly, the Kingdom of God is at work in countless ways during choir tour. To be part of a choir that dedicates time each year to worship on the road is an incredible privilege. These tours remind us that worship is not just about performance—it’s about connection, growth, and witnessing how God moves through music and community.

For every member who has stepped onto the bus, lifted their voice in song, and experienced the depth of this journey, choir tour remains a cherished memory and a testimony of faith in motion. All glory to Christ!

Written By: Hana Cunningham

�������� senior Erin Aubrey received the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award. Every fall, a meritorious senior from each of the four-year, degree-granting colleges and universities in Illinois is awarded the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award and becomes a Student Laureate.

Aubrey is studying elementary education and has already student-taught as part of her curriculum. Aubrey is as strong teaching first grade as she is teaching sixth grade. She uses her talents as a reflective practitioner to adapt her teaching style. Aubrey is creative and focused in her approach to the needs of her student learners. She utilizes Golden Apple Scholar learning in her classrooms and lessons. Her students are drawn to her friendly smile and calm instruction.

Aubrey was selected as a Roeser Scholar at ��������, where she has developed her leadership style with incoming scholars through her welcoming manner, empathy and friendly encouragement.  When she is not in class or studying, Aubrey works for the Campus Spirit Store and is instrumental in developing the Spirit Store website. She works collaboratively on and off-site to create a point-of-sale system for athletic events. She also assists the University Football Coach, going above and beyond to assist the program.

�������� began as an undergraduate college in 1913 as part of Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. The university was named for Adoniram ��������, the first Protestant missionary sent from North America to preach in Burma. �������� established its Elgin location in 1963 and was renamed a university in 2007.

��������’s Founders’ Day events began with a breakfast meeting of the Fox Valley Spiritual Council. Following the breakfast, ��������’s guests and trustees attended the Founders’ Day chapel.

The chapel presentation from Rev. Huron Claus, pastor, and president of , a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the gospel to Native American People. Rev. Claus is a fifth-generation follower of Jesus Christ. He comes from the Mohawk/Kiowa tribes of New York and Oklahoma. The Claus Indian family has ministered through evangelism and music in Native communities and villages across North, Central, and South America. During Chapel, Claus recounted the biblical stories of Moses, Daniel, and the Apostle Paul as examples of leadership traits he encouraged students to develop. Each of these leaders, Claus said, demonstrated how to overcome personal concerns and self-perceived shortfalls by relying on their relationship with God to carry out God’s larger mission.

“God is calling us to be leaders whether it is in the church, in our communities, or in our homes,” Rev. Claus concluded. “I pray that God will fill you with his Holy Spirit.”

During the Chapel presentation, �������� President Gene Crume also awarded Dr. Thomas C. Meredith with the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Law in recognition of his service to higher education. Dr. Meredith was a university president and head of three university systems. Most recently he served as Commissioner of Higher Education for Mississippi’s university system of eight universities. In January 2002, he was appointed chancellor of the University System of Georgia, responsible for the state’s 34 public colleges and universities. Prior to this appointment, he served as chancellor of the University of Alabama System, as well as president and professor of education at Western Kentucky University. He also was a vice chancellor at the University of Mississippi. He began his career as a high school teacher and later served as a high school principal.

Go to ��������’s to see a full recording of ��������’s Founders’ Day Chapel.

Golden Eagle Award Recognizes Devlin Donaldson

Following Chapel, Founders’ Day guests attended a private luncheon and heard �������� President Gene Crume share ways that �������� celebrated Founders’ Day and Baptist heritage week. Dr. Crume also recognized the work of Devlin Donaldson ‘79 with the Golden Eagle Award for his dedication and service to the university. The Golden Eagle Award is the university’s highest service award.

Donaldson recognized the many attendees who were faculty and friends he met while he attended ��������. He said that these individuals and many others have become lifelong mentors and partners throughout his life. Despite its small size and unassuming campus, Donaldson thought that attending �������� was one of the best decisions he has made in his life. “This was really a place of community,” said Donaldson, as he reminisced about attending college at �������� in the early 80s. Through connecting and interacting with faculty and staff, many of whom lived behind the campus, as well as experiencing the tragic passing of two students just weeks after starting his freshman year, Donaldson called his time at �������� special and life-changing.

“I could go on and on; a liberal arts education is so important. … This university didn’t just teach me what to do, it taught me how to think,” Donaldson said. “Whatever modest leadership skills I’ve had, I gained while I was here.”

Donaldson graduated in 1979 with a degree in Human Relations from ��������. He has a decades-long career of vision, breakthrough ideas, high impact, and leadership experience in both the not-for-profit and for-profit worlds. After earning his master’s degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, he joined Compassion International where he led the development of Compassion’s music artist program and its sponsor ministry division. He reorganized several large segments of the ministry and served on the President’s cabinet as Director of Marketing and Development. In 2001, Donaldson and his business partner founded The Elevation Group, a Growth Consulting firm based in Colorado Springs. From 2015-2018, Donaldson returned to serve at his alma mater, ��������, as Senior Vice President of External Relations. He led projects focused on donor development, including providing leadership for the World Leaders Forum and the WLF Inspirational Series.

In July of 2018, Donaldson returned to his roots, accepting the position of President/CEO of where he currently serves. A small child development organization in Colorado Springs, VisionTrust operates in 11 countries helping over 10,000 children. Donaldson lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Carol. 

Following the session, the campers will be able to cheer with the team on the sidelines during the second quarter of the 3:00 p.m. football game and participate in the halftime performance. 

Please contact Bonnie Bienert at bbienert@judsonu.edu to register by October 27 or ask any additional questions. 

