Articles

From The Alumni Director
On My Way
By Robby Larson, Director of Alumni Relations
Since arriving at George Fox nearly two years ago to begin my tenure as the director of alumni relations, one question has been asked of me more than any other: "When did you graduate?" It's a natural question. Alumni want to know if I was here at the same time they were, or others that they may know. Unfortunately, at the core of this question is the assumption that the alumni relations guy attended the school at which he works. Normally, this is a safe assumption. In this case, as many of you know, it is not. I am not an alumnus of George Fox University, yet. As of this past summer, I'm on my way! More...

View From the Alumni Board
Constant Conversation
By Tony Rourke ‘95, Alumni Board President
This fall, our church started a study on Erwin McManus' book, "Chasing Daylight." This book is about seizing the moments that God gives us every day to further his kingdom. To start this new series, our senior pastor called us to a time of fasting and prayer by asking each person to pray and ask what God wanted each of us do during the time of fasting. He explained the various forms that "fasting" could take: absolute fasting (no food or water), regular fasting (no food), or fasting from some of our comforts (i.e. TV, video games, Internet, etc.). During this time of prayer, God clearly told me that I needed to stretch myself and fast from food for an entire week; I knew I was in trouble! More...

News

University Breaks Enrollment Record
For the 21st time in the last 22 years, George Fox University has broken its enrollment record. Overall enrollment grew to 3,382, up 4 percent from 3,253 last year. George Fox has more than sextupled in size since 1986, when 549 students attended. The university's 17 graduate and seminary programs saw the strongest growth, with enrollment increasing 6 percent to 1,380. The traditional undergraduate program saw a slight dip with 1,730 enrolling on the Newberg campus, down from 1,739 last year. To read more, click here.

Princeton Review names George Fox to 'Best in the West' list
For the fifth consecutive year, The Princeton Review has honored George Fox University as one of its "Best in the West" schools. George Fox is one of 120 colleges and universities listed from the western states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Other institutions receiving the designation included Pepperdine University, Seattle Pacific University and Stanford University.

The Princeton Review rankings consider academics, quality of life, admissions selectivity and financial aid. George Fox received a score of 79 out of 99 in admissions selectivity, an 80 out of 99 in academics, and an 84 out of 99 in quality of campus life. To read more, click here.

Another college ranking, released by Forbes.com, ranked George Fox University in the top 25 percent of "America's best colleges." Forbes ranked 569 out of the approximate 4,000 colleges in the United States, focusing on those it described as "the top 15 percent or so of all undergraduate institutions." Princeton, Cal Tech and Harvard took the top three spots. George Fox ranked 131st, second among Oregon colleges behind Reed College (No. 64). Rounding out the state's top five are Lewis & Clark College (No. 170), Pacific University (No. 184) and Willamette University (No. 210). Among West Coast institutions in the 105-member Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, George Fox received the highest ranking. To read more, click here.

George Fox Launches Center for Mobile Computing
George Fox University announced the launch of a new Center for Mobile Computing, which will focus on developing applications for mobile devices with emphasis on Apple's iPod Touch and iPhone. Several corporate partners, including Oracle and Apple, are supporting the center's work in an effort to help the university leverage the computing innovations they provide.

One of the center's first projects will be the migration of its existing iPhone portal to Oracle's PeopleSoft system, which will allow students, faculty and staff the ability to access the university's network for grades, reports and other data using their cell phones. The Apple connection comes as a natural outcome of the university’s transition to an all-Apple campus − promoting iPhones and the iPod Touch for enhanced communication and learning. To read more, click here.

Alumni Board Selects New Members
The Alumni Association Board of Directors has elected three new members over the summer. Jalinene (Miller) Hollabaugh ('00) of Lake Oswego and Ben Salisbury ('04) of Tigard will represent traditional undergraduate alumni from 2000-2010. Salisbury fills a new board position created to maintain a representative balance with the number of new alumni from this decade. Additionally, Brenda Morton of West Linn, a 2003 Masters of Arts in Teaching graduate, will represent graduates of the School of Education. To see the roster of the Alumni Board, or to contact your representatives, click here.

Theatre Department Presents Thoroughly Modern Millie
The Broadway hit Thoroughly Modern Millie, winner of six Tony Awards, will be performed as George Fox University's fall musical starting Thursday, Nov. 6. Showings will be Nov. 6-8 and 12-15 at 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 9 and 16 at 2 p.m. in Wood-Mar Auditorium on the Newberg campus. Tickets may be purchased at the University Store, over the phone at 503-554-3844, or online at theatre.georgefox.edu. The price is $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors and George Fox alumni, and $6 for students and children under 12. To read more about this production, click here.

Remember, all George Fox alumni may purchase discounted tickets to all George Fox Theatre productions.

Family Weekend
George Fox University's Family Weekend is November 7-9, 2008. This is always a wonderful weekend to make fun family memories and enjoy life on the George Fox University campus. Events include concerts, family meals, theatre, faculty lectures, the university's Auxiliary Bazaar to support student scholarships, and a good old-fashioned family Bingo night!

For complete schedule and event information, and to register online, click here.

School of Management Hosts Discussion on Global Financial Crisis
George Fox University's School of Management will host a roundtable discussion, "The Global Financial Crisis: Where are we and where do we go from here?," from 7 to 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 14, in Room 285 of the university's Portland Center. The general public is invited to attend.

Dean Ken Armstrong will moderate a panel of experts that will include William L. Valentine, president and chief investment officer of Valentine Ventures, a wealth management firm for affluent investors and host of KXL Radio's "The Good Life." Other panelists include Jim White, retired partner with DeLap, a CPA firm; David Meyer, associate professor of political science at George Fox; Patrick Palmer, president of Alpine Mortgage; Bill Essig, vice president of international programs for Medical Teams International; and Christian Kaylor, a work force analyst from the Oregon Employment Department. For more information and to register, click here.

Bösendorfer Concert Series
The George Fox University Performing Arts Department is proud to feature world-renowned pianist, Gianluca Luisi in the Bösendorfer Concert Series, scheduled for Feb. 15, 2009, at 4 p.m. in Bauman Auditorium. This concert marks the return of Luisi to the Bauman stage after his performance during the first year of the concert series in 2007. "Gianluca Luisi's extraordinary talents, combined with the Imperial Bösendorfer Piano and Bauman Auditorium's remarkable acoustics, will offer attendees an unforgettable concert," according to Dr. Kenn Willson of the George Fox music faculty.

For more information about the Bösendorfer Concert Series and ticket information, call 503-554-2620, or click here. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and alumni, and $6 for students and children.

Homecoming 2009
Save the date for Homecoming 2009! Taking place on campus Feb. 20-21, Homecoming is a great opportunity for all alumni to return to George Fox and reconnect with old friends. Whether you graduated in the past few years or many decades ago, studied as an undergraduate or in a graduate or degree-completion program, George Fox is your school. Regardless of when and what you studied, we hope that you will come home to your alma mater and join in the exciting Homecoming festivities.

Reunions will be held for the classes of 1939, 1949, 1969, 1979, 1984, 1989, and 1999. Affinity reunions will also take place for anyone associated with the George Fox football program and for all alumni who went through a business program at either the graduate or undergraduate level. If you are interested in helping with any of these reunions, please contact Robby Larson, director of alumni relations, at rlarson@georgefox.edu. More information is coming soon!

Announcements

Travel with GFU to Alpine Europe, Summer 2010
George Fox University is excited to announce our tour of alpine Europe to see the Passion Play at Oberammergau, Germany, in early-summer 2010. Open to all alumni, parents and friends of George Fox, our 11-day tour, departing May 31, will include visits to the beautiful alpine European cities of Frankfurt and Munich, Germany; Salzburg, Austria; and Lucerne and Interlaken, Switzerland. Among many other highlights, the tour will include travel through the Rhine Valley, Black Forest, as well as the Swiss, Austrian and Bavarian Alps. Additionally, visits are planned to Neuschwanstein and Heidelberg castles, and Rothenburg, Germany's best-preserved medieval town. The highlight of the trip will be the Passion Play, an inspiring one-day play, dating back nearly 375 years, which is performed for sold-out audiences every 10 years in a magnificent outdoor covered amphitheater with the Bavarian Alps as a backdrop. To read the full itinerary, request more information, and register for the trip, click here.

George Fox Alumni Association Facebook Group
Do you use Facebook? Join the George Fox University Alumni Association Facebook group. This group is an additional way to connect and communicate with our alumni, while also helping alumni connect with each other. Facebook is a social networking website that connects people with similar interests. To join the Alumni Association Facebook group you must have a Facebook account, and then click this link: georgefox.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2333029839. You can also find the group by searching "George Fox Alumni" using the Facebook search function. This is an open group, so you do not need to be a member of the "George Fox network" on Facebook to join the group.

Alumni Association/Liberty Mutual Partnership
The George Fox Alumni Association has partnered with Liberty Mutual Insurance to provide discounted group-rate insurance to our alumni. Our alumni can purchase homeowners, renters, or automobile insurance through this program. To find our more or to request a quote, click here.

Know Your Alumni Benefits
As a George Fox alumnus, you are entitled to a wide range of benefits. Do you know what they are? You can audit courses without paying tuition, utilize Bruindata − the alumni online community − to search for fellow alumni, access Career Services, and even get discounted insurance. Check out the alumni benefits webpage for a complete listing, or send an e-mail to alumni@georgefox.edu and request a copy of the Bruin Connection brochure.

Thought About Going Back to College?
As you probably know, George Fox University offers many great graduate and degree-completion programs. To find out more, visit the Graduate Programs website or the School of Professional Studies website.

Highlighting Our History

For nearly six decades, the address of 1000 Sheridan Street was almost synonymous with George Fox University. The Dutch Colonial-style house, constructed in 1899, is the former home of university president Levi Pennington, who lived at that address from 1917 through the end of his presidency in 1941. His 30-year tenure that began in 1911 is believed to be the longest for an Oregon college president. When he died at the age of 99 in 1975, he was still living in the home.

After his retirement, for the next 34 years he continued to write - and write - in all, more than 50,000 letters at the rate of 1,000 to 1,500 per year. They all had what became nearly a trademark for the longtime educator, lecturer, minister, humanitarian and presidential confidant: his name in small black type at the upper left. On the next line was the familiar 1000 Sheridan Street.

Even at his death, the address was so strongly identified with Pennington that the opening line of the printed memorial service program started: "1000 East Sheridan was the Newberg home ..." The program recalled that many "remember vividly the comfortable residence with the large yard where President Pennington and his gracious wife, Rebecca, so often entertained."

Former President Herbert Hoover was among the visitors in the house, part of a friendship that spanned more than 50 years. Their relationship grew until they became fishing partners as their time would allow. Hoover shared in confidence details of his political career that few ever knew. Declining to ever reveal the nature of their talks, Pennington kept the confidence to his death.

Purchased by the university in 1993 to make it a permanent part of campus, Pennington House is being maintained with minor exterior changes and restricted interior changes. It now serves as the Office for University Relations, including Alumni Relations. Next time you're on campus, stop by to see this piece of our history and say "Hello."

Do you have a memory of Pennington House or Levi Pennington? If so, send them to alumni@georgefox.edu.