�������� Executive Director of Football Operations Jamie Herrick has been named the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Coach of the Year for the Northwest Chicago Region.

Coach Herrick has embodied the four FCA values of Serving, Integrity, Teamwork, and Excellence in so many ways this year. He has led his players in bible study, organized chapels for his team, established gospel training for his coaching staff, participated in coaches’ bible studies, led his team in prayer, and so much more. He has grown in his own faith while also leading his players to do the same.

Herrick will be honored at the Northwest Chicago FCA Legacy Dinner on Tuesday, November 15, at the BRIX on the Fox in Carpentersville. Reservations can be placed at the . 

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is touching millions of lives…one heart at a time. Since 1954, FCA has been challenging coaches and athletes on the professional, college, high school, junior high and youth levels to use the powerful platform of sport to reach every coach and every athlete with the transforming power of Jesus Christ. FCA focuses on serving local communities around the globe by engaging, equipping and empowering coaches and athletes to unite, inspire and change the world through the gospel. The FCA has been a longtime partner of ��������. 

Groppel is most known for co-founding Johnson & Johnson’s Human Performance Institute, which is internationally recognized as an authority and a pioneer in the science of human performance. Dr. Groppel started the company in 1992 with longtime friend and business partner Dr. Jim Loehr, basing it on sport science principles and applying them to leadership and performance in high-stress arenas in business, military, law enforcement, medicine, and sport.  After Johnson & Johnson’s purchase of the company in 2008, Dr. Groppel developed the patient athlete program for joint replacement patients, to help them develop a new purpose in life after joint replacement.

Some of Dr. Groppel’s career accomplishments include delivering three congressional briefings on worksite health promotion, representing the worksite wellness industry at the historic Surgeon General’s Call to action on Walking and Walkable Communities, and authoring 11 books including The Corporate Athlete and The Corporate Athlete Advantage. His work has been featured in well-respected news sources including the New York Times, Forbes, and the Huffington Post. His public speaking career includes thousands of events spanning six continents.

Dr. Groppel’s experience in college athletics and academics makes him the ideal person to take over this role. He served as the Head Coach of the University of Illinois’ tennis program from 1978-1981 and spent 16 years of service as the founding chairperson of the National Sport Science Committee of the United States Tennis Association. In academics, Groppel has conducted research as an Associate Professor of Kinesiology and of Bioengineering at the University of Illinois, which includes a performance analysis of over 25 sports—working with professional athletes in the MLB, NHL, NFL, and the USA Olympic Team. He is a fellow in the American College of Sports Medicine and the American College of Nutrition—which he serves as a board-certified nutritionist—and serves on the Board of Directors of the Health Enhancement Research Organization. 

Groppel’s influence is shown within . Former top-ranked players Stan Smith and Billie Jean King were among the individuals who extended congratulations to him.

“Congratulations to be inducted for being inducted into the USPTA Hall of Fame. You certainly are deserving,” said Smith.

“We’ve been fortunate to be friends for many years. He is a pioneer in the field of human performance. It’s an honor to have worked with him, congratulations, Jack, and I am so happy that you are now in the USPTA Hall of Fame,” said King.

The 2022-23 �������� Roeser Scholars are (front row, left to right) Aiden Arnold of Ipswich, Mass., Hana Cunningham of Terre Haute, Ind., Michaela McTighe of Plano, Ill., Keilah Reinhart of Waunakee, Wisc., and Connor Richmond of Marion, Iowa; (back row, left to right) Grace Kidwell of Terre Haute, Ind., Emma Walberg of Belvidere, Ill., Christina Lundquist of Sugar Grove, Ill., and Catherine Hegewald of Eagan, Minn.

�������� is grateful to OTTO Engineering, Inc.’s support in a 5-year commitment to deepen their partnership to this program. Through this collaboration, the �������� Leadership Program has now become the Roeser Scholars program. This is the most prestigious scholarship that a �������� student can receive and a limited number of recipients are selected for this honor each year. To be eligible, students must demonstrate creativity, leadership, innovation, mission, and faith. They must also maintain good academic standing.

The Roeser Scholars have access to unique opportunities to cultivate their aptitude for leadership. They receive sponsored tickets to World Leaders Forum events and the opportunity to interview for the World Leaders Forum Internship position during their sophomore, junior and senior years at ��������. Each scholar also participates in monthly meetings with the World Leaders Forum Director and University President that cover a wide range of topics including entrepreneurship, leadership development, business etiquette, and networking. Often scholars hear from experienced leaders from a variety of fields at these meetings.  As part of the program, students are invited to an exclusive VIP reception with ��������’s president, global thought-leaders who participate in World Leaders Forum events, trustees, and distinguished alumni.

Conrad is a nationally recognized artist based outside Detroit, Mich. He completed an MFA at Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2018, and is also a �������� alum (BA in Art, 2015). Hailing from Ghana, and having settled in America, his bold, colorful mixed media paintings and sculptures deftly blend allusions to his own cross-cultural heritage, with broader references to European, American, and African art history, the African diaspora, and Biblical narratives.

Conrad’s work has been displayed at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, Art Basel Miami Beach, and Institute of Contemporary Art, San José, Calif., and has been featured in ArtNews, Artforum and New American Paintings. He is also represented in the collections of the Cranbrook Art Museum, the Detroit Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine in Pasadena, Calif., Pérez Art Museum in Miami, and the Rennie Collection of Vancouver, Canada. He is represented by Jessica Silverman Gallery in San Francisco, Calif. 

His work can be seen here:

And you can also follow on Instagram: